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

1864 RBTTLE OF NEW MARKET. 139
the rebel pickets, and, upon the withdrawal of the rebel army into Virginia, he
followed up the retreat, and on the 19th was heavily engaged. During the
night he learned through a scout that the enemy, in force, was moving on his
rear, and immediately retreated into Maryland, leaving the Fifty-fourth alone
upon the Virginia shore. The enemy approached and threw a few shells into
its lines, but soon retired.
The regiment now returned to Romney. On the 15th of August, Colonel
Mulligan, in command of the Twenty-third Illinois, was threatened with an
attack near Petersburg, and the Fifty-fourth marched to his relief. Here it
remained, and for three weeks was engaged in fortifying. On the 6th of November the brigade moved to Springfield, where a re-organization of the command took place, the Fifty-fourth being assigned to the First Brigade of the
Second Division, Colonel Campbell in command.
On the 4th of January, 1864, General Kelly apprehending an attack upon
Cumberland, Colonel Campbell, with a part of his command was ordered to its
defense. A month later, company F, while guarding the railroad bridge at Patterson's Creek, was attacked by a party of the enemy under the notorious Harry
Gilmore, in the garb of Union soldiers. By this deception the rebels reached
the picket line unsuspected, when they dashed into the camp, and after a short
struggle compelled its surrender. Three of the company were killed, and several wounded. After the surrender, Gilmore, with his own hand, shot and instantly killed Corporal Gibbs, an act which should stamp its perpetrator with
infamy. Colonel Campbell, at his own request, was relieved from the command
of his Brigade, and assumed charge of his Regiment.
About this time General Sigel relieved General Kelly, and immediately
commenced preparations for a campaign in the Shenandoah Valley. On the
15th of May, while pushing his columns up the valley, Sigel struck a force of
the enemy, unexpectedly large, under General Breckinridge, near New Market, prepared to offer battle. Confident of his ability to drive the opposing
force, Sigel disposed his troops for battle. His left flank was protected by
cavalry, while three regiments of infantry, the Thirty-fourth Massachusetts,
First Virginia, and Fifty-fourth Pennsylvania, composing the Second Brigade,
commanded by Colonel Thoburn, and two batteries, were formed for the attack,
with the brigade of Moore in support on the right. At the opening of the
battle, the cavalry, in passing to the rear, threw the infantry into some confusion, breaking through its lines. Steadily the enemy moved forward to the
attack, his long lines overlapping both flanks of Sigel's force. The artillery
was plied with excellent effect, but could not stay the rebel columns. Arriving
within easy musket range, the infantry of both sides opened, simultaneously,
a heavy and mutually destructive fire. For some time the battle raged with
great fury, but the enemy's superiority of numbers at length prevailed, and the
Union lines were forced back, the Fifty-fourth retiring in good order, returning
the fire of the enemy until he ceased to pursue. Sigel retreated to Cedar Creek
where he threw up defensive works. The loss of the regiment in this engagement was one hundred and seventy-four killed, wounded, and missing. Captain Geissinger, and Lieutenant Colburn were among the killed, and Lieutenant
Colonel Linton, Captains Graham and Bonacker, and Lieutenant Anderson
wounded.
General Sigel was, soon after the battle, relieved, and Major General David
Hunter was assigned to the command of the army which was now designated