The 88th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers

Submitted by chastidyjackson on Tue, 08/19/2008 - 20:16.

The 88th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers

Extracted and Excerpted in part from The American Battlefields Preservation Program, History of the Pennsylvania Volunteers, Samuel Bates, 1870, and unknown sources. Many of the photos are from the Library of Congress Archives.

Martin Kuhn Reese, 1845-1926 of Providence Twp., Lancaster County was a paid substitute for John Harrison Long and entered Co.F of the 88th Infantry at Philadelphia in March 11 of 1865. Based on different battle records given for the 88th, the 88th was involved in action at two battles that were considered part of the Richmond-Petersburg campaign, and the Appomattox campaign. The Appomattox campaign below also includes the White Oak Road Battles. These campaigns were fought after Martin's enlistment date. It is unknown whether Martin was assigned to the unit prior to these battles or after the surrender of Appomattox, but he was mustered out in Washington D.C June 30, 1865 with the unit after the Grand Review of May 1865.
Martin was preceeded in volunteering for service by his two older brothers Frank and Ed, both of whom were Yankee Horse Soldiers with the noted 9th PA Cavalry, 92nd Regiment known as the "Lochiel Cavalry."

The most significant battle fought by the 88th during the time of Martin's enlistment was at Five Forks just southwest of Richmond. One among the several battles of the Appomattox campaign. All of the battles were in Virginia.