110th Pennsylvania Infantry in the American Civil War

Overview

The 110th Pennsylvania Infantry was an infantry regiment organized in Pennsylvania for three years’ service in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Recruitment drew from Blair, Huntingdon, Bedford, Centre, Philadelphia, and Clearfield counties. The regiment mustered in at Camp Curtin, Harrisburg, in early December 1861 and served primarily in the Eastern Theater, participating in many major campaigns and battles with the Army of the Potomac.

The 110th Pennsylvania Infantry is noted for its repeated engagements with Confederate forces, including significant actions at Winchester, Port Republic, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and throughout the Overland and Petersburg campaigns. The regiment reenlisted as a veteran organization in early 1864 and continued service until mustering out in June 1865.

Organization & Service

The 110th Pennsylvania Infantry was organized at Camp Curtin, Harrisburg, and mustered into U.S. service for three years in December 1861. The regiment departed Pennsylvania on January 2, 1862, joining General Lander’s command in Maryland. Initially assigned to Tyler’s brigade, Lander’s division, Banks’ corps (later the 2nd Corps), the regiment performed guard duty along the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad and the South Branch of the Potomac at Cumberland and Paw Paw.

In March 1862, the regiment moved to Winchester, Virginia, where it saw heavy fighting during Stonewall Jackson’s attack on March 23, suffering severe losses and receiving commendation in special orders. The regiment remained on guard duty at Winchester through April, then moved to Fredericksburg in early May, joining Colonel Carroll’s brigade in Ricketts’ division, McDowell’s corps. The 110th engaged Jackson’s forces again at Port Republic in June, then withdrew to Cloud’s Mills and Warrenton. It was in reserve at Cedar Mountain and supported artillery after the battle, then fought at Thoroughfare Gap and the Second Battle of Bull Run.

During the Antietam campaign, the regiment was stationed in Washington, D.C., but participated in the Battle of Fredericksburg in December 1862, sustaining heavy casualties. Due to reduced numbers, the regiment was consolidated into six companies on December 31, 1862. It took part in the “Mud March” and remained in camp until the Chancellorsville campaign, where it lost half its strength on May 3, 1863. The 110th participated in the Gettysburg campaign with De Trobriand’s brigade, Birney’s division, 3rd Corps, notably holding its ground on July 2, 1863.

Following Gettysburg, the regiment was active at Kelly’s Ford and in the Mine Run campaign, then wintered at Brandy Station. In January 1864, nearly the entire regiment reenlisted and received veteran furlough. Returning in time for the Overland Campaign, the 110th was assigned to the 2nd Corps and fought at the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Po River, North Anna, Totopotomoy, Shady Grove Church, Cold Harbor, and the Chickahominy. The regiment participated in the initial assaults on Petersburg and the action at the Weldon Railroad, receiving the remnants of the 115th Pennsylvania on June 23, 1864.

During the Petersburg operations, the 110th was engaged at Deep Bottom, Hatcher’s Run, the Richmond & Danville Railroad raid, and wintered at Fort Hell. On March 25, 1865, it helped repel the Confederate attack on Fort Stedman and fought at Sailor’s Creek after the fall of Petersburg. The regiment marched to Washington, D.C., and was mustered out on June 28, 1865.

Engagements & Campaigns

• Guard duty along Baltimore & Ohio Railroad (early 1862)
• Battle of Winchester (March 23, 1862)
• Port Republic (June 1862)
• Cedar Mountain (reserve, August 1862)
• Thoroughfare Gap (August 1862)
• Second Battle of Bull Run (August 1862)
• Fredericksburg (December 1862)
• Chancellorsville (May 3, 1863)
• Gettysburg (July 1–3, 1863)
• Kelly’s Ford (November 7, 1863)
• Mine Run Campaign (November–December 1863)
• Wilderness (May 1864)
• Spotsylvania Court House
• Po River
• North Anna
• Totopotomoy
• Shady Grove Church
• Cold Harbor
• Chickahominy
• First assaults on Petersburg (June 1864)
• Weldon Railroad
• Deep Bottom
• Hatcher’s Run
• Richmond & Danville Railroad raid
• Fort Stedman (March 25, 1865)
• Sailor’s Creek (April 1865)

Casualties

According to Fox’s Regimental Losses and state reports, the 110th Pennsylvania Infantry sustained heavy casualties in several major battles, including Winchester, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg. Exact figures for killed, wounded, and died of disease are not consistently reported in all sources. Some details are incomplete in surviving primary sources.

Field Officers & Commanders

• Colonel William D. Lewis, Jr.
• Colonel James Crowther
• Colonel Isaac Rodgers
• Colonel Frank B. Stewart
• Lieutenant Colonel David M. Jones
• Lieutenant Colonel Isaac T. Hamilton
• Lieutenant Colonel John B. Fite
• Lieutenant Colonel John L. Ellis
• Major John C. Johnson
• Major Samuel McCune

Regimental Roster

The full roster of the 110th Pennsylvania Infantry, including officers and enlisted men, is available for genealogical and historical research. This roster provides names, ranks, and service details for those who served in the regiment during its three years’ service.

To view the complete roster, visit the 110th Pennsylvania Infantry Regimental Roster page.

Sources & References

• Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, various volumes and parts
• Pennsylvania State Adjutant General’s Report
• Dyer, Frederick H., A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
• Fox, William F., Regimental Losses in the American Civil War
• The Union Army, Federal Publishing Company, 1908, Volume 1