63d Regiment
Pennsylvania Volunteers
History of Company C
"The Hanna Guards"
Company C was organized in New Brighton, Beaver County, in the early part of August 1861. After completion of organization the company left New Brighton for Pittsburgh, Pa., amidst a large delegation of prominent citizens: fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, wives and sweethearts bidding a sad farewell to their loved ones.After arriving in Pittsburgh, the company went into camp at Camp Wilkins. In a short time orders were received that all men should be sent to Washington, D.C. Accordingly, on the 26th of August, two companies, under command of Captains Berringer and Kirkwood, and several squads temporarily organized in two additional companies, in all about four hundred men, including Company C, proceeded by rail to the National Capital without arms, uniforms, or equipments.
During the early part of September 1861, a sufficient number of men had arrived in camp to complete a regiment, and toward the close of the month were transferred to Washington, where they joined the battalion which had preceded them. Their first camp was known as Camp Sprague. On September 28th they crossed the Potomac, and landing at Alexandria, Virginia, marched about two miles out the Leesburg Pike, where they encamped at what was known as Camp Shields. On October 14th they again moved, going across Hunting Creek to the farm of James Mason, on the Mount Vernon Road, and into winter quarters at Camp Johnston. From there they embarked on transports for Fortress Monroe, and began the memorable Peninsular campaign, followed with subsequent campaigns to the expiration of their term of service, September, 1864.
Known as the “Hanna Guards”, the officers of Company C were:
Source: Gilbert Adams Hays, Captain. Under the Red Patch: Story of the Sixty-third Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-1864. Published by the 63d Pennsylvania Volunteer Regiment Association. Pittsburg: Market Review Publishing Company, 1908.
- Jason C. Hanna, Captain
- Jos. A. Schonlaw, First Lieutenant
- Charles W. Taylor, Second Lieutenant
- Henry Hurst, First Sergeant
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