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73rd
Pennsylvania Infantry
Online Books
73rd
Pennsylvania Infantry Soldier Roster - History of Pennsylvania
Volunteers, 1861-5, Volume 2 by Samuel P Bates, 1869
View Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| Seventy-third Infantry. — Cols., John A. Koltes, G. A.
Muehleck, William Moore, Charles C. Cresson ; Lieut.-Cols., G. A.
Muehleck, William Moore, Michael A. Strong, Charles C. Cresson; Majs.,
Leopold Schott, Michael A. Strong, David A. Schultz, Charles C. Cresson,
Christian H. Goebel. The 73d regiment, known as the Pennsylvania Legion,
was recruited in Philadelphia during the summer of 1861 and in July,
August and September was mustered into the U. S. service for three
years. It rendezvoused on Engle's and Wolf's farms at Lemon hill and
left the state on Sept. 24, proceeding via Washington to Roach's mills,
Va., where it was assigned to Gen. Blenker's division. It moved thence
to Hunter's Chapel and Rose hill, where it received a set of colors at
the hands of Ex-Gov. Pollock in behalf of the ladies of Philadelphia,
and in November marched to Anandale. Its total enrolment in Jan., 1862,
was 855, which was increased to 1,205 on March 3, by the addition of
Cos. E and K and a number of men transferred from the 66th regiment,
then being disbanded, (q. v.). On March 10, it moved with the army on
the Manassas campaign and in May joined the Army of the Mountain
Department, commanded by Gen. Fremont, at Petersburg. It was in reserve
at the battle of Cross Keys ; was engaged in picket and guard duty until
July 20, at Luray, Thornton's gap and Sperryville; formed part of the
rear-guard of Pope's army in his retreat from the Rapidan; skirmished at
Freeman's ford ; lost heavily at the battles of Groveton and second Bull
Run, 216 being killed and wounded, the killed including Col. Koltes and
Capt. Brueckner; and remained thereafter in the fortifications of
Washington until the Fredericksburg campaign, arriving at Falmouth just
after the battle. It was inactive in winter quarters at Falmouth, with
the exception of the "Mud March" in Jan., 1863, until the opening of the
Chancellorsville campaign in April, when it was assigned to the 1st
brigade (Col. Bushbeck), 2nd division (Gen. Von Steinwehr), 11th corps
(Gen. Howard). Bushbeck's brigade, holding the extreme left of the 11th
corps at Chancellorsville, was heavily engaged and the 73d lost 13
killed, 54 wounded and 39 missing. Among the killed was Capt. Giltinan,
and among the wounded were Col. Moore, Lieut.-Col. Strong, Maj. Schultz
and Capt. Leibfried, the latter mortally wounded. It then encamped at
Falmouth until June 12, when it started on the Gettysburg campaign. It
arrived on the field of Gettysburg on the afternoon of the first day and
immediately went into action, checking the pursuit of the enemy when the
1st and 11th corps retired through the town from Seminary ridge. On the
two succeeding days it was posted on Cemetery hill, Capt. Kelly being in
command of the regiment in this battle in the absence of all the field
officers. Its loss was 8 killed and 26 wounded. It next moved with the
army into Virginia ; was for a time posted at Alexandria, guarding and
conducting drafted men to the front; rejoined its corps on Sept. 26, at
Bridgeport, Ala. ; remained there a month on guard and picket duty and a
number of successful foraging expeditions ; skirmished at Wauhatchie on
Oct. 27, and soon after moved to Chattanooga. Col. Moore, still
suffering from his wounds, was again obliged to relinquish the command
of the regiment, which was assumed by Lieut.-Col. Taft, of the 143d N.
Y., in the absence of any other field officers in the 73d. In the battle
of Missionary ridge the regiment suffered its greatest disaster. It
gallantly charged and drove the enemy on its front from his rifle-pits,
but its supports were repulsed and the 73d was in turn charged and
out-flanked by the enemy, who captured the entire command with the
exception of about 25 men. In addition to the killed, wounded and
missing, 8 officers and 89 men were taken prisoners. Capt. Kennedy, who
was among the captured, concealed the flag about his person and on his
return from his long imprisonment carried it safely home. It is now
carefully preserved with the other battle emblems of the state. The few
members who escaped capture, together with the wounded and detached men
who returned to the ranks, marched with Sherman to Burnside's relief and
later went into winter quarters near Chattanooga. In Jan., 1864, most of
them reenlisted and received the usual veteran furlough and on their
return, with a number of recruits, they were assigned to Bushbeck's
brigade, Geary's division, 20th corps under Gen. Hooker, and shared all
the fortunes of the White Star division in Sherman's Atlanta campaign,
his subsequent march to the sea, and the march northward through the
Carolinas. After Gen. Johnston's surrender it proceeded to Alexandria,
Va., and was there mustered out on July 14, 1865. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 1
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