History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, by Samuel P. Bates.

TWELFTH REGIMENT.
T HE Twelfth regiment was recruited and organized at Pittsburg, under the
supervisionof Brigadier GeneralJames S. Negley. The Duquesne Greys,
and the Independent Blues, the oldest and among the best drilled companies
in the city, many of whose members were veterans of the Mexican war, formed
the basis of the organization. The Zouave Cadets, a company composed of
young men, was formed at Pittsburg in 1860, during the prevalence of the military furore, occasioned by the visit of the Chicago Zouaves, under Captain
Ellsworth. The City Guards had been but a short time organized, and had
never made their appearance on public parade. The remaining companies were
formed de novo. An election of field officers was held on the 22d of April,
which resulted in the choice of the following: David Campbell, of Pittsburg,
Colonel; Norton M'Giffin, of Washington, Lieutenant Colonel; Alexander Hays,
of Pittsburg, Major. Daniel Leasure, from Captain of company H, was appointed Adjutant, and subsequently also acted as Adjutant General to General
Negley.
The regiment left Pittsburg on the 24th of April, and arrived in Harrisburg
on the 25th, where it was quartered in churches, and in the Capitol. On the
afternoon of the same day, the Twelfth, together with the Thirteenth, was reviewed in the public grounds, by Governor Curtin, and was mustered into the
service of the United States. Immediately afterwards, the Twelfth departed,
by the Northern Central railroad, for Camp Scott, near the town of York. Here
it remained for several weeks, engaged in drill. The camp was not a comfortable one, being at this season a field of mud. The men soon became impatient for active service. On the 19th of May, the regiment was clothed,
equipped, and furnished with camp equipage.
The bridges on the Northern Central railroad, which were destroyed immediately after its abandonment, had been re-built, and trains commenced running regularly, between Harrisburg and Baltimore, on the 9th of May. On
the 25th, the regiment was ordered to move and take position on this road,
from the State line to the city of Baltimore, relieving the First Pennsylvania,
Colonel Yohe. The order was hailed with delight, opening to the men a prospect of activity. It was posted along the road, with Headquarters at Cockeysville, where two companes, I and K, were stationed. The guard duty was
very heavy, and soon became irksome. But no attempt, byforce or stealth, was
ever made to interfere with the line. The companies were so much scattered
that no opportunity was afforded forregimental drill after leaving Camp Scott.
The two companies at Cockeysville were, however, regularly and thoroughly
instructed, and soon acquired the proficiency of veterans. In the manual they
were daily exercised by Sergeant Major Bonnafon, an experienced soldier, and
in the school of the company by their officers. The men were impatient to be