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68th
Pennsylvania Infantry
Online Books
68th
Pennsylvania Infantry Soldier Roster - History of Pennsylvania
Volunteers, 1861-5, Volume 2 by Samuel P Bates, 1869
View Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| Sixty-eighth Infantry. — Col., Andrew H. Tippin;
Lieut.-Cols., A. H. Reynolds, Robert E. Winslow ; Majs., Thomas
Hawksworth, Robert E. Winslow, John C. Gallaher, Michael Fulmer. The
68th regiment was raised in the summer of 1862 in the city of
Philadelphia and the counties of Montgomery and Chester, and was
mustered into the U. S. service in August for three years. It was
peremptorily summoned from its camp at Frankford before its ranks were
filled to the maximum and on Sept. 1, proceeded to Washington. Many of
its officers and men had seen service in Mexico and in the three months'
campaign. On its arrival it was assigned to Robinson's brigade,
Stoneman's division. Early in October it moved to Poolesville and while
marching south with the army, lost 40 men, who were captured while
acting as guard to the baggage train. When Gen. Burnside assumed command
of the army, the 68th was assigned to the 1st brigade (Gen. Robinson),
1st division (Gen. Birney), 3d corps (Gen. Sickles). At the battle of
Fredericksburg, it lost 40 men in killed and wounded, Maj. Hawksworth
being mortally wounded and Lieut. J. E. Davis killed. The regiment was
heavily engaged at Chancellorsville as a part of the 3d corps and lost
severely. It reached the field of Gettysburg on the evening of the first
day ; was posted at the Peach Orchard on the second day, and suffered
fearful losses in its exposed position. Of the 17 officers present only
Col. Tippin and four others escaped injury. It was not actively engaged
on the third day. All told the losses of the regiment reached 60 per
cent, of the whole number in action. It then moved with the army into
Virginia and shared in the fall campaign, being active at Wapping
heights and Auburn, where Col. Tippin was captured and confined in Libby
prison for 9 months. When the army again advanced it was active at
Kelly's ford, Locust Grove, where its losses were heavy, and at Mine
run. It wintered at Brandy Station and in Jan., 1864, the veterans who
had reenlisted were given the usual furlough. With their return and a
large number of recruits its ranks were again filled to respectable
proportions. It was now assigned to Hancock's 2nd corps, and commanded
by Lieut. -Col. Winslow was employed in provost guard duty at the
headquarters of Gen. Meade. It held this position to the close of the
war, being subjected to active duty wherever an emergency arose,
sometimes raiding with the cavalry and at others toiling in the
intrenchments. On June 25, Col. Tippin was exchanged and resumed
command. It was in the storming party in the final assault on
Petersburg, losing a number of men, including Maj. Gallaher, mortally
wounded. After the battle of Sailor's creek, it was detailed to guard
Lieut.-Gen. Ewell and the captured men of his forces, marching them to
City Point. Returning again to headquarters, it had charge of some 6,000
recruits. Soon after it was ordered to Hart's island, near New York
city, to guard the prisoners there confined. It was finally mustered out
there on June 9, 1865. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 1
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