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

96 FIFTY-THIRD REGIMENT. 1I 83
vania campaign. Withdrawing from the ford, when it was found that the rebel
columns had passed, the command moved forward with the army, and on
the 20th, made a forced march to Thoroughfare Gap, where it remained in position until the 25th, when the enemy attacked, driving in the pickets, and as
our columns had now passed, the command was withdrawn. Miarching rapidly
towards Gettysburg, it arrived upon the field at eight o'clock on the morning
of the 2d of July, and took position in rear of the line of the Third Corps, then
forming. Later in the day it moved to the left, near Little Round Top, and at
three o'clock P. M., became hotly engaged. A rebel battery, posted upon an
eminence beyond a wheat field, had become very annoying to our troops.
Colonel Brooke led a charge, in the face of its destructive fire, to capture, or
drive it away. At the word of command, the men dashed forward, and with
loud shouts drove the enemy, scattering his ranks, and gained the position.
The lines upon his right and left had failed to advance as far, and discovering
that the enemy was taking prompt advantage of his fearfully exposed flanks,
the Colonel reluctantly ordered his men to retire to their first position, which
was executed, but not without serious loss. On the 3d, the regiment was under
a heavy artillery fire, but was not actively engaged. In this battle the command
was much reduced in number, three companies being still on detached duty,
and the remainder having but one hundred and twenty-four men. Of this
number only forty-five escaped uninjuired. Six were killed, sixty-seven wounded,
and six missing. Of the latter were Captains Dimm and Hatfield, and Lieutenants Pifer, Shields, Root, Smith, Whitaker and Mann, and Sergeant Major
Rutter.
Remaining upon the battle-field until noon of the 5th, the regiment marched
in pursuit of the retreating enemy, and arrived on the 11th at Jones' Cross
Roads, near which the rebel army was in position. In the evening it advanced
in line driving back the enemy's skirmishers, and during the following night
threw up breast-works. On the 14th it was deployed in line at right angles to
the Williamsport road, and advanced cautiously only to discover that the rebels
had vacated their works and fled. After remaining for a few days in Pleasant
Valley, it crossed the Potomac, and marching down the London Valley, made
descents upon Ashby's and ~Manassas Gaps, passed ~Thite Plains, New Baltimore, and Warrenton, and arrived, on the 1st of August, at Morrisville, where it
went into camp. In the toilsome campaigns which followed, ending at Mine -
Run, the regiment participated, encountering the enemy at Rappahannock Sta-:
tion, and at Bristoe, and losing some men. It went into winter-quarters at
Stevensburg, where the men re-enlisted, and on the 27th of December proceeded
to Harrisburg, where they were dismissed for a vetertanh furlough. Upon their
return to the army they again encamped near Stevensburg, in their old quarters, where they remained until the opening of the spring campaign.
On the 4th of May, 1864, the regiment broke camp, and crossing the Rapidan at ElBys Ford, marched to Chancellorsville. On the following day it moved
forward and confronted the enemy in his earthworks, and again on the 6th was
engaged, but without serious loss. At evening of the 9th it moved forward to
the River Po, which it crossed, and at once met the enemy, the contest being
continued with spirit for several hours, resulting, in considerable loss to the
command, but owing to the woods and undergrowth taking fire from the explosion of the shells, without any decided advantage. Late on the evening of
the 11th, withdrawing from its position on the Po, it proceeded about six miles