The 128th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry was an

infantry Infantry is a military specialization which engages in ground combat on foot. Infantry generally consists of light infantry, mountain infantry, motorized infantry & mechanized infantry, airborne infantry, air assault infantry, and marine i ...

regiment A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, service and/or a specialisation. In Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of front-line soldiers, recruited or conscripted ...

that served in the

Union Army During the American Civil War, the Union Army, also known as the Federal Army and the Northern Army, referring to the United States Army, was the land force that fought to preserve the Union (American Civil War), Union of the collective U.S. st ...

during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

Service

The 128th Pennsylvania Infantry was organized at Camp Curtin near

Harrisburg Harrisburg is the capital city of the Pennsylvania, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, Dauphin County. With a population of 50,135 as of the 2021 census, Harrisburg is the List of c ...

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...

, and mustered in August 14, 1862 under the command of

Colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...

Samuel Croasdale. The regiment was attached to 1st Brigade, 1st Division,

XII Corps 12th Corps, Twelfth Corps, or XII Corps may refer to: * 12th Army Corps (France) * XII Corps (Grande Armée), a corps of the Imperial French Army during the Napoleonic Wars * XII (1st Royal Saxon) Corps, a unit of the Imperial German Army * XII (Ro ...

Army of the Potomac The Army of the Potomac was the principal Union Army in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. It was created in July 1861 shortly after the First Battle of Bull Run and was disbanded in June 1865 following the surrender of the Confedera ...

. The 128th Pennsylvania Infantry mustered out May 19, 1863.

Detailed service

Left Pennsylvania for Washington, D.C., August 16, and duty there until September 6. Moved to Frederick, Md., September 6–14. Battle of Antietam, Md., September 16–17. At Sandy Hook and Maryland Heights September 22 to December 10. Moved to Fairfax Station, Va., December 10–14. Duty there until January 19, 1863. Moved to Stafford Court House January 19–23, and duty there until April 27. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27 – May 6. Battle of Chancellorsville May 1–5.

Casualties

The regiment lost a total of 59 men during service; 2 officers and 31 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 26 enlisted men died of disease. More than half the regiment was surrounded and captured at the Battle of Chancellorsville (9 officers and 225 men).

Commanders

* Colonel Samuel Croasdale – killed in action at the Battle of Antietam * Colonel Joseph A. Mathews – captured at the Battle of Chancellorsville *

Lieutenant Colonel Lieutenant colonel ( , ) is a rank of commissioned officers in the armies, most marine forces and some air forces of the world, above a major and below a colonel. Several police forces in the United States use the rank of lieutenant colone ...

William W. Hammersly – commanded at the Battle of Antietam after Col. Croasdale was killed in action until wounded in action; resigned January 1863 due to his wounds received at Antietam *

Major Major (commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicators ...

Joel B. Wanner – commanded at the Battle of Antietam after Ltc. Hammersly was wounded in action

Notable members

* Corporal

Ignatz Gresser Ignatz Gresser (August 15, 1835 – August 1, 1919) was an American soldier and member of the 128th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment who fought in the American Civil War and was awarded the Medal of Honor for carrying a wounded Union soldier fro ...

, Company D –

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor. ...

recipient for action at the Battle of Antietam

References

* Biles, Daniel V. ''A Soldier's Journey: An Account of Private Isaac Bobst, 128th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry and 1st Pennsylvania Cavalry, from Antietam to Andersonville'' (Gettysburg, PA: Thomas Publications), 1990. * Dyer, Frederick H. ''A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion'' (Des Moines, IA: Dyer Pub. Co.), 1908. * Nicholas, Alexander F. ''Second Brigade of the Pennsylvania Reserves at Antietam'' (Harrisburg, PA: Harrisburg Pub. Co.), 1908. ;Attribution * {{CWR

External links

National flag of the 128th Pennsylvania Infantry

128th Pennsylvania Infantry monument at Antietam Battlefield
Military units and formations established in 1862 Military units and formations disestablished in 1863 Units and formations of the Union Army from Pennsylvania