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63rd
Pennsylvania Infantry
Online Books
63rd
Pennsylvania Infantry Soldier Roster - History of Pennsylvania
Volunteers, 1861-5, Volume 2 by Samuel P Bates, 1869
View Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| Sixty-third Infantry. — Cols., Alexander Hays, A. S. M.
Morgan, William S. Kirkwood, John A. Danks; Lieut.-Cols., A. S. M.
Morgan, William S. Kirkwood, John A. Danks; Majs., Maurice Wallace,
William S. Kirkwood, John A. Danks, James F. Ryan, G. W. McCullough. The
63d regiment was mustered in at Pittsburg in Aug. and Sept., 1861, for
three years. It was recruited from the counties of Allegheny, Beaver,
Clarion, Venango and Mercer and was mustered into the U. S. service at
intervals during the above named months, four companies leaving for
Washington on Aug. 26, and the others near the close of September. Many
of the officers and men had served in the 12th infantry, Col. Hays
having been major of that organization, as well as a graduate of West
Point and a veteran of the Mexican war. It was assigned to the 3d
brigade (Col. Jameson), composed of Pennsylvania troops, Heintzelman's
division, and spent the entire winter near Fort Lyon engaged in drill
and picket duty. On March 5, 1862, Capt. Chapman of Co. K, and
Quartermaster Lysle were killed in a skirmish on the picket line — the
first men to fall in action. It had its full share of fighting
throughout the Peninsular campaign; shared in the siege of Yorktown;
arrived too late to be engaged at Williamstown ; was engaged with heavy
loss at Fair Oaks, holding the Williamsburg Road on the left in this
action; was again heavily engaged at Charles City cross-roads, where it
was highly commended for its gallantry by Gens. Kearny and Berry, and
was present but not active at Malvern hill. It remained with the army at
Harrison's landing until it moved to the support of Pope on the
Rappahannock, when it participated with its divison under Kearny in the
second Bull Run action, suffering heavily. Said Kearny in his report:
"The 63d Pa. and the 40th N. Y. under the brave Col. Egan, suffered the
most. The gallant Hays is badly wounded." It was engaged at Chantilly
and then was posted in the defenses of Washington until after the battle
of Antietam, when it moved to Poolesville, Md., performing scouting
duty, rejoined the army at Leesburg, and moved with it to Warrenton. At
Fredericksburg the 63d was upon the front line for 48 hours before it
was relieved. It then returned to its old camp at Falmouth; shared in
the "Mud March" of Jan., 1863; was heavily engaged at the battle of
Chancellorsville, where out of 330 men in action, 120 were reported
killed, wounded or missing, Col. Kirkwood being mortally wounded and
Maj. Danks captured. As a part of Sickles' (3d) corps, it participated
in the battle of Gettysburg, arriving on the battlefield on the evening
of the first day. Though occupying an exposed position for two days, its
loss was comparatively small. During the ensuing movement into Virginia,
it was engaged at Wapping heights. At Culpeper it received 300 drafted
recruits, and in the fall campaign of this year was active at Auburn
mills, Kelly's ford and Locust Grove. The winter of 1863-64 was spent at
Brandy Station and on May 3 it embarked on the Wilderness campaign,
assigned to the 2nd brigade (Gen. Hays), 3d division (Gen. Birney), 2nd
corps. At the battle of the Wilderness the regiment lost in two days 186
killed and wounded, Col. Danks being wounded, and Maj. McCullough and
the gallant Gen. Hays killed. From now on the fighting was almost
continuous, the regiment being engaged at Spottsylvania, the North Anna,
Totopotomoy and Cold Harbor. Crossing the James on June 14 near Windmill
point, it was engaged in the early assaults on Petersburg and lost
heavily in prisoners. On Sept. 9, 1864, the original members, except
veterans reenlisted, were mustered out of service, the veterans and
recruits being transferred to the 99th and thence to the 105th Pa. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 1
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