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

FIFTY-FOURTH REGIMENT.
T IHE Fifty-fourth Regiment, recruited principally in the counties of Cambria,
Somerset, Dauphin, Northampton, and Lehigh, during the months of
August and September, 1861, rendezvoused at Camp Curtin, and was organized
by the selection of the following field officers: Jacob M. Campbell, of Cambria
county, Colonel; Barnabas M'Dermit, of Cambria county, Lieutenant Colonel;
John P. Linton, of Cambria county, Major. Colonel Campbell, and many of
the officers and men, had served during the three months' campaign, and Lieutenant Colonel MI'Dermit possessed military experience acquired in the Mexican
War. The men were drilled by squads and companies, while in camp, andi
company F, Captain Davis, for some time performed guard duty at the StateArsenal.
On the 27th of February, 1862, the regiment was ordered to Washingtonr
and, upon its arrival, went into camp near Bladensburg Cemetery. Company
and regimental drill was practiced under the strictest discipline. Here the
altered flint-lock muskets, furnished by the State, were exchanged for the Belgian Rifles. On the 25th of March, the regiment was ordered to report to
Brigadier General Keim, of Casey's Division; but, on the following day, the
order was countermanded, and, on the 29th, it was ordered to proceed to Harper's Ferry, and report to Colonel Miles. Upon his arrival, Colonel Campbell
was directed to make the following disposition of his force, along the line of
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad: Company G, Captain F. B. Long, at Back
Creek Bridge, eight miles west of Martinsburg; company F, Captain G. W.
P. Davis, at Sleepy Creek Bridge, nine miles further west; company D, Captain Thomas H. Lapsly, at Alpine Station, five miles beyond the Sleepy Creek
post; company I, Captain William B. Bonacker, at Sir John's Run, six miles
further west; company C, Captain E. D. Yutzy, at Great Cacapon Bridge, five
miles west of Sir John's Run; company H, Captain John 0. Billheimer, at
Rockwell's Run, six miles beyond; company E, Captain Patrick Graham, at
No. 12, Water Station; company B, Captain John H. Hite, at Paw Paw, three
or four miles further on; company K, Captain Edmond R. Newhard, at Little
Cacapon Bridge, and company A, Captain John P. Suter, at South Branch
Bridge, sixteen miles east of Cumberland, and sixty-two miles west of Martinsburg. The distance to be guarded was fifty-six miles. Regimental headquarters were established at first at Great Cacapon, but subsequently at Sir
John's Run.
The country through which that portion of the railroad runs, which the
regiment was required to guard, was considered by the rebels as their own territory, and the majority of the population, in the vicinity, was rebel at heart.
Numerous guerrilla bands, led by daring and reckless chieftains, roved the
ountry, pillaging and burning the property of Union inhabitants, and watchfil