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81st Pennsylvania Infantry

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Muster In: October ??, 18611
Muster Out: June 29, 18652

Commander(s):
Lieutenant Colonel William Wilson
Commander Image Needed

Major Lawrence Mercer
Commander Image Needed

Captain James H. Mitchell
Commander Image

Lieutenant James E. Deno
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Commander 5
Commander Image

First Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | First Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army3

Second Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | First Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army6,7

Third Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | First Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army11,12

  • Commander: Captain Lawrence Mercer (July 31, 1864)13
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | First Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army14,15

  • Commander: Captain Lawrence Mercer (August 31, 1864)16
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | First Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army17

  • Commander: Lieutenant Colonel William Wilson (at least September 27, 1864)18
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Sixth Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | First Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army19

  • Commander:
    • Lieutenant James E. Deno (at least October 20, 1864)20
    • Major Lawrence Mercer (October 31, 1864)21
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | First Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army22

  • Commander: Lieutenant Colonel William Wilson (December 31, 1864)23
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | First Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army24,25

  • Commander:
    • Lieutenant Colonel William Wilson (January 31, 1865)26
    • Captain James H. Mitchell (February 28, 1865)27
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | First Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army28,29

  • Commander: Lieutenant Colonel William Wilson (March 31, 1865)30
  • Unit Strength:
    • 116 officers and men engaged at Cumberland Church (April 7, 1865)31
    • 38 officers and men remaining after the charge at Cumberland Church [April 7, 1865]32
  • Weapons:

Dyer’s Compendium Info:
Petersburg Campaign Battles33:

  • Before Petersburg June 16-18.
  • Siege of Petersburg June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865.
  • Jerusalem Plank Road June 22-23, 1864.
  • Demonstration north of the James at Deep Bottom July 27-29.
  • Deep Bottom July 27-28.
  • Mine Explosion, Petersburg, July 30 (Reserve).
  • Demonstration north of the James at Deep Bottom August 13-20.
  • Strawberry Plains, Deep Bottom, August 14-18.
  • Ream’s Station August 25.
  • Reconnaissance to Hatcher’s Run December 7-10.
  • Hatcher’s Run December 8.
  • Dabney’s, Mills, Hatcher’s Run, February 5-7, 1865.
  • Watkins’ House, Petersburg, March 25.
  • Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9.
  • On line of Hatcher’s and Gravelly Runs March 29-30.
  • Hatcher’s Run or Boydton Road March 31.
  • White Oak Road March 31.
  • Sutherland Station April 2.

Bibliography:

    Siege of Petersburg Documents Which Mention This Unit:

    Links:

    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. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), page 219
    4. Volume 14 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 81st Pennsylvania Entry, Page 51; Summary Statements of Quarterly Returns of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores on Hand in Regular and Volunteer Army Organizations, 1862-1867, 1870-1876. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1281, Roll 7); Records of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, 1797-1969, Record Group 156; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C.
    5. Volume 14 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 81st Pennsylvania Entry, Page 51; Summary Statements of Quarterly Returns of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores on Hand in Regular and Volunteer Army Organizations, 1862-1867, 1870-1876. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1281, Roll 7); Records of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, 1797-1969, Record Group 156; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C.
    6. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), pages 219-220
    7. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 2 (Serial Number 81), p. 543
    8. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 2 (Serial Number 81), page 543
    9. Volume 14 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 81st Pennsylvania Entry, Page 51; Summary Statements of Quarterly Returns of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores on Hand in Regular and Volunteer Army Organizations, 1862-1867, 1870-1876. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1281, Roll 7); Records of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, 1797-1969, Record Group 156; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C.
    10. Volume 14 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 81st Pennsylvania Entry, Page 51; Summary Statements of Quarterly Returns of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores on Hand in Regular and Volunteer Army Organizations, 1862-1867, 1870-1876. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1281, Roll 7); Records of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, 1797-1969, Record Group 156; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C.
    11. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), page 251
    12. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 3 (Serial Number 82), page 729
    13. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 3 (Serial Number 82), page 729
    14. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 2 (Serial Number 88), page 612: “Organization of the Army of the Potomac…August 31, 1864”
    15. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), pages 116, 129: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces (August 1864)”
    16. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 2 (Serial Number 88), page 612: “Organization of the Army of the Potomac…August 31, 1864”
    17. 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. 1298.
    18. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), page 343: Wilson signs this report as Lieutenant Colonel commanding the 81st PA on September 27, 1864.
    19. 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 458: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 1864)”
    20. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), page 343: Deno signs this report at Lieutenant Commanding the 81st PA on October 20, 1864.
    21. 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 458: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 1864)”
    22. 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 1115: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864)
    23. 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 1115: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864)
    24. 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 325: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865)
    25. 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 739: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865)
    26. 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 325: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865)
    27. 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 739: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865)
    28. 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 566: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865)
    29. 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 582: “Return of casualties in the Union Forces commanded by Lieut. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, March 29-April 9, 1865”
    30. 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 566: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865)
    31. “Army Correspondence.” The Bedford Inquirer (Bedford, PA), May 5, 1865, p.3, c.4: “On the next day our regiment went into a charge with 116 men, and came out with 38. Forty-seven were captured and the rest killed and wounded.”
    32. “Army Correspondence.” The Bedford Inquirer (Bedford, PA), May 5, 1865, p.3, c.4: “On the next day our regiment went into a charge with 116 men, and came out with 38. Forty-seven were captured and the rest killed and wounded.”
    33. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
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