United States Regiments & Batteries > Pennsylvania > Infantry


 (41st Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment)

The 12th Pennsylvania Reserves lost 1 officer and 110 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 officer and 69 enlisted men to disease during the Civil War.

It is honored by a monument on the summit of Big Round Top at Gettysburg.

1861
August Organized at Harrisburg at Camp Curtin under Colonel John H. Taggert, Lieutenant Colonel Samuel N. Bailey, and Major Peter Baldy.
August 10 Mustered into United States service and moved to Washington, D.C.
August 10-13 To Tennallytown
August 13 Duty at Tennallytown attached to 3rd Brigade, McCall’s Pennsylvania Reserves Division, Army of the Potomac
October 10 Went into winter quarters at Camp Pierpont, near Langley, Va.
December 6 Expedition to Grinnell’s Farm
December 20 Action at Dranesville, losing one man wounded
1862
March 4 Lieutenant Colonel Baily discharged
March 10-15 Advance on Manassas, Va. Attached to 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 1st Army Corps, Army of the Potomac. Lt. Colonel Baily was replaced by Martin D. Hardin.
April 1 Martin Hardin promoted to lieutenant colonel
April 9-19 McDowell’s advance on Falmouth, attached to 3rd Brigade, McCall’s Division, Dept. of the Rappahannock. One man was wonded and four captured by guerillas while straggling on the march. The men were exchanged and returned to the regiment.
April-June Duty at Fredericksburg
June 9-14 Moved to White House, attached to 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 5th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac
June 18 Marched to New Bridge on the Chickahominy
June 19 Moved to Ellerson’s Mill on Beaver Dam Creek
June 25-July 1 Seven days before Richmond
June 25-26 Picketed from Meadow Bridge to Ellerson’s Mill
June 26
Battles of Mechanicsville

For six hours defended a line of rifle pits behind Beaver Dam Creek supported by a section of Cooper’s Battery, expending over a hundred rounds per man. The regiment held its position until daylight, when it was ordered to retire, which it successfully did under fire.

June 27
Battle of Gaines’ Mill

Marched to Gaines’ Mill and moved to the support of Griffin’s Battery, defending the guns until dusk Losses were six killed and 25 wounded, including Miles M. Cooper and Newton Ford of Company C, both mortally wounded by a single shell. The regiment was then ordered to cross the Chickahominy.

June 28 Guarded the bridges across the Chickahominy, burning three bridges in the evening.
June 29
Charles City Cross Roads

Guarded the Reserve Artillery in an 18 mile march, the regiment “suffering greatly from fatigue and lack of water.”

June 30
Glendale

The regiment was placed in an awkward position on the extreme left of the Union line, divided into three scattered parts. After intense fighting that became hand to hand at times, they were enfiladed and withdrew. The regiment rallied, though, and returned to the fighting until it died down at the end of light.

Losses were six killed, including First Lieutenant William W. Arnold of Company G; 36 wounded, including Captains Franklin Daniels of Company A and Thomas D. Horn of Company D; and 23 missing, including First Lieutenant Henry S. Lucas of Company C, who was captured.

July 1
Malvern Hill

In reserve in front of the Malvern Mansion.

July-August At Harrison’s Landing
July 7 Captain James C. Baker died of disease
July 8 Colonel Taggert resigned, and Lieutenant Colonel Hardin took command of the regiment. Captain Andrew J. Bolar of Company H promoted to major
August 1 Lieutenant Colonel Hardin promoted to colonel and Major Baldy promoted to lieutenant colonel
August 16-26 Movement to join Pope, via Falmouth and on to Warrenton. Attached to 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 3rd Corps, Army of Virginia
August 28
Battles of Gainesville

Lost several men killed and wounded from artillery fire while marching and countermarching.

August 30
Battles of Groveton and Bull Run

Colonel Hardin was severly wounded in severe fighting near Henry House. Captain Gustin took command of the regiment, which lost a total of five killed and 38 wounded.

September 6-24 Maryland Campaign. Attached to 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 1st Army Corps, Army of the Potomac
September 14
Battle of South Mountain

Assaulted Turner’s Gap, losing six killed and 19 wounded.

September 16-17
Battle of Antietam

Captain Gustin continued to command the regiment, which was part of Anderson’s Brigade.

From the War Department tablet at Antietam:

Anderson’s Brigade advanced from the North Woods about 6:30 A.M. in support of Doubleday’s Division engaged on either side of the road south of this point. Midway between the North Woods and D. R. Miller’s, the 10th Regiment crossed the road and moving west about 700 yards became engaged with the enemy’s skirmishers and the Artillery of Stuart’s Cavalry Command. The three remaining Regiments formed line with the right resting on the road at this point. A charge of the enemy to the north edge of the Cornfield was repulsed and the Brigade advanced to the Cornfield, the 9th Regiment going through the corn to its south edge, the center and left about midway into the corn, when it was checked by the advance of a Confederate line and fell back, after which Anderson withdrew to the North Woods, where he was rejoined by the 10th Regiment and served as a rallying point for Sedgwick’s Division, Second Corps. The Brigade then moved to the rear of the high ground north of Joseph Poffenberger’s.

The regiment lost 13 killed, 47 wounded and 4 missing.

September-October Duty in Maryland
September 23 Colonel Taggart mustered out
October 30-November 19 Movement to Falmouth, Va.
December 12-15
Battle of Fredericksburg

The regiment was part of Meade’s atack which broke Jackson’s line, but was forced to withdraw when other Union assaults failed. The regiment suffered 13 killed, 70 wounded, and 34 prisoners. Lieutenant Franklin Stephens was wounded and Captain Andrew Bolar was shot through both legs and captured. Lieutenant Kern was stunned senseless by a cannon ball that struck the ground in front of him and shredded his cap, but he recovered.

1863
January 20-24 “Mud March”
February 6 Ordered to Washington, D.C. and duty there in the Defences of Washington and at Alexandria in camp at Minor’s Hill. Attached to 3rd Brigade, Pennsylvania Reserves Division, 22nd Corps, Dept. of Washington.
February Colonel Hardin returned from his wound to resume command of the regiment, but was quickly given command of the brigade, and Captain Gustin resumed command of the regiment.
February 15 Lieutenant Colonel Baldy discharged, and Captain Richard Gustin promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.
April Regiment ordered to six weeks Provost Duty in Washington under General Martindale.
June 25 Ordered to rejoin Army of the Potomac in the field attached to 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 5th Army Corps
July 1-3
Battle of Gettysburg

Commanded by Colonel Martin D. Hardin. The regiment advanced from behind Little Round Top to the summit of Big Round Top in line of battle with the 20th Maine. The regiment’s losses were on July 3rd to sharpshooters.

Occupied this position (Big Round Top) on the evening of July 2nd and held it to the close of the battle.

Present at Gettysburg 26 Officers and 294 men. Killed 1 man, wounded 1 man.

July 5-24 Pursuit of Lee. Colonel Hardin takes over command of the brigade, leaving Lieutenant Colonel Gustin again in command of the regiment.
August-October Duty on the Rapidan
October 9-22 Bristoe Campaign
November 7-8 Advance to line of the Rappahannock
November 7 Rappahannock Station
November 26-December 2 Mine Run Campaign
December Guarded Orange & Alexander Railroad from Catlett’s to Brad Run. In an attack by guerillas dressed in Union uniforms, Colonel Hardin was badly wounded, losing his arm, and Lieutenant Colonel Gustin was wounded in his hand.
1864
April 19 Major Bolar disabled and eventually discharged for wounds. Captain Charles W. Diven of Company G promoted to major
May 4-31 Rapidan CampaignColonel Hardin recovered from his wound to take command of the brigade, while Lieutenant Colonel Gustin remained in command of the regiment.
May 5-7
Battles of the Wilderness

“Hotly engaged,” but with light losses.

May 8 Laurel Hill
May 8-21
Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
May 12 Assault on the Salient
May 19
Battle of Harris Farm
May 23-26 North Anna River
May 25 Jericho Mills, or Ford
May 26-28 Line of the Pamunkey
May 28-31 Totopotomoy
June 11 Mustered out under Colonel Hardin, Lieutenant Colonel Gustin and Major Charles Diven