PENNSYLVANIA 58TH INFANTRY (Three Years)

Fifty-eighth Infantry.-Cols., J. Richter Jones, Carlton B. Curtis Cecil Clay Lieut.-Cols., Carlton B. Curtis, Montgomery Martin, Charles A. Winn, Cecil Clay, Robert C. Redmond; Majs., Montgomery Martin, Henry Metcalf, Charles A. Winn, Cecil Clay, Robert C. Redmond, Joseph E. Johnson. The 58th regiment was organized at Philadelphia from Sept. 21, 1861, to March 1, 1862. Companies A, B, C, D and K were recruited from Philadelphia and vicinity by J. Richter Jones and consolidated with companies E, F, G, H and I recruited in Warren, McKean, Cameron Clinton, Northumberland, Luzerne and Potter counties by Carlton B. Curtis. Each had been authorized by the governor to raise a regiment and they combined their forces to form the 58th, which left the state for Fortress Monroe in two detachments on March 8, 1862, arriving on the day of the contest between the Merrimac and Monitor and going into camp at Camp Hamilton. On May 1O, the regiment embarked for an expedition to Norfolk, under command of Gen. Wool, and after performing provost guard duty in Norfolk for a few days moved to Portsmouth, where it remained on guard duty until Oct. 11. Ordered then to Suffolk it encamped there until Jan. 1863, sharing meanwhile in two expeditions to the Blackwater river. On Jan. 5, 1863, it moved with the force under Gen. Foster to Beaufort, N. C., and went into camp at Batchelder's Creek Station, 8 miles west of New Berne. On Feb. 12, it surprised a Confederate camp at Sandy ridge, capturing 143 prisoners. It was engaged with the enemy on the Neuse road in April, at Cone creek on the Dover road a few days later, and took part in the Dover road action on April 28. In the action at Gum swamp in May it shared in the capture of the enemy's works, 125 prisoners, 1 gun, many small arms, and valuable stores being taken. In a skirmish at Batchelder's creek the following day, Col. Jones was killed and was succeeded by Lieut.-Col. Curtis. Said Gen. Foster: "Col. Jones won the admiration of all in this department by the indefatigable, able and gallant manner with which he filled the arduous duties of commander of the outposts. On May 24, the 58th moved to New Berne and on June 27 to Washington, N. C., where it remained on garrison and provost duty until the evacuation of the place in April, 1864, sharing meanwhile in a number of expeditions into the interior. On May 1, it joined Gen. Butler's army, then being organized at Yorktown to operate against Richmond. It was assigned to the 3rd brigade, 1st division, 18th corps, and participated in the campaign south of the James, being sharply engaged with the enemy on the 9th, with a loss of 20 killed and wounded and aiding in the destruction of the Petersburg & Richmond railroad. With its corps it joined Grant's army at Cold Harbor and in the action there suffered a loss of 35 killed and wounded. It was again heavily engaged on the 3rd in the grand assault and suffered considerable loss. Remaining at the front until June 13, it returned by transport to Bermuda Hundred, crossed the Appomattox and shared in the first assaults in front of Petersburg. It was then relieved and returned to Point of Rocks. The reenlisted men had never received their veteran furlough and on June 24 went to Pennsylvania to enjoy their long delayed respite, being given 20 days additional. The recruits and members who had not reenlisted, remained on picket and fatigue duty, under command of Capts. Leiper and Jackson, until the veterans, together with new recruits, returned to the front on Aug. 25. With the 188th Pa., it was selected to lead the desperate assault on Fort Harrison, where in the fierce onset, the regimental colors repeatedly fell, but were finally planted upon the parapet by Capt. Cecil Clay. Its loss here was 6 officers and 128 men out of 9 officers and 228 men engaged. On the afternoon of the same day, with the 188th Pa., it attacked the "Star Fort," scaled the ramparts and spiked the guns, but was forced to retire, its supports failing it. It was now employed in guard, picket and fatigue duty shared without loss in the action at Fair Oaks in October and at Spring Hill in December, bore an honorable part in the final campaign which resulted in the evacuation of Petersburg and Richmond and the surrender of Lee; and on the close of hostilities served by detachments in southern Virginia until the end of 1865. It was mustered out at City Point, Va., Jan. 24, 1866.

Source: The Union Army, vol. 1

Pennsylvania 58th Volunteer Infantry (Union)

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