Historical Sketch:
Cols., Richard A. Oakford, Vincent M. Wilcox, Charles Albright ; Lieut. -Cols., Vincent M. Wilcox, Charles Albright, Joseph E. Shreve; Majs., Charles Albright, Joseph E. Shreve, Fred L. Hitchcock. This regiment, from the north- central part of the state, was mustered into the U. S. service at Camp Curtin, Harrisburg, Aug. 11-18, 1862, for nine months. Col. Oakford had commanded the 15th regiment in the three months' service, and the rank and file were of good physique. It left the state for Washington on Aug. 19, encamped near Fort Corcoran on its arrival, and there engaged in the work of drill and preparation. On Sept. 2 it moved to Rockville, Md., where it was assigned to Kimball's brigade, French's division, Sumner's corps, which arrived at South mountain too late to share in the battle. The regiment suffered severely in its first battle, that of Antietam, losing 30 killed, 114 wounded and 8 missing. Col Oakford and Lieut. Cranmer were among the killed. It then moved with the corps to Bolivar heights and during October shared in reconnoissances to Leesburg and Charlestown. Nov. 6 found it at Falmouth, whence it was detached for duty at Belle Plain for a month. As a part of the 3d brigade, 3d division, 2nd corps, it was engaged in the battle of Fredericksburg, losing 150 out of 340 men engaged, but behaving like a veteran regiment. Gen. French complimented the troops very highly in orders for their heroism in the two battles of Antietam and Fredericksburg. It remained in winter quarters at Falmouth until the close of April, 1863, and then engaged in the battle of Chancellorsville, where it was in reserve the first 2 days, but was active at the front on May 3 and 4, its loss being about 50. On May 14 its term expired and it was mustered out at Harrisburg on the 24th.
Roster:
The Roster of this unit contains the names of 1235 men. Source:
The Union Army by Federal Publishing Company, 1908 - Volume 1 Bibliography:
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Blair, William and William Pencak, editors. Making and Remaking Pennsylvania's Civil War. University Park, Pennsylvania: Penn State University Press, 2004.
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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: