73rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment

United States Regiments & Batteries > Pennsylvania

The 73rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment lost 5 officers and 98 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and 113 enlisted men to disease during the Civil War. It is honored by a monument on Cemetery Hill at Gettysburg.

1861
September 19 Organized at Philadelphia under Colonel John A. Koltes, Lieutenant Colonel G. A. Muehleck and Major William Moore.
September 24 Left State for Washington, D.C.
September Moved to area around Hunter’s Chapel, then to Rose Hill.
Mid-October Attached to Casey’s Brigade, Army of the Potomac for duty in the Defenses of Washington
October 25 Former Pennsylvania Governor Pollock presents a set of colors from the ladies of Philadelphia
November On picket duty at Annandale, with headquarters at Fitzhugh’s Farm.
December Attached to Steinwehr’s Brigade, Blenker’s Division, Army of the Potomac
1862
January 15 The regiment was rearmed with Austrian rifles
March 3 350 men of the disbanded 66th Pennsylvania transferred to the regiment.
March Atached to 2nd Brigade, Blenker’s Division, 2nd Army Corps, Army of the Potomac
March 10-15 Advance on Manassas, Va.
March-Apri Near Catlett’s Station, Va.
April 6-May 11 Moved to Petersburg, W. Va. Attached to 2nd Brigade, Blenker’s Division, Dept. of the Mountains
May Operations in the Shenandoah Valley
June Attached to 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 1st Corps, Army of Virginia
June 8 Battle of Cross Keys
June-July Duty in the Shenandoah Valley and at Sperryville
July 22 Occupation of Luray
August 9
Battle of Cedar Mountain

The regiment was in reserve.
August 16-September 2 Pope’s Campaign in Northern Virginia
August 21-23 Fords of the Rappahannock
August 24 Sulphur Springs
August 28 Gainesville
August 30
Second Battle of Bull Run

The regiment lost 216 men killed and wounded, over half its strength. Colonel Koltes, commanding the brigade, and Captain Augustus Brueckner, commanding the regiment, were killed. Captains Charles Cresson and Lewis Talter were wounded. Lt. Colonel Muehleck was promoted to colonel.
September Attached to 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 11th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac for duty in the Defenses of Washington, D.C.
November 1-19 Movement to Centreville
November 22 Major Moore promoted to lieutenant colonel.
December 9-16 To Fredericksburg
1863
January 1 Captain Michael Strong promoted to major
January 20-24 “Mud March”
January 27 Colonel Muehleck resigns. Lieutenant Colonel Moore promoted to colonel and Major Strong to lieutenant colonel, but not mustered. Captain David A. Schultz of Company B promoted to major.
February-April At Stafford C. H.
April 14-15 Operations at Welford’s, Kelly’s and Beverly Fords
April 27-May 6 Chancellorsville Campaign
May 1-5
Battle of Chancellorsville

Captain Henry J. Giltinan and 12 enlisted men were killed, Captain Jacob Leibfried mortally wounded and Colonel Moore, Lieutenant Colonel Strong and Captains Charles Cresson and David Shultz and Lieutenant Henry Hess and 48 enlisted men were wounded, and 39 men missing.
June 11-July 24 Gettysburg Campaign
July 1-3
Battle of Gettysburg

The regiment was commanded by Captain Daniel F. Kelly.From the monument:

July 1st. The Regiment arrived on Cemetery Hill at 2 p.m. and at a later hour moved into the town near the square to cover the retreat of the Corps.

July 2nd. In the morning took position in the Cemetery. At dusk moved hastily to this position and in a severe contest assisted in repulsing a desperate assault on these batteries.

July 3rd. Returned to its former position in the Cemetery and assisted in repulsing the enemy’s final assault.

Present at Gettysburg 14 officers 318 men. Killed 7 men wounded 27 men.
July 5-24 Pursuit of Lee
August-September Guard duty along Orange & Alexandria Railroad. Colonel Moore receovered from his wound enough to resume command.
September 24-October 3 Movement to Bridgeport, Ala. attached to the Army of the Cumberland
October 19-26 Operations in Lookout Valley
October 26-29 Reopening Tennessee River
October 28-29 Battle of Wauhatchie, Tenn.
November 23-27 Chattanooga-Ringgold Campaign
November 23 Battle of Orchard Knob
November 24-25
Battle of Tunnel Hill

Captains Christian Goebell, Henry Hess and Frederick Schaeffer and Lieutenant George Wilde are wounded. Much of the the regiment = 8 officers and 89 enlisted men – were captured, including Captain John Kennedy and Lieutenants John McGovern, Andrew McNiece and Frederick MooreOnly around 25 men escaped. Captain Kennedy tore the colors from the staff and concealed them about his person until his release from Libby Prison.
December 16 Lieutenant Colonel Strong discharged
December-May Duty in Lookout Valley
1864
January 1 Captain Charles Cresson of Company E promoted to major and leads the survivors of the regiment on furlough to Philadelphia, where they gathered a number of recruits.
February 8 Colonel Moore resigns due to his wound from Chancellorsville
April Attached to 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 20th Army Corps
May 1-September 8 Atlanta (Ga.) Campaign
May 8-11 Demonstration on Rocky Faced Ridge
May 8 Dug Gap or Mill Creek
May 14-15 Battle of Resaca
May 19 Near Cassville
May 25 New Hope Church
May 26-June 5 Operations on line of Pumpkin Vine Creek and battles 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

Captain Henry Hess mortally wounded, Major Cresson, Captain B.D. Miller and Lieutenant A. Harfinger wounded
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
December 24 Major Cresson promoted to lieutenant colonel
1865
January to April Campaign of the Carolinas
March 16 Averysboro, N. C.
March 19-21 Battle of Bentonville
March 24 Occupation of Goldsboro
April 9-13 Advance on Raleigh
April 14 Occupation of Raleigh
April 21 Captain Christian Goebel of Company D promoted to major
April 26 Bennett’s House. Surrender of Johnston and his army.
April 29-May 20 March to Washington, D.C., via Richmond, Va.
May 1 Lieutenant Colonel Creson promoted to colonel, but not mustered
May 24 Grand Review
June-July Duty in the Defenses of Washington
July 14 Mustered out under Colonel Cresson, Major Goebel