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Regimental History Of the 50th Infantry PA VolunteersFiftieth Infantry. Cols., Benjamin C. Christ, William H. Telford The 50th regiment was recruited in the counties of Berks, Schuylkill, Bradford, Sesquehanna, Lancaster and Luzerne & was mustered into the U. S. service at Harrisburg, Oct. I, I86I, for three years. It left Camp Curtin the next day for Washington, after which it moved to Annapolis and joined the expedition to South Carolina, being assigned to Stevens' brigade. The command camped near Hilton Head until Dec. 6, when it occupied Beaufort and had a slight skirmish with the enemy the following day. On Jan. I, 1802, the brigade crossed the Coosaw river and captured a fort. In May an attempt was made to destroy the railroad bridge at old Pocotaligo, which was unsuccessful in spite of the gallantry of the regiment. On July 12 it embarked for Fortress Monroe and on its arrival was attached to the 9th corps and ordered to join Gen. Pope on the Rapidan. Several skirmishes ensued at the fords of the Rapidan and Rappahannock. At the second Bull Run, Chantilly, South mountain and Antietam it fought gallantly and sustained heavy losses. It was present at Fredericksburg but not in the battle. It was then ordered to join the Army of the Ohio, advanced to Vicksburg, where it was posted on Haines Bluff, and after the siege followed Gen. Sherman to Jackson, where it was engaged and lost its brave Lieut.-Col. Brenholtz. In the southern campaign the men suffered much from malaria and on Aug. 10, such as were able returned to Kentucky. They were active at the battle of Blue Springs, Tenn., in October and in November at Lenoir Station and Campbell's station, near Knoxville, and the attack on Fort Sanders. The regiment shared in the pursuit of Longstreet as far as Blaine's cross-roads, when it was ordered to Nicholasville and the reenlisted men were sent home on veteran furlough. In spite of the hardships of the winter nearly the entire regiment reenlisted and on March 20, 1864, reported at Annapolis, the rendezvous of the 9th corps. The 50th was attached to the 2nd brigade, Ist division, of this corps, which joined the Army of the Potomac at the Rapidan on May 5, and engaged at the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, the North Anna river and Cold Harbor. At Petersburg it was in support of the troops
that made the assault after the mine explosion; joined in the engagement at the Weldon railroad, and in the final assault on the city, April 2, 1865. About the middle of April it proceeded to Washington and remained there until June 30, when it was ordered to Gettysburg to represent the infantry of the
Union army at the corner stone ceremonies of the National Monument, July 4, and returned to camp at Georgetown, where it was mustered out on July 31, 1865. Sources: |
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