74th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment

United States Regiments & Batteries > Pennsylvania

The 74th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment lost 2 officers and 54 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and 1 officer and 88 enlisted men to disease during the Civil War. It is honored by a monument at Gettysburg.

1862
September 14 Organized at Pittsburg as 35th Pennsylvania Volunteers under Colonel Alexander Schimmelfennig, Lieutenant Colonel Edward Freyhold and Major John Hamm
Septembe 19 Assembled at Camp Wilkins and marched to Union Station to take the train to Philadelphia
September 21 Arrived in Philadelphia and marched to camp at the Engle and Wolf’s Farm
September 23 Marched through town to take the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad to Washington. Colonel Schimmelfennig’s horse fell on the cobblestoned streets, seriously injuring his ankle. He remained in Philadelphia in the hospital while Major Hamm took the regiment to Washington, where it arrived in the evening for duty in the Defenses of Washington attached to Blenker’s Brigade, Division of the Potomac.
September 24 The regiment was issued Austrian rifled muskets at the Washington Arsenal
September 29 The regiment crossed the Long Bridge into Virginia and went into camp at Roach’s Mills. The men construct Fort Blenker (later known as Fort Reynolds)
mid-October The regiment goes into winter quarters at Hunter’s Chapel. Colonel Schimmelfennig rejoined the regiment after having contracted smallpox in the hospital while recovering from his horse’s fall.
November Attached to Bohlen’s Brigade, Blenker’s Division, Army Potomac
1862
January 1 The regiment was redesignated the 74th Pennsylvania.
March Attached to Bohlen’s 3rd Brigade, Blenker’s Division, 2nd Army Corps, Army Potomac
March 10-24 At Fairfax C. H, Va.
March 23 Lieutenant Colonel Freyhold resigned due to ill health but put his superb topographic skills to work for the Army Corps of Engineers
April 6-May 11 Moved to Petersburg, W. Va. and attached to 3rd Brigade, Blenker’s Division, Dept. of the Mountains
May-June Operations in the Shenandoah Valley
May 3 Captain Francis Blessing of Company E promoted to major
June Attached to 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 1st Army Corps, Army of Virginia
June 8 Cross Keys
July 7-August 8 At Sperryville
August 16-September 2 Pope’s Campaign in Northern Virginia
August 22
Freeman’s Ford and Hazel Run

The regiment lost 12 killed, 2 officers and 35 enlisted men wounded, 3 drowned, and 16 missing. Colonel Schimmelfennig took command of the brigade with the death of Brigadier General Bohlen, and Major Blessing took over the regiment.
August 29 Groveton
August 30
Second Battle of Bull Run

The regiment lost 17 casualties.
September Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D.C. atached to 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 11th Army Corps, Army Potomac
October 13 Major Blessing resigns
October 17 Captain Adolph Von Hartung of Company A promoted to major
November 1-19 Moved to Centreville, attached to 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 11th Corps
November 29 Colonel Schimmelfennig promoted to brigadier general
December 9-16 To Fredericksburg, Va.
1863
January 15 Major Hammn promoted to colonel and Major Von Hartung to lieutenant colonel
January 20-24 “Mud March”
February-April At Stafford C. H., Va.
March 2 Colonel Hamm mustered out
April 4 Captain Gustav Schleiter of Company I promoted to major
April 27-May 6 Chancellorsville Campaign
May 1-5
Battle of Chancellorsville

The regiment lost 61 casualties.
May 2 Lieutenant Colonel Von Hartung promoted to colonel, Captain Alexander Theobald Von Mitzel of Company K to major. Major Schleiter serving as Adjutant to Brigadier General Schimmelfennig.
June 13-July 24 Gettysburg Campaign
July 1-3
Battle of Gettysburg

The regiment had a strength of 14 officers and 120 men and was commanded by Colonel Adolph Von Hartung. He was wounded in the leg on July 1, and Lieutenant Colonel Theobald Von Mitzel took command until he was captured in the the retreat from north of town. Command of the regiment then fell to Captain Henry Krauseneck, who was later charged with cowardice for his conduct in the battle. Lieutenant William Roth was killed. After the retreat only four offiers and 18 men were left, although a number of men who had been detailed as pickets rejoined the colors that night.

From the monument:

July 1st fought here from 2 p.m. until the Corps fell back. July 2nd and 3rd in line with Division in front of Cemetery.

Present at Gettysburg 381. Killed officers 2 men 8, Wounded officers 4 men 36, Captured or missing officers 2 men 58, Total officers 8 men 102
July 5-24 Pursuit of Lee. Attached to 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 11th Corps
August 7-14 Moved to Folly Island, S.C. Duty on Folly Island, S.C., operating against Charleston, S. C. attached to 1st Brigade, Gordon’s Division, Folly Island, S.C., 10th Corps, Dept. of the South
1864
January Captain Krauseneck brought up on charges of cowardice for his conduct at Gettysburg; he was found guilty and allowed to resign.
January 5 Major Schleiter resigns
April Attached to Folly Island, S.C., Northern District, Dept. of the South
May 21-22, Demonstration on James Island, S. C.
June 30-July 10 Demonstration on James Island, S. C.
July 2 James Island, near Secessionville. Lieutenant Colonel Von Mitzel had escaped from Libby prison and resumed command of the regiment.
July 7 Captain Frederick Klenker of Company F promoted to major
July 11 Colonel Von Hartung discharged
August 17 Ordered to Washington, D. C.for duty at Forts Ethan Allen and Marcy. Attached to 2nd Brigade, DeRussy’s Division, 22nd Corps, Dept. of Washington
September 16 Major Klenker mustered out
October Ordered to West Virginia, and duty guarding Baltimore & Ohio Railroad attached to Reserve Division, Dept. of West Virginia.
October 15 Lieutenant Colonel Von Mitzel mustered out along with Companies G and K., but recruits and drafted men added to the regiment’s strength. Captain Gottleib Hoburg took command.
1865
January Attached to 2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, West Virginia
March Seven new companies assigned to the regiment
April Attached to 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, West Virginia
April 8-May 12 At Beverly and at Clarksburg, W. Va., and guarding Parkersburg branch of Baltimore & Ohio Railroad; attached to Sub-District of Clarksburg, W. Va., Dept. West Virginia
May 2 Captain Gottlieb Hoburg of Company H promoted to colonel, Captain Carl Veitenheimer of Company I to lieutenant colonel and Captain Elias P. Rohbach of Company C to major
August 29 Mustered out