The regiment's nickname came from being raised by California's U.S. Senator Edward Baker from men on the east coast and accepted for Federal service as part of California's quota. Baker's command was later expanded to a brigade. After he was killed at Ball's Bluff, the State of Pennsylvania claimed the regiments for their quota, and they became known as "The Philadelphia Brigade."
1861 |
April- May |
Raised as part of the Regular Army by Colonel and United States Senator Edward D. Baker, with Issac J. Wistar as lieutenant colonel and Robert A. Parish as major. The regiment consisted of 15 companies and was uniformed in grey. |
June |
At Fort Schuyler, N.Y. |
July 19 |
Captain Charles W. Smith of Company C promoted to major |
July 22 |
Moved to Fortress Monroe, Va., then to Washington, D.C. for duty in the Defenses of Washington |
September 11 |
Attacked while on reconnoissance. The regiment's grey uniforms proved dangerous while on picket duty. |
September 21 |
Captain J. W. Kingenfelter of Company B killed on picket duty near Chain Bridge, Virginia |
September 29 |
Lt. Colonel Wistar commanded the regiment during the affair at Vanderburg's House and Munson's Hill while Colonel Baker commande the column. Four men were killed and 14 wounded. |
October 21-24 |
Moved to near Poolesville, Maryland, for operations on the Potomac attached to Baker's Brigade, Stone's (Sedgwick's) Division, Army Potomac. Lt. Colonel Wistar commanded the regiment with Colonel Baker in command of the brigade. |
October 21 |
Ball's Bluff
Lt. Colonel Wistar was ordered to Conrad's Ferry with the Right Battalion, Companies A, C, D, G, H, L, N & P. The Battalion, 520 strong, then crossed the Potomac using a relay of six small boats. Companies A and D advanced as skirmishers and became heavily engaged with a large force of Confederates, lsing all of their officers and two thirds of the men but capturing a number of prisoners, including an officer of the Eighth Virginia Infantry Regiment.
After two more hours of heavy fighting Colonel Baker was killed, and the Federal line subsequenty collapsed. The few boats were inadequate to withdraw the force back across the Potomac and many men were killed or captured at the river.
In addition to Colonel Baker, Captains Harvey and William E. Otter, Lieutenant Joseph D. Williams and 10 enlisted men were killed, Lt. Colonel Wistar was wounded three times, Captains Markoe and Keffar were wounded and captured, and 37 enlisted men were wounded. Lieutenant William H. Kerns, three other officers and 222 enlisted men were missing. The color sergeant saved the colors from capture but lost them in swimming the Potomac. |
October 22 |
Lieutenant Colonel Issac Wistar was appointed Colonel |
November |
Duty on the Upper Potomac. Majors Parrish and Smith took command until Colonel Wistar recovered from his wounds. During this time the regiment was claimed as part of Pennsylvania's quota. |
1862 |
February |
At Harper's Ferry, W. Va. |
March 3 |
Lieutenant Christian Schaeffer died at Poolesville, Maryland. |
March 24-April 1 |
Moved to the Virginia Peninsula, attached to 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 2nd Army Corps, Army Potomac |
April 5-May 4 |
Siege of Yorktown |
May 5-30 |
At Tyler's Farm |
May 31-June 1 |
Battle of Fair Oaks, (Seven Pines)
Captain Markoe wounded. |
June |
At Fair Oaks |
June 1 |
Captain John Markoe of Company A promoted to lieutenant colonel |
June 8 |
Lieutenant Maurine C. Moore killed on picket duty |
June 18 |
Skirmish at Fair Oaks |
June 25-July 1 |
Seven days before Richmond |
June 29 |
Peach Orchard and Savage Station
The regiment lost 68 men killed and wounded. |
June 30 |
Charles City Cross Roads and Glendale
Lieutenant George Kinney killed |
July 1 |
Malvern Hill |
July-August |
At Harrison's Landing
Companies L, M, N, P & R were disbanded and the men distributed to the remaining companies. |
August 16-28 |
Movement to Newport News, then to Alexandria. Colonel Wistar resumed command, having partially recovered from his wound |
August 28-30 |
To Centreville and Chantilly |
August 31-September 1 |
Cover Pope's retreat |
September 6-24 |
Maryland Campaign |
September 16-17 |
Battle of Antietam
The regiment was commanded by Colonel Isaac Wistar until he was wounded in his left arm leading a charge during the brutal fighting in the West Woods. Captain Richard P. Smith assumed command until he was wounded, and finally Captain Enoch E. Lewis took over. Lieutenants John Convery and William Wilson were killed, and over one third of the regiment was lost, with only four officers remaining unwounded the next day. |
September 22 |
Moved to Harper's Ferry and duty there. Lieutenant Colonel Markoe, who had resigned due to wounds, returned to take command of the regiment. |
October 30-
November 19 |
Movement to Falmouth |
November 1 |
Captain Richard Penn Smith of Company A promoted to major |
November 29 |
Colonel Wistar promoted to brigadier general |
December 12-15 |
Battle of Fredericksburg
Over one third of the regiment was lost occupying a position all day in the open close to Confederate entrenchments. Lieutenant Benjamin F. Hibbs was mortally wounded, Lieutenant B. J. McMahon was wounded, and Lieutenant Stiles Boughton was captured. |
1863 |
January 20-24 |
Burnside's 2nd Campaign, "Mud March" |
February 25 |
Hartwood Church |
March-April |
At Falmouth. Colonel Wistar is promoted to Brigadier General. |
March 31 |
Captain C. Kochersperger promoted to lieutenant colonel |
April 27-May 6 |
Chancellorsville Campaign |
May 1 and 4 |
Banks' Ford
Captain E. Carlyle Norris mortally wounded |
May 1 |
Lieutenant Colonel Markoe resigned due to his wounds, and Major Richard Penn Smith was promoted to colonel |
June 13-July 24 |
Gettysburg Campaign |
July 2-4 |
Battle of Gettysburg
The regiment was commanded by Colonel Richard Penn Smith. It brought 331 men to the field, losing 21 killed, 58 wounded and 19 missing. Captains William H. Dull and John M. Steffan were killed, and Lieutenants Stiles Boughton, Byron C. Davis and Jacob S. Devine were captured.
From the monument: "To the left of this point on July 2, the 71st Penna. assisted in repulsing the furious attack of Wright's Ga. brig. During the terrific cannonading of July 3, the regiment occupied a position 60 yards in the rear of this spot, a number of the men voluntarily helping to work Cushing's disabled Battery. As the enemy emerged from Seminary Ridge the regiment was ordered forward, the left wing to this point, the right to the right in the rear. When Pickett's Division rushed upon the wing in overwhelming numbers it fell back into line with the right, thus bringing the whole regiment into action, with the additional use of a large number of loaded muskets gathered from the battle field of the previous day." |
July 5-24 |
Pursuit of Lee |
August-September |
At Banks' Ford and Culpeper |
September 13-17 |
Advance from the Rappahannock to the Rapidan |
October 9-22 |
Bristoe Campaign |
November 7-8 |
Advance to the line of the Rappahannock |
November 26-December 2 |
Mine Run Campaign |
November 27 |
Robertson's Tavern or Locust Grove |
December-May |
Duty on the Rapidan |
1864 |
February 6-7 |
Demonstration on the Rapidan |
March |
Attached to 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 2nd Army Corps, Army Potomac |
May 4-June 12 |
Rapidan Campaign |
May 5-7 |
Battle of the Wilderness
Lieutenant Colonel Kochersperger was badly wounded and five color bearers lost. With
Colonel Smith still recovering from his wound, Captain William M. Smit took command. |
May 8 |
Laurel Hill |
May 8-12 |
Spottsylvania |
May 10 |
Po River
Captain W.M. Smith was wounded, and Captain Mitchell Smith took command. |
May 12-21 |
Spottsylvania C. H. |
May 12 |
Assault on the Salient
Captain Mitchell Smth and Lieutenant Clark killed. Captain Peter W. Grear took command of the regiment. |
May 23-26 |
North Anna River
Lieutenant James Clark killed |
May 26-28. |
On line of the Pamunkey |
May 28-31 |
Totopotomoy |
June 1-12 |
Cold Harbor |
June 12 |
Veterans and recruits transferred to the 69th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment |
July 2 |
Mustered out under Colonel R. P. Smith. Of the 2,200 men who had served with the regiment, only 153 men returned to Philadelphia to muster out. |
