Overview
The 6th Pennsylvania Artillery (212th Pennsylvania Regiment) served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Organized as an artillery regiment, it was mustered in for one year’s service in September 1864 at Camp Reynolds, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The regiment was primarily composed of men from Allegheny, Butler, Westmoreland, Fayette, Washington, and Lawrence counties. Initially, the regiment served as infantry before being trained as artillery, and it was assigned to the defenses of Washington, D.C.
Organization & Service
The 6th Pennsylvania Artillery (212th Pennsylvania Regiment) was organized in response to an excess of recruits for the 5th Pennsylvania Artillery (204th of the line). The men rendezvoused at Camp Reynolds, Pittsburgh, and were mustered into U.S. service during the first half of September 1864 for a one-year term. On September 17, 1864, the regiment departed for Washington, D.C., where it was assigned to the 2nd Brigade, DeRussy’s Division, which was responsible for garrisoning the capital’s defenses.
On September 29, 1864, the regiment was detached for railroad guard duty along the Orange & Alexandria Railroad, between Alexandria and Manassas, with headquarters at Fairfax Court House. This duty continued until about mid-November 1864, after which the regiment returned to the defenses of Washington. Up to this point, the regiment had served as infantry. Upon returning, the men were drilled as artillery and soon became proficient in this role. The regiment remained stationed in the forts around Washington until June 13, 1865, when it was mustered out at Fort Ethan Allen. The men then returned to Camp Reynolds, where they were paid and discharged on June 17, 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
- Garrison duty in the defenses of Washington, D.C. (September 1864 – June 1865)
- Railroad guard duty on the Orange & Alexandria Railroad (September – November 1864)
Casualties
Specific casualty figures for the 6th Pennsylvania Artillery (212th Pennsylvania Regiment) are not detailed in available primary sources. The regiment primarily performed garrison and guard duty, and did not participate in major battles.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Colonel Charles Barnes
- Lieutenant Colonel Joseph B. Copeland
- Major Robert H. Long
- Major Joseph R. Kemp
- Major Frank H. White
Regimental Roster
The full roster of the 6th Pennsylvania Artillery (212th Pennsylvania Regiment), including officers and enlisted men, is available for genealogical and historical research. For a complete list of names and service details, please visit the regiment’s roster page.
View the 6th Pennsylvania Artillery (212th Pennsylvania Regiment) Roster
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Vol. XLIII, Part I
- Pennsylvania Adjutant General’s Report, 1865
- Dyer, Frederick H. “A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion”
- Federal Publishing Company, “The Union Army,” Vol. 1 (1908)