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72nd
Pennsylvania Infantry
Online Books
72nd
Pennsylvania Infantry Soldier Roster - History of Pennsylvania
Volunteers, 1861-5, Volume 2 by Samuel P Bates, 1869
View Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| Seventy-second Infantry. — Col., DeWitt Clinton Baxter;
Lieut.-Cols., Theodore Hesser, Henry A. Cook; Majs., J. Madison DeWitt,
Samuel Roberts, A. C. Supplee, John Lockhart. The 72nd, known as the
Fire Zouave regiment, was raised in the city of Philadelphia during the
week, Aug. 3 to 10, 1861, and was mustered into the U. S. service for
three years on the 10th. Col. Baxter had been second in command of the
19th regiment, and many of the members of the 72nd had served with him.
On reaching Washington it was ordered across the river to the Virginia
shore and on Sept. 18 was assigned to the Philadelphia brigade under
Col. E. D. Baker. The regiment was at this time made up of fifteen
companies and numbered 1,487 men. On Sept. 30 it recrossed the river,
moved to Poolesville, Md., and engaged in guard duty as a part of Gen.
Stone's division. The following spring it shared in the Peninsular
campaign, the Philadelphia brigade now commanded by Gen. Burns, forming
a part of Sedgwick's division, Sumner's corps. It suffered much from
sickness at the siege of Yorktown, as its camp was in an unhealthful
location and the constant rains and exposure in the trenches bore
heavily on the command. It suffered some loss in the battle of Fair
Oaks, and with Sumner's corps was the last to withdraw from the trenches
on the Chickahominy at the beginning of the Seven Days' battles. It was
heavily engaged at Savage Station, where it lost 15 killed, and was
under fire but not active at Charles City cross-roads and Malvern hill.
Leaving the Peninsula, it moved with Sumner to the support of Gen. Pope,
and then after a few days' rest entered on the Maryland campaign, Gen.
Howard now commanding the brigade. It lost 31 killed on the bloody field
of Antietam, and at Fredericksburg, where the brigade was under Gen.
Owen, the 72nd again suffered considerable loss. In the Chancellorsville
campaign it was sent with a detachment of engineers to build and hold
bridges at Banks' ford, and was not present at the battle. It then
remained in camp at Falmouth until the middle of June, engaged in guard
and picket duty. While here it was visited by Gov. Curtin, who presented
the regiments of the brigade with stands of colors. While moving on the
Gettysburg campaign the 72nd was engaged at Thoroughfare gap and
Haymarket. At Gettysburg, where it arrived on the evening of the first
day, Gen. Hancock commanded the corps, Gibbon the division, and Webb the
brigade. It went into position on the left center, immediately behind
the 69th and 71st, just below the crest of the hill. It was not heavily
engaged the second day, but suffered grievously on the third, both
during the great artillery duel, and in Pickett's historic charge. It
lost 46 killed and a proportionate number in wounded. It was frequently
engaged during the ensuing fall campaigns in Virginia; it suffered some
loss at Bristoe Station, and also at Robertson's tavern. The
Philadelphia brigade was to have headed the storming part at Mine Run,
but the order to attack was countermanded and the army retired behind
the Rappahannock. It went into winter quarters near Stoneboro and
performed guard duty along the line of the Orange & Alexandria railroad.
On the opening of the spring campaign of 1864 it was active at the
Wilderness and Po river ; shared in the charge upon the enemy's works at
Spottsylvania ; was heavily engaged at Cold Harbor; crossed the James
river on June 15 at Wilcox landing; shared in the first assaults on the
works of Petersburg; and then moved with the corps in the advance on the
Weldon railroad. In August it was withdrawn from the trenches in front
of Petersburg, as the term of service of the original members had
expired, the veterans and recruits having been transferred to the 183d
Pa. on July 19, and the rest of the regiment was mustered out at
Philadelphia, Aug. 24, 1864. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 1
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