These are excerpts from a diary, highlighting Isaac Newton Price. To read the full account of the Pennsylvania 61st Infantry's engagements, go here: http://www.61stpvi.org/index/pa61co-a

Isaac N. Price, Cpl; promoted to 2d Lt; wounded Cold Harbor June 1864; mortally wounded Charlestown, Va on last day of service, Aug 21st, 1864.

The information below was taken from the 1913 edition of History of Indiana County, Pennsylvania (pages 119-123). This book was first published in 1880 and it contained a history of Company A based largely on diary notes by James Miles Walker, who was a company musician for the original 3 year term of the 61st PA Volunteers. Company A originated in Indiana County and most of its soldiers throughout the war came from there. Walker's notes also became an important primary source for the regimental history that was written by A.T. Brewer in 1911.

July 2, 1862, we moved to Harrison's Landing in deep mud and stopped where we could neither sit nor lie down, but after several hours of suffering got to a better place in the woods and the sound of the pioneer's axe was heard. With the exception of one reconnoiter to Malvern Hill, and an occasional shell thrown from the south side of the James, we had quiet. At this point Captain Creps, to relieve himself of an unpleasant duty, asked the company to elect a second lieutenant with resulted in the election of Isaac M. Price, a corporal, an action of which the company may well be proud, for none ever questioned his ability or bravery.

On the night of April 20, 1863, Company A, with others, carried the shallops or pontoon boats from the heights to Franklin's crossing, one mile, and were to man the boats, row across, and drive the enemy's pickets from their pits. The order was countermanded on account of fatigue of the men. After many moves we found ourselves at daylight, Sunday morning, May 3d, in the city of Fredericksburg, preparing to charge the heights above it, the 61st to go out double quick, left in front, and form line by file left on the charge after getting across the canal on the street bridge. Conflicting orders were given by the lieutenant in command of left company, doubling his men at the end of the bridge. In this double quick movement, the moving column ran into them, and for a few fatal seconds, under a terrible fire of grape and canister, there was confusion. Captain Creps and Lieutenant Price, of Company A, both ran forward to assist in getting all right again, for all were anxious to get forward out of range of the artillery. The Captain got pushed off the bridge into the canal, wading out on the other side with his long boots full of mud and water, and took command of the regiment when Commander Spear fell. This momentary delay righted, Company A crossed and was over the enemy's works almost as soon as any of the troops, capturing most of the Confederates in the works it sealed. The loss was reported as ninety-nine men in the regiment, seventy probably having fallen in that charge, but the fight continuing in the effort to reach Hooker's force at Chancellorsville, more men being wounded, the actual loss of the charge cannot be given.

We immediately moved back to the left again and then followed almost continuous active work-skirmish through May 26th, then train guard, in skirmish on the 28th, serve skirmish again beyond North Anna river, May 31st. Being at this point on the extreme right, we became rear guard again to Cold Harbor, coming in too late to participate in the days fight of June 1st, but we pushed to the front in the evening. The evening of June 3d we were in the general engagement along the line being covered by breastworks our loss was slight; by June 5th the works were extended till the opposing forces were but a hundred yards apart and in the continued rattle of musketry along the line Lieutenant Price was wounded. We have spoken of his bravery before, but let us record here, when told his wound was so serious he must go to the hospital, he cried with grief at being separated from his company. He gave his life for his country, and our flattering words affected him not. The regiment retired from the immediate front at Cold Harbor June 6th, the loss to that time in the campaign being, according to Bates' History of Pennsylvania Volunteers in killed, wounded and missing, about thirty officers and four hundred enlisted men.

August 21st, 1864, the last day of the three years service for the first hundred men of the company, we copy notes taken on the field: "We were very much surprised this morning by the Confederates coming down on our pickets on the pike and driving them back. Our regiment was chosen from our brigade to go to their support. Regiments followed each other until three from our brigade were on the line, our regiment engaged with the enemy. Are losing a good many men. Lieutenant Price wounded again, we fear mortally. The regiment remains in the line at noon, and ammunition is being taken to it. We have lost four officers at noon. The regiment is being relieved at dark. Two more of Company A wounded but not forced to leave the field. Regiment's loss four killed and eighteen wounded."

2nd Lieutenant Isaac N. Price died that day, Aug 21st, 1864 on his last day of service.

Isaac N Price