84th Pennsylvania Infantry in the American Civil War

Overview

The 84th Pennsylvania Infantry (Three Years’ Service) was an infantry regiment organized in Pennsylvania for service in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The regiment was recruited from the counties of Blair, Lycoming, Clearfield, Dauphin, Columbia, Cameron, and Westmoreland in the late summer and early fall of 1861. It was mustered into United States service for a three-year term at Camp Curtin, Harrisburg, toward the end of October 1861. The regiment served primarily in the Eastern Theater and participated in numerous campaigns and battles throughout its service.

This unit is distinct from any other Pennsylvania infantry regiments with different service terms.

Organization & Service

The 84th Pennsylvania Infantry (Three Years’ Service) was first assembled at Camp Grossman, Huntingdon, before moving to Camp Curtin, Harrisburg, where it completed organization and mustering by the end of 1861. The regiment departed for Hancock, Maryland, on December 31, 1861, and crossed into Bath, Virginia, on January 2, 1862. There, it encountered Confederate forces under Stonewall Jackson and withdrew to Hancock, then moved to Cumberland, Maryland. The regiment spent the remainder of the winter guarding the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad.

In March 1862, the 84th moved to Winchester, Virginia, where it was heavily engaged under General Shields, suffering significant casualties. Afterward, it performed provost duty at Berryville until May, skirmished at Front Royal on May 31, and fought at Port Republic in June. The regiment then encamped at Alexandria until July, when it joined Pope’s Army of Virginia, assigned to Carroll’s Brigade, Ricketts’ Division, McDowell’s Corps. It was lightly engaged at Cedar Mountain and fought at the Second Battle of Bull Run, after which its depleted ranks led to a period of recuperation at Arlington Heights during the Antietam Campaign.

Reinforced by recruits and returning convalescents, the regiment participated in the Battle of Fredericksburg as part of General Whipple’s Independent Division. Under General Hooker, it was assigned to the 2nd Brigade (Col. Bowman), 3rd Division (Gen. Whipple), 3rd Corps (Gen. Sickles). The 84th suffered heavy losses at Chancellorsville but managed to capture prisoners. During the Gettysburg Campaign, the regiment was detailed to guard the corps train and did not participate in the main battle.

Subsequently, the regiment was active in operations at Wapping Heights, Thoroughfare Gap, Freeman’s Ford, Bristoe Station, Kelly’s Ford, Jacob’s Ford, Locust Grove, and Mine Run, before wintering at Brandy Station. Many men reenlisted in January 1864 and received veteran furloughs. The regiment fought at Morton’s Ford in February and was engaged in the Overland Campaign from the Wilderness to the James River, including the Siege of Petersburg. It participated in actions at Deep Bottom, Strawberry Plains, and Yellow Tavern, where Lt. Col. Zinn was wounded.

In October 1864, original members (except veterans and recruits) were mustered out. The remaining men formed a battalion of four companies, which was consolidated with the 57th Pennsylvania Infantry on January 13, 1865. This battalion continued to serve, participating in the engagements at Hatcher’s Run and the Weldon Railroad, and was finally mustered out with the 57th Pennsylvania on June 29, 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

  • Bath, Virginia (January 1862)
  • Winchester (March 1862)
  • Front Royal (May 31, 1862)
  • Port Republic (June 1862)
  • Cedar Mountain
  • Second Bull Run
  • Fredericksburg
  • Chancellorsville
  • Gettysburg Campaign (guarded corps train)
  • Wapping Heights
  • Thoroughfare Gap
  • Freeman’s Ford
  • Bristoe Station
  • Kelly’s Ford
  • Jacob’s Ford
  • Locust Grove
  • Mine Run
  • Morton’s Ford
  • Wilderness
  • Spotsylvania
  • North Anna
  • Totopotomoy
  • Cold Harbor
  • Siege of Petersburg
  • Deep Bottom
  • Strawberry Plains
  • Yellow Tavern
  • Hatcher’s Run
  • Weldon Railroad

Casualties

At the Battle of Winchester, the regiment lost 23 killed and 67 wounded out of 260 engaged. At Chancellorsville, losses were 219 out of 391 engaged. Other casualty figures for the regiment’s full term are not consistently reported in primary sources.

Field Officers & Commanders

  • Colonel William G. Murray (killed at Winchester)
  • Colonel Samuel M. Bowman
  • Lieutenant Colonel Thomas C. MacDowell
  • Lieutenant Colonel Walter Barrett
  • Lieutenant Colonel Thomas H. Craig
  • Lieutenant Colonel Milton Opp (mortally wounded at Wilderness)
  • Lieutenant Colonel George Zinn (severely wounded at Yellow Tavern)
  • Major Walter Barrett
  • Major Thomas H. Craig
  • Major Milton Opp
  • Major George Zinn
  • Major Samuel Bryan

Regimental Roster

The full roster of the 84th Pennsylvania Infantry (Three Years’ Service), including officers and enlisted men, is available for genealogical and historical research. This roster provides details on company assignments, enlistment dates, and service records.

To view the complete roster, visit the 84th Pennsylvania Infantry (Three Years’ Service) Roster page.

Sources & References

  • Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volumes 12, 19, 25, 27, 36, 40, 42 (reports and correspondence involving the 84th Pennsylvania Infantry)
  • Pennsylvania Adjutant General’s Report, 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
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