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83rd
Pennsylvania Infantry
Online Books
83rd
Pennsylvania Infantry Soldier Roster - History of Pennsylvania
Volunteers, 1861-5, Volume 2 by Samuel P Bates, 1869
View Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| Eighty-third Infantry. — Cols., John W. McLane, Strong
Vincent, O. S. Woodward, C. P. Rogers ; Lieut.-Cols., Strong Vincent,
Hugh S. Campbell, DeWitt C. McCoy, C. P. Rogers, William O. Colt; Majs.,
Louis H. Naghel, Wiliam H. Lamont, William O. Colt, W. H. Dunbar, Amos
M. Judson. The 83d regiment, composed principally of men from the
counties of Erie, Crawford, Warren, Venango and Mercer, rendezvoused at
Camp McLane, near the city of Erie, and was mustered into the U. S.
service between July 29 and Sept. 8, 1861, for three years. The regiment
was recruited by Col. McLane, who formerly commanded the Erie regiment
in the three months' service, and embraced nearly 300 of his old
command. It left the state for Washington on Sept. 18, about 1,000
strong, was there assigned to the 3d brigade of Porter's division —
later the 1st division of the 5th corps — and remained in the vicinity
of Washington until the following spring, being subjected meanwhile to a
rigid course of instruction and discipline. By the opening of the spring
campaign it had become one of the most proficient regiments in the army.
After engaging in the preliminary march of the army to Fairfax Court
House early in March, 1862, it was moved to the Peninsula and there
embarked on Gen. McClellan's Peninsular campaign. After engaging
actively in the siege of Yorktown it advanced to Hanover Court House,
where it engaged and drove the enemy, and was again engaged for half an
hour on the Ashland road, 8 men being wounded. It then remained encamped
for a month along the Chickahominy river and was hotly engaged at
Gaines' mill, where it fought with great bravery and sustained severe
losses. It went into this action 550 strong and lost 265 in killed,
wounded and prisoners, both Col. McLane and Maj. Naghel being among the
killed. On the retreat to the James, Porter's corps led the advance. In
the action at Glendale the 83d supported Griffin's battery and was hotly
engaged the following day at Malvern hill, losing about 150 in killed,
wounded and missing, Capt. Campbell, commanding the regiment, being
among the wounded. On the arrival of the command at Harrison's landing
it could muster only 80 muskets. It now joined the forces under Gen.
Pope, having been reinforced at Newport News by about 50 recruits, and
fought with its usual gallantry at the second Bull Run battle, losing 20
killed and about 50 wounded, among the latter being Lieut.-Col.
Campbell, commanding the regiment. Maj. Lamont was among the captured.
The 83d was present but only slightly engaged at Antietam, but at the
battle of Fredericksburg its loss was 6 killed and 30 wounded. It was
encamped for the winter of 1862-3 near Stoneman's station, participated
in the Mud March in Jan., 1863, and on April 29 started on the
Chancellorsville campaign. Its loss at Chancellorsville was very small
and after the battle it returned to its old quarters. Two weeks later it
was ordered to the Rappahannock to guard the fords and about July 15
started towards Pennsylvania. It arrived on the field of Gettysburg on
the morning of July 2 and went into position in support of the artillery
at the center. Col. Vincent commanded the brigade, Gen. Barnes the
division, and Gen. Sykes the corps. About 4 o'clock in the afternoon of
the 2nd it was ordered to the extreme left and took position on Little
Round Top, where it fought with great gallantry until evening. On the
third day of the battle it was posted to the rear of the left center and
suffered but little. Its loss in the battle was 6 killed and 38 wounded,
6 of whom subsequently died. Col. Vincent was among the mortally
wounded. After the battle it joined in the pursuit of the enemy. About
this time the regiment received about 400 drafted men and substitutes, a
majority of whom proved to be worthless and were constantly deserting.
It now shared in the marches and countermarches of the fall campaign,
being engaged at Rappahannock Station and Mine run, and finally went
into winter quarters behind the Rappahannock. While here 169 men
reenlisted. It moved on the spring campaign of 1864, being assigned to
Bartlett's brigade, Griffin's division, 5th corps, under Gen. Warren. In
the first two engagements, at the Wilderness and at Laurel hill, it
fought with desperate gallantry and lost over 300 men. It was
subsequently engaged at the North Anna river and Totopotomy, but was in
reserve at Bethesda Church. It crossed the James on June 16 and joined
with the army in the siege of Petersburg, occupying an intrenched
position close up to the enemy's works, where it was subjected to an
almost ceaseless fire until relieved on the night of the 20th. It was
then moved to a position on the Jerusalem plank road, and on Aug. 16 to
the Weldon railroad. On Sept. 18 the original term of service expired,
when, of its 350 effective men, about 100 were mustered out and the
others were organized as a battalion of six companies, which was active
at Poplar Grove church, and lost heavily at Peeble's farm on the evening
of the same day. It was inactive during October and November, but shared
in the raid on the Weldon railroad in December, after which it went into
winter quarters on the Jerusalem plank road. It fought at Hatcher's run
in Feb., 1865, and then encamped at Hampton Station until the opening of
the final campaign. Meanwhile Cos. G, H, I and K were assigned it in
March, 1865, which, with a number of recruits, brought it up to the
maximum strength of a regiment. In the Appomattox campaign it was
actively engaged at Jones' farm, White Oak road, Gravelly run, Five
Forks, Sutherland's station and Jetersville, and joined in the pursuit
to Appomattox Court House. It was mustered out at Washington on June 28,
1865, and returning to Harrisburg, the men were finally paid and
discharged there on July 4. The 83d was engaged in 25 battles during
service, two more than any other infantry regiment from the state. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 1
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