78th Pennsylvania Infantry in the American Civil War

Overview

The 78th Pennsylvania Infantry (Three Years’ Service) was an infantry regiment organized in Pennsylvania for service in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Recruitment took place in the late summer and early fall of 1861, with mustering at Camp Orr on the Allegheny River from mid-September to mid-October 1861. The regiment served primarily in the Western Theater and was attached to several major Union armies and corps throughout its service.

The regiment drew its companies from Armstrong, Clarion, Indiana, Cambria, and Butler counties. It participated in many significant campaigns and battles, including Stone’s River, Chickamauga, and the Atlanta Campaign, and was noted for its heavy losses and gallant conduct in action.

Organization & Service

The 78th Pennsylvania Infantry was mustered into U.S. service for three years at Camp Orr. Companies B, F, G, I, and K were raised in Armstrong County; C and E in Clarion; A in Indiana; D in Indiana and Cambria; and H in Butler. On October 18, 1861, the regiment departed Pennsylvania for Louisville, Kentucky, and then moved by rail to Nolin Creek. It was assigned to General McCook’s division, Army of the Ohio, and initially brigaded with the 79th Pennsylvania, 1st Wisconsin, and 38th Indiana under Brigadier General James S. Negley.

In December 1861, the regiment moved to Munfordville, Kentucky, and in March 1862 arrived at Camp Andy Johnson near Nashville, Tennessee. Throughout the spring and summer of 1862, the 78th performed guard and garrison duties along key railroads and at Pulaski and Rogersville, frequently skirmishing with Confederate cavalry. During the Confederate advance into Kentucky, the regiment was ordered into the defenses of Nashville, where it saw action at La Vergne, Neely’s Bend, White Creek, Charlottsville, and Franklin Pike.

After remaining in Nashville until December 12, 1862, the regiment moved to Camp Hamilton and was assigned to Miller’s brigade, Negley’s Eighth Division. The 78th was heavily engaged at the Battle of Stone’s River (Murfreesboro), suffering significant casualties. In January 1863, the Army of the Cumberland was reorganized, and the 78th was assigned to the 3rd Brigade (Col. Miller), 2nd Division (Gen. Negley), 14th Corps (Gen. Thomas). The regiment performed provost duty at Murfreesboro until April and participated in the Tullahoma Campaign in June, then encamped at Decherd until August 15, 1863.

During the Chickamauga Campaign, a portion of the regiment fought at Dug Gap on September 11, and the entire regiment was engaged at the Battle of Chickamauga. Following the battle, the regiment retired to Chattanooga and was assigned to the 3rd Brigade (Gen. Starkweather), 1st Division (Gen. R. M. Johnson), 14th Corps (Gen. John M. Palmer). It participated in the battles of Orchard Knob, Lookout Mountain, and Missionary Ridge, and conducted a reconnaissance to the summit of Lookout Mountain. The regiment was then assigned to duty on Lookout Mountain until May 1864.

In May 1864, the 78th rejoined its brigade at Graysville and took part in the Atlanta Campaign, fighting at Tunnel Hill, Buzzard Roost Gap, Resaca, Dallas, New Hope Church, and during the operations before Kennesaw Mountain. While in front of Kennesaw, the regiment was ordered to Chattanooga to guard wagon trains for three months, after which it reported to General Rousseau at Nashville. The regiment was active at Pulaski, Tennessee, and was later mounted for operations against Confederate cavalry in southern Tennessee, returning to Nashville on October 17, 1864.

With the expiration of its original term of service, non-veterans were mustered out at Kittanning, Pennsylvania, on November 4, 1864. Veterans and recruits remained in service at Nashville. In March 1865, the regiment was reorganized with the addition of eight new companies under Colonel Bonnaffon and continued service until final muster out at Nashville on September 11, 1865.

Engagements & Campaigns

• Guard and garrison duty in Kentucky and Tennessee (1861–1862)
• Skirmishes at La Vergne, Neely’s Bend, White Creek, Charlottsville, Franklin Pike
• Battle of Stone’s River (Murfreesboro), December 31, 1862 – January 2, 1863
• Tullahoma Campaign, June 1863
• Engagement at Dug Gap, Georgia, September 11, 1863
• Battle of Chickamauga, September 19–20, 1863
• Battles of Orchard Knob, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, November 1863
• Atlanta Campaign: Tunnel Hill, Buzzard Roost Gap, Resaca, Dallas, New Hope Church, Kennesaw Mountain (1864)
• Guard duty at Chattanooga (mid-1864)
• Operations at Pulaski, Tennessee, and against Confederate cavalry (late 1864)

Casualties

At the Battle of Stone’s River, the regiment lost 190 men killed and wounded. Other detailed casualty figures for the entire service are not fully specified in available primary sources.

Field Officers & Commanders

• Colonel William Sirwell
• Colonel Augustus B. Bonnaffon
• Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Blakeley
• Lieutenant Colonel A. B. Bonnaffon
• Lieutenant Colonel Henry W. Torbett
• Major A. B. Bonnaffon
• Major James N. Hosey
• Major Robert M. Smith

Regimental Roster

The full roster of the 78th Pennsylvania Infantry (Three Years’ Service), including officers and enlisted men, is available for genealogical and historical research. This roster provides names, ranks, and company assignments for those who served in the regiment.

To view the complete roster, visit the 78th Pennsylvania Infantry (Three Years’ Service) Roster page.

Sources & References

• Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volumes 16, 20, 23, 30, 38
• 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, Vol. 1 (Federal Publishing Company, 1908)