• Company A – Lewistown, Mifflin County – Captain Joseph A. Matthews
• Company B – Pittsburgh, Allegheny County – Captain William L. Foulk
• Company C – Lehigh County and Northampton County – Captain Owen A. Lukenbach
• Company D – Dauphin County – Captain George A. Brooks
• Company E – Reading, Berks County – Captain Cornelius Wise
• Company F – Allegheny County – Captain Benjamin W. Morgan
• Company G – Potter County – Captain James H. Graves
• Company H – Potter County – Captain William D. Widger
• Company I – Luzerne County – Captain Richard Fitzgerald
• Company K – Northumberland County – Captain

First Battle of Kernstown

Three companies of the regiment under the command of Major Joseph Matthews arrived in time to take part in the only Union victory over “Stonewall” Jackson when he commanded his own army.

Operations in the Shenandoah Valley

Kernstown and Middletown

Captain Cyrus Strouse was captured

Battle of Winchester

Banks’ outnumbered army fought for three hours to cover the withdrawal of the Union supply wagons before joining the retreat to Maryland. The regiment lost four men killed, ten wounded, and three captured.

Battle of Cedar Mountain

Crawford’s Birgade along with the 504 men of the 46th Pennsylvania charged across an open wheatfield and broke the left of “Stonewall ” Jackson’s line. Taking on parts of two Confederate brigades in close and heavy fighting, Crawford’s men were then outflanked and, without support, forced to retreat.

The regiment lost 31 men killed, 102 wounded, and 111 captured or missing. Lieutenants William P. Caldwell, Samuel H. Jones and Robert Wilson were killed. Colonel Knipe, Major Matthews, Captains Brooks, Foulke and Lukenbaugh, Lieutenants William Caldwell, Craig, Thomas Matthews and D. C. Selheimer were wounded. Captain William Shattuck was captured.

Pope’s Campaign in Northern Virginia

Second Battle of Bull Run (Second Manassas)

The badly battered regiment was assigned to guard supply and ammunition trains at Manassas Junction and was not engaged.

Maryland Campaign

Attached to 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 12th Corps, Army of the Potomac

Battle of Antietam

The 46th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment was under the command of Colonel Knipe until he took over the brigade after the death of General Mansfield and the subsequent temporary promotions of division and brigade commanders. Lieutenant Colonel Selfridge took over the regiment. It was lightly engaged in the East Woods, but suffered the loss of Captain George A. George Brooks of Company D and 5 enlisted men killed and 3 wounded.

From the War Department marker to Crawford’s Brigade at Antietam:

Crawford’s Brigade advanced from Line’s farm at daybreak, on the right of Williams’ Division. The 124th Pennsylvania was detached and supported Magilton’s Brigade of Meade’s Division in its engagement on the north edge of the Cornfield. In its deployment the Brigade moved to the left in support of Ricketts’ Division, a part of which it relieved at this point, and occupied the northeast corner of the Cornfield and a part of the East Woods, where it was heavily engaged. Upon the turning of the Confederate flank by Greene’s Division, the 125th Pennsylvania advanced across the fields north of the Smoketown Road and penetrated the woods around the Dunkard Church. The Brigade supported Sedgwick’s Division in its advance and, later in the day, formed in support of the Sixth Corps.

From Lieutenant Colonel Selfridge’s Official Report for the 46th Pennsylvania at Antietam:

By order of Brigadier-General Mansfield, temporarily commanding the corps, the regiment was ordered to advance to the front about 5.30 o’clock a. m., and was marched into the woods, immediately fronting the position on the enemy, in column of companies, where they were deployed by order of Colonel Knipe into line of battle, and opened a lively fire of musketry upon the enemy. This position was maintained for upward of an hour, the enemy obstinately holding his ground in a corn-field fronting the woods, when Colonel Knipe ordered the regiments to advance. This order was obeyed with alacrity, the regiment advancing to the edge of the field occupied by the enemy, and pouring into their ranks at every step fire so well directed that, if well supported, would have compelled the enemy to give way. But this support was not given and, in consequence, the regiment was compelled to retire some 200 or 300 yards, where they met re-enforcements hastening to the front. The One hundred and twenty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers, a new and untried regiment, was brought to our right in column of companies closed in mass. They had no sooner arrived in the field than their colonel fell, and their lieutenant-colonel was so severely wounded that he had to be carried to the rear. Colonel Knipe assisted Major Wanner, the remaining field officer, in deploying the regiment, and it, with other regiments, including the Forty-sixth, advanced and drove the enemy out of the corn-field over another, in clover, into woods beyond both.

After this was accomplished there was a pause of about a half hour in the battle, with the exception of the artillery firing. A brigade advanced about this time out of the woods to our left, and passing us, pressed into those on our right, where they engaged the enemy, but were compelled to retire in about fifteen minutes in great confusion. They rushed past the regiments composing Crawford’s brigade, and imparted, to a great degree, the alarm which they themselves felt to some of these regiments, which joined int their flight. The situation was most critical. A battery – a regular one, I think – was wheeled into position on the crest of the slope dividing the two skirts of woods, and opened a tremendous fire of grape and canister upon the pursuing foe. No infantry at the time supported this battery. Colonel Knipe with his colors and a small fragment of this regiment were all that showed any organization in the neighborhood. Some general (name unknown) entreated him to rally what he could of the retreating regiments around his standards and save the battery. This he succeeded in doing, the One hundred and seventh New York responding to this entreaties and forming on his colors. Other regiments, seeing the posture of affairs, regained their confidence and returned to the field. The battery was saved, the enemy retreading to the woods, and the battle, as far as infantry was concerned, on this part of the field, ended. By direction of General Williams, the regiment – what was left of it – retired to the rear to enjoy that rest of which they were so much in need.

Official Reports: Series 1, Vol 19, Part 1 (Antietam – Serial 27) , Pages 489 – 490

Duty in Maryland

Captain Owen A. Lukenbach of Company C was discharged on a surgeon’s certificate. He was replaced by William H. Stolzenbach. Captain Cornelius Wise of Company E resigned. He was replaced by First Lieutenant Sefra T. Ketrer. Captain James H. Graves of Company G resigned, and Sergeant Dennis H. Cheseboro was promoted to Captain of Company G.

“Mud March”

Chancellorsville Campaign

The 46th Pennsylvania crossed the Rappahannock at Kelly’s Ford on the 27th and then crossed the Rapidan at Germania Ford, moving forward to Chancellorsville.

Battle of Chancellorsville

The regiment was in support of the central column advancing under the command of General Sykes. After encountering the Confederates the column was ordered back to defensive positions around Chancellorsville.

The 46th Pennsylvania lost heavily in repulsing Jackson’s flank attack of May 2, the fight continuing through May 3, when the Confederates were finally driven back. But Hooker withdrew the army back across the Rappahannock rather than continue the fight.

Major Cyrus Strouse, Lieutenant Obediah R. Priestly and and two enlisted men were killed, a large number of men wounded, and Captain Patrick Griffin and Lieutenant Edmond Cramsie were captured.

Gettysburg Campaign

Battle of Gettysburg

The 46th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment was commanded at Gettysburg by Colonel James L. Selfridge. It brought 262 men to the field and was engaged near Spangler’s Spring on the south side of Culp’s Hill on July 2 & 3.

From the monument to the 46th Pennsylvaina at Gettysburg:

July 2. The Regiment constructed and held these works until evening when the Division moved to support the left of the line. Returning in the night the enemy was found in the works and the Regiment was posted in the open field in the rear until the enemy was driven out, when it returned and held the works until the close of battle.

July 3, 1863 p.m. ordered to support of the centre between General Meade’s headquarters and the fighting line and in reserve. After repulse of Longstreet’s assault returned to breastworks. July 4, a.m. Reconnoitered towards Hanover. Returned through Gettysburg and encamped.

The regiment lost Privates John Wenrich and Charles Briner killed, Lieutenant Darius Gilger and 9 enlisted men wounded and one man missing, many from friendly fire from Union artillery.

Atlanta Campaign

Battle of Resaca

Lieutenant John Knipe was mortally wounded

New Hope Church

Captain Dennis Cheseboro of Company G and Lieutenant John Phillips were killed and Lieutenant Jacob Getter wounded

Peach Tree Creek

The regiment was commanded by Colonel Jason Selfridge, “who was in the thickest of the fight, conspicuous by his white, flowing locks.” Hood’s attack had caught the regiment in an exposed position, but they threw back repeated assaults, often “at the point of the bayonet.”

The regiment lost 26 men killed or mortally wounded, 86 men wounded, and 1 man missing. Lieutenants Samuel Wolf and Howell Davis were killed. Captain Sefra Ketrer of company E, Adjutant Luther R. Whitman, and Lieutenant D. C. Selheliner were mortally wounded.

Siege of Atlanta

The regiment lost six men killed and a considerable number of wounded.

Occupation of Atlanta

March to the sea

Siege of Savannah

Campaign of the Carolinas

Battle of Bentonville

Bennett’s House

Surrender of Johnston and his army.