25th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment

United States Regiments & Batteries – Pennsylvania > 25th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment

1861
April 13 “First Defenders” tendered their services to the government. these were the first five companies to answer Lincoln’s call for volunteers after the attack on Fort Sumter.

  • Company A: “Ringgold Light Artillery” – Reading, Berks County – Captain James M. McKnight
  • Company D: “National Light Infantry” – Pottsville, Schuylkill County – Captain Edmund McDonald
  • Company E: “Logan Guards” – Lewistown, Mifflin County – Captain John B. Selheimert
  • Company G: “Allen’s Guard/Rifles” – Allentown, Lehigh County – Captain Thomas Yeager
  • Company H: “Washington Artillery” – Pottsville, Schuylkill County – Captain James Wren
April 16-17 Moved to Harrisburg
April 18 The temainder of the regiment organized at Harrisburg, Pa. under the command of Colonel Henry L. Cake, Lieutenant Colonel John B. Selheimer and Major James H. Campbell. They were administered the Oath of Service at the railroad station and immediately boarding boxcars on the Northern Central Railroad for Baltimore.

  • Company B – “Haskin’s Guards” – Lewistown, Mifflin County – Captain James Wren
  • Company C – “2nd Ringgold Infantry” – Reading, Berks County – Captain Henry Nagle
  • Company F – Harrisburg, Dauphin County – Captain Henry McCormick
  • Company I – Doylestown, Bucks County – William W. H. Davis
  • Company K – Carbondale, Luzerne County – Captain Alfred Dart
April 18 The First Defenders Moved to Washington, D.C., via Baltimore. Maryland, arriving at 6:00 p.m. They were assigned to the Department of Washington. Quartered in the Capitol Building, they were issued new Springfield rifles and ammunition that night while President Lincoln watched. The men would guard the Arsenal and Navy Yard. The Logan Guard and Washington Artillery were on duty at Fort Washington, with the remainder of the regiment camped near the Arsenal.
June 28 Companies B, E and H remained as the garrison at Fort Washington until mustered out. Companies A and C remained at Washington Arsenal until mustered out.
June 29-30 Companies D, F, G, I and K marched to Rockville, Md. under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Selheimer to join Stone’s Command,
July 1 Reported at Poolesville, and moved to Sandy Hook, opposite Harper’s Ferry. Colonel Cake arived to resume command, and Major Campbell, a member of the U. S. Congress, left for Washington for the congressional session called on July 4th
July 6-8 Marched to Martinsburg and attached to Stone’s 7th Brigade, Sanford’s 3rd Division, Patterson’s Army
July 15 Advance to Bunker Hill
July 17-23 Camp at Harper’s Ferry
July 23 Moved by rail via Baltimore to Harrisburg and reunited with the companies left behind in Washington
August 1 The 25th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment mustered out
The regiment reorganized for three years service as the 96th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment.