Hd Quarters 28^th Reg^t P.V.M. July 19^th 1863

 

To Alexander Farnham

            A.A.A.Gen^l 4^th Brigade 1^st Div Dep^t Susquehanna

 

Sir

I have the honor to submit the following as the Official Report of the marches performed and the engagements participated in by the 28^th Reg^t Penn^a Vol. Militia under my command.

 

I received marching orders from Camp Curtin on the 25^th June last, the regimental organization having been completed on the 24^th of same month, and in accordance with instruction crossed the Susquehanna river and reported to Gen^l Hall commanding forces in front of Harrisburg and by him ordered to report to Brig. Gen^l Jesse C Smith commanding forces inside of the fortifications there erected. On the 27^th June Co^s H A & E of my Reg^t under command of Maj W^m H Jessup were detached and sent up the river to guard the Penn^a RR Bridge by order of Col. W^m Brisbane Commanding 4^th Brig. 1^st Div. Dept. Susquehanna to whom I was ordered to report. On the morning of the 29^th Co^s D K & G were sent out on picket duty to the right of the line with the 2^nd Reg^t of Blue Reserves and at noon the remaining Co^s B C F & I with myself & Lieut. Col M^cCleery were ordered to support the left of the line then threatened with an attack by a force of Rebel Cavalry and Artillery. About 1 PM the enemy appeared in considerable numbers in our immediate front. Co^s C F & I were deployed as skirmishers; Co B being / held on the right of the road in reserve. We men held the ground successfully and with great credit during the afternoon, and remained on picket all night. In the morning the enemy had retired. On the 1^st of July we joined the advance to Carlisle reaching the place at or near 6.30 PM. We had just broken ranks in Market Square to partake of refreshments prepared by the Citizens, when the enemy appeared on the outskirts of the town, with Cavalry and Artillery under command of Gen^l Fitz Hugh Lee and immediately commenced shelling our troops. By order I deployed Co^s B & G to the front as skirmishers and was assigned to the command of the pickets during the night, the remaining Co^s under L^t Col M^cCleery took possession of the houses near Market Square to repel an apprehended charge by Cavalry. A demand to surrender sent in by Flag of Truce was refused by Gen^l W F Smith commanding the Division and about 9 PM their artillery opened upon the town and continued firing until near midnight. Several efforts to gain a foot hold in the town were promptly repelled by the pickets under my command with the loss of two wounded from my Reg^t one from each of the Co^s with me. Before daylight of July 2^nd the enemy had retreated toward Gettysburg having done but small damage to the town aside from the burning of the Gas House and US Barracks. July 4^th marched through Mt. Holly Springs and Papertown to Pine Grove in a drenching rain storm. Started early on the 6^th and marched over the mountain to the Baltimore pike at a point eight miles from Gettysburg.

 

July 7^th Resumed our line of march and before 5oc reached Waynesboro and found there encamped a portion of the Army of the Potomac. / Remained in camp at this place until the 13^th without any incident transpiring worthy of notice except a reconnaissance toward the Maryland line by the 1^st Reg^t of Gray Reserves and the 28^th resulting in the capture of two prisoners and the destruction of a quantity of flour and grain Co^s "E" & "C" rejoined the Reg^t then from Shippensburg having been doing guard duty there, Co "A" Capt Jones command remaining there for that purpose.

 

On the 13^th we marched to Hagerstown and immediately were ordered on picket within sight of the enemy fortifications and rifle range of their sharp shooters. The pickets were posted without accident or loss. During the night the enemy withdrew his forces and retreated toward the Potomac

 

On the 16^th Co "A" rejoined the Reg^t and for the first time since leaving the line of the Susquehanna the ten Cos composing the Reg^t encamped together.

 

I take pleasure in adding that the men under my command although frequently suffering from want of food and shelter and exposed to uncommonly inclement weather and heavy rains endured the marches with a cheerfulness of spirits worthy of veterans

 

I have the honor to be

Most Respectfully Your Obt. servant

Ja^s Chamberlin

Col. Comdg 28^th Regt. P.V.M.

 

To

Alexander Farnham

A.A.A.Genl. 4^th Brigade /

 

[overleaf]

 

Miscellaneous Communications

July 19. 1863

Detailed a/c of operations

of 28^th Reg^t P.V.

SOURCES