Historical Sketch:
Cols., John F. Ballier, Adolph Mehler; Lieut. -Cols., Adolph Mehler, George Wynkoop, John B. Kohler, Charles Reen; Majs., George Wynkoop, John B. Kohler, John W. Beamish, Bernhard Gessler. The greater number of this regiment was composed of German soldiers who had served in the 21st. It was mustered into the U. S. service at Philadelphia from Aug. 17 to Sept. 26, 1861, for three years, with the exception of two companies, which joined the regiment in December. On Sept. 30 it left for Washington and was assigned to Peck's brigade, Couch's division at Tennallytown, where it remained until March 10, 1862, when it joined in the campaign on the Peninsula, taking part in the battles of Williamsburg and Malvern hill. Held in reserve during the battle of Fredericksburg, the regiment participated in the "Mud March" and afterward went into winter quarters near Falmouth. Attached to the 6th corps it left camp early in the spring of 1863 to share in the Chancellorsville movement and was engaged at Salem Church. It arrived at Gettysburg on July 2 after a forced march, and was immediately ordered into action, but escaped with few losses. It followed the enemy southward, took part in the Mine Run campaign, and went into winter quarters at Brandy Station, where a large number of the men reenlisted. At the end of the year the regiment was sent to Harper's Ferry, where the veterans received their furlough early in Feb., 1864. They returned to Brandy Station in March, and the remainder of the regiment, which was at Halltown, joined them at the end of the month. The 98th was closely engaged at the Wilderness ; was on picket duty at Spottsylvania, but constantly under fire; was active at Cold Harbor, and on June 18 it joined in the unsuccessful assault on Petersburg. After taking part in the expedition to the Weldon railroad the regiment was dispatched to Washington on July 9, reinforcing the troops at Fort Stevens. It shared in the arduous marches which followed : was active at the battles of the Opequan, at Fisher's hill and Cedar Creek; returned to Petersburg in Jan., 1865; took part in the final assault and in the battle of Sailor's creek, and then moved to join Gen. Sherman at Danville. Upon its return to Washington it was there mustered out on June 29, 1865.
Roster:
The Roster of this unit contains the names of 3921 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: