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

EIGHTY-FOURTH REGIMENT.
THE Eighty-fourth Regiment was recruited under the direction of William
G. Murray, in the counties of Blair, Lycoming, Clearfield, Dauphin, Columbia, Cameron, and Westmoreland. The men rendezvoused at Camp Crossman, near Huntingdon, and subsequently at Camp Curtin. Recruiting commenced early in August, and towards the close of October an organization
was effected by the choice of the following field officers: William G. Murray,
Colonel; Thomas C. MacDowell, Lieutenant Colonel; Walter Barrett, Major.
On the 31st of December, the regiment was ordered to Hancock, Maryland,
arriving January 2d, 1862. Here it received arms, Belgian muskets, and crossing the Potomac, proceeded rapidly to Bath, where a portion of the Thirtyninth Illinois, with a section of artillery, Lieutenant Muhlenberg, was posted,
confronting the enemy. Upon his arrival, Colonel Murray assumed command
of the entire force, and at four o'clock on the morning of the 4th, advanced to
the eminence beyond the town and deployed in line of battle. He soon learned
that Stonewall Jackson, with a well appointed force of infantry, cavalry, and
artillery, greatly superior to his own, was in his front. At eight o'clock, Jackson began to press upon him, driving in his skirmishers. By skillful manceuvring, preserving a bold front, he kept the enemy at bay until near nightfall, when he fell back to Hancock, with the loss of but one man, drowned in
crossing the stream. During the night, General Lander arrived and assumed
command, and Jackson, who had approached and was shelling the town, sent
Colonel Ashby, on the morning of the 5th, with a flag of truce, to demand its immediate surrender. Lander defiantly refused, and having been reinforced with
Parrott guns, a spirited cannonade ensued, which was kept up during the entire
day following. But this demonstration on the part of Jackson was to cover his
movement upon Romney, and Lander, as soon as he discovered his antagonist's
purpose, hastened away to secure its evacuation, which he did, bringing his
forces into Cumberland. The Eighty-fourth made a forced march to the latter
place, arriving on the 12th. Jackson having been foiled in his expedition to
Romney, by the rapid movement of Lander, returned to Winchester, and the
Eighty-fourth was posted successively during the winter at the North Branch
Bridge, at the South Branch Bridge, and at Paw Paw, points along the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. On the 2d of March General Lander died, the command devolving on Colonel Kimball, and soon after the regiment moved on to
Winchester. IHere General Shields took command of the division, and about
the middle of the month drove the enemy up the valley, four miles beyond
Strasburg, skirmishing with his rear guard, who destroyed bridges and obstructed the way as he went. As Shields returned towards Winchester, Jackson rein forced, followed closely on his track, the Eighty-fourth marching on the