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

EIGHTY-FIRST REGIMENT.
HE Eighty-first Regiment was recruited under the direction of James
Miller, a soldier of the Mexican War, in obedience to an order of the
War Department. Six companies were from the city of Philadelphia, and
four from the counties of Carbon and Luzerne. Recruiting commenced early
in August, and the men reported by squads and companies at the general
camp of rendezvous near Easton. Here the regiment was organized by the
choice of the following field officers: James Miller, Colonel; Charles F. Johnson, Lieutenant Colonel; Eli T. Conner, Major. Many of both officers and
men had been connected with militia organizations, and had been in the three
months' service. On the 10th of October the regiment proceeded to Washington, and went into camp at Kendall Green. Two weeks later it moved to a
camp overlooking the East Branch of the Potomac and the Navy Yard. It
was here assigned to a brigade commanded by General Casey, subsequently
by General Howard, and known as the First Brigade, First Division, of the
Second Corps.* With the exception of an expedition to Marlborough, Maryland, as a police force for the preservation of order at the general elections,
where the peace was threatened, it was engaged in no active duty until the beginning of December.
During the winter, details from the regiment were frequently sent out, under Captain Thomas C. HEarkness, on scout duty, and much valuable information was obtained. On the 1st of March, the regiment commenced active
operations, and the enemy was driven from Burk's to Sangster's Station, but
it was soon re-called, and on the 10th joined in the general forward movement,
which was cut short at Manassas by the disappearance of the enemy. It then
returned to Centreville. Shortly afterward, Sumner's Division was again ordered forward, driving the enemy to Warrenton Junction, and thence across
theRappahannock. He burned the bridge as he retreated and shelled the Union
column from the opposite shore.
The division retired to Alexandria, and thence proceeded to the Peninsula.
Beyond the building of corduroy roads, and fatigue duty, in the operations of
* Organization of the First Brigade, General O. O. Howard, First Division, General Richardson, Second Corps, General Sumner; Eighty-first Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, Colonel James Miller; Fifth Regiment New Hampshire Volunteers, Colonel Edward E. Cross;
Fourth Regiment Rhode Island Volunteers, Colonel Isaac P. Rodman; Sixty-first Regiment
New York Volunteers, Colonel Francis C. Barlow.
Upon the departure of the Burnside expedition to North Carolina, the Fourth Rhode Island
was transferred to that command, and the Sixty-fourth New York, Colonel ihomas J. Parker,
was assigned to the brigade. On the 6th of June, 1862, the Sixty-fourth was transferred to
another command, and the Seventh New York was added. In the fall of 1862, the One Hundred and Fortieth and One Hundred and Forty-eighth Pennsylvania was added, and in November 1863, the One Hundred and Eighty-third Pennsylvania.