57th Pennsylvania Infantry in the American Civil War

Overview

The 57th Pennsylvania Infantry (Three Years’ Service) was an infantry regiment organized in Pennsylvania for service in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Recruitment began in the autumn of 1861, drawing primarily from Mercer, Crawford, and Venango counties, with additional men from Tioga, Bradford, Susquehanna, and Wyoming counties. The regiment mustered at Camp Curtin, Harrisburg, and served in the Eastern Theater, participating in many of the major campaigns of the Army of the Potomac.

The 57th Pennsylvania Infantry was known for its active engagement in numerous battles and campaigns, enduring significant losses and earning a reputation as a hard-fighting unit. It served until June 1865, when it was mustered out at Alexandria, Virginia.

Organization & Service

The regiment was organized at Camp Curtin, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, with companies mustered in during September, October, and November 1861 for a term of three years. Company K was initially recruited as an independent sharpshooter company but was incorporated into the regiment. The 57th left Pennsylvania for Washington, D.C., on December 14, 1861, and camped on the Bladensburg Pike before moving to Fort Lyon near Alexandria, Virginia. It was assigned to the 1st Brigade (Gen. Jameson), 1st Division (Gen. Kearny), 3rd Corps (Gen. Heintzelman).

The regiment participated in the Peninsular Campaign in spring 1862, suffering from sickness and heavy losses at Fair Oaks, Charles City Cross Roads, and Malvern Hill. After the campaign, the regiment was replenished with convalescents and recruits. It served under Gen. Birney’s brigade during the Second Bull Run Campaign, with minor losses at Second Bull Run and a presence at Chantilly. The 57th spent a month at Conrad’s Ferry and entered winter quarters at Falmouth in November 1862.

At Fredericksburg in December 1862, the regiment suffered severe casualties. In March 1863, it was assigned to the 1st Brigade (Gen. Graham), 1st Division (Gen. Birney), 3rd Corps (Gen. Sickles), and fought at Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, again sustaining heavy losses. The regiment was active at Auburn Creek, Kelly’s Ford, and Locust Grove before wintering near Culpeper.

In early 1864, more than two-thirds of the regiment reenlisted and received veteran furlough. Upon return, the 57th was assigned to the 2nd Brigade (Gen. Hays), 3rd Division (Gen. Birney), 2nd Corps (Gen. Hancock), and participated in the Overland Campaign, including the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, North Anna, and Cold Harbor. The regiment took part in the initial assault on Petersburg and the subsequent siege, as well as actions at the Jerusalem Plank Road, Hatcher’s Run, and the Weldon Railroad.

Due to losses, the regiment was consolidated into a battalion of six companies on January 11, 1865, and soon after united with the 84th Pennsylvania Infantry. It continued to serve in the final operations leading to the fall of Petersburg and Richmond, participated at Sailor’s Creek, and was present near Appomattox Court House at the time of Lee’s surrender. The regiment moved to Burkesville and was mustered out at Alexandria on June 29, 1865.

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

  • Peninsular Campaign (including Siege of Yorktown, Battle of Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Charles City Cross Roads, Malvern Hill)
  • Second Bull Run Campaign
  • Fredericksburg
  • Chancellorsville
  • Gettysburg
  • Auburn Creek
  • Kelly’s Ford
  • Locust Grove
  • Wilderness Campaign (including Wilderness, Spotsylvania, North Anna, Cold Harbor)
  • Siege of Petersburg
  • Jerusalem Plank Road
  • Hatcher’s Run
  • Weldon Railroad Raid
  • Final Appomattox Campaign (including Watkins’ House, Sailor’s Creek, near Appomattox Court House)

Casualties

According to available primary sources, the 57th Pennsylvania Infantry sustained the following losses in key engagements:

  • Fair Oaks: 11 killed, 49 wounded
  • Charles City Cross Roads: 7 killed, 56 wounded
  • Malvern Hill: 2 killed, 8 wounded
  • Fredericksburg: 21 killed, 76 wounded, 78 missing (out of 316 engaged)
  • Chancellorsville: 13 killed, 48 wounded, 23 missing
  • Gettysburg: 12 killed, 45 wounded, 47 missing

Total regimental losses from all causes are not fully detailed in the available sources.

Field Officers & Commanders

  • Colonel William Maxwell
  • Colonel Charles T. Campbell
  • Colonel Peter Sides
  • Colonel George Zinn
  • Lieutenant Colonel Elhannan W. Woods
  • Lieutenant Colonel T. S. Strohecker
  • Lieutenant Colonel William B. Neeper
  • Lieutenant Colonel L. D. Bumpus
  • Lieutenant Colonel George W. Perkins
  • Major Jeremiah Culp
  • Major S. C. Simonton
  • Major William B. Neeper
  • Major Samuel Bryan

Regimental Roster

The full roster of the 57th Pennsylvania Infantry (Three Years’ Service), including officers and enlisted men, is available on the regiment’s roster page. This resource provides names, ranks, and additional service details valuable for genealogical and historical research.

To view the complete roster, visit the 57th Pennsylvania Infantry (Three Years’ Service) Roster page.

Sources & References

  • Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volumes XI, XII, XXI, XXV, XXXVI, XL, XLVI
  • Pennsylvania Adjutant General’s Report, 1861–1865
  • Dyer, Frederick H. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
  • Fox, William F. Regimental Losses in the American Civil War
  • The Union Army, Federal Publishing Company, 1908, Vol. 1
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