109th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment

United States Regiments & Batteries > Pennsylvania

“Curtin Light Guards”

The 109th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment lost 3 officers and 61 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 71 enlisted men to disease during the Civil War. It is honored by a monument at Gettysburg.

1862
March to May The 109th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment was organized at Philadelphia under the command of Colonel Henry J. Stainrook, Lieutenant Colonel Charles I. Harris and Major William A. Gray
May 10 Moved to Washington, D.C.
May 24 To Harper’s Ferry. Attached to 1st Brigade, Sigel’s Division, Dept. of the Shenandoah
May 24-30 Defense of Harper’s Ferry, W. Va.
June-August Operations in the Shenandoah Valley. Attached to 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 2nd Army Corps, Army of Virginia
August 9
Battle of Cedar Mountain

Attached to 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 2nd Army Corps, Army of Virginia. Lieutenant Lewis W. Ralston was shot in the abdomen.
August 16-September 2 Pope’s Campaign in Northern Virginia. Guarded trains during Battles of Bull Run.
September 6-22 Maryland Campaign. Attached to 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 12th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac. Colonel Stainrook took command of the brigade as senior colonel and Captain George E. Seymour commanded the regiment.
September 16-17
Battle of Antietam

The regiment was in reserve guarding supply trains.
September-December Duty at Bolivar Heights
October Attached to 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 12th Army Corps
October 25 Captain Lewis W. Ralston was promoted to lieutenant colonel.
November 9 Reconnaissance to Ripon, W. Va.
December 2-6 Reconnaissance to Winchester
December 9-16 March to Fredericksburg
1863
January 20-24 Burnside’s 2nd Campaign, “Mud March.” Attached to 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 12th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac
February – April At Stafford Court House
April 27-May 6

Chancellorsville Campaign
May 1-5
Battle of Chancellorsville

Colonel Stainrook was killed by a Confederate sharpshooter, who was in turn shot by Lieutenant Kidney of Company G. Lieutenant Colonel Ralston was promoted to colonel and took over the regiment.
June 11-July 24

Gettysburg Campaign
July 1-3
Battle of Gettysburg

The regiment was commanded at Gettysburg by Captain Frederick Gimber, a Philadelphia clerk. The 109th took 149 men into battle, and lost three killed, six wounded, and one missing.

From the monument to the 109th Pennsylvania on Culp’s Hill:

July 1st. The regiment arrived within two miles of Gettysburg about 5 p.m. and took position on the left of Baltimore Pike. July 2nd it moved here and built these works. In the evening it was withdrawn with the Brigade, and returning in the night, found the works in the possession of the enemy, when it formed at right angles to this line behind a ledge of rocks to the left and rear of this position designated on a marker. After severe fighting on the morning of the 3rd this line was recaptured and held until the close of battle.
July 5-24 Pursuit of Lee
August-September Duty near Raccoon Ford
September 24-
October 3		 Movement to Bridgeport, Ala. and attached to Army of the Cumberland
October 26-29 Reopening Tennessee River
October 28-29
Battle of Wauhatchie, Tenn.
November 23-27

Chattanooga-Ringgold Campaign
November 23-24
Lookout Mountain
November 25
Mission Ridge
November 27
Ringgold Gap, Taylor’s Ridge, Ga.
December – April Duty on Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad
1864
April Attached to 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 20th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland
May 1-September 8

Atlanta Campaign
May 8-11 Demonstration on Rocky Faced Ridge
May 14-15
Battle of Resaca
May 19 Near Cassville
May 25
New Hope Church
May 25-June 5 Operations on line of Pumpkin Vine Creek and bathes about Dallas, New Hope Church and Allatoona Hills
June 10-July 2 Operations about Marietta and against Kenesaw Mountain
June 11-14
Pine Hill
June 15-17
Lost Mountain
June 15
Gilgal or Golgotha Church
June 17 Muddy Creek
June 19 Noyes Creek
June 22 Kolb’s Farm
June 27
Assault on Kenesaw
July 4 Ruff’s Station or Smyrna Camp Ground
July 5-17 Chattahoochie River
July 19-20 Peach Tree Creek
July 22-August 25 Siege of Atlanta
August 26-
September 2		 Operations at Chattahoochie River Bridge
September 2-November 15 Occupation of Atlanta
October 26-29 Expedition to Tuckum’s Cross Roads
November 9 Near Atlanta
November 15-December 10

March to the sea
December 10-21
Siege of Savannah
1865
January – March

Campaign of the Carolinas
March 19-21
Battle of Bentonville, N. C.
March 31 Consolidated with 111th Pennsylvania Infantry