Snyder County in the Civil War
Synopsis
The Snyder County Historical Society Bulletin
Volume 1, Number 5
“SNYDER COUNTY IN THE CIVIL WAR”
by Hon. J.A. Lumbard
Company “G” 147th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, was mustered into service for three years at the most trying time of the Rebellion; Lee had driven McClellan from the peninsula, Pope had been defeated at Groveton, Virginia, and Lee had started on his invasion of Maryland. Company “G” was sworn into service September 15th, 1862 two days before the battle of Antietam was fought.
It was attached to the 1st Brigade, 2d Division, 12th Co. F. and remained in this command up to the time the 20th Corps was formed and commanded by General Joseph Hooker in 1864, always being attached to the 1st Brigade and 2d Division.
The first battle in which Company “G” participated was the ill fated battle of Chancellorsville, and we would add here that of the 22 engagements in which the company participated it was the only battle in which our army was defeated, a record that is not excelled and possibly not equalled by any command in the Union Army.
In the battle of Gettysburg, the Company took part in the repulse of General Johnson’s Division at Culp’s Hill, in which General Johnson’s Division lost more men in killed and wounded than did General Pickett’s in it’s charge at the Bloody Angle. From here the Company was transferred to the Army of the Cumberland, participating in the battle of Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Pea Vine Creek, and Ringgold, four battles in four days. In the last named battle its Captain, Charles S. Davis was killed and Lieutenant B.T. Parks seriously wounded.
In 1864 it participated in all the battles the 20th Corps participated in from Chattanooga to the siege and capture of Atlanta. With the 20th Corps it was among the first troops to enter Savannah and Atlanta.
The Command participated in the march from Atlanta to the Sea and with General Geary’s Division was among the first to enter Savannah after its capture.
The Company was at Durham Station at the surrender of Johnston, and marched from Raleigh, North Carolina to Washington, D.C. where it participated in the second Day’s Review.
Company “G” lost 11 men as killed and 12 wounded, fought in five states, marched 1,939 miles, being in Sherman’s March to the Sea.