150th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment

United States Regiments & Batteries > Pennsylvania > Infantry

“2nd Regiment Bucktail Brigade”

The 150th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment lost 4 officers and 108 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and 1 officer and 94 enlisted men to disease during the Civil War.

It is honored by two monuments at Gettysburg.

1862
Recruited in Philadelphia and in Crawford, McKean and Union counties.
September 4 Organized at Philadelphia and Harrisburg under Colonel Langhorne Wister (captain in the Bucktails), Lieutenant Colonel H. S. Huidekoper (recent Harvard graduate) and Major Thomas Chamberlin (former captain in the 5th Pennsylvania Reserves, recuperating from a wound from Charles City Cross Roads).
September Moved to Washington, D.C. and attached to Defenses of Washington for guard duty in the Defenses of Washington, D. C. Company K was detailed as bodyguard to President Lincoln until muster out. Its commander, Captain David Derickson, joined him for breakfast every day. One of the regiment’s soldiers was depicted in the movie, Lincoln, on screen only briefly but with the regiment’s signature buck tail in his hat.
November 8 Lieutenant Benjamin Topham died of disease in Washington, D.C.
1863
February Ordered to join Army of the Potomac in the field. Reported to 1st Army Corps at Belle Plains, Va. Attached to 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 1st Army Corps, Army of the Potomac
April 27-May 6 Chancellorsville Campaign
April 29-May 2 Operations at Pollock’s Mill Creek
May 2-5
Battle of Chancellorsville
June 11-July 24

Gettysburg Campaign
July 1-3
Battle of Gettysburg

The regiment was commanded by Colonel Langhorn Wister until he took over brigade command on July 1 and was then wounded. Lieutenant Colonel Henry S. Huidekoper took over the regiment until he, too, was wounded. Despite being severly wounded in the arm, which he would lose, he continued in command until the fighting ended for the day, for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor. Major Thomas Chamberlin was also wounded, so Captain George W. Jones took command after Huidekoper finally relinquished command.

Lieutenants Charles P. Keyser and E. B. Weidensau were killed. Lieutenant Henry Chancellor, Jr. was mortally wounded, Captains William P. Dougal and John W. Sigler, Adjutant Richard Ashhurst and Lieutenants Gilbert Perkins, C. W. Sears, and Miles F. Rose were wounded, and Captains Henry W. Gimber and Cornelius Widdis and Lieutenants John Q. Carpenter and Joseph Chatburn were captured. By evening of July 1 only two officers remained with the regiment, one of whom was wounded.

Corporal Monroe J. Reisinger of Company H was also awarded the Medal of Honor for specially brave and meritorious conduct in the face of the enemy on July 1.

From the main monument on Stone Avenue on the northwest side of Gettysburg:

July 1st the Regiment held this position from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. This monument marks the most advanced line, facing west, occupied by the Regiment. Repeated changes of front were made to meet assaults from the north and west, and the right wing charged to R.R. cut . In retiring it made several stands and engaged the enemy. Evening of the 2nd moved to support the left, and held position on Emmitsburg Road. Morning of the 3rd moved to the left centre and remained until close of battle.

Present at Gettysburg 397. Killed and mortally wounded 53. Wounded 134. Captured or missing 77.

From the monument on Hancock Avenue, on the south side of Gettysburg:

July 1st. This regiment fought near Chambersburg Pike. Beyond the town, where its monument stands. Losing 53 killed, 134 wounded and 77 missing. A total of 264 out of 397 engaged.

July 2d in evening skirmished to Emmitsburg Road in front of this position, recovering two guns. Remained on skirmish line until morning.

July 3d held this positon under heavy fire until close of battle.
July 5-24 Pursuit of Lee
August At Bealeton Station
October 9-22

Bristoe Campaign
November 7-8 Advance to line of the Rappahannock
November 26-December 2

Mine Run Campaign

Attached to 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 1st Army Corps
1864
February 6-7 Demonstration on the Rapidan
February Duty near Culpeper
February 23 Lieutenant Colonel Huidekoper was promoted to colonel
March Attached to 3rd Brigade, 4th Division, 5th Army Corps
March 5 Colonel Huidekoper resigned due to continuing troubles with his Gettysburg wound. Major Chamberlin promoted to lieutenant colonel and Captain Cornelius Widdis of Company A to major
March 15 Lieutenant Colonel Chamberlin resigned due to his Gettysburg wound
April 8 Captain George Jones of Company B was promoted to major
April 30 Major Jones was promoted to lieutenant colonel
May 4-June 12

Rapidan (Overland) Campaign
May 5-7
Battle of the Wilderness

Captain Horatio Bell was killed and Captain Roland Stoughton mortally wounded
May 8
Laurel Hill
May 8-21
Spottsylvania Court House
May 12
Assault on the Salient
May 23-26
North Anna River
May 25 Jericho Ford
May 26-28 On line of the Pamunkey
May 28-31
Totopotomoy
June 1-12
Cold Harbor

Attached to 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Army Corps
June 1-3 Bethesda Church
June 16-18 Before Petersburg
June 16
Siege of Petersburg
July 30
Mine Explosion, Petersburg

The regiment was in reserve.
August 18-21 Weldon Railroad
September Attached to 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 5th Corps
September 29-October 2
Poplar Springs Church
October 27-28
Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher’s Run

Lieutenant Benjamin Topping captured
December 7-12 Warren’s Raid on Weldon Railroad
1865
February 5-7
Dabney’s Mills, Hatcher’s Run
February 10 Ordered to Baltimore, Md. then to Elmira, N.Y. and duty there
June 15 Lieutenant Coloenl Jones was promoted to colonel, Captain John Sigler to lieutenant colonel and Captain Benjamin Topham to major
June 23 Mustered out under Colonel Jones, Lieutenant Colonel Sigler and Major Topham