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138th
Pennsylvania Infantry
Online Books
138th
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 Thirty-eighth Infantry. — Cols.,
Charles L. K. Sumwalt, M. R. McClennan ; Lieut.-Cols., M. R. McClennan,
Lewis A. May; Majs., Lewis A. May, Simon Dickerhoof. The 138th was
composed of men from the counties of Montgomery, Adams, Bedford and
Bucks, and was mustered into the U. S. service at Camp Curtin,
Harrisburg, during the latter part of August and the first part of
Sept., 1862, for a term of three years. On Aug. 30, 1862, before the
regimental organization was completed, it moved to Baltimore and was
there employed in guarding the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, with
headquarters at the Relay house until the middle of June, 1863, when it
moved to Harper's Ferry, where it was assigned to Elliott's brigade of
French's division. On the evacuation of Harper's Ferry on July 1, it
moved to Washington, thence to Frederick, Md., and joined in the pursuit
of Lee as part of the 3d corps. It was under fire but not active at
Wapping heights and during the remainder of the fall shared in the
various marches and counter- marches during the Virginia campaign, being
engaged at Brandy Station with small loss, and in the Mine Run campaign
at Locust Grove, where it behaved with great gallantry and repulsed
repeated charges, losing 7 killed, 45 wounded and 3 missing, Col.
McClennan being among the wounded. It then went into winter quarters at
Brandy Station, Col. McClennan resuming command on March 13, 1864, and
on May 3 it moved on the spring campaign, attached to Seymour's brigade,
Rickett's (3d) division, 6th corps. It suffered severely at the
Wilderness, losing 27 killed, 94 wounded and 35 missing. It shared in
the fighting at Spottsylvania, but its losses there were small, as it
was not heavily engaged. At Cold Harbor it shared in the gallant
assaults of the division, losing 7 killed, 54 wounded and 7 missing.
Crossing the James, it went into the trenches at Bermuda Hundred; later
joined its corps before Petersburg; shared in the movement on the Weldon
railroad at Reams' station; and moved with its division in July to
Monocacy, where it was hotly engaged against the forces under Early on
the 9th, its losses in the battle being 68 killed, wounded and missing.
After rejoining its corps, it shared in the various maneuvres between
Washington and the Shenandoah Valley. Gen. Sheridan now assumed command
of the Army of the Shenandoah, composed of the 6th, 8th and 19th corps.
The 138th formed part of the cavalry support at Smithfield ; was
actively engaged at the Opequan and Fisher's hill, losing in the two
engagements 46 killed, wounded and missing; shared in the pursuit of the
enemy to Harrisonburg; returned with the army and encamped at Cedar
creek, where it was warmly engaged in the battle in October, losing 42
killed and wounded. In the early part of November the regiment was
encamped at Philadelphia and then returned to Winchester. In December it
moved with its corps to Petersburg and was detailed as garrison for Fort
Dushane. While stationed there it received a Christmas present of a
beautiful stand of colors from the "loyal citizens of Norristown and
Bridgeport, Pa." On April 1, 1865, it rejoined the corps and on the 2nd
shared in the final assault on the enemy's works at Petersburg. It then
joined in the pursuit of Lee's army, taking a large number of prisoners.
It was active at Sailor's creek, where it fought its last battle. After
the surrender of Lee, it made a forced march with its corps to Danville,
Va., but was not needed by Gen. Sherman, so it returned to Richmond and
proceeded thence to the vicinity of Washington, where it was finally
mustered out of service on June 23, 1865. The total enrollment of the
regiment was 955. It had 51 killed in action, 339 wounded, 31 missing.
Killed and died of wounds during service 94, died by disease and
accident 54, captured 48. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 1
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