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61st
Pennsylvania Infantry
Online Books
61st
Pennsylvania Infantry Soldier Roster - History of Pennsylvania
Volunteers, 1861-5, Volume 2 by Samuel P Bates, 1869
View Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| Sixty-first Infantry. — Cols., Oliver H. Rippey, George
C. Spear, George F. Smith, Robert L. Orr; Lieut.-Cols., George C. Spear,
George F. Smith, George W. Dawson, John W. Crosby, Robert L. Orr,
Charles S. Greene; Majs., George F. Smith, George W. Dawson, John W.
Crosby, Robert L. Orr, Charles S. Greene, Oliver A. Parsons. The 61st
regiment was recruited at Pittsburg in Aug., 1861, and was mustered in
at Camp Copeland on Sept. 7 for three years, numbering about 600 men.
Its colonel had served in the Mexican war and as lieutenant-colonel of
the 7th Pa. infantry in the three months' service. Such was the demand
for troops at this time that it proceeded to Washington before its ranks
were filled. Consolidated into six companies, it reported to Gen. Buell
at Bladensburg, in Feb., 1862, and while here four companies under Maj.
Spear were transferred to it from the 23d regiment, which had fifteen
companies, thus raising it to the maximum strength. It was assigned to
the 1st brigade, 1st division, 4th corps, and participated in much of
the severe fighting of the Peninsular campaign. It was present
throughout the siege of Yorktown, but arrived too late to see much of
the fighting at Williamsburg. It suffered heavily at the battle of Seven
Pines, losing 11 officers and 261 enlisted men and fighting with great
gallantry. Col. Rippey, Capt. Gerard, Lieuts. Moylan, Scott, Pollock and
Rhodes were among the killed, and Lieut.-Col. Spear and Maj. Smith were
wounded and captured, leaving the regiment without a field officer. It
was again active at Charles City cross-roads, Turkey bend and Malvern
hill, losing 2 officers and 32 men in the last named battle. It encamped
at Harrison's landing from July 2 to Aug. 16, when it moved to Yorktown
and thence by transport to Alexandria. On Sept. 2 it marched to
Chantilly, but was too late for the engagement. Soon afterward it moved
on the Maryland campaign and met with some loss at Antietam. It was
encamped at Downsville from Sept. 23 to Oct. 31, being there assigned to
the 6th corps, with which it remained until the close of its term of
service. It shared in the Fredericksburg campaign under Burnside, but
met with only slight loss. During the winter 1862-63 it was encamped on
the left bank of the Rappahannock, participating in the "Mud March" in
Jan., 1863. The following month, with four other regiments and Harn's
light battery, it was organized into the light division of the 6th
corps, intended for special service, to move quickly in emergencies.
With the corps, under Gen. Sedgwick, it shared in the severe fighting at
Fredericksburg, Marye's heights and Salem Church in the Chancellorsville
campaign. In the desperate and successful assault on Marye's heights,
the 61st led the storming column. Col. Spear being killed, and the total
loss of the regiments during the brief struggle was 3 officers and 74
men. As the light division had been greatly crippled during the severe
fighting, it was now broken up and the 61st was assigned to the 3d
brigade, 2nd division, 6th corps, with which it moved on the Gettysburg
campaign and arrived on that bloody field on the second day, after a
trying march, and immediately went into action. By reason of the
position assigned it, the 61st was not heavily engaged and met with
small loss. After the battle it shared in the pursuit of Lee and then
went into camp for a month at White Sulphur springs. During September it
was engaged with its corps in watching the movements of the enemy and in
October moved through Fairfax, Gainesville and New Baltimore to
Warrenton, where it encamped. In November it shared in the action at
Rappahannock Station and then went into winter quarters at Brandy
Station, where its ranks were filled by returning convalescents and
recruits. On May 5, 1864, it started on the Wilderness campaign, 500
strong, but in the almost constant fighting which ensued at the
Wilderness, Spottsylvania, the North Anna river and Cold Harbor the
regiment lost in killed, wounded and missing about 30 officers and 400
enlisted men. On June 16 it crossed the James river and shared in the
work of the siege of Petersburg until July 9, when it moved with its
corps by transport from City Point to the defense of Washington, then
menaced by Gen. Early. It fought at Fort Stevens, losing 6 killed and 26
wounded, including Lieut.-Col. Crosby, after which it engaged in the
pursuit of the enemy, encamping at Charlestown on Aug. 18. Three days
later it was engaged with loss at Flowing Spring, and soon after again
encamped at Charlestown. On Sept. 3, the original term of service having
expired, all the members except veterans and recruits, proceeded to
Philadelphia and were mustered out, the remaining members being
organized as a battalion of five companies, which lost heavily at the
battle of Winchester. Of 128 men in action, 22 were killed and wounded.
It was also engaged with loss at Fisher's hill and Cedar creek, where
the battalion was highly complimented for gallantry. Soon after this its
ranks were increased to 350 men by the accession of 180 drafted men and
the return of many of its wounded. On Dec. 3 it rejoined the army in
front of Petersburg and held a position on the Squirrel Level road until
the close of the siege. On March 2, 1865, two new companies were
received from Harrisburg, increasing the number of companies to nine,
and in January it received a beautiful flag presented by the citizens of
Philadelphia. On March 25, 1865, it participated with its division in
the assault on the outer lines of the enemy's fortifications, losing 18
in killed and wounded. It participated in the final assault on
Petersburg, April 2, losing in the short but sanguinary engagement a
number of men, among whom were Col. Crosby killed, and Lieut.-Col. Orr
wounded. The next day it started in pursuit of Lee's fleeing columns and
engaged the enemy under Longstreet at Sailor's creek for the last time.
Returning to Burkesville after the surrender, it escorted the captured
flags of the division to army headquarters. It reached Danville, Va., on
April 27, where it was detailed for provost duty until May 21 and then
returned to Washington by way of Richmond. On June 28, it was mustered
out at Washington, and then proceeded to Pittsburg, where the men were
paid and finally discharged from the service. It was essentially one of
the famous fighting regiments of Pennsylvania. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 1
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