Overview
The 7th Pennsylvania Infantry (Three Months’ Service) was an infantry regiment organized in Pennsylvania for Union service at the outset of the American Civil War. Mustered in at Harrisburg on April 22 and 23, 1861, the regiment served in the Eastern Theater as part of the initial call for troops following the outbreak of hostilities. The unit was composed of companies recruited from Pittsburg, Alleghany, Fredonia, Pleasantville, Reading, Boalsburg, and Lewistown.
This regiment served exclusively during the three months’ service period in 1861 and is distinct from any later Pennsylvania regiments with similar designations.
Organization & Service
The 7th Pennsylvania Infantry (Three Months’ Service) was organized at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on April 22 and 23, 1861. The regiment was quickly ordered to Chambersburg, arriving there on April 23, where it remained until June 8. During its stay, the regiment was well received by the local citizens, who presented it with a flag as a token of appreciation.
After leaving Chambersburg, the regiment was assigned to the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, under General Robert Patterson. It encamped near Greencastle before moving to Williamsport on June 14. On July 2, the regiment advanced to Martinsburg, West Virginia, and subsequently moved to Bunker Hill and Charlestown as Confederate forces withdrew toward Winchester. The regiment did not participate in major engagements during its term of service. On July 22, 1861, the 7th Pennsylvania Infantry returned to Harrisburg, where it was mustered out of service.
Research This Regiment Further
If you’d like to explore this unit’s history in more depth, regimental histories and Civil War reference works offer valuable detail.
Engagements & Campaigns
- Duty at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania (April–June 1861)
- Advance to Williamsport, Maryland (June 14, 1861)
- March to Martinsburg, West Virginia (July 2, 1861)
- Movements to Bunker Hill and Charlestown (July 1861)
Casualties
Specific casualty figures for the 7th Pennsylvania Infantry (Three Months’ Service) are not detailed in the primary sources. Available records indicate the regiment did not participate in major combat and suffered minimal losses during its term.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Colonel William H. Irwin
- Lieutenant Colonel Oliver H. Rippey
- Major F. P. Robinson
Regimental Roster
The full roster of officers and enlisted men who served in the 7th Pennsylvania Infantry (Three Months’ Service) is available for genealogical and historical research. This roster provides names, ranks, and other service details for members of the regiment.
To view the complete roster, visit the 7th Pennsylvania Infantry (Three Months’ Service) Roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Vol. 2
- Pennsylvania Adjutant General’s Report
- Dyer, Frederick H., A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
- The Union Army, Federal Publishing Company, 1908, Vol. 1