12th Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment
| 12th Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment (41st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry) | |
|---|---|
| Active | August 1861 to June 11, 1864 |
| Country | United States |
| Allegiance | Union |
| Branch | Infantry |
| Engagements | Battle of Dranesville Seven Days Battles Battle of Mechanicsville Battle of Gaines's Mill Battle of Savage's Station Battle of Glendale Battle of Malvern Hill Second Battle of Bull Run Battle of South Mountain Battle of Antietam Battle of Fredericksburg Battle of Gettysburg Bristoe Campaign Mine Run Campaign Battle of the Wilderness Battle of Spotsylvania Court House Battle of Totopotomoy Creek Battle of Cold Harbor |
| Pennsylvania U.S. Volunteer Infantry Regiments 1861–1865 | ||||
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The 12th Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment also known as the 41st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army as part of the Pennsylvania Reserves infantry division during the American Civil War.
The 12th Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment was organized at Camp Curtin in 1861 as part of the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps, with John H. Taggart as colonel. The unit was composed primarily of volunteers with little military experience and initially remained in Pennsylvania after the First Battle of Bull Run, performing duties such as protecting the State Arsenal. It was mustered into federal service on August 10, 1861, and soon joined General George A. McCall's division at Tenallytown, Maryland. The regiment trained extensively before crossing into Virginia in October and encamped for the winter at Langley, participating in the Union victory at the Battle of Dranesville in December.
In spring 1862, the 12th joined the advance on Manassas, and after brief duty along the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, it moved to Falmouth, Virginia and then to the Peninsula to support General George McClellan. The regiment disembarked at White House Landing in June and proceeded to the front lines near Richmond, Virginia, where it participated in the Seven Days Battles. On June 26, it fought at the Battle of Beaver Dam Creek, holding the left of the Union line against determined Confederate attacks. Two days later, the regiment supported Griffin's Battery at Gaines' Mill, suffering casualties during intense fighting. It then withdrew across the Chickahominy River and helped protect the army’s movement to the James River during the retreat, enduring severe heat and exhaustion.
In August 1862, the regiment fought under Major General John Pope in northern Virginia and then at Antietam in September. Following winter service in the defenses of Washington, the 12th joined the Army of the Potomac at Gettysburg, arriving on July 2, 1863, and subsequently advancing to Little Round Top and the summit of Big Round Top. It later took part in Bristoe Station, Rappahannock Station, and the Mine Run operations that fall.
In May 1864, during the Overland Campaign, the regiment fought in the Battle of the Wilderness, at Spotsylvania Court House, North Anna River, and Bethesda Church, constructing fortifications and repelling repeated Confederate assaults. The 12th Pennsylvania Reserves was mustered out on June 11, 1864, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.