The Pennsylvania Reserves was an infantry unit during the American Civil War, noted for its famous commanders and high casualities.
When President Abraham Lincoln in the spring of 1861 called for volunteers to "put down the rebellion", the state of Pennsylvania found itself with more volunteers than needed to meet its Federal quota. The Secretary of War, Simon Cameron, was a political enemy of Andrew Curtin, Pennsylvania's governor, and refused to take the extra men into Federal service. Curtin decided to retain the extra men and organized, trained, and equipped them at state expense.
Thirteen regiments were formed, known as the 1st through 13th Pennsylvania Reserves (they were later named the 30th through 42nd Pennsylvania Volunteers, but generally retained the label of the Pennsylana Reserves. They were grouped into a division of three brigades, and the entire outfit normally fought together until the initial enlistments expired in 1864.
The first commander was George McCall, and later division commanders were John F. Reynolds, George Meade, and Samuel W. Crawford, all except the latter eventually becoming major generals.
The division was part of the V Corps during the Penisular Campaign. It was in the I Corps during the battles of 2nd Bull Run, Antietam, and Fredericksburg, particularly distinguishing itself at Fredericksburg. Under Crawford, the Pennsylvania Reserves continued to fight with the Army of the Potomac until just before the Battle of the Wilderness, when the men's three-year enlistments expired.
A large number of the men re-enlisted and became the 190th and 191st Pennsylvania Volunteers and fought until the end of the war.
Sources
- Boatner, Mark M. III, The Civil War Dictionary: Revised Edition, David McKay Company, Inc., 1984.