80th Pennsylvania Regiment, 7th PA Cavalry in the American Civil War

Overview

The 7th Pennsylvania Cavalry (80th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers) served as a Union cavalry regiment during the American Civil War. Organized primarily from men in Schuylkill, Lycoming, Tioga, Bradford, Northumberland, Montour, Clinton, Center, Chester, Luzerne, Dauphin, Cumberland, Berks, and Allegheny counties, the regiment mustered into United States service at Camp Cameron, Harrisburg, between September and November 1861 for a three-year term. The regiment was also known as the 80th Regiment of the Pennsylvania line. It saw extensive service in the Western Theater, participating in major campaigns and numerous cavalry actions.

The 7th Pennsylvania Cavalry was notable for its early and continuous engagement in active operations, including significant actions against Confederate cavalry under Morgan and Forrest, and later as part of the cavalry forces supporting the Army of the Cumberland and Sherman’s Atlanta Campaign. The regiment was frequently divided into battalions for detached service and was recognized for its gallantry in several key engagements.

Organization & Service

The regiment was organized by companies at Camp Cameron, Harrisburg, and mustered into service from September through November 1861. Colonel George C. Wynkoop, an experienced militia cavalry officer, commanded the regiment. Many officers and men had prior service in the three months’ regiments. The regiment received its colors from Governor Curtin on December 18, 1861, and departed for Louisville, Kentucky, the following day, reporting to General Buell in the Department of the Ohio.

After a period of instruction at Jeffersonville, Indiana, the regiment moved to Nashville, Tennessee, in January 1862. The battalions were assigned to various commands: the 1st under Major Wynkoop to General Negley’s brigade; the 2nd under Colonel Wynkoop to General Dumont at Nashville; and the 3rd under Major Given to Colonel Duffield’s command, with companies posted at Murfreesboro and Lebanon. The regiment was engaged in scouting and skirmishing operations in western and middle Tennessee, including a notable engagement at Lebanon in May 1862, where it suffered casualties and captured prisoners.

Throughout 1862, the regiment’s battalions participated in actions at Sweden’s Cove, Chattanooga, McMinnville, Readyville, and Murfreesboro, where the 3rd Battalion was captured by Forrest’s cavalry. The regiment also fought at Pikeville, Calf Killer Creek, and Gallatin, suffering losses in killed, wounded, and prisoners. The 1st Battalion was engaged at Perryville, Kentucky, while the others remained in Nashville.

In November 1862, the regiment was reorganized and assigned to the 1st Brigade (Colonel Minty), 2nd Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Cumberland. It participated in the advance on Murfreesboro and the Battle of Stones River, with further actions at Rover, Unionville, Spring Hill, Rutherford Creek, Snow Hill, McMinnville, and Murfreesboro through early 1863. The regiment was active in the Tullahoma Campaign, including engagements at Guy’s Gap, Shelbyville, Elk River, and Sparta.

During the Chickamauga Campaign in September 1863, the 7th Pennsylvania Cavalry took part in operations and pursued Wheeler’s cavalry into Alabama. In early 1864, most members reenlisted at Huntsville, Alabama, and after veteran furlough, the regiment was recruited to about 1,800 men. Under Colonel Sipes, it joined General Sherman’s Atlanta Campaign in April 1864, serving in Garrard’s division and participating in numerous actions, including Rome, Dallas, Villa Rica Road, Big Shanty, Noonday Creek, Kennesaw Mountain, and raids on the Augusta & Atlanta Railroad and Covington.

The regiment joined General Kilpatrick’s raid in August 1864, skirmishing at Fairburn, Jonesboro, and Lovejoy’s Station. It was active at Rome in October, making a successful charge and capturing artillery. After suffering losses during the campaign, the regiment was ordered to Louisville to refit, and many officers were mustered out as their terms expired. Following the Battle of Nashville, the regiment was stationed at Gravelly Springs, Alabama, preparing for further operations.

In March 1865, the 7th Pennsylvania Cavalry joined General Wilson’s raid through Alabama and Georgia, fighting at Plantersville, leading the assault at Selma, and engaging at Columbus. The regiment remained at Macon, Georgia, until mustered out on August 23, 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

  • Scouting and skirmishing in western and middle Tennessee (1862)
  • Lebanon, Tennessee (May 1862)
  • Sweden’s Cove and Chattanooga (June 1862)
  • McMinnville and Readyville (June 1862)
  • Murfreesboro (July 1862)
  • Pikeville and Calf Killer Creek (mid-1862)
  • Gallatin (August 1862)
  • Perryville, Kentucky (October 1862)
  • Battle of Stones River (Murfreesboro, December 1862–January 1863)
  • Rover and Unionville (January–March 1863)
  • Spring Hill, Rutherford Creek, Snow Hill, McMinnville, Murfreesboro (1863)
  • Tullahoma Campaign: Guy’s Gap, Shelbyville, Elk River, Sparta (June 1863)
  • Chickamauga Campaign (September 1863)
  • Pursuit of Wheeler’s cavalry (September–October 1863)
  • Atlanta Campaign: Rome, Dallas, Villa Rica Road, Big Shanty, Noonday Creek, Kennesaw Mountain, Augusta & Atlanta Railroad, Covington, Flatrock Bridge, Atlanta trenches (May–August 1864)
  • Kilpatrick’s Raid: Fairburn, Jonesboro, Lovejoy’s Station (August 1864)
  • Rome, Georgia (October 1864)
  • Battle of Nashville (December 1864, post-campaign duties)
  • Wilson’s Raid: Plantersville, Selma, Columbus (March–April 1865)

Casualties

According to available official sources, the 7th Pennsylvania Cavalry sustained the following losses in selected engagements:

  • Lebanon (May 1862): 3 killed, 13 wounded, 3 captured
  • Murfreesboro (July 1862): 5 killed, 20 wounded, remainder of battalion captured and paroled
  • Gallatin (August 1862): 11 killed and wounded, 43 captured
  • Battle of Stones River: 2 killed, 9 wounded, 50 missing
  • Rover and Unionville (early 1863): 2 killed, 7 wounded
  • Kilpatrick’s Raid (August 1864): 43 men lost
  • Selma (April 1865): heavy losses reported in killed and wounded

Comprehensive total casualty figures for the entire term of service are not fully detailed in surviving primary sources.

Field Officers & Commanders

  • Colonel George C. Wynkoop
  • Colonel William B. Sipes
  • Colonel C. C. McCormick
  • Lieutenant Colonel William B. Sipes
  • Lieutenant Colonel James J. Seibert
  • Lieutenant Colonel James F. Andress
  • Major John E. Wynkoop
  • Major James J. Seibert
  • Major James Given
  • Major Charles C. Davis
  • Major William H. Jennings
  • Major James F. Andress
  • Major Cyrus Newlin
  • Major Benjamin S. Dartt
  • Major Charles L. Greeno
  • Major Uriah C. Hartranft

Regimental Roster

The complete roster of officers and enlisted men who served in the 7th Pennsylvania Cavalry (80th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers) is available for genealogical and historical research. The roster provides names, ranks, and service details for each member of the regiment.

To view the full regimental roster, visit the 7th Pennsylvania Cavalry (80th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers) Roster page.

Sources & References

  • The War of the Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, various volumes and parts (Army of the Cumberland, Department of the Ohio, Cavalry operations)
  • Pennsylvania Adjutant General’s Report, annual issues 1861–1865
  • Dyer, Frederick H. “A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion” (1908)
  • Fox, William F. “Regimental Losses in the American Civil War” (1889)
  • “The Union Army,” Federal Publishing Company, 1908, Volume 1
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