Jeremiah Moll, William Moll, Thomas Moll
93rd PA Regiment Infantry, Company "G".
Privates Jeremiah (1842-), William (1845-) and Thomas Moll (22 Jun 1847- , 5th Gen) served in the 93rd PA Regiment Infantry, Company G. They were brothers. Jeremiah Moll enlisted in Reading, PA on 10 Sep 1861, and was mustered out 27 Jun 1865 in Washington, DC. Thomas and William Moll are listed in "American Civil War Soldiers" as being in the 93rd PA, however their names are not listed on the origional September 1861 muster list for the regiment
They were the sons of Peter Moll (June 1819 - 14 Feb 1854, 4th Gen) and Rebecca Lehman Moll (b: 1820). They were descendents of Michael Moll (30 Aug 1743 - 1810, 2nd Gen) and Anna Margaretha Schmeck (b: 1745).
Peter and Rebecca Moll lived in Ontalaunee TWP, Berks County, PA. In addition to farming, Peter Moll also was a land speculator. In addition to Jeremiah, William and Thomas, they had the following other children:
Peter Moll died intestate on 14 Feb 1854. His widow, Rebecca, appeared at the Orphan's Court in Reading, Berks County, to have guardians appointed for her children. The Court appointed Jacob Lenhart guardian for each child. He posted a $100 bond for each child.
Jacob Lenhart lived in the Southwest Ward of Reading, PA in 1850. In 1860, neither Jacob Lenhart or this Moll family could be located in the Census records of Berks County. It is unknown what happened to their lives after the Civil War ended.
None of these three men filed for a Civil War pension.
The 93rd Pennsylvania Volunteers, known as the "Lebanon Infantry," was formed under the direction of Colonel James M. McCarter, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal congregation of Lebanon, in the autumn of 1861. It was mustered into service on October 28 of the same year. The regiment trained for a month at Camp Coleman, now known as Monument Park, at presentday Eighth and Lehman Streets. It was mustered out at Harrisburg on June 30, 1865.
The unit record of the 93rd PA shows that Jeremiah Moll served in the defenses of Washington DC until March 1862, then went into Northern Virginia as part of Major General George B. McClellan's Peninsula Campaign.
General McClellan, commander of the Union forces, devised a simple plan to end the Confederate rebellion against the United States. He would take the Army of the Potomac, sail it south to the peninsula between the York and James Rivers in Virginia, and rapidly march on to Richmond. There he would fight a decisive battle, capture the Confederate capital and end the war.
The 93rd PA's first engagement with the Confederates occoured near Williamsburg, VA.
When General Joseph E. Johnston withdrew from the Warwick–Yorktown Line, he established a rear guard position along a series of redoubts built by Major General John Bankhead Magruder. The key position was Fort Magruder, which commanded the junction of two roads leading up the Peninsula to Williamsburg. Major General James Longstreet’s division took up positions in Fort Magruder and the nearby redoubts during the evening of May 4 under pressure from Federal cavalry.
On May 5, 1862, Union troops commanded by Major General Joseph Hooker attacked Fort Magruder, but were repulsed. The Union line was driven back by a strong Confederate counterattack until Brigadier General Philip Kearny’s division arrived to stabilize the Federal position. Kearny led his men onto the field shouting, "I am a one–armed Jersey Son–of–a–Gun, Follow me!" The Confederates fell back into their defenses. Meanwhile, Brigadier General Winfield Scott Hancock’s brigade had marched behind the Confederate left flank and occupied two vacant redoubts along Cub Creek. Hancock’s men then began shelling the Confederate flank and rear.
About 2:30pm, the 93rd PA was ordered to take positions to the rear of the 55th NY and provide support. When the regiment arrived, it found the land to the right of the 55th NY was unoccupied and was located there. About 2/3rds of the regiment had reached their spot of the line when the Confederates attacked.
Longstreet sent elements of Major General D. H. Hill’s division to dislodge the Federals. Hill and Brigadier General Jubal A. Early hastily prepared a flank attack, but the assault was misdirected and disjointed, resulting in a bloody repulse. Early was wounded and D. H. Hill called the scene "one of the most awful things I ever saw." The Confederate attack was in the form of a cavalry charge and artillery fire. "...For about three hours the battle ensued. According to the official report, "..For three hours the fire of the regiment was incessant on account of its position, commanding a view of both the openings of the roads, on either side of which were fallen bushes and trees, over whose tops volleys of musketry blazed upon our line. At the end of this time, the right and center had expended 45 rounds and were without ammunition.".**
The Confederates suffered 1,603 casualties and the Federals 2,239.
That night, successful in delaying the Union advance, the Confederates abandoned their redoubts and continued their withdrawal toward Richmond. Major General George McClellan telegraphed to Washington, "The victory is complete." Confederate General Johnston would later rebut, "Had the enemy beaten us on the fifth, as he claims to have done, our army would have lost most of its baggage and artillery."
**official report of col. McCarter, commanding the regiment in the battle of Williamsburg, Va.:"Headquarters 93rd Pa. Regt., May 8th, 1862."
By the end of May, the Army of the Potomac had moved to within twelve miles of Richmond. McClellan had divided his army, placing two corps south of the Chickahominy River and three to the north. This placed McClellan’s army in a better position to join up with McDowell’s corps moving south from Fredericksburg. It was a dangerous deployment, however, as heavy rains had swollen the Chickahominy.
General Joseph E. Johnston sought to take advantage of the divided Union army. He devised a complicated plan whereby two–thirds of his army would attack Major General Samuel P. Heintzelman’s III Corps and Major General Erasmus Darwin Keyes’ IV Corps south of the Chickahominy. Johnston’s plan called for four different Confederate columns to converge on the Union troops via three roads.
On May 31st, the 93rd PA left their camp at Seven Pines about 1pm, moving to engage the Confederates. The Confederate intricate battle plan, issued verbally, fell apart almost immediately on the morning of May 31. Longstreet, instead of using the Nine Mile Road as ordered, moved down the Williamsburg road, which had been assigned to D. H. Hill’s and Benjamin Huger’s troops, thus delaying the Confederate attack. Major General D. H. Hill opened the battle at 1:00 pm when his unsupported brigades struck Keyes’ positions at Seven Pines. The Federals were pushed back under heavy pressure from the Confederates. Longstreet finally supported Hill’s attack with one brigade, and the Federals withdrew to a third position when the fighting ended around 6:00 pm.
"... upon coming into position, and in fact before the men could be thrown into line, the enemy, who were in overwhelming force in front, opened a heavy fire. This was answered in good style, and evidently with great effect, by the 93rd. After holding this position for nearly an hour our regiment was compelled to fall back a distance of 30 yards, where they again opened fire. From skirmishers who had been thrown out from our left we found that the enemy had outflanked us at that point. This was the occasion for the regiment falling back, which we continued to do, fighting at each halt, until the enemy were upon our extreme left. This position was held until the enemy again flanked us on the left, when we retired to a distance of 150 yards to a road running through the woods. The 93rd formed on this road to prevent a farther advance of the enemy. ... after remaining in this position for some time two regiments of the enemy were seen coming toward our right at a double-quick, and knowing that a force of the enemy was on our left, and General Casey's center falling back at the same time, the 93rd were compelled to retire, though in good order, to the position first occupied by them".**
** J. E. ARTHUR,
Captain, Commanding Ninety-third Pennsylvania Vols.
Capt. W. H. MORRIS,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Peck's Brigade.
SOURCE: Official Records of the War of the Rebellion
McClellan, even though a part of his army was nearly destroyed but for poor Confederate organization, won a tactical victory. The Federals suffered 5,031 casualties and the Confederates 6,134.
The Peninsula Campaign did not end here. Through June and into early July 1862, Lee and McClellan would do battle again, particularly during the Seven Days’ Battles, June 25 – July 1. Despite all his advantages, McClellan’s Peninsula Campaign ended in failure. Richmond’s redemption provided hope for the young Confederacy, particularly after a series of recent defeats in the West. In the Spring of 1862, McClellan had a tremendous opportunity. If he had pressed on Richmond and captured the Confederate capital, McClellan might have won the war and our history might well have taken a very different course. Instead, the Civil War lasted for three more bloody years.
The 93rd PA was heavily engaged at Gettysburg, PA on July 2nd, 1863. The regiment was the first of the Federal 6th corps to reach Little Round Top, and along with the 62nd NY, prepared defensive positions there starting about 2PM on July 2nd.
 Mounument to the 93rd PA Regiment Infantry at Little Round Top, Gettysburg Pennsylvania. |
The 93rd PA formed in a line just to the right of Little Round Top with its left flank joining the Pennsylvania Reserves. It was the first regiment of the corps to get into action, as the Confederates had pushed the Union line back to the slopes of Little Round Top and the southern part of Cemetery Ridge. There were practically no Federal forces in front of them, as General Sikes' Union regulars had been outflanked, broken and almost annihilated. Union troops were rushing in confustion backwards through their ranks, with assaulting columns of about 20,000 Confederates attacking Little Round Top.
 1904 Gettysburg Battlefield map showing the location of the 93rd PA. |
The 93rd moved fowards and took a position behind a stone fence about 300 feet west of Plum Run. Here the regiment lay completely concealed as a Confederate column, unaware of its presence, advanced. The order had been given to hold fire until the enemy moved into point-blank range. Before the enemy column reached that point, however, a premature shot was fired and, even though heavy casualties were inflicted upon the Confederates, the desired degree was not achieved. In this encounter the Lebanon Infantry captured twenty-five prisoners.
It was the charge across the Valley of Death,the capture of the stone wall on the East side of the wheat field,and holding it,and the re-capture of Devil's Den,that stronghold which the Rebels dispirited, broken, sullen, retired to the Emmettsburg road.
Late in the evening of July 2nd, portion of the 93rd PA, in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Reserves, was sent into the "Valley of Death" to recover a battery which had been abandoned in the retreat of the late afternoon and early evening. The combined forces were unable to comply with the order since the guns had already been captured by the enemy. The elements of the 93rd Regiment returned and rested until the next morning. The Lebanon companies received only five casualties throughout the day's engagement.
In following the Confederates in their retreat from Gettysbutg, the 93rd Regiment acted as a support force for the corps artillery and were not engaged.
Information taken from Penrose G. Mark. Red: white: and blue badge. Pennsylvania veteran volunteers; a history of the 93rd Regiment. known as the ''Lebanon Infantry '' and ''one of the 300 fighting regiments'' from September 12th, 1861 to June 27th. 1865 (Harrisburg. 1911 )
At the battle of Spotsylvania Court House, the 93rd PA was heavily engaged, taking and holding the "Bloody Angle", which was a hand to hand struggle, ending in a charge. Reaching Spotsylvania Court House about 2pm on May 9th, the regiment found that "...the woods were on fire, and the hot blasts of air which swept over us, together with burning heat of the sun rendered our position a very uncomfortable one".
The regiment was ordered to the left of the woods, and there was brisk skirmishing with the Confederates. The line was strengthened with breastworks of rails and logs that afternoon and into the night. The 93rd maintained this position that night. This would change dramatically on May 10th however.
"..The activity of the skirmishing, along the line, early in the morning, steadily increased in severity until it became a roll of battle. ... the artillery on both sides was brought into work. It was the terrible cannonading of Malvern Hill, with the fierce musketry of Gaine's Mill combined, that seemed fairly to shake the earth and skies. Never during the war had the two armies made such a gigantic struggle for the destruction of each other". After the cannonade, the Confederates attacked, "... which were repeatedly hurled like an avalanche against our breastworks, hoping by the very momentum of the charge to break through our lines, but a most withering storm of leaden and iron hail would set the Rebels wavering,and finally send them back to the woods and their earth works in confusion,leaving the ground at each time with an additional layer of their dead."
These photos are of the "Bloody Angle" The battle lasted here 18-20 hours and over 17,000 men died. The 93rd PA fought here. |
For the next two days, although skirmishing occoured between the armies, no further attacks were made by either side. On the morning of May 12th, the 93rd was moved first to the rear, for a well-deserved rest, then after lunch, was massed into a major Federal attack. "..when all was in readiness, the Regiment with the Corps en-masse, rapidly advaneed across the field, a thick fog concealing our movement. As our column reached near the rifle pits of the Rebels, a storm of bullets met it; but charging impetuously up the hill and over the vorks, the Rebels, surprised and overpowered, gave way; those who could escaping to the second line in the rear, though thousands were obliged to surrender on the spot, so complete had been the surprise. Our victorious column now pushed forward on toward the second line of works, but here the enemy by this time fully prepared for an attack, the resistance became more stubborn, and the battle now raged with greatest fury."
The Confederates made the most desperate efforts to retake them. by forming their troops in heavy columns and hurling them against us with tremendous force. "... our First Division held the center of the line of our corps, at a point known as "The Angle." This was the key to the whole position, and the Sixth Corps held it- Our forces held the Rebel works from the left as far as this "Angle," and the Rebels still held the rest of the line. Whoever could hold "The Angle" would be the victors; for with "The Angle," either party could possess themselves of the whole line of works. Hence the desperate efforts to drive us from this position".
"The First Division of our Corps being unable to hold and maintain the position alone, our Second Division was sent to its aid. And now, as we of the Second Division took our places in the front, the battle became a hand to hand combat. A breastwork of logs separated us from the Rebels. Our men would reach over this partition and discharge their muskets in the face of the Rebels, and in return would receive the fire of the Rebels at the same close range. Finally the men began to use their muskets as clubs and then rails were used. The men on both sides were willing thus to fight from behind the breastworks, but to rise up and attempt a charge in the face of the Rebels, so near at hand, and so strong in numbers, required unusual bravery. Yet the 93rd, with its noble and brave comrades of the First Brigade, and with those of the rest of our Second Division, Sixth Corps, did rise up, made the charge, and drove the Rebels back and we held "the angle" ourselves-—known the world over as "The Bloody Angle." Thus was verified those words which became famous of Gen. Grant: "I propose to fight it out on this line if it takes all summer." ".
The battle raged until well into the night, and not until 11pm was their a lull, however though the night, artillery on both sides fired into each other's line. The 93rd had fought for well over 8 hours, "...behind the works the Rebel dead were lying, literally piled one upon another, and wounded men were groaning under the weight of dead bodies of their companions". On the morning of the 13th, Captain Charles W. Eckman, of co. H. of the 93rd, made a close inspection of the Rebel breastworks at "The Bloody Angle" and counted the dead and wounded five bodies deep, with living and wounded Rebels beneath their dead, and the breastworks filled up with Rebels to the very top of them.
In October of 1864 the Federal Army of the Shenandoah, having soundly defeated the Confederate Army of the Valley at Winchester (September 19) and again at Fisher's Hill (September 22), chased the Confederate forces out of the Shenandoah Valley and either burned or appropriated all food reserves and livestock between Staunton and Strasburg. Thinking he had thus finally denied the Valley to the Confederacy -- both as a food source and as an invasion route to the North -- Major General Philip Sheridan left his army camped along Cedar Creek at Middletown and went to Washington for consultations.
Refusing to yield the Valley, Lieutenant General Jubal Early marched his famished, ill-equipped army of about 17,000 to Fisher's Hill (north of Strasburg) on October 13. Confronting Sheridan's entrenched army of over 30,000, desperately short of provisions, Early had to attack or retreat. On the night of October 18, he sent three of his divisions under Major General John B. Gordon across the Shenandoah River and along the flank of Massanutten Mountain to approach the Federal position from the east, behind its entrenchments along Cedar Creek.
After marching all night, Gordon's divisions struck in thick fog at dawn. The Federals were at breakfast, or still in their tents east of the Valley Pike, and as one Confederate remembered it, "they jumped up running." Early drove the Federals from their camps, past Belle Grove plantation and through Middletown. At mid-day he halted his forces at the northern edge of Middletown to consolidate his victory and regroup.
"Our Second Division was on the left, nearest to the pike and had received the entire shock of the attack, while Gen. Bidwell's Brigade, which held the extreme left, and the key to the pike, had sustained the attack of the whole of Kershaw's rebel Division. which came up in compact order to within very close range. That Rebels being checked, Gen. Bidsvell ordered his Brigade to charge, and Gen. Bidwell was killed. The line was quickly reformed in the position from which the charge was made, and again the rebels came on with cheers and yells. They were as bravely met as before and a second counter-charge sent them again in disorder across the creek, leaving the ground covered with their dead and wounded."
"A third time Gen. Eearly s forces came on, but with less spirit, for they had been informend that the Sixth Corps had been sent to Washington on its way to Petersburg, and having discovered the mistake. all of Gen. Early's authority was insufficient to bring them up to a spirited charge. The Second Division of the Sixth Corps had repulsed them three times with terrible loss, as well as to our own. Gen. Early having manned the 40 guns he had brought with him, together with most of the 24 he had captured in the morning. Gen. Early had twenty thousand and his line overlaped ours. Gen. Early finding he could not drive us, sent Gen. Gordon on the right flank of our Second Division, which compelled us to fall back ! by order of Gen. Wright, and Gen. Getty formed the Second Division of the Sixth corps in a more commanding position."
Hearing the sounds of battle, Sheridan made a hard ride from Winchester (later celebrated in poetry and song), found his army along a ridge north of Middletown, rallied his men and counterattacked, sweeping the Confederates from the field.
"Gen. Wright had decided that from here the Rebels were to be driven back across Cedar Creek. Their career of victory was ended, and the grand old Sixth Corps had turned the fortunes of the day. while in course of preparation for this advance cheers were heard on our left, loud and long, when suddenly Gen. Sheridan was seen speeding up the valley pike. When he reached the line of battle he inquired: "What troops are those?" "The Sixth Corps," was the response. And as he swung his hat and dashed along the line, he shouted: "We are all right. Never mind, boys: We'll whip them yet; we'll whip them yet! We Shall Sleep in our old quarters tonight. "
In passing the 93rd at full speed, his black steed "Rienzi" was covered with foam and dirt, and the men leaped in the air, shouted and cheered in wildest joy.
The Federal victory ended Jubal Early's career, lifted the pall of war-weariness from the North, helped assure the re-election of President Abraham Lincoln and freed Sheridan and his army to participate in the final siege of Richmond. In addition, it claimed the lives of two of the brightest stars of their respective causes -- Stephen Dodson Ramseur of North Carolina and Charles Russell Lowell of Massachusetts -- while sparing those of future U.S. president Rutherford B. Hayes and William McKinley, and future legend George Armstrong Custer.
After the victory at Cedar Creek, the 93rd moved through the Shenendoah valley as part of Sheridan's forces, pursuing the fleeing Confederates at Waynesboro and then raided Lynchburg. Their job done in the valley, the regiment rejoined with Grant to participate in operations during the siege of Petersburg. The 93rd smashed through Confederate lines at Five Forks forcing Lee to evacuate Petersburg and Richmond, bringing the siege to a successful conclusion.
Sheridan’s command, backed by infantry including the 93rd PA , finally blocked Lee’s escape at Appomattox. Sheridan wired to Grant, “If the thing is pressed I think that Lee will surrender.” Lincoln sent back word to “Let the thing be pressed.” Lee surrendered the remnants of his army to General Grant shortly thereafter at Appomattox Court House, ending the war.
The 93rd PA lost during service 11 Officers and 161 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 111 Enlisted men by disease. Total 274.
Engagements
Fought on 5 May 1862 at Williamsburg, VA.
Fought on 31 May 1862 at Fair Oaks, VA.
Fought on 1 July 1862 at Malvern Hill, VA.
Fought on 3 & 4 May 1863 at Salem Heights, VA.
Fought on 2 & 3 July 1863 at Gettysburg, PA.
Fought on 24 April 1864 at Brandy Station, VA.
Fought on 5 & 6 May 1864 at Wilderness, VA.
Fought on 9 - 19 May 1864 at Spotsylvania Court House, VA.
Fought on 5 - 10 June 1864 at Cold Harbor, VA.
Fought on 17 - 20 June 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on 20 July 1864 at Berryville, VA.
Fought on 21 August 1864 at Charles Town, WV.
Fought on 19 September 1864 at Opequan, VA.
Fought on 19 September 1864 at Winchester, VA.
Fought on 22 September 1864 at Fisher's Hill, VA.
Fought on 19 October 1864 at Cedar Creek, VA.
Fought on 05 March 1865 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on 25 March 1865 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on 02 April 1865 at Petersburg, VA.
