Says you are recruit number , to join our ranks.

Regiments 198 through 212: By presidential authority, July 27, 1864 , for ten regiments under the call of July 18, for 500,000 men for a one year term of enlistment.

Organized in early September at Camp Curtin, (3) Harrisburgh Pa. The regiment was organized 24 September and departed camp soon after.

The troops composing this regiment, recruited in the counties of Dauphin, Columbia, Schuykill, Potter, Mifflin, Bradford, Franklin and Centre, rendezvoused at Camp Curtin, and on the 24th of September, were organized by the selection of the following field Officers: William Sergeant, Colonel; Edward L. Whitman, Lieutenant colonel; Henry E. Munson, Major. Colonel Sergeant had served as Captain in the Twelfth United States Infantry, Lt. Col. Witman, as Captain in the Forty-sixth Pennsylvania Regiment, and a majority of both officers and men had had experience in military duty. Soon after its organization, it was ordered to join the Army of the Potomac, before Petersburg (VA), and was assigned to the Fifth Corps, Second Division, Third Brigade, where it was associated with the Third and Fourth Delaware, and the remnants of the One Hundred and Ninetieth and One Hundred and Ninety-first Pennsylvania, commanded by General Gwyn.

On the 27th and 28th of October. It was engaged for the first time, at "Hatchers Run" (VA), but suffered only small loss. On the 5th of December, it moved with the Corp on the "Belefield Raid", which lasted for nearly a week, the column destroying the Weldon Railroad as it went, together with station houses, and the stores of the rebel government. The rails were heated, and bent in many fantastic shapes, some of them being twisted into the form of a Maltese Cross, as a certificate of the fact, that it was done by the Fifth corps. The weather was intensely cold while upon this march, and the troops suffered much, causing many to fall out of ranks, some of whom were captured and inhumanly murdered. After the return of the column, much sickness prevailed in the regiment. Occasioned by the fatigue and exposure to which troops were subjected and many died, among them the Chaplain, Reverend Taylor D. Swartz.

In the Action near "Rowanty Creek" (VA), on the 5th and 6th days of February 1865, the regiment displayed great gallantry. Colonel Sergeant leading with his characteristic heroism and disregard of danger, sustaining considerable losses in killed, wounded and missing.

On the 31st of March, the movement upon "Gravely Run" (VA) commenced, the 210th taking the advance, and during the fierce actions of the three days which succeeded, it was at the fore front, displaying a stubborn bravery, which was unsurpassed, and sustaining losses which unmistakably show the fiery struggle through which it came to pass. Colonel Sergeant was mortally wounded while gallantly leading his command. Adjutant Morris Schlesinger, a scared veteran, and Capt. John N. Hughes (6), were also mortally wounded. Schlesinger, when found upon the battlefield, weakened by his wounds, exclaimed, "this is the death I have sought." Captain A.T. Kinney was wounded in the throat, and so mangled that he was never able to speak in an audible tone. Lieutenants' William M. Colwell, and John Harding, were also among the wounded. Captain John Cook, and Lieutenant Hosea Hudson were wounded and taken prisoners. The entire loss was thirty-five killed, and one hundred and fifty missing. The command now devolved upon Lieutenant Colonel Witman, who was subsequently commissioned Colonel, and under him the regiment participated in the fierce fighting of the 1st of April, taking flags, small arms and prisoners; In a charge made upon the enemy's works, it displayed its wonton courage, sustaining heavy losses in killed and wounded.

With the Corps, it followed closely the retreating army, and at the surrender at the Appomattox Court House, was upon the front line to the last, the flag of truce proclaiming the surrender, passing through the lines of the brigade in which it stood. After the rebel army laid down its arms, it returned to the neighborhood of Washington, and after participating in the "Grand Review" of the national troops, was mustered out of the service on the 30th of May. The recruits were then transferred to the Fifty-First Regiment.

Mustered out at Washington, 30 May 1865. 525 men arrived at Camp Return (Curtin) 1 June 1865 and were paid off and disbanded 6 June 1865.

FOOT NOTES:

1. Family lore maintains that the Hughes family is related to Lincoln through marriage with the Daniel Boone family. As of this date (1/01) Neither the writer or the family Master Genealogist (R.B. Hughes) can document this matter. However until such time, we will continue to look to "Honest Abe" as one of our relatives.

2. James Harry "Jimmy" Hughes. b.1831, Bellefonte, Centre, PA. d.1874. Enlisted 9 Sept. 1864. He was paid the sum of $100.00 for a years service. We think he had to pay some of it back, because he wasn't in service for a full year. Promoted to Corporal 31 Dec. 1864. Discharged 30 May 1865. His name is inscribed on civil war monument in Bellefonte, Centre Co. PA. Buried in "Methodist Cemetery", Pleasant Gap, PA.

3. Term of enlistment was for one year.

4. Regiments during the war were composed of approximately ten companies. A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I-K. Each company consisted of 101 soldiers. During the early recruitment of the war company strength was only 77 soldiers. As the war progressed the numbers increased as the need for more soldiers increased.

5. Named after Pennsylvania Governor Andrew G. Curtin. b. Bellefonte, Centre Co. PA. Confidant and adviser to Lincoln during the war years. The camp operated from 18 April 1861 to 11 November 1865. Due to its proximity to Washington and Harper's Ferry, two principle staging areas for operations in the eastern theater of the war, Camp Curtin became the most important military post in what was arguably the state most important to the North's war effort.

6. No known family relationship to Cpl. James H Hughes, Co. "G"

Bibliography:

The Training of an Army, Camp Curtin & the Civil War, William J. Miller. This book contains a listing of all units passing through Camp Curtin, during mustering in and out.

History of the Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-1865. 9 Vols. Samuel .P. Bates. 1869

A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, Vol 2.

Civil War Battle Flags of the Union Army and Order of Battle, Knickbocker Press.

What They Didn't Teach You About The Civil War., M. Wright.