PENNSYLVANIA ONE HUNDRED and THIRTY-EIGHTH INFANTRY (Three Years)

One Hundred and Thirty-eighth Infantry. Cols. Charles L. K Sumwalt, M. R. McClennan ; Lieut.-Cols. M. R. McClennan, Lewis A. May; Majs., Lewis A. May, Simon Dickerhoof. The 138th was composed of men from the counties of Montgomery, Adams, Bedford and Bucks, and was mustered into the U. S. service at Camp Curtin, Harrisburg during the latter part of August and the first part of Sept., 1862, for a term of three years. On Aug. 30, 1862, before the regimental organization was completed, it moved to Baltimore and was there employed in guarding the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, with headquarters at the Relay house until the middle of June, 1863, when it moved to Harper's Ferry where it was assigned to Elliott's brigade of French's division. On the evacuation of Harper's Ferry on July 1, it moved to Washington, thence to Frederick, Md., and joined in the pursuit of Lee as part of the 3d corps. It was under fire but not active at Wapping heights and during the remainder of the fall shared in the various marches and counter-marches during the Virginia campaign, being engaged at Brandy Station with small loss, and in the Mine Run campaign at Locust Grove, where it behaved with great gallantry and repulsed repeated charges, losing 7 killed, 45 wounded and 3 missing, Col. McClennan being among the wounded. It then went into winter quarters at Brandy Station, Col. McClennan resuming command on March 13, 1864, and on May 3 it moved on the spring campaign, attached to Seymour's brigade, Rickett's (3d) division, 6th corps. It suffered severely at the Wilderness, losing 27, killed, 94 wounded and 35 missing. It shared in the fighting at Spottsylvania, but its losses there were small, as it was not heavily engaged. At Cold Harbor it shared in the gallant assaults of the division losing 7 killed, 54 wounded and 7 missing. Crossing the James, it went into the trenches at Bermuda Hundred; later joined its corps before Petersburg; shared in the movement on the Weldon railroad at Reams, station; and moved with its division in July to Monocacy, where it was hotly engaged against the forces under Early on the 9th, its losses in the battle being 68 killed, wounded and missing. After rejoining its corps, it shared in the various maneuvers between Washington and the Shenandoah Valley. Gen. Sheridan now assumed command of the Army of the Shenandoah, composed of the 6th, 8th and 19th corps. The 138th formed part of the cavalry support at Smithfield; was actively engaged at the Opequan and Fisher's hill, losing in the two engagements 46 killed, wounded and missing, shared in the pursuit of the enemy to Harrisonburg; returned with the army and encamped at Cedar creek, where it was warmly engaged in the battle in October, losing 42 killed and wounded. In the early part of November the regiment was encamped at Philadelphia and then returned to Winchester. In December it moved with its corps to Petersburg and was detailed as garrison for Fort Dushane. While stationed there it received a Christmas present of a beautiful stand of colors from the "loyal citizens of Norristown and Bridgeport, Pa." On April 1, 1865, it rejoined the corps and on the 2nd shared in the final assault on the enemy's works at Petersburg. It then joined in the pursuit of Lee's army, taking a large number of prisoners. It was active at Sailor's creek, where it fought its last battle. After the surrender of Lee, it made a forced march with its corps to Danville, Va., but was not needed by Gen. Sherman, so it returned to Richmond and proceeded thence to the vicinity of Washington, where it was finally mustered out of service on June 23, 1865. The total enrollment of the regiment was 955. It had 51 killed in action, 339 wounded, 31 missing. Killed and died of wounds during service 94, died by disease and accident 54, captured 48.

Source: The Union Army, vol. 1

Pennsylvania 138th Volunteer Infantry (Union)

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