Harrison C. Bailey, born in Athens, Vermont in 1832 enlisted April 22, 1861 at Tioga, Pa., in Co. G First Rifles or the 13th Reg’t. Pa. Reserves, known as the Bucktails. He was discharged from service at Harrisburg, Pa., July 21st, 1862 on account, the loss of his arm. In July 1861 while encamped at Cumberland, Md., he was detailed with a scouting party of 34 men under Lieut. Col. Kane to go 50 miles to a point near Ronney, at which place were encamped about 6000 rebels. The later learning of the approach of the scouts sent 400 cavalrymen to intercept them. The scouts entrenched in brick and stone houses, repulsed the enemy killing seven losing but one. That night Bailey was placed on picket by Col. Kane one mile out on the Ronney Road, with orders to shoot, without previously halting, any armed men who might attempt to pass alone, in darkness in woods infested with rattle and black snakes. He watched until one o’clock, then hearing horsemen in the road he was about to shout when he was arrested by the voice of his comrade John F. Daily, who was accompanying Col. Kane on a tour of inspection.
On July 16th he was one of a party of 200, who were surrounded in a stone house by 800-rebel cavalry. After a sharp skirmish, the latter retreated leaving their dead. In Sept., while at Harpers Ferry he was one of six pickets sent to guard a railroad terminal two miles above the town. Bailey and three others concluded to stand above instead of inside the tunnel and when the rebels came to capture the pickets as was their custom, four of them were killed and the rest driven off by the pickets above the tunnel. Dec. 20th, at the battle of Drainsville Bailey’s bayonet scabbard was shot off. After the battle he took an overcoat off a dead rebel and sold the next day for $17.00. June 2nd, 1862, he was engaged in the raid on Stransburg when 69 men, who had been taken prisoners from Gen. Bank’s Division were recaptured. On June 6, at Harrisonburg, 104 union men were engaged with over 3000 rebels. The loss of the former killed and wounded was 52, while the later lost 559. Bailey was wounded four times resulting in the loss of his left arm. The fourth night after the amputation of his arm while being taken to the hospital at Mt. Jackson, he lay all night beside a stone wall in a heavy rain without shelter.
Bailey’s great-great grandfather, Sylvester Bailey, served in the Revolutionary War. His grandfathers, Capt. Joseph Wright and Cyrus Bailey, in the War of 1812. His brother, Capt. R.C. Bailey and himself in the War of the Rebellion. H.C. Bailey joined Gen. Mansfield Post No. 48 GAR May 20, 1878. He held the office of Commander six years, was adjutant 9 years, served also as Officer of Day and Officer of Guard. His sons, Ralph J. and Jos. W.O. Bailey, both enlisted for the Spanish American War.
HARRISON C. BAILEY, born 4th of October 1837 in Athens, Vermont enlisted April 22, 1861 at Tioga, Pa., in Co. G First Rifles or the 13th Reg’t. Pa. Reserves, known as the Bucktails. He was discharged from service at Harrisburg, Pa., July 21st, 1862 on account, the loss of his arm. In July 1861 while encamped at Cumberland, Md., he was detailed with a scouting party of 34 men under Lieut. Col. Kane to go 50 miles to a point near Romney at which place were encamped about 6000 rebels. The later, learning of the approach of the scouts, sent 400 cavalrymen to intercept them. The scouts, entrenched in brick and stone houses, repulsed the enemy killing seven and losing but one. That night Bailey was placed on picket by Col. Kane one mile out on the Romney Road, with orders to shoot, without previously halting, any armed men who might attempt to pass. Alone, in darkness, in woods infested with rattle and black snakes, he watched until one o’clock; then hearing horsemen in the road he was about to shoot when he was arrested by the voice of his comrade John F. Daily, who was accompanying Col. Kane on a tour of inspection. On July 16th he was one of a party of 200 who were surrounded in a stone house by 800-rebel cavalry. After a sharp skirmish, the latter retreated leaving their dead. In Sept., while at Harpers Ferry he was one of six pickets sent to guard a railroad terminal two miles above the town. Bailey and three others concluded to stand above instead of inside the tunnel and when the rebels came to capture the pickets, as was their custom, four of them were killed and the rest driven off by the pickets above the tunnel. Dec. 20th, at the battle of Drainsville Bailey’s bayonet scabbard was shot off. After the battle he took an overcoat off a dead rebel and sold the next day for $17.00. June 2nd, 1862 he was engaged in the raid on Strausburg when 69 men, who had been taken prisoners from Gen. Bank’s Division were recaptured. On June 6, at Harrisonburg, 104 Union men were engaged with over 3000 rebels. The loss of the former, in killed and wounded, was 52, while the later lost 559. Bailey was wounded four times resulting in the loss of his left arm. The fourth night after the amputation of his arm, while being taken to the hospital at Mt. Jackson, he lay all night beside a stone wall in a heavy rain without shelter. Bailey’s great-great grandfather, Sylvester Bailey, served in the Revolutionary War; his grandfathers, Capt. Joseph Wright and Cyrus Bailey, in the War of 1812; his brother, Capt. R.C. Bailey and himself in the War of the Rebellion; and his sons, Sergeant Ralph J. and Joseph O.W. enlisted for the American Spanish War. H.C. Bailey joined Gen. Mansfield Post No. 48 GAR May 20, 1878. He held the office of Commander six years, was adjutant 9 years, served also as Officer of Day and Officer of Guard.1
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1918 NUMBER 13
Mansfield Advertiser Scrapbook
A Rich Heritage of Love for “Old Glory”
Henry C. Bailey and his son, J. O. Wright Bailey, who is now in France, a member of Co. H. 23rd Engineers. This is one of the fighting families of Baileys. H. C. had a great-grandfather in the Revolutionary War; two grandfathers in the War of 1812; a brother in the Civil War; two sons in the Spanish-American War, one of who, J. O. W., is doing his bit in this war. Harrison C. Bailey was in the Civil War, enlisting at Harrisburg in 1862. He was wounded four times, one of these wounds resulting in the loss of his arm, and which caused his discharge. He is one of the local representatives of the famous regiment; John Dailey being the other.
There are people in this country who refer to their long line of English antecedents with pride—and justly, too. Again there are people who remind you that they had a father and a brother in the Civil War, and again too, they have a lot to be proud of. But just where is another example like this?
H. C. Bailey, of this place, can boast of a great-grandfather who served in the Revolutionary War; two grandfathers who served in the was of 1812; a brother who served throughout the Civil War and came out a captain; two sons who were in the service during the Spanish-American was, one attaining the rank of sergeant, and a son who is now in training at Camp Glenburnie, Md. And then Mr. Bailey was in the Civil War. He enlisted in 1861 and was discharged from service in 1862. He was wounded four times and one wound resulted in the amputation of an arm at the shoulder.
This explains why he was discharged. He was a member of Co. G, 1st Rifles, P. R. V. C., or the famous Bucktail Regiment of this state.
The above picture shows Mr. Bailey and his son, J. O. Wright Bailey. Wright Bailey, a member of Co. II, 23rd Engineers, although well below the age for draft, could not resist the “call” and left a good position so that he could again rally around Old Glory and help make the world safe for democracy.
H. C. Bailey is a citizen any community would be proud to claim and none more so than Mansfield. You know just where he stands on any question where the freedom he fought for is jeopardized, and he’s there with the goods when his services are needed. What better memorial could a family leave for itself that the war record of the Bailey Family.
Currently a resident of Burke, Virginia - I'm originally from the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I have been a student of the Pennsylvania Reserves since 1997 and thoroughly enjoy telling their story. By trade I'm a former IT Professional but presently working as a Letter Carrier for the United States Postal Service.
