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Originally the Home Guard of Milesburg, the Milesburg Infantry marched from Milesburg in August of 1861, reporting to Camp Curtin in Harrisburg, where they were mustered into service as Company A of the Forty-Ninth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers.
Also in August of 1861, John Boal, organized a company, predominantly from the returning veterans of the Cameron Guards (Company H, 7th PA Vol. ) The new company was called the Penn's Valley Infantry. Upon their arrival at Camp Curtin they were mustered into service as Company G of the Forty-Ninth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers.
History of Pennsylvania Volunteers 1861-1865; Samuel Bates; p1236-1245
FORTY-NINTH REGIMENT
"At Camp Curtin, on 14th of September, 1861, the Forty-ninth Regiment was organized by the choice of the following officers: William H. Irwin, of Mifflin county, Colonel; William Brisbane, of Luzerne county, Lieutenant Colonel; Thomas M. Hulings, of Mifflin county, Major. Companies A and G-were recruited in Centre county, B and F in Chester, C and D in Huntingdon, E, H and K in Mifflin, and I in Juniata. Colonel Irwin had commanded the Seventh Regiment in the three months' service, and a considerable number of both officers and men had likewise served in the three months' campaign. The State colors were presented by Governor Curtin on the 14th of September, with appropriate ceremonies, and on the 22d it moved to Washington, where it was assigned to Hancock's Brigade of Smith's Division.1 The division encamped in line with the Army of the Potomac, the Forty-ninth resting near Lewinsville, where it remained until the middle of March, 1862, and was drilled in all the elements of light infantry tactics, from the first position of a soldier to evolutions of the line. Guard and picket were the principal active duties performed during all this period, with the exception of a reconnoissance to Hunter's Mills, which was accomplished without loss.
On the 10th of March, the regiment broke camp and marched with the army towards Manassas whence, after some delay, wherein it was ascertained that the enemy had retreated from his strong holds and was unwilling to risk a battle, it marched to Alexandria. On the 24th it embarked upon transports, and on the 26th landed at Newport News. Here it immediately formed and marched towards Yorktown, before which it encamped on the 1st of April, and was engaged on the left bank of Warwick River, in doing picket duty, digging riflepits, and building corduroy road until May 4th. On this day a general forward movement commenced, Stoneman with the cavalry leading the way. The enemy was encountered near Williamsburg, posted in a line of forts stretching across the Peninsula, Fort Magruder, the principal defense being located on the right of the Williamsburg Road. Smith's Division arrived in front of this fort at sundown, and formed in line of battle, the Forty-ninth on the right. Hooker, on the left, attacked on the following morning. At ten A. M., Hancock's Brigade was ordered to move upon the enemy's left flank. Reaching the position designated, the line was formed in an open field, the Fifth Wisconsin on the right, the Sixth Maine in the centre, the Forty-ninth Pennsylvania on the left, with the Forty-third New York deployed as skirmishers in the woods on the left.
The enemy's skirmishers were soon driven in, and the line advanced to within twelve hundred yards of Fort Magruder, when he opened with his artillery, and the men dropped upon the ground to avoid his shells. Failing to drive Hancock with his guns, he sent forward Early's Brigade, which advanced under cover of a strip of timber on the right, until it had reached, undiscovered, a point within three hundred yards of Hancock's line where it was deployed. At this juncture Hancock gave the order "Retreat by alternate battalions!" Retiring about one hundred yards, the enemy following close, yelling and firing as he came, the brigade suddenly halted, faced to the front and opened fire. A few deliberate and well directed volleys soon checked his impetuous advance, when Hancock gave the order to charge, and Early's noisy columns were quickly scattered, leaving his dead and wounded in the hands of the victors. The loss of the regiment was slight, the enemy's balls generally passing harmless over head. "As the smoke raised," says Adjutant Hilands, "we saw our first fruits of killing rebels. For three or four hundred yards in our front, the ground appeared to be covered with dead; but soon many of them jumped up and ran towards us. Nearly three hundred gave themselves up as prisoners. To get out of the fight, safely they had lain down among the dead and wounded, or as the boys said,, 'played off.' The brigade remained on the field during the night, and at day-light the next morning it was found that the enemy had fled. Colonel Irwin received the thanks of Generals Hancock and M'Clellan. on the field, the latter saying, "Colonel, I thank you for the magnificent conduct of your regiment; no men could have done better."
After a few days' delay the regiment marched with the brigade in pursuit of the enemy, and reached the Chickahominy on the 25th, encamping near New Bridge. Here it was employed in building bridges, digging rifle-pits, and on. picket duty until the 5th of June, when it crossed the Chickahominy on Sumner's grape-vine bridge, and was again similarly employed. The enemy `had now, massed his troops on the left bank of the river, and was fighting his heavy battles there, while a thin line under Magruder was keeping up a noisy demonstration in front of our lines on the right bank. Here the Forty-ninth was posted early in the day of the 27th on Garnett's Hill, and was under a continuous fire of artillery until sundown, when his infantry advanced to the attack, and after a half hour's action retired. At ten P. M., the brigade was relieved and moved to, Golding's Farm, where, on the 28th, it was again in action. The loss in the two days' fighting was ten killed and twenty-three wounded. On the 29th the brigade marched to. Savage Station, and formed in line on the right of the York River Railroad, the Forty-ninth on the left of the brigade. The enemy attacked at sundown with much spirit, but was signally repulsed. At night the brigade marched across White Oak Swamp, and during the following day was under fire, but not actively engaged. During the night of the 30th it moved to Malvern Hill, and formed on the right of the army, but was not called into action. The army moved to Harrison's Landing on the following day, and while encamped here the regiment suffered much from sickness, at least sixty per cent. being on the sick list.
On the 16th of August, the regiment marched via Charles City Court House, Williamsburg, Big Bethel and Hampton, to Fortress Monroe, where, on the 23d, it embarked upon transports and moved to Alexandria, encamping near Fairfax Seminary, with orders to be ready to march at a moment's notice. At daylight, on the 27th, it started with three days' cooked rations, and after a march of six miles encamped at Annandale. It was now attached to Franklin's Corps, which proceeded from Annandale to Centreville, where the defeated forces of Pope were met in full retreat. The corps remained in the works at Centreville until the night of August 31st, when it moved out to Fairfax Court House, and thence, on the following day, to Fairfax Seminary, where the regiment remained several days in camp.
On the 5th of September it started on the campaign in Maryland. By easy marches it moved forward, and came up with the enemy on the 14th at Crampton's Gap, where, after a severe engagement, he was routed, and the column passed through. Until daylight on the morning of the 17th, it lay in Pleasant Valley, when it marched to Antietam Creek, which it crossed in rear of the right of the army, and was immediately ordered to the front on the double quick, the division relieving General Sumner. Hancock's Brigade was on the right of the line, the regiment on the right of the brigade, and was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Brisbane, Colonel Irwin having been placed in command of the Second Brigade of Smith's Division. After getting into position, the regiment was much annoyed by the enemy's fire, and lost several men killed and wounded without being brought to close quarters, having received positive orders to hold the line which it then occupied. General Hancock had said before reaching the field, that this would be the last fight, as it was to be the battle of the war; yet the brigade. was kept from advancing, and did not fire a shot in all the Battle of Antietam. During the 18th the regiment still remained in position under orders to hold the ground at all hazards. On the following morning it was found that the enemy had escaped. The army immediately moved forward to the banks of the Potomac, when the campaign was ended, and the weary troops rested.
On the 10th of October the regiment marched to Cunningham's Cross Roads to intercept the rebel cavalry under Stuart, in their ride to Chambersburg, by the rear of the army; but the chase was fruitless. From Maryland the regiment marched via White Plains, Warrenton, Catlett's Station, and Stafford Court House to Belle Plain, where it remained until the battle of Fredericksburg. On the 13th of December it crossed the Rappahannock on pontoons near Deep Run, and was in position in support of batteries on the right of Franklin's Grand Division, and under fire during the day, but not engaged. On the 16th it re-crossed the river, and encamped near White Oak Church, thus ending the campaign of 1862.
On the 9th of January, 1863, the regiment was consolidated in four companies by special order of the War Department and Colonel Irwin, Major Miles, and such company and non-commissioned officers as were not needed to fill the four companies, were ordered on recruiting service. Lieutenant Colonel Thomas M. Hulings was left in command, under whom it participated in the hardships and glories of the "Mud March.?' Upon the accession of Major General Hooker to the chief command, a complete re=organization of the army was made, in which the brigade to which the Forty-ninth belonged, and which had been commanded till the battle of Antietam by General Hancock, was placed in the Third Brigade of the First Division of the Sixth Corps, General David A. Russell in command of the brigade, General Brooks of the division, and General Sedgwick of the Corps. In this position the regiment remained until its muster out of service.
Colonel Irwin returned on the 10th of April and resumed command of the regiment, now restored to its pristine strength, and on the 28th. it broke camp and marched to the Rappahannock, opposite Fredericksburg. On the previous day Hooker had marched with three corps by way of the upper fords to Chancellorsville, three corps under Sedgwick being left to make a demonstration below. On the morning of the 29th the pontoon boats were carried noiselessly upon the backs of the men to the bank of the stream, and Russell's Brigade was embarked for its passage. When half way over, the enemy opened fire. Colonel Irwin was wounded, Captain Freeborn mortally; two privates were killed and eight wounded. But the men pushed resolutely across, and held the enemy at bay until the bridge was laid and the troops began to follow. The enemy was driven back to the bills in rear of Fredericksburg, and believing this to be the real point of attack fell to fortifying. On the 30th the regiment was relieved from the front, and moved to the bank of the river, where it lay under cover until the 3d of May, when it was again ordered forward, and took position on the plain east of Fredericksburg. It was here for three hours under a heavy artillery fire. At noon it marched through Fredericksburg, and by the plank road to Fairview Farm. At dusk it was deployed as skirmishers, and re-took the line from which part of the division had been repulsed. On the following day it remained on the skirmish line near Salem Church, and repulsed two attacks of' the enemy's skirmishers. Alt, dusk he made a furious onslaught, with vastly superior numbers, and the line was ordered to fall back to Bank's Ford, where a new line was taken up and his further advance checked. The regiment retired with but small loss in wounded and missing, and re crossed the river on the morning of the 5th, returning on the 8th to its old camp at White Oak Church, where it remained until the 6th of June.
The rebel army was now moving for the invasion of Pennsylvania, though his plans were, as yet, unknown to the Union commander. On the 7th the regiment crossed to the south bank of the Rappahannock upon pontoons, and occupied rifle-pits below Deep Run. Here the division was held in support of the cavalry, which was heavily engaged for the purpose of unmasking the enemy's designs. Re-crossing the river on the 11th, the Sixth Corps started on the Gettysburg campaign. For two weeks the Army of the Potomac moved leisurely, watching closely the movements of the rebel chieftain, prepared to checkmate him in any enterprise he should undertake, our cavalry under Pleasanton, in the meantime, handling roughly the rebel cavalry at the Rappahannock and at Aldie. The weather was excessively hot, and many suffered from sunstroke while on the march. Passing through Dumfries and Fairfax Station, and crossing the Potomac at Edwards' Ferry, the corps arrived in the neighborhood of Westminster on the 30th. Measures had been adopted for concentrating the army on the line of Pipe Creek, and thus throwing it across the path of Lee, already at Chambersburg. But on the evening of the 1st of July an order was received to move with all possible dispatch to Gettysburg. At daylight of the 2d the regiment moved out at quick-step for the battle-field. At two P. M. it arrived on the field, and immediately marched to the front, where it supported the Fifth Corps. Early on the morning of the 3d, Brooks' Division was ordered to form in line of battle on the left of the army, and perpendicular to the main line extending across Round Top, for the purpose of insuring the safety of the left flank. Russell's Brigade was posted on the left of the line, the Forty-ninth on the right and in front, with its right resting on the Taneytown road. At three P. M. the division was ordered to the support of the Fifth Corps, and formed to the right of Round Top; but the enemy had now been repulsed and driven back at all points, and the battle was at an end. The regiment suffered no loss, though under a heavy artillery fire during the afternoon of the 3d. At-dawn of the 4th, company A was sent out as skirmishers, and lay all day near the Devil's Den, in front of Round Top.
On the 5th the pursuit of the enemy commenced, and a slight skirmish at evening, occurred with his rear guard near Fairfield. Passing Emmettsburg and Mechanicstown, the regiment reached the foot of the Cotocton Mountain. at dusk of the 7th. The main road' was given up to the artillery, and the infantry" crossed by a by-road. The night was dark and the rain descended in torrents. The men were worn out and faint with fasting, and many were shoeless, the sharp stones inflicting severe wounds as they wended their way up the rugged mountain in the impenetrable darkness. Many straggled by the way, and upon the summit the column halted for them to come up. At Middletown the regiment drew rations and shoes, and was allowed one full night's rest. Near Antietam Creek, on the 12th of July, the Forty-ninth was deployed as skirmishers, and drove the enemy back to his main line, having one officer wounded. Remaining in line, in hourly expectation of being ordered to the attack, until the 14th, the discovery was made that the enemy had escaped and the campaign was at an end.
In the following campaign, in which Meade advanced to the Rapidan, and thence retreated to Centreville, the Forty-ninth participated, performing long and wearisome marches, and picket duty, repairing roads, loosing three men near Culpepper by guerrillas, but without engaging the enemy. Meade having won the race to Centreville, faced about his columns and commence$ pushing the enemy again towards the Rapidan. He was first encountered at Rappahannock Station; where he had strongly fortified the north bank of the river covering his pontoon bridge, which was held by Hayes' Louisiana and Hoke's North Carolina brigades, Lee with Early's Division being just across the river. On the morning of the 7th of November, the Sixth Corps marched from Warrenton, and at noon reached a point within two miles of Rappahannock Station. Skirmishers were sent forward who drove the enemy in upon his main line, which occupied two redoubts flanked by rifle-pits. Russell's Brigade, now commanded by Colonel Ellmaker, was selected to storm and take the works. At sundown the line was formed, the Fifth Wisconsin on the right, the Forty-ninth and One Hundred and Nineteenth Pennsylvania on the centre and left, and the Sixth Maine deployed as skirmishers, and advanced to within a half mile of the enemy's works.
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