Pennsylvania 62nd Infantry Regiment Out-line Field History of the Sixty-second Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers (Col. J. B. Sweitzer) from the time it entered the service up to the 1st day of August 1863 Monument at Gettysburg dedicated to the Pennsylvania 62d Infantry Regiment on September 11, 1889 photo from Pennsylvania at Gettysburg, 1893

Compliments of A. D. Barr, Charlestown, Oct. 1. 1903    W. Va. Out-line Field History of the Sixty-second Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers (Col. J. B. Sweitzer) from the time it entered the service up to the 1st day of August 1863 The number of enlisted men on the rolls on the 1st of August 1863 was 655. Number of commissioned officers 35. Agg- regate strength of the regiment present and absent 690. The subjoined table exhibits the gains and losses since enter- ing the field. The regiment has 12 com- panies, authorized by a special order from the War department at the time of the Re- giment was organized.

- 2 - officers men officers men Original Strength 40 1150 killed in battle 8 59 added in field by recruits 3 140 Died of wounds or discharged 7 28 115 382 added by transfer from 28 7 Deserted 40 Missing in action 54 total 75 1305 Total 40 650 This regiment was organized by Col. Samuel W. Black of Pittsburgh Pa. by au- thority from the War Department and was the 33rd independent regiment then in the field from Pennsylvania. Having more than the number of companies al- lowed a regiment of Infantry it was known as a Legion and called the “Scott Legion No. 2.” Afterwards, however, Governor Curtin being desirous that the State should receive credit for all her men that had volunteered and was in the field, this Regiment and all the other in depend-

- 3. - ent Penna regiments was by an order from the Secretary of War turned over to the State; this was then the 62nd Regi- ment from Pennsylvania, that had responded to the President’s call for three years’ service. It was duly recognized by the State and received its flag, bear- ing the Penna code of arms, in October 1861, at the same time and place (Halls Hill Va.) that the 83rd Penna Vols. received its flag. Roster of the Original Officers Colonel Samuel W. Black Rgt’l Q. M. Andrew T. Howden Lt. Colonel Francis C. Lehman Surgeon James Kerr Major Jacob B. Sweitzer Asst. Surgeon Joseph P. Webb Adjutant Joseph S. Brown Chaplain Rev. Dr. Reed

- 4. - Captains 1st Lieutenants A. James C. Hull A. Robert A. Scott B. James W. Patterson B. Samuel A. McKee C. Thomas B. Mounds C. Benjamin Huey D. William C. Beck D. Ezra J. Putney E. Thomas Kerr E. William B. Montgomery F. Edward S. Wright F. John R. F. Noble G. Fred. C. O’Brien G. William Kennedy H. Thomas Espy H. Isaac Hultz I. Robert R. Weaver I. Edward H. Little J. Alexander McDonald J. Alvin King K. Shepley Holmes K. Detrick Grintz L. Richard J. Crozier L. Stephen C. Potts 2nd Lieutenants 2nd Lieutenants A, Alfred McDonald G. Adam E. Smith B. William J. Salisburg H. Samuel Cormer C. William G. Lowry I. John T. Bell D. William M. Duke J. William D. Wrighter E. Daniel Rivere K. Joseph S. Brown F. William J. Patterson L. John H. Murray [Companies are lettered incorrectly. There was no J Company. J, K, and L companies should be K, L, and M..]

- 5. - The Regiment arrived at Harrisburg Pennsylvania from Pittsburgh (the place of rendezvous) on the 3rd day of August, 1861 when it reported for duty. Here it was encamped on a beautiful farm owned by the Hon. Simon Cameron. Two or three miles to the east of the town, where the men received their first instructions in drill, guard duty, discipline etc. It remained in this, the first camp, until the 20th, when it proceeded to Baltimore, where it arrived on the 21st and encamped in Patterson’s Part, a very pretty and desirable locality. Thence it proceeded to Washington, where it arrived on the 28th, and encamped on the outskirts of the City. The Regiment here on the 3rd of September received its uniforms, comprising a pair of sky-blue pantaloons and a neat roundabout

- 6 - or jacket of the same color and material, and a dark blue cap besides a good service- able overcoat, shoes, underclothing etc. Companies L and M. wore a dark blue blouse which distinguished them from the others as the flanking companies or skirmishers for the regiment. On the 4th the regiment marched through Wash- ington to the Arsenal, where it re- ceived its arms and equipments. It was now prepared to meet the Rebels. On the morning of the 8th it crossed the Potomac at Georgetown Aqueduct and encamped at Fort Corcoran, Va. In the Enemy’s country and a knowledge that he was encamped but a short distance off, impressed

- 7. - every-one with the fact that work was to be performed and preparations made to meet the traitors to our Country. On two or three occasions the Regiment formed a line of battle, and promptness with which the men obeyed every order, their eagerness to be well drilled cause Col. Black’s heart to swell with pride and from the very first he entertained the greatest confidence in the men comprising the regiment. Whilst in the camp it was Brigaded by Gen’l Fitz John Porter. Gen. Morell had com- manded after Gen. Porter was assigned to the command of the Division. the 2nd Brigade comprised the 14th N. Y. Vols. Col. Mc- Quade; 4th Misch.(?)[sic] Col. Woodburry; 9th Mass., Col. Cass; and 62nd Penna, Col Black

- 8. - The Division comprised 3 Brigades as follows: -- 1st Brigade, Gen’l Martindale, 16th Misch, 44th N. Y., 2nd. Maine, and 25th N. Y. 2nd Brigade, Gen. Morell, 3rd Brigade, Gen. Butterfield, 1st Mich. 13th N. Y. 18th Mass., and 22nd Mass. Such was the material of our Division, led by the brave and accomplished Porter. While at Fort Corcoran the Regiment was engaged in building roads, felling forests etc. The labor performed was of such value to the Government.      On the 30th of September we received orders to march to Munson’s Hill a distance of six miles and assist in driving the enemy from the place. Upon reaching this point, however, it was discovered that he had advanced

-9- his position and the Regiment encamped about 2 o'clock am on the 1st of October on Hall's Hill. The night the advance was made on Munson's Hill was intensely dark and at one time we were lost and dangers of surprise were imminent. It will be remembered that it was on this occasion that the California Regiment under Col. Baker was fired into in mistake, by a New York Regiment. It is well for us that the Rebels vacated this place at the time they did or we might have met with a severe loss if not a repulse-About the 10th the Regiments moved to Minors Hill and went into camp through the

- 10. - Fall and Winter.      It now began to be drilled and dis- ciplined in good earnest. Col. Black, assisted by Lt. Col. Lehman and Major Sweitzer entered upon the work of prepar- ing the men for actionive field operations, with great zeal and earnestness. Col. Black in particular took a deep interest in the Regiment and it seemed as if the height of his ambition was to have his men the best disciplined and the most efficient in drill of any in the Brigade. The spirit with which he entered upon his work is very commendable. His labors were duly rewarded, for at every review (and these were frequent) notice was taken by Gen. Porter of each regiment

Intro Pages 1-10 Pages 11-20 Pages 21-30 Pages 31-40 Pages 41-50

Back to the main Pennsylvania 62d Infantry Regiment page?

This page authored and maintained by John R. Henderson (jhenderson @ icyousee.org), Lodi, NY.
Last modified: 13 July 2012
URL: http://www.icyousee.org/pa62d/outline1.html