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142nd
Pennsylvania Infantry
Online Books
142nd
Pennsylvania Infantry Soldier Roster - History of Pennsylvania
Volunteers, 1861-5, Volume 4 by Samuel P Bates, 1869
View Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| One Hundred and Forty-second Infantry. — Cols., Robert
P. Cummins, Alfred B. McCalmont, Horatio N. Warren ; Lieut.-Cols.,
Alfred B. McCalmont, Horatio N. Warren; Majs., John Bradley, Horatio N.
Warren, Henry G. Elder. This regiment was recruited from the state at
large during the summer of 1862, rendezvoused at Camp Curtin,
Harrisburg, and was mustered into the U. S. service between Aug. 22 and
Sept. 1 for three years. On Sept. 2, it left the state for Washington
and was employed for a month on the fortifications and in guard and
hospital duty at Frederick, Md. In October it was assigned to the 2nd
brigade (Col. Magilton), 3d division (Gen. Meade), 1st corps (Gen.
Reynolds), and moved to Brooks' station, on the Acquia Creek railroad.
It suffered severely at Fredericksburg, its first battle, where it made
a heroic charge, losing 243 in killed, wounded and missing, Maj. Bradley
being among the mortally wounded. It went into winter quarters at Belle
Plain landing and passed the winter without unusual incident, except the
"Mud March" in Jan., 1863. During this interval it was assigned to a new
brigade, commanded by Col. Porter and later by Gen. Rowley, the 1st
brigade, 3d division, 1st corps. It went into action at Chancellorsville
on May 3, on the right of the line, but was not heavily engaged and
suffered but little. At Gettysburg Col. Biddle commanded the brigade,
Gen. Rowley the division, and Gens. Doubleday and Newton the corps. Gen.
Reynolds in command of the left wing of the army, comprising the 1st and
11th corps, being killed on the first day of the fight. In the
disastrous struggle of that day, Col. Cummins was killed and the
regiment suffered severely. Retiring through the town to the cemetery,
it was in reserve the second day, and on the third was posted midway
between the cemetery and Round Top, where it was exposed to the heavy
artillery fire, but suffered little from the grand infantry charge. It
lost in the battle, 3 officers killed, 11 wounded, 2 missing: 10 men
killed, 117 wounded, 68 captured or missing, a total of 211. After the
battle it shared with its corps in the futile campaigns of the fall,
ending at Mine run, and wintered in the vicinity of Culpeper. Throughout
the rest of its service the regiment was commanded by Col. Warren. In
the campaign of 1864 it was assigned to Stone's brigade, 1st division,
5th corps; was engaged with heavy loss at the Wilderness; and was active
at Laurel hill, Spottsylvania, the North Anna river, Bethesda Church,
Totopotomy, Cold Harbor, and in the first assaults on Petersburg. It
assisted in the construction of the redoubt known as "Fort Hell;" was
engaged at Six-mile house and Peebles' farm; was in the second raid on
the Weldon railroad in December; and participated in the action at
Dabney's mill in Feb., 1865. On the opening of the final campaign it was
in action on the Boydton and White Oak roads, and the following day
fought at Five Forks, where its losses were severe, Col. Warren and Maj.
Elder being wounded. After Lee's surrender it proceeded to Burkesville,
and two weeks later to the vicinity of Washington, where it was mustered
out of service on May 29, 1865. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 1
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