Pennsylvania 62nd Infantry Regiment

Petersburg Campaign

Organization

The 62d Pennsylvania's place in the organization of Army of the Potomac during the Petersburg Campaign, 30 June 1864:

• United States Army (Lieutenant-General U. S. Grant, commander)
  • Army of the Potomac (Major-General George Meade)
    • Fifth Army Corps (Major-General Gouverneur K. Warren)
      • First Division (Brigadier General Charles Griffin)
        • Second Brigade (Colonel Jacob Bowman Sweitzer)
          • 22d Massachusetts (Major Mason W. Burt)
          • 32d Massachusetts (Major J. Cushing Edmands)
          • 4th Michigan (Captain Cornelius B. Van Valer)
          • 62d Pennsylvania (Captain Matthew M. Felker)
          • 91st Pennsylvania (Colonel Edgar M. Gregory)
          • 155th Pennsylvania (Lieutenant Colonel Alfred L. Pearson)
          • 21st Pennsylvania Cavalry, dismounted (Major Oliver B. Knowles)

Regimental History

The Petersburg Campaign

The movement of the Army of the Potomac shifted to south of Richmond just as the 62d Pennsylvania was approaching its last days of its three year service. Petersburg was then a small town, but it was strategically important because through Petersburg came communication lines and railroad supplies from both the south and west. The Army of the Potomac was able to fool Lee and slip away after Cold Harbor, but it did not act soon enough to enter Petersburg before it Confederate troops were able to move in and defend it.

The 62d Pennsylvania, as part of Fifth Corps, crossed the James River on the 16th of June, and quickly marched just outside of Petersburg.

On the 18th it was hotly engaged near Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad in a contest for its possession. The enemy was driven and the brigade advanced.

Battle at the Jerusalem Plank Road, on 21-23 June 1864 On the 21st, the 62d participated in its last engagement on the Jerusalem Plank Road.

Siege of Petersburg until July 3.

The 62d continued its service, mostly in picket duty, as part of siege of Petersburg, waiting for the three years service to run its course. Companies L and M, who still had a month to go before their three years were up, were then attached to the 91st Pennsylvania. Those who chose to continue serving beyond their three years, as well as those whose three years service did not expire, were transferred to the 155th Pennsylvania. Both these regiments were now part of the Second Brigade of the First Division of the Fifth Corps.

The March Home

The 62d Pennsylvania left the front on July 3 and headed to Pittsburgh. The soldiers arrived there on 13 July 1864, and were immediately mustered out.

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This page maintained by: John R. Henderson (jhenderson@ithaca.edu), Ithaca College Library.
Last modified: 10 June 2001
Author: John R. Henderson, Ithaca College Library
URL: http://www.ithaca.edu/library/Training/pa62rich.html