23rd Regiment, Pennsylvania Infantry

Brief History
This regiment was organized at Philadelphia August 31, 1861. It mustered out September 8, 1864. This regiment was also known as "Birney's Zouaves" and men were enlisted for 3 years service.

For more information on the history of this unit, see:


 * The Civil War Archive section, 23rd Regiment Infantry (3 Years), (accessed 13 September 2012).
 * The Wikipedia article, 23rd Pennsylvania Infantry, (accessed 13 September 2012).

Companies in this Regiment with the Counties of Origin
Men often enlisted in a company recruited in the counties where they lived though not always. After many battles, companies might be combined because so many men were killed or wounded. However if you are unsure which company your ancestor was in, try the company recruited in his county first.

Field and Staff Officers - See Roster

Regimental Band - See Roster

Company A - Many were men recruited in Philadelphia County - SeeRoster

Company B - Many men were recruited in Philadelphia County - See Roster

Company C - Many men were recruited in Philadelphia County - SeeRoster

Company D - Many men were recruited in Philadelphia County - SeeRoster

Company E - Many men were recruited in Philadelphia County - See Roster

Company F - Many men were recruited in Philadelphia County - See Roster

Company G - Many men were recruited in Philadelphia County - See Roster

Company H - Many men were recruited in Philadelphia County - See Roster

Company I - Many men were recruited in Philadelphia County - See Roster

Company K - Many men were recruited in Philadelphia County - See Roster

Unassigned men - SeeRoster

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 3,041 men on its roster for this unit. Roster.

Regimental History and Roster

 * History of the Twenty-third Pennsylvania volunteer infantry, Birneys Zouaves : three months and three years service, Civil War ... By William John . n.p.: Philadelphia?, 1904. Online at: Internet Archive

Other Sources

 * Beginning United States Civil War Research gives steps for finding information about a Civil War soldier. It covers the major records that should be used. Additional records are described in ‘Pennsylvania in the Civil War’ and ‘United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865’ (see below).


 * National Park Service, The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, is searchable by soldier's name and state. It contains basic facts about soldiers on both sides of the Civil War, a list of regiments, descriptions of significant battles, sources of the information, and suggestions for where to find additional information.


 * Pennsylvania in the Civil War describes many sources, specifically for Pennsylvania, and how to find them. These include compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.


 * United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865 describes and explains United States and Confederate States records, rather than state records, and how to find them. These include veterans’ censuses, compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.


 * Davis, Oliver Wilson. "Life of David Bell Birney, Major-General United States Volunteers". (Philadelphia: King &amp; Baird, 1867). . Google Books. Internet Archives. Other Libraries.


 * PaArchives gives a history of this regiment with a description of its organization and the battles it was engaged in. Rosters for each company list the men in the company. There are also additional [http://www.pa-roots.com/pacw/infantry/23rd/23dbiblio.html references.


 * Wikipedia article, 23rd Pennsylvania Infantry, (accessed 22 September, 2011)


 * Wray, William J. "History of the 23rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry". (Philadelphia: s.n, 1904). and (Bethesda, Maryland : University Publications of America, c1992), (Google Books. Internet Archives. Other Libraries. and Fair Oaks : report of the first annual reunion of the Survivor's Association, 23d Penna. Vols., held at Maennerchor Hall, Philadelphia, Penna., May 31, 1882. (Bethesda, Maryland : University Publications of America, c1992),