Id’d Insignia and Rank Strap – Lt. Col. John Harper – Field and Staff 95^th Pa. Infantry (Gosline’s Zouaves) – This identified insignia and rank grouping includes a single, ornate infantry Colonel’s strap and a pair of gold colored, bullion oak leaves, representative of the rank of Major. All three elements of this grouping are affixed to an old piece of paper that has typed on it, the following:

“SHOULDER BOARD EPAULET (sic)

OAK LEAF INSIGNIA OF LT. COL

JOHN HARPER OF 95 Regt. P.V.V.

INFANTRY OFFICER PENNA. VOL.”

The eagle on the shoulder board is embroidered in silver bullion, with sequins affixed to the feathers of the wings; the eagle sits on a deep blue, velvet center; the perimeter of the strap is constructed of gold bullion. The oak leaves are made of embroidered, gold bullion, indicative of the rank of Major. During his service in the 95^th Pa., Harper would participate with his regiment in numerous engagements to include: the Peninsula Campaign, the Battles of Gaines’ Mill, Malvern Hill, South Mountain, Antietam, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cedar Creek, Cold Harbor, the Siege of Petersburg and Appomattox. Harper enlisted at the rank of 1^st Sergeant in September 1861 and remained in this regiment until mustering out in April 1865. During his service, Harper was promoted to Sergeant Major, shortly after his initial enlistment, in 1861, then to the rank of Major in November 1864, and subsequently promoted to Lt. Colonel in February 1865 and Colonel in April 1865. Both the rank strap and oak leaves remain in very good condition,

John Harper

Residence Philadelphia, PA.
Enlisted on 9/17/1861 as a Priv.

On 9/17/1861, he mustered into “G” Co. Pennsylvania 95th Infantry.
He was Mustered Out on 7/17/1865 at Washington, DC

Promotions:

• 1st Sergt
• Sergt Major 11/6/1861
• Major 11/30/1864
• Lt Colonel 2/7/1865
• Colonel 4/3/1865 (Not Mustered)
• Colonel 4/6/1865 by Brevet

Intra-regimental company transfers

• 11/6/1861 From company G to Field & Staff

Died 9/1/1875
Buried: W Laurel Hill Cemty, Bala Cynwyd,Montgomery Co, PA

PENNSYLVANIA 95TH INFANTRY (Three Years) Ninety-fifth Infantry.-Cols., John M. Gosline, Gustavus W. Town, Thomas J. Town, John Harper, Lieut.-Cols., Gustavus W. Town, Elisha Hall, Edward Carroll, J. G. C. MacFarlan, John Harper, John A. Ward; Majs., William B. Hubbs, David F. Foley, Thomas J. Town, Theodore H. McCalla, Francis J. Randall, Hugh O. Roberts, John Harper, John A. Ward, W. J. MacDonald. The 95th, many of whose members had belonged to the militia or had served with the three months’ troops, was composed of men from Philadelphia and vicinity, excepting one company, which was recruited in Burlington county, N. J. It was mustered into the U. S. service from Aug. 23, to Oct. 16, 1861, at Philadelphia, for a three years’ term, and went into camp at Hestonville. It left camp for Washington on Oct. 12, and was attached to Gen. Newton’s brigade which was stationed at Fairfax seminary in an instruction camp. It engaged in the Peninsular campaign early in 1862, and suffered severe losses at Gaines’ mill. It joined Pope’s army after Bull Run and Chantilly; was engaged at Crampton’s gap and Antietam, participated in the battle of Fredericksburg and went into winter quarters near White Oak Church, where it remained until the Chancellorsville action in the spring of 1863, in which it lost many men. It reached Gettysburg on July 2, and was ordered into action the same day. After the battle it camped at Warrenton and performed picket duty at New Baltimore and Culpeper, going into winter quarters near Hazel river. At the end of the year 245 members of the regiment reenlisted and were furloughed. On May 2, the veteran regiment broke camp, and as part of Upton’s brigade, Russell’s division, 6th corps, joined the Army of the Potomac for the Wilderness campaign. It took part in all the many engagements of the 6th corps until July 10, when it was ordered to Washington, where it was engaged at Fort Stevens, participating in the movements against Gen. Early which followed, and fighting at Fisher’s hill and Cedar creek. On Oct. 15, 1864, the original members who had not reenlisted were ordered home for muster out and the regiment was reinforced by the addition of a battalion from the 96th. In December the 95th returned to Petersburg, where it spent the remainder of the winter. In the spring of 1865 it joined in the advance upon the city and after the evacuation, in the battle at Sailor’s creek. It then moved to Danville, thence to Richmond and returned to Washington, where it was mustered out on July 17, 1865.

95th Regiment, Pennsylvania Infantry

Overview:

Organized at Philadelphia August to October, 1861. Left State for Washington, D. C., October 12. Attached to Newton’s Brigade, Franklin’s Division, Army Potomac, to March, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 1st Army Corps, Army Potomac, to April, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, Dept. of the Rappahannock, to May, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 6th Army Corps, Army Potomac, to May, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 6th Army Corps, Army Potomac, and Army Shenandoah, to June, 1865.
Service:

Camp at Kendall Green, Defences of Washington, D. C., till October 29, 1861, and at Fairfax Seminary, Va., till March, 1862. Advance on Manassas, Va., March 10-15. McDowell’s advance on Falmouth, Va., April 4-17. Moved to Shipping Point, Va., April 17, thence to the Virginia Peninsula April 22. Siege of Yorktown April 24-May 4 (on transports). West Point May 7-8. Seven days before Richmond June 25-July 1. Gaines’ Mill June 27. Charles City Cross Roads, and Glendale June 30. Malvern Hill July 1. At Harrison’s Landing till August 16. Movement to Fortress Monroe, thence to Centreville August 16-28. In works at Centreville August 28-31. Cover Pope’s retreat to Fairfax C. H. September 1. Maryland Campaign September 6-24. Crampton’s Pass, South Mountain, September 14. Antietam September 16-17. Duty in Maryland till October 29. Movement to Falmouth, Va., October 29-November 19. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12-15. Burnside’s second Campaign, “Mud March,” January 20-24, 1863. At Falmouth till April. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Bernard House April 29. Maryes Heights, Fredericksburg, May 3. Salem Heights May 3-4. Banks’ Ford May 4. Gettysburg (Pa.) Campaign June 13-July 24. Battle of Gettysburg July 2-4. Pursuit of Lee July 5-24. At and near Funkstown July 10-13. Hagerstown July 14. Duty on line of the Rappahannock till October. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Rappahannock Station November 7. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Regiment re-enlisted December 26. At Brandy Station till May, 1864. Rapidan Campaign May 4-June 12. Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7; Spottsylvania C. H. May 8-12. Assault on the Salient May 12. North Anna River May 23-26. On line of the Pamunkey May 26-28. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Cold Harbor June 1-12. Before Petersburg June 17-18. Siege of Petersburg till July 9. Jerusalem Plank Road June 22-23. Moved to Washington, D. C., July 9-11. Repulse of Early’s attack on Washington July 11-12. Pursuit of Early to Snicker’s Gap July 14-18. Sheridan’s Shenandoah Valley Campaign August to December. Summit Point August 21. Battle of Opequan, Winchester, September 19. Fisher’s Hill September 22. New Market September 24. Battle of Cedar Creek October 19. Duty in the Shenandoah Valley till December. Moved to Petersburg, Va., December. Siege of Petersburg December, 1864, to April, 1865. Dabney’s Mills, Hatcher’s Run, February 5-7, 1865. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. Assault on and fall of Petersburg April 2. Pursuit of Lee April 3-9. Appomattox C. H. April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army. Moved to Danville April 23-27, and duty there till May 23. March to Richmond, Va., thence to Washington, D. C., May 23-June 3. Corps Review June 8. Mustered out July 17, 1865.

Regiment lost during service 11 Officers and 171 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 72 Enlisted men by disease. Total 255.

95th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry

The 95th Pennsylvania Infantry was a volunteer infantry regiment which served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. This regiment was also sometimes referred to as Gosline’s Zouaves because its members wore Zouave-style uniforms during the early portion of their service tenure. As the war progressed, the regiment’s uniforms were modified, keeping the Zouave-style jackets and vests, but eliminating the scarlet pants, scarlet-trimmed kepis, and tan gaiters.

Three of its members were ultimately awarded the Medal of Honor.

History

The regiment was formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from August to October 1861, with one company from New Jersey and the other nine from Pennsylvania. When the 95th Pennsylvania fought at The Seven Days Battle, the 95th held against the infamous Wheat’s Battalion. One of the Gosline Zouaves killed

Casualties

Among the casualties sustained by this regiment during the war were two colonels, two lieutenant-colonels, a major, and an adjutant killed in action.

• Killed and mortally wounded: 11 officers, 171 enlisted men
• Disease-related deaths: 1 officer, 72 enlisted men
• Total:12 officers, 243 enlisted men

Honors and awards

Three of this regiment’s members were awarded the Medal of Honor:

• Fox, William R. (private, Co. A:) Issued March 28, 1878 for valor displayed April 2, 1865 when capturing the Confederate flag at the Customs House in Petersburg, Virginia and when assisting in the capture of an enemy gun
• Galloway, George N. (private, Co. G): Issued October 24, 1895 for valor displayed while holding a critical position at Alsops Farm, Virginia while under heavy enemy fire on May 8, 1864
• Wilson, Francis A. (corporal, Co. B): Issued June 25, 1880 for valor displayed while capturing a gun as one of the first members of the regiment to penetrate the enemy’s lines at Petersburg, Virginia on April 2, 1865

“Gosline Zouaves”

The monument to the 95th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment is south of Gettysburg on Wheatfield Road. (Crawford Ave. & J. Weickert Farm tour map) It was dedicated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1888.

The 95th Pennsylvania was commanded at the Battle of Gettysburg by Lieutenant Colonel Edward Carroll.

Inscription on the 95^th PVV’s monument at Gettysburg:

Total Enrollment 1962
Present for duty at Gettysburg June 30, 1863
Officers               20
Enlisted men   336
Loss      Enlisted men Killed 1 wounded 1

Total Loss in Action    Officers  Men   Total
Killed                   9         109           118
Wounded          20         410          430
Captured or missing       76            76
—————————-
                                     29        595          624

Total Deaths       Officers  Men   Total
         Killed             9         109          118
Died of wounds     2         63             65
Of Disease                       70             70
Other causes                     5               5
—————————-
11        247          258

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