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149th
Pennsylvania Infantry
Online Books
149th
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 Forty-ninth Infantry. — Cols., Roy
Stone, John Irvin ; Lieut.-Cols., Walton Dwight, John Irvin, James
Glenn; Majs., George W. Speer, John Irvin, James Glenn, Edwin S.
Osborne. This regiment (Bucktail) was recruited in the late summer of
1862 from the counties of Potter, Tioga, Lycoming, Clearfield, Clarion,
Lebanon, Allegheny, Luzerne, Mifflin and Huntingdon, and was mustered
into the U. S. service at the general camp of rendezvous in the month of
August for a three years' term. Such had been the efficient service
rendered during the first year of the war by the original Bucktails, the
42nd of the line, a strong demand arose for a Bucktail brigade from the
state. Maj. Stone of the 42nd was accordingly authorized by the
secretary of war in July, 1862, to proceed to the state and raise such a
brigade. Within 20 days twenty companies were organized, which formed
the 149th and 150th regiments, and there was a good prospect of raising
a third and even a fourth regiment, when the Confederate army suddenly
invaded Maryland and the two regiments already organized were
immediately ordered to Washington. The men of the 149th were of fine
physique, accustomed to the rifle, and wore the bucktail, as did the
original regiment of that name. It remained on duty in the vicinity of
Washington until the middle of Feb., 1863, when it joined the Army of
the Potomac at Belle Plain, Va., and was there assigned to Stone's (2nd)
brigade, Doubleday's (3d) division, Reynolds' (1st) corps. It was in
position on the right of the line at Chancellorsville, but was only
lightly engaged and suffered no loss. It arrived on the field of
Gettysburg at 11 o'clock a. m. on the first day of the battle and at
once went into position on the ridge in front of the seminary, near the
Chambersburg pike. It maintained its position with great heroism
throughout the first day until the whole line retreated through the
town. Its heaviest losses were sustained in the fierce fighting of this
day, though it was fearfully exposed during the great artillery duel of
the third day. It lost 53 killed, 172 wounded and 111 captured or
missing, a total of 336. Among the severely wounded were Col. Stone,
commanding the brigade, and Lieut.-Col. Dwight, the regiment. It moved
with the army in pursuit of Lee and did not bear an important part in
the minor engagements of the fall campaigns. While in winter quarters
near Culpeper, it received a large number of recruits, mostly
conscripts. On May 4, 1864, it moved on the Wilderness campaign and
fought at the battles of the Wilderness, Laurel hill, the North Anna,
Totopotomy, Cold Harbor and the first assaults on Petersburg. Its losses
were enormous from the beginning of the campaign up to the end of July,
amounting to 34 killed, 249 wounded and 121 missing, a total of 404. It
was active in the work of the siege until the middle of August, when it
was engaged with its corps on the Weldon railroad, suffering some loss.
Three weeks were then spent in fortifying, when it was relieved and held
in reserve until Oct. 1. It was present, but not active in the
engagement at Peebles' farm ; fought at Hatcher's run in October ;
shared in the raid on the Weldon railroad in December; and fought its
last engagement at Dabney's mill in Feb., 1865, after which it was
ordered north and was engaged in guarding the prison camp at Elmira, N.
Y., until the close of its term of service. It was mustered out at
Elmira on June 24, 1865, and proceeded to Harrisburg, Pa., where the men
were paid and finally discharged. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 1
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