This formation was preparatory to the consolidation of the Regiment
with the 57th Pennsylvania, which had been made a Battalion of 6
Companies.
The consolidation took place on January 13th, 1865.
The consolidation was not a merger, save as to number. The 57th
composed the Right 6 Companies and the 84th the Left 4 Companies.
I will venture what I think the explanation of the dropping of the
number 84 and the retention of the number 57, notwithstanding it was
known that the Colonel, Major and Adjutant of the Consolidated Regiment
would be from the 84th. But it was also known that the retention of the
number 84 would work great injustice to officers who had earned further
promotion, and therefore the natural course of the command of the
Regiment determining the number, must give way to the necessity which
justice prompted.
Colonel Bowman was still borne on the rolls of the 84th, though his
service in the field was less than a year, and only half that time
directly with the Regiment, and then on permanent Detached Service at
Washington since June, 1863. It was known that he would not return to
Field Service.
With the number 57, Lieutenant-Colonel Zinn was promoted Colonel;
Captain Bryan, Major; and Captain Perkins, of the old 57th,
Lieutenant-Colonel.
Captain Bryan had been commissioned Major of the 84th in May, '64,
nearly a year before, but could not be mustered as such for want of the
minimum number admitting of 3 Field Officers, although there was not
the 1 Field Officer doing duty with the Regiment.
Colonel Bowman continued to rank as of the 84th until the middle of
May, when he was mustered out, a month after the close of the War.
That portion of the Inscription on the Monument which brings the 84th
down to the date of the muster out of the 57th, was conceded only after
months of earnest contention.
The 57th continued in Pierce's Brigade.