Overview
The 169th Pennsylvania Infantry (Nine Months’ Service) was a Union infantry regiment organized in Pennsylvania during the American Civil War. Mustered in at Pittsburgh between October and November 1862, the regiment was composed primarily of companies from Crawford, Mercer, Erie, Clarion, and Butler counties. It served in the Eastern Theater and was primarily assigned to garrison duties during its term of service.
This regiment was a militia unit called into federal service for nine months. Its service was notable for its role in the defense of key Union positions in Virginia and Maryland during a critical period of the war.
Organization & Service
The 169th Pennsylvania Infantry (Nine Months’ Service) was organized at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in October and November 1862. The regiment consisted of four companies from Crawford County, two from Mercer County, two from Erie County, one from Clarion County, and one from Butler County. Upon completion of organization and mustering, the regiment was ordered to Washington, D.C., on December 1, 1862.
From Washington, the regiment was sent to Fortress Monroe, Virginia, and subsequently to Gloucester Point and Fort Keyes. The 169th Pennsylvania Infantry performed garrison duty at these locations, helping to secure the approaches to the Chesapeake Bay and the Virginia Peninsula. The regiment remained on garrison duty until July 9, 1863, when it was ordered to Funkstown, Maryland, and attached to the XI Corps, Army of the Potomac, during the pursuit of Confederate forces following the Battle of Gettysburg. On July 15, 1863, the regiment was ordered home and was mustered out of service at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on July 27, 1863.
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
- Garrison duty at Fortress Monroe, Gloucester Point, and Fort Keyes (December 1862 – July 1863)
- Movement to Funkstown, Maryland, during the pursuit after the Battle of Gettysburg (July 1863)
Casualties
Specific casualty figures for the 169th Pennsylvania Infantry (Nine Months’ Service) are not detailed in available primary sources. The regiment primarily performed garrison duty and did not participate in major combat operations.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Colonel Lewis W. Smith
- Lieutenant Colonel S. M. Wickersham
- Major William Smyth
Regimental Roster
The full roster of the 169th Pennsylvania Infantry (Nine Months’ Service), including officers and enlisted men, is available for genealogical and historical research. This roster provides names, ranks, and company assignments as recorded during the regiment’s service.
To view the complete roster, visit the 169th Pennsylvania Infantry (Nine Months’ Service) Roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, relevant volumes
- Pennsylvania Adjutant General’s Report
- Dyer, Frederick H., Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
- The Union Army, Federal Publishing Company, 1908, Volume 1