Overview
The 16th Pennsylvania Infantry (Three Months’ Service) was an infantry regiment organized in Pennsylvania for the Union Army at the outset of the Civil War. The regiment was mustered into service at Harrisburg between April 20 and April 30, 1861, primarily for a three months’ term, with the exception of one company from Cumberland County that enlisted for three years. The unit was composed of companies from Schuylkill, York, and Cumberland counties and served in the Eastern Theater during its brief period of service.
This regiment is distinct from any later Pennsylvania infantry units with similar designations that served under different terms of enlistment.
Organization & Service
The 16th Pennsylvania Infantry (Three Months’ Service) was organized at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in response to President Lincoln’s initial call for volunteers. The regiment consisted of five companies from Schuylkill County, four from York County, and one from Cumberland County. The majority of the regiment was mustered in for three months, while the Cumberland County company enlisted for three years or the duration of the war.
After organization, the regiment was sent to York, Pennsylvania, and subsequently moved to Chambersburg. It was assigned to the 4th Brigade, 1st Division. The 16th Pennsylvania crossed the Potomac River with the advance of the Union Army, then returned to the vicinity of Williamsport. In early July, the regiment crossed the Potomac again and participated in movements to Martinsburg, Bunker Hill, Smithfield, and Charlestown. Following these operations, the regiment returned to Harrisburg and was mustered out of service on July 30, 1861. The company that enlisted for three years was detached and continued in service after the regiment’s mustering out.
Research This Regiment Further
If you’d like to explore this unit’s history in more depth, regimental histories and Civil War reference works offer valuable detail.
Engagements & Campaigns
- Advance into Maryland and Virginia (June–July 1861)
- Movements to Martinsburg, Bunker Hill, Smithfield, and Charlestown
Casualties
Specific casualty figures for the 16th Pennsylvania Infantry (Three Months’ Service) are not detailed in the primary sources. The regiment did not participate in major battles and suffered minimal losses during its term of service.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Colonel Thomas A. Ziegle
- Lieutenant Colonel George J. Higgins
- Major Frank T. Bennett
Regimental Roster
The full roster of the 16th Pennsylvania Infantry (Three Months’ Service), including officers and enlisted men, is available for genealogical and historical research. This roster provides names, ranks, and additional service details where available.
To view the complete roster, visit the 16th Pennsylvania Infantry (Three Months’ Service) Roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Vol. 2
- Pennsylvania Adjutant General’s Report, 1861
- Dyer, Frederick H., A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
- The Union Army, Vol. 1 (Federal Publishing Company, 1908)