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69th
Pennsylvania Infantry
Online Books
69th
Pennsylvania Infantry Soldier Roster - History of Pennsylvania
Volunteers, 1861-5, Volume 2 by Samuel P Bates, 1869
View Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| Sixty-ninth Infantry. — Cols., Joshua T. Owen, Dennis
O'Kane, William Davis; Lieut-Cols., Dennis O'Kane, John Devereux, Martin
Tschudy, James Duffy, William Davis, James O'Reilly; Majs., John
Devereux, Martin Tschudy, James Duffy, William Davis, Patrick S. Tinen,
James O'Reilly, John M'Hugh. The 69th regiment, mostly composed of men
from Philadelphia, with a few from Schuylkill county, was mustered into
the U. S. service on Aug. 19, 1861, for three years. Its colonel had
commanded the 24th regiment in the three months' service, and most of
the members were Irishmen, robust and of fine physique. On Sept. 17,
1861, it left the state for Washington, and remained in the vicinity of
the capital engaged in the work of fortification and routine duties
until Feb. 22, 1862. In Oct., 1861, it was assigned to the famous
Philadelphia brigade, Col. E. D. Baker, Stone's division, Banks' army.
Col. Baker was killed at Ball's bluff, and Gen. W. W. Burns assumed
command of the brigade, Gen. Sedgwick at the same time superseding Gen.
Stone. In Feb., 1862, it was presented with a green flag by the citizens
of Philadelphia. When it moved on the Peninsular campaign its brigade
was designated the 2nd of the 2nd division, 2nd corps under Gen. Sumner.
In this campaign it shared in the siege of Yorktown ; was engaged with
small loss at Fair Oaks ; was hotly engaged at the Peach Orchard and
Savage Station, losing 2 killed, 6 wounded, and 9 prisoners ; behaved
with great gallantry at Charles City cross-roads ; and was complimented
by Gen. Hooker for making "the first successful bayonet charge of the
war." Its loss here was 7 killed, 22 wounded and 5 captured. It was
again in action at Malvern hill, then moved to Centerville, Gen. Howard
taking command of the brigade. It suffered a small loss at Chantilly,
but was heavily engaged at Antietam, losing 3 officers and 18 men
killed, 3 officers and 54 men wounded, and 1 officer and 9 men
prisoners. It skirmished at Snicker's gap in October, and on Nov. 15,
went into camp at Falmouth, where Col. Owen was promoted to
brigadier-general and Lieut. -Col. O'Kane became colonel. It lost
heavily at Fredericksburg, where it behaved with its usual gallantry. It
was not actively engaged at Chancellorsville, but skirmished lightly at
Thoroughfare gap and at Haymarket in June, 1863, and arrived at
Gettysburg at the close of the first day. Its losses during the next two
days were enormous. Of 258 officers and men who went into action, it
lost 6 officers and 32 men killed, 7 officers and 76 men wounded, and 2
officers and 16 men prisoners, a total of 143. Both Col. O'Kane and
Lieut.-Col. Tschudy were among the killed. After joining in the pursuit
of Lee's army into Virginia, it was variously employed in the ensuing
fall operations in reconnoissances, guard and picket duties, and shared
in the Mine Run campaign with some loss. Winter quarters were
established at Stevensburg, where the veterans who had reenlisted were
given the usual furlough in March, 1864, and were presented with a new
green flag in Philadelphia, the old one being deposited in Independence
Hall. In May, 1864, it moved on the spring campaign ; was heavily
engaged at the Wilderness, Po river, Spottsylvania, where Lieut.
M'Anally of Co. D captured a stand of colors in a hand-to-hand
encounter, the North Anna, Totopotomy and Cold Harbor, where the return
of the veterans, together with the recruits, brought the regimental
strength up to 300. It crossed the James river on June 14 and was
immediately brought under fire ; lost heavily a week later on the
Jerusalem plank road ; was in reserve at the explosion of the mine on
July 30; supported the cavalry at Reams' station in August; was heavily
engaged there on the 25th, Col. Davis being among the wounded; suffered
severely at Hatcher's run in October ; fought at Dabney's mills on Feb.
5, 1865 ; and led the assault on the Petersburg works on March 25,
carrying and holding a portion of the intrenchments. On the 29th it
started on the final campaign, being engaged at Jetersville and High
bridge, and was at Clover hill when the surrender was announced. It was
finally mustered out at Ball's cross-roads, opposite Washington. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 1
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