95th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment

United States Regiments & Batteries > Pennsylvania

The 95th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment lost 11 officers and 171 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and 1 officer and 72 enlisted men to disease during the Civil War. It is honored by a monument at Gettysburg.

1861
August to October Organized at Philadelphia under the command of Colonel John M. Gosline, Lieuteant Colonel Gustavus W. Town, and Major William B. Hubbs.
October 12 Left State for Washington, D.C. Camp at Kendall Green and duty in the Defenses of Washington, D.C. attached to Newton’s Brigade, Franklin’s Division, Army Potomac
October 29 At Fairfax Seminary, Va.
1862
March Attached to 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 1st Army Corps, Army Potomac
March 10-15 Advance on Manassas, Va.
April 4-17 McDowell’s advance on Falmouth, Va. Attached to 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, Dept. of the Rappahannock
April 17 Moved to Shipping Point, Va.
April 22 To the Virginia Peninsula.
April 24-May 4 Siege of Yorktown (on transports) Attached to 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 6th Army Corps, Army Potomac
May 7-8 West Point
June 25-July 1 Seven days before Richmond
June 27
Gaines’ Mill

Colonel Gosline was mortally wounded. Lieutenant Colonel Town was promoted to colonel.
June 30 Charles City Cross Roads, and Glendale
July 1 Malvern Hill
July-August At Harrison’s Landing
August 16-28 Movement to Fortress Monroe, then to Centreville
August 28-31 In works at Centreville
September 1 Cover Pope’s retreat to Fairfax C. H.
September 6-24 Maryland Campaign
September 14
Crampton’s Pass, South Mountain

The 95th Pennsylvania launched a bayonet charge up the steep and rugged mountain side. At the top it engaged Georgia’s Cobb Legion and drove them from their position, capturing a piece of artillery with limber, caisson and horses, and the knapsacks of the Legion which they had taken off in their haste to enter the battle.
September 16-17
Battle of Antietam

The regiment fought near the Dunker Church, repelling several Confederate charges, It lost two men killed and twenty-two wounded.
September-October Duty in Maryland
October 29-November 19 Movement to Falmouth, Va.
November 14 Captain Thomas J. Town of Company A (Colonel Town’s brother), was promoted to major.
December 12-15
Battle of Fredericksburg, Va.
1863
January 20-24 Burnside’s second Campaign, “Mud March”
February-April At Falmouth
April 27-May 6 Chancellorsville Campaign
April 29 Bernard House
May 3 Maryes Heights, Fredericksburg. Attached to 1st Division, 2nd Brigade, 6th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac
May 3-4
Salem Church

Colonel Town was shot throughout the heart and killed. Major Town took command of the regiment but was shot in the left hip. He was promoted to colonel to replace his brother but was disabled from command.
May 4 Banks’ Ford
June 13-July 24 Gettysburg Campaign
July 2-4
Battle of Gettysburg

The regiment was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Edward Carroll. It brought 356 men to the field and lost one killed and one wounded.

From the monument on Wheatfield Road at Gettysburg:

Occupied this position in reserve from evening of July 2nd to morning of July 5th. Present for duty at Gettysburg June 30, 1863, Officers 20, Enlisted men 336, Loss Enlisted men Killed 1 wounded 1

From the War Department marker for Bartlett’s Brigade on the Gettysburg battlefield:

July 2. The Brigade arrived late in the day and was formed in two lines to support Fifth Corps of which the troops in front were giving ground. The Third Brigade Third Division was formed on the left and then advanced to the front. Remained in same position during the night. The 121st New York was detached from the Brigade on its arrival and supported Battery L 1st Ohio until the close of the battle.

July 3. The Third Brigade Third Division was assigned to Brig. Gen. Bartlett’s command which was in an advanced position. Late in the day theThird Brigade Third Division in a second line at an interval of 200 yards supported First Brigade Third Division Fifth Corps in an advance through the Wheatfield and the woods on the south but soon after being engaged the Third Brigade Third Division advanced to the front and the combined forces captured about 200 prisoners of Brig. Gen. Benning’s Brigade and the colors of the 15th Georgia. At dark the Brigade was recalled to a line a few hundred yards in advance of the original position.
July 5-24 Pursuit of Lee
July 10-13 At and near Funkstown
July 14 Hagerstown
August 5 Colonel Thomas Town resigned, “being still disabled” (from his wound at Salem Church) “with no early prospect of recovery.”
July-October Duty on line of the Rappahannock
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 26 Regiment reenlisted
1864
January-May At Brandy Station
May 4-June 12 Rapidan Campaign
May 5-7
Battle of the Wilderness
May 8-21
Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
May 12 Assault on the Salient
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 17-18
Before Petersburg
June 19- July 9 Siege of Petersburg
June 22-23 Jerusalem Plank Road
July 9-11 Moved to Washington, D.C.
July 11-12 Repulse of Early’s attack on Washington
July 14-18 Pursuit of Early to Snicker’s Gap
August Sheridan’s Shenandoah Valley Campaign; attached to Army of the Shenandoah
August 21 Summit Point
September 19 Battle of Opequan, Winchester
September 22 Fisher’s Hill
September 24 New Market
October 15 Captain John Harper of Company I as promoted to major.
October 19 Battle of Cedar Creek
October – December Duty in the Shenandoah Valley
November 3 Major Harper was promoted to lieutenant colonel.
December Moved to Petersburg, Va. and Siege of Petersburg
1865
February 5-7 Dabney’s Mills, Hatcher’s Run
March 28-April 9 Appomattox Campaign
April 2 Assault on and fall of Petersburg
April 3-9 Pursuit of Lee
April 3 Lieutenant Colonel Harper was promoted to colonel but was not mustered.
April 6
Battle of Sayler’s Creek

Lieutenant Colonel Harper was breveted colonel for his “gallant and meritorious actions” in the battle.
April 9
Appomattox Court House

Surrender of Lee and his army.
April 23-27 Moved to Danville
May 23-June 3 March to Richmond, Va. then to Washington, D.C.
June 8 Corps Review
July 17 Mustered out