UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — More than 700 men from Centre County joined Union forces after President Abraham Lincoln called for more able-bodied men to fight the rebellion from the South. These men formed the nucleus of the 148th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, which also became known as the Centre County regiment.
They were led by Col. James A. Beaver, who would later become the 20th governor of Pennsylvania and serve as acting president of Penn State after the death of George Atherton. Wounded during the Battle of Chancellorsville, Beaver was not able to take command of his regiment just before the Battle of Gettysburg, but was allowed to join them.
On July 2, 1863, the 148th Infantry was located in what was simply labeled as the "Wheatfield." There they would see some of the heaviest action in all of the battle at Gettysburg. Carol Reardon, George Winfree professor of American history, recounts some of the events that took place on that day and how Centre County residents took up arms to help defend the Commonwealth.