Overview
The 173rd Pennsylvania Infantry (Nine Months’ Service) was an infantry regiment organized in Pennsylvania for Union service during the American Civil War. Mustered in at Harrisburg in October and November 1862, the regiment was composed primarily of men from Schuylkill, Lebanon, Perry, and Dauphin counties. Serving as a militia regiment, it was enrolled for a nine-month term and operated primarily in the Eastern Theater, with notable duty in Virginia and Maryland.
The regiment spent much of its service performing garrison and provost duties, particularly around Norfolk, Virginia, and later participated in the pursuit of Lee’s army following the Battle of Gettysburg.
Organization & Service
The 173rd Pennsylvania Infantry (Nine Months’ Service) was organized at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in October and November 1862. Five companies were recruited from Schuylkill County, three from Lebanon County, one from Perry County, and one from Dauphin County. The regiment was mustered into United States service as a militia unit for a nine-month enlistment.
After organization, the regiment departed Camp Curtin for Washington, D.C., on November 30, 1862. It was soon ordered to Norfolk, Virginia, where it was stationed at Camp Veile near the city for the winter. In May 1863, the regiment was assigned to provost duty within the city of Norfolk. On July 9, 1863, the 173rd Pennsylvania was ordered to join the main Union force pursuing General Robert E. Lee’s army after the Battle of Gettysburg. Reporting at Frederick, Maryland, the regiment was attached to the 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 11th Corps, Army of the Potomac. The regiment performed duty along the Orange & Alexandria Railroad until August 13, 1863, when it was ordered back to Harrisburg. The regiment was mustered out of service on August 18, 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
- Duty at Camp Veile near Norfolk, Virginia (Winter 1862–1863)
- Provost duty in Norfolk, Virginia (May–July 1863)
- Pursuit of Lee’s army after Gettysburg (July 1863)
- Duty along the Orange & Alexandria Railroad (July–August 1863)
Casualties
Specific casualty figures for the 173rd Pennsylvania Infantry (Nine Months’ Service) are not detailed in primary sources. Available records do not indicate significant losses in battle, as the regiment primarily performed garrison and provost duties.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Colonel Daniel Nagle
- Lieutenant Colonel Zaccur P. Boyer
- Major Grant Weidman
Regimental Roster
The full roster of the 173rd 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 for those who served in the regiment.
To view the complete roster, visit the 173rd Pennsylvania Infantry (Nine Months’ Service) Roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Vol. 27, Part 3
- Pennsylvania Adjutant General’s Report
- Dyer, Frederick H., Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
- The Union Army, Federal Publishing Company, 1908, Vol. 1