: Even when orders permitted them to retire with honor, the men of the 118th refused to retreat, suffering heavy casualties in a display of what commanders called "manly character" and "chivalry".
The story of the , famously known as the " Corn Exchange Regiment ," is a tale of extraordinary sacrifice and rapid transition from civilian life to the front lines of the American Civil War. The Birth of the 118th AG-118
: This courageous, albeit costly, beginning earned them immediate respect from seasoned veterans, cementing their reputation as a "gallant regiment". A Legacy of Service : Even when orders permitted them to retire
In the summer of , the regiment was raised in Philadelphia. Its unique nickname came from the Corn Exchange Association , which provided the necessary funds and a bounty of $10 for every man who enlisted. These men were largely civilians—clerks, merchants, and tradesmen—who had little time to adapt to military life before being thrust into one of the war's most brutal conflicts. Baptism by Fire at Shepherdstown A Legacy of Service In the summer of