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188th
Pennsylvania Infantry
Online Books
188th
Pennsylvania Infantry Soldier Roster - History of Pennsylvania
Volunteers, 1861-5, Volume 5 by Samuel P Bates, 1869
View Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| One Hundred and Eighty-eighth Infantry. — Cols., George
K. Bowen, John G. Gregg, Samuel I. Givin; Lieut. -Cols., George K.
Bowen, Francis H. Reichard, John G. Gregg, Samuel I. Givin, James Geiser;
Majs., Francis H. Reichard, John G. Gregg, James Geiser, Frederick A.
Reen. This regiment was organized at Camp Hamilton, near Fortress
Monroe, during the first two weeks of April, 1864, from the surplus
recruits of the 3d artillery. Within a short time about 900 men were
mustered into the U. S. service for a three years' term. Both Col. Bowen
and Lieut.-Col Reichard and most of the line officers were promoted from
the 3d artillery. More than 300 of the men had served in the reserve
corps before entering the 3d artillery and many others had served in
other organizations. On April 25 the regiment moved to Yorktown and was
assigned to the 3d brigade, 1st division, 18th corps. On May 4, it moved
by transport to Bermuda Hundred and suffered a loss of 2 killed at
Proctor's creek a few days later. It lost 11 killed and 60 wounded at
Drewry's bluff, or Fort Darling, and on June 1 joined the army of the
Potomac at Cold Harbor, where it went into action immediately after
getting into position on the right of the 6th corps. In the desperate
fighting there the regiment lost 24 killed, and a large number wounded
and missing. Capt. Moeller was among the killed, and Capt. Breel was
mortally wounded. It shared in the first fighting before Petersburg, and
remained for nearly two months on the right of the line, fronting Fort
Clifton. During this time, by reason of its exposed position, it
suffered a loss of 80 killed and wounded, while many more died of
disease. On July 5, it was joined by Co. F, which had been on detached
service at Drewry's bluff, and late in August it was moved to a position
on the Bermuda Front, remaining there until the close of September. In
the fierce assaults on Forts Harrison and Gilmer the regiment lost about
60 killed, and 100 wounded. Among the former was the gallant Capt.
Dickson, who had led the regiment through the fiery ordeal. About this
time, the regiment was assigned to 3d brigade, 3d division, 24th corps,
and received about 400 new recruits. The command remained in winter
quarters near Fort Harrison until the following April, the monotony of
camp life being only once disturbed, when it participated in an
expedition to Fredericksburg in March, 1865, and effected the
destruction of vast amounts of stores and property collected for the use
of the enemy. On April 3 it moved without opposition to Richmond and
assisted in subduing the fires which were raging in the Confederate
capital. Soon afterward it encamped at Manchester, across the river from
Richmond. On June 28 the recruits of the 199th Pa. infantry were
transferred to this regiment. It served by detachments on guard and
provost duty at various points in Virginia until Dec. 14, 1865, when it
was assembled at City Point, Va., and was there mustered out. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 1
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