Overview
The 102nd Pennsylvania Infantry (Infantry) was a Union regiment organized in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, during August and September 1861. Serving in the Eastern Theater, the regiment was composed primarily of men from Pittsburgh and surrounding areas. It was mustered into Federal service for three years and participated in many of the major campaigns and battles of the Army of the Potomac and later the Army of the Shenandoah.
The 102nd Pennsylvania Infantry was notable for its early and continuous service, reenlistment of veterans, and participation in significant engagements from the Peninsula Campaign through the final operations in Virginia. The regiment mustered out in Washington, D.C., on June 28, 1865.
Organization & Service
The 102nd Pennsylvania Infantry was formed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in August and September 1861, with its nucleus drawn from the old 13th regiment. The regiment was sent to Washington, D.C., in detachments, where its organization was completed. Initially assigned to Peck’s Brigade, Couch’s Division, Keyes’ Corps, the regiment spent the winter of 1861-62 in Washington, with two companies temporarily detailed to Great Falls.
In the spring of 1862, the regiment joined the Peninsula Campaign, participating in the siege of Yorktown and the battles of Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, and Malvern Hill. After the Seven Days Battles, the brigade was detached from the 4th Corps and rejoined the main army at Centerville following the Second Battle of Bull Run. The 102nd acted as support to a battery at Chantilly and was held in reserve at Antietam. It was attached to the 6th Corps when General Burnside assumed command of the Army of the Potomac.
The regiment was actively engaged in the Chancellorsville Campaign in May 1863, fighting at Fredericksburg, Salem Church, and Marye’s Heights. After retiring to Falmouth, the regiment moved to Gettysburg, arriving on July 2, 1863, and was engaged that afternoon. The 102nd participated in the pursuit of the Confederate Army and the Mine Run Campaign, then wintered at Brandy Station.
In December 1863, nearly the entire regiment reenlisted and was furloughed. The veterans returned in March 1864 at Halltown, Virginia, and the brigade was reassigned to the 2nd Division at Brandy Station. The regiment suffered heavy losses at the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, and Cold Harbor, and took part in the initial assaults on Petersburg. On July 9, 1864, the corps was sent to defend Washington, D.C., arriving in time to help repel General Early’s attack. The 102nd then participated in the Shenandoah Valley Campaign, including the battles of Opequon, Fisher’s Hill, and Cedar Creek, before returning to Petersburg in December 1864 for winter quarters.
On March 25, 1865, the regiment advanced against Confederate positions, joined in the final assault on Petersburg on April 2, and fought at Sailor’s Creek. The 102nd then moved to Danville, Virginia, to join General Sherman’s forces, but soon returned to Washington, D.C., where it was mustered out on June 28, 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
- Siege of Yorktown (April–May 1862)
- Battle of Williamsburg (May 5, 1862)
- Battle of Fair Oaks (May 31–June 1, 1862)
- Battle of Malvern Hill (July 1, 1862)
- Second Bull Run Campaign (August 1862)
- Battle of Chantilly (September 1, 1862)
- Battle of Antietam (September 17, 1862 – in reserve)
- Fredericksburg (December 11–15, 1862)
- Chancellorsville Campaign (May 1863): Fredericksburg, Salem Church, Marye’s Heights
- Battle of Gettysburg (July 2–3, 1863)
- Mine Run Campaign (November–December 1863)
- Wilderness (May 5–7, 1864)
- Spotsylvania Court House (May 8–21, 1864)
- Cold Harbor (June 1–12, 1864)
- First Assaults on Petersburg (June 1864)
- Defense of Washington, D.C. (July 1864)
- Opequon (Third Winchester, September 19, 1864)
- Fisher’s Hill (September 21–22, 1864)
- Cedar Creek (October 19, 1864)
- Final Assault on Petersburg (April 2, 1865)
- Sailor’s Creek (April 6, 1865)
Casualties
According to available primary sources, the 102nd Pennsylvania Infantry suffered significant losses during its service. Fox’s Regimental Losses and state reports indicate the following:
- Killed or mortally wounded: 7 officers, 104 enlisted men
- Died of disease: 1 officer, 99 enlisted men
- Total deaths: 211
Field Officers & Commanders
- Colonel Thomas A. Rowley
- Colonel Joseph M. Kinkead
- Colonel John W. Patterson
- Colonel James Patchell
- Lieutenant Colonel J. M. Kinkead
- Lieutenant Colonel John W. Patterson
- Lieutenant Colonel William McIlwaine
- Lieutenant Colonel Thomas McLaughlin
- Lieutenant Colonel James H. Coleman
- Lieutenant Colonel James Patchell
- Lieutenant Colonel James D. Kirk
- Lieutenant Colonel James D. Duncan
- Major John Poland
- Major John W. Patterson
- Major Joseph Brown
- Major Thomas McLaughlin
- Major James H. Coleman
- Major James Patchell
- Major James D. Kirk
- Major James D. Duncan
- Major Robert W. Lyon
Regimental Roster
The complete roster of officers and enlisted men who served in the 102nd Pennsylvania Infantry is available for genealogical and historical research. This roster includes names, ranks, and service details as recorded in official state and federal records.
To view the full roster, visit the 102nd Pennsylvania Infantry Regimental Roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, various volumes and parts (Army of the Potomac, Army of the Shenandoah)
- Pennsylvania Adjutant General’s Report
- 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