University Light Infantry, 1861-1865, University of Pennsylvania Archives

The University Light Infantry, Penn's militia during the Civil War, was first organized in the spring of 1861 as an infantry company, but the company had no drills or other activities for the next year. It was not until 1862 that the group really began to function. It was enthusiastic, disciplined R. Somers Hayes who gained the permission of the College authorities to reorganize the company as an artillery company during the 1863-1864 academic year.

Each of the University of Pennsylvania Catalogs for 1862-1863, 1863-1864, and 1864-1865 include this entry for the company:

Although the Catalogs state that all University students were to participate, there is no evidence that any of the corps members were drawn from the medical or law schools. Instead the company was made up entirely of College students. Much to the dismay of the student officers of the company, even undergraduates found it easy to be permanently excused from drills if they had no interest in military drill.

Professor Henry Coppée was the Commandant of the Corps as well as its Instructor. During the first years of the company's existence, the officers of the University Light Infantry (and then the University Light Artillery) were appointed by the faculty as follows:

1862-1863	1863-1864
From the senior class: Captain, Charles P. Perkins First Lieutenant, Alexis I. du Pont Second Lieutenant and Quartermaster, Samuel Young Third Lieutenant, George W. Pauly From the junior class: First Sargent, R. Somers Hayes Second Sargent, Charles R. Colwell Third Sargent, William P. Coleman Fourth Sargent, James B. Leonard Fifth Sargent, George Oakman From the sophomore class: First Corporal, William E. Rogers Second Corporal, Thomas Mitchell Third Corporal, William Wood Montgomery Fourth Corporal, John S. Gerhard Fifth Corporal, Harry Markoe	From the senior class: Captain, R. Somers Hayes First Lieutenant, George Oakman Second Lieutenant and Quartermaster, Washington H. Gilpin From the junior class: First Sargent, Thomas Mitchell Second Sargent, William Wood Montgomery Third Sargent, John S. Gerhard Fourth Sargent, Beauveau Borie Fifth Sargent, Richard N. Thomas From the sophomore class: First Corporal, Clement C. Dickey Second Corporal, Francis A. Bregy Third Corporal, George T. Graham Fourth Corporal,Wharton Barker
1864-1865	1865-1866
From the senior class: Captain, William Wood Montgomery* First Lieutenant, Beauveau Borie Second Lieutenant and Quartermaster, John S. Gerhard Third Lieutenant, Richard N. Thomas From the junior class: First Sargent, Clement C. Dickey Second Sargent, George T. Graham Third Sargent, Wharton Barker Fourth Sargent, John W. Hoffman From the sophomore class: First Corporal, Edward S. Miles Second Corporal, Theodore F. Nevin Third Corporal, Gerald F. Dale Fourth Corporal, George H. Ball *William Wood Montgomery became Captain after Thomas Mitchell left the College to fight in the Civil War	From the senior class: Captain, Clement C. Dickey First Lieutenant, George T. Graham Second Lieutenant and Quartermaster, Wharton Barker Third Lieutenant, John W. Hoffman From the junior class: First Sargent, Edward S. Miles Second Sargent, Theodore F. Nevin Third Sargent, Gerald F. Dale Fourth Sargent, George H. Ball From the sophomore class: First Corporal, George D. McCreary Second Corporal, Charles B. Nancrede Third Corporal, Edward Pepper, Jr.