Overview
The 43rd Pennsylvania Regiment, also known as the 1st Pennsylvania Light Artillery (Three Years’ Service), served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Organized primarily in Philadelphia in June 1861, the regiment was composed of nine batteries (A through I) and was mustered in for three years’ service. Though designated as a regiment, its batteries were generally assigned to separate commands and rarely operated as a unified body. The unit participated in major campaigns in the Eastern Theater, including service with the Pennsylvania Reserves, the Army of the Potomac, and the Army of the James.
The 43rd Pennsylvania (1st Light Artillery) was notable for its extensive service across multiple armies and its involvement in many of the war’s significant battles, including Gettysburg, Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Petersburg. The regiment mustered out at various dates in June and July 1865, with batteries serving in different locations at the close of the war.
Organization & Service
The 43rd Pennsylvania Regiment (1st Pennsylvania Light Artillery) was organized in Philadelphia in June 1861, initially with four companies volunteering under the first call for troops, and four more added as the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps was organized. Battery I joined the regiment in March 1865. The regiment was mustered in for three years’ service and was ordered to Washington, D.C., in August 1861, where it was equipped and quartered at Camp Barry. From there, the batteries were assigned to various commands and locations, seldom serving together as a single unit.
- Battery A joined the Pennsylvania Reserves at Tennallytown, participated in the battles of Dranesville, Gaines’ Mill, Second Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, and Fredericksburg, and later served in the Army of Virginia and in Richmond until mustered out at Harrisburg on July 25, 1865. Non-reenlisted members were mustered out May 29, 1864.
- Battery B was attached to the 1st Brigade, fought at Mechanicsville, Gaines’ Mill, Glendale, Second Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Mine Run, the Wilderness, and Petersburg. It was mustered out at Harrisburg on June 9, 1865.
- Battery C served at Chain Bridge, in Buell’s Division, and with Couch’s Division, 4th Corps, participating in the Peninsula Campaign, Seven Pines, and Glendale. It was consolidated with Battery D in early 1863 and mustered out at Harrisburg June 29–30, 1865.
- Battery D also served in the Peninsula Campaign, at Yorktown, Seven Pines, and Glendale, and later with Battery C at Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. It was mustered out at Harrisburg June 29–30, 1865.
- Battery E was assigned to Chain Bridge, Buell’s Division, and Couch’s Division, serving in the Peninsula Campaign, Drewry’s Bluff, Petersburg, and Richmond. It was mustered out at Philadelphia on July 20, 1865.
- Battery F served with General Banks in Maryland and the Shenandoah Valley, fought at Dam No. 5, Hancock, Bunker Hill, Newtown, Cedar Mountain, Thoroughfare Gap, Bull Run, Antietam, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg (with Battery G), Mine Run, the Wilderness, and Petersburg. It was mustered out at Harrisburg on June 9, 1865.
- Battery G participated in the Peninsula Campaign, Second Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg (with Battery F), and later served at Arlington, Point of Rocks, Maryland Heights, and Fort Foote. It was mustered out at Philadelphia on June 29, 1865.
- Battery H served with Batteries D and E in the Peninsula Campaign, was later a reserve battery, and was posted at Fort Whipple, Fort Marcy, and Edwards’ Ferry. It was mustered out at Philadelphia on June 27, 1865.
- Battery I was added in March 1865, served in the defenses of Washington, and was mustered out at Philadelphia on July 1, 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
- Dranesville
- Gaines’ Mill
- Mechanicsville
- Glendale
- Second Bull Run
- South Mountain
- Antietam
- Fredericksburg
- Chancellorsville
- Gettysburg
- Mine Run Campaign
- Wilderness Campaign
- Petersburg (Siege and Assaults)
- Drewry’s Bluff
- Cedar Creek
- Richmond (Occupation)
Casualties
Specific casualty figures for the 43rd Pennsylvania Regiment (1st Pennsylvania Light Artillery) as a whole are not consolidated in primary sources. Losses for individual batteries are reported in official records and state reports, with notable losses at battles such as Bull Run (Battery G: 3 killed, 21 wounded), Gettysburg, and Petersburg. For detailed casualty statistics, consult the Official Records and Pennsylvania Adjutant General’s reports.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Colonel Charles T. Campbell
- Colonel R. M. West
- Colonel R. Bruce Ricketts
- Lieutenant Colonel H. T. Danforth
- Lieutenant Colonel Edward H. Flood
- Lieutenant Colonel James Brady
- Major A. E. Lewis
- Major James Brady
- Major R. M. West
- Major E. W. Matthews
- Major James H. Cooper
- Major Robert B. Ricketts
- Major Theodore Miller
Regimental Roster
The full roster of officers and enlisted men who served in the 43rd Pennsylvania Regiment, 1st Pennsylvania Light Artillery (Three Years’ Service), is available for genealogical and historical research. The roster includes details on enlistment, rank, and service records for each battery.
To view the complete roster, visit the 43rd Pennsylvania Regiment, 1st Pennsylvania Light Artillery (Three Years’ Service) Roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, various volumes and parts (see Army of the Potomac, Army of Virginia, and Pennsylvania Reserves reports)
- Pennsylvania Adjutant General’s Reports, 1861–1865
- Dyer, Frederick H. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
- Fox, William F. Regimental Losses in the American Civil War
- The Union Army, Federal Publishing Company, 1908, Volume 1