Organization of the regiment:

• Company A: Indiana and Cambria Counties – Captain John P. Suter
• Company B: Somerset County – Captain John H. Hite
• Company C: Somerset County – Captain Enoch D. Yutzy
• Company D: Somerset County – Captain Thomas H. Lapsly
• Company E: Cambria County – Captain Patrick Graham
• Company F: Harrisburg County – Captain George W. P. Davis
• Company G: Somerset County – Captain Franklin B. Long
• Company H: Northampton, Cambria, and Somerset Counties – Captain John O. Billheimer
• Company I: Cambria County – Captain William B. Bonacker
• Company K: Allentown, Lehigh County – Captain R. Newhard

• Company A at South Branch Bridge
• Company B at Paw Paw
• Company C at Great Cacapon Bridge
• Company D at Alpine Station
• Company E at No. 12 Water Station
• Company F at Sleepy Creek Bridge
• Company G at Back Creek Bridge
• Company H at Rockwell’s Run
• Company I at Sir John’s Run and
• Company K at Little Cacapon Bridge

Little Cacapon

Companies B and K were captured by Confederate Brigadier General John Imboden’s cavalry. They would be exchanged in December.

Battle of New Market

From the wayside marker next to the monument to the 54th Pennsylvania:

The Bloody Cedars

— 1864 Valley Campaign —

As the Battle of New Market unfolded on May 15, 1864, Confederate troops under Gen. John C. Breckinridge heavily assaulted the left flank of Union Gen. Franz Sigel’s army. Sigel counterattacked with Gen. Julius Stahel’s cavalry, which charged down the Valley Turnpike (present-day U.S. Route 11). The Confederates repulsed the attack, and Stahel’s men fell back in disorder, leaving the 54th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment to anchor the Union left flank on the field in front of you.

Sigel then ordered his infantry to launch another attack. The 1st West Virginia Infantry (posted to the right of the 54th Pennsylvania) was the first to advance. “I ordered the 54th also to charge,” wrote its commander, Col. Jacob Campbell, “which was done with alacrity and spirit.” Under heavy fire, the West Virginians retreated unexpectedly. The men of the 54th Pennsylvania, now alone, came over the crest of this cedar-covered hill and were shocked by the number of Confederates waiting in a ravine to the south.

The heavy Confederate infantry fire cut deeply into the ranks of the unsupported Union troops. Campbell had no choice but to retreat to save his command, and his men made two defensive stands among the grove of cedar trees here as they retreated. Of the regiment’s 566 soldiers, 32 were killed, 100 wounded, and 42 captured, totaling a loss of more than 30 percent of the unit. The 54th suffered the second-highest regimental loss at the Battle of New Market. They christened this part of the battlefield “The Bloody Cedars.”

The regiment lost 174 casualties. Captain Edward J. Geisinger of Company H and Second Lieutenant Sylvester Colborn of Company B were killed.

Hunter’s Expedition to Lynchburg

The regiment lost 84 men in the campaign.

Battle of Piedmont

Private Thomas Evans of Company D was awarded the Medal of Honor for capturing the colors of the 45th Virginia Infantry Regiment.

Musician Musician John Snedden of Company E was awarded the Medal of Honor when he “left his place in the rear, took the rifle of a disabled soldier, and fought through the remainder of the action.”

Lynchburg

Private John Mostoller of Company B was awarded the Medal of Honor for when he “Voluntarily led a charge on a Confederate battery (the officers of the company being disabled) and compelled its hasty removal.”

Sheridan’s Shenandoah Valley Campaign

Berryville

Colonel Jacob M. Campbell was discharged.

Third Battle of Winchester (Opequan)

Battle of Fisher’s Hill

Battle of Cedar Creek

The 54th Pennsylvania was commanded by Captain John Suter.

Second Lieutenant Joseph Peck of Company B died of his wounds.

Siege operations against Petersburg and Richmond

Appomattox Campaign

Battle of Hatcher’s Run

Fall of Petersburg

Major Nathan Davis was killed.

High Bridge

Second Lieutenant Cyrus Patton of Company G was killed.

Rice’s Station

The 54th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment was captured. Released on April 13 and sent to Parole Camp in Annapolis, Md.