The Eighty-Eighth at the Battle of Second Bull Run - Chinn Ridge
During the battle, the 88th suffered 29 killed, 65 wounded and as many as 106 soldiers missing in action. It was the highest number of soldiers killed in any one battle during the Civil War. Company C & D were the hardest hit with each suffering 8 soldiers killed during the battle.
The Second Brigade which was made up of the 88th PA, 90th PA, 94th NY and 26th NY was commanded by Brigadier General Zealous B. Tower with the 88th PA under the direct command of Lt. Col. Joseph McLean.
At approximately 4:30PM, Tower's Brigade moved forward with the 88th in the lead. The brigade crossed the Warrenton Turnpike and down Sudley Ford Road before moving cross country toward Chinn Ridge.
As the 88th moved into positon, Longstreet's troops were engaged with the Ohio Brigade as Union Zouaves of the 5th & 10th NY moved past Tower's troops towards the rear.
At 5:00PM Tower's Brigade advanced onto the battle area at the double quick being supported by Stile's Brigade, Company K of the 88th, commanded by Captain Sylvester S. Bookhamer arrived on the battlefield first. Of the ten Company Commanders (or acting Company Commanders) of the 88th, three (Companies D, I & K) were wounded and one (Company C) killed at 2nd Bull Run.
"Second Manassas: Longstreet’s Attack and the Struggle for Chinn Ridge" ,
Patchan also discusses the fight for Chinn Ridge in this series of videos from the Civil War Trust.
Chinn Ridge - Part 1
Chinn RIdge - Part 2
Chinn Ridge - Conclusion
The delaying action fought by Tower's and Stiles's Brigades among others proved succesful in buying time for General Pope and the Pennsylvania Reserves of General John Reynold's Division to organize defenses on Henry's Hill.
General Tower was wounded in action and his brigade suffered 66 killed, 338 wounded and 292 missing for a total of 696 soldiers.
Killed or Mortally wounded from the 88th:
Killed or mortally wounded (MW):
Lieutenant Colonel J. McLean, commanding 88th Pennsylvania
Company B: Private Samuel Longmire
Company C: Captain John Belsterling, Corporal Harry Austin, Corporal Patrick Blaney (MW), Privates Thomas Dixon (MW), Lewis Jones, William Maddis (MW), Private James Rodgers
Company D: Privates Thomas Davidson, John Davidson, Michael Gannon (MW), Privates William Heddinger, William Lauer (MW), Thomas McConnel (MW), Privates William McClintock, Adam Wagner
Company F: Corporal George Schaffer, Privates John Betzold, Charles Naher.
Company G: Private Charles Canovan (MW)
Company H: Privates Frederick Ferner, Lewis Humma (MW), John Krebs, Mark Ringler
Company I: Corporal Robert Jones, Private Joseph Rutherford
Company K: Sergeant Albert Van Dyke, Private Simon Hardinger (MW)
- Lt. Col. Joseph McLean - Killed
- Private Charles Naher, Co. F - Killed
- Private William Mattis, Co. C - Mortally Wounded
- Corporal Robert Jones, Co. I - Killed
- Captain Charles McKnight, Co. K - Wounded
- Lt. Robert Herron, Co. C - Wounded
- Private Henry P. Reif, Co. B - Wounded
- Private Barnett Hagan, Co. A - Wounded and Captured
- Private George W. Leader, Co. B - Captured
- Private Joseph H. Preston, Co. G - Wounded
- Captain Jacob S. Stretch, Co. I - Wounded
- Captain Sylvester Seymour Bookhammer - Wounded