History of Butler County Pennsylvania - 1883

Transcribed by Pat Collins. For an explanation and caution about this transcription, please read this page.

Because this chapter is an extensive roster of military personnel, the surnames have not been included at the front of the chapter. The following abbreviations have been made use of in compiling the several rosters:   e., enlisted; dis., discharged; disab., disability; m., mustered in service; m.o., mustered out, m.o.w.c., mustered out with company; m.o.w.b., mustered out with battery; wd., wounded; m.wd., mortally wounded; nat. cem., national cemetery; P.V., Pennsylvania Volunteers; pro., promoted; Surg. cert., Surgeon's certificate; tr., transferred; vet., veteran; V.C., Volunteer Cavalry; V.I., Volunteer Infantry; V.R.C., Veteran Reserve Corp.

[p. 124]
The men comprising this organization were principally from the counties of Allegheny, Butler, Westmoreland, Fayette, Washington and Lawrence, Batteries A and B being made up almost wholly of Butler County men. The regiment was organized at Camp Reynolds, near Pittsburgh, September 15, 1864, with the following field officers: Charles BARNES, Colonel; Joseph B. COPELAND, Lieutenant Colonel; Robert H. LONG, Joseph R. KEMP and Frank H. WHITE, Majors. On the 17th of September, the regiment started for Washington, and on its arrival there was assigned to the Second Brigade of De RUSSEY's [p. 125] Division, then garrisoning the defenses of the capital. It was detached from the division on the 29th of the same month, and ordered to guard a portion of the Orange & Alexandria Railroad between Alexandria and Manassas. The several companies were stationed at intervals along the line, and headquarters were established at Fairfax Court House. The regiment was charged with the duty of keeping open the part of the railroad intrusted to it, to prevent interruption in the transportation of supplies to SHERIDAN's army. The people were hostile, roving bands of guerrillas infested the country, and incessant vigilance was necessary to guard against surprise. Col BARNES and nearly all of his officers and men had had previous military experience, and the discipline which they had gained needed to be judiciously exercised; for only by sound discretion could the enemy be kept at bay. It was almost certain death for soldiers to go outside of the lines. Three soldiers ventured outside, on one occasion, and were immediately fired upon by parties in ambush, and severely wounded. Their assailants then rushed from their place of concealment, and stood over their bleeding victims, discharging their pistols at them until life was extinct.

By the middle of November, SHERIDAN had cleared the Shenandoah Valley of the foe, and this line of railway was abandoned. The regiment was then ordered back to the defenses of Washington, and was posted at Forts Marcy, Ward, Craig, Reno, Albany, Lyon and others. It had previously been armed and drilled as infantry, and was now instructed in heavy artillery service. Capt. Gustavus L. BROWN, who had been an officer in the Second Artillery Regiment, was appointed drill-master. The Colonel enforced strict discipline, and the regiment soon became proficient in artillery tactics. It remained on duty at the forts until the end of the war, and was mustered out of service at Fort Ethan Allen, Va., on the 13th of June, 1865. Returning to Camp Reynolds, it was finally disbanded on the 17th. Col. BARNES was subsequently brevetted a Brigadier General "for meritorious conduct during the entire war."

[End of Chapter 13e--Butler County During War of 1861-65, 212th Regiment: History of Butler County, Pennsylvania. With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of some of its Prominent Men and Pioneers. Waterman, Watkins, & Co., Chicago, 1883.]

Chapter 13--Butler County During War of 1861-65, 169th Regiment
Chapter 13--Butler County During War of 1861-65, Miscellaneous
1883 Butler County History Contents
Butler County Pennsylvania USGenWeb Homepage

Edited 24 Nov 1999, 17:13