Overview
The 24th Pennsylvania Infantry (Three Months’ Service) was an infantry regiment organized in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for Union service during the early months of the Civil War. The regiment was composed primarily of men of Irish descent, many of whom had previously served in a Philadelphia militia unit. One company was recruited from Wilmington, Delaware. The regiment was mustered into federal service on May 1, 1861, for a three-month term.
The 24th Pennsylvania Infantry served in the Eastern Theater and was among the early regiments mobilized in response to President Lincoln’s call for volunteers. The unit was noted for its strong community support and rapid organization at the outset of the conflict.
Organization & Service
The regiment was organized and mustered in at Philadelphia on May 1, 1861, for three months’ service. After initial encampment near the city, the men received considerable support from local citizens. The regiment soon moved westward, traveling through Chambersburg and arriving at Camp Porter near Hagerstown, Maryland, on June 22, 1861. At Camp Porter, the 24th Pennsylvania was assigned to the 5th Brigade, 2nd Division.
During its service, the regiment participated in maneuvers in the vicinity of Martinsburg, Bunker Hill, and Charlestown, Virginia (now West Virginia), as part of the Union Army’s early operations in the Shenandoah Valley. The 24th Pennsylvania Infantry did not engage in major combat but was actively involved in marching and strategic movements. The regiment was mustered out at Philadelphia on August 9, 1861, remaining in service approximately two weeks beyond its original enlistment term.
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
- Movements and maneuvers near Martinsburg, Virginia (June–July 1861)
- Bunker Hill, Virginia
- Charlestown, Virginia
Casualties
Specific casualty figures for the 24th Pennsylvania Infantry (Three Months’ Service) are not detailed in primary sources. The regiment did not participate in major battles and is not recorded as having sustained significant losses during its term of service.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Colonel Joshua T. Owen
- Lieutenant Colonel Dennis Heenan
- Major Dennis O’Kane
Regimental Roster
The full roster of the 24th Pennsylvania Infantry (Three Months’ Service), including officers and enlisted men, is available for genealogical and historical research. For a complete listing of members and additional service details, please visit the regimental roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Vol. 2
- Pennsylvania Adjutant General’s Report
- Dyer, Frederick H., A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
- Federal Publishing Company, The Union Army, Vol. 1 (1908)