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40th
Pennsylvania Regiment Infantry, 11th PA Reserve
Online Books
40th
Pennsylvania Infantry, 11th PA Reserve Soldier Roster - History of Pennsylvania
Volunteers, 1861-5, Volume 1 by Samuel P Bates, 1869
View Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| Fortieth Infantry. — Cols., T. F. Gallagher, Samuel M.
Jackson ; Lieut.- Cols., James R. Porter, Samuel M. Jackson, Daniel S.
Porter, Robert A. McCoy; Majs., S. M. Jackson, Robert Litzinger, Peter
A. Johns, James P. Speer, Robert A. McCoy, James C. Burke. The 40th, the
11th reserve regiment, was composed of men from the western part of the
state, who rendezvoused at Camp Wright, near Pittsburg. On June 24,
1861, the regiment left camp and proceeded to Harrisburg, thence to
Washington, where it was mustered into the U. S. service on the 29th and
30th for a three years' term. In July it was ordered to the camp of the
reserves at Tennallytown, assigned to the 2nd brigade of the reserve
corps and stationed at Great Falls, where it had a skirmish with the
enemy posted on the other side of the Potomac. Winter quarters were
established near Langley, Va., and much enthusiasm was aroused by the
victory at Dranesville, though the 2nd brigade arrived too late to
participate. The regiment served on the Peninsula in the corps under
Gen. Fitz John Porter; was present at the battles of Mechanicsville, and
Gaines' mill, where the regiment met with disaster, though it held its
ground in the face of the enemy's fire until the troops on both sides
were driven back. The smoke and the density of the wood in which the
battle raged prevented the troops from observing that they were being
cut off, and when surrounded they endeavored to fight their way back.
This became impossible and the regiment was captured after losing 46 men
killed and 109 wounded. One company of the regiment under Capt. Porter,
escaped capture, having been detailed on special duty. This company,
representing the regiment, fought at Glendale and shared in the second
battle of Bull Run, attached to the 3d brigade. At South mountain,
Antietam and Fredericksburg, the depleted ranks of the 40th conducted
themselves gallantly. In Feb., 1863, the regiment was ordered to
Washington to rest and recruit. With the 5th corps it shared in the
Gettysburg campaign, the pursuit of the Confederate army, the skirmishes
at Bristoe and Rappahannock Stations and the Mine Run campaign. The
reserves were posted on guard duty along the Orange & Alexandria
railroad during the winter of 1863-64, the 40th being encamped at
Warrenton Junction and Bristoe Station. Beginning with the Wilderness,
the regiment engaged in the battles of the Army of the Potomac during
May, 1864, its last engagement being at Bethesda Church, after which the
veterans and recruits were transferred to the 190th Pa. infantry and the
regiment returned to Pittsburg, where it was mustered out on June 14,
1864. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 1
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