81st Pennsylvania Infantry

Editor’s Note: Do you have information on this regiment’s role at the Siege of Petersburg?  Please contact us using the Contact button in the menu at the top of the screen.  We are happy to exchange information with other researchers.

Muster In: October ??, 1861¹
Muster Out: June 29, 1865²

Commander(s):
Lieutenant Colonel William Wilson
Commander Image Needed

Captain Lawrence Mercer
Commander Image Needed

Commander 3
Commander Image

First Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | First Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army³

• Commander:
• Unit Strength:
• Weapons: Springfield Rifles (.58 caliber), Smooth-bored Muskets, model 1842. (.69 caliber), Enfield Rifles (.577 caliber) (June 30, 1864)⁴

Second Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | First Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army⁵

• Commander: Lieutenant Colonel William Wilson⁶
• Unit Strength:
• Weapons: Springfield Rifles (.58 caliber), Smooth-bored Muskets, model 1842. (.69 caliber), Enfield Rifles (.577 caliber) (June 30, 1864)⁷

Third Offensive Order of Battle:

• Commander:
• Unit Strength:
• Weapons:

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle:

• Commander: Captain Lawrence Mercer⁸
• Unit Strength:
• Weapons:

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle:

• Commander:
• Unit Strength:
• Weapons:

Sixth Offensive Order of Battle:

• Commander:
• Unit Strength:
• Weapons:

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle:

• Commander:
• Unit Strength:
• Weapons:

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle:

• Commander:
• Unit Strength:
• Weapons:

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle:

• Commander:
• Unit Strength:
• Weapons:

Dyer’s Compendium Info:
Petersburg Campaign Battles⁹:

• Before Petersburg June 16-18.
• Siege of Petersburg June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865.
• Jerusalem Plank Road June 22-23, 1864.
• Demonstration north of the James at Deep Bottom July 27-29.
• Deep Bottom July 27-28.
• Mine Explosion, Petersburg, July 30 (Reserve).
• Demonstration north of the James at Deep Bottom August 13-20.
• Strawberry Plains, Deep Bottom, August 14-18.
• Ream’s Station August 25.
• Reconnaissance to Hatcher’s Run December 7-10.
• Hatcher’s Run December 8.
• Dabney’s, Mills, Hatcher’s Run, February 5-7, 1865.
• Watkins’ House, Petersburg, March 25.
• Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9.
• On line of Hatcher’s and Gravelly Runs March 29-30.
• Hatcher’s Run or Boydton Road March 31.
• White Oak Road March 31.
• Sutherland Station April 2.

Bibliography:

Siege of Petersburg Documents Which Mention This Unit:

• 81st Pennsylvania Infantry
• Number 30. Petersburg Campaign Report of Lieutenant Colonel William Wilson, Eighty-First Pennsylvania Infantry, of operations July 26-30
• Number 30. Reports of Colonel William Wilson, Eighty-first Pennsylvania Infantry, of operations August 13-20 and December 9-10
• Number 31. Petersburg Campaign Report of Lieutenant James E. Deno, Eighty-First Pennsylvania infantry
• Number 43. Report of Lieutenant Colonel William Wilson, Eighty-first Pennsylvania Infantry, commanding Consolidated Brigade, of operations August 22-26

Links:

• Company K, 81st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry

Sources:

Tagged as: 81st pennsylvania, eight-first pennsylvania