Overview
The 190th Pennsylvania Infantry (Infantry) served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. This regiment was organized in the field during the Wilderness Campaign in May 1864, primarily from the veterans and recruits of the 1st, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th Pennsylvania Reserves. The 190th Pennsylvania Infantry was part of the Army of the Potomac and served in the Eastern Theater. It was notable for being formed from experienced soldiers and for its active participation in the final campaigns of the war.
Organization & Service
The 190th Pennsylvania Infantry was organized in the field in May 1864, during the Wilderness Campaign, under the command of Colonel William R. Hartshorne. The regiment was composed of veterans and recruits from eight Pennsylvania Reserve regiments. Along with the 191st Pennsylvania Infantry, it formed the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 5th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac.
The regiment first saw action at Cold Harbor, where it sustained casualties. It was then engaged in the initial assaults on Petersburg, suffering significant losses. In July 1864, the 190th assisted in constructing Fort Warren. The regiment participated in the action at the Weldon Railroad (Six-mile House) in August, where it was surrounded and most of its men were captured and sent to Confederate prisons in Richmond, Salisbury, and Danville. A small detachment, ordered to the rear for supplies, avoided capture and, joined by returning men, was transferred to the 2nd Division. This remnant continued to serve in operations through the end of 1864.
During the final campaign of 1865, the 190th Pennsylvania Infantry fought at Gravelly Run, Five Forks, and took part in the pursuit of Lee’s army. The regiment was preparing to charge a Confederate battery on April 9, 1865, when news of Lee’s surrender arrived. The 190th Pennsylvania Infantry was mustered out at Arlington Heights, Virginia, on June 28, 1865.
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
- Wilderness Campaign (May 1864)
- Battle of Cold Harbor (June 1864)
- Initial assaults on Petersburg (June 1864)
- Construction of Fort Warren (July 1864)
- Weldon Railroad / Six-mile House (August 1864)
- Gravelly Run (March 1865)
- Five Forks (April 1865)
- Pursuit of Lee’s army (April 1865)
Casualties
At Cold Harbor, the regiment suffered 12 killed, wounded, and missing. During the initial assaults on Petersburg, it lost a large number killed and wounded. The majority of the regiment was captured at the Weldon Railroad and sent to Confederate prisons. Specific total casualty figures are not fully detailed in available primary sources.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Colonel William R. Hartshorne
- Lieutenant Colonel Joseph B. Pattee
- Major John A. Wolfe
Regimental Roster
The full roster of soldiers who served in the 190th Pennsylvania Infantry (Infantry) is available for genealogical and historical research. This roster includes names, ranks, and service details as recorded in official state and federal records.
To view the complete roster, visit the 190th Pennsylvania Infantry (Infantry) Roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Vol. XXXVI, XL, XLVI
- 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, Vol. 1