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52nd
Pennsylvania Infantry
Online Books
52nd
Pennsylvania Infantry Soldier Roster - History of Pennsylvania
Volunteers, 1861-5, Volume 2 by Samuel P Bates, 1869
View Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| Fifty-second Infantry. — Cols., John C. Dodge, Jr.,
Henry M. Hoyt, J. B. Conyngham; Lieut.-Cols., Henry M. Hoyt, J. B.
Conyngham, John A. Hennessy; Majs., J. B. Conyngham, Thomas B. Jayne,
John A. Hennessy, George R. Lennard. On Aug. 1, 1861, John C. Dodge,
Jr., formerly captain in the 11th infantry, three months' service, was
authorized by Gov. Curtin to recruit this regiment. The men rendezvoused
at Camp Curtin, Harrisburg, coming principally from the counties of
Luzerne, Clinton, Wyoming, Union, Bradford, and Columbia, and were
mostly well formed, hardy, young men, familiar with the use of the
rifle. The Wyoming cornet band of Wilkes Barre of 16 pieces, accompanied
the regiment, which completed its organization on Nov. 5, 1861. On the
8th it left for Washington, where it went into camp on Kalorama heights,
and in January went into winter quarters on Meridian hill, being
temporarily brigaded with the 104th Pa., 56th N. Y., and 11th Me. Later
the 52nd was assigned to the 1st brigade (Gen. Naglee), 3d division
(Gen. Casey), 4th corps (Gen. Keyes). It left for the front on March 28,
1862, sailing to Newport News ; moved thence to Lee's mill ; shared in
the siege of Yorktown ; was engaged at Williamsburg and Fair Oaks,
losing in the last named battle one-half of the 240 officers and men who
went into action. A company of sharpshooters of 100 men from the 52nd,
commanded by Capt. G. P. Davis, achieved distinction in this campaign.
During the famous Seven Days' battles Gen. Naglee's brigade rendered
highly important service in holding the railroad and Bottom's bridges
over the Chickahominy, and the White Oak swamp bridge. Says Gen. Naglee
in his report: "Thus for seven days were the men of my brigade
constantly on duty. On the 26th, 27th, 28th, and 29th of June the safety
of the army depended on our holding the railroad and Bottom's bridges,
and on the 30th upon holding the bridge at White Oak swamp. Many, day
and night for four days, stood to their middle in water of the
Chickahominy swamp, and all impressed with the responsible duty required
of them, served their country in this hour of trial, enduring the most
excessive labor, fatigue and exhaustion with extraordinary endurance and
cheerfulness." On Aug. 20 it arrived at Yorktown with its brigade and
while here the men were trained as heavy artillerists. In December it
reported to Gen. Foster, in North Carolina, and in the latter part of
Jan., 1863, sailed to Port Royal, S. C. Early in April the 52nd moved up
the North Edisto river to within 12 miles of Charleston, but the naval
attack on the city having failed, it returned to Beaufort, then moved to
Folly island and later to James island, where it engaged the enemy at
Secessionville during the siege of Fort Wagner. From this time on it
shared in the siege of Fort Wagner. In December a large portion of the
men reenlisted and went home on veteran furlough. On their return the
regiment, recruited to 1,000 strong, remained at Hilton Head, making an
occasional raid into the interior. On July 3, 1864, in an assault on
Fort Johnson, it lost 7 killed, 16 wounded and more than 100 captured.
It remained on Morris island during the summer and fall of 1864, and
performed picket duty as boat infantry in the harbor through the winter.
After the evacuation of Charleston, the 52nd joined Sherman's army in
its march through the Carolinas and after Johnston's surrender it served
for a few weeks at Salisbury, N. C. It was finally mustered out at
Harrisburg, Pa., July 12, 1865. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 1
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