205th Pennsylvania Infantry

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

Organization

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 Ard 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.

Petersburg Campaign

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.

Battle of Fort Stedman

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.

Petersburg Breakthrough

Breastworks of the Confederate Fort Mahone, a.k.a. "Fort Damnation," April 3, 1865. The 205th stepped off in the center column of three which attacked Fort Mahone and adjacent batteries on April 2.

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.

Appomattox Campaign

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.

Casualties

• Killed and died of wounds: 3 officers, 37 enlisted men
• Wounded: 5 officers, 91 enlisted men
• Captured or missing: 0 officers, 5 enlisted men
• Died of disease: 0 officers, 17 enlisted men
• Total: 8 officers, 150 enlisted men

References

• Pennsylvania in the Civil War