63rd Regiment, Pennsylvania Infantry

Historical Sketch:
Cols., Alexander Hays, A. S. M. Morgan, William S. Kirkwood, John A. Danks; Lieut.-Cols., A. S. M. Morgan, William S. Kirkwood, John A. Danks; Majs., Maurice Wallace, William S. Kirkwood, John A. Danks, James F. Ryan, G. W. McCullough. The 63d regiment was mustered in at Pittsburg in Aug. and Sept., 1861, for three years. It was recruited from the counties of Allegheny, Beaver, Clarion, Venango and Mercer and was mustered into the U. S. service at intervals during the above named months, four companies leaving for Washington on Aug. 26, and the others near the close of September. Many of the officers and men had served in the 12th infantry, Col. Hays having been major of that organization, as well as a graduate of West Point and a veteran of the Mexican war. It was assigned to the 3d brigade (Col. Jameson), composed of Pennsylvania troops, Heintzelman's division, and spent the entire winter near Fort Lyon engaged in drill and picket duty. On March 5, 1862, Capt. Chapman of Co. K, and Quartermaster Lysle were killed in a skirmish on the picket line — the first men to fall in action. It had its full share of fighting throughout the Peninsular campaign; shared in the siege of Yorktown; arrived too late to be engaged at Williamstown ; was engaged with heavy loss at Fair Oaks, holding the Williamsburg Road on the left in this action; was again heavily engaged at Charles City cross-roads, where it was highly commended for its gallantry by Gens. Kearny and Berry, and was present but not active at Malvern hill. It remained with the army at Harrison's landing until it moved to the support of Pope on the Rappahannock, when it participated with its divison under Kearny in the second Bull Run action, suffering heavily. Said Kearny in his report: "The 63d Pa. and the 40th N. Y. under the brave Col. Egan, suffered the most. The gallant Hays is badly wounded." It was engaged at Chantilly and then was posted in the defenses of Washington until after the battle of Antietam, when it moved to Poolesville, Md., performing scouting duty, rejoined the army at Leesburg, and moved with it to Warrenton. At Fredericksburg the 63d was upon the front line for 48 hours before it was relieved. It then returned to its old camp at Falmouth; shared in the "Mud March" of Jan., 1863; was heavily engaged at the battle of Chancellorsville, where out of 330 men in action, 120 were reported killed, wounded or missing, Col. Kirkwood being mortally wounded and Maj. Danks captured. As a part of Sickles' (3d) corps, it participated in the battle of Gettysburg, arriving on the battlefield on the evening of the first day. Though occupying an exposed position for two days, its loss was comparatively small. During the ensuing movement into Virginia, it was engaged at Wapping heights. At Culpeper it received 300 drafted recruits, and in the fall campaign of this year was active at Auburn mills, Kelly's ford and Locust Grove. The winter of 1863-64 was spent at Brandy Station and on May 3 it embarked on the Wilderness campaign, assigned to the 2nd brigade (Gen. Hays), 3d division (Gen. Birney), 2nd corps. At the battle of the Wilderness the regiment lost in two days 186 killed and wounded, Col. Danks being wounded, and Maj. McCullough and the gallant Gen. Hays killed. From now on the fighting was almost continuous, the regiment being engaged at Spottsylvania, the North Anna, Totopotomoy and Cold Harbor. Crossing the James on June 14 near Windmill point, it was engaged in the early assaults on Petersburg and lost heavily in prisoners. On Sept. 9, 1864, the original members, except veterans reenlisted, were mustered out of service, the veterans and recruits being transferred to the 99th and thence to the 105th Pa. Roster:
The Roster of this unit contains the names of 2329 men.
Source:
The Union Army by Federal Publishing Company, 1908 - Volume 1
Bibliography:

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