78th Pennsylvania Infantry
Encyclopedia
The 78th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry was an infantry
regiment
that served in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
.
and mustered in for a three year enlistment on October 12, 1861 under the command of Colonel
William Sirwell.
The regiment was attached to Negley's 4th Brigade, McCook's Division, at Nolin, to November 1861. 7th Brigade, Army of the Ohio
, to December 1861. 7th Brigade, 2nd Division, Army of the Ohio, to March 1862. Negley's Independent Brigade, Army of the Ohio, to August 1862. 7th Brigade, 8th Division, Army of the Ohio, to November 1862. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, Centre, Army of the Cumberland
, to January 1863. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, XIV Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to October 1863. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, XIV Corps, to July 1864. Unassigned, 4th Division, XX Corps, Department of the Cumberland, to October 1864. Garrison duty at Nashville, Tenn., to September 1865.
The 78th Pennsylvania Infantry mustered out of service on September 11, 1865.
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
that served in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Service
The 78th Pennsylvania Infantry was organized at Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
and mustered in for a three year enlistment on October 12, 1861 under the command of Colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
William Sirwell.
The regiment was attached to Negley's 4th Brigade, McCook's Division, at Nolin, to November 1861. 7th Brigade, Army of the Ohio
Army of the Ohio
The Army of the Ohio was the name of two Union armies in the American Civil War. The first army became the Army of the Cumberland and the second army was created in 1863.-History:...
, to December 1861. 7th Brigade, 2nd Division, Army of the Ohio, to March 1862. Negley's Independent Brigade, Army of the Ohio, to August 1862. 7th Brigade, 8th Division, Army of the Ohio, to November 1862. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, Centre, Army of the Cumberland
Army of the Cumberland
The Army of the Cumberland was one of the principal Union armies in the Western Theater during the American Civil War. It was originally known as the Army of the Ohio.-History:...
, to January 1863. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, XIV Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to October 1863. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, XIV Corps, to July 1864. Unassigned, 4th Division, XX Corps, Department of the Cumberland, to October 1864. Garrison duty at Nashville, Tenn., to September 1865.
The 78th Pennsylvania Infantry mustered out of service on September 11, 1865.
Detailed service
Left Ohio for Louisville, Ky., October 18, thence moved to Nolin Station, Ky., October 24, and duty there until December. At Munfordville, Ky., December 1861 to February 1862. March to Nashville, Tenn., February 14-March 3. Guard railroad from Nashville to Columbia until May, and at Decatur May. Expedition to Rodgersville May 13–14. Negley's Expedition to Chattanooga May 28-June 17. Chattanooga June 7–8. Garrison at Rodgersville and guarding Lamb's Ferry until July 18. Moved to Nashville, Tenn., and garrison duty there until December. Hermitage Ford October 20. Nashville November 5. Advance on Murfreesboro December 26–30. Battle of Stones River December 30–31, 1862 and January 1–3, 1863. Duty at Murfreesboro until June. Tullahoma Campaign June 23-July 7. Hoover's, Gap June 24–26. At Dechard, Ala., July 8-August 15. Passage of Cumberland Mountains and Tennessee River, and Chickamauga Campaign August 16-September 22. Davis Cross Roads or Dug Gap September 11. Battle of Chickamauga September 19–21. Rossville Gap September 21. Siege of Chattanooga September 24-October 27. Reopening Tennessee River October 26–29. Battles of Chattanooga November 23–25; Missionary Ridge November 24–25. Reconnaissance to Lookout Mountain November 29-December 2. Duty on Lookout Mountain until May 1864. Atlanta Campaign May 1-June 21. Demonstration on Rocky Faced Ridge May 8–11. Battle of Resaca May 14–15. Near Cassville May 19. Operations on line of Pumpkin Vine Creek and battles about Dallas, New Hope Church and Allatoona Hills May 25-June 5. Pickett's Mills May 27. Operations about Marietta and against Kennesaw Mountain June 10–21. Pine Hill June 11–14. Lost Mountain June 15–17. Ordered to Chattanooga, Tenn., June 21. Duty guarding trains to the front July to September. Action at Dalton, Ga., August 14–15. Ordered to Decatur, Ala., September 24, thence to Nashville, Tenn., and to Tullahoma September 29. Returned to Nashville and duty there until September, 1865. Old members ordered home October 1864 and mustered out at Pittsburgh, Pa., November 4, 1864. Non-veterans and recruits were organized into a battalion of two companies. Battle of Nashville, Tenn., December 16–17, 1864.Casualties
The regiment lost a total of 267 men during service; 2 officers and 68 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 3 officers and 194 enlisted men died of disease.Commanders
- Colonel William Sirwell
- Lieutenant ColonelLieutenant Colonel (United States)In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
Archibald Blakeley - commanded at the battle of Chickamauga - MajorMajor (United States)In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
Henry W. Torbett - commanded at the battle of Nashville
See also
- List of Pennsylvania Civil War Units
- Pennsylvania in the Civil WarPennsylvania in the Civil WarDuring the American Civil War, the commonwealth of Pennsylvania played a critical role in the Union, providing a huge supply of military manpower, equipment, and leadership to the Federal government...