Siege of Yorktown

The regiment was assigned a potion of the siege line on the left of the Williamsburg Road, two miles in front of the ruined town of Hampton, then to the area around Lee’s Mills on the Warwick River.

Battle of Williamsburg

The regiment did not arrive in time to take part in the battle.

Battle of Fair Oaks (Seven Pines)

Around mid-day the sound of intense firing from the skirmish line gave warning of an attack and the regiment formed line of battle along Nine Mile Road. Its left met the 67th New York at Fair Oaks Station; the 61st Pennsylvania was on the right. Casey’s Division on the left was overrun, and Couch’s Division fell back a half mile to form a new line along the road to Grape Vine Bridge. Colonel Williams had ordered Company A out as skirmishers but had not notified them of the regiment’s withdrawal, with the result they were almost surrounded. Major Wetherall finally reminded the colonel of the missing company.

When General Sumner’s Corps arrived the regiment was repositioned to a line with its left on the Grape Vine Bridge Road and the 65th New York and Kirby’s Battery. Confederate attacks developed from two directions and the regiment became involved in a heavy fire but held their position until nightfall. Colonel Williams was chastised by General Couch for leaving the prescribed position of a regimental commander to lie behind a tree stump at the extreme right of the regimental line. This was one of several incidents leading to the colonel’s court martial in August.

The next morning the division advanced to its previous position without opposition, although fighting could be heard to the left. It remained behind the breastwork of logs for more than a week. The regiment lost 8 men killed and 24 wounded.

*From Tarnished Eagles, The Courts-Martial of Fifty Union Colonels and Lieutenant Colonels, Thomas P. Lowry, M.D., pp. 186-188

Seven days before Richmond

Savage Station

At nightfall the brigade resumed the march, which would go on through the night.

White Oak Swamp

The regiment reached the James in the late morning. In the early afternoon cannon fire warned of the approaching Confederates, and the regiment was moved forward about a mile and positioned on Malvern Hill, with Couch’s Division massed on the left of Porter’s Corps.

Malvern Hill

The regiment moved a quarter of a mile to the right and took position behind a rail fence. Heavy shelling caused some loss. In the early afternoon it advanced across a plowed field under heavy artillery fire and took position on the front line in front of the Union batteries. The 55th New York was on its right at a right angle, and the 61st Pennsylvania on the left. A company was sent forward down the hill as skirmishers.

the regiment defended this position until darkness began to fall, when the Confederate fire died out. The regiment withdrew up the hill and at midnight jinxed the retreat to Harrison’s Landing, having suffered heavy loss.  Lieutenants James B. Grier and Mark H. Roberts were among the killed.

Reconnaissance to Malvern Hill

When the force retired from Malvern Hill four companies of the regiment under the command of Major Wetherill failed to receive the order and were left behind. When Major Wehtherill realized they had been abandoned he contacted General Pleasonton, commanding the cavalry rearguard, and was ordered to fall back. He did so in good order and without loss despite being threatened by Confederate cavalry .

Battle of Chantilly

The regiment was not engaged.

Battle of Antietam

Commanded by Colonel David H. Williams, the regiment was in Pleasant Valley. It marched to the Potomac near Harpers Ferry then countermarched and joined the army on the Antietam battlefield after the fighting had ended..

Battle of Fredericksburg

Chancellorsville Campaign

The 82nd Pennsylvania was in the right of two attacking columns that stormed Marye’s Heights, following the 61st Pennsylvania. The four man wide column moved down a narrow causeway with an impenetrable marsh on each side. The intense fire broke up the head of the column and killed its leader, Colonel Spear of the 61st Pennsylvania, but the column closed up and carried the heights. The 82nd captured the horses of one of the Confederate artillery batteries. Captain John H. Delap was mortally wounded in storming the heights.

Major Isaac Basset led the regiment in the charge, and would be promoted to colonel with rank from this date.

Salem Heights

After the storming of Marye’s Heights the division continued west to Salem Heights, where it encountered reinforcements that Lee had sent from Chancellorsville. After a sharp fight it was evident that it was not possible to break through to join McClellan at Chancellorsville, and there was grave danger that the whole force would be outnumbered and surrounded. It was decided to withdraw back across the Rappahonnock at Bank’s Ford.

Battle of Gettysburg

The regiment was commanded by Colonel Issac C. Bassett. It brought 320 men to the field, losing six wounded.

From the monument:

July 3rd marched from near Little Round Top and occupied the works in front at 11:30 a.m. relieving other troops.

On the morning of the 3rd the regiment, with Shaler’s Brigade, was ordered to the support of General Geary’s Division of the 12th corps on the extreme right, where it was exposed to a heavy artillery fire. After the fighting ended on this part of the field the brigade moved to the left to meet a threatened attack, then was brought back to the center and held in reserve until the end of the battle.

Skirmish at Funkstown, Md.

The regiment lost eight wounded.

July-October

At Warrenton and Culpeper

Battle of Cold Harbor

The regiment lost over half its strength, 173 men killed, wounded and missing, without firing a shot in return, having been ordered not to cap its pieces in the charge. Colonel Bassett was wounded and Lieutenant Robert G. Creighton of Company F was mortally wounded. Lieutenant Colonel Wetherill took command of the regiment.

First Assault on Petersburg

Third Battle of Winchester (Opequon)

Fisher’s Hill

Battle of Cedar Creek

Assault on and fall of Petersburg

The regiment lost 5 enlisted men killed and 22 wounded. It was among the first to enter the Confederate defenses and captured 400 prisoners. Private Charles Desota of  Company K captured a Confederate battle flag.

Sailor’s Creek

Lieutenant William H. Myers of Company K was killed. Major Clark was breveted lieutenant colonel.

From Colonel Isaac’s official report:

The left wing of the regiment formed the left of the first line of battle, the right wing forming the left of the second line. The attack commenced by our troops moving upon the enemy. The advance of the Eighty-second Pennsylvania Volunteers was though a deep, difficult swamp and almost impenetrable under-growth and forest. Here the flank fire of the fire of the enemy becoming severe, changed front forward on the left and confronted the enemy within fifty yards of their position. Here the regiment did great execution, as the serious loss or vast number of the enemy’s dead in our immediate front afterward indicated. Our loss during this engagement was-killed, 1 officers, 18 enlisted men; wounded, 7 officers, 73 enlisted men; total, 8 officers, 91 enlisted men.

Appomattox Court House

Surrender of Lee and his army.