Rash's Surname Index
Notes for Harlan GAUSE
A History of the Military Life of Harlan Gause
Harlan Gause was mustered into the United States Volunteers on Sept 5, 1862 as Captain of Company I, 4th Delaware Volunteers. The authority to raise this Regiment was granted by the Secretary of War to Col. A.H. Grimshaw, who commenced to recruit the Regiment early in 1862. This was on the account of the difficulty that Col. Grimshaw had in obtaining the requisite authority from the Democratic Governor of the State of Delaware, and Col. Grimshaw, by virtue of the authority imposed on him by the Secretary of War, appointed the officers of the 4th Delaware Regiment, and Captain Gause received in due time his commission from Governor Cannon.
He was present in all the engagements in which his Regiment participated, from the time of his muster September 5, 1862 until his final discharge on June 3rd, 1865, except when absent from sickness or on leave.
The many engagements and services participated in by the Regiment were the following at which Captain Gause was present:
The 4th Regiment Delaware Volunteers was placed in the defenses of Washington D.C. about November of 1862. It was from thence sent to Glouchester Point, Va., during the Christmas Holidays, and joined the command of Major-General E.D. Keys. The Regiment was in the Campaign against
Richmond, Va., and on the peninsula above Yorktown from early in June 1863, at which time dispatches from Washington recalled the Regiment to Yorktown.
From this point the Regiment was sent to Washington, D.C. with the view of protecting the capitol, and from thence to Fairfax C.H., Va., on outpost duty of the same character, during the Fall and Winter of 1863, and until the Spring of 1864. In May of 1864, the Regiment was ordered to join the Army of
the Potomac, and took the transports at Alexandria, Va., and proceeded to a point on the Rappahannock River, from whence it marched and joined the Army of the Potomac in time to participate in the battle of Bethesda Church, Va., on June 2 and 3, 1864. In this engagement, Lieutenant Richard H. Webb of his company was killed.
The Regiment was in the battle at Cold Harbor on the ensuing two days, and on the evening of the fifth of June, having maintained its position on the extreme right of the army, was withdrawn and marched to a position on the Chickahominy River. After continuous service in the front, of some two weeks,
the Regiment, with the Army of the Potomac was withdrawn from its position on the North side of the James River, and transferred by transports to the neighborhood of City Point with the rest of the army.
On the evening of June 16th and during the 17th of June, 1864, it was engaged with the enemy before Petersburg, Va., and on the 18th of June, advanced in conjunction with the other Regiments of the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 5th Army Corps, and after capturing two lines of fortifications, at about three
o'clock in the afternoon, made an assault upon the three lines of the enemy's entrenchments, upon which occasion the Union forces were repulsed with a heavy loss of men in killed and wounded. The Regiment then occupied the trenches in front of Petersburg, during the memorable siege of the city,
from the time the assault was made until the 30th of July 1864, at which time the enemy's fortifications, a little to the right of the regimental front, were blown up by a mine, which had been constructed from the Federal lines in front of the 9th Corps to the enemy's works. Having been under fire for upwards of six weeks, the Regiment was relieved and retired to a point in the rear of the Federal forces.
Captain Gause was with his Regiment when the 5th Army Corps moved out to the left of the Army on the 18th of August, 1864, and captured the Weldon Railroad, and participated in the engagements which for three days followed its capture.
In September of 1864, the Regiment was in the engagement at Preebles Farm in front of Petersburg, and in October of 1864 was detailed to attack anddestroy the W.W. Davis house, which was located within the enemy's picket lines, and infested with rebel sharpshooter.
The Regiment was so much reduced in strength at this time, that but about one hundred and twenty (120) men, excluding the Color Company, composed the entire Regiment present for duty, many of the companies not having more than ten men present for duty. This was a very exposed service, the Regiment losing heavily in proportion to the numbers engaged.
It arose from an offer on the part of a 2nd. Lieutenant on the Brigade Staff, offering to lead a detail of one hundred (100) men from the Regiment to perform the service. At the time the detail, it was found that the entire Regiment, after moving back the Color Company, would be required to make up the requisite number. Captain Kent, who was the senior office commanding the Regiment, declined to permit it to proceed upon this dangerous work under the command of the 2nd. Lieutenant, and demanded that he be accorded the right to lead the Regiment himself, which was granted. Captain Gause, Captain Smith and Captain Sloshenburg, and the officers of the detail whose companies were
taken in the detail, all protested against there commands being led by an officer inferior in rank to themselves, and demanded to be permitted to lead their own companies, which was acceded to, and the assault was make with this small detail, and at least eight officers, with their respective commands
ranking the 2nd Lieutenant, detailed at Brigade Headquarters to lead the charge. The charge was successful, and the house taken and burned to the ground. The loss was heavy, and it is said that there is no other instance recorded in the service during the war, where the entire regimental officers
were brevetted for a service of this character.
Captain Gause was present with his Regiment during the battle of Boynton Plank Road, March 1865, and at the battle of White Oak Road, March 30, 1865, both before Petersburg, Va., at the latter engagement, he was disabled by a spent musket-ball striking him on the ankle.
He also took part in the battle of Five Forks, Va., on March 31, 1865, acting in the capacity of Assistant-Adjutant-General on the staff of Brigadier General James Gwynn, who commanded the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 5th Army Corps.
He was present later at the surrender of the Rebel Army, under General Lee at Appomattox Court House, Va., the flag of truce being carried in, directly in front of his Division.
Captain Gause was appointed by the President, Brevet Major of United States Volunteers, on April 20, 1865, to rank as such form July 6, 1864.
He was also appointed by the President, Brevet Lieutenant Colonel of United States Volunteers, on June 15, 1865, to rank as such from April 1, 1865.
He was also commissioned by the State authorities, Major of the 4th Regiment Delaware Volunteers, form June 14, 1865.
Captain Gause was honorable discharged on June 3rd, 1865. at Arlington Heights, Virginia, by reason of the expiration of his term of service.
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