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

1864 IN FRONT OF WASHINGTON. 413
lowing day, charged across the very ground which had then been so stubbornly
contested, moving under a heavy artillery fire. Meeting with little success
here, the regiment was ordered to the extreme left of the army, where for several days it was engaged in picketing and throwing up rifle-pits. In the successive movements of the army by the left, carrying it across the North Anna,
the Pamunkey, and the Chickahominy, the regiment actively participated, being
uninterruptedly employed in digging, picketing, marching, and skirmishing,
and almost daily sustaining some loss. From the crossing of the Rapidan on
the 4th of May, when the Wilderness campaign opened, until the regiment
halted near Fort Powhattan on the James, where it closed, the loss in killed,
wounded, and missing was about thirty officers, and four hundred enlisted men.
On the 16th of June, the regiment crossed the James, and marched to the
neighborhood of Petersburg, whereit was immediately employed in the operations
of the army for carrying the defences of the city by assault. These failing, the
slow operations of the siege were commenced, and the regular fatigue and picket
duty succeeded. On the 29th the brigade marched to Ream's Station, on the
Weldon Railroad, to open a line of retreat for the Cavalry Divisions under
command of Generals Wilson and Kautz, who, having made a raid on the
South Side Railroad, in attempting to regain the Union lines, were intercepted
by a heavy force of the enemy. On the following day, the cavalry having
escaped by making a detour, the regiment returned to its former position and
was engaged in destroying the railroad, picketing, and constructing earthworks.
On the 9th of July, the regiment broke camp at the front, and marched to
City Point, whence it proceeded, by transports, to Washington, the Sixth
Corps now under command of General Wright, having been ordered to the
defence of the capital, menaced by the enemy. Arriving at three o'clock P.
M. of the 11th, it marched through the city, encamping near Fort Massachusetts, and on the following day, met the enemy in front of Fort Stevens, where
a sharp and sanguinary battle was fought, resulting in his complete discomfiture and rout. Lieutenant and acting Adjutant Laughlin, and six men were
killed, and Lieutenant Colonel Crosby and twenty-five men wounded. The loss
fell heavily upon the brigade, every regimental officer being either killed or
severely wounded. The pursuit was immediately commenced, the line of march
leading through Poolesville and across the Potomac at Conrad's Ferry, through
Leesburg and Snicker's Gap to the Shenandoah River. On the 20th it crossed
and continued the pursuit, but failing to overtake the enemy, Wright fell back
to Washington, and the regiment encamped near Fort Gaines. The enemy
again showing a, bold front, and returning towards Maryland, the corps retraced its steps and from this period until the 18th of August, the regiment
was kept constantly engaged marching and countermarching through Maryland
and the Shenandoah Valley, when it finally encamped near Charlestown. Three
days later the brigade, together with the Second Brigade, was attacked by
Rhode's Division of Ewell's Corps, and in the engagement which ensued the
force was obliged to yield, the Sixty-first losing Captain Redenback and six
men killed, Lieutenant Price mortally, and Captain Glenn, Lieutenant Caldwell and fifteen men wounded. On the night of the 22d the regiment moved
back to Halltown, and a week later took up its old position near Charlestown.
On the 3d of September, the original term of service of the regiment having
expired, leaving the veterans and new recruits in camp at Berryville, the
men whose term was now completed under command of Colonel Smith, pro