Organization of the 10th Pennsylvania Reserves

• Company A – “The Somerset Infantry” – Somerset County – Captain Robert P. Cummins
• Company B – “The Middlesex Rangers” – Mercer County – Captain Thomas McConnell
• Company C – “The Venango Greys” – Venango County – Captain Christopher M. Over
• Company D – “The Jefferson Light Guards” – Washington County – Captain Charles W. McDaniel
• Company E – “The Clarion River Guards” – Clarion County – Captain James B. Knox
• Company F – “The Curtin Rifles” – Beaver County – Captain Milo R. Adams
• Company G – “The Mercer Rifles” – Mercer County – Captain Adoniram J. Warner
• Company H – “The Warren Guards” – Warren County – Captain Henry V. Patridge
• Company I – “The Alleghany College Volunteers” – Crawford County – Captain Ira Ayer Jr.
• Company K – “The Wilson Rifles” – Beaver County  – Captain Samuel Miller

Action at Dranesville

Union and Confederate forces, both on foraging expeditions, met at Dranesville. Company B was sent out as skirmishers and was the only part of the regiment that was engaged. There were no casualties. Colonel John S. McCalmont was praised by General Ord for his actions.

Peninsula Campaign

Moved to White House and attached to 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 5th Corps, Army of the Potomac

Seven days before Richmond

From Mechanicsville to Malvern Hill the 10th Reserves lost over 200 men. Captain Samuel Miller was killed, Lieutenant Gaither was mortally wounded; Captains Milo Adams, Ira Ayer, Thomas McConnell and Valentine Phipps, and Lieutenants Moore, Wray and Shipler were wounded.

Battle of Mechanicsville

Lieutenant Colonel Adoniram Warner was wounded.

Gaines Mill

The regiment was not engaged until mid-afternoon, when it was shifted back and forth in the line as needed. It made a charge in late afternoon and maintained its position until the end of the day, when the Confederates outflanked the Union line and forced it to retreat. Casualties were heavy. Lieutenants John Moore, Valentine Phipps and James Wray were wounded.

Charles City Cross Roads and Glendale

The regiment mustered for pay, then at midday formed line of battle. When the Confederates advanced the Pennsylvania Reserves Division countercharged, breaking their line and driving it back.

Captain Samuel Miller was mortally wounded, Adjutant Oswald Gaither was mortally wounded and captured and Captain Milo Adams was wounded

Malvern Hill

The regiment was not engaged.

Battle of Gainesville

Groveton (Brawner’s Farm)

The regiment was shelled in the evening and was sent out on the picket line, Commanded by Captain Ira Ayer.

Second Battle Bull Run (Second Manassas)

The division was on the far left flank of the army. Longstreet’s overwhelming attack in the late afternoon forced the Union line back until night fell. The army then began a retreat across Bull Run to Centreville, and the Washington.

Twelve men were killed, thirty-four wounded and nineteen missing. Captain James Hinchman and Lieutenant Henry Fox were killed, Colonel James T. Kirk, Captain Ira Ayer and Lieutenants N. B. McWilliams and Milton Phelos were wounded.

Maryland Campaign

Attached to 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 1st Army Corps, Army of the Potomac.

Battle of South Mountain

The regiment fought at Turner’s Gap, fighting its way to the crest of the mountain. Along the way they cut off and captured two to three hundred Confederates.  The regiment lost four men killed and 19 mounded. Lieuteant Henry Howe was wounded.

Battle of Antietam

Lieutenant Colonel Warner was in command of the regiment, as Colonel James Kirk and Major James Knox were both absent due to sickness.

From the Official Report by Lieutenant Colonel Warner:

“On the evening of the 16th,” says Colonel Warner, in his report of the battle, “Hooker’s Corps moved forward and occupied a position on the Hagerstown pike, three-fourths of a mile back of the Dunkard Church. My regiment was on the extreme right of the division, with King’s Division in my rear, and in moving into position was subjected to a heavy fire from a rebel battery. After gaining our position I threw out pickets along the Hagerstown pike, and to the right of it. After dark I was ordered by one of General Hooker’s aids to post my regiment behind a battery stationed in our rear on high ground. I was already directly in front of the battery on ground low enough to be safe from our own shots, and well protected in front by a ledge of limestone. This position I considered enabled us better to protect the battery than we possibly could if posted behind it, on open ground without cover; for, on a hill opposite us, was stationed a rebel battery of eight or ten guns, and it was very evident that when daylight came the batteries would open: upon each other. Upon pointing out to General Hooker the advantage of our position, behind the limestone ledge in the low ground between our batteries and those of the rebels, I was ordered to re-occupy it. Picket firing in our front was kept up through the night, and as daylight came, the two opposing batteries opened with terrific thunder. The shot and shell went shrieking over our heads and crashing through the tree tops, but protected by our position we escaped with but one man slightly wounded.” 

“A report had reached General Hooker that the enemy was threatening our right flank, and I was ordered by him to move out with the Tenth Regiment to our right and front, to watch the enemy and protect our flank. My order was,’move immediately with your regiment to the right and front as far as you can get, and find out all about the rebels and report to’the General.’ I started the regil~ment at double quick towards our flank, and pressing forward upon the enemy’s flank, ascertained that instead of threatening our flank he was hurrying a fresh brigade to the part of the field where Hooker’s Corps was most hotly engaged. I immediately threw out nearly the whole regiment into a cornfield, as skirmishers, placing the rest as a reserve under cover, and opened a sharp fire upon the enemy’s moving columns. This movement had the intended effect. The enemy evidwtly expecting an attack in force, halted his columns, formed line, and threw out skirmishers to engage us. Meanwhile I sent a few chosen men further to our right, who crept up close enough to the rebel battery to kill the horses and pick off the gunners. For about twenty minutes the skirmishing was kept up sharply and the enemy’s whole force was held at bay. He evidently construed it into a movement on his flank. I had ascertained and reported to General Hooker fully the enemy’s movements.”

Colonel Warner’s horse was struck twice and, his sword once.One ball grazed his right side and another passed through his coat. Finally he was hit in the right hip which shattered his pelvis bone. The wound was thought to be mortal, but Warner survived, although he would not return to the regiment.

Captain Jonathan P. Smith took command of the regiment.

Battle of Fredericksburg

The regiment was commanded by Major James B. Knox. It took part in Meade’s assault three miles downstream from Fredericksburg which briefly broke “Stonewall” Jackson’s line.

Eleven men were killed, 75 were wounded and 51 captured. Captain Daniel Mayes was killed, Captain Jonathan Smith and Lieutenant George Knee were mortally wounded, Captain John Gaither was wounded and Lieutenants Henry Howe and Edward Henderson were captured.

“Mud March”

Battle of Gettysburg

The regiment was commanded by Colonel Adoniram J. Warner, who was badly injured in a fall from his horse. They reached the field early in the morning of July 2 and remained in reserve until Longstreet’s attack threatened to break through at Little Round Top. Then they attacked and drove the Confederates back, supporting Vincent’s hard-pressed brigade. In the evening they occupied the suddle between Big and Little Round Top.

On July 3rd they moved forwatd a short distance and built a rough stone wall, which they easily held against a Confederate attacks somewhat later on. The regiment lost two men killed and five wounded.

From the monument to the 10th Pennsylvania Reserves at Gettysburg:

July 2nd occupied this line of stone fence and remained from 5 p.m. until the close of battle.

Present at Gettysburg: 29 officers, 392 men. Killed, 2 men, Wounded 3 men, Total 5.

Bristoe Campaign

The regiment lost one man killed.

Rappahannock Station

Mine Run Campaign

Rapidan Campaign

Battle of the Wilderness

Colonel Ira Ayer was badly wounded, one enlisted man was killed and a number were wounded. Captain Valentine Phipps of company E took command of the regiment as senior officer.

Battle of Spotsylvania Court House

On May 9 the 10th Reserves deployed as skirmishers and drove the enemy back on their trenches. It lost one man killed and several men wounded.

Laurel Hill

Assault on the Salient

Battle of Harris Farm

North Anna River

On line of the Totopotomoy