CIVIL WAR INDEX
Primary Source Material
on the Soldiers and the Battles
Home The Armies The Soldiers The Battles Civilians Articles
 
If this website has been useful to you, please consider making a Donation.

Your support will help keep this website free for everyone, and will allow us to do more research. Thank you for your support!

188th Pennsylvania Infantry

Online Books
188th Pennsylvania Infantry Soldier Roster - History of Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-5, Volume 5 by Samuel P Bates, 1869     View Entire Book

Regimental History
One Hundred and Eighty-eighth Infantry. — Cols., George K. Bowen, John G. Gregg, Samuel I. Givin; Lieut. -Cols., George K. Bowen, Francis H. Reichard, John G. Gregg, Samuel I. Givin, James Geiser; Majs., Francis H. Reichard, John G. Gregg, James Geiser, Frederick A. Reen. This regiment was organized at Camp Hamilton, near Fortress Monroe, during the first two weeks of April, 1864, from the surplus recruits of the 3d artillery. Within a short time about 900 men were mustered into the U. S. service for a three years' term. Both Col. Bowen and Lieut.-Col Reichard and most of the line officers were promoted from the 3d artillery. More than 300 of the men had served in the reserve corps before entering the 3d artillery and many others had served in other organizations. On April 25 the regiment moved to Yorktown and was assigned to the 3d brigade, 1st division, 18th corps. On May 4, it moved by transport to Bermuda Hundred and suffered a loss of 2 killed at Proctor's creek a few days later. It lost 11 killed and 60 wounded at Drewry's bluff, or Fort Darling, and on June 1 joined the army of the Potomac at Cold Harbor, where it went into action immediately after getting into position on the right of the 6th corps. In the desperate fighting there the regiment lost 24 killed, and a large number wounded and missing. Capt. Moeller was among the killed, and Capt. Breel was mortally wounded. It shared in the first fighting before Petersburg, and remained for nearly two months on the right of the line, fronting Fort Clifton. During this time, by reason of its exposed position, it suffered a loss of 80 killed and wounded, while many more died of disease. On July 5, it was joined by Co. F, which had been on detached service at Drewry's bluff, and late in August it was moved to a position on the Bermuda Front, remaining there until the close of September. In the fierce assaults on Forts Harrison and Gilmer the regiment lost about 60 killed, and 100 wounded. Among the former was the gallant Capt. Dickson, who had led the regiment through the fiery ordeal. About this time, the regiment was assigned to 3d brigade, 3d division, 24th corps, and received about 400 new recruits. The command remained in winter quarters near Fort Harrison until the following April, the monotony of camp life being only once disturbed, when it participated in an expedition to Fredericksburg in March, 1865, and effected the destruction of vast amounts of stores and property collected for the use of the enemy. On April 3 it moved without opposition to Richmond and assisted in subduing the fires which were raging in the Confederate capital. Soon afterward it encamped at Manchester, across the river from Richmond. On June 28 the recruits of the 199th Pa. infantry were transferred to this regiment. It served by detachments on guard and provost duty at various points in Virginia until Dec. 14, 1865, when it was assembled at City Point, Va., and was there mustered out.

Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing Company, 1908 - Volume 1

Whats New
Bibliography
About Us


 

Copyright 2010 by CivilWarIndex.com
A Division of Pier-Pleasure.com