71st Pennsylvania Infantry

71st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry
Pennsylvania flag
Active	August 1861 to July 2, 1864
Country	United States
Allegiance	Union
Branch	Infantry
Engagements	Battle of Ball's Bluff Battle of Savage's Station Battle of Malvern Hill Battle of Antietam Battle of Gettysburg Overland Campaign Siege of Yorktown Battle of Seven Pines Skirmish at Fair Oaks Seven Day's Battles Peach Orchard (Allen's Farm) (Near Fair Oaks, VA) Battle of Glendale Battle of Malvern Hill Battle of Fredericksburg Skirmish at Hartwood Church Battle of Salem Heights Battle of Banks' Ford Engagement at Robertson's Tavern (Locust Grove) Battle of the Wilderness Engagement at Laurel Hill Battles of Spotsylvania Court House, NY River, and Fredericksburg Rd Battle of Cold Harbor

The 71st Pennsylvania Volunteers (originally raised as the 1st California) was an infantry regiment of the Union Army that participated in the American Civil War.

The regiment 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 California in deference to Baker's wishes. After his death at the Battle of Balls Bluff in November 1861, it was renamed the 71st Pennsylvania. 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.