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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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