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155th Pennsylvania Infantry

Online Books
155th Pennsylvania Infantry Soldier Roster - History of Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-5, Volume 4 by Samuel P Bates, 1869     View Entire Book

Regimental History
One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Infantry. — Cols., Edward J. Allen, John H. Cain, Alfred L. Pearson; Lieut. -Cols., James Collard, John H. Cain, A. L. Pearson, John Ewing; Majs., John H. Cain, A. L. Pearson, John Ewing, J. Andrew Cline. The 155th regiment, composed of eight companies from Allegheny county and two from Clarion county, was mustered into the U. S. service at Harrisburg and Pittsburg, during August and the early part of Sept., 1862, for three years. The Allegheny county companies rendezvoused at Camp Copeland, near Pittsburg, and moved to Harrisburg, Sept. 3, where they were joined by Cos. G and H and a regimental organization was effected. Immediately after its organization, it left the state for Washington, where it arrived only a few days after the second battle of Bull Run, and went into the defenses of the capital, being assigned to the 2nd brigade, Col. Allabach, 3d division, Brig.-Gen. Humphreys, 5th corps, Gen. Butterfield. It was in reserve during the battle of Antietam, but was heavily engaged at the battle of Fredericksburg, which was its first battle and its loss sustained in the charge on the stone wall at the foot of Marye's heights was 68 killed, wounded and missing. It was not heavily engaged at Chancellorsville, losing 3 killed, 10 wounded and 1 missing. The nine months' regiments with which the 155th had been brigaded were now mustered out and it was assigned to the 3d brigade, Gen. Weed, 2nd division, Gen. Ayres, 5th corps, Gen. Sykes. It arrived on the battlefield of Gettysburg on the morning of July 2, and after being held in reserve for a time was hurried with its division to occupy Little Round Top. The 155th gained the summit of the rocky fastness and continued to occupy this position throughout the third day of the battle, its losses being 6 killed and 13 wounded. It shared in the pursuit of the enemy and also took part in the various movements and skirmishes of the fall campaign, being active at Rappahannock Station and at Mine run. On the close of the campaign it was posted along the Orange & Alexandria railroad. Cols. Allen and Cain having resigned, Lieut.-Col. Pearson was promoted to colonel. Under his command the regiment became proficient in the French skirmish and bayonet drill, and in their French Zouave uniforms the men attracted much attention. Before moving on the Wilderness campaign, it became a part of Ayres' (1st) brigade, Griffin's (1st) division, 5th corps. Its losses at the Wilderness were 7 killed, 42 wounded, including Capt. Stewart and Lieut. Johnston, and 6 missing. In the operations at Spottsylvania Court House it again met with heavy loss, having 8 killed, 51 wounded and 2 missing. Its losses at the North Anna river and at Totopotomy were 2 killed and 15 wounded. On June 6 its brigade became the 1st brigade of the 2nd division and in the operations at Bethesda Church and Cold Harbor it lost 11 wounded and 1 missing. In the assault on the works at Petersburg June 16, the regiment lost 83 killed and wounded in the space of 10 minutes. It participated in the movements at Six-mile house in August, and was later engaged at Peebles' farm, where Col. Pearson, for gallantry in leading his men, was promoted brevet brigadier-general. It was warmly engaged but with only small loss at Hatcher's run near the end of October, and shared in the Weldon railroad expedition in December. In the action at Dabney's mill in Feb., 1865, it suffered severely and displayed great gallantry. It moved on its final campaign, March 29, 1865, and was highly complimented by Gen. Meade for its gallantry at the Quaker road and Gravelly run, and Gen. Pearson was brevetted major-general. It was active at the battles of Five Forks and Sailor's creek, and after Lee's surrender returned to the vicinity of Washington, where it was mustered out on June 2, 1865. Proceeding to Pittsburg, it was given a great public reception, and here the men were finally paid and discharged.

Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing Company, 1908 - Volume 1

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