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

1862 SIXTY-SIXTH REGIMENT. 633
Lieutenant Colonel and Major respectively, the former having been transferred
by order of General Mansfield, from being Captain in the Twenty-seventh to
accept this commission. Early in August the companies mustered into service
went into camp at Camac's woods, in the northern part of the city.
On the 24th of August, in compliance with the urgent appeals of the Secretary of State, Colonel Slifer, the battalion, consisting of five companies
under command of Colonel Chantry, proceeded to Washington, and was assigned to the first of three brigades which constituted the provisional division
then under command of General Fitz John Porter. In the meantime the additional companies, recruited in Philadelphia, joined the regiment.
On the 20th of September the regiment was ordered toDarnstown, Maryland,
to join the command of General Banks. Upon its arrival it was assigned to
General Abercrombie's Brigade. The Adjutant's morning report of October
10th, showed a total strength of six hundred and twenty olticers and men.
Previous to this time it had been known as the Tlirtietlh Regiiltelnt, and was
considered as an organization independent of the State of Penmsylvanlia. It
was now made, by an order of the War Department, a part of the State quota,
and was designated the Sixty-sixth of the line.
On the 21st of October, Abercrombie's Brigade was ordered across the Potomac, and upon landing was brought into position where it was held during
the day, the enemy failing to appear. On the following morning it was ordered
by General Banks to return. The forces under Colonel Baker, which crossed
on the previous day at Edwards' Ferry, a few miles above, encountered a
heavy force of the enemy at Ball's Bluff, and suffered a grievous defeat, Colonel Baker being killed. Returning to camp the regiment remained until November, when the division moved to Frederick, Maryland, where it went into
winter quarters. On the 18th of January, 1862, Colonel Chantry was relieved
of his command, not having succeeded in raising his regiment to the maximum
standard. Subsequently Lieutenant Colonel Patrick was commissioned Colonel, and Major Freeman Lieutenant Colonel. On the 6th of February the following officers resigned their commissions: Colonel Patrick, Captain J. N.
Taylor, and Lieutenants Warnick, Freno, Hand, and Chantry.
Near the close of February the regiment was ordered to Washington. In
consequence of its disorganized condition and the lack of sufficient numbers,
an order was issued on the 1st of March, by the Governor of Pennsylvania, to
disband it and to transfer the enlisted men to the Seventy-third and the Ninety-ninth Pennsylvania Regiments. Lieutenant Smith, of General Casey's staff,
was directed to carry the order into effect. Much dissatisfaction prevailed in
consequence, and the men, unwilling to obey the order, became mutinous.
Finally through the influence of Captain Haslett, on whom, in the absence of
field officers, the command devolved, they reluctantly yielded. Company B,
Captain John R. Haslett, C, Lieutenant Henry J. Giltinan, and D, Captain
Michael A. Strong, were transferred to the Seventy-third Regiment, Colonel
Koltes. Company A, Captain Alexander Thompson, and G, Captain John
Moore, were transferred to the Ninety-ninth, Colonel Peter Fritz. Companies
E, F, and K, commanded respectively by Captains Butcher, Pollard and Elsegood, were disbanded and the men distributed among the several companies
of the Seventy-third. The supernumerary officers were mustered out of service, and thus the Sixty-sixth Regiment, after a term of service of nearly eight
months, ceased to exist.