An Abbreviated History of the 97th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, Co.A |
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On the 27th the 18th Corps and part of the 10th Corps was dispatched to White House
and thence marched to joint the army at Cold Harbor. The 97th remained at the front
there until its return to the south side of the James on the 12th of June. On the 22nd
Colonel Guss resigned and Lt. Col. Pennypacker was promoted to succeed him, but was
prevented by wounds from joining the regiment for several weeks. The following day
the 10th Corps was ordered to the front before Petersburg, the 97th taking position in
front of Cemetery Hill, where it kept constantly engaged, losing men almost daily. Upon
the occasion of the explosion of the mine on the 30th of July the 97th was formed in the
rear of the batteries bearing on the rebel works, and when the assaulting column had gone
forward was ordered to advance in support. A portion of the enemy’s works was
captured, but the forces were eventually withdraw, as it was found impossible to hold the
advantage gained. The 97th was relieved at 2:30 PM. Colonel Pennypacker returned and assumed command on August 13. The regiment moved across the James and participated in the capture of the entrenchments at Deep Bottom and in the action at Strawberry Plains on the 15th, losing 10 killed, 11 wounded and 18 captured. On the20th the regiment returned to its old position at Bermuda Hundred. Towards the close of August the regiment to the Petersburg front, occupying the lines from the Appomatox to Cemetery Hill. Col. Pennypacker was assigned to the command of the Second Brigade, Second Division, composed of the 47th and 48th New York, 76th, 203rd and 97th Pennsylvania. The command of the regiment devolved to Captain Lewis in the absence of Major Price due to sickness. On the 28th of September the 10th Corps attacked New Market Heights and Fort Gilmore. The loss was 10 wounded and 2 missing. Toward the close of October the 10th Corps was engaged near Darbytown. The 97th lost 2 killed, 8 wounded and 1 missing. In December the Army of the James was reorganized and the white troops of the 10th and 18th corps became the 24th Corps. On December 7 the 97th, as part of the Second Division of the 24th Corps, proceeded to Fortress Monroe, and on the 13th accompanied the expedition of Butler and Porter against Ft. Fisher North Carolina. The troops were eventually withdrawn and returned to their camps on the James. On the 2nd of January 1965 the same troops again departed for the reduction of Ft. Fisher. Ame’s division, consisting of the brigades of Curtis, Pennypacker and Bell was selected for the assault, after landing on the peninsula. Pennypacker, while carrying the standard of the 97th was the first man in a charge over a traverse, and was severely wounded while planting the colors on the third traverse. The attack was successful, but the regiment Lost 4 killed and 47 wounded. The regiment encamped near the magazine in the fort, but was ordered away before it’s accidental explosion. The 97th participated in the advance on Raleigh, but was detached and sent to the assistance of a cavalry train under Kilpatrick, and remained with it until it reached the State Capital, whence Sherman pushed up and received the surrender of the rebel army under Johnston at Durham’s Station on April 26th 1865. From April until July 10, 1865 the regiment remained at Raleigh, engaged in various duties including putting into operation the Freedman’s Bureau. During this time several died of sickness. On May 23, 1865 Col. Pennypacker was promoted to Brigadier General. The regiment was finally mustered out at Weldon on August 28, 1865. The remaining 600 returned to Philadelphia, where they were entertained at the Cooper Shop and Union Volunteer Refreshment saloons. Retiring to Camp Cadwalader it remained until September 4, when it was pain off and disbanded. Source: History of Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-1865; Bates, Samuel P. |
