admin Pennsylvania Volunteers
Companies C, E, H, and K, of this regiment, were from Lancaster county, A, D, and I, from Indiana, F, and G, from Westmoreland, and B, from Jefferson. They rendezvoused at Camp Curtin, where a regimental organization was effected on the 19th of August, 1862, with the following field officers:
- James R. Porter, of Indiana county, Colonel
- D. L. M’Culloch, of Westmoreland county, Lieutenant Colonel
- Rudolph bW. Shenk, of Lancaster county, Major.
On the same evening the regiment moved for Washington, and upon its arrival reported to General Wadsworth, in command of the department, who assigned it to provost guard duty, by detachments, in the city and in Georgetown, where it remained until the 16th of February, 1863.
In the meantime, the field officers performed special duty, Colonel Porter acting as President of a General Court Martial, Lieutenant Colonel M’Culloch as comrmandant of Capitol Hill, and Major Shenk as officer in charge of State prisoners, and prisoners of war, while on their way between Washington and Aiken’s Landing, for exchange, and subsequently as commandant of the Soldiers’ Retreat, in Washington. Colonel Porter made repeated applications to have his regiment sent to the front, but without success. Finally, on the 16th of February, when General Wadsworth joined the Army of the Potomac, the scattered detachments were united, and it proceeded to Belle Plain, where it was assigned to the First Brigade, Third Division, First Corps, the brigade being for a time under the command of Colonel Porter.
Until the opening of the Chancellorsville campaign, it was engaged in guard and picket duty. On the 28th of April, the corps moved up near to the Rappahannock River, at Pollock’s Mills, below Fredericksburg. Shortly after dark, Colonel Porter moved his regiment close to the bank, in support of batteries, where he disposed his men as sharp-shooters. On the following morning the enemy opened fire, which was vigorously answered, the regiment losing three wounded.
On the 2d of May, the corps marched away to join the army under Hooker, now hotly engaged near Chancellorsville, leaving the regiment still in support of the artillery. Upon being relieved, it hastened forward and re-joined the corps at the front, where it was thrown out to cover the front of the brigade. While upon this duty, it suffered some loss by capture. After the battle, it returned to its camp at Belle Plain, where it remained until the expiration of its term of service. This regiment was composed of good material, and was well officered. General Doubleday, in whose division it served, says of it:
“Colonel Porter has rendered very good service with his regiment in guarding the batteries along the Rappabannock, engaged in covering the crossing of our troops below Fredericksburg. His men defended the guans against the enemyfs sharpshooters handsomely, and did good execution. * * * The One Hundred and Thirty-fifth also covered the front of the First Brigade of my division, at the battle of Chancellorsville, and although not actively engaged, did all that was required of it.”
On being relieved at the front, it returned to Harrisburg, where, on the 24th of May, it was mustered out of service.
Source:
Bates, Samuel P. History of the Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-65, Harrisburg, 1868-1871.