An Abbreviated History of the 97th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, Co.A |
|
Near the close of July 1861 Henry R. Guss, citizen of West Chester who had commanded
a company in the Ninth Regiment of the three months service, received authority from
the Secretary of War to recruit a regiment for three years. Enrolling was immediately
commenced and in two months time its ranks were full. Companies D and I were
principally from Delaware County, and the remaining companies were principally from
the county of Chester. The companies rendezvoused and Camp Wayne, near the
borough of West Chester and were organized under the following field officers: Henry R.
Guss, Colonel; Augustus P. Duer, Lieutenant Colonel; Galusha Pennypacker, Major.
Clothing, arms and equipment were furnished from the arsenal in Philadelphia. There
was a band, consisting of 22 members. On the 12th of November Governor Curtin
visited the camp and presented the state colors. On that date the command broke camp
and proceeded to Washington, were they were camped a half mile north of the Capital. After a week new Springfield rifles muskets were issued, and the regiment proceeded to Fortress Monroe via Baltimore, and went into camp near the ruins of the village of Hampton. It was soon after ordered to Port Royal South Carolina, embarking on the steamer Erickson on December 8. On January 21 the regiment was brigaded with the 6th Connecticut, 4th New Hampshire and the 9th Maine, and embarked on an expedition to Warsaw Sound, Georgia, designed as a diversion for the capture of Ft. Pulaski. On the 28th they proceeded to St. Mary’s River, and the transports were anchored off Fernandina, Florida. On March 5, the 97th landed and possessed the town, together with Ft. Clinch. On the 9th, company A made a scout to Harrison’s Landing, but found no enemy. On the 24th the regiment proceeded to Jacksonville to reinforce troops already there. The evacuation of Florida was ordered later in March, and the regiment returned to Hilton Head. On April 19, the regiment went to North Edisto Island, and was engaged in Fatigue and guard duty until the beginning of June, when it crossed the Edisto with General Wright’s command and moved across John’s Island to Legareville. With a squadron of cavalry it made a reconnaissance on the island on June 7, and encountered a body of the enemy which was driven. Companies G and H were left to occupy Legarville the rest of the regiment encamping with Wright’s division in front of Secessionville. On the evening of the 10th the pickets of the 47th New York and the 97th Pennsylvania were attacked. The loss to the 97th was three killed and eleven wounded. The battle of Secessionville was fought on June 16 the regiment escaped with only small loss. It remained on the island until July 1, when it returned with the 6th Connecticut to North Edisto, and thence to Hilton Head. By the middle of October there were many cases of intermittent fever, and frequent cases of yellow fever, many of which proved fatal. On November 20, the regiment, with the exception of company C, was removed to St. Helena island, where the health of the men rapidly improved. |
