Matthew Stanley Quay was born on 30 September
1833, in Dillsburg, Pa. His father was a Presbyterian minister
who rode the circuit in western Pennsylvania, Ohio and western
Virginia. His devout father labored diligently in a number of
religious activities which kept the family in tight financial
straights. Quay was brought up with hardship and disappointment,
but also with a strong model of motivation.
Quay was educated in Beaver and Indiana, Pa. for his primary schooling and then entered Jefferson College, graduating at the age of seventeen. Before the Civil War, Jefferson College was a popular school with Southern families. Quay made a number of Southern friends and went South after graduation to see the country and try to earn a living.
In Mississippi, Quay and a friend tried their hands as traveling lecturers. The duo's careers were brought to a merciful close when their equipment broke. On another trip south, Quay tried to start a school, unsuccessfully.
Penniless, Quay returned home and began to study law. In 1854, he was admitted to the Bar in beaver County, and was married. Both his wife and his profession permanently connected him to the small town of Beaver. This connection lasted the rest of his life. In 1855, Quay was appointed to complete the term of the Prothonotary of the county. This rather humble beginning to his political career created the third major influence of his life; politics.
When the Civil War began, Quay realized that his polidcal future would depend on his wartime activity. The most important thing he could do was defend his country. Quay was appointed Lieutenant Colonel of Pa. Volunteers, thanks mainly to his efforts in helping Andrew Curtain get elected Governor. Serving as Assistant Commisionary General brought his efficiency to the attention of the Governor, who asked Quay to serve as his secretary. This was an advancement in state politics.
Quay still wanted to see combat duty and asked the for a combat commission. On 20 August, 1862, Quay was commissioned a Colonel of the 134th Pennsylvania Volunteers. The regiment reached the Army of Potomac on 18 September of that year, along the Antietam Creek, one day after the battle. The soldiers of the 134th fully expected to fight the decisive battle of the war the next day. instead of fighting that battle, Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia retired into Virginia, and George \IcClellan was glad to see them go.
As McClellan embarrassed President Lincoln by remaining inactive, Quay contracted typhoid fever and was hospitalized. Both were given ultimatums. McClellan was ordered to advance and give battle or be replaced. Quay was ordered to go home or die. McClellan refused and was replaced by Ambrose Burnside. Quay obeyed and wrote a letter of resignation. As the paperwork was being processed, the Army of Potomac finished its preparations for the Battle of Fredericksburg. As Quay was as packing his bag to go home, the 134th was put on alert. Declaring his preference for death on the battlefield to being called a coward, Quay requested to be reinstated. This wasn't possible since his resignation was already accepted, so he served as aide-de-camp to General Tyler However, Quay went into battle with his regiment as though he still commanded it.
On the 13th of December, 1862, one of the most lopsided battles of the war was fought at Fredericksburg. The bloodiest, and most cridcal part of the battle occurred on Maryes Heights. This was where the 134th Pa. Volunteers got their baptism of fire. They were baptized with blood, (half of them were shot that day).
This painting
is of Union soldiers charging the Confederate position on Maryes
HeightsThe Confederate defense on Maryes Heights was anchored along a sunken road, an old farm lane which sank deeper with each rain. The road became a natural trench, protected by a stonewall to its front. The Confederate position was nearly unassailable. The Union troops would have to cross half a mile over open country, with no protection, against an enemy behind an entrenched position. From the start, they would come under artillery fire, and as they approached the wall, from 300 yards, the Confederates would be able to shoot, theoretically, 120,000 bullets each minute. The Union troops had to march all that distance shoulder to shoulder, while facing those bullets. Matthew Stanley Quay could have been on his way home. Instead, he was about~ to lead a charge against that position.
There had alreacly been five charges against Maryes Heights when the 134th got their orders to advance. The field was covered with bodies in blue uniforms. Many were wounded and crawling, which gave the field a surreal look. As the 134th moved across the field, the wounded Union troops grabbed their legs in an attempt to keep them from assaulting the wall. Quay ordered the men, ""March over them, tramp them down." Quay advanced on horseback, explaining that if he didn't get shot, they had nothing to fear. The gallantry of these troops is unsurpassed in the annals of U.S. military history. The last assault came to within 30 yards of the wall. This was the closest any assault came that day, but was doomed to fail against such a strong position.
For his gallant leadership and bravery on the 13th of December 1862, Matthew Stanley Quay was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.
