The Pennsylvania Reserve Volunteer Corps was a division of 15 Pennsylvania regiments. These were originally raised in excess of the state’s quota during Lincoln’s call for volunteers in early 1861. Secretary of War Cameron was a political enemy of Pennsylvania’s Governor Curtin and refused to accept them for Federal service. Governor Curtin decided to equip and train them at state expense for the defense of the state, and legislation was passed to do so on May 15, 1861.

The regiments were designated as “Pennsylvania Reserves” and numbered 1-15. Numbers 1 through 13 were traditional thousand man infantry regiments made up of ten companies each, although number 13 was designated a rifle regiment and was to receive special weapons and training. Number 14 became an artillery regiment made up of eight batteries. Number 15 became a cavalry regiment of twelve companies.

Camps of instruction were established in Easton, Harrisburg (Camp Curtin, named after the governor), Pittsburgh, and West Chester.

After a number of Union setbacks at the start of the war the War Department realized that they needed every recruit who could be signed up. In July and August of 1861 the Pennsylvania Reserves Regiments were accepted into Federal service and assigned a number as Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry from 30-43. But the men preferred their original designation of Pennsylvania Reserves.

The regiments served three year enlistments which ended in June of 1864. Enough men from the Reserves reenlisted at that time to form two new regiments and a new battery. The 190th Pennsylvania Infantry and the 191st Pennsylvania Infantry along with Battery I, 1st Pennsylvania Light Artillery were created in the field during the Petersburg campaign and continued to serve until the end of the war.

Organization of the Pennsylvania Reserves

The infantry of the Pennsylvania Reserves was organized into a division of three brigades. This division operated together until June of 1863, when one of the three brigades remained in Washington while the other two were reattached to the Army of the Potomac for the Gettysburg Campaign. The three brigades would not be reunited.

The cavalry regiment was detached from the infantry division in early 1862, consistent with the developing doctrine of putting cavalry together in larger units. The artillery batteries also operated independently from the Pennsylvania Reserves Division for most of their careers, being moved around the army as needed and never operating as a whole artillery regiment, which was also consistent with army doctrine.

Commanders of the Pennsylvania Reserves

George A. McCall (October 3, 1861 – June 30, 1862)

A graduate of the West Point Class of 1822, McCall had fought in the Mexican War and had been promoted for bravery to major and then to lieutenant colonel, retiring as colonel and Inspector General of the army. McCall command the Reserves until he was wounded and captured at the Batttle of Frayser’s Farm. He was exchanged in early 1863 but he retired due to his poor health (he was 61).

Truman Seymour (June 30 – August 26, 1862 and September 17-29, 1862)

A graduate of the West Point Class of 1846, Seymour fought in the Mexican War and the Seminole War. At the start of the war he was an artillery commander at Fort Sumter. He became Chief of Artillery for the Pennsylvania Reserves Division in March of 1862. He took over the Reserves as senior brigader after McCall was captured and led them at Malvern Hill, relinquished command to John Reynolds when he returned from his imprisonment, and briefly took over again at the Battle of Antietam, when George Meade took command of the First Corps. In November Seymour was transferred to the Department of the South as Chief of Staff to the commanding General.

John F. Reynolds (August 26 – September 12 1862)

A graduate of the West Point Class of 1841, Reynolds fought in the Mexican War, the Rogue River Wars, and the Utah War. At the beginning of the Civil War he was the Commandant of Cadets at West Point. Reynolds was given command of one of the brigades in the Reserves. He was commended for his defense of the Union line at Beaver Dam Creek, but was captured at Boatswain’s Swamp. He was exchanged and took command of the Reserves Division on August 26.

At Second Bull Run Reynolds led a counterattack that held the Confederate assault up long enough that Pope’s army was able to escape. During Lee’s First Invasion of the North Governor Curtin insisted on a seasoned veteran to take command of militia and rear area troops in Pennsylvania, and to his dismay Reynolds, a native Pennsylvanian, was chosen. He never returned to the Reserves, taking command of the First Corps (which included the Pennsylvania Reserves) just before the Battle of Fredericksburg. Reynolds would be killed at the Battle of Gettysburg on July 1, 1863.

George G. Meade (September 12 – 17, 1862 and September 29 -December 25, 1862)

A graduate of the West Point Class of 1835, Meade fought in the Mexican War and the Seminole War but spent much of his time working on engineering projects, including the construction of many lighthouses. When the war began he was conducting a survey of the Great Lakes. Governor Curtin recommended him to be appointed a brigadier general and he was assigned to command one of the three brigades of the Reserves.

Meade was badly wounded at the Battle of Glendale, but recovered to return to his brigade in time for Second Bull Run (Second Manassas), where he led a heroic rear guard stand on Henry House Hill. Meade took over the Reserves when Reynolds was sent to command in Pennsylvania, and led the division in storming the pass at Turners Gap. He was in command of the Reserves at the start of the Battle of Antietam (Sharpsburg), leading them in the opening attack. He then took over temporary command of the First Corps when Hooker was wounded.

Meade returned to command of the Reserves when Reynolds returned from Pennsylvania. He led them in the only attack that broke the Confederate line at Fredericksburg, although the attack was unsupported and had to withdraw. Meade was then promoted to command of the Fifth Corps. Three days before the start of the Battle of Gettysburg he was surprised to be promoted to command of the Army of the Potomac, which he would lead until the end of the war.

Horatio G. Sickel (December 25 1862 – June 1, 1863)

The first non West Pointer to command the Reserves, he had been a coach maker and a militia captain before the war. Sickel became colonel of the 3rd Pennsylvania Reserves when it was formed and commanded it until after Fredericksburg. When Meade was given command of the Fifth Corps and the Pennsylvania Reserves was transferred from the Army of the Potomac to the Washington Defenses to recover and rebuild from their heavy losses, Sickle took command as senior officer, although he was only a Colonel. When the Reserves Division split up, sending two brigades to Gettysburg while one stayed in Washington, Sickel remained with the single brigade in Washington. He cwent on to command a brigade in West Virginia and in the Siege of Petersburg, where he was seriously wounded. He mustered out of the army as a brevet Major General.

Samuel W. Crawford (June 1 – August 28, 1863; November 1, 1863 – February 20, 1864 and May 1 – June 2, 1864)

A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Crawford became an army surgeon in 1851. At the beginning of the war Crawford was the surgeon at Fort Sumter. He quickly transferred to the infantry and was badly wounded at Antietam. After he recovered he was assigned to command the two brigades of the Reserves that were transferred back to the Army of the Potomac for the Gettysburg Campaign, grabbing the colors from a startled color bearer and leading them on a successful charge at the “Valley of Death.” Crawford was wounded in August of 1864 but returned to commend the Reserves in November.

William McCandless (August 28 -November 1 1863 and February 20 – May 20, 1864)

McCandless was a machinist who studied law and passed the bar just before the war. He enlisted as a private in the 2nd Regiment Pennsylvania Resrves. He soon became its Colonel, commanding the regiment until he was wounded at Second Bull Run. He returned from his wound before Fredericksburg to command the brigade. When the Reserves Division split up McCandless’ brigade went to Gettysburg,, where it took part in Crawford’s Charge on July 2. McCandless took command of the division for two months that fall while Crawford was recovering from a wound, and then again for four months in early 1864.

Individual unit history links:

1st Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment (30th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry)

2nd Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment (31st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry)

3rd Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment (32nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry)

4th Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment (33rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry)

5th Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment (34th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry)

6th Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment (35th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry

7th Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment (36th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry)

8th Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment (37th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry)

9th Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment (38th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry)

10th Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment (39th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry)

11th Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment (40th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry)

12th Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment (41st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry)

13th Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment (42nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry—1st Pennsylvania Rifles, the “Bucktails”

14th Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment (43rd Pennsylvania Volunteers—1st Pennsylvania Light Artillery)

15th Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment (44th Pennsylvania Volunteers—1st Pennsylvania Cavalry)