11th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment

The Eleventh Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment lost 12 officers and 224 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and 4 officers and 177 enlisted men to disease during the Civil War. It is honored by a monument at Gettysburg.

1861 April 26 Organized for three months service at Camp Curtin, Harrisburg under Colonel Phaon Jarrett, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Coulter and Major William D. Earnest May 4 Moved by rail to Camp Wayne, West Chester, Pa. May 27 Duty guarding Pittsburg, Wilmington & Baltimore Railroad.
Headquarters and Companies A and B were at Havre de Grace.
Companies C and D were at Perryville.
Company E at Charlestown.
Company F at North East.
Company G at Chesapeake City guarding the Delaware & Chesapeake Canal
Companies I and H at Elkton
Company K at Newark, Delaware June 18 Relieved by the 1st Delaware Infantry Regiment and ordered to Chambersburg. Attached to Negley’s 5th Brigade, 2nd Division, Patterson’s Army June 20 Transferred to Abercrombie’s 6th Brigade June 29 Moved to Williamsport, Md. July 2 Falling Waters

The regiment was given the nickname “Bloody Eleventh,” losing Private Amos Suppinger killed and ten other men wounded in fighting against Jackson’s Virginia Brigade.

July 3 Occupation of Martinsburg. The regiment was presented with a stand of colors by the ladies of Martinsburg which was subsequently used by the three years service regiment. July 15 Advance on Bunker Hill July 25 Moved to Harper’s Ferry. General Patterson requested the regiment to remain a week to ten days after its term of service until replacements could arrive, and the regiment unanimously volunteered to do so. August 1 Mustered out. The Secretary of War offered to accept the regiment for three years service if it were ready to march within 21 days after its mustering out. Reorganized for three years service August Nine companies were organized for three years service at Harrisburg and in Westmoreland County under Colonel Richard Coulter, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas S. Martin, and Major Henry A. Frink. August-November At Camp Curtin, where 11 men died from sickness. November 27 Moved to Baltimore, Md. and attached to Dix’s Division, then moved to Annapolis, Md. The regiment was quartered in St. John’s College buildings and provided guard for the Naval Academy and branch railroad and provost guard for the city. Seventeen more men died of disease during this time. 1862 March 9 Company A under Captain Kuhn was detailed to proceed up the bay by boat to act as lookout for the Confederate ironclad C.S.S. Virginia (ex-U.S.S. Merrimac). April 9 Moved to Washington, D.C. and attached to Wadsworth’s Command, Military District of Washington April 13 New uniforms issued. April 15 Regiment reviewed by President Lincoln at the White House. April 17 Regiment taken by boat to Alexandria and then by train to Manassas Junction to guard Manassas Gap Railroad May 12 Marched to Catlett’s Station and attached to 3rd Brigade, Ord’s Division, Dept. of the Rappahannock May 14 Regiment continued march to Falmouth in heavy rains May 23 Division reviewed by President Lincoln. June The regiment marched to Aquia Creek where it boarded a steamer for Alexandria, transferred to a train to Manassas Junction, and marched to Front Royal. After facilitating the withdrawal of baggage trains, the regiment returned by rail to Manassas Junction and was attached to 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 3rd Corps, Army of Virginia. August 9 Battle of Cedar Mountain

The regiment suffered three wounded.

August 16 Pope’s Campaign in Northern Virginia August 21-23 Fords of the Rappahannock

The regiment lost one killed, three wounded and one missing.

August 26 Warrenton August 28 Thoroughfare Gap

The regiment suffered 2 officers and16 enlisted men killed, Captain John B. Keenan, 2 other officers and 37 enlisted men wounded, and two missing.

August 30 Second Battle of Bull Run

The regiment lost 52 killed, 67 wounded, and 75 missing since August 21. Colonel Coulter took command of the brigade when Colonel Fletcher Webster of the 12th Massachusetts was killed. Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Martin was killed and Major Henry Frink was severly wounded and captured. The national colors were captured when Sergeant Fightner, the color bearer, was wounded and fell into Confederate hands. The state colors were saved, although a series of color bearers (all from Company C) were wounded: Segeant Robert Knox, who lost his right leg, First Sergeant Samuel S. Bierer, and Second Lieutenant Absalom Schall.

September 1 Battle of Chantilly

The regiment suffered one wounded. Major Henry Frink was promoted to lieutenant colonel and Captain John B. Keenan to major.

September 3 The regimental band was mustered out of service in compliance with an act of Congress dissolving regimental bands. The regiment bivouaced at Silver Springs, Md. September 6-24 Maryland Campaign. Atached to 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 1st Army Corps, Army of the Potomac September 14 Battle of South Mountain

The regiment lost two wounded.

September 16-17 Battle of Antietam

The regiment was heavily engaged in the West Woods, losing lost 1 officer and 26 men killed, 4 oficers and 85 men wounded, and two captured. Colonel Coulter took over command of the brgade early in the action with the wounding of General Hartsuff, with Captain Cook of Company F taking command of the regiment. Daniel Mathews was severely wounded, Private William Welty killed, and Corporal Frederick Welty severly wounded while carrying the state colors, and for a time they were left on the field, all of the color party having been shot down. The colors were retrieved by Second Lieutenant Edward Gay, who was twice wounded, finally ending up in the posession of Sergeant Henry Bitner of Company E.

September-October Duty at Sharpsburg October 3 The brigade was reviewed by President Lincoln. October 7 Colonel Coulter resumed command of regiment as Brigadier General Nelson Taylor assumed command of the brigade. October 29 Clothing and tents were issued October 30-November 19 Movement to Falmouth, Va. December 12-15 Battle of Fredericksburg

The regiment suffered one officer and 14 men killed, 5 officers and 61 men wounded, and 5 captured. Colonel Coulter was severely wounded, and Captain Kuhns took over the regiment during the battle. The state colors were carried by Corporal John Kuhns, who was wounded three times, losing his left leg, then by Cyrus Chambers, who was killed, then Corporal John Thomas, severely wounded, and finally by Captain Benjamin Haines of company B.

After the battle Lieutenant Colonel Batchelder of the 13th Massachusetts was placed in command of the regiment by special order.

December 31 Lt. Colonel Frink returned from his Bull Run wound and resumed command, but shortly afterwards returned to the hospital in Georgetown. 1863 January 2 Calber .69 arms replaced all caliber .57 and .58 weapons. January 19 Colonel Coulter rejoined the regiment, but was as yet too unwell to assume command. January 20-24 “Mud March” February-April At Falmouth and Belle Plain. Colonel Coulter resumed command. The First Corps badge, a white globe or disk, was adopted at this time by order of General Hooker. April 27-May 6 Chancellorsville Campaign April 29-May 2 Operations at Pollock’s Mill Creek April 29-30 Fitzhugh’s Crossing May 2-5 Battle of Chancellorsville

Attached to 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 1st Army Corps

June 11-July 24 Gettysburg Campaign June 12 – 30 Brigade left Falmouth and moved via Warrenton Junction, Centreville, Herndon and Guilford Stations, to Edward’s Ferry, where it crossed the Potomac on the 25th, and continued the march through Barnsville, Middletown and Emmittsburg, halted for the night at Wolford’s farm, on the Pennsylvania State line, where the Eleventh was inspected and mustered for pay. July 1 Battle of Gettysburg

After severe fighting on Oak Ridge, the regiment fell back to Cemetery Hill and was attached to 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 1st Army Corps so that Colonel Coulter could take command of the brigade from the wounded General Paul. The regiment continued to be involved in heavy fighting on the north end of Cemetery Ridge. Colonel Coulter was badly wounded in the arm, but returned to command after briefly having it treated. With Colonel coulter commanding the brigade, Captain Benjamin F. Haines took command of the regiment. He was wounded on July 3rd, and Captain John Overmayer took command until Captain J.J. Bierer returned from sick leave on the 4th.

The regiment lost fifteen killed, fifty-nine wounded, and sixty-four taken prisoner during the three days of fighting. Corporal John McKalip was severly wounded carrying the state colors, which were left abandoned in some bushes with the loss of the color party in the fighting on the first day; Private Michael Kepler of Company D retrieved and bore them for the rest of the battle.

July 8 The regiment reached South Monutain, July 10 Moved through Boonsboro to Beaver Creek and entrenched in anticipation of an attack July 13 Crossed Antietam Creek and formed line of battle, again entrenching. July 18 Encamped at Waterford Virginia, after crossing the Potomac on a pontoon bridge at Berlin. Transferred back to 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 1st Army Corps July-October Duty on the Rapidan October 9-22 Bristoe Campaign November 7-8 Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 26-December 2 Mine Run Campaign

Colonel Coulter again commanded the brigade, with Major Keenan in command of the regiment. The regiment suffered two wounded, one from a raid by Mosby’s partisans in Union uniforms.

1864 January 5 204 men of the regiment reenlisted and it was designated “Veteran Volunteers” February 5 276 Veterans go on furlough, quartering at Soldier’s Rest in Alexandria, where they received pay and new clothing before travelling on to Harrisonburg. Recruiting stations were set up in Pittsburg, Greensburg, Lock Haven, Jersey Shore, Carlisle, and Mauch Chunk. February 6-7 Demonstration on the Rapidan March 20 Regiment reassembles at Harrisonburg March 28 Veterans return from furlough, bringing 314 additional recruits, for a regimental strength of 590. Attached to 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 5th Army Corps May-June Rapidan Campaign May 5-7 Battle of the Wilderness

The regiment lost around 50 casualties on the 5th, including the capture of Captain Chalfant, and 157 killed and wounded on the 6th. Colonel Coulter took command of the brigade due to the wounding of General Baxter, leaving Major Keenan again in command of the regiment until he was killed on the 7th. Captain B.F. Hains then took command.

Corporal J.J. Lehman was killed bearing the state colors, and Second Lieutenant McCutchen of Company F brought them off the field.

Due to high casualties and the loss of its division and brigade commanders the 2nd Division was broken up, with the 11th’s brigade attached to 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 5th Army Corps.

May 10 Laurel Hill

The regiment charged and successfully took a line of rifle pits on the slopes of the hill, but was unable to take the entrenchments at its summitt. The brigade lost 20% of its strength in the atack.

May 8-21 Battle of Spotsylvania Court House

Colonel Coulter was wounded in the chest when he led a charge of the 88th Pennsylvania and was forced to leave the field. Major Keenan was killed.

May 12 Assault on the Salient May 23-26 North Anna River May 25 Jericho Ford May 26-28 On line of the Pamunkey May 28-31 Totopotomoy May 30 Lieutenant Colonel Frink promoted to colonel of the 186th Pennsylvania Infantry June 1-12 Battle of Cold Harbor June 1-3 Bethesda Church June 13 White Oak Swamp June 16-18 Before Petersburg July 30 Mine Explosion Petersburg (Reserve) August 18-21 Weldon Railroad

Captain Noble of Company A recaptured the colors of the 94th New York, and Private George W. Reed of Company E earned the Medal of Honor for capturing the flag of the 24th North Carolina at Weldon Railroad, on August 21. The 11th lost 4 killed, 10 wounded, and 74 captured.

September 15 Reconnaissance toward Dinwiddie Court House Novembr 16 Veterans and enlisted men of the 90th Pennsylvania are transferred to the 11th as the 90th mustered out. Although the 11th had taken over 500 casualties since the beginning of the campaign, recruitment kept its strength above 200. December 7-12 Warren’s Raid to Weldon Railroad

The regiment lost 1 wounded and 2 missing

December 26 Major Benjamin Haines was promoted to lieutenant colonel and Captin John B. Overmayer to major 1865 January Major John B. Overmeyer takes over command of the regiment as Colonel Frink and Major Hains were both promoted and given command of other Pennsylvania regiments. February 5-7 Battle of Dabney’s Mills or Hatcher’s Run

The regiment lost 9 killed, 69 wounded, and 9 missing. Sallie, the regimental mascot (portrayed on the regiment’s monument at Gettysburg) was killed. A group of men buried her on the field under heavy fire.

March Attached to 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 5th Army Corps March 28-April 9 Appomattox Campaign March 29 Lewis Farm, Gravelly Run March 31 White Oak Road April 1 Battle of Five Forks

Sergeant Hiram H. De Lavie of Company I earned the Medal of Honor for capturing the flag of the 32nd Virginia. Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Overmayer was wounded and brevetted colonel.

April 9 Appomattox Court House

Surrender of Lee and his army.

May Moved to Washington May 23 Grand Review July 1 Mustered out 340 men under Colonel Coulter, Lt. Colonel Keenan and Major Overmeyer.

Hiram H De Lavie