105th Pennsylvania Company E
History of the 105th Pennsylvania Company E
History of Company E
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COMPANY E was enlisted at Camp Markle, which was situated on the farm of General Markle, about three miles from West Newton, Westmoreland county, Pa. Some tents had been procured by Captain M. M. Dick, and the company remained there until their ranks were full, their enlistment dating from August 25, 1861. They were partially uniformed while at Camp Markle.
On the 3d of September they marched to West Newton, where a large crowd had assembled to witness their departure, and, before leaving. The company was presented with a beautiful flag, and each member with a beautiful needle-case and handsomely bound Bible by the ladies of West Newton. They left West Newton that evening and arrived in Pittsburgh, where they went into Camp Wilkins, and were mustered into the United States service, September 4th, by Captain H. B. Hays, Sixth United States Cavalry. The company numbering one hundred and six men, five had to be sent home, as the complement for a company was one hundred and one. This caused some dissatisfaction, as all were anxious to go. The company left Camp Wilkins September 9th, and arrived in Washington on the 11th, where they joined Colonel Leasure's "Roundhead" Regiment, which then lay at Kalorama Heights. Here they drew Harper's Ferry muskets and clothing.
Some difficulty arising between Colonel Leasure and Captain Dick, the latter withdrew his company from Colonel Leasure's regiment, September 20, 1862, and joined Colonel McKnight's, which was also encamped at Kalorama. Captain Dick being promoted to major, Captain Greenawalt assumed command. On that officer being promoted to major, the command devolved upon Captain Markle when, upon his resignation, Captain D. C. Crawford assumed the command, and was mustered out with the company at the expiration of their term of service.
C.C. Markle
Capt 105th Company E
During the entire term of service there were on the rolls of the company one hundred and ninety-three men; of these forty-nine were drafted men and substitutes. They lost twenty-six men killed and died. This company not being originally raised for the One Hundred and Fifth Regiment, and coming from a
It was decided, when the company reenlisted December 20, 1863, that the flag which had been presented to them at Camp Markle in 1861, and which had been carefully preserved, should be retained in the company, and that the last veteran of the company discharged should have it. Lieutenant J. M. Shoaf at the request of the company, took charge of the flag. When the time came for them to he mustered out, he called the veterans together, and stated that it was necessary that some disposition be made of the flag, as there were fifteen veterans of the company still in the service, eleven of whom were present. The members present took the flag, but the next day returned it to Lieutenant Shoaf's quarters, with the following statement in writing, the paper having been prepared by Rev. J. C. Truesdale, chaplain of the regiment and signed by the veteran members of the company.
105th PA Veterans Reunion in Clarion, PA - date unknown
locality remote from the other companies, all of which were originally intended for this regiment, it necessarily has a history of its own before it entered the One Hundred and Fifth. Source: "History of the One Hundred and Fifth Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers", page 291-293
"CAMP OF THE 105TH REGIMENT PA VET. VOLS., July 9, 1865"
Regiment Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers, do hereby agree that James M.
Shoaf, first lieutenant, and George F. Demick, second lieutenant of this
company, shall take charge of, and retain in their possession, the flag
presented to the company at the time of its organization, by the ladies of
Sewickly, Pa. When this flag was presented to the company it numbered one
hundred and two men but now, after four years in camp, on the march, and
battlefield, only thirteen of the original number are here to claim the flag. To
our two lieutenants, who have shared the toil and peril with us from the first,
who have been ever brave in danger and faithful in the discharge of duty, we
now, on the eve of retiring to our homes, give this loved and cherished
banner in their keeping."
Signed
LEWIS DOM,
JAMES B. HURST,
W.R. CHRISTY,
JOHN P. MILLER,
JOSHUA FULMER,
D.H. GOLD,
THOMAS PERKINS,
W.J. CRISE
Original Colors of the 105th Pennsylvania
105th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Monunment
Gettysburg, PA
105th Pa Monument
Located at the corner of Emmitsburg Road and United States Avenue
This monument, dedicated on September 11, 1889, marks the area the 105th Pennsylvania Infantry was positioned along with the rest of General Charles K. Graham's III Corps brigade on the Second Day of the Battle of Gettysburg (July 2, 1863). The unit, commanded by Colonel Calvin A. Craig, first supported the 63rd Pennsylvania Infantry in the Peach Orchard, and came under sharpshooter fire as soon as it reached its position. It was then placed between the Peach Orchard and the Klingel Farmhouse in support of the rest of the brigade. The regiment suffered under Confederate artillery fire, and took severe casualties when the Confederates from General Longstreet's Corps attacked the Union position. The 105th Pennsylvania at first could not fire upon the Confederates,due to the fact that the soldiers of the 57th Pennsylvania Infantry were in their front. When that regiment moved forward, the 105th filled their place, firing upon the Confederate troops until the 57th Pennsylvania and 114th Pennsylvania fell back in retreat.
The unit was the last one of its brigade to retreat, making a slow, fighting withdrawal when the Confederates threatened to overwhelm it. It rallied with mixed survivors of its division , and counterattacked late in the day, recapturing (along with soldiers from others units)3 abandoned artillery pieces from Battery C, 5th United States Artillery. The regiment then retired to the Union positions on Cemetery Ridge. On the Third day of the Battle, it was rushed to the center of the Union Line during Pickett's Charge to re-enforce the Vermont Brigade, but, other than taking artillery fire, it was not needed in the repulse of the Confederate assault. The 105th Pennsylvania, fielding 274 men at the start of the Battle, lost 19 killed or mortally wounded (including 2nd Lieutenants George W. Crossley of Company H and Isaac A. Dunsten of Company A) and 115 wounded or missing.
Battle Honors
The 105th PVI Participated in the following battles and campagins:
|
FAIR OAKS |
KELLY’S FORD |
|
YORKTOWN |
MINE RUN |
|
WILLIAMSBURG |
PO RIVER |
|
GLENDALE |
SPOTSYLVANIA |
|
MALVERN HILL |
NORTH ANNA |
|
BRISTOW STATION |
TOLOPOTOMY |
|
2ND BULL RUN |
COLD HARBOR |
|
CHANTILLY |
STRAWBERRY PLAINS |
|
FREDREICKSBURG |
DEEP BOTTOM |
|
CHANCELLORSVILLE |
POLAR SPRING CHURCH |
|
GETTSYBURG |
BOYDTON ROAD |
Original 105th PA Photos
 James M Shoaf, Co E - Enlisted September 4, 1861; Promoted from Corporal to 1st Sergeant, October 1, 1863; to 1st Lt., November 26, 1864; mustered out with Company, July 11, 1865; Vet; |  Pvt. Elias Kunkle, Co. E - Discharged September 4, 1864. expiration of term - Courtesy Ronn Palm |  Jonathan Jameson, Co D - Mustered out with Company, July 11, 1865; Vet |
|---|---|---|
 Milton W Adair, Captain Co K - Enlisted October 23, 1861; Enrolled September 25, 1861 at Indiana, Pa.; promoted to Corporal, October 16, 1861; to Sergeant, March 1, 1862; to 1st Sergeant, March 1, 1864; to 1st Lt., September 20, 1864; to Captain, May 15, 1865; mustered out with Company, July 11, 1865; Vet |  Adjutant John Hastings, Co. A - Wounded 2nd Bull Run Aug 29, 1862, Discharged January 29, 1863 - Courtesy Ronn Palm |  Smith M. McHenry, Corporal "A" Co., 105th P. V., wounded Wilderness, VA, May 5, 1864. Mustered out with Co. July 11, 1865. |
 Lieutenant Robert I Boyington (Left-Co I) and Private Frederick Sprankle (Co G.) posing for a Kansas newspaper article about how Sprankle saved the wounded Boyington at Gettysburg...photo from findagrave.com courtesy Don Ludwig |  105th PA Veterans Reunion in Clarion, PA - date unknown |  Jesse Jamison Templeton - 105th Pa Co K, Died March 26, 1862 |
 Capt. William J. Clyde - Kearny Cross Recipient - KIA Wilderness, VA May 6, 1864 |  1st Lt. Joseph Craig - Wounded Wilderness, VA May 5 1864, Promoted from 1st Sergeant to 1st Lt., July 29, 1862; to Adjutant, March 28, 1863 |  Pvt Jacob Brewer 105th E Company |
 |  2d Lt. Isaac A. Duston - |  James Madison Keck - Co. A - Enrolled at age 17 at Perrysville, October 3, 1862; wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863; wounded in left arm at Deep Bottom, Va., August 16, 1864; promoted to Corporal, January 9, 1865; mustered out |
 105th Veterans |  Lt. Colonel Oliver C. Redic - Wounded at Sottsvlvania Court House, May 10, 1864; promoted to 1st Sergeant, July 11, 1862; to 1st Lt., March 4, 1864; to Captain, July 18, 1864; to Lt. Colonel, May 15, 1865; Vet |  Lt. Colonel J.W. Greenawalt - Died of wound received at Wilderness, VA May 17, 1864 |
 Colonel Calvin A. Craig - Mortally Wounded Second Deep Bottom August 16, 1864 - Died August 17, 1864 |  |  Major Levi Bird Duff - Wounded at Fair Oaks, Va., May 31, 1862; promoted from Corporal Company A, 38th Regiment P. V., February 8, 1862; to Major, May 4, 1863, Promoted from Captain, Company D, May 4, 1863; commissioned Lt. Colonel, May 18, 1864, not mustered; discharged October 25, for wounds, with loss of leg, received at Petersburg, Va., June 18, 1864 |
 105th Veteran Reunion Ribbon |  105th Veteran Reunion Ribbon |  |
 Original Colors of the 105th Pennsylvania |  Colonel A. A. McKnight - KIA Chancellorsville, VA May 3, 1863 |  Colonel James Miller - Wounded Auburn, VA October 13, 1863 |
 35th Annual Reunion badge |
