121st Pennsylvania Infantry The 121st Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry was a regiment of the Union Army during the United States Civil War . History . This regiment , chiefly recruited in the city of Philadelphia , and in the county of Venango , was organized at camp of rendezvous , near Chestnut Hill , Philadelphia , early in September , 1862 , with the following field officers : Soon after its organization , it was ordered to Washington , D . C . , and upon its arrival , went into camp at Arlington Heights . Arms and equipments were not delivered until some weeks after its arrival , but drill and instruction were immediately commenced , and prosecuted with vigor , the regiment becoming noted for good discipline at the drills and reviews of General Casey ' s Provisional Brigade , to which it was then attached . October 1862 . On 1 October , the regiment moved to Frederick , Maryland , and a week later joined General Meade ' s Division of Pennsylvania troops , above Sharpsburg , and near the battle ground of Antietam . With the exception of slight skirmishing , as the army moved south through Virginia , it had no experience in fighting until it entered upon the Fredericksburg campaign . After reaching Warrenton , where McClellan was replaced by Major General Ambrose Burnside , it passed through Fayetteville , Stafford Court House , Brooks ' Station , and White Oak Church , encamping a short time at each place . December 1862 . On 12 December , it crossed the Rappahannock at Franklin ' s Crossing , below Fredericksburg , and moved to a position near Deep Run , where it bivouacked for the night in line of battle . On the morning of the 13th , moving forward over the broken ground near the Run , it crossed the Bowling Green Road , and took position opposite a wooded hill on which the enemy lay in well provided breast - works . This movement was made under a fire of artillery from the left flank , which was kept up for more than an hour , by which the line was twice struck , and ten men disabled . it was at the same time exposed to a direct fire from the front , which was answered by Ransom ' s guns in the immediate front of the regiment . A rebel caisson that was at this juncture fortunately exploded , when , taking advantage of the favorable moment , the order was given to advance , and the division crossed the plain , four hundred yards wide , under fire from front and both flanks , drove the rebel skirmishers from a deep ditch which skirted the woods , ascended the slope of the hill , and broke the line of the enemy , which was distinctly marked by his dead . The line of battle of the division having been somewhat disordered by the inequalities of the ground over which it had passed , and the obstructions met , it was here partially re - formed , and the position held without further orders , under a hot fire from all directions . The impression prevailing that the troops were surrounded , the fire of the enemy coming from flanks and rear , in the absence of orders from either brigade or division chiefs , the troops retired to put themselves in communication with them ; but finding that they were entirely unsupported , they took up a position facing the woods , still under fire , from which they were finally ordered to retire to the position occupied in the early morning . During Sunday , the 14th , and Monday , the 15th , the position was retained , in the hope that the enemy might be tempted from his fastness on the wooded heights , to the open fields below ; but finding no indications of a hostile movement on his part , the army was withdrawn , and the regiment retired to camping ground near White Oak Church . January 1863 . A few weeks later it moved to Belle Plain , where it remained in huts and under canvas during the winter , performing the usual routine of picket duty and drill . The loss in the campaign was one hundred and eighty , chiefly sustained in the action at Fredericksburg , including two officers killed , Lieutenants George W . Brickley and M . W . C . Barclay , for lost to the service : one by wounds , and one from sickness . Burnside ' s second campaign , which was entered upon on 20 January 1863 , was cut short by impassable roads . The artillery could not be moved , and after four days of exposure to the chilling weather , the army returned to its encampments . In returning , the regiment was left behind to assist in extricating the artillery , and afterwards to explore its way through an unknown country back to camp . This and another fruitless expedition to Port Conway , which the rebels , from the southern shore of the Rappahannock , were suspected of visiting , were the only variations from the usual routine of camp duty experienced during the winter . Spring 1863 . The spring campaign opened with the march of the army to Chancellorsville . The First and Fifth corps were at first moved to Franklin ' s Crossing , of the Rappahannock , where they remained in support of the Sixth Corps , which made the passage of the stream , while Hooker , with the remaining three corps , marched and crossed several miles above . After remaining here until the 30th , the Third Corps , and on the 2d of May the First Corps , also moved above , and crossing , re - joined the army at Chancellorsville . After the reverse of the Eleventh Corps , on the evening of 2 May , the First Corps was hurried away from the extreme left , where it had halted on its way to the front , to the right , to meet a triumphant foe . The regiment , although much worn by fatiguing duty , suffered but slight loss . When the army withdrew to the neighborhood of Falmouth , after the battle , the regiment was stationed near the banks of the Rappahannock , three miles in advance of its former camping ground . Summer 1863 . On the , 12 June the Gettysburg campaign opened , the regiment moving by steady , rapid marches to Centreville , which it reached on the 16th , thence to Broad Run , crossed the Potomac at Edwards ' Ferry , passing through Middletown , and arriving at Emmettsburg on the 29th . On the night of the 30th , the regiment formed the advance picket of the Third Division , Doubleday ' s , at a point about seven miles from Gettysburg , covering the ground from Marsh Creek to Middle Creek , the centre of the line being near the Cross Roads at Ross White ' s house . On the morning of 1 July , the regiment marched at the head of the brigade , composed of the One Hundred and Twenty - first , One Hundred and Fifty - first , and One Hundred and Forty - second Pennsylvania regiments , the Twentieth New York Regiment , and a battery of artillery , all under command of Colonel Biddle , Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Biddle being in command of the regiment . As the brigade approached Gettysburg , the noise of artillery was heard , and shells were seen bursting over some distant woods . Crossing the hills to the west of the town , it came upon Buford ' s Cavalry , which was engaging the enemy , and formed in a field facing to the westward , with a wood in front held by the enemy . Soon afterwards it moved to the north , and united with the left of the First Division , under General Wadsworth , arriving in time to meet an advance of the enemy through the woods to the west of the Theological Seminary . The position thus occupied , was held during most of the day , though frequently changing front as the enemy manifested a disposition to advance from the north or from the west . With his numerous batteries , the enemy kept up a vigorous shelling of the position , until he made his final assault at half past two in the afternoon , advancing from the north and the west in overpowering force . To meet his attack from the west , a change of front was made , which brought the One Hundred and Twenty - first on the extreme left of the line , having upon its right the Twentieth New York , then a battery , and upon the extreme right , the One Hundred and Forty - second . The One Hundred and Fifty - first Pennsylvania having been previously detached to support the Second Brigade , commanded by General Roy Stone , was posted near the pike , farther to the right , and just in rear of the Seminary , but was subsequently brought up and formed on the right of the One Hundred and Forty - second . The enemy ' s line of battle extended far beyond the extreme left of the Union line , lapping around it , his fire completely enfilading the One Hundred and Twenty - first Regiment . When the direct assault on the front of the brigade came , it was at first successfully resisted . His line was received with an effective fire , and wounded men of the brigade , who were left upon the field , afterwards reported that none but scattered troops ever passed over the position ; but his forces swarming in upon the left , and completely outflanking the brigade , gave no chance for successful resistance . The ground was , however , held until the brigade battery was withdrawn in safety , when the fragment of the command remaining , retired to a barricade in the woods , to the rear of the Seminary . Clinging to this until a large portion of the troops engaged , and the artillery and ambulances had passed on through the town , the brigade withdrew to Cemetery Hill , and re - formed in rear of its crest . Receiving a fresh supply of cartridges , the regiment was held in readiness to repel an anticipated assault from General Ewell , who had come in from the north ; but no assault came , the rebel troops seeming content with their successes , and the men bivouacked at night , feeling that though beaten and driven back from their position of the morning , they had successfully checked the enemy , in vastly superior numbers , until a new position could be taken , immeasurably better than the first , and until the army could come up in sufficient strength to successfully cope with its adversary . A beautiful rainbow seen in the west seemed to promise better fortune for the morrow . Out of seven officers and two hundred and fifty - six men who entered the engagement in the morning , there " ere left at night but two officers and eighty - two men an aggregate of one hundred and seventy . nine , either killed , wounded , or missing , upwards of sixty - five per cent . On the following day , the brigade occupied a position on the Taneytown Road , to the left of the Cemetery , and during the cannonade in the afternoon , was much exposed , the enemy ' s shells , from opposite directions , frequently bursting in the same field . Early on the morning of the 3d , it was moved into line of battle on the left centre , the regiment occupying a position immediately in front of General Doubleday ' s headquarters . A barricade of rails was , thrown up for its protection , in case it should be pressed by infantry ; but in the fierce cannonade by the enemy in the afternoon , which preceded his last grand charge , this barricade was shattered , and levelled with the dust . The men slept on their arms during the succeeding night , and on the two following days were employed in clearing the field , and in burying the dead . On the afternoon of the 5th , the enemy being in full retreat , it moved with the corps by the Emmittsburg Road , and crossing the mountains opposite Hagerstown , came up with the enemy , in position near Williamsport . His skirmishers were speedily driven in . Pausing before his intrenched line , until the forces could be brought into position , an advance was ordered ; but the enemy had made good his escape across the Potomac , and his intrenchments were possessed with but the feeble opposition of a line of skirmishers . Returning over the South Mountains to Berlin , the regiment crossed the Potomac , followed substantially the route of the previous year to Warrenton and Rappahannock Station , and thence , after the lapse of some weeks , through Brandy Station , and Culpepper , to a point near Raccoon Ford on the Rapidan , where it remained until Lee attempted to turn the right of the Union army , causing a retrograde movement . The regiment , then moved via Paoli Mills to Kelly ' s Ford , where it was engaged in throwing up rifle - pits , and guarding the crossing , until it was ascertained that the rebel army had passed the stream above , when it marched at midnight , passing Warrenton Junction , Catlett ' s and Bristoe Stations , and arrived with the division up on the Centreville Heights , in time to prevent their occupation by Lee ' s advance , which had arrived in close proximity . As the rest of the army came up , the division moved out towards the Chantilly battle ground , and upon the abandonment of offensive operations by the enemy , and his consequent retirement , advanced again towards Haymarket and Thoroughfare Gap . At Haymarket , a force of the enemy , supposed to be Stuart ' s Cavalry , dismounted , attacked at night , and in the conflict the regiment received a volley in the darkness , but fortunately without loss . As the enemy continued to fall back , Meade advanced . At Catlett ' s Station , the One - Hundred and Twenty - first was detailed for special duty in defending the Cedar Run Bridge , and in guarding the depots of stock , provision , and hospital stores deposited there , which duty it continued to perform - until the close of the Mine Run campaign , when the army retired to winter - quarters on the left bank of the Rapidan . The regiment was then ordered to Paoli Mills , and subsequently to Culpepper , where it went into camp , and finally to permanent quarters . Winter 1863 . During the winter , the First Corps , which , since its great sacrifices at Gettysburg , had been composed of little more than skeleton regiments , was broken up , and distributed to other corps . By this change , the One Hundred and Twenty - first became part of the Fifth Corps , and though increased in numbers by the addition of a full company , which had been on duty at headquarters , was never after able to bring more than two hundred men into the field , no facilities having been afforded for recruiting . Colonel Chapman Biddle was honorably discharged on 10 December 1863 , and Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Biddle , on 9 January 1864 . Thereupon , Thomas M . Hall , who had been promoted to Major , in December , 1863 , was made Lieutenant Colonel . During the winter the regiment remained in camp a short distance from Culpepper , engaged in the usual routine of camp and picket duty . May 1864 . At one o ' clock on the morning of 4 May , the regiment moved on the Wilderness campaign . On the following morning , having crossed the Rapidan at Germania Ford , it moved forward , and as it became evident that the enemy was in front , took position in a dense thicket , through which it was compelled to cut alleys before it could advance . At noon it came upon the foe , and became hotly engaged , holding its ground by hard fighting until four P . M . , when it was obliged to retire , after having lost heavily in killed and wounded , and was moved to the left to the support of the Second Corps . Early on the morning of the 6th , in conjunction with the Second Corps , which was formed in three lines of battle , it moved forward under a galling fire from the enemy in front , and a raking flank fire from his batteries . The ground was fiercely contested , and the command was finally checked and forced to fall back . But renewing the attack , it soon regained the lost ground . The enemy was here heavily reinforced , and succeeded in pushing the Union column back to the Gordonsville Road , where temporary works had been hastily thrown up . Artillery could not be used on account of the nature of the ground , and the three lines with which the advance was made had been gradually moulded into one . At the Gordonsville Road , the brigade to which the One Hundred and Twenty - first was attached , was posted in rear of , and supporting a portion of the Second Corps . Late in the afternoon the enemy , with a recklessness rarely witnessed , charged upon the works , and in face of the deadly volleys of the infantry , and the more terrible fire of the artillery , succeeded in carrying a part of the line on the left , and in planting two of his standards upon the defenses . At this juncture the brigade , with the One Hundred and Twenty - first on the extreme right , which until this moment had been lying prostrate upon the ground a few yards in the rear , was ordered to advance , and springing forward , came down upon the victorious enemy with a steady and unflinching front , pouring upon him volley after volley , wrenching from him his dear bought advantage , and driving him in confusion to the woods beyond . With the exception of slight skirmishing , this ended the fighting for the day . After refilling the cartridge boxes , the men rested during the night in the works , and on the morning of the 7th were led to the rear , where they remained until night - fall , and then commenced the march towards Spottsylvania Court House , the enemy in the Wilderness having taken to his works . All night long the march was continued , reaching Laurel Hill , on the morning of the 8th , relieving a portion of the First Division , of the Fifth Corps , which was engaging the enemy under a heavy cross - fire from batteries in position on an eminence to its left . Finding him too strongly posted to be driven out with the force at hand , the ground was held , and temporary works were thrown up . During the following day the command was occupied in keeping the enemy at bay , being subjected the while to an annoying fire from two of his pieces . On the 10h the command advanced , and engaged him in front of the works until late in the afternoon , when bayonets were fixed , and all preparations made for a charge . But before the advance was made , the order was countermanded , and during the 11th it lay in the works . The next night a second line in rear of the first was thrown up , and on the 12th the command again advanced in column , under a heavy cross - fire of artillery ; but after a fierce struggle , in which many of the bravest fell , it was compelled to retire . In the action of the 10th , Captain William W . Dorr , in command of the regiment , was among the killed , At evening it was taken to the left , where it relieved a portion of the Sixth Corps , and lay during the night in line of battle . On the morning of the 13th it returned to its former position , and towards mid - day resumed the march towards Spottsylvania Court House , getting into position on the enemy ' s front at daylight of the following morning . On the 18th it again advanced and threw up a line of works , which it occupied under continual artillery fire , with occasional sharp skirmishing , until the 21st . On that day it moved on to Guinea Station , where the regiment was deployed as skirmishers , and advanced two miles , capturing a number of prisoners , and routing a rebel battery . On the 23d the command again met the enemy in force at Jericho Ford , and immediately engaged him , and with the assistance of the artillery , forced him to withdraw . In this affair the conduct of the brigade was warmly complimented by General Cutler , then in command of the division . On the 25th a movement was made to the left , and the regiment was thrown forward as skirmishers , acting a , such during the entire day , and losing ten in killed and wounded . Lieutenant and Adjutant John Iungerich was here mortally wounded , expiring a month later . On the 28th , the Pamunky River was crossed , a little in advance of the enemy , when works for the defence of the position were hastily thrown up , and on the 30th the command took position on the right of the Pennsylvania Reserves , which were hotly engaged . June 1864 . On 1 June the regiment advanced on the Mechanicsville Road , near Bethesda Church , under a raking fire of artillery , suffering considerable loss , but driving the rebel skirmishers , and throwing up breast - works in the edge of the woods from . which they retreated . After dark a further advance was made through the woods , and to within a stone ' s throw of the rebel pickets , where entrenching was quietly but diligently prosecuted , and the morning light disclosed to the astonished rebels a strong line of works under their very noses . Their artillery was hurried away to safe positions , and for five days the brigade held the ground under a continuous fire of artillery and sharpshooters . On 6 June the brigade reached Cold Harbor , where it was transferred to the First Division , in command of General Chamberlain . Intrenching , skirmishing , and hard marching was kept up until the 14thll , when it reached the James , and on the 16th crossed and took position in front of Petersburg . On the 18th it again advanced , and crossing the Norfolk Railroad , drove in the enemy ' s skirmishers , sustaining a heavy loss , but establishing a permanent line . This was held until the night of the 20th , when the troops were relieved by the Ninth Corps , and retired to the rear . On the night of the 21st the brigade advanced in line on the left , through a thick wood , and under the fire of the rebel skirmishers threw up a breast - work , and was here employed in constructing what was subsequently known as Fort Hell . As the formation was particularly exposed , much care had to be exercised in the early stages of the work , to elude the attention of the enemy . The fort was finished and occupied by two batteries of heavy artillery before the springing of the mine , which occurred on 31 July , and sustained without damage , the heavy rebel fire which was then brought to bear upon it . August 1864 . On 18 August the regiment moved with the corps for the destruction of the Weldon Railroad . and after crossing the Blackwater , was deployed as skirmishers , driving in the rebel skirmishers as it advanced . The road having been effectually destroyed for a long distance , the brigade retired to works thrown up along the line of the ruins . On the 21st the regiment occupied a position in line on the left , and about two hundred yards in rear of the extreme left of the Fourth Division , which was on that day hotly engaged . The enemy finally advanced in column , charging the works in front of the Fourth Division , and sweeping around its left , thinking to come in upon an unprotected rear , but suddenly encountered the brigade , prepared to receive them . Determined not to be foiled in their purpose , they fought obstinately for some time , returning the fire that was poured in upon them , with the utmost spirit and determination , and only when almost annihilated did their spirit forsake them . But few escaped , hundreds being killed and wounded ; while many seeing no other alternative , threw down their arms and came pouring over the works , bringing in several stands of colors . After this short but decisive contest , the brigade moved farther to the left , and erected new works . September 1864 . On 12 September the regiment was transferred to the First Brigade of the Third Division , and five days later was transferred to the Third Brigade of this division . With this brigade , it marched on the 30th to Peeble ' s Farm , to the extreme right of the enemy ' s line , and , during the night succeeding , threw up a line of works on the crest of a hill . Early on the following morning the enemy , in great force , supported by artillery , made a furious attack . The works were held by the brigade until the line was broken to right and left of it , when , the enemy coming in upon both flanks , compelled it to give way , and nearly half of the regiment , including the Colonel and seven line officers , were captured . The morning report of the following day showed but four commissioned officers and eighty - five enlisted men present for duty . Winter 1865 . During the succeeding winter the regiment remained in camp with the brigade , on the extreme left of the line , participating in but two movements of importance . The first was made on 4 December , by a force consisting of the Fifth Corps , one division of the Second , and a division of cavalry , all under command of General Warren , the purpose of which was to destroy the Weldon Railroad , as far south as possible . Striking the road twenty miles out from Petersburg , the work of destruction was continued , with little opposition , as far as Bellefield . The troops being without camp equipment , and exposed to a fearful storm of rain and hail , suffered severely . The second was entered upon on 6 February 1865 , and extended to Hatcher ' s Run . It resulted in severe fighting , without decisive results . Upon the occasion of the rebel attack on Fort Steadman , on 25 March , the regiment was put in motion with other troops , for the scene of conflict , but the assault was successful y repelled before it reached the ground , and immediately returned to its quarters . March 1865 . On 31 March it participated in the attack , on the enemy ' s position at the Boydton Plank Road , and on the following day on his position at Five Forks , where he was completely routed , losing most of his artillery . The advantage here gained was rapidly followed up , and on the 9th the rebel army laid down its arms at Appomattox Court House . While the rebel troops were being paroled , the regiment performed guard duty in the town , with headquarters at the Court House . On the 12th it moved in charge of captured property , and proceeded with it to Burkesville Station , on the South Side Railroad , after which it was encamped for two weeks along this road . It then moved to Petersburg , thence to Richmond , and finally went into camp on Arlington Heights opposite Washington , D . C . , where on 2 June , it was mustered out of service .