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91st
Pennsylvania Infantry
Online Books
91st
Pennsylvania Infantry Soldier Roster - History of Pennsylvania
Volunteers, 1861-5, Volume 3 by Samuel P Bates, 1869
View Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| Ninety-first Infantry.— Col., Edgar M. Gregory; Lieut-Cols.,
Edward C. Wallace, Joseph H. Sinex, John D. Lentz, Eli G. Sellers; Majs.,
George W. Todd, John D. Lentz, Eli G. Sellers, John F. Casner. This
organization was recruited in the fall of 1861, and rendezvoused at Camp
Chase, on the Schuylkill, near Philadelphia, where it was mustered into
the U. S. service on Dec. 4, 1861, for three years. It left for
Washington on Jan. 21, 1862, and did guard and patrol duty at the
national capital until April 27, when it moved to Alexandria, where it
served as provost guard until Aug. 21. It was assigned to the 1st
brigade, 2nd division, 5th corps and entered on the Maryland campaign on
Sept. 15, arriving at Antietam on the 18th. In October it shared in a
reconnoissance across the Potomac to Shepherdstown ; on the 30th moved
with the army under Gen. Burnside to Warrenton; was encamped near
Falmouth at Stoneman's switch until Dec. 11, and then proceeded to the
Phillips house, where the men lay on their arms until the opening of the
battle of Fredericksburg. At that battle the regiment charged gallantly
with its brigade and did all that brave men could in this, its maiden
battle. Its loss in the charge was 2 officers and 87 men. It was among
the last troops to recross the Rappahannock, and was engaged until Jan.
28, 1863, in picketing the rear line of Burnside's army. It shared in
the "Mud March" and was engaged in various fatigue and picket duties
until the beginning of the Chancellorsville campaign. At
Chancellorsville, where the command was actively engaged, Capt. Theodore
H. Parsons and Lieut. George Black received mortal wounds and Col.
Gregory was wounded in the leg. The regiment was at this time a part of
the 1st brigade (Tyler's), 3d division (Humphreys'), 5th corps,
commanded by Gen. Meade. It was engaged in railroad guard duty at
Stoneman's switch from May 28 to June 4, when it moved to United States
ford, and thence to Mount Holly Church and Catlett's station. Gen. Weed
now assumed command of the brigade which began its march towards
Gettysburg, where it arrived on the morning of July 2. Its loss in this
engagement was 2 officers and 19 men. The command was heavily engaged on
the afternoon of the 2nd on Little Round Top, where it met with its
chief loss. After the battle it participated in the pursuit of Lee's
army and during the fall campaign of 1863, was constantly marching and
maneuvering, but saw little hard fighting. It shared in the Mine Run
campaign and was then assigned to duty along the Rappahannock river and
the Orange & Alexandria railroad. On Dec. 26, most of the command
reenlisted, those who did not reenlist were transferred to the 155th
Pa., and the veterans left for home on furlough in Jan., 1864. The
regiment returned to the front on March 2, and went into quarters at
Warrenton Junction. On May 4 it started on the Wilderness campaign,
being active at the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, the North Anna,
Totopotomy and Bethesda Church, finally crossing the James on June 16,
and moving up in front of Petersburg. At Cold Harbor the 91st was
transferred to the 1st brigade (Col. Seitzer), 1st division. In the
first assaults on the Petersburg works the regiment lost 82 men killed
and wounded, and a few days later was in action on the Jerusalem plank
road. On July 3, the veterans and recruits of the 62nd Pa. were
transferred to the 91st, whose ranks had been sadly depleted during the
trying campaign of the year. The regiment was then engaged in the work
of fortification until the 21st, Col. Gregory commanding the brigade. It
was in reserve on the 30th when the mine was exploded and served on
garrison duty in the forts until Aug. 18. It shared in the movement
against the Weldon railroad; was in action at Peeble's farm, where it
charged the enemy's works with the division and captured a fort and a
number of prisoners. It remained there strengthening the position until
Oct. 8, when it charged and captured the Davis house. On Oct. 14, its
depleted ranks were partially filled with 100 drafted recruits, and in
the latter part of the month it shared in the advance to Hatcher's run.
In Jan., 1865, it participated in the movement to destroy the Weldon
railroad, losing several men captured, and in February it again lost
heavily at Hatcher's run. It was active in the final campaign, being
engaged at Dabney's mill, Gravelly run, Five Forks and Sailor's creek,
and was near Appomattox Court House with the 5th corps when the truce
was proclaimed. The 5th corps was ordered to receive the enemy's
surrender, a ceremony which lasted throughout the entire day of the 9th.
From Appomattox the regiment returned to Petersburg, thence to
Sutherland station, Richmond and Bailey's cross-roads, where it
encamped. It shared in the grand review at Washington and on July 10 was
mustered out, returning thence to Philadelphia, where it was finally
disbanded after nearly four years of service. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 1
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