53rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment

United States Regiments & Batteries > Pennsylvania > Infantry

The 53rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment lost 5 officers and 195 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and 1 officer and 193 enlisted men to disease during the Civil War. It is honored by a monument at Gettysburg.

1861
October Organized at Harrisburg under Colonel John R. Brooke, Lieutenant Colonel Richards McMichael and Major Philip Parisen.
November 7 Left State for Washington, D.C. Attached to French’s Brigade, Sumner’s Division, Army Potomac for duty in the Defenses of Washington and Alexandria
1862
March Attached to 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Army Corps, Army Potomac
March 10-15 Advance on Manassas, Va.
April 5-May 4 Ordered to the Virginia Peninsula. Siege of Yorktown
May-June Duty near Yorktown
May 28-30 Construction of Grape Vine Bridge over the Chickahominy
June 2 Captain Samuel Octavius Bull of Company A was promoted to major.
May 31-June 1 Battle of Fair Oaks (Seven Pines)
June 25-July 1 Seven days before Richmond
June 27 Gaines Mill
June 29 Peach Orchard and Savage Station
June 30 White Oak Swamp Bridge and Glendale
July 1 Malvern Hill
July 2 Turkey Bend
July-August At Harrison’s Landing
August 16-30 Movement to Fortress Monroe, then to Alexandria and Centreville
August 30 Assist in checking Pope’s rout at Bull Run
August 31-September 1 Cover retreat to Fairfax C. H.
September 6-24 Maryland Campaign
September 16-17
Battle of Antietam

From the brigade marker at Antietam:

Brooke’s Brigade formed the reserve of Richardson’s Division.

After checking an attempt of the enemy to gain the right rear of French’s Division near Roulette’s house, it co-operated with Caldwell in his advance across the Bloody Lane and through the cornfield to the south, the advance Regiments driving the enemy from Piper’s barn and outhouses. The ammunition of the Brigade having been exhausted, it was withdrawn and occupied a position a short distance north of this point, in support of Battery K, 1st U.S. Artillery.
September 22-October 29 Duty at Bolivar Heights
October 16-17 Reconnaissance to Charlestown
October 29-November 17 Movement up Loudon Valley and to Falmouth, Va.
November 2 Snicker’s Gap
November 5-6 Manassas
December 12-15 Battle of Fredericksburg
December Duty at Falmouth
1863
April 27-May 6 Chancellorsville Campaign; attached to 4th Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Army Corps
May 1-5
Battle of Chancellorsville
June 13-July 24 Gettysburg Campaign
July 1-3
Battle of Gettysburg

The regiment was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Richards McMichael. It brought 135 men to the field in three companies (A, B and K) and lost 7 killed, 67 wounded and 6 missing.

From the monument:

The Regiment deployed with the Brigade on the northerly side of and charged through the Wheatfield, driving the enemy, and continuing the advance to this position, holding it until
ordered to retire. July 3, in position with Division on left centre.Carried into action 135 officers and men. Killed, men 7. Wounded, officers 11, men 56. Captured or missing, men 6. Total 80.
July 12-13 Funkstown, Md.
September 13-17 Advance from the Rappahannock to the Rapidan
October 9-22 Bristoe Campaign
October 14 Auburn and Bristoe
November 2 William M. Mintzer was promoted to colonel.
November 7-8 Advance to line of the Rappahannock
November 26-December 2 Mine Run Campaign
November 27 Payne’s Farm
November 28-30 Mine Run
November 29 New Hope Church
December 27 Regiment reenlisted
1864
January Duty near Stevensburg
February 6-7 Demonstration on the Rapidan
May 4-June 12 Rapidan Campaign
May 5-7
Battle of the Wilderness
May 8-21
Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
May 10 Po River
May 12 Assault on the Salient.

Colonel Brooke was promoted to brigadier general effective to this date.
May 19 Lieutenant Colonel McMichael was discharged on a surgeon’s certificate. Major Bull was promoted to lieutenant colonel
May 23-26 North Anna River
May 26-28 On line of the Pamunkey
May 28-31 Totopotomoy
June 1-12
Battle of Cold Harbor
June 16-18 First Assault on Petersburg. Siege of Petersburg begins
June 22-23 Weldon Railroad
July 27-29 and August 13-20 Demonstration north of the James at Deep Bottom
August 14-18 Strawberry Plains, Deep Bottom
August 25 Ream’s Station
September 18 Lieutenant Colonel S. Octavius Bull was promoted to colonel but was never mustered.
October 31 Colonel Bull was mustered out.
December 9-10 Reconnaissance to Hatcher’s Run
1865
February 5-7 Battle of Dabney’s Mills, or Hatcher’s Run
March 25 Watkins House, Petersburg
March 28-April 9 Appomattox Campaign
March 31 Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher’s Run and White Oak Road
April 2 Fall of Petersburg and Sutherland Station
April 6 Sailor’s Creek
April 7 High Bridge, Farmville
April 9
Appomattox Court House

Surrender of Lee and his army.
May 2-12 March to Washington, D.C.
May 23 Grand Review
June 30 Mustered out