77th Pennsylvania Infantry in the American Civil War

Overview

The 77th Pennsylvania Infantry (Three Years’ Service) was an infantry regiment organized in Pennsylvania for service in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The regiment was principally composed of men from Franklin, Cumberland, Allegheny, Lancaster, Huntingdon, Blair, Fulton, and Luzerne counties. It was mustered into United States service at Camp Wilkins, near Pittsburgh, in September and October 1861, for a three-year term. The 77th Pennsylvania served in the Western Theater and participated in many significant campaigns and battles throughout the war.

This unit is distinct from any later reorganizations or other Pennsylvania infantry regiments with similar designations.

Organization & Service

The 77th Pennsylvania Infantry was organized at Camp Wilkins, near Pittsburgh, and mustered into service in September and October 1861. Company H was never fully organized and was eventually disbanded. An artillery company initially attached to the regiment was detached early in 1862 and did not rejoin.

On October 18, 1861, the regiment departed Pennsylvania for Louisville, Kentucky, and moved to Nolin Creek, where it was assigned to the 5th Brigade (Gen. Wood), 2nd Division (Gen. McCook), Army of the Ohio (Gen. Buell). In March 1862, the regiment arrived at Nashville, Tennessee, and participated in the second day of the Battle of Shiloh on April 7, suffering casualties. The 77th was present at the siege of Corinth, Mississippi, in May 1862, and after the Confederate evacuation, returned to Nashville by September.

Later in September 1862, the regiment marched with Buell’s army to defend Louisville, Kentucky, and was engaged at Floyd’s Fork, Fern Creek, and Claysville. It was not engaged at the Battle of Perryville and soon returned to Nashville, remaining there until the winter campaign. In November, the regiment skirmished near La Vergne and then participated in the Murfreesboro campaign, fighting heavily at the Battle of Stones River, where it was commended for its steadfastness.

Following Stones River, the regiment performed guard and picket duties until February 1863 and worked on fortifications at Murfreesboro until late June. It then moved against Confederate forces at Liberty Gap, Tennessee, where it lost about one-third of its effective strength. At the Battle of Chickamauga in September 1863, the 77th Pennsylvania fought in advanced positions and suffered the capture of all its field officers, several line officers, and many men. The remainder of the regiment withdrew with the army to Chattanooga and then moved to Whiteside, Tennessee, where it stayed until the end of 1863.

Most of the regiment reenlisted in January 1864 and, after veteran furlough, joined Sherman’s Atlanta Campaign in April. The 77th participated in actions at Tunnel Hill, Resaca, Kingston, New Hope Church, Kennesaw Mountain, Smyrna, the Chattahoochee River, Peachtree Creek, and the siege of Atlanta. It was also engaged at Jonesboro and Lovejoy’s Station. After Atlanta’s fall, the regiment moved north with the 4th and 23rd Corps for the Nashville Campaign, fighting at Columbia, Duck River, Spring Hill, Thompson’s Station, Franklin, and Nashville. The regiment suffered significant losses at Franklin and Nashville and pursued Hood’s army to Huntsville, Alabama.

In March 1865, the regiment moved to Strawberry Plains, Tennessee, where it received three new companies, and two more companies joined at Bull’s Gap. Returning to Nashville in April, it was assigned to the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 4th Corps. The regiment was ordered to Texas, arriving at Indianola on July 27, 1865, then moving to Green Lake and Camp Stanley near Victoria. The 77th Pennsylvania was ordered home in December and mustered out at Philadelphia on January 16, 1866.

Engagements & Campaigns

• Battle of Shiloh (April 7, 1862)
• Siege of Corinth (May 1862)
• Floyd’s Fork, Fern Creek, Claysville (September 1862)
• Battle of Stones River (December 31, 1862 – January 2, 1863)
• Liberty Gap (June 1863)
• Battle of Chickamauga (September 19–20, 1863)
• Atlanta Campaign (May–September 1864): Tunnel Hill, Resaca, Kingston, New Hope Church, Kennesaw Mountain, Smyrna, Chattahoochee River, Peachtree Creek, Siege of Atlanta, Jonesboro, Lovejoy’s Station
• Nashville Campaign (November–December 1864): Columbia, Duck River, Spring Hill, Thompson’s Station, Battle of Franklin, Battle of Nashville
• Pursuit of Hood to Huntsville, Alabama

Casualties

At the Battle of Shiloh, the regiment lost 3 killed and 7 wounded. At Liberty Gap, it lost about one-third of its effective strength. The regiment suffered significant losses at the Battles of Franklin and Nashville. Detailed total casualty figures for the entire service term are not fully reported in available primary sources.

Field Officers & Commanders

• Colonel Frederick S. Stumbaugh
• Colonel Thomas E. Rose
• Lieutenant Colonel Peter B. Housum
• Lieutenant Colonel Frederick S. Pyfer
• Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Phillips
• Lieutenant Colonel William A. Robinson
• Major Stephen N. Bradford
• Major Alexander Phillips
• Major William A. Robinson
• Major Joseph J. Lawson

Regimental Roster

The complete roster of the 77th 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 full roster, visit the 77th Pennsylvania Infantry (Three Years’ Service) Roster page.

Sources & References

• Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volumes 10, 16, 23, 30, 38, 45
• Pennsylvania Adjutant General’s Report
• Dyer, Frederick H., A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
• Fox, William F., Regimental Losses in the American Civil War
• The Union Army, Vol. 1 (Federal Publishing Company, 1908)