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

98G SEVENTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT. 1862
same time General Buell commenced a co-operative movement south, along the
line of the Nashville and Decatur Railroad, but was much delayed in building
bridges and repairing the road. Before Grant had his army concentrated,
General Albert Sidney Johnson, in chief command of the rebel army, at Corinth,
Mississippi, twenty miles away, having gathered all together, moved stealthily
up, and attacked the Union forces, reposing unsuspicious of danger, on the
morning of Sunday, April 6th. The advance division of General Buell's column had reached Savannah, eight miles from the Landing, on the evening of
the 5th. The dull sound of musketry, and the heavy booming of cannon heard
on the following morning, told to the quick apprehension of the soldiers that
the battle had begun. Sending messengers in hot haste to his other divisions,
moving toilsomely forward, to hasten on, Buell pushed forward with the head
of his column, Nelson's Division, up to the point opposite the Landing, where
he was to cross, but did not reach the field until near evening, and until the
fighting of the day was nearly over. Of the five divisions which Grant had
upon the field three had been routed, and two forced back; but massing his
artillery he had succeeded in checking the enemy's fierce onset, when Nelson
went into position, and helped to preserve a firm front. During the night other
of Buelils forces began to arrive. Crittenden came first, followed by M'Cook.
The rest of his forces were too far away to be of any avail, though two brigades
of Wood's Division arrived as the battle was closing. The Seventy-seventh
was far back when the battle began, but throwing aside every incumbrance,
and taking a full supply of ammunition, it moved upon the first intimation of
need, and after a forced march of twenty miles arrived at Savannah at midnight. Standing in the pelting rain, awaiting transportation, until four on the
morning of the 7th, it embarked on the Crescent City, and at seven steamed
off. At eight it reached the Landing and debarked, and making its way, with
difficulty, up the steep and slippery banks, moved to the scene of action. During the early part of the day it was held in reserve, though exposed to a severe
fire. In the progress of the fight the enemy's cavalry charged upon it, but
was handsomely repulsed. It was finally moved to the right, and formed on
the left of Bousseauts Brigade. Here the enemy's sharp-shooters, concealed
behind trees, were very troublesome, picking off officers with unerring aim.
Two companies, A and B, were deployed as skirmishers, and advanced, clearing the woods and securing immunity from peril. In the final charge the
regiment was in the front, and took many prisoners, among them Colonel
Battles, of the Twentieth Tennessee. At three P. L. the battle was over, the
enemy retiring. The loss was three killed, and seven wounded. It was the
only Pennsylvania regiment in this battle.
For eight days the regiment remained on the field, during which time it
rained almost incessantly. On the 14th, the tents having been brought up, it
moved on several miles, to escape the horrid stench of that bloody field. While
here much sickness prevailed, which resulted in fatal fevers. Lieutenant Colonel
Housum fell a victim to its blighting influence, and was obliged to retire from
the field, leaving Major Bradford in command, Colonel Stumbaugh, since the
battle in which Colonel Kirk was wounded, having been in command of the
brigade. It was not until the beginning of May that the army moved in pursuit of the enemy, and another month expired before the Seventy-seventh
reached the works about Corinth. On the 28th of May there was considerable
skirmishing on its front, and it was engaged in throwing up breast-works.