Historical Sketch:
Some of the men of this regiment were from California.
The 106th, many of whose members had served in the militia and the 22nd infantry, was organized at Philadelphia from Aug. 14 to Oct. 31, 1861, and mustered into the U. S. service for a three years' term. Co. K was added on Feb. 28, 1862, from the 67th Pa. It was ordered to Poolesville, Md., and assigned to Col. Baker's brigade, Gen. Stone's division, but was unable, through lack of transportation facilities, to participate in the battle of Ball's Bluff in which Col. Baker and his regiment were engaged. It took part in the siege of Yorktown in the spring of 1862; was held in reserve during the battle of Williamsburg; was active at Fair Oaks, Savage Station, Glendale, and Malvern hill, after which a short respite followed. It arrived at Bull Run after the severest fighting was over, but at Antietam its losses were very heavy. At Fredericksburg it made a gallant charge and held the ground gained under heavy fire. Camp was broken for the Chancellorsville campaign in the spring of 1863 and the most important service rendered by the regiment was the reinforcement of the 6th corps at Salem Church. At Gettysburg it was closely engaged and captured many prisoners. After the battle it moved southward with the army ; was engaged at Robertson's tavern and shared in the Mine Run campaign. Winter quarters were established at Stoneboro, where a number of the regiment reenlisted. The 106th was in action at the Wilderness ; was for a number of days in the front ranks at Spottsylvania, joining in the successful charge on May 12; was also active at the North Anna river and Cold Harbor; moved to Petersburg about the middle of June and joined in the siege operations. On July 27 the veterans and recruits were formed into a battalion of three companies and united with the 69th Pa. for field service. The original members not reenlisted were mustered out at Philadelphia on Sept. 10, 1864, and the veteran battalion was mustered out on June 30, 1865, at Munson's hill, Va. The loss by death from wounds, accident and disease in the regiment was 191.
Officers:
Cols., T. G. Morehead, John H. Gallagher; Lieut.-Cols., William L. Curry, John J. Sperry, John H. Gallagher, Francis Wessels ; Majs., John H. Stover, John J. Sperry, J. R. Breitenbach, Ralph B. Clarke.
Roster:
The Roster of this unit contains the names of 1795 men. Source:
The Union Army by Federal Publishing Company, 1908 - Volume 1 Bibliography:
Barcousky, Len. Civil War Pittsburgh: Forge of the Union. Charleston, South Carolina: The History Press, 2013. ISBN 9781626190818.
Blair, William and William Pencak, editors. Making and Remaking Pennsylvania's Civil War. University Park, Pennsylvania: Penn State University Press, 2004.
Fox, Arthur B. Our Honored Dead: Alleghany County, Pennsylvania, in the American Civil War. Chicora, Pennsylvania: Mechling Bookbindery, 2008.
Fox, Arthur B. Pittsburgh During the American Civil War 1860–1865. Chicora, Pennsylvania: Mechling Bookbindery, 2002.
Greater Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce. Southern Revenge: Civil War History of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. Chambersburg, Pennsylvania: Greater Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce, 1989.
Miller, William J. The Training of an Army: Camp Curtin and the North's Civil War. Shippensburg, Pennsylvania: White Mane, 1990.
Sandou, Robert M. Deserter County: Civil War Opposition in the Pennsylvania Appalachians. Fordham University Press, 2009.
Skinner, George W., ed. Pennsylvania at Chickamauga and Chattanooga: Ceremonies at the Dedication of the Monuments Erected by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Wm. Stanley Ray, State Printer, 1897.
Taylor, Frank H. Philadelphia in the Civil War. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The City, 1913.
Wingert, Cooper H. Harrisburg and the Civil War: Defending the Keystone of the Union. Charleston, South Carolina: The History Press, 2013. ISBN 9781626190412.
Young, Ronald C. Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in the Civil War. Lancaster, Pennsylvania: published by the author, 2003.
Historical Sketch: