Overview
The 13th Pennsylvania Infantry (Three Months’ Service) was an infantry regiment organized in Pennsylvania for short-term service at the outset of the Civil War. Mustered in at Harrisburg from April 24 to 26, 1861, the regiment served in the Union Army and was primarily composed of companies recruited from Pittsburgh, with additional companies from Butler, Birmingham, and Bedford. The regiment’s service was limited to the early months of the conflict, and it did not participate in major battles but was involved in several key movements in the Shenandoah Valley region.
Organization & Service
The 13th Pennsylvania Infantry (Three Months’ Service) was organized at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in late April 1861, in response to President Lincoln’s call for volunteers. The regiment was mustered into United States service for a term of three months. Seven companies were recruited in Pittsburgh, with the remaining companies coming from Butler, Birmingham, and Bedford.
After initial organization, the regiment was stationed at York, Pennsylvania. On June 4, 1861, it moved to Chambersburg and reported to Colonel Dixon S. Miles. The regiment then marched to Williamsport, Maryland, and crossed into Virginia on June 16. Shortly thereafter, orders were received to return to Williamsport, where the 13th formed part of the garrison. The regiment participated in movements to Bunker Hill, Charlestown, and Harper’s Ferry, operating primarily in the lower Shenandoah Valley. The unit returned to Harrisburg and was mustered out of service on August 6, 1861.
Following muster out, five companies under Colonel Thomas A. Rowley proceeded to Washington, D.C., where they were joined by additional companies. These men, totaling approximately 1,200, sought to enlist for three years’ service. After a period of uncertainty, they were recognized as the 102nd Pennsylvania Infantry (Three Years’ Service).
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
- Stationed at York, Pennsylvania
- Movement to Chambersburg (June 1861)
- March to Williamsport and entry into Virginia (June 16, 1861)
- Garrison duty at Williamsport
- Movements to Bunker Hill, Charlestown, and Harper’s Ferry
Casualties
Specific casualty figures for the 13th Pennsylvania Infantry (Three Months’ Service) are not detailed in primary sources. The regiment did not participate in major engagements during its term of service.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Colonel Thomas A. Rowley
- Lieutenant Colonel John N. Purviance
- Major W. S. Mellinger
Regimental Roster
The full roster of the 13th Pennsylvania Infantry (Three Months’ Service), including officers and enlisted men, is available for genealogical and historical research. For a complete listing of soldiers who served in this regiment, please visit the regimental roster page.
This roster provides names, ranks, and additional service details where available.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Vol. 2
- Pennsylvania State Adjutant General’s Report
- Dyer, Frederick H., A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
- The Union Army, Federal Publishing Company, 1908, Vol. 1