Overview
The 8th Pennsylvania Infantry (Three Months’ Service) was an infantry regiment organized in Pennsylvania for Union service at the outset of the Civil War. The regiment was composed primarily of men from Luzerne County, with additional companies from Northumberland and Jefferson counties. It was mustered into United States service at Harrisburg between April 21 and 24, 1861, for a term of three months. The 8th Pennsylvania Infantry served in the Eastern Theater as part of the initial mobilization of Pennsylvania troops responding to President Lincoln’s call for volunteers.
Organization & Service
The 8th Pennsylvania Infantry (Three Months’ Service) was organized at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in late April 1861. The regiment included several prewar militia companies as well as new recruits. Upon organization, the unit reported to Chambersburg and was assigned to the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, under General Robert Patterson’s command.
On June 7, 1861, the regiment moved to Greencastle, Pennsylvania, and shortly thereafter was ordered to Williamsport, Maryland. The 8th Pennsylvania then participated in the advance into Virginia, marching to Martinsburg, Bunker Hill, and Charlestown as part of Patterson’s army. The regiment was involved in minor skirmishes during these operations. After completing its term of service, the regiment returned to Harrisburg and was mustered out on July 29, 1861.
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
- Advance to Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
- Movement to Greencastle, Pennsylvania
- Williamsport, Maryland operations
- March to Martinsburg, Virginia
- Bunker Hill and Charlestown operations
- Skirmishes during General Patterson’s campaign
Casualties
Specific casualty figures for the 8th Pennsylvania Infantry (Three Months’ Service) are not detailed in available primary sources. The regiment’s service was brief and primarily involved skirmishing rather than major battles.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Colonel A. H. Emley
- Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Bowman
- Major Joseph Phillips
Regimental Roster
The full roster of the 8th Pennsylvania Infantry (Three Months’ Service), including officers and enlisted men, is available on the regiment’s roster page. This resource provides names, ranks, and additional service details for those who served in the unit.
To view the complete roster, visit the 8th Pennsylvania Infantry (Three Months’ Service) Roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Vol. 2
- Pennsylvania State Adjutant General’s Report
- Dyer, Frederick H., Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
- The Union Army, Federal Publishing Company, 1908, Vol. 1