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

1862 ANTIETAM AND FREDERICKSBURPG. 831
Church, and was still driving the foe, when, at a little eminence beyond, he
made a determined stand, and being reinforced by two fresh divisions, Walker's
and M'Law's, began in turn to advance. On account of the nature of the
ground the direction of French and Sedgwick had been slightly divergent, and
there was a considerable interval in the line between the two divisions. The
enemy seeing this, plunged through in heavy force, and was followed up by his
artillery, which poured a raking fire upon Sedgwick's line. This interval was
noted, and had the Philadelphia Brigade been faced to the left to have met this
attack when it was first made, the line might have been preserved intact. But
its commander moved on without heeding the dangers upon his flank until it
was too late to repair the disasters which were wrought, when it was obliged
to retire and reform.. Never were troops in better spirits, nor fired with a more
resolute determination to fight, than the Fire Zouaves on this bloody field. But
all to no purpose; for when victory seemed within their grasp, by a flaw in
their formation, it was wrenched from them. The loss was terrible. Nearly
half of the effective strength of the regiment went down on that fatal field.
Thirty-one were killed, among whom were Captain Peter H. Willitts and Lieutenant Adolphus W. Peabody; Lieutenant Robert I. Parks was mortally
wounded.
The regiment next met the enemy at Fredericksburg. Here the brigade
was commanded by General Owen. At daylight on the morning of the 11th
the brigade moved to a point opposite the city, and was held in a ravine, in
readiness to cross, until four in the afternoon, when the bridges having been
completed, it passed over and was engaged in driving the enemy from the
houses where he had taken shelter. The town was occupied, and doubtless
suffered, as the use which had been made of it by the enemy invited harsh
measures. For three days the regiment was held under a heavy artillery fire,
and a portion of the time upon the extreme front, where it was advanced in
face of a hot fire of infantry concealed behind rifle-pits, line above line, to the
summit of the opposing hill. Finding it impossible to carry the enemy's position the army was withdrawn, and the regiment returned to its old camp. Its
loss was five killed, and a large number wounded.
When Hooker moved upon Chancellorsville Owen's Brigade was sent, with
a detachment of the engineer corps, to construct bridges at Banks' Ford, midway between the two wings of the army. The bridges were laid, and the brigade, crossing the river, drove back the light force of the enemy found there.
A tete-de-pont was erected, and held as a safe way of retreat or communication
as circumstances might require. Sedgwick, after gallantly carrying Marye's
Heights, and advancing to Salem Church, was finally met by overpowering
numbers, and obliged to retire by this way.
Until the middle of June it remained in camp near Falmouth, and was engaged in guard and picket duty. It was visited here by Governor Curtin, who
made a stirring address to the brigade, and presented the regiments vith stands
of colors. It then broke camp and moved on the Gettysburg campaign. General Hancock was now in command of the corps, Gibbon of the division, and
Colonel Baxter of the brigade. At Thoroughfare Gap, and at Haymarket the
right flank of the rebel army came in collision with the Second Corps, which
was thrown out well upon the Union left, and the regiment was engaged. At
Frederick City, Maryland, the. brigade remained three days, and here Brigadier General Webb was assigned to its command. Resuming the march, it