Historical Sketch:
The Pennsylvania 20th Cavalry Regiment, the 181st regiment, from the counties of Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, Dauphin, Cumberland, Union and the city of Philadelphia, was recruited in June and July, 1863. Seven companies were mustered into the U. S. service for six months and five companies were emergency militia, called into being at the time of Lee's invasion of the state. A regimental organization was effected in July. During the invasion, it served by detachments on scout and picket duty at the fords of the Susquehanna and along the roads leading towards Carlisle, York and Marysville. On July 7, it left Camp Couch, Harrisburg, where it had rendezvoused, and moved to Greencastle, whence it proceeded to Falling Waters and engaged in picketing the shores of the Potomac for a number of weeks. The emergency companies returned to Harrisburg, and their place was largely taken by six months' men. In August it moved to Sir John's run in West Virginia, and did railroad guard duty in the direction of Winchester, Cos. F and I being posted at Berkeley Springs, D and E at Bloomery gap, A and H at Great Cacapon Station and C at Hancock. The other five companies were on detached service at Philadelphia, Reading and Pottsville and did not rejoin the command until the final muster out. In November it moved to Springfield, whence two companies made a reconnoissance nearly 100 miles to the south, engaging and defeating a part of Imboden's command, and taking a number of prisoners. On Dec. 24 it was ordered to Harrisburg and was there mustered out on Jan. 7, 1864.
The regiment was reorganized as a 3 years unit in February, 1864.
OFFICERS:
Col., John E. Wynkoop;
Lieut. -Col., William Rotch Wister;
Majs., Samuel W. Comly, J. Harry Thorp, Robert W. Douglass.
ASSIGNMENTS:
Attached to 2nd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Dept. West Virginia, to August, 1864. 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, West Virginia, to November, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Shenandoah, to February, 1865, and Army Potomac to June, 1865.
SERVICE:
March to Greencastle July 7, 1863. Scouting into Maryland and pursuit of Lee July 8-24. Moved to Falling Water and picket shores of the Potomac till August. Ordered to Sir John's Run, W. Va., and assigned to guard duty on Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. Companies "F" and "I" at Berkeley Springs. Companies "D" and "E" at Bloomery Gap. Skirmish at Bloomery Gap September 1. Companies "A" and "H" at Great Cacapon Bridge. Skirmish at Bath September 1. Company "C" at Hancock. The five Emergency Companies on duty at Philadelphia, Reading and Pottsville, Pa. Regiment concentrated at Sir John's Run, W. Va., September, 1863. Duty there and at Springfield till December. Scout in Hampshire, Hardy, Frederick and Shenandoah Counties December 7-11 (Detachment). Regiment moved to Harrisburg, Pa., December 24 and mustered out January 7, 1864.
Roster:
The Roster of this unit contains the names of 1441 men.
Field and Staff Officers-Dauphin County and Philadelphia County
Company A - Dauphin County, Cumberland County, and Berks County
Company B - Harrisburg, Dauphin County
Company C - Philadelphia County and Dauphin County
Company D - Philadelphia County and Lancaster County
Company E - Dauphin County, Philadelphia County and Mifflin County
Company F - Philadelphia County
Company G - Philadelphia County and Dauphin County
Company H - Philadelphia County, Dauphin County, and Lancaster County
Company I - Philadelphia County and Lancaster County
Company K - Dauphin County and Lancaster County
Company L - Philadelphia County
Company M - Philadelphia County and Chester County
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: