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

18C4 WILDERNESS CAMPAIGN. 705
eral Owen was placed in command of the brigade, and on the 9th moved up
near to Spottsylvania Court House, where the regiment was employed in throwing up breast-works, under a hot fire from the enemy's skirmishers and sharpshooters. At eleven P. M. on the following day it moved out of the breastworks, and with the corps marched to the left of the lines and within a short
distance of the enemy's fortifications. Resting until four in the morning, it
moved quietly under cover of darkness, charged upon his works and captured
them. A hand to hand encounter ensued for their possession; but he was
forced to give way and was driven back to a second line of works, which were
also captured and temporarily held. A large number of guns and prisoners
were taken. Lieutenant M'Anally, of company D, captured a rebel stand of
colors, having a hand to hand encounter with its bearer. The enemy made
repeated attempts to re-capture his works, but was as often repulsed. The loss
was six killed, twenty-nine wounded, and seven taken prisoners. Lieutenants
Thomas Kelly and Josiah Jack were among the killed.
On the 18th the brigade was again engaged in connection with the Corcoran Legion in an attempt to drive the enemy from his second line of works,
and was exposed to a severe infantry fire, but was unsuccessful, and retired
with a loss fortunately of only four wounded. At the North Anna and in the
subsequent operations of the corps until it reached the James, the regiment
was constantly employed in marching, fighting, and intrenching. At Cold
Harbor, while advancing upon the enemy's works, it was particularly exposed
to his fire. Not a tree, nor an obstruction of any kind afforded cover. Up the
declivity it moved in the face of a murderous storm to within seventy-five
yards of his intrenchments, where the men were ordered to drop upon the
ground and hold the position. They were soon busy with their tin cups scooping up the earth, and in an incredibly short space of time, had enough thrown
up to afford protection from the enemy's bullets. At night intrenching tools
were supplied, and a substantial work was erected. The loss was twelve
killed, and nineteen wounded. Lieutenant William Whildey was among the
killed. The veterans and recruits of the Seventy-first were here added to its
strength, bringing it up to nearly three hundred muskets.
On the 14th of June the regiment crossed the James River, and at midnight
reached the lines in front of Petersburg. Here it was again brought under
fire, and for several days was employed in advancing the lines and in intrenching. A week later it was withdrawn from the front and marched to the Jerusalem Plank Road. It was here held in concealment until dark when it moved
up within one hundred yards of the enemy's works, and intrenched. In the
morning the enemy opened a furious cannonade upon the new works, and in the
afternoon threw his infantry under cover of a wood around to their rear. Mistaking this party for Union troops, its true character was not discovered until.
he opened fire. Unable to cope with the force closing in upon it, the brigade,
was obliged to withdraw to the right. The loss was six killed, twenty-fout
wounded, and seventy-two taken prisoners.
On the 27th of July, the brigade was broken up, the Seventy-second being:
mustered out of service, and the One Hundred and Sixth reduced to a battalion and joined for field service to the Sixty-ninth. On the evening of this
day it crossed the James River with the corps, and made a demonstration
towards Richmond, returning on the 29th and arriving in rear of the Ninth
Corps a few moments before the explosion of the mine, in time to support it if
89-TOL. IH.