142nd Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment

United States Regiments & Batteries > Pennsylvania > Infantry

The 142nd Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment lost 7 officers and 148 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and 72 enlisted men to disease during the Civil War. It is honored by a monument at Gettysburg.

1862
September 1 Organized at Harrisburg
September 2 Left State for Washington, D.C. and duty there
September 19 Moved to Frederick, Md. and attached to 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 1st Army Corps, Army of the Potomac
October 30-November 19 Movement to Falmouth, Va.
December 12-15
Battle of Fredericksburg
1863
January 20-24 Burnside’s 2nd Campaign, “Mud March”
February-April Duty at Belle Plains assigned to 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 1st Corps
April 27-May 6 Chancellorsville Campaign
April 29-May 2 Operations at Pollock’s Mill Creek
May 2-5
Battle of Chancellorsville
June 11-July 24 Gettysburg Campaign
July 1-3
Battle of Gettysburg

The regiment was commanded by Colonel Robert P. Cummins, who was mortally wounded on July 1st and died on the 2nd. Lieutenant Colonel Alfred B. McCalmont took command when Cummins fell.

From the monument:

Present at Gettysburg 336 officers and men. Killed & died of wounds 4 officers & 27 men. Wounded 10 officers and 100 men. Captured or missing 2 officers & 156 men.

July 1 a.m. Marched from Emmitsburg reaching the field via Willoughby Run. Formed line facing northward. Occupied this position. Charged to support artillery. Reformed here and engaged a Brigade composed of the 11, 26 ,47, and 52 N.C. Infantry. In the afternoon outflanked and retired firing to a position near the Seminary. Here engaged a Brigade composed of the 1, 12, 13, and 14 S.C. Infantry. After a gallant fight again outflanked and retired to Cemetery Hill.

July 2. In position at Cemetery Hill.

July 3. Moved half a mile to the left and exposed to the artillery fire of the enemy.
July 5-24 Pursuit of Lee
August Duty on line of the Rappahannock
October 9-22 Bristoe Campaign
November 7-8 Advance to line of the Rappahannock
November 26-December 2 Mine Run Campaign
1864
February 6-7 Demonstration on the Rapidan
February Duty near Culpeper
March Attached to 3rd Brigade, 4th Division, 5th Army Corps
May 4-June 12 Rapidan Campaign
May 5-7
Battle of the Wilderness
May 8 Laurel Hill
May 8-21
Spottsylvania Court House
May 12 Assault on the Salient
May 23-26 North Anna River
May 25 Jericho Ford
May 26-28 On line of the Pamunkey
May 28-31 Totopotomoy
June 1-12
Cold Harbor
June 1-3 Bethesda Church
June 16-18
First Assault on Petersburg

Siege of Petersburg begins. Attached to 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Army Corps
July 30 Mine Explosion, Petersburg
August 18-21 Weldon Railroad
September 29-October 2
Poplar Springs Church, Peeble’s Farm.

Attached to 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 5th Army Corps
October 27-28 Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher’s Run
December 7-12 Warren’s Expedition to Weldon Railroad
1865
February 5-7 Dabney’s Mills, Hatcher’s Run
March 28-April 9 Appomattox Campaign
March 29 Lewis Farm, near Gravelly Run
March 31 White Oak Road
April 1 Five Forks
April 9
Appomattox Court House

Surrender of Lee and his army. Escort captured stores to Burkesville Station.
May 1-12 March to Washington, D.C.
May 23 Grand Review
May 29 Mustered out