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84th
Pennsylvania Infantry
Online Books
84th
Pennsylvania Infantry Soldier Roster - History of Pennsylvania
Volunteers, 1861-5, Volume 2 by Samuel P Bates, 1869
View Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| Eighty-fourth Infantry. — Cols., William G. Murray,
Samuel M. Bowman; Lieut.-Cols., Thomas C. MacDowell, Walter Barrett,
Thomas H. Craig, Milton Opp, George Zinn; Majs., Walter Barrett, Thomas
H. Craig, Milton Opp, George Zinn, Samuel Bryan. The 84th regiment,
composed of men from the counties of Blair, Lycoming, Clearfield,
Dauphin, Columbia, Cameron and Westmoreland, was recruited in the late
summer and early fall of 1861. It rendezvoused first at Camp Grossman,
Huntingdon, and afterwards at Camp Curtin, Harrisburg, where it was
organized towards the close of October, and before the end of the year
all the men were mustered into the U. S. service for three years. On
Dec. 31, 1861, it left for Hancock, Md., and on its arrival there on
Jan. 2, 1862, crossed the Potomac and moved to Bath. Here it was
confronted by the enemy under Stonewall Jackson and fell back to
Hancock, moving thence to Cumberland. During the remainder of the winter
the command was posted along the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, but in March
it moved to Winchester, where it was heavily engaged as a part of the
forces commanded by Gen. Shields. Its loss in the battle was 23 killed
and 67 wounded out of 260 engaged. Col. Murray, Capt. Gallagher and
Lieut. Reem were among the killed. It served on provost duty at
Berryville until May 2 ; skirmished on the 31st at Front Royal; was
again engaged at Port Republic in June; then remained encamped at
Alexandria until July, when under the command of Col. Bowman it joined
Pope's army, and was assigned to Carroll's brigade, Ricketts' division,
McDowell's corps. It was only slightly engaged at Cedar mountain, but
fought bravely throughout the day at the second battle of Bull Run. Only
a fragment of the regiment was fit for duty when it reached Washington,
and on account of its reduced condition it remained at Arlington Heights
during the Antietam campaign. While here its ranks were filled by about
400 recruits and returning convalescents. At Fredericksburg it formed
part of Gen. Whipple's independent division and with its brigade
rendered conspicuous service during the battle. When Gen. Hooker took
command of the army, the 84th was assigned to the 2nd brigade (Col.
Bowman), 3d division (Gen. Whipple), 3d corps (Gen. Sickles). Its losses
were very heavy at the battle of Chancellorsville, being 219 out of 391
engaged. Despite its own heavy losses it succeeded in bringing off 33
prisoners. The 84th now became a part of Gen. Carr's brigade of the 2nd
corps. In the Gettysburg campaign it was detailed to guard the corps
train and did not share in the great battle. In the Virginia campaign
which ensued it was active at Wapping heights, Thoroughfare gap,
Freeman's ford, Bristoe Station, Kelly's ford, Jacob's ford, Locust
Grove and Mine run, and then went into winter quarters at Brandy
Station. Many of the command reenlisted in Jan., 1864, and were given a
veteran furlough. It assisted in driving the enemy at Morton's ford,
Va., in February, and shared with the 2nd corps in the almost constant
fighting from the Wilderness to the James. Lieut-Col. Opp was mortally
wounded at the Wilderness while bravely leading a charge, and in a
skirmish at Pleasant hill the gallant Lieut. Nixon, who saved the
command from capture at Bull Run, was severely wounded. It shared in the
siege of Petersburg until June 27, when it recrossed the James and took
part in the action at Deep Bottom. It then reengaged in the work of the
siege until Aug. 14, when it was again in action at Deep Bottom and
Strawberry Plains. Once more it returned to the work of the siege; was
engaged at Yellow tavern, where Lieut. -Col. Zinn was severely wounded,
and in October the original members, except veterans and recruits, were
mustered out of service. The others were organized as a battalion of
four companies, which were consolidated on Jan. 13, 1865, with the 57th
Pa. and served with that regiment until the end of the war. The
battalion shared in the engagement of the 2nd corps at Hatcher's run in
October, and was again engaged on the Weldon railroad in December. The
history of the battalion after its consolidation is the same as that of
the 57th (q. v.). It was finally mustered out of service with that
organization on June 29, 1865. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 1
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