PENNSLYVANIA 73RD INFANTRY (Three years)

Seventy-third Infantry.-Cols., John A. Koltes, G. A. Muchleck, William Moore, Charles C. Cresson; Lieut.-Cols, G. Muehleck William Moore, Michael A. Strong, Charles C. Cresson; Majs., Leopold Schott, Michael A. Strong, David A. Schultz, Charles C. Cresson, Christian H. Goebel. The 73rd regiment, known as the Pennsylvania Legion, was recruited in Philadelphia during the summer of 1861 and in July, August and September was mustered into the U. S. service for three years. It rendezvoused on Engle's and Wolf's farms at Lemon hill and left the state on Sept. 24, proceeding via Washington to Roach's mills, Va., where it was assigned to Gen. Blenker's division. It moved thence to Hunter's Chapel and Rose hill, where it received a set of colors at the hands of Ex-Gov. Pollock in behalf of the ladies of Philadelphia, and in November marched to Anandale. Its total enrolment in Jan., 1862, was 855, which was increased to 1,2O5 on March 3, by the addition of Cos. E and K and a number of men transferred from the 66th regiment then being disbanded. (q. v.). On March 10, it moved with the army on the Manassas campaign and in May joined the Army of the Mountain Department, commanded by Gen. Fremont, at Petersburg. It was in reserve at the battle of Cross Keys; was engaged in picket and guard duty until July 20, at Luray, Thornton's gap and Sperryville; formed part of the rear-guard of Pope's army in his retreat from the Rapidan; skirmished at Freeman's ford, lost heavily at the battles of Groveton and second Bull Run, 216 being killed and wounded, the killed including Col. Koltes and Capt. Brueckner, and remained thereafter in the fortifications of Washington until the Fredericksburg campaign, arriving at Falmouth just after the battle. It was inactive in winter quarters at Falmouth, with the exception of the "Mud March" in Jan., 1863, until the opening of the Chancellorsville campaign in April, when it was assigned to the 1st brigade (Col. Bushbeck), 2nd division (Gen. Von Steinwehr), 11th corps (Gen. Howard). Bushbeck's brigade, holding the extreme left of the 11th corps at Chancellorsville, was heavily engaged and the 73rd lost 13 killed, 54 wounded and 39 missing. Among the killed was Capt. Giltinan, andamong the wounded were Col. Moore, Lieut.-Col. Strong, Maj. Schultz and Capt. Leibfried the latter mortally wounded. It then encamped at Falmouth, until June 12, when it started on the Gettysburg campaign. It arrived on the field of Gettysburg on the afternoon of the first day and immediately went into action, checking the pursuit of the enemy when the 1st and 11h corps retired through the town from Seminary ridge. On the two succeeding days it was posted on Cemetery hill Capt. Kelly being in command of the regiment in this battle in the absence of all the field officers. Its loss was 8 killed and 26 wounded. It next moved with the army into Virginia, was for a time posted at Alexandria, guarding and conducting drafted men to the front; rejoined its corps on Sept. 26, at Bridgeport, Ala.; remained there a month on guard and picket duty and a number of successful foraging expeditions; skirmished at Wanhatchie on Oct. 27, and soon after moved to Chattanooga. Col. Moore, still suffering from his wounds, was again obliged to relinquish the command of the regiment, which was assumed by Lieut.-Col. Taft, of the 143rd N. Y., in the absence of any other field officers in the 73rd. In the battle of Missionary ridge the regiment suffered its greatest disaster. It gallantly charged and drove the enemy on its front from his rifle-pits, but its supports were repulsed and the 73rd was in turn charged and out-flanked by the enemy, who captured the entire command with the exception of about 25 men. In addition to the killed, wounded and missing, 8 officers and 89 men were taken prisoners. Capt. Kennedy, who was among the captured, concealed the flag about his person and on his return from his long imprisonment carried it safely home. It is now carefully preserved with the other battle emblems of the state. The few members who escaped capture, together with the wounded and detached men who returned to the ranks, marched with Sherman to Burnside's relief and later went into winter quarters near Chattanooga. In Jan., 1864, most of them reenlisted and received the usual veteran furlough and on their return, with a number of recruits, they were assigned to Bushbeck's brigade, Geary's division, 20th corps under Gen. Hooker, and shared all the fortunes of the White Star division in Sherman's Atlanta campaign, his subsequent march to the sea, and the march northward through the Carolinas. After Gen. Johnston's surrender it proceeded to Alexandria Va and was there mustered out on July 14, 1865.

Source: The Union Army, vol. 1

Pennsylvania 73rd Volunteer Infantry (Union)

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