During the American Civil War, spanning from 1861 to 1865, Union forces bore the brunt of all military casualties. In an attempt to uphold the Union’s integrity, federalist states and territories in the Northeast, Midwest, and West Coast assembled close to 2.7 million troops. Of that number, over 360,000 never made it home. The Confederate fatalities for the same period were estimated to be 258,000.
Information presented in A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Civil War statistician Frederick H. Dyer, identifies the Union regiments that suffered the most casualties in the Civil War. The rankings are based on a count of officers and enlistees who either perished or were mortally wounded in combat. In the regiments on this list, over 200 soldiers in each unit suffered fatal injuries or were mortally wounded in battle. When factoring in deaths resulting from diseases, the total fatality counts reached over 600 in certain instances. Confederate regiments were excluded from consideration due to incomplete or missing data.
The heavy casualty rates in these regiments are often associated with their involvement in some of the most brutal and most destructive battles of the war. Many regiments were stationed at one or more of the deadliest engagements of the war, which included the Battle of Gettysburg, the Battle of the Wilderness, the Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse, and the Battle of Antietam, where Union casualties ranged from about 12,000 to 23,000 in each battle.
The listed regiments are from states in the Northeast and Midwest, with New York and Pennsylvania home to seven each. Pennsylvania and New York contributed more troops to the war effort than any other states.
Here are the Union Army regiments that suffered the most losses in the Civil War:
25. 14th New York Heavy Artillery
- Killed in battle: 226 soldiers (6 officers, 220 enlisted troops)
- Killed by disease: 301 soldiers (2 officers, 299 enlisted troops)
- Regiment formed in: Rochester and Elmira, NY in 1863 and 1864
- Notable battles: Rapidan Campaign, Battle of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House, First Assault on Petersburg
24. 2nd Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery Regiment
- Killed in battle: 226 soldiers (5 officers, 221 enlisted troops)
- Killed by disease: 390 soldiers (5 officers, 385 enlisted troops)
- Regiment formed in: Philadelphia, PA in 1862
- Notable battles: Assault on Petersburg, Cold Harbor, Chaffin’s Farm, New Market Heights
23. 45th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment
- Killed in battle: 227 soldiers (13 officers, 214 enlisted troops)
- Killed by disease: 252 soldiers (0 officers, 252 enlisted troops)
- Regiment formed in: Harrisburg, PA in 1861
- Notable battles: Battle of South Mountain, Battle of Antietam, Battle of the Wilderness, Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, Assault on and fall of Petersburg
22. 48th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment “Continental Guard” or “Perry’s Saints”
- Killed in battle: 236 soldiers (18 officers, 218 enlisted troops)
- Killed by disease: 133 soldiers (2 officers, 131 enlisted troops)
- Regiment formed in: Brooklyn, NY in 1861
- Notable battles: Assaults on Fort Wagner, Attack on Morris Island,
Battle of Olustee, Battle of Drury’s Bluffs, Capture of Wilmington
21. 11th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment
- Killed in battle: 236 soldiers (12 officers, 224 enlisted troops)
- Killed by disease: 181 soldiers (4 officers, 177 enlisted troops)
- Regiment formed in: Harrisburg and Westmoreland County, PA in 1861
- Notable battles: Second Battle of Bull Run, Battle of Antietam, Battle of Fredericksburg, Battle of Chancellorsville, Battle of Gettysburg, Battle of the Wilderness
20. 61st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment
- Killed in battle: 237 soldiers (19 officers, 218 enlisted troops)
- Killed by disease: 101 soldiers (1 officer, 100 enlisted troops)
- Regiment formed in: Pittsburg, PA in 1861
- Notable battles: Battle of Seven Pines, Battle of Fredericksburg, Battle of Salem Heights, Battle of Gettysburg, Battle of the Wilderness, Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, Battle of Cedar Creek
19. 2nd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment
- Killed in battle: 238 soldiers (10 officers, 228 enlisted troops)
- Killed by disease: 77 soldiers (0 officers, 77 enlisted troops)
- Regiment formed in: Madison, WI in 1861
- Notable battles: Battle of Bull Run, Battle of Groveton, Second Battle of Bull Run, Battle of Antietam, Battle of Fredericksburg, Battle of Chancellorsville, Battle of Gettysburg
18. 40th New York Infantry Regiment “Mozart Regiment”
- Killed in battle: 238 soldiers (10 officers, 228 enlisted troops)
- Killed by disease: 172 soldiers (2 officers, 170 enlisted troops)
- Regiment formed in: Yonkers, NY in 1861
- Notable battles: Battle of Williamsburg, Battle of Seven Pines, Battle of Bull Run, Battle of Fredericksburg, Battle of Chancellorsville, Battle of Gettysburg, Battle of the Wilderness, Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
17. 15th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry Regiment
- Killed in battle: 240 soldiers (8 officers, 232 enlisted troops)
- Killed by disease: 132 soldiers (1 officer, 131 enlisted troops)
- Regiment formed in: Camp Fair Oaks, NJ in 1862
- Notable battles: Battle of Fredericksburg, Battle of Salem Heights, Battle of Gettysburg, Assault on the Salient, Battle of Cold Harbor, Battle of Cedar Creek
16. 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment
- Killed in battle: 241 soldiers (14 officers, 227 enlisted troops)
- Killed by disease: 122 soldiers (1 officer, 121 enlisted troops)
- Regiment formed in: Worcester County, MA in 1861
- Notable battles: Action at Ball’s Bluff, Battle of Antietam, Battle of Gettysburg, Battle of the Wilderness, Battle of Cold Harbor
15. 1st Massachusetts Heavy Artillery Regiment
- Killed in battle: 241 soldiers (9 officers, 232 enlisted troops)
- Killed by disease: 243 soldiers (2 officers, 241 enlisted troops)
- Regiment formed in: Essex County, MA in 1861
- Notable battles: Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, Battle of Harris Farm, Siege of Petersburg
14. 6th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment
- Killed in battle: 244 soldiers (16 officers, 228 enlisted troops)
- Killed by disease: 113 soldiers (1 officer, 112 enlisted troops)
- Regiment formed in: Madison, WI in 1861
- Notable battles: Battle of Antietam, Battle of Fredericksburg, Battle of Chancellorsville, Battle of Gettysburg, Battle of the Wilderness, Battle of Cold Harbor
13. 105th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment “Wild Cat Regiment”
- Killed in battle: 245 soldiers (14 officers, 231 enlisted troops)
- Killed by disease: 140 soldiers (1 officer, 139 enlisted troops)
- Regiment formed in: Pittsburg, PA in 1861
- Notable battles: Second Battle of Bull Run, Battle of Fredericksburg, Battle of Chancellorsville, Battle of Gettysburg, Battle of the Wilderness, Battle of Cold Harbor
12. 16th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment “Stockton’s Independent Regiment”
- Killed in battle: 247 soldiers (12 officers, 235 enlisted troops)
- Killed by disease: 143 soldiers (0 officers, 143 enlisted troops)
- Regiment formed in: Plymouth and Detroit, MI in 1861
- Notable battles: Second Battle of Bull Run, Battle of Gettysburg, Battle of the Wilderness, Battle of Cold Harbor
11. 28th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment
- Killed in battle: 250 soldiers (15 officers, 235 enlisted troops)
- Killed by disease: 137 soldiers (1 officer, 136 enlisted troops)
- Regiment formed in: Cambridge and Boston, MA in 1861
- Notable battles: Second Battle of Bull Run, Battle of Chantilly, Battle of Antietam, Battle of Fredericksburg, Battle of Chancellorsville, Battle of Gettysburg
10. 2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery Regiment
- Killed in battle: 254 soldiers (12 officers, 242 enlisted troops)
- Killed by disease: 173 soldiers (2 officers, 171 enlisted troops)
- Regiment formed in: Washington, D.C. in 1863
- Notable battles: Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, Battle of Cold Harbor, Siege of Petersburg, Battle of Cedar Creek, Appomattox Court House
9. 69th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment
- Killed in battle: 259 soldiers (13 officers, 246 enlisted troops)
- Killed by disease: 142 soldiers (0 officers, 142 enlisted troops)
- Regiment formed in: New York, NY in 1861
- Notable battles: Battle of Antietam, Battle of Fredericksburg, Battle of Chancellorsville, Battle of Gettysburg, Battle of the Wilderness, Battle of Cold Harbor
8. 20th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment “Harvard Regiment”
- Killed in battle: 260 soldiers (17 officers, 243 enlisted troops)
- Killed by disease: 149 soldiers (1 officer, 148 enlisted troops)
- Regiment formed in: Readville, MA in 1861
- Notable battles: Battle of Antietam, Battle of Fredericksburg, Battle of Gettysburg, Battle of the Wilderness, Battle of Cold Harbor, Siege of Petersburg, Appomattox Court House
7. 5th Michigan Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment
- Killed in battle: 263 soldiers (16 officers, 247 enlisted troops)
- Killed by disease: 191 soldiers (3 officers, 188 enlisted troops)
- Regiment formed in: Detroit, MI in 1861
- Notable battles: Second Battle of Bull Run, Battle of Fredericksburg, Battle of Chancellorsville, Battle of Gettysburg, Battle of the Wilderness, Battle of Cold Harbor, Appomattox Court House
6. 7th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment
- Killed in battle: 281 soldiers (10 officers, 271 enlisted troops)
- Killed by disease: 143 soldiers (0 officers, 143 enlisted troops)
- Regiment formed in: Madison, WI in 1861
- Notable battles: Second Battle of Bull Run, Battle of Antietam, Battle of Fredericksburg, Battle of Chancellorsville, Battle of Gettysburg, Battle of the Wilderness, Battle of Cold Harbor, Appomattox Court House
5. 83rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment
- Killed in battle: 282 soldiers (11 officers, 271 enlisted troops)
- Killed by disease: 153 soldiers (2 officers, 151 enlisted troops)
- Regiment formed in: Erie, PA in 1861
- Notable battles: Second Battle of Bull Run, Battle of Antietam, Battle of Fredericksburg, Battle of Chancellorsville, Battle of Gettysburg, Battle of the Wilderness, Battle of Cold Harbor, Appomattox Court House
4. 7th New York Heavy Artillery “Albany County Regiment” or “Seymour Guard”
- Killed in battle: 291 soldiers (14 officers, 277 enlisted troops)
- Killed by disease: 378 soldiers (4 officers, 374 enlisted troops)
- Regiment formed in: Albany, NY in 1862
- Notable battles: First Assault on Petersburg, Hatcher’s Run
3. 5th New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry Regiment
- Killed in battle: 295 soldiers (18 officers, 277 enlisted troops)
- Killed by disease: 178 soldiers (2 officers, 176 enlisted troops)
- Regiment formed in: Concord, NH in 1861
- Notable battles: Battle of Antietam, Battle of Fredericksburg, Battle of Chancellorsville, Battle of Gettysburg, Battle of Cold Harbor
2. 8th New York Heavy Artillery
- Killed in battle: 361 soldiers (19 officers, 342 enlisted troops)
- Killed by disease: 302 soldiers (4 officers, 298 enlisted troops)
- Regiment formed in: Lockport, NY in 1862
- Notable battles: Battle of Cold Harbor, Siege of Petersburg, Appomattox Court House
1. 1st Maine Heavy Artillery Regiment
- Killed in battle: 423 soldiers (23 officers, 400 enlisted troops)
- Killed by disease: 260 soldiers (0 officers, 260 enlisted troops)
- Regiment formed in: Bangor, ME in 1862
- Notable battles: Battle of Cold Harbor, Siege of Petersburg, Second Battle of Deep Bottom
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