Falling Waters

The regiment was given the nickname “Bloody Eleventh,” losing Private Amos Suppinger killed and ten other men wounded in fighting against Jackson’s Virginia Brigade.

Battle of Cedar Mountain

The regiment suffered three wounded.

Fords of the Rappahannock

The regiment lost one killed, three wounded and one missing.

Thoroughfare Gap

The regiment suffered 2 officers and16 enlisted men killed, Captain John B. Keenan, 2 other officers and 37 enlisted men wounded, and two missing.

Second Battle of Bull Run

The regiment lost 52 killed, 67 wounded, and 75 missing since August 21. Colonel Coulter took command of the brigade when Colonel Fletcher Webster of the 12th Massachusetts was killed. Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Martin was killed and Major Henry Frink was severly wounded and captured. The national colors were captured when Sergeant Fightner, the color bearer, was wounded and fell into Confederate hands. The state colors were saved, although a series of color bearers (all from Company C) were wounded: Segeant Robert Knox, who lost his right leg, First Sergeant Samuel S. Bierer, and Second Lieutenant Absalom Schall.

Battle of Chantilly

The regiment suffered one wounded. Major Henry Frink was promoted to lieutenant colonel and Captain John B. Keenan to major.

Battle of South Mountain

The regiment lost two wounded.

Battle of Antietam

The regiment was heavily engaged in the West Woods, losing lost 1 officer and 26 men killed, 4 oficers and 85 men wounded, and two captured. Colonel Coulter took over command of the brgade early in the action with the wounding of General Hartsuff, with Captain Cook of Company F taking command of the regiment. Daniel Mathews was severely wounded, Private William Welty killed, and Corporal Frederick Welty severly wounded while carrying the state colors, and for a time they were left on the field, all of the color party having been shot down. The colors were retrieved by Second Lieutenant Edward Gay, who was twice wounded, finally ending up in the posession of Sergeant Henry Bitner of Company E.

From the brigade marker on the Antietam battlefield:

Hartsuff’s Brigade, advancing from the Poffenberger Woods early on the 17th, passed through the northern part of the East Woods and over the open ground west of them, and went into action on a line running northwest and southeast through this point. Early in the movement Gen. Hartsuff was wounded and the command devolved upon Col. Richard Coulter, 11th Pennsylvania Infantry. The left center of the 11th Pennsylvania was at this point with the 12th Massachusetts on the right. On the immediate left of the 11th was the 13 Massachusetts and on its left was the 83rd New York. In this position, supported by two Regiments of Christian’s Brigade, it maintained a sanguinary contest in which it lost half its number, but was compelled to withdraw, being relieved by the advance of Crawford’s Brigade, Twelfth Corps. The Brigade carried into action about 1220 men of whom 82 were killed and 497 wounded. The 12th Massachusetts lost 224 out of 334 engaged.

Battle of Fredericksburg

The regiment suffered one officer and 14 men killed, 5 officers and 61 men wounded, and 5 captured. Colonel Coulter was severely wounded, and Captain Kuhns took over the regiment during the battle. The state colors were carried by Corporal John Kuhns, who was wounded three times, losing his left leg, then by Cyrus Chambers, who was killed, then Corporal John Thomas, severely wounded, and finally by Captain Benjamin Haines of company B.

After the battle Lieutenant Colonel Batchelder of the 13th Massachusetts was placed in command of the regiment by special order.

Battle of Chancellorsville

Attached to 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 1st Army Corps

Battle of Gettysburg

After severe fighting on Oak Ridge, the regiment fell back to Cemetery Hill and was attached to 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 1st Army Corps so that Colonel Coulter could take command of the brigade from the wounded General Paul. The regiment continued to be involved in heavy fighting on the north end of Cemetery Ridge. Colonel Coulter was badly wounded in the arm, but returned to command after briefly having it treated. With Colonel coulter commanding the brigade, Captain Benjamin F. Haines took command of the regiment. He was wounded on July 3rd, and Captain John Overmayer took command until Captain J.J. Bierer returned from sick leave on the 4th.

The regiment lost fifteen killed, fifty-nine wounded, and sixty-four taken prisoner during the three days of fighting. Corporal John McKalip was severly wounded carrying the state colors, which were left abandoned in some bushes with the loss of the color party in the fighting on the first day; Private Michael Kepler of Company D retrieved and bore them for the rest of the battle.

Mine Run Campaign

Colonel Coulter again commanded the brigade, with Major Keenan in command of the regiment. The regiment suffered two wounded, one from a raid by Mosby’s partisans in Union uniforms.

Battle of the Wilderness

The regiment lost around 50 casualties on the 5th, including the capture of Captain Chalfant, and 157 killed and wounded on the 6th. Colonel Coulter took command of the brigade due to the wounding of General Baxter, leaving Major Keenan again in command of the regiment until he was killed on the 7th. Captain B.F. Hains then took command.

Corporal J.J. Lehman was killed bearing the state colors, and Second Lieutenant McCutchen of Company F brought them off the field.

Due to high casualties and the loss of its division and brigade commanders the 2nd Division was broken up, with the 11th’s brigade attached to 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 5th Army Corps.

Laurel Hill

The regiment charged and successfully took a line of rifle pits on the slopes of the hill, but was unable to take the entrenchments at its summitt. The brigade lost 20% of its strength in the atack.

Battle of Spotsylvania Court House

Colonel Coulter was wounded in the chest when he led a charge of the 88th Pennsylvania and was forced to leave the field. Major Keenan was killed.

Battle of Cold Harbor

Weldon Railroad

Captain Noble of Company A recaptured the colors of the 94th New York, and Private George W. Reed of Company E earned the Medal of Honor for capturing the flag of the 24th North Carolina at Weldon Railroad, on August 21. The 11th lost 4 killed, 10 wounded, and 74 captured.

The regiment lost 1 wounded and 2 missing

Battle of Dabney’s Mills or Hatcher’s Run

The regiment lost 9 killed, 69 wounded, and 9 missing. Sallie, the regimental mascot (portrayed on the regiment’s monument at Gettysburg) was killed. A group of men buried her on the field under heavy fire.

Battle of Five Forks

Sergeant Hiram H. De Lavie of Company I earned the Medal of Honor for capturing the flag of the 32nd Virginia. Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Overmayer was wounded and brevetted colonel.

Appomattox Court House

Surrender of Lee and his army.