Look for your ancestors in this PA genealogy database of American Civil War soldiers - infantry, cavalry & artillery rosters, histories, biographies, draft, journals, letters, medal of honor recipients, prisoners of war (POWs), & pensions of our Pennsylvania military ancestors. Use this free Pennsylvania database to help with your genealogy search.
Mustered into United States service July 27, 1861.
Attached to 3rd Brigade, McCall's Pennsylvania Reserves Division,
Army of the Potomac, to March, 1862.
3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 1st Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to April, 1862.
3rd Brigade, McCall's Division, Dept. of the Rappahannock, to June, 1862.
3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 5th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to August, 1862.
3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 3rd Army Corps, Army of Virginia, to September, 1862.
3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 1st Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to February, 1863.
3rd Brigade, Pennsylvania Reserves Division, 22nd Army Corps, Dept. of Washington, to June, 1863.
3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 5th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to May, 1864.
Service & Battles - 1861
Camp at Capital Hill, Washington, till August 5, and at Tennallytown, Md., till October 10.
Picket at Great Falls September 9-16.
Moved to Camp Pierpont, near Langley, Va., October 10, 1861, and duty there till March 10, 1862
. Companies "A," "B," "D," "F" and "G" on reconnoissance to Hunter's Mills November 19.
Expedition to Gunnell's Farm December 6, and action at Dranesville December 20, 1861.
Service & Battles - 1862
Advance on Manassas, Va., March 10-15, 1862.
McDowell's advance on Falmouth April 9-19.
Duty at Fredericksburg till June.
Moved to White House, Va., June 9-12.
Seven days before Richmond June 25-July 1.
Battles of Mechanicsville June 26.
Gaines Mill June 27.
Charles City Cross Roads or Glendale June 30.
Malvern Hill July 1.
At Harrison's Landing till August 16.
Movement to join Pope August 16-26.
Battles of Groveton August 29; Bull Run August 30.
Maryland Campaign September 6-24.
Battles of South Mountain, Md., September 14;
Antietam September 16-17.
Duty in Maryland till October 30.
Movement to Falmouth, Va., October 30-November 19.
Battle of Fredericksburg December 12-15.
Service & Battles - 1863
"Mud March" January 20-24, 1863.
Ordered to Washington, D.C., February 6.
Duty there and at Alexandria till June 25.
Ordered to rejoin Army of the Potomac in the field.
Battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 1-3.
Pursuit of Lee July 5-24.
Bristoe Campaign October 9-22.
Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8.
Rappahannock Station November 7.
Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2.
Rapidan Campaign.
Service & Battles - 1864
Battle of the Wilderness May 5, 1864.
Ordered home while in line of battle.
Mustered out May 12, 1864.
Regimental Losses
Regiment lost during service 6 Officers and 131 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 49 Enlisted men by disease Total 187.
38th PA Regiment Medal of Honor Recipient
JOHNSON, SAMUEL: Private, Company G, 9th Pennsylvania Reserves. Antietam, Md., 17 September 1862. Citation given: 30 May 1863. Individual bravery and daring in capturing from the enemy two colors of the 1st Texas Rangers (C.S.A.), receiving in the act a severe wound.
