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205th Pennsylvania Infantry

Editor’s Note: Do you have information on this unit’s role at the Siege of Petersburg?  Please contact us using the Contact button in the menu at the top of the screen.  We are happy to exchange information with other researchers.

Muster In: Organized at Harrisburg September 2, 1864.1
Muster Out: Mustered out June 2, 1865.2

Commander(s):
Colonel Joseph A. Mathews
Commander Image

Lieutenant Colonel William F. Walter
Commander Image

Major B. Mortimer Morrow
Commander Image

Captain Joseph G. Holmes
Commander Image

First Offensive Order of Battle:

  • Not yet in existence.3

Second Offensive Order of Battle:

  • Not yet in existence.4

Third Offensive Order of Battle:

  • Not yet in existence.5

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle:

  • Not yet in existence.6

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle: Provisional Brigade | XVIII Corps | Army of the James | Union Army7

  • Commander:
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: The 205th Pennsylvania was serving at Old Court House, on Benham’s sector of the lines.8

Sixth Offensive Order of Battle: Provisional Brigade | Provisional Division | Army of the James | Union Army9

  • Commander: Colonel Joseph A. Mathews (October 31, 1864)10
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle:

Provisional Brigade | Provisional Division | Army of the James | Union Army (November 1-?, 1864)11

Second Brigade | Third Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army (November ?-December 31, 1864)12

  • Commander: Lieutenant Colonel William F. Walter (December 31, 1864)13
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: This regiment and other “high-number” Pennsylvania regiments were transferred from the Army of the James to Ninth Corps, Army of the Potomac in late November 1864. (Need source)

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | Third Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army14,15,16

  • Commander: Lieutenant Colonel William F. Walter (January 31 & February 28, 1865)17,18
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: This unit is listed in the casualty returns for the Battle of Hatcher’s Run, February 5-7, 1865, implying it was present during the Eighth Offensive and the battle.19

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | Third Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army20,21,22

  • Commander:
    • Major B. Mortimer Morrow (wounded April 2)(March 31-April 2, 1865)23
    • Captain Joseph G. Holmes (April 2, 1865)24
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: This unit is listed in the casualty returns for the Battle of Fort Stedman, March 25, 1865, implying it was present during the battle.25

Dyer’s/Sifakis’ Compendium Info:
Siege of Petersburg Battles26:

  • Moved to Washington, D.C., September 5, thence to City Point, Va., in charge of 1,300 Recruits.
  • Siege operations against Petersburg and Richmond, Va., September, 1864, to April, 1865.
  • Duty at City Point, Va., constructing fortifications, until October 9, 1864.
  • Picket with Army of the James until October 29.
  • Join Army Potomac October 29.
  • Movement in support of Weldon Railroad Expedition December 7-11.
  • Dabney’s Mills, Hatcher’s Run, February 5-7, 1865.
  • Fort Stedman March 25.
  • Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9.
  • Assault on and fall of Petersburg April 2.
  • Pursuit of Lee to Burkesville.
  • Moved to City Point, thence to Alexandria April 21-28, and duty there until June.

Bibliography:

    Siege of Petersburg Documents Which Mention This Unit:

    Sources:

    1. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
    2. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
    3. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
    4. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
    5. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
    6. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
    7. Sommers, Richard J. “Grant’s Fifth Offensive at Petersburg: A Study in Strategy, Tactics, and Generalship.  The Battle of Poplar Spring Church, the First Battle of the Darbytown Road, the Second Battle of the Squirrel Level Road, the Second Battle of the Darbytown Road (Ulysses S. Grant, Virginia).” Doctoral Thesis. Rice University, 1970. Print. p. 1304.
    8. Sommers, Richard J. “Grant’s Fifth Offensive at Petersburg: A Study in Strategy, Tactics, and Generalship.  The Battle of Poplar Spring Church, the First Battle of the Darbytown Road, the Second Battle of the Squirrel Level Road, the Second Battle of the Darbytown Road (Ulysses S. Grant, Virginia).” Doctoral Thesis. Rice University, 1970. Print. p. 1304.
    9. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 468: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 1864)”
    10. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 468: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 1864)”
    11. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
    12. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 1122: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864)
    13. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 1122: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864)
    14. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 332: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865)
    15. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 746: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865)
    16. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 96), page 68: “Return of Casualties in the Union forces at Hatcher’s Run (otherwise known as Dabney’s Mill, Armstrong’s Mill, Rowanty Creek, and Vaughan Road)… (February 5-7, 1865)”
    17. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 332: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865)
    18. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 746: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865)
    19. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 96), page 68: “Return of Casualties in the Union forces at Hatcher’s Run (otherwise known as Dabney’s Mill, Armstrong’s Mill, Rowanty Creek, and Vaughan Road)… (February 5-7, 1865)”
    20. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 574: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865)
    21. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 96), page 71: “Return of Casualties in the Union forces at Fort Stedman… (March 25, 1865)”
    22. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 590: “Return of casualties in the Union Forces commanded by Lieut. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, March 29-April 9, 1865”
    23. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 574: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865)
    24. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 574: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865)
    25. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 96), page 71: “Return of Casualties in the Union forces at Fort Stedman… (March 25, 1865)”
    26. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
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