AUTHORITY for recruiting this Company was issued by the War Department, on the 2d of June, 1862 and on the 9th of August it was organized and mustered into service, at Camp Struthers, Philadelphia, with the following officers:

• Henry E. Wrigley, Captain
• Albert S. White, First Lieutenant
• William Penn Gaskill, Second Lieutenant

It was composed of skilled artizans, comprising in its ranks a party of sailors, of blacksmiths, and of carpenters, and among its non-commissioned officers accomplished draftsmen and mathematicians. For the transportation of its out-fit of tools, forges, machinery, and material, six army wagons were required. The men were armed with short earbines, which were kept constantly slung across the back, even when at work.

Soon after its organization, it was transferred to Washington, where it reported to General Barnard, and was assigned to duty upon the fortifications on the Virginia shore, under the immediate command of General Whipple. While on duty here, six miles of defenses, stretching from Chain Bridge southward to Fort Albany, near Alexandria, besides detached works, were constructed. Into these defenses General Pope's army retired after the second battle of Bull Run, and found ample protection behind their well planned and elaborately constructed folds. The advance rebel cavalry, after pushing on and penetrating as far as the Leesburg Road, was stopped by the fire of the artillery from behind the epaulement, into which field batteries could wheel and completely rake every approach and ravine.

After the battle of Antietam, the Company joined the army at Harper's Ferry, and in the advance through Loudon Valley, re-built a number of bridges along the turnpike, which had been destroyed by the enemy on his retreat. On reaching Lovettsville, it was ordered back to Harper's Ferry, to re-build the suspension bridge across the Shenandoah River at that point, and to construct defensive works on Maryland Heights. Early in December, Lieutenant White succeeded to the command of the Company, Captain Wrigley having been transferred to the corps of Topographical Engineers. When the head of the rebel army made its appearance before Harper's Ferry, on its way for the invasion of Pennsylvania, all the bridges in the neighborhood, which the enemy could use were destroyed, besides much government property, to prevent its falling into his hands, after which the Company proceeded to Washington, and reported at the headquarters of the Engineer Brigade.

Not long afterwards, the rebel army returned, crestfallen from Gettysburg, and re-crossed the Potomac, and the Company was ordered back to Harper's Ferry, and placed in charge of the pontoon train of the Potomac. When the Eleventh and Twelfth corps were transferred to the Army of the West, a detachment of this Company was sent to lay a pontoon bridge across the Ohio, opposite Belleair, over which the troops passed. The headquarters of the Company remained at Harper's Ferry during the remainder of its term, though detachments were kept out in charge of pontoon trains at different points along the Potomac and further west, during a greater portion of the time, one squadron remaining nearly eight months at Fairmount, and another for several weeks at Clarksburg.

The Company was mustered out of service at Harper's Ferry, on the 20th of June, 1865.

Source:  Bates, Samuel P. History of the Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-65, Harrisburg, 1868-1871.