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81st
Pennsylvania Infantry
Online Books
81st
Pennsylvania Infantry Soldier Roster - History of Pennsylvania
Volunteers, 1861-5, Volume 2 by Samuel P Bates, 1869
View Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| Eighty-first Infantry. — Cols., James Miller, Charles
F. Johnson, H. Boyd McKeen, William Wilson; Lieut.-Cols., Charles F.
Johnson, Eli T. Conner, H. Boyd McKeen, Robert M. Lee, Jr., Amos Stroh,
Thomas C. Harkness, William Wilson, Lawrence Mercer; Majs., Eli T.
Conner, Robert M. Lee, Jr., Thomas C. Harkness, William Wilson, Lawrence
Mercer, James H. Mitchell. The 81st regiment, composed of men from the
city of Philadelphia, and the counties of Carbon and Luzerne, was
mustered into the U. S. service in August, Sept., and Oct., 1861, at
Philadelphia, for three years. Col. Miller was a soldier of the Mexican
war and many of the officers and men had served in the state militia or
during the three months' campaign. It left the state for Washington on
Oct. 10, and was assigned to the 1st brigade, 1st division, 2nd corps,
commanded by Gens. Howard, Richardson and Sumner respectively. It
remained inactive during the succeeding winter, except for numerous
details sent out on scout duty. In March, 1862, active operations
against the enemy commenced and a month later, having been transferred
to the Peninsula, it engaged in McClellan's campaign to Richmond. Upon
reaching the Chickahominy it was employed in building the Sumner bridge
over which it marched to Golding's farm, where it engaged in a sharp
skirmish with the enemy. The regiment saw much fighting and suffered
severely during the rest of the campaign. Col. Miller was killed at Fair
Oaks, and on the retreat to the James river, the 81st was engaged at
Peach Orchard, Savage Station, Charles City cross-roads, where Col.
Johnson and Capts. Conner and Harkness were wounded, and at Malvern
hill, where Lieut- Col. Conner was killed while gallantly leading his
men. It arrived too late to share in the 2nd battle of Bull Run and was
in reserve at South mountain, but was heavily engaged with loss at
Antietam, where Capt. Schuyler and Lieut. Vandyke were among the killed.
It fought at the battle of Fredericksburg and then returned to winter
quarters near Falmouth, where it remained until April 26, 1863. It
suffered considerable loss at the battle of Chancellorsville, Col.
M'Keen and Maj. Harkness being among the severely wounded, and after the
battle returned to Falmouth until the end of May. It then moved to
Stoneman's switch and on June 18 to Stafford Court House, where it
skirmished with the enemy. After a series of exhausting marches it
arrived on the field of Gettysburg on the evening of July 1 and
immediately threw up breast-works. On the following day it was heavily
engaged until 9 p. m. in the wheat field beyond the peach orchard,
losing one-half its effective strength. On the 3d day it was posted near
the cemetery. It joined in the pursuit of Lee and subsequently
participated with the 2nd corps in the "campaign of maneuvres" in the
Valley of Virginia, and in the operations at Mine run. The winter of
1863-64 was spent about Brandy Station and Stevensburg. A portion of the
command reenlisted in Jan., 1864, and the men were given the usual
veteran furlough, though the veterans, with a large number of recruits,
returned before the opening of the spring campaign of 1864. Col. M'Keen
commanded the brigade and Lieut.-Col. Wilson the regiment. In the
desperate fighting which now ensued, the 81st had its full share, being
engaged at the Wilderness, Po river, Spottsylvania, North Anna river,
Totopotomy and Cold Harbor. Lieut.-Col. Wilson was severely wounded in
the desperate assault by the 2nd corps at Spottsylvania, and Col. M'Keen
was killed in the last assault at Cold Harbor. It was actively engaged
with its corps in the first assaults on Petersburg, suffering
considerable loss, and fully maintained its reputation as a fighting
regiment in the engagements at Strawberry Plains, Reams' station and
Deep Bottom. The winter of 1864-65 was spent in the trenches in front of
Petersburg and at the end of March it participated with its corps in the
final campaign. It did not again suffer serious loss, though frequently
engaged, and was almost constantly on the march until the desperate
assault on Lee's lines at Farmville, where the 81st suffered severely,
Capts. Wilson and Bond being among the killed. After Lee's surrender it
returned to Washington and was mustered out at Alexandria, Va., June 29,
1865. Its total losses during the four years of service were 14 officers
killed, 45 wounded, 3 prisoners, 2 died of disease, 201 enlisted men
killed, 516 wounded and 79 died of disease. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 1
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