Military: Civil War: The 26th Pennsylvania Emergency Regiment
Schuylkill County, PA

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Richard Russell.
rrussell@inta.org

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The Regimental Commanders of the 26th Regiment were Colonel William Jennings,
and the Lt. Colonel was Joseph Jenkins. The Emergency Regiment, as well as
others from Pennsylvania, were formed after President Lincoln issued a
proclamation on June 15, 1863 calling for 100,000 volunteers from Pennsylvania,
Maryland, West Virginia, and Ohio. On June 16th, he also asked all of the
Northern Governors to provide "limited service" personnel. The Governor of
Pennsylvania was Andrew G. Curtin. 

My Grandfather's Company plus several other companies in the 26th Regiment
arrived in Harrisburg on June 22, 1863. They bivouacked on the Capitol grounds
that night, and later moved one mile north to Camp Curtin, named after the
Governor. 

The Regiment left Camp Curtin, after two days training, on June 24th and headed
for Gettysburg, not knowing that Southern Troops were in the area. One of the
Privates in Company F was Samuel E. Pennypacker, future Governor of
Pennsylvania. Company A was made up of undergraduates from Pennsylvania College.

Upon reaching the Gettysburg area, the Regiment bivouacked about one mile north
of the village. On June 26th, the Regiment, which was made up of only 700 "civilians 
in soldier suits" (quote attributed to Colonel Jennings) moved through Gettysburg 
westward out the Cashtown Pike.  About three miles outside Gettysburg, the 
Regiment stopped and set up camp along Marsh Creek. Colonel Jennings went out 
to recon the area, and looking westward, spotted Brig. General John B. Gordon's 
brigade, which included 1800 seasoned Georgia Regulars. Gordon's Brigade was 
part of Major General Jubal Early's Division, which was part of the II Corps, 
commanded by General Ewell. Recognizing that 700 unseasoned troops were no 
match for 1800 seasoned soldiers, Colonel Jennigns moved the Regiment to 
avoid any direct action.

The Regiment returned to Harrisburg on July 28, 1863 "after seeing service
around Gettysburg" I have not been able to find any reference to any Regimental
action during July.

My Grandfather, and I think the rest of the  Regiment, was discharged on July
30, 1863 at Harrisburg. My Grandfather's discharge papers were approved by a
Captain Bush. I suspect he was a Regimental Staff Officer.

A unique regiment was formed during the Civil War to try to stop the 
Southern Forces from entering Pennsylvania before General Meade's Army could 
get to Gettysburg. As I understand it, the 26th Pennsylvania Emergency Regiment 
was "quickly" formed (I do not know under what legal entity) to block a 
southern brigade, headed by a Southern Officer by the name of Gordon. 
His brigade may have been an element of Jubal Early's Division. 

My Great Great Grandfather, who was a 16 year old coal miner, was either 
drafted or volunteered to serve in the Regiment. He only served from 
June 15, 1863 until July 30th, 1863. I suspect the Regiment was dissolved 
since "regular" units became available at that time. My ancestor, 
David Hayes Russell, was a Private in Company D whose Captain was James S. Pell