47th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 47th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry |
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| Also known as 47th Pennsylvania Infantry or 47th Pennsylvania Volunteers (*not to be confused with the 47th Pennsylvania Militia, Emergency of 1863) | |
State Flag of Pennsylvania, circa 1863.
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| Active | August 1861 – January 1866 |
| Country | United States |
| Allegiance | Union |
| Branch | Infantry |
| Engagements | Battle of Pocotaligo, South Carolina (October, 1862) Red River Campaign, Louisiana (March–early July, 1864) Sheridan's 1864 Shenandoah Valley Campaign, Virginia (Fall, 1864) |
| Commanders | |
| Founder | Colonel Tilghman H. Good (1861–1864) |
| Second in Command | Lieutenant Colonel George Warren Alexander (1861–1864) |
| Final Commander | Brevet Brigadier General John Peter Shindel Gobin (1864–1866) |
The 47th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry was a group of soldiers from Pennsylvania who fought for the Union Army during the American Civil War. Many of them were young adults and teenagers from different towns. Most of the soldiers had German roots, and some even spoke Pennsylvania Dutch at home. Others came from Ireland, and a few were formerly enslaved men who had escaped from Confederate areas.
About 70% of the soldiers in the 47th Pennsylvania came from the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania, including cities like Allentown, Bethlehem, Catasauqua, and Easton. Other companies had men from Northumberland and Perry counties.
The oldest soldier was Benjamin Walls, a 65-year-old farmer. He was badly wounded while protecting the American flag during a battle. The youngest was John Boulton Young, a 13-year-old drummer boy. Sadly, he was the regiment's first casualty, dying from smallpox in October 1861. He wore a unique dark blue Zouave-style jacket with red trim, different from the usual Union blues.
Many soldiers in the 47th Pennsylvania had already served three months in other regiments. They joined the 47th after President Abraham Lincoln asked for volunteers to protect the nation's capital. They gathered at Camp Curtin in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in August and September 1861.
Contents
What Was the 47th Pennsylvania's Early History?
How Was the Regiment Formed?
Colonel Tilghman H. Good created the 47th Pennsylvania Infantry. He was a respected leader who had commanded local militia units before. In August 1861, Pennsylvania Governor Andrew Curtin gave him permission to form a new regiment that would serve for three years. Good quickly started recruiting men.
After a short training period at Camp Curtin in Harrisburg, the soldiers traveled by train to Washington, D.C. in September 1861. They were officially made part of the U.S. Army on September 24, 1861.
Where Did They Serve First?
Three days later, the 47th Pennsylvania joined Brigadier-General Isaac Stevens' 3rd Brigade. They were sent to Camp Lyon in Maryland and then marched to Camp Advance in Virginia. They helped defend the nation's capital as part of the Army of the Potomac.
The weather was cold and damp, and some soldiers became sick. Sadly, another soldier, Sergeant Frank M. Holt, died from smallpox in October 1861. Private Reuben Wetzel was also badly injured when his wagon overturned. His leg had to be amputated, and he died from complications.
In October 1861, the 47th Pennsylvania participated in a large military parade. They also received new Springfield rifles as a reward for their good performance.
What Happened in 1862?
In January 1862, the 47th Pennsylvania was ordered to move from Virginia to Florida. They sailed on a steamship to Key West, Florida, where they were assigned to guard duty at Fort Taylor. They helped strengthen the fort, built roads, and practiced military drills.
From June to July, they were sent to Hilton Head, South Carolina. They often had dangerous picket duty, which meant they were at risk of sniper fire. Many soldiers continued to suffer from illnesses like sunstroke, typhoid fever, and dysentery due to the hot climate and poor conditions.
Capturing Saint John's Bluff, Florida
In October 1862, the 47th Pennsylvania returned to Florida. They joined other Union troops to attack a strong Confederate camp at the Battle of St. Johns Bluff. They marched through 25 miles of swamps and forests. On October 3, they captured artillery and ammunition that the Confederates had left behind. Two companies from the 47th also helped capture a Confederate steamship called the Governor Milton.
The Battle of Pocotaligo, South Carolina
From October 21–23, 1862, the 47th Pennsylvania fought in the Battle of Pocotaligo, South Carolina. They tried to destroy the Confederate railroad system. The soldiers faced strong resistance and sniper fire. They also encountered a hidden Confederate artillery battery.
The fighting was intense. The 47th Pennsylvania fought bravely but eventually had to retreat because they ran out of ammunition. Two officers and 18 soldiers from the 47th Pennsylvania were killed, and 114 more were wounded.
What Happened in 1863?
The 47th Pennsylvania spent all of 1863 in Florida. Some companies guarded Fort Taylor in Key West, while others guarded Fort Jefferson in the remote Dry Tortugas.
Life was still hard due to disease and the hot climate. However, more than half of the soldiers chose to re-enlist for another three years when their first term ended.
During this time, Rafael Perez, a young man from Cuba, joined Company C of the 47th Pennsylvania. He had moved to Key West with his father before 1860.
What Happened in 1864?
In early 1864, some soldiers from the 47th helped fix up Fort Myers. They also raided cattle herds from Confederate supporters to get food for Union troops.
The Red River Campaign in Louisiana
The 47th Pennsylvania made history by becoming the only Pennsylvania regiment to fight in Union General Nathaniel Banks' Red River campaign in Louisiana from March to May 1864. They traveled by steamship and train to various towns.
On April 8, 1864, they were rushed into the Battle of Sabine Cross Roads. The fighting was so fierce that exhausted soldiers fell among the dead and dying. The 47th Pennsylvania had 60 casualties.
The next day, April 9, 1864, they fought in the Battle of Pleasant Hill. The fighting was brutal again. The regiment's second-in-command, Lieutenant Colonel George Warren Alexander, was almost killed. The two soldiers carrying the American flag were wounded but kept the flag from falling into enemy hands.
As a result of this battle, the 47th Pennsylvania also had soldiers captured and held as prisoners of war at Camp Ford in Tyler, Texas. At least 16 soldiers were marched about 125 miles to the prison. Most were later released, but at least two died in captivity.
After these battles, the 47th Pennsylvania helped build a timber dam to help federal gunboats navigate the Red River. They then moved to New Orleans and, in July, received orders to return to Washington, D.C. Many soldiers who died during this campaign were buried in national cemeteries in Louisiana.
During their time in Louisiana, the 47th Pennsylvania also helped free several enslaved men from plantations. These men then joined the regiment as privates, cooks, and helpers.
Fighting in Virginia
After returning to the Washington, D.C. area, the 47th Pennsylvania fought at Snicker's Gap, Virginia, in July 1864. This battle helped clear the way for General Philip Sheridan's successful campaign in the Shenandoah Valley.
Sheridan's 1864 Shenandoah Valley Campaign
In August 1864, the 47th Pennsylvania joined the Army of the Shenandoah. They saw major action in the Battle of Berryville from September 3–4. Many soldiers left the regiment in August and September as their service terms ended.
Battles of Opequan and Fisher's Hill
Under General Philip H. Sheridan, the 47th Pennsylvania helped defeat Confederate forces in the Battle of Opequan on September 19, 1864. The Union troops faced heavy fire but eventually forced the Confederates to retreat.
After this, the 47th Pennsylvania helped pursue the Confederates to Fisher's Hill (September 21–22) and then to Waynesboro. Following these battles, Colonel Tilghman H. Good and Lieutenant Colonel George W. Alexander left the regiment as their terms of service ended.
The Battle of Cedar Creek
October 19, 1864, was the bloodiest day for the 47th Pennsylvania. They lost nearly two full companies of men.
The day began with a surprise Confederate attack. The 47th Pennsylvania fought bravely in a thick fog, holding their ground against a much larger enemy force. They were forced to fall back but kept fighting. When General Sheridan arrived, he rallied the troops, shouting, "Face the other way boys! We are going back to our camp! We are going to lick them out of their boots!"
The 19th Corps, including the 47th Pennsylvania, pushed the enemy back. The 47th fought hard and was praised by General Thomas. They helped turn the tide of the battle, forcing the Confederates to retreat.
Many soldiers were killed or wounded. Captain John Goebel and Captain Daniel Oyster were severely injured. Captain Edwin Minnich and Sergeant William Pyers were killed. Pyers was the soldier who had saved the American flag at the Battle of Pleasant Hill.
Some men were captured and held as prisoners of war at Salisbury, North Carolina. After the battle, the 47th Pennsylvania spent the winter guarding the railroad system in Charlestown, West Virginia.
What Happened in 1865–1866?
In April 1865, the 47th Pennsylvania moved to Fort Stevens near Washington, D.C. They helped defend the capital after the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. Some soldiers even guarded the late President's funeral train. Others guarded the people involved in Lincoln's assassination.
The 47th Pennsylvania also participated in the Grand Review of the Armies on May 23–24, 1865. This was a huge military parade in Washington, D.C., celebrating the Union victory.
Afterward, the regiment served in Savannah, Georgia, and then in Charleston and other parts of South Carolina. They helped keep order in Charleston. The 47th Pennsylvania worked alongside other units, including the 54th Massachusetts Volunteers, which was the first military unit in the North made up of African American soldiers.
Some men from the 47th Pennsylvania, who were printers, even helped restart a local newspaper in Charleston, showing their dedication to freedom of the press.
When Did the War End for Them?
The soldiers of the 47th Regiment began to be officially released from service on Christmas Day, 1865, in Charleston, South Carolina. This process continued into early January 1866. They then traveled by sea to New York City and by train to Camp Cadwalader in Philadelphia. Most received their final discharge papers on January 9, 1866.
Many of the regiment's leaders went on to become important figures in their communities or statewide. Others moved west to find new opportunities. Many struggled with lasting physical injuries or "Soldiers' Heart" (now known as post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD).
How Did They Remember Their Service?
After the war, many members of the 47th Pennsylvania stayed in touch. They attended local and national meetings of the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) and held annual regimental reunions. These reunions were often reported in newspapers.
For example, in 1882, a reunion was held in Catasauqua to mark the anniversary of the Battle of Pocotaligo, where the regiment had fought its first major engagement. In 1899, a reunion was held in Allentown to coincide with the unveiling of the city's Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument. The veterans proudly carried their old, tattered flag from the war.
In 1906, about 100 of the 225 surviving members attended a reunion in Philadelphia. Even a decade later, in 1916, 60 survivors met in Allentown.
What Memorials Honor Them?
From the late 1800s to the mid-1900s, towns and cities across Pennsylvania built monuments to honor their Civil War soldiers. Some memorials specifically honored the 47th Pennsylvania Volunteers, like the one at Sunbury Cemetery. Others, like the Lehigh County Soldiers and Sailors Monument in Allentown, honored men from many different military units.
In 1866, a marble monument was completed in Catasauqua, honoring soldiers from both the 46th and 47th Pennsylvania Volunteers.
On October 19, 1899, Allentown, Pennsylvania dedicated its Lehigh County Soldiers and Sailors Monument. This tall granite monument, topped by the Goddess of Liberty, stands 99 feet high. It includes a column celebrating unity, showing a Union and a Confederate soldier linking arms, symbolizing "One Flag, One Country."
Emmaus, Pennsylvania unveiled its own memorial in 1930, honoring soldiers from the Civil War, Spanish-American War, and World War I. As of 2017, all these monuments were still standing.
How Were the Companies Organized?
The 47th Pennsylvania Volunteers had 10 companies, with 911 men in total. They were officially sworn into service at Camp Curtin in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
- Company F: From Catasauqua, Lehigh County.
- Regimental Band No. 1 (Pomp's Cornet Band): From Easton, Northampton County.
- Company C ("Sunbury Guards"): From Sunbury, Northumberland County.
- Company D: From Bloomfield, Perry County.
- Company I: From Allentown, Lehigh County. This was the largest company with 102 men.
- Company B: From Allentown, Lehigh County.
- Company A ("Florida Rangers"): From Easton, Northampton County. A special group from this company helped rebuild Fort Myers, Florida and raided cattle from Confederate supporters.
- Company E: From Easton, Northampton County. This was the smallest company with 83 men.
- Company K: From Allentown, Lehigh County.
- Company G: From Allentown, Lehigh County.
- Company H: From Newport, Perry County.
Who Are Some Notable Descendants?
Many descendants of the 47th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment went on to achieve great things. These include doctors, business leaders, military officers, and religious figures. For example, Dr. Lewis H. Adler, Jr. was a surgeon, and Colonel James W. Fuller, III was a company president.
External resources
Key figures associated with the regiment:
- Alexander, George Warren (regimental second in commander and founder, Alexander Hat Co.)
- "Faces of the 47th" (video). 47th Pennsylvania Volunteers: One Civil War Regiment's Story: Retrieved online June 5, 2017.
Key resources for learning more:
- "The Birth of a New Regiment" (video), 47th Pennsylvania Volunteers: One Civil War Regiment's Story, December 19, 2019.
- Hardee, William Joseph. Hardee's Rifle and Light Infantry Tactics. Memphis, Tennessee: E.C. Kirk & Co., 1861.
