An Abbreviated History of the 97th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, Co.A |
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Early in April 1863 the second expedition against Charleston left Hilton Head. The first
Brigade, First Division, 10th corps consisted of the 8th Maine, 76th Pennsylvania and the
97th Pennsylvania, and was under the command of Colonel Guss. It landed at Folly
Island where it remained during the bombardment of Sumter. The Attack was not
successful and land forces again returned to Hilton Head. On April 21 the 97th was
detached from the First Brigade and ordered to the Third Brigade, commanded by
General T. G. Stevenson, then occupying Seabrook Island. About the middle of June General Gilmore assumed command of the department and began preparations against Charleston. The 97th was in Stevenson’s brigade and was held in readiness to advance if the assault on Battery Wagner by the 54th Massachusetts was successful. They were ordered forward, but almost immediately recalled when the failure of the assault was apparent. Two companies of the 97th, A and F under Lieutenant Col. Duer, were ordered to the abattis on the beach, whence they were to advance as skirmishers as near to the fort as possible and cover the parties detailed to pick up the wounded, which was done by companies C, D, E and I. On September 6, orders were given to make an assault on the following morning, however it was found that the enemy had abandoned the works. On October 2nd the regiment was again ordered to garrison duty at Ft. Clinch. On February 9, 1864 a detachment led by Major Pennypacker crossed the river and moved up to attack the enemy at Camp Cooper, near Baldwin Station, 14 miles distant. The camp was unoccupied, and the command returned to Fernandina. A week later Major Pennypacker with three hundred men were sent to the Woodstock and King’s Ferry Mills on the St. Mary’s river to secure lumber and mill fixtures. On the 22nd Major Pennypacker was ordered to return with all possible dispatch, the engagement at Olustee have proved disastrous. There was a subsequent reconnaissance up the St. Mary’s on the steamer Island City with company F under Captain Lewis, in which the enemy’s pickets were encountered and driven, and some rebel property and machinery captured. On April 3 Lieutenant Colonel Duer, who had been suffering from disease, resigned and Major Pennypacker was promoted to succeed him. Captain Price was promoted to Major. On April 23 the 97th was relived by the 157th New York and returned to Hilton Head, where it jointed the 10th Corps in its movement to Fortress Monroe to reinforce the Army of the James under General Butler. The 97th was assigned to the 1st Brigade, Third Division, composed of the 55th and 97th Pennsylvania, 4th New Hampshire, and the 8th and 9th Maine. The Brigade was commanded by Colonel Richard White, General Ames commanded the division and General Gilmore the Corps. The army landed on May 7 at Bermuda Hundred and moved to Foster’s Plantation, where a line of earth works was thrown up which eventually extended from the James River above to the swamps and tide water of the Appomatox below. On the 9th the 97th took park in the action at Swift Creek near Petersburg, and on the 10th was ordered to support the movement upon Richmond, being subsequently engaged in the action at Drury’s Bluff. On May 16th the rebels attached at daylight under cover of fog. The 97th was on duty at General Butler’s headquarters and was ordered to join the 13th Indiana and to take position at the Wier Bottom Church Road At dusk they withdrew to the entrenchments. The loss was two wounded and five captured. On the 18th the revels assaulted a portion of the line near Green Plain. The 97th was ordered to the front to retake the line, and four companies were deployed by Lt. Col Pennypacker and advanced in a skirmish line supported by the rest of the regiment under Major Price. At 10:00 PM the regiment was relieved. The regiment lost 19 killed and 38 wounded. On the 19th of May companies A, B, C and E were detained for picket duty and to occupy the same line held on the previous evening. The enemy charged but was repulsed with considerable loss. The next morning the enemy again charged in force against the positions of the 97th, the 9th Maine and the 13th Indiana, and the fragment of the command remaining retreated. Lt. Col Pennypacker, with the remaining 300 of the regiment which had not been engaged, was ordered to advance and recapture the portion of the line which was lost. The loss in this charge was 3 officers and 44 men killed, 8 officers and 121 men wounded and 12 taken prisoners. Lt. Col. Pennypacker was wounded. |
