The 71st Pennsylvania was organized in August 1861 by
Oregon Senator Edward D. Baker, composed of 15 companies instead of the standard 10. Although raised from residents of
Philadelphia, it was initially designated the 1st Regiment, California Volunteer Infantry in deference to Baker's wishes. After his death at the
Battle of Ball's Bluff in October 1861, it was renamed the 71st Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. It was grouped with the
69th,
72nd, and
106th Pennsylvania regiments to form the famous
Philadelphia Brigade. The 71st was assigned to the
II Corps in time to participate in the 1862
Peninsula Campaign. During the
Seven Days Battles, it made several charges, losing many officers and men. After reaching Harrison's Landing, companies L, M, N, P, and R were merged into the first ten companies. The regiment, along with rest of the
Army of the Potomac, was transferred to northern
Virginia. Here the 71st fought at the battles of
Second Bull Run and
Chantilly. It helped cover
Pope's retreat. At the
Battle of Antietam that September, the regiment lost one third of its strength. It again suffered heavy losses at the
Battle of Fredericksburg in December. At the
Battle of Gettysburg the 71st helped defeat the attack by Brig. Gen.
Ambrose Wright's brigade on July 2. That evening, it was briefly sent to
Culp's Hill but was quickly ordered to retreat from the line by its Colonel,
Richard P. Smith, who remarked that "he would not have his men murdered". The next day, the 71st was positioned at the famous Angle on
Cemetery Ridge. Eight companies of the regiment was placed along the advanced wall with the 69th Pennsylvania to its left, while the other two companies were 50 yards to its right-rear. Col. Smith put Lt. Col.
Charles Kochersperger in charge of the companies squeezed into the line and, before he moved himself to the rear, ordered Kochersperger to withdraw the men if the enemy came too close. During
Pickett's Charge, the enemy did indeed come "too close", and Kochersperger withdrew the 71st from the line after a few volleys. Brig. Gen.
Alexander S. Webb managed to rally the regiment near the 72nd and 106th Pennsylvania, but was unable to convince any of the three units to
counterattack at first. Finally after several minutes, they helped to push the Confederates out of the Angle. The 71st lost 98 officers and men during the attack, including nine out of fifteen officers. The 71st served through the
Overland Campaign, losing heavily in both men and officers. At the
Battle of the Wilderness, Lt. Col.
Charles Kochersperger was wounded and five colorbearers were shot down, and at the
Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, Capt. Mitchell Smith was killed. The regiment's last battle as a unit was at
Cold Harbor. Afterwards, those entitled to discharge (a total of 53) were mustered out in Philadelphia on July 2, 1864. The remainder of the regiment was merged into the 69th Pennsylvania. Out of a total of 1,665 men who served in the regiment during the war, only 153 returned uninjured. ==Casualties==