Check out Pfanz's note #39 on p.521, "Gettysburg: The Second Day." He says there are several different accounts of Zook's wounding. One staff officer w/ Zook claimed Zook was hit by a ball ricocheting off of a boulder and also claimed that they were among some boulders at the time. Pfanz says that this if true, they would have been to the right of the stone shaft. The last few times I've been to the 'Burg I've checked out the area. It appears the area referred to is actually where the Wheatfield Road crosses the Stony Hill. Is this the "knoll" Pfanz refers to in his notes? If memory serves me correctly, this area is a fair distance (15-20 yards?) *west* of the site of Zook's marker. Then again, some boulders could have been removed when the Wheatfield Road was paved . . .
Esteemed member "Bradley Eide replies:
I worked up a little bio of Zook:
During the Seven Days battles, he had shown his enterprise early. Personally scouting far out in front of his men, he had gotten behind enemy lines and discovered the ruse of the Confederate general Dan Magruder, who was shifting troops ostentatiously back and forth in view of the Union lines to make his numbers seem larger than they really were. Zook reported the Rebels' deception back to headquarters, but McClellan overlooked the report, the enemy maintained their elaborate illusion, and the desperately thin defensive line in front of Richmond was never attacked.
"Colonel Zook, who was field officer of the day, came in and reported most of the enemy's force in front had disappeared. He crept out in advance of the picket line, and saw a whole lot of blacks parading, beating drums, and making a great noise; with true military instinct he concluded the enemy in front had gone to join in the attack on Porter and immediately rode in to Sumner and demanded permission to lead an attack... General Sumner was afraid to act on his own responsibility, but sent an aide to General McClellan to report the colonel's conclusion, and that was the last we heard about the matter." Favill, Diary of a Young Officer, p.131
Zook was promoted to Brigadier General and took over command of the whole brigade after Antietam. He led it in battle at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. At Fredericksburg, he was wounded during the attack on Marye's Heights, where he had a horse shot out from under him, and was praised in division commander Hancock's report for the "spirit" of his attack.
Zook was not present for the battle of Antietam. He assumed brigade command with the rank of Colonel. His promotion to brigadier general was due to his actions during the battle of Fredericksburg. He did have a horse shot from under him during the battle but the wounding, as far as I know, is not documented. In a letter dated Dec. 16, 1862 he mentions his horse being shot and his being "badly stunned but not seriously hurt."
Zook was a firm disciplinarian, a man known to be blunt, severe, and one who hated cowardice, but for all that, he was also known by the men who knew him as a good-hearted man.
Another characteristic of Zook's was his mastery of cursing. Many of the primary sources comment regarding his proficient use of the colorful language, from his early telegraph days to his cursing exchange with Hancock prior to Chancellorsville. Definitely not in keeping with his Menonite heritage.
Brad Eide
Esteemed member "Bradley Eide" It's March 27th(EST) and the 175th birthday of Samuel K. Zook!
The following short(?) bio is in honor of his birthday:
Samuel Kurtz Zook was born March 27, 1822 (It was later that he changed
his middle name to Kosciuszko). His interest in the military dates to an
early age, according to family history. As a boy, he enjoyed commanding
his schoolmates on the fortifications at Valley Forge around his home,
even to the point of 'arresting' his sister for failure to obey an order.
After his schooling he joined the Pennsylvania Militia. In late 1842
he was commissioned Adjutant of the 110th Regiment. But the state militia
could not provide a living, leading Zook to begin a career with the telegraph,
then in its early development stages. He was very proficient in working
the keys and also helped string the telegraph line between Norristown and
Philadelphia. Al Gambone relates an incident during this work:
"Soon after those telegraphic operations began, a break in the line
occurred somewhere west of Philadelphia. Zook, probably as the junior man,
was assigned the duty to ride to Norristown and walk back along the railroad
toward Philadelphia while searching for the line interruption. When he
finally found the severed wire, as instructed, Zook inserted another wire
into the ground and tapped upon it with the broken line to send a message
to the office. To determine if his comments were received back in Philadelphia,
Zook had been further instructed to stand in a puddle of water and lightly
touch his tongue with the exposed, severed wire leading back to the City
of Brotherly Love. Curious about the antics of this interesting looking
technician, some of the locals began to gather and watched Zook with something
approaching awe when, all of a sudden, the surge in the line touching his
tongue sent him reeling onto the ground and into the muddy water. The roaring
laughter of the observers only served to fire his anger the more and he
instantly shot back a message across the wires that was promptly described
as "the hugest of Pennsylvania profanity."...we learned our first lesson
in the danger of line testing and repair." Gambone, _The Life of General
Samuel K.
Zook_, p.61 He continued working with the telegraph and its expansion
west. While working on the telegraph in Mississippi, Zook wrote "The past
month has been wasted - utterly thrown away."(S.K. Zook letter to O'Reilly,
Dec.1, 1849) when the lack of sufficient funds prevented one of his foremen,
Jacob Campbell, from working. In 1851 Zook moved to New York City to manage
the telegraph office of the Atlantic & Ohio. By 1855 his profession
was as a broker and/or real
estate broker (scant info). He joined the New York Militia and was later
commissioned lieutenant colonel of the 6th Regiment, Governor's Guard on
June 11, 1855. When the Civil War began this unit volunteered as a 90 day
regiment. It was during this time Zook began contacting friends to help
him in his desire for an independent command. Charles Yates, in a letter
to the governor (May 16, 1861), wrote that if New York were to organize
three year regiments "...and appointments are to be made I can confidently
recommend Lt Col Zook...", Wm. Thompkins wrote, June 6th, to Governor Morgan
on Zook's behalf stating, "I say with emphasis, he has no superior, of
his rank; in this vicinity." After the 6th NY's 90 days, Zook was discharged
and was eventually given authorization to raise a regiment, which was to
become the 57th New York. During this period Zook sent a letter(dated 9/11/61)
to Capt. William Clark, responding to Clark's inquiry about joining the
new unit. In the letter Zook states: "...I am certain of a regt. Indeed
I have refused some (companies) ... I am determined to have none but gentlemen
for my officers & no amount of men will induce me to depart from this
determination. Some Colonels are so eager to get men they will receive
the most ignorant & vulgar loafers for officers to secure the men they
may have."
Zook was appointed colonel on Oct. 19, 1861 and his regiment was officially
designated the 57th New York. The 57th NY was eventually transferred to
Washington where they were assigned to French's brigade of Sumner's division
and went into winter quarters at Camp California. Shortly after achieving
his goal of forming a regiment, Zook began work on his next objective,
a general's star. "I am applying through some friends to be made Brigadier.
I suppose of course I won't succeed as I am neither a mason nor a politician."
(S.K.Zook in a letter to his brother-in-law dated Dec. 5, 1861). But raising
a regiment also had its cost for Zook as he wrote to one of his creditors,
"I feel my obligation to you and other friends & intend to liquidate
as fast as my pay will enable me to..." (S.K.Zook in a letter to E.B.Kinney,
Dec. 9.1861). From Washington, Zook and his regiment were transferred to
the Peninsula area of Virginia and took part in the campaign with McClellan.
On June 27, with Lee moving against McClellan at Gaines Mill, Zook's discovery
of the deception and troop movement by Magruder is mentioned by Favill:
"Colonel Zook, who was field officer of the day, came in and reported
most of the enemy's force in front had disappeared. He crept out in advance
of the picket line, and saw a whole lot of blacks parading, beating drums,
and making a great noise; with true military instinct he concluded the
enemy in front had gone to join in the attack on Porter and immediately
rode in to Sumner and demanded permission to lead an attack... General
Sumner was afraid to act on his own responsibility, but sent an aide to
General McClellan to report the colonel's conclusion, and that was the
last we heard about the matter." Favill, _Diary of a Young Officer_, p.131
He missed the battle at Antietam as he was on medical leave. All throughout
the war Zook had a severe problem with rheumatism. Some days it was so
severe he had trouble moving in the morning. For treatment, while on medical
leave, he went to Russian vapor-baths in New York. In order to remain in
the field Zook also took colchicine as a medication to help control the
rheumatism. His use (excessive, the medical community NOW knows) exacerbated
his health problems by adding intestinal disorders. Zook states he was
"...obliged to use colchicum to such an extent as seriously to impair the
functions of my bowels." (S.K. Zook letter to Potter dated 2/18/63)
His best performance, in my humble opinion, was at Fredericksburg. His
was one of the first brigades to arrive at Fredericksburg and he wanted
to cross as soon as possible. "Col. Zook's brigade ... seemed very anxious
to distinguish themselves. Last evening they took a position at the ford
opposite Fredericksburgh..."(Philadelphia "Inquirer", Nov. 18, 1862) The
inability to receive the pontoon bridges led to delaying until December
what could have been easily accomplished weeks earlier. "If we had had
the pontoons promised when we arrived here we could have the hills on the
other side of the river without cost over 50 men-- Now it will cost at
least ten thousand if not more." (S.K. Zook in letter Dec. 10, 1862) Zook
was appointed military governor of Falmouth while the Army of the Potomac
was encamped waiting for the pontoons. An advantage with the appointment
was that Zook was able to take up residence in a building in Falmouth instead
of in a tent. "...we move in a day or two & then I shall lose my Governorship
& my pleasant quarters & have to take to a cold tent once more."
(S.K. Zook in a letter to Ellie, his youngest sister, dated Dec. 4, 1862)
The pontoon bridges finally arrived and the Rappahannock was crossed
by the union troops several days prior to the assault upon Marye's Heights
on the 13th. The first union troops to advance against the confederates
behind the stone wall below Marye's Heights were those of General French.
As French's advance ground to a halt, Hancock's troops began their advance.
Zook, in command of the third brigade, was the first of Hancock's brigades.
He lost a horse from under him, was momentarily stunned, quickly recovered
and led his "...brigade further toward's the enemy's works than any other
of the ten which went in. Mine was the fourth brigade, but I carried it
over the other three clear beyond them all & kept it there till it
was relieved by Sykes who only brought his men up _behind_ mine & never
came up to the line, even after we had long since fired our last cartridge.
Now by God! if I don't get my star, I'm coming home." (S.K. Zook letter
to E.I. Wade, Dec 16, 1862). Zook was to earn his brigadier star for his
actions at Fredericksburg.
A memorable quote from Sam Zook is in a letter written immediately after
the battle of Fredericksburg in which he describes what war was and the
effect upon himself. "I walked over the field, close under the enemy's
picket line, last night about 3 o'clock. The ground was strewn thickly
with corpses of the heroe's who perished there on Saturday. I never realized
before what war was. I never before felt so horribly since I was born.
To see men dashed to pieces by shot & torn into shreds by shells during
the heat and crash of battle is bad enough God knows, but to walk alone
amongst slaughtered brave in the "still small hours" of the night would
make the bravest man living "blue". God grant I may never have to repeat
my last night's experience." (Zook letter to E.I.Wade, a friend in New
York, dated Dec. 16, 1862) Zook's rheumatism necessitated a 20 day medical
leave beginning in February, 1863. Shortly after his return, Zook was informed
of his confirmation as brigadier general. "General Hancock immediately
contributed a pair of stars, which we lost no time in sewing on his coat.."
Favill, _Diary of a Young Officer_, p.227
Zook mastery of "colorful" language, contrary to his Mennonite heritage,
is well documented. Favill, Zook's adjutant, stated that, with regards
to swearing, Zook "...always gives as good as he gets without fear of consequences..."(Favill,
p.223). An incident "...took place between Hancock and Zook while the 140th
was on the march to U.S.Ford, destined for Chancellorsville... It was the
greatest cursing match I ever listened to; Zook took advantage of Hancock,
by waiting until the latter got out of breath, and then he opened his pipe
organ, and the air was very blue." (T.Henry to J. Ray in letter dated Jan.29,
1902 : both were members of the 140th Pa.)
At Chancellorsville, several of his units were assigned to picket duty
along the east side of the Union formation. Since most of the action was
west and south of his deployment, Zook's involvement was limited. As the
Union line was pulling back from the Chancellor house toward the Rappahannock,
Zook gave orders to men of the 140th Pa. to aid in the withdrawal of a
battery of the 5th Maine. "...we advanced in double line of battle...at
such a pace that General Zook, who superintended our part of the advance
in person, could hardly keep his place ahead of the line." (Stewart, _140th
Pa_, p.69) After Chancellorsville, Zook went on leave in Washington. He
returned to his brigade as they began moving north toward Pennsylvania.
Zook felt his brigade was prepared for what might happen as he wrote his
father on June 28th, "The men are in good spirits, and will fight splendidly.
If Ewell is not reinforced before we reach him, he'll get warmed."
At Gettysburg, en route to the aid of the III and V Corps, Zook's brigade,
at the request of Tremain of Sickle's staff, was directed toward the wheatfield
to reinforce de Trobriand and fill in the gap near "Stony Hill" and the
rest of the III Corps. As Zook's brigade advanced toward the wheatfield
they had to pass through the brigades of Tilton and Sweitzer of the V Corps
which were moving in the opposite direction to reform along the edge of
the Trostle Wood's. In addition to the mixing of the three brigades complicating
Zook's orderly advance of his brigade, "The woods would have been thick
with smoke, company officers shouting orders, tree branches falling from
cannon shot, wounded from the Third Corps moving to the rear, soldiers
checking and clearing cones to reduce the risk of misfires, and noise from
the Third Corps fighting in their front." (Bertera & Oberholtzer, _The
4th Michigan Volunteer Infantry at Gettysburg_, 1997, p.74) As Zook led
his brigade up the "Stony Hill" his elevated position on horseback allowed
him to better view the movement of his men but also drew the attention
and resulting fire from the advancing men of the 3rd and 7th South Carolina
of Kershaw's troops. Zook was wounded and was moved behind the lines for
medical treatment. He spent some time at the Hoke Tollhouse on Baltimore
Pike and was later moved to a more distant (as yet unknown) location. He
died from his wound on the 3rd and is buried in Montgomery Cemetery in
Norristown, Pa. along with Gen. Hancock, Gen. Hartranft, and Gen. Slemmer.
Brad Eide