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

The Out-line Field History Pages 1-10 Pages 11-20 Pages 21-30 Pages 31-40 Pages 41-50

- 41 - as there was in the Army of the Potomac when Gen. McClellan bade us all farewell. A crushing defeat could not have caused more pain or sadness. From Warrenton we marched to Falmouth, arriving there on the 13th of November. Camps were regularly located, and the troops e- rected comfortable huts, thinking the campaign for the season at an end. But soldiers have no right to think! On the 12th of December we were again called out and marched to Fredricks- burg, then bombardment of the city had commenced at day light or rather before day, and continued with little intermission until day-light. Under this

- 42 - heavy fire the construction of pontoon bridges was commenced; but owing to the sharp-fire of the enemy's sharp-shooters were not complete until the morning of the 13th. The troops began to cross at once and the battle commenced in earnest. The rebels were strongly entrenched on the heights beyond the the city. Our regiment, under the com- mand of Lt. Gen. J. C. Hull -- Colonel Sweitzer having command of the Brigade crossed about 4 o'clock in the afternoon and immediately went in action, subjected to a raking fire. We remain- ed in the field all that night and the next day; but could make no farther advance than within

- 43 - 200 yards of the enemy's works. We were drawn off on the right of the 14th and under the cover of darkness and a severe storm that fortunately came up, the entire army recrossed the river on the night of the 16th. -- Our loss in killed and wounded was seventy. We returned to the camp recently left and established our- selves for the winter.     We were however, again called out in January, but this campaign proved abortive; and we returned to camp af- ter a six days absence, where we remain- ed until Spring. Soon after this Gen. Burnside was releised [sic] and Gen. Hooker was placed in command of the army.     On the 27th of April, the Spring Campaign opened, and we took up our line of march

- 44 - along the Rappahannock river. We crossed at Kelley's Ford and after fording the Rapidan, moved down the river in the direction of Fredricksburg. We met with no oppos- ition, so sudden and unexpected was the movement, until at Chancellorsville, and here Gen. Lee had his army in position. ready to receive us. Our lines were estab- lished and here on the 1st 2nd +3rd days of May, the severest and most obstinate battles was fought. Our regiment under the excellent leadership of Lt. Co. Hull [--] Col. Sweitzer having command of the Brigade -- took an active part throughout. But not withstanding the fine condition of the army and the excellent spirits of the troops - the zeal and determination with which they entered into the conflict - our arms met with a reverse, and our brave,

- 45 - gallant, and heroic soldiers were ordered to fall back -- an order they were lo[a]the to obey -- they were as yet unconquered! The army recrossed the river on the 4th and went in- to the old quarters near Falmouth. Our loss in this engagement was four killed and twenty-five wounded.     On the 27th of May, the regiment was ordered to Kelley's Ford, where it encamped on the 29th. It was assigned to the im- portant duty of guarding the Ford. While here we lost two men who were captured on their posts after night and one, Joseph T. Cracraft -- Brigade mail carrier, while on his way to Grove Church (the head-quar- ters of the Division) with the Brigade mail. Cracraft was evidently captured by guerrillas with which we were very much annoyed at this point.

- 46 - We moved form this place on the 13th of June, where it was ascertained that Lee was moving down to Shenandoah Valley, with a view to invade Maryland and Pennsylvania; and with all speed our columns moved northward. We marched to Mannassas Junction and thence to Aldie, a small town 12 miles from Leesburg. Here we halted for supplies. In the meantime our cavalry force under Gen. Pleasonton had come in con- tact with a portion of Gen. Stuart's force and a sharp engagement took place in which the rebels were routed. They held a position near Middlesburg and defied our approach. the cavalry a- gain moved forward and our Division accompanied them for support. Again the rebels were met on their own

- 47 - ground and again repulsed; this time they were driven far beyond Middleburg, through Asby's Gap and in the direction of Upperville. Our march was continued and the rout[e] was via Leesburg to Ed- ward's Ferry where we arrived and cross- ed the river on the evening of the 26th of June.   Thence we marched to Frredricksburg City where it was announced that Gen. Mead -- our corps commander -- had command of the army. From Fredrick City our column moved in the direction of Pennsylvania and arrived near Gettysburg on the morning of the 2nd of July, where we found a portion of the enemy already engaged with Lee's boasted invaders [sic]. No time was to be lost and we immediately formed line of battle.

- 48 - Our regiment under the command of Lt. Col. Hull - Col. Sweitzer having command of the Brigade - about 4 o'clock in the after- noon of the 2nd again moved forth in good order to meet the enemy in deadly victory - the dye was cast and every one felt and seemed to appreciate the value of success at this critical mom- ent. Victory or Death! was the motto. The battle which lasted all the next day, was terrible in the extreme; but the vaunted hords of Lee were vanquished. His predacious army was hurled back with great slaughter - the victory was complete and the Army of the Potomac won for itself a proud place in the an- nals of history - Our regiment lost 192 officers and men killed, wounded & missing.

- 49 - Our Major, the gallant Loury was shot through the head by a miny ball which termin- ated his life in a few minutes.     The rebel army retreated towards Vir- ginia via Emmitsburg and the South Mountain. We pursued via Fredricks City and Hagerstown. Near Williamsport Lee threw up earth-works and on all ap- pearances his position was an advanta- geous one and prepared strongly entrench- ed. When our army was sufficiently concentrated and prepared to make the attack, the advance was made on the morning of the 15th, but it was discover- ed that he had been successful in his re- treat, having crossed the river during the night previous --     We marched to Berlin where the Potomac

- 50 - was crossed on the 14th and once again our veteran columns tread the soil of old Virginia. We marched to Lovettsville and thence up the London Valley via Rectorstown to Mannassas Gap. Here we came up with the 3rd Corps and found it in line of battle and our Brigade skirmishing with the enemy. Line of battle was formed, and after advancing a mile and a half and night coming on, the two Corps bivou- acked on the field until morning. The Ex- celcior Brigade had succeeded after several brilliant charges in driving the enemy from the field. At day break a careful reconnaissance was made and it was soon discovered that the enemy had retreated beyond the Gap. Having in his flight destroyed the bridge across the

The account is cut off here, but since the title indicated that the outline history only went to August 1863, my guess is that less than a page of text was left.

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

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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/outline5.html