Historical Sketch:
Cols., Chapman Biddle, Alexander Biddle, James Ashworth ; Lieut.-Cols., Elisha W. Davis, Alexander Biddle, James Ashworth, Thomas M. Hall, Samuel T. Lloyd, James S. Warner; Majs., Alexander Biddle, James Ashworth, Thomas M. Hall, West Funk. The 121st was recruited in Philadelphia and Venango county and mustered into the service for three years, in Sept., 1862, at Philadelphia. It was ordered to Washington, where it was attached to Casey's provisional brigade, and in October it became a part of Gen. Meade's division near Antietam. Fredericksburg was its first engagement, after which it went into camp at Belle Plain for the winter. It broke camp to participate in the "Mud March," and again for the Chancellorsville movement in May, 1863, returning to camp near Falmouth until the Gettysburg campaign. On July 1, the regiment was hotly engaged and out of 263 men who entered the fight only 84 reported for duty after the day was over. The next day the men had some rest, but were active again on the 3d and then joined in the pursuit. The 121st guarded Kelly's Ford and Cedar Run bridge, near Catlett's Station ; joined in the Mine Run movement, and then made winter quarters at Culpeper. Attached to the 5th corps, the regiment participated in the battle of the Wilderness, where it sustained heavy loss. At Spottsylvania, Jericho ford, Bethesda Church and Cold Harbor the men fought bravely, their ranks greatly reduced in numbers. At Cold Harbor the 121st was assigned to the 1st division. It aided in the construction of "Fort Hell" at Petersburg; shared in the raid upon the Weldon railroad in August; fought at Peebles' farm, at which time it formed part of the 3d brigade, 3d division. In this engagement a large number of the 121st were cut off by the enemy and made prisoners. The remnant of the regiment had a part in the movement on the Weldon railroad in December, the Hatcher's run movement in Feb., 1865, the fight at the Boydton plank road in March, was active at the battle of Five Forks and was present at Lee's surrender at Appomattox. A few days of guard duty at Appomattox and two weeks' encampment on the South Side railroad followed, after which the regiment proceeded to Washington and was there mustered out on June 2, 1865.A brief history of this unit. Roster:
The Roster of this unit contains the names of 1300 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.
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