Overview
The 17th Pennsylvania Infantry (Three Months’ Service) was organized in Philadelphia and mustered into United States service on April 25, 1861. Composed primarily of men from Philadelphia, it was initially a militia regiment known as the 1st Artillery and later became popularly referred to as the “Quaker Regiment” due to the distinctive hats provided by local citizens. The regiment served in the Union Army during the early months of the Civil War, operating primarily in the Middle Department and the Shenandoah Valley region.
Organization & Service
The 17th Pennsylvania Infantry (Three Months’ Service) was mustered in at Philadelphia on April 25, 1861, under the command of Colonel Francis E. Patterson, Lieutenant Colonel Robert O. Tyler, and Major William A. Lerch. Shortly after organization, the regiment was ordered to Perryville on May 8, 1861, and soon embarked for Baltimore, arriving and occupying the city on May 13. This movement was significant as no Union troops had passed through Baltimore since the attack on the 6th Massachusetts Infantry in April; the 17th Pennsylvania encountered no resistance and helped reopen the city for the passage of additional Union regiments from the North.
The regiment participated in the Rockville expedition and provided detachments to guard the Potomac River at Edwards’ and Conrad’s ferries. On July 8, 1861, the 17th Pennsylvania joined General Robert Patterson’s army at Martinsburg, Virginia, and was assigned to the 7th Brigade, 3rd Division, under Colonel Charles P. Stone. The regiment took part in marches to Bunker Hill, Charlestown, and Harper’s Ferry. Its term of service concluded on August 2, 1861, when it was mustered out at Philadelphia. The men offered to remain in service if needed, but were mustered out as scheduled.
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
- Occupation of Baltimore (May 1861)
- Rockville Expedition
- Guard duty at Edwards’ Ferry and Conrad’s Ferry
- Operations with General Patterson’s Army in the Shenandoah Valley
- Marches to Bunker Hill, Charlestown, and Harper’s Ferry
Casualties
Specific casualty figures for the 17th Pennsylvania Infantry (Three Months’ Service) are not detailed in primary sources. Available records indicate the regiment did not suffer significant losses during its brief term of service.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Colonel Francis E. Patterson
- Lieutenant Colonel Robert O. Tyler
- Major William A. Lerch
Regimental Roster
The full roster of the 17th 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 valuable for genealogical research.
To view the complete roster, visit the 17th 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., A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
- Federal Publishing Company, The Union Army, Vol. 1 (1908)