PENNSYLVANIA TWO HUNDRED and THIRD INFANTRY (One Year)

Two Hundred and Third Infantry. Cols., John W. Moore, Oliver P. Harding, Amos W. Bachman; Lieut.-Cols., Jonas W. Lyman, A W. Bachman, Benjamin Brooke; Majs., Oliver P. Harding, Michael J. Cooke. This regiment, from the counties of Lycoming, Lancaster, Chester and Delaware and the city of Philadelphia, rendezvoused at Camp Cadwalader, Philadelphia, and was mustered into the U. S. service during the latter half of August and the first half of Sept. 1864, for one year. It was recruited at the suggestion of Gen. Birney to serve as sharpshooters, but served as an ordinary infantry regiment. The entire field and staff were veteran officers. It left the state for the front on Sept. 22, arrived before Petersburg on the 27th, and was assigned to the 2nd brigade, 2nd division, 10th corps. During the engagement at New Market heights, late in September, it performed provost duty at Deep Bottom, escorted prisoners to the rear and picketed Malvern hill. Then moving up to the front it shared in the engagement on the Darbytown road in November and was again engaged with some loss later in the month. On the reorganization of the army of the James it was assigned to the 2nd brigade, (Col. Pennypacker) 2nd division, (Gen. Ames) 24th corps, and early in December proceeded to Fortress Monroe as part of the force destined for the attack on Fort Fisher, N. C. It was not engaged in the first attack, but shared in the glory of the final capture of the fort in Jan., 1865, Ames' division being selected to lead the desperate assault and the 203d did its full share in the seven hours of bloody fighting, losing 46 killed and 145 wounded. Among the former were Col. Moore, Lieut.-Col. Lyman, Capt. Smallwood and Lieut. Hart. In his official report Gen. Ames said of Col. Moore: "He behaved with the most distinguished gallantry. He was killed within the fort, in advance of his regiment. Few equalled none surpassed this brave officer." The regimental flag had more than 80 rents in it made by bullets and grape shot. After the capture of Fort Fisher the regiment was not again in action until the engagement at Sugar Loaf Battery, Federal Point, N. C., Feb. 11, 1865. It moved with the 24th corps in its advance on Wilmington being actively engaged when the town was evacuated by the enemy. Early in March it moved to Goldsboro, where a junction was effected with Gen. Sherman's army while the battle of Bentonville was in progress. It now guarded the railway for a time at Faison's station; was advanced with the army towards Raleigh in April, and after Johnston's surrender was assigned to duty at Raleigh, where it was finally mustered out on June 22, 1865.

Source: The Union Army, vol. 1

Pennsylvania 203rd Volunteer Infantry (Union)

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