Pennsylvania 62nd Infantry Regiment Out-line Field History of the Sixty-second Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers (Col. J. B. Sweitzer) from the time it entered the service up to the 1st day of August 1863 Monument at Gettysburg dedicated to the Pennsylvania 62d Infantry Regiment on September 11, 1889 photo from Pennsylvania at Gettysburg, 1893

The Out-line Field History Pages 1-10 Pages 11-20 Pages 21-30 Pages 31-40 Pages 41-50

- 21 - of the 14th N. Y. vols. being the senior in rank, assumed command of the Brigade. Our time was now wholy employed in building bridges over the Chickahoming [sic] and performing arduous picket duty. The command was once deployed along the outer line, and the water (caused by the inundation of the Chickahoming) was waist deep -- here we remained subjected at the same time to the fire of the enemy' pickets, four hours. At the time, whilst the regiment was in the front on picket duty, Gen. T. J. Porter rode out to the front with the desire to make a close personal

- 22 - observation of the enemy's line and his defenses. "Little Mac" threw off his coat and from one of our men borrowed a blouse - Gen. Porter went fourth [sic] with out coat or blouse. After obtaining all the necessary information, they returned and were again clothed in habiliments appropriate to their rank and mounted their steeds; the men would have been keen to cheer but the fear of attracting att- ention alone prevented them. They were however discovered, and the "reb" opened all their batteries on our worthy and esteemed Generals. Gen. McClellan turned on his horse and politely saluted them in military

- 23 - style; Gen. Porter gracefully waved his cap -- they rode off deliberately amid the shower of shells and solid shot unhurt.     During the Battle of Fair Oaks our command was called out and advanced as far as the banks of the river, but owing to the high stage of water it was impossible, our bridge having been swept away. We re- mained in sight during the conflict,     At noon on the 26th of June the regiment was ordered out in line of battle and at 3 o'clock was marched in the direction of Mechan- nicsville. The terrific cannonading all day convinced me that the en-

- 24 - emy was advancing and that we had hot work to perform. It was late in the evening, however, before the regiment was properly engaged and but one volley was fired, but the command remained in line of battle through the night. Early in the morning orders were re- ceived to fall back which were promptly obeyed, and a good pos- istion was taken up on Gaines Hill, [sic] where we held our ground through the day against superior numbers. Our brave and much respected Col. Samuel W. Black fell early in the day, shot through the head, minye(?)[sic] ball. He was at the head of his regiment at

- 25 - the time, leading a charge, and from a tree top a rebel sharp-shooter selected his victim and fired the fatal shot. Unfortunately for him his treachery was discovered, and from the fire of sev- eral muskets leveled at his breast he tum- bled from his seclusion in the midst of his infuriated enemies, wound in several places; his pleadings for life were no avail, for a sturdy Irishman belonging to the 9th Mass. came for- ward and with the words "You killed Co. Black" ringing from his lips, he thrust a bayonet through his heart. Lt. Col. Sweitzer was captured and sent a prisoner to Richmond. Our loss was severe. Gen. Griffin, who had assumed command of the Brigade the day previous

- 26 - was heard to exclaim in the midst of this terrible battle "Oh my God, what have I done that I should be possessed of such an inheritance. It was in this language that he gave vent to his feelings at seeing the bravery of his Brigade.     Night coming on we found our- selves near the same ground on which we had taken position in the morning, but it was evident to all that the enemy was superior in members and that we must fall back to another position. About 2 o'clock A. M. on the 28th we crossed the Chickahoming and blew up the bridge; and about noon that day began the march towards the James River.

- 27 - At White Oaks Swamp another fearful battle was fought but we were below the point at the time. Our command stood at Malvern Hill and with much eagerness awaited the approaching of the enemy. He came and the first gun was heard about 3: 30 o'clock P. M. on the 1st of July. From that until dark the battle raged with the most intense fury -- a greater slaugh- ter of human beings in the same space of time was never before wit- nessed on this continent -- the re- bels under Magruder fell in heaps and it has since been reported that his command was almost annihilated.   The regiment was led into the flight [sic] by Capt. James C. Hull of Co A. (Since

- 28 - made Lt. Col.) in elegant style. His behavior in this engagement is worthy of highest commendation.      Our loss in the seven days fighting, in officers and men in killed, wounded and missing was two hundred and ninety-one.     We marched to Harrison's Landing and encamped near the Westover Mon- sion. About 2 o'clock A. M. the 31 of July, the enemy succeeded in erecting a battery on the opposite shore of the James River and shelled over the entire camp; this lasted about two hours during which time it was very terrific. Their object was to shell our fleet, but in this way they utterly failed; their missels [sic] all passed too high

- 29 - and not a boat was to any extent injured. We succeeded in getting several siege guns in position and soon silenced their noise. Our loss was one man killed. Col. Sweitzer arrived on the 1st of August from Richmond where he had been confined in the Libby Prison since the battle of Gaines Hill. He was wel- comed by the regiment with three hearty cheers. He reported for duty and at once took command of the regiment. We remained here until the 14th of Aug. performing very little duty, when we evacuated the p[l]ace with orders to unite with Gen. Pope's Army, then in full retreat to Washington. Our march was on the river road heading to Williams-

- 30 - burg, thence to Yorktown and down the Peninsula to New Port News. Here we em- barked on board of transports for Aquia Creek; thence proceeded on cars to Falmouth and thence marched to Eliots Ford on the Rappahannock when we halted for two or three days and thence to Warrenton Junction. The weather was intensely hot and the roads dry and dusty and often blocked up with the wagon trains of the two armies. Amidst all these difficulties we labored but finally after considerable unavoidable delay, made the desired conjunction but as afterwards stated, too late to effect any good.     Four companies G. K. B and M. under the command of Lt. Col. Hull were ordered out as skirmishers and

Pages 1-10 Pages 11-20 Pages 21-30 Pages 31-40 Pages 41-50

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This page authored and maintained by John R. Henderson (jhenderson@ithaca.edu), Lodi, NY.
Last modified: Sunday, 13 January 2002
John R. Henderson's grandfather, John G. Henderson, had an uncle, John Henderson, a resident of Elders Ridge in Indiana County, who was a soldier in Company D.
URL: http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/pa62d/outline3.html