Private William Lynn Lighty, Company H, 7th Regiment, PRVC, Captures Peninsula Campaign, Wounded At Libby Prison / Sold

Private William Lynn Lighty - Company H, 7th Regiment, Pennsylvania Reserve Corps - Inventory Number: PRVC 096 / Sold

Captured during the Peninsula Campaign

Wounded at Libby Prison!

Lighty had been living in Harrisburg when the war began, but was born in York County. He was by trade a Clerk when he enlisted with Company H.

During the Peninsula Campaign he was captured by rebel troops and sent to prison at Libby in Virginia. While a captive, he was injured - stabbed in the knee with a rebel bayonet. When he was released from captivity and after recovering from his wound - he was made Chief Musician of the regiment, in which he served until he re-enlisted and joined the 190th Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers.  Nice Ink inscription on reverse. 

PENNSYLVANIA THIRTY-SIXTH INFANTRY (Three Years)

Thirty-sixth Infantry. - Cols., Elisha B. Harvey, H. C. Bolinger, Lieut.-Cols., Joseph Totten, H. C. Bolinger, R. M. Henderson, Chauncey A. Lyman , Majs., Chauncey A. Lyman, LeGrand B. Speece.  This regiment was the 7th of the reserves. It was organized at West Chester, ordered to Washington on July 21, 1861, and there mustered into the U. S. service on the 27th for a three years' term.  At Tennallytown, in August, it was assigned to the 2nd brigade of the reserves under Brig.-Gen. George G. Meade.  Stationed at Great Falls and later at Tennallytown, the troops constantly expected an engagement with the forces in the vicinity, but none occurred until the affair at Dranesville, Va., in December, in which the 3d brigade won a victory, but the 2nd arrived too late to participate.  At Mechanicsville the part of the regiment was not important, but at Gaines' mill it was in the thick of the fight and its losses were heavy.  It was active at Glendale; in reserve at Malvern hill; met with heavy losses at Antietam, and made a gallant dash at Fredericksburg, where the flag of the 19th Ga. was captured by Corp. Jacob Cart, the only trophy gained in the battle. Cart received a medal of honor for his bravery.  On Dec. 17, 1862, the regiment went into winter quarters at Belle Plain, but left them to join in the "Mud March," and in Feb., 1863, was ordered to Washington for rest and to recruit.  It remained at or near Alexandria throughout that year and the first months of the following year, and then joined the Army of the Potomac in the Wilderness campaign.  The 36th was then attached to the 1st brigade, 3d division, 5th corps, and at the Wilderness a large detachment of the regiment was cut off and made prisoners.  Of the 272 captured many never returned from their prisons.  The remaining battalion was with the army until June, participating in the hard fighting of the month.  The veterans and recruits were then transferred to the 190th Pa. Infantry, and the regiment was mustered out at Philadelphia on June 16, 1864.  Out of the fine body of men who had made up the 36th but few returned for muster out.  Those few, however, were greeted with the appreciation so well earned by their heroism.