78th Regiment, Pennsylvania Infantry

Historical Sketch:
Cols., William Sirwell, Augustus B. Bonnaffon; Lieut.-Cols., Archibald Blakeley, A. B. Bonnaffon, Henry W. Torbett; Majs., A. B. Bonnaffon, James N. Hosey, Robert M. Smith. The 78th regiment was recruited in the late summer and early fall of 1861 and was mustered into the U. S. service from the middle of September to the middle of October at Camp Orr on the Allegheny river, for three years. Cos. B, F, G, I and K were raised in Armstrong county, C and E in Clarion, A in Indiana, D in Indiana and Cambria, and H in Butler. On Oct. 18, 1861, it left the state and proceeded by transport to Louisville, Ky., and thence by rail to Nolin creek, where it was assigned to Gen. McCook's division, Army of the Ohio, and was brigaded with the 79th Pa., 1st Wis., and 38th Ind., commanded by Brig.-Gen. James S. Negley. In December it moved with the brigade to Munfordville, Ky., and in March, 1862, it arrived with the division at Camp Andy Johnson, Nashville, Tenn. Throughout the remainder of the spring and summer it performed guard duty on the railroad from Nashville to Columbia, garrison duty at Pulaski and Rogersville, guard duty on the railroad from Columbia to Elk river, and was engaged in numerous skirmishes with the enemy's cavalry. While Buell's army was marching north into Kentucky, in the race with Gen. Bragg for Louisville, the 78th was ordered into the defenses of Nashville, where the garrison was often attacked. It was engaged at La Vergne, Neely's bend, White creek, Charlottsville and Franklin Pike, remaining in Nashville until Dec. 12, when it moved to Camp Hamilton, where it was assigned to Miller's brigade, of Negley's eighth division. It was heavily engaged at the sanguinary battle of Stone's River, or Murfreesboro, where it behaved with great gallantry, losing 190 men killed and wounded. In Jan., 1863, the Army of the Cumberland, under Gen. Rosecrans, was divided into three corps, the 14th, 20th and 21st, and the 78th was assigned to the 3d brigade (Col. Miller), 2nd division (Gen. Negley), 14th corps (Gen. Thomas). It was engaged in provost duty at Murfreesboro until April, and in June shared in Rosecrans' campaign from Murfreesboro to Tullahoma. It then encamped at Decherd until Aug. 15, when it moved with the army in pursuit of Bragg. On Sept. 11, a part of the regiment was engaged at Dug gap, Ga., the whole regiment shared in the desperate fighting at Chickamauga and then retired with the army to Chattanooga. While here it was assigned to the 3d brigade (Gen. Starkweather), 1st division (Gen. R. M. Johnson), 14th corps (Gen. John M. Palmer). In the decisive engagements at Orchard Knob, Lookout mountain and Missionary ridge, the 78th was engaged with small loss, and it participated in a reconnoissance to the summit of Lookout mountain. In company with the 21st Wis., the regiment was assigned to duty on Lookout mountain until May, 1864, when it rejoined its brigade at Graysville and moved with Sherman's army on the Atlanta campaign. It saw much hard fighting at Tunnel Hill, Buzzard Roost gap, Resaca, Dallas, New Hope Church and in the long struggle before Kennesaw mountain. While in front of Kennesaw mountain it was ordered to Chattanooga to guard wagon trains to the front and was thus employed for three months, when it was ordered to report to Gen. Rousseau at Nashville. It was active at Pulaski, Tenn., and a little later was mounted and moved with Rousseau against the enemy's cavalry in Southern Tenn., returning to Nashville on Oct. 17. Its term of service having expired, all the original members, except the veterans and recruits, returned to Pennsylvania and were mustered out at Kittanning, Nov. 4, 1864. The veterans and recruits remained at Nashville and in March, 1865, the regiment was recruited to the minimum strength by the assignment of eight new companies, commanded by Col. Bonnaffon. The regiment as thus organized was finally mustered out at Nashville on Sept. 11, 1865. Roster:
The Roster of this unit contains the names of 3138 men.
Source:
The Union Army by Federal Publishing Company, 1908 - Volume 1
Bibliography:

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