54th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment
Union Army infantry regiment
The 54th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment which served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Organized in Camp Curtin on February 27, 1862, the regiment was initially sent to defend the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad against guerrilla bands before taking part in the Valley Campaigns of 1864, fighting from the Battle of New Market to the Battle of Cedar Creek. The 54th would later participate in Appomattox Campaign, participating the capture of Fort Greg and taking part in the Battle of High Bridge.
History
Organization
The 54th was recruited during August and September 1861. The companies were from the following counties:
Company A Indiana and Cambria Counties
Company B Somerset County
Company C Somerset County
Company D Somerset County
Company E Cambria County
Company F Harrisburg
Company G Somerset County
Company H Northampton, Cambria, and Somerset Counties
Company I Cambria County
Company K Allentown, Lehigh County
Early service
Jacob M. Campbell was selected as colonel of the regiment, Barnabas McDermit as lieutenant colonel and John P. Linton as major. The companies were gathered together and organized at Camp Curtin in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.On February 27, 1862, the regiment was ordered to Washington, D.C., and then sent to Harpers Ferry the following month. Once there, the companies were detached to various points along the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad to defend it against guerrilla bands. The companies were assigned as follows:
Company A: South Band Bridge, under the command of Captain John P. Suter
Company B: Paw Paw, under the command of Captain John H. Hite
Company C: Great Cacapon Bridge, under the command of Captain E. D. Yutzy
Company D: Alpine Station, under the command of Captain Thomas H. Lapsly
Company E: Water Station Number 12 (later Magnolia, WV), under the command of Captain Patrick Graham
Company F: Sleepy Creek Bridge, under the command of Captain G. W. Davis
Company G: Back Creek Bridge, under the command of Captain F. B. Long
Company H: Rockwell's Run, under the command of Captain John O. Billheimer
Company I: Sir John's Run, under the command of Captain William B. Bonacker
Company K: Little Cacapon Bridge, under the command of Captain Edmond R. Newhard
On October 4, 1862, a Confederate force led by Brig. Gen. John D. Imboden captured Companies B and K at the Paw Paw station (both of which were exchanged in December).
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