Historical Sketch:
Cols., Henry Bohlen, Philip Schapp, Francis Mahler; Lieut.-Cols., Francis Mahler, Alvin Von Matzdorff; Majs., Alvin Von Matzdorff, August Ledig. The 75th regiment originally known as the 40th, composed principally of German citizens from Philadelphia, was mustered into the U. S. service at Camp Worth, Philadelphia, in Aug. and Sept., 1861, for three years. Many of the members had seen service in European armies ; Col. Bohlen was a veteran of the Mexican war, and Lieut. -Col. Mahler had been an officer in the Baden revolution. On Sept. 26, 1861, the regiment, about 800 strong, left for Washington, and there its ranks were soon recruited to the maximum number. It was assigned to Blenker's division and encamped at Roach's mills until Oct. 12, when it went into winter quarters at Hunter's Chapel. A regimental band, led by Rudolph Wittig, which joined the command on the 31st, was discharged by general order on Aug. 16, 1862. In March, 1862, it moved with the army on the general advance, reaching Warrenton Junction on the 26th, when it was ordered to report with its division to Gen. Fremont, commanding the Mountain Department. In an attempt to cross the Shenandoah river in an old ferry boat on April 15, Capt. Wyck and Sergt. Tiedemann of Co. K, Lieut. Winter of Co. I, and about 50 enlisted men of the two companies were drowned. The regiment was encamped at Winchester from April 18 to May 6, recruiting from its severe marches and exposures. While here Col. Bohlen was promoted to brigadier-general. On May 14 the command reached Franklin and the latter part of the month hastened by forced marches in pursuit of Stonewall Jackson. It was in reserve at the battle of Cross Keys, and after the battle moved to Mount Jackson, where it was assigned to the 2nd brigade (Col. Kryzanowski), 3d division (Gen. Schurz), 1st corps (Gen. Sigel), Army of Virginia. Sigel's corps arrived too late to share in the battle of Cedar Mountain, but a few days later it was engaged in a brisk skirmish at Freeman's ford, where Gen. Bohlen was killed. It was in action at Groveton and the second Bull Run, losing in the two days' fighting, 2 officers and 28 men killed, and 5 officers and 98 men wounded, among whom was Lieut.-Col. Mahler. Color-sergeant Robert Jordan of Co. A, formerly an officer in the army of Schleswig-Holstein, displayed conspicuous courage and died while bearing aloft the colors. The following were officially reported for gallantry shown : Sergts. Haserodt of Co. A, Weigand and Maurer of Co. B, John Emleben of the same Co., who took the flag from the hands of Sergt. Jordan as he fell, though he was himself wounded, Louis Mahler and Jacob Pauley of Co. D, George Brueckmame of Co. F, Henry Schmull of Co. H, and Andrew Schmidt of Co. I ; also Corps. Schweigert, Hanner, Abraham and Rosenthal, and private Jacob Ullman. The 75th was not again engaged until the battle of Chancellorsville the following year. It reached the Rappahannock too late to participate in the battle of Fredericksburg and had wintered at Stafford Court House and Hartwood Church. Meanwhile its strength was much increased by recruits and returning convalescents. At Chancellorsville it formed part of the 2nd brigade, 3d division, 11th corps, the brigade being commanded by Col. Kryzanowski. Its loss here was 1 killed, 1 officer and 6 men wounded, and 3 officers and 48 men captured, Lieut.-Col. Matzdorff being among the prisoners. Returning to its old camp on the Rappahannock, it remained there until it embarked on the Gettysburg campaign in June. It arrived at Gettysburg on the morning of July 1 and lost during the battle, 31 officers and men killed, 100 wounded, and 6 taken prisoners. Its heaviest loss was sustained on the first day, when it was severely engaged north of the village and to the right of the Carlisle road. During the next two days it was posted on the Cemetery hill and suffered somewhat from the enemy's shells. It shared in the pursuit of Lee and in the various maneuvres of the army until Sept 24, when it moved to Bridgeport, Ala., the 11th and 12th corps having been ordered to Tennessee. Upon arriving there it was ordered to join the 3d brigade (Col. Hecker), 3d division, 11th corps, which shared in the operations for the relief of the army of the Cumberland. Crossing the Tennessee river at Chattanooga on Nov. 22, it participated in the fighting around that city, including the battles of Lookout mountain and Missionary ridge. On Jan. 2, 1864, it reenlisted as a veteran organization and was given the usual furlough of 30 days. Seventy-five men, who failed to reenlist, were temporarily transferred to the 82nd Ill. The veteran regiment, reinforced by many recruits, was back in camp at Nashville by the end of July, 1864. While here, details guarded the Northwestern railroad, and a reconnoissance against guerrillas was made in October. A part of the 75th was under fire at the battle of Franklin, but was not especially active. Co. E, stationed several miles below Nashville on the Tennessee & Alabama railroad, was captured. During the balance of its service it was chiefly engaged in guarding trains, scouting and provost duty. It was mustered out of service at Murfreesboro, Tenn., Sept. 1, 1865, and on the 9th left for Harrisburg, where it arrived on the 12th, 236 strong.
Roster:
The Roster of this unit contains the names of 2326 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.
Blair, William and William Pencak, editors. Making and Remaking Pennsylvania's Civil War. University Park, Pennsylvania: Penn State University Press, 2004.
Fox, Arthur B. Our Honored Dead: Alleghany County, Pennsylvania, in the American Civil War. Chicora, Pennsylvania: Mechling Bookbindery, 2008.
Fox, Arthur B. Pittsburgh During the American Civil War 1860–1865. Chicora, Pennsylvania: Mechling Bookbindery, 2002.
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.
Taylor, Frank H. Philadelphia in the Civil War. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The City, 1913.
Wingert, Cooper H. Harrisburg and the Civil War: Defending the Keystone of the Union. Charleston, South Carolina: The History Press, 2013. ISBN 9781626190412.
Young, Ronald C. Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in the Civil War. Lancaster, Pennsylvania: published by the author, 2003.
Historical Sketch: