Historical Sketch:
Col., Henry L. Cake; Lieut. -Col., John B. Selheimer; Maj., Edward B. Pearson, Jr. The 25th infantry was composed of the first five companies, who volunteered in Pennsylvania, three new companies and two companies formed from the surplus of the five original ones. At the outbreak of hostilities, the need for the immediate presence of troops in Washington was so urgent that the first five companies who responded were sent to the national capital without waiting to perfect their regimental organization. They were the Logan Guards of Lewistown; the Allen Guard of Allentown; the Washington Artillery and the National Light Infantry of Pottsville; and the Ringgold Light Artillery of Reading. They were mustered into the U. S. service on April 18, 1861, at Harrisburg for a three months' term, and the same day left for Washington. Upon arriving in Baltimore hostile demonstrations were made by the citizens and unchecked by the large body of police present, but the detachment passed through the city in safety, although almost entirely unarmed, the loaded revolvers of the Logan Guards and their muskets which were capped and carried half-cocked, though powder was lacking, being the only arms. This show of force and the calm demeanor of the men held the furious mob at bay and the troops arrived that evening in Washington, the first to reach the threatened city. Cos. E, H and B garrisoned Fort Washington during the whole term of service; Cos. A and C were assigned to guard duty at the Washington arsenal and the remaining five companies joined the Rockville expedition at Poolesville, marched to Williamsport and Martinsburg and were assigned to the 7th brigade, 3d division. They shared in the marches to Bunker Hill and Charlestown and were mustered out with the remainder of the regiment at Harrisburg on July 26.
Roster:
The Roster of this unit contains the names of 977 men. Source:
The Union Army by Federal Publishing Company, 1908 - Volume 1 Bibliography:
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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: