• Company A, Montgomery County – Captain S. Octavius Bull
• Company B, Chester and Montgomery Counties – Captain William S Potts
• Company C, Blair and Huntingdon Counties – Captain John H. Wintrode
• Company D, Centre and Clearfield Counties – Captain John S McKiernan
• Company E, Carbon and Union Counties – Captain John H. Wintrode
• Company F, Luzerne County – Captain Horace P. Moody
• Company G, Potter County – Captain Archibald Jones
• Company H, Northumberland County – Captain Tate McCurdy
• Company I, Juniata County – Captain Henry S. Dimm
• Company K, Westmoreland County – Captain William B. Coulter

Peninsula Campaign

Ordered to the Virginia Peninsula.

Siege of Yorktown

Lieutenant Colonel Richards McMichael was absent sick until summer. the regiment was in reserve during the siege.

Battle of Fair Oaks (Seven Pines)

The regiment lost 96 men killed, wounded, and missing. Major Yeager was killed.

Seven days before Richmond

Gaines Mill

The regiment was sent with Richardson’s Division to the support of the Fifth Corps, which was isolated from the rest of the army by the Chickahominy River and was under heavy attack. The Division covered the withdrawal of the Fifth Corps, then recrossed the Chickahominy River.

Peach Orchard and Savage Station

The 53rd repulsed a Confederate attack while guarding wounded and supplies.

White Oak Swamp Bridge and Glendale

The regiment lost a number of men wounded by artillery fire.

Malvern Hill

The 53rd was under artillery fire but was not engaged and lost no casualties.

Second Battle of Bull Run (Second Manassas)

Assisted in checking Pope’s rout.

Maryland Campaign

Battle of South Mountain

In reserve and suffered no casualties.

Battle of Antietam

The 53rd Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment was commanded at Antietam by Lieutenant Colonel Richards McMichael while Colonel John Brooke commanded the brigade as senior colonel. The regiment was on the far right of Richardson’s Division’s line when it formed for battle near the Roulette Farm.

“At four A.M. of the 17th the regiment left its position on the Keedysville road, and moving a mile to the right, crossed Antietam Creek at a ford. It occupied the extreme right of the division. In front was the “sunken road” occupied by the enemy’s first line. His second line was protected by a stone wall on the hill beyond.

“To the right and rear was an orchard, immediately in front of which was the cornfield where, subsequently, the battle raged with great fury. It was important to drive the enemy from this position, and the Fifty-third was chosen for the charge. Changing front to the rear, and advancing at double-quick, in a short but desperate contest it drove him from his well-chosen ground. The regiment was subsequently engaged in the hottest of the fight and shared the varying fortunes of the day. The position gained was of great importance, and was held with tenacity until the regiment was ordered to the support of a battery. Lieutenant Weaver, of Company K, a brave young officer, was mortally wounded. The loss in killed and wounded was twenty-eight.”

-from Samuel Bates, History of the Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-65

From the brigade marker at Antietam:

“Brooke’s Brigade formed the reserve of Richardson’s Division.

“After checking an attempt of the enemy to gain the right rear of French’s Division near Roulette’s house, it co-operated with Caldwell in his advance across the Bloody Lane and through the cornfield to the south, the advance Regiments driving the enemy from Piper’s barn and outhouses. The ammunition of the Brigade having been exhausted, it was withdrawn and occupied a position a short distance north of this point, in support of Battery K, 1st U.S. Artillery.”

Captain Horace P. Moody of Company F resigned and First Lieutenant Walter Hopkins was promoted to Captain as his replacement.

Battle of Fredericksburg

The 53rd crossed the Rappahannock at dawn with 283 officers and men, formered a skirmish line, and drove the Confederate defenders out of the city, losing one man mortally wounded. It rested overnight along the river.

On the 13th it marched through the city on St. Charles Street and formed line of battle just past the town. Its charge took it to within 60 yards of the stone wall, where it went to ground. It held its position under heavy fire until nightfall, when it fell back to town.

The regiment lost 39 men killed and 119 wounded. First Lieutenant Isaac T. Cross of Company I was killed. Sergeant William McKiernan of Company D was killed and First Lieutenant John Shields of Company E was wounded.

Chancellorsville Campaign

Attached to 4th Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Corps, Army of the Potomac. Colonel Brooke continued to command the brigade as senior colonel.

Battle of Chancellorsville

The regiment was assigned to the skirmish line supporting a battery near the Chancellor House. It remained there until ordered to withdraw back to a bridgehead on the Rappahannock. Several men dragged two artillery pieces from the battery the three miles back to the river. The 53rd and Brooke’s Brigade stayed on as rearguard for the army along with the Irish Brigade, and were the last two brigades to recross the Rappahannock. The regiment lost one man killed, seven men wounded, and one man missing and presumed captured.

Gettysburg Campaign

Battle of Gettysburg – Day 1

The regiment was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Richards McMichael. It brought 135 men to the field in three companies, A, B and K. Three other companies were on detached duty at Division Headquarters.

Moved out very early on the Gettysburg Road. Crossed into Pennsylvania at 4 p.m. with the sound of heavy cannonading ahead. Bivouaced at nightfall and immediately deployed on picket, connecting with the Twelfth Corps.

Battle of Gettysburg – Day 2

At daybreak the pickets were withdrawn and the regiment fell into the line of march. It reached the battlefield about 8 a.m.and was placed in the rear of the line of battle. After an hour they were marched to the front line, remaining until the Confederate attacks began in the midafternoon. For several hours the 53rd was inactive under a severe shelling.

The Division moved by the left flank about 5 p.m. down a narrow lane and formed in line of battle in the Wheatfield between the 64th New York on the right and the 27th Connecticut on the left. The brigade then fixed bayonets and charged, driving the Confederates from the crest of a hill. The position was held against two waves of attacks until the enemy began to mass on the flanks. The regiment then fell back, halting and reforming near Round Top. It had suffered about 70 per cent casualties. They then constructed breastworks through the night.

The 53rd Pennsylvania lost 7 enlisted killed, 8 officers and 58 enlisted men wounded and 6 enlisted men missing. Colonel Brooke was badly wounded while commanding the brigade.

From the monument to the 53rd Pennsylvania at Gettysburg:

The Regiment deployed with the Brigade on the northerly side of and charged through the Wheatfield, driving the enemy, and continuing the advance to this position, holding it until ordered to retire. July 3, in position with Division on left centre.Carried into action 135 officers and men. Killed, men 7. Wounded, officers 11, men 56. Captured or missing, men 6. Total 80.

< See Lt. Colonel McMichael ‘s Official Report on the 53rd Pennsylvania in the Battle of Gettysburg >

Battle of Gettysburg – Day 3

Remained in the entrenchments under heavy artillery fire.

Bristoe Campaign

Auburn and Bristoe

Mine Run Campaign

Payne’s Farm

Mine Run

New Hope Church

Demonstration on the Rapidan

Rapidan Campaign

Battle of the Wilderness

The 53rd Pennsylvania was detached guarding the corps trains until the afternoon, when it was called forward to the fighting along Brock Road. On the next day the regiment relieved the 19th Maine Infantry Regiment on the firing line. A major attack by Longstreet’s Corps was halted at the breastworks, although some of the works burned up. After nightfall the woods were ablaze and many wounded men died, unable to escape the flames. On the 7th the regiment was loaned to the First Brigade and spent the day rebuilding and reinforcing the breastworks and skirmishing.

Lieutenant Colonel Richards McMichael skinned his nose on a tree, “well fortified with drink.”

Battle of Spotsylvania Court House – Po River

Barlow’s Dvision crossed the Po River and attempted to flank the enemy but was stopped by Confederate defenses. Lieutenant Colonel Richards McMichael was relieved of command due to illness, and Lieutenant Colonel David L. Stricker of the 2nd Delaware Infantry Regiment temporarily took command of both regiments. The next day Barlow continued to try a way around or through the Confederates. The regiment attacked up a ravine to the crest of a hill, but after an hour of fighting had to fall back when the dense brush they were in caught fire. Unable to advance, Barlow pulled his division back late in the afternoon and recrossed the Po.

Battle of Spotsylvania Court House – Assault on the “Mule Shoe”

“There, on the following morning it stood in column, in readiness to join in the grand charge of the veteran 2nd Corps upon the strongly fortified position of the enemy.  Advancing silently until within a short distance of his works, the well formed lines rushed forward with wild hurrahs and in face of the desperate defense offered carried the position capturing an entire division.  No more brilliant or decisive charge was made during the campaign than this.”

The vicious hand to hand fighting lasted all day as the Confederates desperately tried to seal off the Union advance. The regiment used up its ammunition and was ordered to the rear around noon. Captain John J. Whitney of company F was killed.

Colonel Brooke was promoted to Brigadier General effective to this date. Captain John Shields of Company E was discharged for his Gettysburg wound.

North Anna River

The 53rd crossed the river and captured a ridge which overlooked the enemy defensive positions. In the late afternoon the regiment moved forward less than a mile and construcred breastworks. It was shelled by Confederate artillery but suffered no loss.

Battle of Cold Harbor

The Second Corps was ordered to march 12 miles during the night to support an early morning attack at Cold Harbor, but it lost its way and did not arrive until 6:30 a.m.The attack was postponed until late afternoon, and then until the next morning due to concern for the fatigue of the men. The regiment was moved up close to the Confederate lines and constructed breastworks.

Battle of Cold Harbor

The great attack by three corps formed up at 3 a.m. and moved forward at 5:30 a.m. in fog and darkness. The Confederates were in a fortified position on the crest of a hill in the regiment’s front.  It advanced into a heavy fire of artillery and musketry, suffering heavily in killed and wounded.  The enemy’s position was not taken and the men fell back a short distance and dug in. They stayed in the trenches, exchanging fire with the Confederates looking down on them from their hill, until the 12th.

Brigadier General John Brooke was badly wounded while in command of the brigade.

Grant’s First Assault on Petersburg

The regiment arrived in front of the Confederate defensive works in the morning. They formed up with the rest of the division and launched a bayonet charge. Heavy enemy artillery fire halted the charge and the men dug in “using cups, plates, bayonets and their bare hands.”

Another charge was ordered in the early evening, and it advanced almost to the fort, with some of the men coming so close they weree taken prisoner. The survivors fell back to the trenches they had dug earlier that day, having lost 70 men in the two attacks.

Siege of Petersburg Begins

Weldon Railroad

Captain Archibald Jones of Company G was discharged.

From the time they crossed the James until June 30 The regiment lost 10 men killed, 33 wounded, and 56 men captured or missing.

First Battle of Deep Bottom

The brigade was moved north of the James to attempt a movement against Richmond in order to divert Confederate troops from the Petersburg front when Grant exploded the mine at The Crater. The advance against Richmond was not successful, but Lee did divert Kershaw’s Division from the Petersburg front. Unfortunately, the Crater attack was a terrible failure.

Strawberry Plains, Second Battle of Deep Bottom

Hancock’s Corps was again moved north of the James to divert Confederate troops from the Petersburg front and from reinforcing Early’s troops in the Shenandoah Valley. Like first Deep Bottom, the Union attack was a failure, but strategically it succeeded in it goal of diverting Confederate forces. The regiment withdrew south of the James  on the 21st.

Second Battle of Ream’s Station

Hancock’s Corps marched around the army to its left flank and started tearing up the tracks of the Weldon Railroad, one of the main supply routes into Petersburg. Five miles had been destroyed when the Confederates attacked and the Second Corps formed a defensive line. The first enemy charge was turned back, but the second almost caused the collapse of the Second Corps. Continual fighting since May, heavy casualties, exhaustion, illness and low morale had taken the heart out of Hancock’s men, and they were forced to retreat to the Petersburg works.

First Sergeant Jason W. Stevens was promoted to Captain of Company G.

Battle of Dabney’s Mills, or Hatcher’s Run

Watkins House, Petersburg

Appomattox Campaign

Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher’s Run and White Oak Road

The brigade crossed Hatcher’s Run and marched across Vaughn Road. It formed a line of battle and advanced two miles, where it connected with the Fifth Corps.

Major Pifer took temporary command of the regiment while Colonel William Mintzer commanded a detachment. The brigade formed line behind the Fifth Corps to revent it from falling back. They then advanced across Licking Run to attack the Confederate flank, forcing them back to their earthworks along Whit Oak Road.  The regiment lost lost 15 men killed, one man mortally wounded, and 2 officers and 47 men wounded.

Fall of Petersburg and Sutherland Station

The Division marched in pursuit of the retreating Confederates until they came up on a solid defensive line ar Sutherland Station. An assault by two brigades was thrown back, and the regiment with its brigade was sent on a flank attack. advancing  “at double quick, with a hearty cheer and in magnificent order, striking the enemy in flank and sweeping rapidly down inside the breastworks, capturing a large number of prisoners and putting to flight the remainder.”  Six hundred prisoners, one lag, and two artillery pieces were captured by the division. The 53rd lost eight men wounded.

Sailor’s Creek

The regiment arrived on the field at the end of the battle  and was ordered to guard captured supplies and several hundred prisoners.

High Bridge, Farmville

The regiment continued its pursuit the next day, finding a Confederate rear guard attempting to prevent Union troops from crossing the bridges across the Appomattox at High Bridge. Union forces prevented the destruction of the bridges and pushed across the river. One many was killed and another wounded in what would prove to be the 53rd Pennsylvania’s last battle.

Appomattox Court House

The regiment reached a point four miles from Appomattox Court House on the Buckingham Road when word was received that Lee had surrendered. The exhausted regiment halted at once and camped along the road.