History

The 78th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Company F was recruited in Freeport, Armstrong County, by Dr. Charles B. Gillespie and others. This company was composed of mechanics, farmers, laborers, miners and teachers. The date of enlistment is given as September 10th, but the company came to Camp Orr September 3rd, with 24 men. In the remarks found in the Morning Report Book of this company, we find the following: " A grand dinner was given by the ladies of North Buffalo, September 21st." The company was organized with Dr. Charles B. Gillespie, captain; William B. McCue, 1st lieutenant, Henry W. Torbett, 2nd lieutenant; with Jonathan D, Murphy, John Keiffer, John Flannigan, Absalom R. Weaver, George W. McGraw, sergeants, and William M. Hughes, John M. Alter, Hugh McFadden, Michael Sullivan, Samuel Boreland, James M. Sluser, William H. Huff and William H. Sheffer, corporals. The company ranged in age from 19 to 45 years, with an average of about 22 years.

Members of Company F, 78th PVI on Lookout Mountain.

       At the end of the regiments initial enlistment the recruits whose time had not expired and veteran volunteers remained at Nashville under the command of Major Bonnaffon and Lieutenants Torbett and Smith. They were organized into two companies and afterwards became companies A and B at the new organization of the Regiment. Sergeant Rankin of Company A was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant of Company A, December 3, 1864. William B. McCue was promoted from Sergeant to 1st Lieutenant, December 2, 1864. Lieutenant Smith of Company K was promoted to Captain of Company B, December 3, 1864. Sergeant Andrew Brown was promoted from Sergeant to 1st Lieutenant of Company B, December 3, 1864. Bernad Keigan was promoted from Sergeant to 2nd Lieutenant of Company B, December 4, 1864.

       The two companies of veterans and recruits were organized in this way until February of 1865, when the Governor of Pennsylvania assigned eight new companies to the organization, upping them to the minimum regimental strength. When this organization took place Major Bonnaffon was commissioned as Colonel of the Regiment, Henry W. Torbett as Lieutenant Colonel, Robert M. Smith as Major, the other commissioned officers being advanced in rank so that David A. Rankin became Captain of Company A, and Andrew Brown, Captain of Company B.

       

        By the time the 78th Regiment had completed its second organization General Hood's Army had been driven from Tennessee, and the new Regiment did not have any opportunity for engaging in any great battle, but, under the leadership of that brave and brilliant veteran, Colonel Bonnaffon, the Regiment performed its duty faithfully until the close of the War, and was mustered out of the service, September 11, 1865 at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Service

At Munfordsville, KY., December, 1861, to February, 1862.

March to Nashville, TN., February 14-March 3.

Guard railroad from Nashville to Columbia till May, and at Decatur May.

Expedition to Rodgersville May 13-14.

Negley's Expedition to Chattanooga May 28-June 17.

Chattanooga June 7-8.

Garrison at Rodgersville and guarding Lamb's Ferry till July 18.

Moved to Nashville, TN., and garrison duty there till December.

Hermitage Ford October 20.

Nashville November 5.

Advance on Murfreesboro December 26-30.

Battle of Stone's River December 30-31, 1862, and January 1-3, 1863.

Duty at Murfreesboro till June.

Middle Tennessee or Tullahoma Campaign June 23-July 7.

Hoover's, Gap June 24-26.

At Dechard, AL., July 8-August 15.

Passage of Cumberland Mountains and Tennessee River, and

Chickamauga (GA.) Campaign August 16-September 22.

Davis Cross Roads or Dug Gap September 11.

Battle of Chickamauga September 19-21.

Rossville Gap September 21.

Siege of Chattanooga September 24-October 27.

Reopening Tennessee River October 26-29.

Battles of Chattanooga November 23-25.

Mission Ridge November 24-25.

Reconnoissance to Lookout Mountain November 29-December 2.

Duty on Lookout Mountain till May, 1864.

Atlanta (GA.) Campaign May 1-June 21.

Demonstration on Rocky Faced Ridge May 8-11.

Battle of Resaca May 14-15.

Near Cassville May 19.

Operations on line of Pumpkin Vine Creek and battles about

Dallas, New Hope Church and Allatoona Hills May 25-June 5.

Pickett's Mills May 27.

Operations about Marietta and against Kenesaw Mountain June 10-21.

Pine Hill June 11-14.

Lost Mountain June 15-17.

Ordered to Chattanooga, TN., June 21. Duty guarding trains to the front July to September.

Action at Dalton, GA., August 14-15.

Ordered to Decatur, AL., September 24, thence to Nashville, TN., and to Tullahoma September 29.

Returned to Nashville and duty there till September, 1865.

Old members ordered home October, 1864, and mustered out at Pittsburg, PA., November 4, 1864.

Battles of Nashville, TN., December 16-17, 1864.

Mustered out September 11, 1865.

Regiment lost during service 2 Officers and 68 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 3 Officers and 194 Enlisted men by disease. Total 267.