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61st Pennsylvania Infantry

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Muster In: Organized at Pittsburg September 7, 1861.1
Muster Out: Mustered out June 28, 1865.2

Commander(s):
Colonel George F. Smith
Commander Image

Lieutenant Colonel John W. Crosby
Commander Image

Major Robert L. Orr
Commander Image

Captain Lewis Redenbach
Commander Image

Captain William H. Rodgers
Commander Image

Captain Charles H. Clausen
Commander Image

Captain Albert A. Nickerson
Commander Image

First Offensive Order of Battle: Third Brigade | Second Division | VI Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army3,4

Second Offensive Order of Battle: Third Brigade | Second Division | VI Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army6,7

Third Offensive Order of Battle: Third Brigade | Second Division | VI Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army10

  • Commander: Captain William H. Rodgers (July 31, 1864)11
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: The Third Brigade, Second Division, Sixth Corps moved to City Point, Va. on July 9 and embarked for Washington, D.C. at 11 am on July 10, 1864.12,13

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle:

  • Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.14

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle:

  • Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.15

Sixth Offensive Order of Battle:

  • Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.16

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle: Third Brigade | Second Division | VI Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union17

  • Commander: Captain Charles H. Clausen (December 31, 1864)18
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: This unit was ordered to the Siege of Petersburg on December 1, 1864.19
  • Note: The 61st Pennsylvania consisted of seven (7) companies at this time.20

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle: Third Brigade | Second Division | VI Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union21,22

  • Commander:
    • Captain Albert A. Nickerson (January 1865)23
    • Major Robert L. Orr (February 28, 1865)24
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: The 61st Pennsylvania consisted of seven (7) companies at this time.25,26

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle: Third Brigade | Second Division | VI Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union27,28

  • Commander:
    • Lieutenant Colonel John W. Crosby (killed April 2)(March 31, 1865)29
    • Colonel George F. Smith (April 2, 1865)30
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Dyer’s/Sifakis’ Compendium Info:
Siege of Petersburg Battles31:

  • Before Petersburg June 17-19.
  • Siege of Petersburg until July 9.
  • Jerusalem Plank Road June 22-23.
  • Moved to Washington, D.C., July 9-11.
  • Repulse of Early’s attack on Fort Stevens and the Northern Defenses of Washington July 11-12. Pursuit of Early to Snicker’s Gap July 14-19. Sheridan’s Shenandoah Valley Campaign August to December. Charlestown August 21. Gilbert’s Ford, Opequan Creek, September 13. Battle of Opequan, Winchester, September 19. Fisher’s Hill September 22. Battle of Cedar Creek October 19. Duty in the Shenandoah Valley until December.
  • Ordered to Petersburg, Va., December 1.
  • Siege of Petersburg December, 1864, to April, 1865.
  • Fort Fisher, Petersburg, March 25, 1865.
  • Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9.
  • Assault on and fall of Petersburg April 2.
  • Pursuit of Lee April 3-9.
  • Appomattox C. H. April 9.
  • Surrender of Lee and his army.

Bibliography:

    Siege of Petersburg Documents Which Mention This Unit:

    Sources:

    1. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    2. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    3. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), p. 227 ↩
    4. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 2 (Serial Number 81), p. 548 ↩
    5. Volume 14 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 61st Pennsylvania Entry, Page 48; Summary Statements of Quarterly Returns of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores on Hand in Regular and Volunteer Army Organizations, 1862-1867, 1870-1876. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1281, Roll 7); Records of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, 1797-1969, Record Group 156; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C. ↩
    6. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), p. 227 ↩
    7. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 2 (Serial Number 81), p. 548 ↩
    8. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 2 (Serial Number 81), p. 548 ↩
    9. Volume 14 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 61st Pennsylvania Entry, Page 48; Summary Statements of Quarterly Returns of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores on Hand in Regular and Volunteer Army Organizations, 1862-1867, 1870-1876. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1281, Roll 7); Records of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, 1797-1969, Record Group 156; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C. ↩
    10. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), page 258 ↩
    11. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XXVII, Part 2 (Serial Number 71), page 551 ↩
    12. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XXVII, Part 1 (Serial Number 70), page 273 ↩
    13. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    14. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    15. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    16. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    17. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 1120: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864) ↩
    18. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 1120: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864) ↩
    19. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    20. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 1120: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864) ↩
    21. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 330: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865) ↩
    22. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 744: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865) ↩
    23. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 330: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865) ↩
    24. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 744: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865) ↩
    25. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 330: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865) ↩
    26. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 744: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865) ↩
    27. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 572: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865) ↩
    28. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 587: “Return of casualties in the Union Forces commanded by Lieut. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, March 29-April 9, 1865” ↩
    29. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 572: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865) ↩
    30. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 572: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865) ↩
    31. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩

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