205th Pennsylvania Infantry

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205th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry
Pennsylvania flag
Active	September 2, 1864 to June 2, 1865
Country	United States
Allegiance	Union
Branch	Infantry
Engagements	Siege of Petersburg Battle of Fort Stedman Battle of Petersburg III

The 205th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

[edit] History

The 205th was recruited during the late summer of 1864, mostly in south central Pennsylvania. Companies A, C, and I were raised in Blair County, companies J, B, E, and H in Berks County, companies F and K in Mifflin County, company D in Huntingdon County, and company G in Blair, Dauphin, and Franklin Counties. The regiment was organized at Camp Curtin in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on September 2, 1864. Joseph A. Mathews was selected to be colonel, William F. Walter lieutenant colonel and B. Mortimer Morrow major. Many of the officers and men, including all three field officers, had previously fought in the war.

The regiment was sent to the siege lines at Petersburg, Virginia, first as part of the Army of the James, and then reassigned to the Army of the Potomac. With five other Pennsylvania regiments, the 205th was part of a provisional brigade of the IX Corps commanded by Brigadier General John F. Hartranft. Two months later, the brigade was turned into the corps' Third Division, with Hartranft promoted to command the division. The 205th became part of the 2nd Brigade, commanded by Matthews, along with the 207th and 211th Pennsylvania. The division fought in the Battle of Fort Stedman on March 25, 1865. The 205th captured several prisoners and one battle flag, losing only ten wounded.

During the breakthrough at Petersburg, the 205th assaulted Battery 30, capturing more prisoners and another battle flag. Morrow was wounded during the attack and Captain Holmes took command of the regiment. During the Appomattox Campaign, the 205th repaired the South Side Railroad as far as Burkesville. After the Confederate surrender at Appomattox Court House, the regiment was moved to City Point, Virginia, and then to Alexandria, Virginia. It participated in the Grand Review of the Armies on May 23 and was mustered out on June 2.