77th Regiment, Pennsylvania Infantry

Historical Sketch:
Cols., Frederick S. Stumbaugh, Thomas E. Rose; Lieut.-Cols., Peter B. Housum, Frederick S. Pyfer, Alexander Phillips, William A. Robinson; Majs., Stephen N. Bradford, Alexander Phillips, William A. Robinson, Joseph J. Lawson. The 77th regiment, principally composed of men from the counties of Franklin, Cumberland, Allegheny, Lancaster, Huntingdon, Blair, Fulton and Luzerne, rendezvoused first at Chambersburg and later at Camp Wilkins, near Pittsburg, where it was mustered into the U. S. service in Sept. and Oct., 1861, for three years. Co. H was never fully organized on account of lack of numbers and was finally disbanded after being with the regiment for some time. A company of artillery under Capt. Muehler was recruited to form part of the regiment, but was detached at the beginning of 1862 and never rejoined the command. On Oct. 18, 1861, the regiment left the state and proceeded by transport to Louisville, Ky., and moved thence to Nolin creek, where it encamped for some time, and was assigned to the 5th brigade (Gen. Wood), 2nd division (Gen. McCook), Army of the Ohio (Gen. Buell). On March 2, 1862, the regiment arrived at Nashville and on April 7 it participated with its division in the second day's struggle at the battle of Shiloh, with a loss of 3 killed and 7 wounded. On May 28 the command was in front of the works at Corinth, Miss., and after the evacuation on the 30th it slowly returned to Nashville, arriving there early in September. Later in the month it hastened with Buell's army to the protection of Louisville; was engaged with the enemy at Floyd's fork, Ky., and skirmished at Fern creek and Claysville. The regiment was not engaged at Perryville and soon after that battle returned to Nashville, where it rested until the opening of the winter campaign. Late in November it had a sharp skirmish near La Vergne, and about a month later moved with the army of the Cumberland under Rosecrans on the Murfreesboro campaign. The regiment was heavily engaged in the battle of Stone's river, and was warmly commended for its gallantry by Gen. Rosecrans, who said: "It was the banner regiment at Stone river. They never broke their ranks." It was employed in guard, picket and foraging duties after the battle until Feb., 1863, and was then occupied on the fortifications at Murfreesboro until the latter part of June, when it broke camp and moved against the enemy at Liberty gap, Tenn., where it lost one-third of its effective strength. At the battle of Chickamauga the 77th fought with great courage and coolness. On the evening of the first day's battle, while attempting to hold an advanced position against great odds, it was outflanked and overpowered by a superior force, and despite the utmost bravery displayed, was forced to yield — all of its field officers, 7 line officers and 70 men being captured by the enemy. After the battle the rest of the command retired with the army to Chattanooga, whence it moved to Walden's ridge, and then to Whiteside, where it remained until the close of the year. In Jan., 1864, most of the men reenlisted and were given their veteran furlough, and on their return in April, the regiment moved with Gen. Sherman on his Atlanta campaign, being successively engaged at Tunnel Hill, Resaca, Kingston, New Hope Church, Kennesaw mountain, Smyrna, the Chattahoochee river, Peachtree creek, and in the siege operations about Atlanta, destroying railroads, etc. At the close of August it was engaged at the battle of Jonesboro; was in the action at Love joy's Station; and after the fall of Atlanta it moved back toward Nashville with the 4th and 23d corps. In the Nashville campaign the enemy was met at various places, including Columbia, Duck river, Spring Hill, Thompson's station, Franklin and Nashville. The 77th was sharply engaged at Franklin on Nov. 30, losing a large number killed and wounded, and it lost heavily at the battle of Nashville. After the battle it took part in the pursuit of Hood's forces as far as Huntsville, Ala. In March, 1865, it moved to Strawberry plains, Tenn., where it was joined by three new companies, and two weeks later received two more companies at Bull's gap. On its return to Nashville in April it was assigned to the 1st brigade, 1st division, 4th corps. Col. Rose commanding the brigade, and Lieut.-Col. Robinson the regiment, and was ordered to Texas, arriving at Indianola on July 27. It moved thence to Green Lake, marched to Camp Stanley, near Victoria, on the Guadaloupe river, and on Dec. 5 was ordered home. It arrived at Philadelphia Jan. 16, 1866, where it was finally mustered out. Roster:
The Roster of this unit contains the names of 3115 men.
Source:
The Union Army by Federal Publishing Company, 1908 - Volume 1
Bibliography:

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