Historical Sketch:
Cols., Henry J. Stainrook, Lewis W. Ralston ; Lieut.-Cols., Charles M. Harris, Lewis W. Ralston, Frederick L. Gimber; Majs., William A. Gray, Frederick L. Gimber, Moses Veale. The 109th, for which the recruiting was almost all done in Philadelphia from Dec, 1861, to March, 1862, was mustered in at Philadelphia in the spring of 1862 for three years. Ordered to Harper's Ferry to join Gen. Banks' army, the regiment was assigned to the 2nd brigade, 2nd division of the corps which became the 2nd corps of the Army of Northern Virginia. It was closely engaged at the battle of Cedar mountain, and for the 109th it was truly Slaughter mountain, for less than half of its troops engaged escaped unhurt. Guard duty with the wagon trains employed the regiment until after Antietam, when the corps was reorganized and the 109th became part of Greene's brigade, Geary's division, 12th corps, and moved to Bolivar heights. Early in December it was engaged at Winchester, then advanced to Fredericksburg, but did not arrive until too late for the battle. Returning to Fairfax it encamped there until the "Mud March," after which it was posted at Acquia creek landing on fatigue duty. When Gen. Hooker was placed in command of the army the regiment was assigned to a brigade under Gen. Kane of the Bucktails, which was active at Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. Moving with the army as far as Brandy Station, the 12th corps was ordered to Chattanooga and arrived at Bridgeport, Ala., on Oct. 25. Still advancing toward Chattanooga it was attacked at Wauhatchie, but with the assistance of Knap's battery was able to hold its position. It next aided in fortifying Raccoon mountain opposite Lookout mountain and was there stationed until in Jan., 1864, when it was returned to Bridgeport for guard duty. Here nearly the entire regiment reenlisted and went home on furlough. The veterans joined the 1st brigade of the division on May 5 and marched with the army of Gen. Sherman to Atlanta, taking part in the Hundred Days' battles and losing heavily day after day until but a handful remained. These followed the victorious Sherman to the sea, northward to Goldsboro and then to Washington. On March 31 they were incorporated with the 111th Pa. infantry and with that organization were mustered out at Washington on July 19, 1865.
Roster:
The Roster of this unit contains the names of 1860 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: