Overview
The 122nd Pennsylvania Infantry (Nine Months’ Service) was an infantry regiment organized at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in July and August 1862. Mustered into United States service on August 12, 1862, for a term of nine months, the regiment served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was primarily active in the Eastern Theater and was composed of men recruited from Lancaster County and surrounding areas.
The regiment was attached to the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 3rd Corps of the Army of the Potomac. Its service included participation in major campaigns of late 1862 and early 1863, most notably the Chancellorsville Campaign, where it sustained significant casualties.
Organization & Service
The 122nd Pennsylvania Infantry (Nine Months’ Service) was organized at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in July and August 1862 and mustered into Federal service on August 12, 1862. The regiment was immediately sent to Washington, D.C., where it was assigned to the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 3rd Corps of the Army of the Potomac.
After the Battle of Antietam, the regiment joined the main army and went into camp at Falmouth, Virginia. During the Battle of Fredericksburg in December 1862, the 122nd Pennsylvania was held in reserve and did not see direct combat. In January 1863, the regiment participated in the “Mud March,” an unsuccessful winter campaign. The unit remained encamped at Falmouth until the Chancellorsville Campaign in May 1863. During the Battle of Chancellorsville, the regiment was heavily engaged on the second day of fighting, holding its position until forced to withdraw with considerable losses. The regiment was mustered out of service at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on May 15 and 16, 1863.
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
- Fredericksburg Campaign (held in reserve at the Battle of Fredericksburg, December 1862)
- “Mud March” (January 1863)
- Chancellorsville Campaign (Battle of Chancellorsville, May 1863)
Casualties
During its service, the 122nd Pennsylvania Infantry (Nine Months’ Service) suffered significant losses at the Battle of Chancellorsville, with 135 casualties reported in that engagement. Detailed figures for killed, wounded, and disease-related deaths are not fully specified in available primary sources.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Colonel Emlen Franklin
- Lieutenant Colonel Edward McGovern
- Major Thaddeus Stevens, Jr.
Regimental Roster
The full roster of the 122nd Pennsylvania Infantry (Nine Months’ Service), including officers and enlisted men, is available for genealogical and historical research. This roster provides names, ranks, and service details for members of the regiment.
To view the complete roster, visit the 122nd Pennsylvania Infantry (Nine Months’ Service) Roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Vol. 21, 25
- Pennsylvania Adjutant General’s Report
- Dyer, Frederick H. 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