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

SEVENTY-SECOND REGIMENT.
THE Seventy-second, better known in its early history as the Fire Zouave
Regiment, was recruited in the city of Philadelphia, under the direction
of De Witt Clinton Baxter. Recruiting commenced on the 3d of August, 1861,
and in one week's time its ranks were full, a regimental organization being
effected on the 10th, by the choice of the following officers: De Witt Clinton
Baxter, of Philadelphia, Colonel; Theodore Hesser, of Philadelphia, Lieutenant Colonel; J. M. De Witt, of Philadelphia, Major. Colonel Baxter had served
as Lieutenant Colonel in the Nineteenth Regiment, of the three months' service, and some of the men had served with him.
From Philadelphia the regiment proceeded to Washington, and was ordered
to the Virginia shore, opposite the city, where, on the 18th of September, it
was assigned to Colonel Baker's Brigade, and ordered to fatigue duty on the
fortifications. It subsequently moved to Munson's Hill with the brigade, where
a new and more advanced line of the army was established. It here consisted
of fifteen companies, fourteen hundred and eighty-seven men. On the morning of the 30th the regiment broke camp, and, re-crossing the Potomac, moved
up five miles above Poolesville, where the brigade was attached to the division
of General Stone, acting as a corps of observation, and was engaged in guarding the Maryland shore. Drill and discipline was here rigidly enforced, schools
of instruction for officers were established, and a good degree of efficiency
attainedWhen the column under General Lander, subsequently General Shields, in
Match, 1862, approached Winchester, the troops under Banks were ordered
forward to his support, and the Philadelphia Brigade moved up, and, crossing
at Harper's Ferry, hastened on to Berryville. It having been ascertained that
WTinchester hadbeen occupied, and the enemy was in full retreat up the valley,
the advance was stayed, and the brigade was ordered back to Harper's Ferry,
where it remained in camp until the 24th, when it proceeded to Alexandria,
and thence by transport to the Peninsula. During the siege of Yorktown it
was employed in fatigue duty on the trenches, and in picket and skirmish duty
on the lines. From the excessive wet weather, and the unhealthy location of
the camp, much sickness prevailed, from the effects of which many were permanently disabled, and some died.
On the 7th of May the regiment embarked on transports, and proceeded up
the York River to West Point. Debarking it moved to the banks of the Chickahominy. The brigade now formed part of Sedgwick's Division, of Sumner's
Corps. On the 31st, General Casey, who occupied a position a little in advance
of Fair Oaks, on the right bank of the river, was attacked by a vastly superior
force-and driven in some disorder. The stream was flooded by recent rains;
but bridges had been constructed, and Sumner, at the first sound of the battle,
headed his columns for the crossings. Soon the order came for him to move
to the support of the hard pressed troops of Casey and Heintzelman. The
Philadelphia Brigade, now under command of General Burns, formed line on