Colonel Samuel Black Killed While Leading the Regiment in a Bayonet Charge at the Battle of Gaines Mill

Colonel Samuel Black Killed While Leading the Regiment in a Bayonet Charge at the Battle of Gaines Mill - Inventory Number: CDV 481

Civil War Union Army Officer. He led an active political and military career before the Civil War, serving during the Mexican War as the Lieutenant Colonel of the 1st Pennsylvania Infantry, and as Governor of the Nebraska Territory from 1859 until 1861. Later in 1861, after the outbreak of hostilities between the North and the South, he was commissioned as Colonel and commander of the 62nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He led the unit in the operations of the 1862 Spring Peninsular Campaign, seeing action at the Siege of Yorktown and the battles of the Seven Days. At the June 27, 1862 Battle of Gaines Mill, he was killed while leading the regiment in a bayonet charge during the early stages of the combat.

Samuel W. Black

Residence Pittsburgh PA; 44 years old.

Enlisted on 7/4/1861 at Pittsburgh, PA as a Colonel.

On 7/4/1861 he was commissioned into Field & Staff PA 62nd Infantry

He was Killed on 6/27/1862 at Gaines' Mill, VA

Other Information:

born 9/3/1816 in Allegheny County, PA

PENNSYLVANIA 62ND INFANTRY (Three Years)

     Sixty-second Infantry.-Cols., Samuel W. Black, J. Bowman Sweitzer; Lieut.-Cols., J. B. Sweitzer, James C. Hull , Majs., J. W. Patterson William G Lowry.  The 62nd regiment was recruited under authority of the secretary of war in July, 1861, from the counties of Allegheny, Clarion, Jefferson and Blair.  Pending the settlement of the controversy between the state and the national government as to the right to commission all officers of troops raised within the state limits, the organization was designated the 33rd independent regiment.  On Nov. 19, an order from the war department placed all independent regiments on the same footing as other state troops and the officers of this regiment were thereupon commissioned by the governor, dating from July 4.  The regiment was completely officered and organized by the 24th and on that date moved from Pittsburg to Camp Cameron.  A few weeks later it left for Washington, being quartered at Camp Rapp.  On Sept. 11, it crossed the Potomac, encamped near Fort Corcoran, and was assigned to the 2nd brigade of Porter's division.  It spent the winter of 1861-62 at Camp Bettie Black on Minor's hill perfecting itself meanwhile in drill and discipline and suffering more or less from a malignant form of camp fever.  In the spring it moved with the army on the Peninsular campaign, first coming under fire and meeting its first loss in action at Yorktown.  Its first serious engagement was at Hanover Court House in May, where it met with some loss, but behaved most gallantly, capturing 81 prisoners, including 7 officers.  The regiment was actively engaged at Mechanicsville, Gaines, mill and Malvern hill, its entire loss during the campaign being 298 in killed, wounded and missing.  In the fighting at Gaines, mill, its gallant colonel was slain, while Lieut.-Col. Sweitzer was captured.  At Malvern hill it was led by Capt. James C. Hull in the absence of all its field officers, and after the campaign it remained at Harrison's landing until Aug. 14, when it moved with Porter's corps to Fredericksburg and the Rappahannock Porter's corps was in reserve at the second Bull Run battle, and soon after the 62nd returned to its old camp at Minor's hill, sadly reduced in numbers by its long campaign.  At Antietam it was active, supporting a battery of 20 pieces, at Fredericksburg it formed part of the Center Grand Division, commanded by Gen. Hooker, and suffered severely, its loss being 2 officers and 5 men killed and 7 officers and 56 men wounded.  Speaking of the advance of Griffin's 1st division, to which it belonged, on the stone wall in front of Marye's heights, Gen. Burnside said: "No troops ever behaved better in the world".  With the exception of a march to the Rappahannock late in December, in support of Gen. Averell, and the "Mud March" of Jan., 1863, nothing of moment occurred during the winter.  In April as part of the 5th corps, commanded by Gen. Meade, it moved upon the Chancellorsville campaign and was engaged with considerable loss in the battle which ensued, being the last regiment of its corps to cross the river on its withdrawal from the front.  It was encamped at Fredericksburg until June 1, and was then on picket duty at Kelly's ford until the middle of the month, when it moved on the Gettysburg campaign, arriving on the scene of battle on July 2nd.  Its loss at Gettysburg was very heavy, and the command could only muster 90 men at the close of the fighting.  Col. Sweitzer was wounded and Maj. Lowry and 5 other officers were among the killed.  Returning to Virginia, the regiment engaged in the campaign of maneuvres which followed and was engaged at Rappahannock Station, Locust Grove and Mine run.  Its winter quarters for 1863-64 were at Licking run.  With ranks much recruited, it entered on the Wilderness campaign in May, 1864, the 5th corps being now commanded by Gen. Warren.  From now on the fighting was almost continuous, the 62nd being heavily engaged at the Wilderness, Laurel hill, Spottsylvania, the North Anna river, Totopotomoy creek, Bethesda Church, in the first assaults on Petersburg near the Norfolk & Petersburg railroad, and on June 21 was again engaged, but without much loss, on the Jerusalem plank road.  It was employed on fatigue and picket duties until July 3, when the term of the original members, except veterans, having expired, it was ordered to the rear. Companies L and M, whose term was not yet expired, were transferred to the 91st Pa. (q. v.), and the recruits and veterans to the 105th Pa.  On July 4, the regiment started for Pittsburg, where it was mustered out, having lost during its final campaign out of a total of 557 men, 1 officer and 28 men killed, 11 officers and 227 men wounded, and 1 officer and 30 men missing.  Six officers died soon after from their wounds. In August companies L and M were withdrawn from the front and mustered out at Pittsburg.

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Inventory Number: CDV 481