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90th
Pennsylvania Infantry
Online Books
90th
Pennsylvania Infantry Soldier Roster - History of Pennsylvania
Volunteers, 1861-5, Volume 3 by Samuel P Bates, 1869
View Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| Ninetieth Infantry. — Col., Peter Lyle; Lieut.-Col.,
William A. Leech; Majs., Alfred J. Sellers, Jacob M. Davis. This
regiment was organized at Philadelphia from Oct. 1, 1861, to March 10,
1862. Its colonel and line officers, as well as many of the men, had
already served in the three months' campaign in the 19th infantry;
William A. Leech had been major of the 17th, and nearly all had had
experience in the militia. Recruited to 900 men, it left for Baltimore
on March 31, 1862, and then proceeded to Washington and Acquia creek
landing, where it reported to Gen. McDowell, commanding the 3d corps,
and was assigned to the 2nd brigade (Gen. Ricketts), 2nd division (Gen.
Ord). It was brigaded with the 26th and 94th N. Y. and 88th Pa., and
with its division moved into the Shenandoah Valley in May against the
enemy under Stonewall Jackson. Returning to Waterloo on July 22, it
moved with Pope to the relief of Banks' army at Cedar mountain, then to
Mitchell's station and after destroying the railroad bridge served as
rear-guard to the army retreating across the Rappahannock. With its
brigade it checked the enemy for three days at Rappahannock Station, and
on Aug. 28 assisted its division in holding back Longstreet for 8 hours
at Thoroughfare gap, retiring in good order to Gainesville. The next day
it was heavily engaged at Groveton, losing about 200 men in killed,
wounded and prisoners. On Sept. 6, it embarked on the Maryland campaign,
attached to Gen. Hooker's command, with which it fought at South
mountain and Antietam, its loss at the latter place being 98. On the
close of this campaign the division was transferred to the 1st corps,
under Gen. Reynolds, and the brigade was made to include the 88th, 90th
and 136th Penn., and 26th and 94th N. Y., Col. Lyle in comand. On the
return of the army into Virginia, Gen. Gibbon became division commander
and the 12th Mass. took the place of the two New York regiments. It was
actively engaged at Fredericksburg as a part of Franklin's Grand
Division on the left of the line, losing about 90 men in the battle. On
Dec. 19 it moved to Belle Plain, but was detached for fatigue duty at
Pratt's point and remained here without incident, with the exception of
the "Mud March" in Jan., 1863, until April 28, following, when it
embarked with its division on the Chancellorsville campaign. It was
active in all the operations at Chancellorsville, as a part of the 1st
corps, and withdrew with the army across the river on the morning of May
6 to its old camps. With the departure at this time of the nine months'
regiments, their terms having expired, the brigade was reorganized to
include the 11th, 88th and 90th Penn., 12th Mass., and 97th N. Y. Toward
the middle of June the 90th moved on the Gettysburg campaign and crossed
the southern border of Pennsylvania on the 30th. It entered the battle
of Gettysburg with 191 men and lost in killed, wounded and missing, 100.
After joining in the pursuit of the enemy, it returned to Bealeton
Station, Va., and later moved to Stevensburg, where it performed guard
duty and drilled the new recruits received there. It remained upon the
Rappahannock with the army until the middle of October, when it
retreated to Centerville and was later employed in repairing the
railroad near Bristoe Station until it took part in the Mine Run
campaign, after which it went into winter quarters at Cedar mountain. In
Jan., 1864, the 90th was quartered in the Baptist church at Culpeper,
and then went into camp with its brigade on the Sperryville pike. It
became a part of the 1st brigade, 2nd division, 5th corps, during the
winter and on May 4, 1864, moved with the army for the Wilderness. In a
fierce charge on the 5th, in which the regiment was unfortunately
unsupported by the rest of its brigade, it lost 124 men out of 251 who
went into action. In all the fierce fighting which now ensued the 90th
had its full share, being successively engaged at Spottsylvania, the
North Anna river, Totopotomy, and Bethesda Church, suffering severely.
Early in June the division was reorganized, becoming the 3d of the 5th
corps, Gen. Crawford commanding. On the 16th it crossed the James river
and shared in the operations before Petersburg. From June 24 to July 6
it was engaged in picket duty on the Jerusalem plank road; assisted in
building Fort Davis, which it later garrisoned; and shared in the
movement on the Weldon railroad, where Col. Leech, Maj. Davis and about
90 men were captured, and some 20 men were killed and wounded. Capt.
William P. Davis now assumed command and the regiment was variously
employed in destroying the Weldon railroad, building roads, etc., and in
a reconnoissance to Poplar Spring Church in September, after which it
served as garrison at Fort Dushane. On Nov. 26, their original term of
service having expired, the members who had not reenlisted were mustered
out and the veterans and recruits were consolidated with the 11th Pa. On
their arrival at Washington the men were paid; at Philadelphia the
regiment was welcomed by an escort of military and firemen, and
proceeded to the armory, where it was finally disbanded. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 1
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