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50th
Pennsylvania Infantry
Online Books
50th
Pennsylvania Infantry Soldier Roster - History of Pennsylvania
Volunteers, 1861-5, Volume 1 by Samuel P Bates, 1869
View Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| Fiftieth Infantry.— Cols., Benjamin C. Christ, William
H. Telford; Lieut.-Cols., Thomas S. Brenholtz, Edward Overton, Jr.,
William H. Telford, Samuel K. Schwenk; Majs., Edward Overton, Jr.,
Samuel K Schwenk, George W. Brumm. The 50th regiment, recruited in the
counties of Berks, Schuylkill, Bradford, Susquehanna, Lancaster and
Luzerne, was mustered into the U. S. service at Harrisburg, Oct. 1,
1861, for three years. It left Camp Curtin the next day for Washington,
after which it moved to Annapolis and joined the expedition to South
Carolina, being assigned to Stevens' brigade. The command camped near
Hilton Head until Dec. 6, when it occupied Beaufort and had a slight
skirmish with the enemy the following day. On Jan. 1, 1862, the brigade
crossed the Coosaw river and captured a fort. In May an attempt was made
to destroy the railroad bridge at old Pocotaligo, which was unsuccessful
in spite of the gallantry of the regiment. On July 12 it embarked for
Fortress Monroe and on its arrival was attached to the 9th corps and
ordered to join Gen. Pope on the Rapidan. Several skirmishes ensued at
the fords of the Rapidan and Rappahannock. At the second Bull Run,
Chantilly, South mountain and Antietam it fought gallantly and sustained
heavy losses. It was present at Fredericksburg but not in the battle. It
was then ordered to join the Army of the Ohio, advanced to Vicksburg,
where it was posted on Haines Bluff, and after the siege followed Gen.
Sherman to Jackson, where it was engaged and lost its brave Lieut.- Col.
Brenholtz. In the southern campaign the men suffered much from malaria
and on Aug. 10, such as were able returned to Kentucky. They were active
at the battle of Blue Springs, Tenn., in October and in November at
Lenoir Station and Campbell's station, near Knoxville, and the attack on
Fort Sanders. The regiment shared in the pursuit of Longstreet as far as
Blaine's cross-roads, when it was ordered to Nicholasville and the
reenlisted men were sent home on veteran furlough. In spite of the
hardships of the winter nearly the entire regiment reenlisted and on
March 20, 1864, reported at Annapolis, the rendezvous of the 9th corps.
The 50th was attached to the 2nd brigade, 1st division, of this corps,
which joined the Army of the Potomac at the Rapidan on May 5, and
engaged at the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, the North Anna river and Cold
Harbor. At Petersburg it was in support of the troops that made the
assault after the mine explosion; joined in the engagement at the Weldon
railroad, and in the final assault on the city, April 2, 1865. About the
middle of April it proceeded to Washington and remained there until June
30, when it was ordered to Gettysburg to represent the infantry of the
Union army at the corner stone ceremonies of the National Monument, July
4, and returned to camp at Georgetown, where it was mustered out on July
31, 1865. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 1
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