Portal:American Civil War/Grand Parade of the States
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During the American Civil War, the commonwealth of Pennsylvania played a critical role in the Union, providing a huge supply of military manpower, materiel, and leadership to the Federal government.
Over 360,000 Pennsylvanians served in the Union Army, more than any other Northern state except New York.[1] (some other states sent a larger proportion of their population but not a larger number). Beginning with President Lincoln's first call for troops and continuing throughout the war, Pennsylvania mustered 215 infantry regiments, as well as dozens of emergency militia regiments that were raised to repel threatened invasions in 1862 and 1863 by the Confederate States Army. Twenty-two cavalry regiments were also mustered, as well as dozens of light artillery batteries.
The vast majority of Pennsylvania troops fought in the Eastern Theater, with only about 10% serving elsewhere. [2] The thirteen regiments of the Pennsylvania Reserves fought as the only army division all from a single state, and saw action in most of the major campaigns and battles of the Army of the Potomac.
- For more details on this topic, see Pennsylvania in the Civil War.
