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75th
Pennsylvania Infantry
Online Books
75th
Pennsylvania Infantry Soldier Roster - History of Pennsylvania
Volunteers, 1861-5, Volume 2 by Samuel P Bates, 1869
View Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| Seventy-fifth Infantry. — Cols., Henry Bohlen, Philip
Schapp, Francis Mahler; Lieut.-Cols., Francis Mahler, Alvin Von
Matzdorff; Majs., Alvin Von Matzdorff, August Ledig. The 75th regiment
originally known as the 40th, composed principally of German citizens
from Philadelphia, was mustered into the U. S. service at Camp Worth,
Philadelphia, in Aug. and Sept., 1861, for three years. Many of the
members had seen service in European armies ; Col. Bohlen was a veteran
of the Mexican war, and Lieut. -Col. Mahler had been an officer in the
Baden revolution. On Sept. 26, 1861, the regiment, about 800 strong,
left for Washington, and there its ranks were soon recruited to the
maximum number. It was assigned to Blenker's division and encamped at
Roach's mills until Oct. 12, when it went into winter quarters at
Hunter's Chapel. A regimental band, led by Rudolph Wittig, which joined
the command on the 31st, was discharged by general order on Aug. 16,
1862. In March, 1862, it moved with the army on the general advance,
reaching Warrenton Junction on the 26th, when it was ordered to report
with its division to Gen. Fremont, commanding the Mountain Department.
In an attempt to cross the Shenandoah river in an old ferry boat on
April 15, Capt. Wyck and Sergt. Tiedemann of Co. K, Lieut. Winter of Co.
I, and about 50 enlisted men of the two companies were drowned. The
regiment was encamped at Winchester from April 18 to May 6, recruiting
from its severe marches and exposures. While here Col. Bohlen was
promoted to brigadier-general. On May 14 the command reached Franklin
and the latter part of the month hastened by forced marches in pursuit
of Stonewall Jackson. It was in reserve at the battle of Cross Keys, and
after the battle moved to Mount Jackson, where it was assigned to the
2nd brigade (Col. Kryzanowski), 3d division (Gen. Schurz), 1st corps
(Gen. Sigel), Army of Virginia. Sigel's corps arrived too late to share
in the battle of Cedar Mountain, but a few days later it was engaged in
a brisk skirmish at Freeman's ford, where Gen. Bohlen was killed. It was
in action at Groveton and the second Bull Run, losing in the two days'
fighting, 2 officers and 28 men killed, and 5 officers and 98 men
wounded, among whom was Lieut.-Col. Mahler. Color-sergeant Robert Jordan
of Co. A, formerly an officer in the army of Schleswig-Holstein,
displayed conspicuous courage and died while bearing aloft the colors.
The following were officially reported for gallantry shown : Sergts.
Haserodt of Co. A, Weigand and Maurer of Co. B, John Emleben of the same
Co., who took the flag from the hands of Sergt. Jordan as he fell,
though he was himself wounded, Louis Mahler and Jacob Pauley of Co. D,
George Brueckmame of Co. F, Henry Schmull of Co. H, and Andrew Schmidt
of Co. I ; also Corps. Schweigert, Hanner, Abraham and Rosenthal, and
private Jacob Ullman. The 75th was not again engaged until the battle of
Chancellorsville the following year. It reached the Rappahannock too
late to participate in the battle of Fredericksburg and had wintered at
Stafford Court House and Hartwood Church. Meanwhile its strength was
much increased by recruits and returning convalescents. At
Chancellorsville it formed part of the 2nd brigade, 3d division, 11th
corps, the brigade being commanded by Col. Kryzanowski. Its loss here
was 1 killed, 1 officer and 6 men wounded, and 3 officers and 48 men
captured, Lieut.-Col. Matzdorff being among the prisoners. Returning to
its old camp on the Rappahannock, it remained there until it embarked on
the Gettysburg campaign in June. It arrived at Gettysburg on the morning
of July 1 and lost during the battle, 31 officers and men killed, 100
wounded, and 6 taken prisoners. Its heaviest loss was sustained on the
first day, when it was severely engaged north of the village and to the
right of the Carlisle road. During the next two days it was posted on
the Cemetery hill and suffered somewhat from the enemy's shells. It
shared in the pursuit of Lee and in the various maneuvres of the army
until Sept 24, when it moved to Bridgeport, Ala., the 11th and 12th
corps having been ordered to Tennessee. Upon arriving there it was
ordered to join the 3d brigade (Col. Hecker), 3d division, 11th corps,
which shared in the operations for the relief of the army of the
Cumberland. Crossing the Tennessee river at Chattanooga on Nov. 22, it
participated in the fighting around that city, including the battles of
Lookout mountain and Missionary ridge. On Jan. 2, 1864, it reenlisted as
a veteran organization and was given the usual furlough of 30 days.
Seventy-five men, who failed to reenlist, were temporarily transferred
to the 82nd Ill. The veteran regiment, reinforced by many recruits, was
back in camp at Nashville by the end of July, 1864. While here, details
guarded the Northwestern railroad, and a reconnoissance against
guerrillas was made in October. A part of the 75th was under fire at the
battle of Franklin, but was not especially active. Co. E, stationed
several miles below Nashville on the Tennessee & Alabama railroad, was
captured. During the balance of its service it was chiefly engaged in
guarding trains, scouting and provost duty. It was mustered out of
service at Murfreesboro, Tenn., Sept. 1, 1865, and on the 9th left for
Harrisburg, where it arrived on the 12th, 236 strong. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 1
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