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58th
Pennsylvania Infantry
Online Books
58th
Pennsylvania Infantry Soldier Roster - History of Pennsylvania
Volunteers, 1861-5, Volume 2 by Samuel P Bates, 1869
View Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| Fifty-eighth Infantry. — Cols., J. Richter Jones,
Carlton B. Curtis, Cecil Clay; Lieut.-Cols., Carlton B. Curtis,
Montgomery Martin, Charles A. Winn, Cecil Clay, Robert C. Redmond; Majs.,
Montgomery Martin, Henry Metcalf, Charles A. Winn, Cecil Clay, Robert C.
Redmond, Joseph E. Johnson. The 58th regiment was organized at
Philadelphia from Sept. 21, 1861, to March 1, 1862. Companies A, B, C, D
and K were recruited from Philadelphia and vicinity by J. Richter Jones
and consolidated with companies E, F, G, H and I recruited in Warren,
McKean, Cameron, Clinton, Northumberland, Luzerne and Potter counties by
Carlton B. Curtis. Each had been authorized by the governor to raise a
regiment and they combined their forces to form the 58th, which left the
state for Fortress Monroe in two detachments on March 8, 1862, arriving
on the day of the contest between the Merrimac and Monitor and going
into camp at Camp Hamilton. On May 10 the regiment embarked for an
expedition to Norfolk, under command of Gen. Wool, and after performing
provost guard duty in Norfolk for a few days moved to Portsmouth, where
it remained on guard duty until Oct. 11. Ordered then to Suffolk it
encamped there until Jan., 1863, sharing meanwhile in two expeditions to
the Blackwater river. On Jan. 5, 1863, it moved with the force under
Gen. Foster to Beaufort, N. C., and went into camp at Batchelder's Creek
Station, 8 miles west of New Berne. On Feb. 12 it surprised a
Confederate camp at Sandy ridge, capturing 143 prisoners. It was engaged
with the enemy on the Neuse road in April, at Cone creek on the Dover
road a few days later, and took part in the Dover road action on April
28. In the action at Gum swamp in May it shared in the capture of the
enemy's works, 125 prisoners, 1 gun, many small arms, and valuable
stores being taken. In a skirmish at Batchelder's creek the following
day, Col. Jones was killed and was succeeded by Lieut.-Col. Curtis. Said
Gen. Foster : "Col. Jones won the admiration of all in this department
by the indefatigable, able and gallant manner with which he filled the
arduous duties of commander of the outposts." On May 24 the 58th moved
to New Berne and on June 27 to Washington, N. C, where it remained on
garrison and provost duty until the evacuation of the place in April,
1864, sharing meanwhile in a number of expeditions into the interior. On
May 1 it joined Gen. Butler's army, then being organized at Yorktown to
operate against Richmond. It was assigned to the 3d brigade, 1st
division, 18th corps, and participated in the campaign south of the
James, being sharply engaged with the enemy on the 9th, with a loss of
20 killed and wounded, and aiding in the destruction of the Petersburg &
Richmond railroad. With its corps it joined Grant's army at Cold Harbor
and in the action there suffered a loss of 35 killed and wounded. It was
again heavily engaged on the 3d in the grand assault and suffered
considerable loss. Remaining at the front until June 13, it returned by
transport to Bermuda Hundred, crossed the Appomattox and shared in the
first assaults in front of Petersburg. It was then relieved and returned
to Point of Rocks. The reenlisted men had never received their veteran
furlough and on June 24 went to Pennsylvania to enjoy their long delayed
respite, being given 20 days additional. The recruits and members who
had not reenlisted, remained on picket and fatigue duty, under command
of Capts. Leiper and Jackson, until the veterans, together with new
recruits, returned to the front on Aug. 25. With the 188th Pa., it was
selected to lead the desperate assault on Fort Harrison, where in the
fierce onset, the regimental colors repeatedly fell, but were finally
planted upon the parapet by Capt. Cecil Clay. Its loss here was 6
officers and 128 men out of 9 officers and 228 men engaged. On the
afternoon of the same day, with the 188th Pa., it attacked the "Star
Fort," scaled the ramparts and spiked the guns, but was forced to
retire, its supports failing it. It was now employed in guard, picket
and fatigue duty; shared without loss in the action at Fair Oaks in
October and at Spring Hill in December; bore an honorable part in the
final campaign which resulted in the evacuation of Petersburg and
Richmond and the surrender of Lee; and on the close of hostilities
served by detachments in southern Virginia until the end of 1865. It was
mustered out at City Point, Va., Jan. 24, 1866. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 1
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