119th. was organized at Philadelphia August 15, 1862. Moved to Washington, D.C., August 31-September 1. Duty in the Defenses of Washington until October. Joined Army of the Potomac in the field and attached to 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 6th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to February, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 6th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, and Army of the Shenandoah to June, 1865.

Recruiting commenced on the 5th of August, and on the 31st, before the organization had been perfected, it was ordered to Washington. It proceeded thither on the following day, eight hundred strong, and was assigned temporarily to duty at the Arsenal. It was here joined by a company of one hundred and thirty men, recruited by Captain John B. Adams, and the organization was completed with the following field officers: Peter C. Ellmaker, Colonel; Gideon Clark, Lieutenant Colonel; Charles C. Knight, Major. On the 19th of September, two days after the battle of Antietam, it was ordered to ifatigue duty on the northern defences of the Capital, and was employed in the construction of forts Mansfield and Reno. A month later it joined the Army of the Potomac, still in camp in the neighborhood of the Antietam battle-field, and was assigned to the First Brigade, * Second Division, Sixth Corps. Though suddenly thrown among veterans of two campaigns, it was prepared, by its thorough training, to hold its place with credit.

I would like for you to meet Larry B. Maier who is the author of
"ROUGH & REGULAR" "A History of Philadelphia's 119th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry," "The Gray Reserves."

He has written two other titles. "Leather & Steel: The 12th Pennsylvania Cavalry in the Civil War"

"Gateway to Gettysburg: The Second Battle of Winchester"

The flag image is from the Pennsylvania's Civil War Flags web site. To find and view Pennsylvania flags just CLICK HERE
Image courtesy of the Capitol Preservation Committee

ONE IHUNDRED AND NINETEENTH REGIMENT. The close of July, 1862, Peter C. Ellmaker, of Philadelphia, who had organized in the Spring of 1861, a regiment for home duty, known as the Gray Reserves, and which he commanded, received authority from Governor Curtin to raise a regiment for three years' service.