Poll-book for the 1864 Election for Company “D” of the 48th Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers, at Pegram’s Farm, VA

This is a rare item being offered, it is a Poll Book for elections of Company “D”, 48^th Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers, measuring 16 ½” x 11 ½”. The 48^th was recruited in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania and organized at Camp Curtin in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, during August and September 1861. A large number of men in the regiment had been miners prior to the war.

The regiment participated in numerous battles throughout the war - at Antietam, they assisted in carrying Burnside's Bridge and crossed it soon after 1:00 PM. After the repulse of three divisions later in the day, two brigades advanced to the crest of the ridge to check Confederate pursuit.

The 48th Pennsylvania participated in several battles of the Petersburg campaign in 1864. At the Battle of Peebles' Farm (also called Pegram's Farm) happened Sept 30-Oct 2, 1864, near Dinwiddie, VA, resulted in a Union victory as they extended lines west, capturing key ground at farms like Peebles' and Pegram's, crucial for future breakthroughs.

They suffered significant losses at Pegram’s Farm, with 55 men becoming casualties: 4 killed/mortally wounded, 8 wounded, and 43 captured by the Confederates, many later dying in prison.

Eight hundred and fifty-eight officers and enlisted men were mustered into service as members of the regiment, of whom 11 officers and 145 enlisted men were killed and mortally wounded and 3 officers and 142 enlisted men died by disease, for a total of 301 deaths.

This is a rare piece of Civil War history, and it remains in great condition. Not only from the very famous, hard fighting 48^th Pennsylvania, but filled out right on the Pegram’s Farm Battlefield in October 1864. This is a great candidate for more research. I show one of these Poll Books in my book “The Civil War Soldier – His Personal Items” (see pictures).