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118th
Pennsylvania Infantry
Online Books
118th
Pennsylvania Infantry Soldier Roster - History of Pennsylvania
Volunteers, 1861-5, Volume 3 by Samuel P Bates, 1869
View Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| One Hundred and Eighteenth Infantry. — Cols., Charles
M. Prevost, James Gwyn; Lieut.-Cols., James Gwyn, Charles P. Herring;
Majs., Charles P. Herring, Henry O'Neill. The 118th, known as the Corn
Exchange regiment, because a bounty of $10 for each man as well as the
funds necessary for raising the regiment were furnished by the
Philadelphia Corn Exchange, rendezvoused at Camp Union, Philadelphia,
where it was mustered into the U. S. service on Aug. 30, 1862, for a
three years' term, and ordered at once to Washington. With the 1st
brigade, 1st division, 5th corps, it reached Antietam on Sept. 16 but
was held in reserve during the ensuing battle. At Blackford's ford, near
Shepherdstown, it received a baptism of blood on Sept. 20, and left 282
men on the field. Col. Prevost was made brevet brigadier-general for
gallantry in this battle. The regiment moved south in early November and
took part in the battle of Fredericksburg, where it joined in the
assault on Marye's heights and suffered severely. After the "Mud March,"
it returned to camp at Falmouth, which it occupied until April 27, 1863.
It was closely engaged at Chancellorsville and was in camp at Falmouth
until June 10, when the northward movement was commenced. It acted as
support in the cavalry engagements of Aldie, Upperville and Middleburg
and reached Gettysburg early on July 2. At 4 o'clock that afternoon it
went into action in support of Gen. Sickles' corps and was closely
engaged with considerable loss, but was inactive on the 3d. It then
joined in the pursuit which followed the battle and encountered the
enemy on July 4. At Warrenton in August and September about 300 recruits
were received, and after participation in the Mine Run campaign the
regiment went into winter quarters at Beverly ford. On May 1, 1864, it
started for the Wilderness, where it was engaged. It also fought at
Laurel Hill, the North Anna river, Mechanicsville, at Bethesda Church
and at Petersburg. During the siege of Petersburg the 118th remained in
the trenches until Aug. 15; then joined in the movement upon the Weldon
railroad; was posted near Yellow house in September; joined in the
Hatcher's run movement in October; the raid on the Weldon railroad in
December and the engagement at Dabney's mill in Feb., 1865. On April 1,
it participated in the battle of Five Forks and continued the pursuit to
Appomattox Court House, where its brigade received the arms and flags of
Lee's army. On April 15 it started for Washington, where it was mustered
out on June 1, 1865. The recruits were transferred to the 91st Pa.
infantry. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 1
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