Overview
The 215th Pennsylvania Infantry (One Year Service) was an infantry regiment organized in Pennsylvania during the final months of the Civil War. Raised primarily in Philadelphia, as well as Lancaster, Bucks, and Northampton counties, the regiment entered Union service in April 1865. Its service was characterized by guard and garrison duties rather than active campaigning, reflecting the late stage of the war at which it was formed.
The regiment served on the Union side and was primarily stationed in Delaware and on the eastern shore of Maryland. Its most notable assignment was at Fort Delaware, a key Union prison and defensive installation.
Organization & Service
The 215th Pennsylvania Infantry (One Year Service) was organized at Philadelphia and mustered into United States service on April 21, 1865, for a term of one year. Colonel Francis Wister commanded the regiment, with Lieutenant Colonel Francis B. Jones and Major Andrew T. Goodman as principal field officers. The regiment was composed of men recruited from Philadelphia and the surrounding counties of Lancaster, Bucks, and Northampton.
Upon organization, the regiment was ordered to Delaware, where it was assigned to guard duty. Its responsibilities included maintaining security and order in Delaware and on the eastern shore of Maryland. In June 1865, the regiment was stationed at Fort Delaware, where it continued its guard duties, primarily overseeing prisoners and maintaining the fort’s security. The regiment remained at Fort Delaware until the end of July. With the war concluded and its services no longer required, the 215th Pennsylvania Infantry was mustered out at Fort Delaware on July 31, 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
- Guard duty in Delaware and eastern Maryland (April–July 1865)
- Garrison duty at Fort Delaware (June–July 1865)
Casualties
Specific casualty figures for the 215th Pennsylvania Infantry (One Year Service) are not detailed in primary sources. The regiment’s service was limited to guard and garrison duty, and it did not participate in combat operations.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Colonel Francis Wister
- Lieutenant Colonel Francis B. Jones
- Major Andrew T. Goodman
Regimental Roster
The complete roster of the 215th Pennsylvania Infantry (One Year Service), including officers and enlisted men, is available for genealogical and historical research. This roster provides names, ranks, and additional service details as recorded in official state and federal records.
To view the full roster, visit the 215th Pennsylvania Infantry (One Year Service) Roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I
- Pennsylvania Adjutant General’s Report
- Dyer, Frederick H., A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
- The Union Army, Federal Publishing Company, 1908, Volume 1