140th Regiment, Pennsylvania Infantry



Historical Sketch:
Cols., Richard P. Roberts, John Fraser; Lieut.-Cols., John Fraser, Thomas B. Rodgers ; Majs., Thomas B. Rodgers, Thomas Henry. The 140th was recruited in the counties of Greene, Mercer, Washington and Beaver and rendezvoused at Camp Curtin, Harrisburg, where it was mustered into the U. S. service from Aug. 22 to Sept. 4, 1862, for three years. On Sept. 10, it left the state for Parkton, Md., and guarded the line of the North Central railroad for some time. While posted here it was thoroughly drilled and disciplined and in December joined the army just after the defeat at Fredericksburg. It was assigned to the 3d brigade, 1st division, 2nd corps, and encamped at Falmouth. Here it was only too glad to exchange the old Vincennes muskets for new Springfield rifles. It participated with credit in the battle of Chancellorsville, where its losses were 44 killed, wounded and missing, and then returned to Falmouth. It arrived at Gettysburg on the morning of July 2 and lost heavily in the fierce fighting at the wheatfield. Its total losses during the battle were 241, more than half its effective strength, Col. Roberts being among the killed. In the ensuing campaigns in Virginia it was assigned to the 1st brigade under Col. Miles, was active at Bristoe Station, and skirmished with some loss in the Mine Run movement. It then recrossed the Rapidan and went into winter quarters until May 3, 1864, when it started on the sanguinary spring campaign. It lost heavily at the Wilderness ; skirmished at Corbin's bridge ; was engaged on the 9th at the Po river; its losses up to this time aggregating about 75. In two fierce engagements at Spottsylvania, on the 11th and 18th, the loss of the 140th was more than 100. It was also engaged at the North Anna river, suffered some loss at Totopotomy creek and again at Cold Harbor. Crossing the James, it shared with loss in the two assaults on Petersburg on June 16-17, and a few days later was engaged on the Jerusalem plank road. Late in July it crossed to the north side of the James and took part in the action at Deep Bottom ; was engaged at Strawberry Plains and Reams' station in August; had its full share in all the subsequent operations of the corps, being active before Petersburg in September and in the expeditions to Hatcher's run in December. It fought at Dabney's mill in Feb., 1865 ; started on the final campaign on March 25 ; was engaged for four days at Hatcher's run ; and participated in the final assault on Petersburg April 2. Joining in the pursuit, it was engaged at Sailor's creek, and fought its last battle at Farmville. Returning to the neighborhood of Washington after Lee's surrender, it was mustered out of service, with the exception of the recruits, at Alexandria, Va., May 30, 1865. Roster:
The Roster of this unit contains the names of 1697 men.
Source:
The Union Army by Federal Publishing Company, 1908 - Volume 1
Bibliography:
  • Barcousky, Len. Civil War Pittsburgh: Forge of the Union. Charleston, South Carolina: The History Press, 2013. ISBN 9781626190818.
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  • Greater Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce. Southern Revenge: Civil War History of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. Chambersburg, Pennsylvania: Greater Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce, 1989.
  • Miller, William J. The Training of an Army: Camp Curtin and the North's Civil War. Shippensburg, Pennsylvania: White Mane, 1990.
  • Sandou, Robert M. Deserter County: Civil War Opposition in the Pennsylvania Appalachians. Fordham University Press, 2009.
  • Skinner, George W., ed. Pennsylvania at Chickamauga and Chattanooga: Ceremonies at the Dedication of the Monuments Erected by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Wm. Stanley Ray, State Printer, 1897.
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