88Th Pennsylvania Infantry Soldier Roster

: Eighty-Eighth Regiment, Ol^T the 9tb of August, 18C1, George P. M'Lean, then Major of the Twenty- second Pennsylvania regiment, three months' service, received authority from the Secretary of War, Hon. Simon Cameron, to organize an infantry regiment, which was at first known as the Cameron Light Guards, subse- quently the Eighty-eighth. A camp was formed at Wissahickon, near Phila- delphia, recruiting actively commenced, and the regiment was scarcely filled before orders were received on October 1st, to report to General Casey, at Washington, for assignment to duty. The following were the field ofQcers George P. M'Lean, Colonel ; Joseph A. M'Lean, Lieutenant Colonel ; George W. Gile, Major, and Benezet F. Foust, Adjutant. Companies A, B, and H, were recruited in Berks county, and the remaining companies in Philadelphia. Immediately on its arrival in Washington, it was ordered into camp at Kendall Green. On the 12th of October, it moved to Alex- andria, Virginia, and was assigned to provost guard duty, in and around the city, relieving the Fourth New Jersey. Until this time (he command was without arras, having left Philadelphia but partially uniformed, and without equip- ments. The regiment here received the State colors, which were presented by Hon. Galusha A. Grow, Speaker of the House of Eepresentatives, and were received in behalf of the regiment by Hon. William D. Kelly, member of Con- gress from Philadelphia. Patriotic speeches were also made by Colonel M'- Lean, General Montgomery, in command of the district, and others. It was armed with the Enfield rifle. Guard duty was relieved of its monotony by company and battalion drills, and parades. The regiment continued on this duty, much to the satisfaction of the loyal citizens, until February 18th, 1802, when companies A, C, D, E and I, under Colonel M'Lean, were ordered to garrison the forts on the Maryland side of the Potomac. The remaining companies continued on duty in Alexandria, under command of Major Gile. On the 17th of April, the regiment was re-united, both battalions having been ordered to report to Brigadier General Duryea, at Cloud's Mills, near Al- exandria. Here it remained until the 23d, when it was detailed to guard the Orange and Alexandria Kailroad from Bull Eun to Fairfax Court House. Con- tinuing on this duty until May 7th, orders were received to report to Major Gen- eral M'Howell, then in command of a corps near Fredericksburg, and upon its arrival, it was placed in General Eicketts' Brigade, composed of the Twenty- sixth and Ninety-fourth New York, Eighty-eighth and Ninetieth Pennsylvania, of Ord's Division. On the 20th of May, the division was reviewed by General M'Dowell, and on the 23d, by President Lincoln. On the 25th, the corps received marching orders. Leaving camp in the afternoon, the regiment after a forced march arrived at Acquia Landing at midnight, and taking a transport next morning, 68 EIGHTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT. 18C2 reached Alexandria and encamped on the niglit of the 26tb, near Manassas. On the following day commenced a series of forced marches up the Shenan- doah Valley, passing through Thoroughfare Gap, White Plains, Salem, and Piedmont, arriving at Front Eoyal on the 31st. On the 1st of June, heavy firing was heard in the direction of Strasburg, supposed to be between General Shields and the enemy. The regiment was formed in line of battle expecting an attack, but after remaining some hours, was ordered to go into camp at the Forks of the Shenandoah Eiver. The weather was. very severe, the rain falling incessantly for eight days, causing much sickness. On the 18th of June, the command left its unhealthy camping- ground, and moved by rail to Manassas, thence to Warrenton, and subse- quently to Culpepper. On the 4th of August, General Pope having assumed command, preparations were made for an active campaign, and on the 9th, while on the march, cannonading was heard in front, and the column was hurried forward towards Cedar Mountain. The Eighty-eighth, now in General Tower's Brigade, General Eicketts being in command of the Division, was immediately led to the extreme right of General Banks' Corps, to relieve troops which had been actively engaged during the afternoon. Darkness was coming on, but the regiment while getting into position, was discovered by the enemy, who immediately opened upon it with artillery, which was replied to by Cap- tain Hall's Second Maine Battery, the regiment being between the two fires. The enemy's guns were in a short time silenced, and the troops placed in position to open the battle early next morning. But at day-break it was found that the enemy had fled, leaving his dead unburied. On the 14th of August, the line of march was taken up towards the Eapi- dan, halting near Pony Mountain, Large details were made for picket along the river bank, the rebel pickets being within hailing distance. On the 18th, orders were received to keep the camp fires brightly burning, and at midnight a retreat commenced. The enemy was endeavoring to flank the corps. A de- tail was made fi^om the regiment to destroy a bridge near Mitchell's Station, to impede the progress of the enemy in his pursuit. A portion of it fell pre- maturely, crushing Lieutenant Henry Hudson of company C, a brave and valuable officer, killing him almost instantly. Being on rear guard the regiment was frequently drawn up in line of battle, as the enemy were in close pursuit. After a hard and laborious march, about midnight of the 19th, the Eappahannock was crossed, and a halt made on the north bank. The next day the artillery on either side was continually engaged, the Eighty-eighth supporting the Second Maine Battery, posted in an exposed position. During this engagement several men were severely wounded. Skirmishing continued .daily until August 25th, when the whole command commenced falling back. After a severe march, the day being intensely hot, the regiment was about bi- vouacking at Warrenton, when a heavy cannonading commenced a few miles to the left, which continued without cessation for several hours. Orders were received to march in the direction of the firing. It was soon ascertained that Sigel's Corps was engaged. After marching about five miles the firing ceased, and the command returned, encamping just outside the town of Warrenton. On the 27th, a forced march was made, and on the evening of the 28th, a portion of the division encountered the enemy at Thoroughfare Gap. A fierce fight immediately commenced. The brigade was hurried forward, but being in rear, arrived as the rest of the division was actively engaged. Forming T862 BATTLE OF BULL RUN. 60 immediately in line of battle, the Eiglity-eightli was ordered to advance, but as the enemy disputed the passage in overpowering numbers, the whole corps was vv^ithdrawn to a position near Gainesville, arriving at midnight. On the foilowiug morning, the column continued on, passing Bristoe Station, and halt- ed in the afternoon near Manassas Junction. Eapid firing having commenced in front, the commaud advanced towards Bull Eun, which was reached at; nine P. M. About day-break of the 30th, the whole corps was formed in liue of battle, the Eighty-eighth frequently shifting position during the early part of the day. Meanwhile a portion of the line had engaged the enemy, and the brigade was drawn up in rear of a wood on the extreme left of the line as a reserve. Orders were received about four P. M., to hurry forward the commaud. It moved at a double quick, and while taking position, was attacked. The regiment opened a withering fire and was at once actively engaged. Col- onel M'Lean being absent, sick, the command devolved upon Lieutenant Col- onel Joseph A. M'Lean, who shortly after the action opened was mortally wounded, the command devolving on Major Giie. The fire in front was in- cessant and very severe. Portions of the lino on the left had broken, and batteries forced ft-orn their positions, had been driven through the ranks of the Eighty-eighth, when suddenly on their left appeared a heavy column of the enemy pouring in an enfilading fire. MeanwhUe the battle raged with great fury. Captain Belsterling fell instantly killed. Captains Wagner and Stretch and Lieutenants Street and Patterson, were wounded. General Tower had fallen, and been carried from the field. Men were falling rapidly on every side under the withering fire, and the regiment was at length forced to fall back closely followed by the enemy. Ee-forming, it again contested the enemy's advance, but it was impossible to stand the fire of artillery and musketry which was centred upon it, and it was again forced to retire, crossing Bull Eun Creek, and taking position near Centreville at midnight. The loss in this engagement was fifteen killed, one hundred and two wounded, and for- ty-eight missing. The body of Lieutenant Colonel M'Lean was left upon the field and never recovered. General Pope in his official report of the battle, thus refers to the action of the brigade: "The conduct of Tower's Brigade, Eicketts' Division, in plain view of all the forces on the left, was especially distinguished, and drew forth hearty cheers. The example of this brigade was of great service and infused new spirit into all the troops who witnessed their intrepid conduct." About noon of September 1st, the regiment was advanced some distance in the direction of Chantilly.

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