143rd Regiment, Pennsylvania Infantry

Historical Sketch:
Col, Edmund L. Dana; Lieut-Cols., George E. Hoyt, John D. Musser, George N. Richard; Majs., John D. Musser, C. M. Conyngham, Chester H. Hughes. This regiment rendezvoused at Wilkes Barre during the summer of 1862, coming from Luzerne county, except Cos. H and K, from the counties of Susquehanna, Wyoming and Lycoming. It was slowly mustered into the U. S. service at Wilkes Barre from Aug. 26 to Sept. 10, 1862, for a term of three years. Col. Dana was a veteran of the Mexican war and a major-general of militia. On Nov. 7 it broke camp and proceeded to Washington, being armed with the Enfield rifle at Harrisburg en route. It was stationed near Fort Slocum for three months, and then proceeded to Belle Plain, where it was assigned to the 2nd brigade (Col. Stone), 3d division (Gen. Doubleday), 1st corps (Gen. Reynolds). The corps went into position on the extreme right of the army on the third day of the battle of Chancellorsville, but the fighting on the last two days did not reach the position of the 143d. After encamping for a month at Falmouth, it moved on the Gettysburg campaign, arriving on the field of Gettysburg on the morning of July 1 and becoming heavily engaged by noon. Most of its losses were incurred in the first day's fighting, in which it bore itself with great gallantry, slowly yielding to superior numbers and contesting the ground stubbornly. It was not heavily engaged on the next two days, though exposed to a heavy artillery fire in its position on low, open ground on the left center, midway between the cemetery and Round Top. Its loss during the 3 days was 253 killed, wounded and missing, out of 465 engaged, or more than one-half its effective strength. After engaging in the pursuit it was stationed for some time at Bealeton Station on guard duty. A large number of recruits — upward of 360 — were received in September and October, and in November it shared in the various maneuvers of the army in the Valley of Virginia, having a sharp skirmish with the enemy at Haymarket. From Nov. 22 to Dec. 5 it performed railroad guard duty at Manassas, marched thence to Paoli mills, and finally, after 8 months' constant campaigning, went into winter quarters at Culpeper on Dec. 27. Before moving on the spring campaign of 1864, the 143d was assigned to the 1st brigade, 1st division, 5th corps. It suffered severely at the Wilderness, Col. Dana being wounded and captured, and Lieut.-Col. Musser being among the killed. More heavy fighting followed at Laurel hill — where Maj. Conyngham, commanding the regiment, was severely wounded in one of the assaults — the North Anna river, Totopotomy and Cold Harbor. It shared in the first general assaults on Petersburg and from June 20 to Aug. 14 it aided in the construction of Fort Hell. In August it was engaged at the Six-mile house, on the Weldon railroad. In September it was transferred to Gen. Crawford's (3d) division, and welcomed its old commander, Col. Dana, back from captivity at Charleston. It shared in the movement on the Vaughan road, then garrisoned Fort Howard for a few weeks, when it was engaged at Hatcher's run. In December it assisted in destroying some 20 miles of the Weldon railroad, when it repulsed repeated charges of the enemy. In Feb., 1865, it was heavily engaged at Dabney's mill, and a few days later, now greatly reduced in numbers, it was detailed for special duty at the camp of rendezvous on Hart's island, New York harbor. It was employed here until June 12, 1865, when it was mustered out of service, and proceeded to Harrisburg, where the men were finally paid and discharged. Col. Dana was brevetted brigadier-general and mustered out the following August. Roster:
The Roster of this unit contains the names of 2395 men.
Source:
The Union Army by Federal Publishing Company, 1908 - Volume 1
Bibliography:

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