Sources: His Service Records from the National Archives and Bates' History of the PA Volunteers

He enlisted in the 149th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company I on September 29, 1863 in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. The regiment was known as the New Bucktails. Jeremiah was a substitute for William Weimer. (Weimer was apparently was drafted and he hired Jeremiah to take his place. It is not known how much Jeremiah was paid but substitutes could be paid as much as a $1000). According to the Company Description Book, he was 5 feet 5 ½ inches tall, fair completion, grey eyes, light hair, and 19. In 1863, he was actually 17, so either the Company Description Book was in error or he lied.

The 149th Pennsylvania Infantry regiment was encamped in Culpepper, Virginia. Jeremiah was in camp for about 6 months when the regiment was ordered to move out. On May 4, 1864 the regiment crossed the Rapidan River and Jeremiah became a participant in General Grant's Overland Campaign. The forty days of Grant versus Lee.

The next day, May 5th, Jeremiah was in his first action near Wilderness Tavern. Near midday the regiment formed a battle line and pressed forward for a mile and a half through dense underbrush and dwarfed forest. They encountered the enemy laying in wait. The fight was in close quarters. The union line was forced back with heavy losses. They engaged again on the next day, May 6th.

On May 7th they headed toward Spotsylvania. On May 8th the regiment attacked the enemy's left flank at Laurel Hill and again on May 10th and May 12th. All the attacks were repulsed.

On May 23rd, they moved east and approached the North Ana River where they were in a minor engagement.

On May 27th and 28th, the regiment continued the eastward movement. On May 29th, they moved in position to engage the enemy at Bethesda Church (several miles north of Cold Harbor). They repulsed a confederate attack and then dug in and held their position. The army disengaged on June 12th to march to cross the James River.

(Jeremiah's three older brothers were also fighting in the same campaign. Brother George was in the 13th Pennsylvania Reserves Infantry at the Wilderness. Brother Jacob was in the 13th Pennsylvania Cavalry at the Wilderness and at various places along the route to Cold Harbor. Brother Theopholus was in the 55th Pennsylvania Infantry at Cold Harbor.)

On June 18th the regiment crossed the James River and marched toward Petersburg. They moved forward and at 3 PM charged the enemy lines advancing under artillery and musket fire. They advanced to within 300 yards of the enemy works before being checked. This was the end of Jeremiah's involvement in the war. He was wounded in the left foot.

The 149th lost 52 killed, 249 wounded, and 121 captured or missing since crossing the Rapidan River 45 days earlier in May.

On June 30th, Jeremiah was at the City Point Hospital. On July 4th, he in the General Hospital in Alexandria, Virginia and then on July 28th he was transferred to the General Hospital in York, Pennsylvania where he spent about 10 months. Jeremiah was mustered out from the hospital on May 17, 1865.

Jeremiah E Gates