The Civil War in the East

11th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment

 

The 11th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment lost 12 officers and 224 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and 4 officers and 177 enlisted men to disease during the Civil War.

 

It is honored by a monument at Gettysburg.

Monument to the 11th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment at Gettysburg

1861

April 26

Organized for three months service at Camp Curtin, Harrisburg under Colonel Phaon Jarrett, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Coulter and Major William D. Earnest

May 4

Moved by rail to Camp Wayne, West Chester, Pa.

May 27

Duty guarding Pittsburg, Wilmington & Baltimore Railroad.

Headquarters and Companies A and B were at Havre de Grace

Companies C and D were at Perryville

Company E at Charlestown

Company F at North East

Company G at Chesapeake City guarding the Delaware & Chesapeake Canal

Companies I and H at Elkton

Company K at Newark, Delaware

June 18

Relieved by the 1st Delaware Infantry Regiment and ordered to Chambersburg
Attached to Negley's 5th Brigade, 2nd Division, Patterson's Army

June 20

Transferred to Abercrombie's 6th Brigade

June 29

Moved to Williamsport, Md.

July 2

Falling Waters

The regiment is given the nickname "Bloody Eleventh," losing Private Amos Suppinger killed and ten other men wounded in fighting against Jackson's Virginia Brigade.

July 3

Occupation of Martinsburg. The regiment was presented with a stand of colors by the ladies of Martinsburg which was subsequently used by the three years service regiment.

July 15

Advance on Bunker Hill

July 25

Moved to Harper's Ferry. General Patterson requested the regiment to remain a week to ten days after its term of service until replacements could arrive, and the regiment unanimously volunteered to do so.

August 1

Mustered out. The Secretary of War offered to accept the regiment for three years service if it were ready to march within 21 days after its mustering out.

Reorganized for three years service

August

Nine companies organized for three years service at Harrisburg and in Westmoreland County under Colonel Richard Coulter, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas S. Martin, and Major Henry A. Frink.

August-November

At Camp Curtin, where 11 men died from sickness.

November 27

Moved to Baltimore, Md., then to Annapolis, Md. and attached to Annapolis, Md., Middle Department. Regiment was quartered in St. John's College buildings and provided guard for the Naval Academy and branch railroad and provost guard for the city. Seventeen more men died of disease during this time.

March 9

Company A under Captain Kuhn was detailed to proceed up the bay by boat to act as lookout for the Confederate ironclad C.S.S. Virginia (ex-U.S.S. Merrimac).

1862

April 9

Moved to Washington, D.C. and attached to Wadsworth's Command, Military District of Washington

April 13

New uniforms issued.

April 15

Regiment reviewed by President Lincoln at the White House.

April 17

Regiment taken by boat to Alexandria and then by train to Manassas Junction to guard Manassas Gap Railroad

May 12

Marched to Catlett's Station and attached to 3rd Brigade, Ord's Division, Dept. of the Rappahannock

May 14

Regiment continued march to Falmouth in heavy rains

May 23

Division reviewed by President Lincoln.

June

The regiment marched to Acquia Creek where it boarded a steamer for Alexandria, transferred to a train to Manassas Junction, and marched to Front Royal. After facilitating the withdrawal of baggage trains, the regiment returned by rail to Manassas Junction and was attached to 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 3rd Corps, Army of Virginia.

August 9

Battle of Cedar Mountain
The regiment suffered three wounded.

August 16

Pope's Campaign in Northern Virginia

August 21-23

Fords of the Rappahannock
The regiment lost one killed, three wounded and one missing.

August 26

Warrenton

August 28

Thoroughfare Gap
The regiment suffered 2 officers and16 enlisted men killed, Captain John B. Keenan, 2 other officers and 37 enlisted men wounded, and two missing.

August 30

Bull Run
The regiment lost 52 killed, 67 wounded, and 75 missing since August 21. Colonel Coulter took command of the brigade when Colonel Fletcher Webster of the 12th Massachusetts was killed. Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Martin was killed and Major Henry Frink was severly wounded and captured. The national colors were captured when Sergeant Fightner, the color bearer, was wounded and fell into Confederate hands. The state colors were saved, although a series of color bearers (all of Company C) were wounded: Segeant Robert Knox, who lost his right leg, First Sergeant Samuel S. Bierer, and Second Lieutenant Absalom Schall.

September 1

Battle of Chantilly
The regiment suffered one wounded. Major Henry Frink was promoted to lieutenant colonel and Captain John B. Keenan to major.

September 3

The regimental band was mustered out of service in compliance with an act of Congress dissolving regimental bands. The regiment bivouaced at Silver Springs, Md.

September 6-24

Maryland Campaign. Atached to 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 1st Army Corps, Army of the Potomac

September 14

Battle of South Mountain
The regiment lost two wounded.

September 16-17

Battle of Antietam
The regiment was heavily engaged in the West Woods, losing lost 1 officer and 26 men killed, 4 oficers and 85 men wounded, and two captured. Colonel Coulter took over command of the brgade early in the action with the wounding of General Hartsuff, with Captain Cook of Company F taking command of the regiment. Daniel Mathews was severely wounded, Private William Welty killed, and Corporal Frederick Welty severly wounded while carrying the state colors, and for a time they were left on the field, all of the color party having been shot down. The colors were retrieved by Second Lieutenant Edward Gay, who was twice wounded, finally ending up in the posession of Sergeant Henry Bitner of Company E.

September-October

Duty at Sharpsburg

October 3

The brigade is reviewed by President Lincoln.

October 7

Colonel Coulter resumes command of regiment as Brigadier General Nelson Taylor assumes command of the brigade.

October 29

Clothing and tents issued

October 30-November 19

Movement to Falmouth, Va.

December 12-15

Battle of Fredericksburg
The regiment suffered one officer and 14 men killed, 5 officers and 61 men wounded, and 5 captured. Colonel Coulter was severely wounded, and Captain Kuhns took over the regiment during the battle. The state colors were carried by Corporal John Kuhns, who was wounded three times, losing his left leg, then by Cyrus Chambers, who was killed, then Corporal John Thomas, severely wounded, and finally by Captain Benjamin Haines of company B.

 

After the battle Lieutenant Colonel Batchelder of the 13th Massachusetts was placed in command of the regiment by special order.

Dcmber 31

Lt. Colonel Frink returned from his Bull Run wound and resumed command, but shortly afterwards returned to the hospital in Georgetown.

1863

January 2

Calber .69 arms replaced all caliber .57 and .58 weapons.

January 19

Colonel Coulter rejoined the regiment, but was as yet too unwell to assume command.

January 20-24

"Mud March"

February-April

At Falmouth and Belle Plain. Colonel Coulter resumed command. The First Corps badge, a white globe or disk, was adopted at this time by order of General Hooker.

April 27-May 6

Chancellorsville Campaign

April 29-May 2

Operations at Pollock's Mill Creek

April 29-30

Fitzhugh's Crossing

May 2-5

Chancellorsville; Attached to 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 1st Army Corps

June 11-July 24

Gettysburg Campaign

June 12 - 30

Brigade left Falmouth and moved via Warrenton Junction, Centreville, Herndon and Guilford Stations, to Edward's Ferry, where it crossed the Potomac on the 25th, and continued the march through Barnsville, Middletown and Emmittsburg, halted for the night at Wolford's farm, on the Pennsylvania State line, where the Eleventh was inspected and mustered for pay.

July 1

Battle of Gettysburg

After severe fighting on Oak Ridge, the regiment fell back to Cemetery Hill and was attached to 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 1st Army Corps so that Colonel Coulter could take command of the brigade from the wounded General Paul. The regiment continued to be involved in heavy fighting on the north end of Cemetery Ridge. Colonel Coulter was badly wounded in the arm, but returned to command after briefly having it treated. With Colonel coulter commanding the brigade, Captain Benjamin F. Haines took command of the regiment. He was wounded on July 3rd, and Captain John Overmayer took command until Captain J.J. Bierer returned from sick leave on the 4th.

 

The regiment lost fifteen killed, fifty-nine wounded, and sixty-four taken prisoner during the three days of fighting. Corporal John M'Kalip was severly wounded carrying the state colors, which were left abandoned in some bushes with the loss of the color party in the fighting on the first day; Private Michael Kepler of Company D retrieved and bore them for the rest of the battle.

July 8

The regiment reached South Monutain,

July 10

Moved through Boonsboro to Beaver Creek and entrenched in anticipation of an attack

July 13

Crossed Antietam Creek and formed line of battle, again entrenching.

July 18

Encamped at Waterford Virginia, after crossing the Potomac on a pontoon bridge at Berlin. Transferred back to 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 1st Army Corps

July-October

Duty on the Rapidan

October 9-22

Bristoe Campaign

November 7-8

Advance to line of the Rappahannock

November 26-December 2

Mine Run Campaign
Colonel Coulter again commanded the brigade, with Major Keenan in command of the regiment. The regiment suffered two wounded, one from a raid by Mosby's partisans in Union uniforms.

1864

January 5

204 men of the regiment reenlisted and it was designated "Veteran Volunteers"

February 5

276 Veterans go on furlough, quartering at Soldier's Rest in Alexandria, where they received pay and new clothing before travelling on to Harrisonburg. Recruiting stations were set up in Pittsburg, Greensburg, Lock Haven, Jersey Shore, Carlisle, and Mauch Chunk.

February 6-7

Demonstration on the Rapidan

March 20

Regiment reassembles at Harrisonburg

March 28

Veterans return from furlough, bringing 314 additional recruits, for a regimental strength of 590. Attached to 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 5th Army Corps

May-June

Rapidan Campaign

May 5-7

Battle of the Wilderness

The regiment lost around 50 casualties on the 5th, including the capture of Captain Chalfant, and 157 killed and wounded on the 6th. Colonel Coulter took command of the brigade due to the wounding of General Baxter, leaving Major Keenan again in command of the regiment until he was killed on the 7th. Captain B.F. Hains then took command.

 

Corporal J.J. Lehman was killed bearing the state colors, and Second Lieutenant McCutchen of Company F brought them off the field.

 

Due to high casualties and the loss of its division and brigade commanders the 2nd Division was broken up, with the 11th's brigade attached to 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 5th Army Corps.

May 10

Laurel Hill
The regiment charged and successfully took a line of rifle pits on the slopes of the hill, but ws unable to take the entrenchments at its summitt. The brigade lost 20% of its strength in the atack.

May 8-12

Spottsylvania
Colonel Coulter, leading a charge of the 88th Pennsylvania, was wounded in the chest and forced to leave the field, and Major Keenan was killed.

May 12-21

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

May 30

Lieutenant Colonel Frink promoted to colonel of the 186th Pennsylvania Infantry

June 1-12

Cold Harbor

June 1-3

Bethesda Church

June 13

White Oak Swamp

June 16-18

Before Petersburg

July 30

Mine Explosion Petersburg (Reserve)

August 18-21

Weldon Railroad
Captain Noble of Company A recaptured the colors of the 94th New York, and Private George W. Reed of Company E earned the Medal of Honor for capturing the flag of the 24th North Carolina at Weldon Railroad, on August 21. The 11th lost 4 killed, 10 wounded, and 74 captured.

September 15

Reconnaissance toward Dinwiddie Court House

Novembr 16

Veterans and enlisted men of the 90th Pennsylvania are transferred to the 11th as the 90th mustered out. Although the 11th had taken over 500 casualties since the beginning of the campaign, recruitment kept its strength above 200.

December 7-12

Warren's Raid to Weldon Railroad

The regiment lost 1 wounded and 2 missing

December 26

Major Benjamin Haines was promoted to lieutenant colonel and Captin John B. Overmayer to major

1865

January

Major John B. Overmeyer takes over command of the regiment as Colonel Frink and Major Hains were both promoted and given command of other Pennsylvania regiments.

February 5-7

Dabney's Mills, Hatcher's Run. The regiment lost 9 killed, 69 wounded, and 9 missing. Sallie, the regimental mascot, is killed. A group of men bury her on the field under heavy fire.

March

Attached to 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 5th Army Corps

March 28-April 9

Appomattox Campaign

March 29

Lewis Farm, Gravelly Run

March 31

White Oak Road

April 1

Five Forks
Sergeant Hiram H. De Lavie of Company I earned the Medal of Honor for capturing the flag of the 32nd Virginia. Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Overmayer was wounded and brevetted colonel.

April 9

Appomattox Court House. Surrender of Lee and his army.

May

Moved to Washington

May 23

Grand Review

July 1

Mustered out 340 men under Colonel Coulter, Lt. Colonel Keenan and Major Overmeyer.