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203rd
Pennsylvania Infantry
Online Books
203rd
Pennsylvania Infantry Soldier Roster - History of Pennsylvania
Volunteers, 1861-5, Volume 5 by Samuel P Bates, 1869
View Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| Two Hundred and Third Infantry. — Cols., John W. Moore,
Oliver P. Harding, Amos W. Bachman; Lieut.-Cols., Jonas W. Lyman, A. W.
Bachman, Benjamin Brooke; Majs., Oliver P. Harding, Michael J. Cooke.
This regiment, from the counties of Lycoming, Lancaster, Chester and
Delaware and the city of Philadelphia, rendezvoused at Camp Cadwalader,
Philadelphia, and was mustered into the U. S. service during the latter
half of August and the first half of Sept., 1864, for one year. It was
recruited at the suggestion of Gen. Birney to serve as sharpshooters,
but served as an ordinary infantry regiment. The entire field and staff
were veteran officers. It left the state for the front on Sept. 22,
arrived before Petersburg on the 27th, and was assigned to the 2nd
brigade, 2nd division, 10th corps. During the engagement at New Market
heights, late in September, it performed provost duty at Deep Bottom,
escorted prisoners to the rear and picketed Malvern hill. Then moving up
to the front it shared in the engagement on the Darbytown road in
November, and was again engaged with some loss later in the month. On
the reorganization of the army of the James it was assigned to the 2nd
brigade, (Col. Pennypacker) 2nd division, (Gen. Ames) 24th corps, and
early in December proceeded to Fortress Monroe as part of the force
destined for the attack on Fort Fisher, N. C. It was not engaged in the
first attack, but shared in the glory of the final capture of the fort
in Jan., 1865, Ames' division being selected to lead the desperate
assault and the 203d did its full share in the seven hours of bloody
fighting, losing 46 killed and 145 wounded. Among the former were Col.
Moore, Lieut. -Col. Lyman, Capt. Smallwood and Lieut. Hart. In his
official report Gen. Ames said of Col. Moore: "He behaved with the most
distinguished gallantry. He was killed within the fort, in advance of
his regiment. Few equalled, none surpassed this brave officer." The
regimental flag had more than 80 rents in it made by bullets and grape
shot. After the capture of Fort Fisher the regiment was not again in
action until the engagement at Sugar Loaf Battery, Federal Point, N. C,
Feb. 11, 1865. It moved with the 24th corps in its advance on
Wilmington, being actively engaged when the town was evacuated by the
enemy. Early in March it moved to Goldsboro, where a junction was
effected with Gen. Sherman's army while the battle of Bentonville was in
progress. It now guarded the railway for a time at Faison's station; was
advanced with the army towards Raleigh in April, and after Johnston's
surrender was assigned to duty at Raleigh, where it was finally mustered
out on June 22, 1865. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 1
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