While posted along the railroad between Manassas and Warrenton Junction, Cos. B, G and H were captured by the enemy. An engagement resulted at Bristoe Station, by the 1st and Hooker's divisions, on Aug. 29, and the following day of the entire army at Bull Run, where once more the gallant work of the 105th resulted in the loss of many of its bravest. The regiment was specially complimented by Gen. Kearny for its gallantry. September and October were spent at Washington, which place the command left on Oct. 28, and after some scouting near Leesburg arrived at Falmouth on Nov. 24.

    105th's next battle was Fredericksburg, after which the winter was spent in camp near Brandy Station. At Chancellorsville in May 1863, the troops were warmly engaged and many won the Kearny Medal of Honor. The first two weeks of June were spent at Banks ford and then the troops started northward. At Gettysburg many fell and after the return to Virginia engagements followed at Auburn, Kelly's ford, and Locust Grove in the Mine Run campaign late in November. At the end of that campaign the camp at Brandy Station was occupied for the winter, and on Dec. 28, 1863, nearly the entire regiment reenlisted.

    At the Wilderness and Spottsylvania in May 1864, the regiment did its share of the fighting and then moved to Petersburg with the army, where it took part in the operations of the 1Oth corps in August and the movements upon the Weldon railroad in October and December. On Sept. 5, the remainder of the 63rd was added to the regiment and in March 1865, about 300 new recruits were received. At Sailor's creek the 105th was actively engaged, after which it returned to Alexandria. It participated in the grand review at Washington and was mustered out in that city on July 11, 1865. Out of a total of 2,040 the regiment lost 309 members by death from wounds or disease and 199 were reported missing, but its record through all its long term of service was one of unwavering devotion to the cause, combined with heroic courage.

Source: The Union Army, Vol. 1

 

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.

    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.

"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 

    Jacob W. Greenawalt, second son of Henry Greenawalt was born in   Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, on the 27th day of October 1837. He received a fair education in the common schools in his native county and at Union College, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. After leaving college he went west, where he read law and was admitted to the bar at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. In the spring of 1860 he returned home, and on the 25th of April of that year, was married to Miss Rebecca McGrew, daughter of Archibald McGrew, deceased, a neighbor of his father. On the 22d of November 1860, Mr. Greenawalt was admitted to the practice of the law in the several courts of Westmoreland county, and early in April of the following year he entered into a law partnership with James H. Hunter, Esq., a member of the Greensburg bar. A few days afterwards, April 17, 1861, in response to the call of the President for seventy-five thousand men, he, with Richard Coulter (afterwards colonel of the Eleventh Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers), raised a company, which became Company I, Eleventh Regiment. He was elected second lieutenant and was subsequently promoted to first lieutenant, and was mustered out of the service with his company August 1, 1861.

    Immediately after his return home he zealously and energetically set about raising a company for the three years' service. This company was organized and mustered into service as Company E, One Hundred and Fifty Pennsylvania Volunteers. On the promotion of Captain Dick to major of the regiment, Lieutenant Greenawalt was promoted to captain September 20, 1861, and, on the resignation of Major Dick, was promoted to major November 29, 1862, and to lieutenant colonel May 4, 1863. He was with his regiment in all the hard-fought battles in which it participated, being wounded at Fair Oaks; and at the battle of the Wilderness, May 4, 1864, while in command of his regiment, he fell mortally wounded, and died a few days after, May 17, 1864. His remains were brought home and interred with military honors, in the presence of an immense concourse of his old friends and neighbors, at "Mars' Hill", a quite country churchyard. He left a young and sorrow-stricken wife (but no children) to mourn the death of a noble husband.

    Colonel Greenawalt was immensely popular with his men, having always treated them with great kindness, avoiding all display or abuse of his authority, and abstaining from the use of harsh language, which too often fell upon the ears of the private soldier. He had won the warn esteem of his fellow officers and the confidence of his superiors. Brigadier-General Graham, in a letter to Governor Curtin, in which he asks that Major J. W. Greenawalt be promoted to the position of lieutenant-colonel of his regiment, in speaking of his conduct at the battle of Chancellorsville, says: "He exhibited the firmness and knowledge of a veteran."
 

    One who knew Colonel Greenawalt well, says of him: "He was an earnest, brave, patriotic, honorable man, knowing no fear, and entering with his whole soul into whatever he did. The longer and the better he was known, the more was he respected and beloved in all the departments of life. Such, truthfully, was his character. His life and death are a striking illustration of the sacrifices that were made for the perpetuity of our government and the salvation of our beloved land."

Sources: Unit History and "Waiting for Jacob" By Edwin P. Hogan

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