THIS regiment was organized under the first call for troops, on April 21st, 1861, under command of Col. Charles P. Dare, being the first regiment that left Philadelphia fully armed and equipped. It was mustered out on July 31st and re-enlisted August 2d under command of Col. David B. Birney.**

Breaking camp at the Falls of Schuylkill, the regiment left in September for Washington. Soon afterward the regiment was recruited to fifteen companies, of which twelve were from Philadelphia and one each from Pittsburg, Wilkes-Barre and Columbia. Col. Birney was promoted February 17th, 1862, as brigadier-general, and Capt. Thomas H. Neill, of the 5th U. S. Infantry, became colonel of the regiment. At this time four of the companies were detached to the 61st Pennsylvania Infantry and a fifth was absorbed into the remaining ten companies. The "23d" first met the enemy at Warwick Creek, Williamsburg and Bottom's Bridge, losing a few men wounded. At Fair Oaks, Seven Pines and in the final movements of the Peninsular campaign the regiment saw heavy fighting with mush loss, being engaged at White Oak Swamp, Charles City Cross Roads and Malvern Hill. The "23d" was next sent to the Bull Run Campaign, via Alexandria, Va., participating in the battle of Chantilly. In September it was part of an independent brigade under Col. Thomas H. Neill, detached to guard the fords of the upper Potomac, just crossed by Lee in the Maryland campaign. Here the regiment lost twenty-six men of Company B by capture.

At Fredericksburg, upon the night of December loth, the "23d" led the army across the Rappahannock River upon the pontoon bridge at Franklin's Crossing. Col. Neill here took command of a brigade, and Lieut.-Col. John Ely became colonel. In May, 1863, the regiment, with the Sixth Corps, was again in front of Fredericksburg, where five companies, under Lieut.-Col. John F. Glenn, made a preliminary attack upon Marye's Heights, losing sixteen men. In the final charge the "23d" voluntarily rushed into a weak point, and entered the works, assisting in capturing, with the Sixth Corps, everything in sight, losing seventy-two men. For this feat one hundred silver medals were afterward presented to participants by Col. Ely. Upon the afternoon of the same day (May 3d) the "23d," with Gen. Sedgwick's Sixth Corps, again met the enemy at Salem Church. Skirmishing and marching through June, the 23d Regiment entered upon the famous forced march of the Sixth Corps, which brought all-important help to Meade at Gettysburg. Arriving upon the scene at 4 P. M., July 2d, they were promptly sent to the support of the Fifth Corps, near Little Round Top, but without actual engagement. In the conflict of the third day Shaler's Brigade, including the "23d," was sent to the Twelfth Corps at Culp's Hill, where they became engaged, driving Johnston's force back to their works, and in the afternoon it was marched, under the heavy artillery fire preceding Pickett's assault, to the left center of the battle line formed to receive him. The regimental loss in these various movements was two officers and twenty-nine men killed and wounded. The monument of the 23d Regiment at Gettysburg is located at Culp's Hill, where it was engaged.***

On July 5th the Sixth Corps followed Lee's retreating army in the direction of the Potomac River, capturing large numbers of prisoners. While in camp at Warrenton the regiment received a re-enforcement of one hundred and forty-six drafted men, and was assigned to the Second Division, Sixth Corps. Col. Ely returned and resumed command on September 2d, 1863, and soon afterward the regiment was again marching, guarding and skirmishing in the movements of the Sixth Corps, this period covering the affairs at Rappahannock Station, Kelly's Ford and the Mine Run. At the beginning of December, 1864, the regiment was back in its old camp at Warrenton, where, because of disabilities, Col. Ely resigned and Lieut.-Col. John F. Glenn was commissioned colonel. At the end of the year two hundred of the men re-enlisted as veteran volunteers. The balance of the regiment was dispatched, in January, under Major William J. Wallace, to Johnson's Island, Lake Erie, for guard duty over the prison for Confederate officers, the veteran Contingent joining them on February 11th, 1864. The opening of the summer campaign found the "23d" again upon familiar ground in Virginia, and on May 14th the command was detailed to guard and convoy freshly captured prisoners, then very numerous. This work and the destruction of the railroad trackage was performed under command of Col. Isaac C. Bassets, of the 82d Regiment, Pennsylvania Infantry. The "23d" rejoined the Army of the Potomac at the North Anna. At Cold Harbor, on June 1st, the "23d" met with its most trying experience, losing, in the futile effort to break the Confederate line, nine officers and one hundred and eighty-eight men, killed or wounded. The remnant of the regiment remained on the firing line until, ten days later, the movement was made to the investment of Petersburg. Here the old Sixth Corps was kept busy, night and day. in the trenches. After a hot skirmish at Ream's Station, the scene again changed. The Sixth Corps was hurried away to Washington, then threatened by the tireless Early, who was followed to the Shenandoah Valley. While engaged in the Valley the term of enlistment of the "23d" expired. The veterans and recruits were transferred to the 82d Pennsylvania Regiment. At Philadelphia the command was mustered out on September 8th, 1864.

TOTAL LOSSES.

Killed or died from wounds..................................................officers,  6;  men, 126.
Died from disease or other causes........................................    "         3;     "      56.
Wounded, not mortally........................................................    "        18;    "     434.
Captured or missing.............................................................    "         1;     "      78.

BATTLES AND ENGAGEMENTS.
Warwick Creek, Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, White Oak Swamp, Charles City Cross Roads, Turkey Bend, Malvern Hill, Fredericksburg, Marye's Heights, Salem Church, Gettysburg, Funkstown, Mine Run, Cold Harbor, Petersburg; also present
at Second Malvern Hill, Chantilly, Rappahannock Station, North Anna, Hanovertown, Fort Stevens, D. C., and in Shenandoah Valley campaign to August 23d, 1864.

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FOOTNOTES:

*When Philadelphia companies are specified in headings the total enrollments apply to them only, in other cases the entire regimental enrollments are given.

**Col. Dare died soon after the return of his regiment. Col. Birney was advanced to the rank of brigadier-general on February 17th, 1862. He died while in command of the Tenth Army Corps on October 18th, 1864.
Gen. David B. Birney died at the Eagle Hotel on the West Chester turnpike, near Llanerch, a fact recalled by the newspapers in connection with the recent destruction of the time-honored hostelry by fire.

***The Gettysburg Battlefield Commission first offered the regiment a monument site at either to the right of Little Round Top or to the left of Gen. Meade's headquarters. Eventually the "23d" proved its claim to the location on Culp's Hill and there erected its monument. After the State appropriation was made for the cost of regimental monuments the "23d" expended its share thereof in the addition of a bronze figure of a Zouave. When this had been done the monument was rededicated.