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116th
Pennsylvania Infantry
Online Books
116th
Pennsylvania Infantry Soldier Roster - History of Pennsylvania
Volunteers, 1861-5, Volume 3 by Samuel P Bates, 1869
View Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| One Hundred and Sixteenth Infantry. — Cols., Dennis
Heenan, St. C. A. Mulholland, David W. Megraw; Lieut.-Cols., St. Clair
A. Mulholland, Richard C. Dale, David W. Megraw, Robert J. Alston; Majs.,
George H. Bardwell, St. Clair A. Mulholland, John Teed, David W. Megraw,
Robert J. Alston, Robert J. Taggart. The 116th, recruited in
Philadelphia, was there mustered into the U. S. service in July and
Aug., 1862, for a three years' term. On Aug. 31, though not complete in
numbers, it was ordered to Washington on account of the necessity for
troops to reinforce Gen. Banks in the Shenandoah Valley. It reported to
Gen. Couch at Rockville, Md., but was immediately returned to
Washington, where it was assigned to the camp of Gen. Sigel at Fairfax
Court House. Here it remained until Oct. 6, when it moved to Harper's
Ferry and became a part of the Irish brigade, under Gen. Meagher, the
2nd brigade, 1st division, 2nd corps. It went into camp at Charlestown ;
was engaged at Snicker's gap in November; then moved to Warrenton and
Falmouth, where winter quarters were built. It shared in the brilliant
but unfortunate charge of the Irish brigade at Fredericksburg, losing in
killed and wounded, 43 per cent, of the members engaged. Owing to the
sad reduction in its effective strength the 116th was consolidated into
a battalion of four companies in Jan., 1863, remaining in the camp at
Falmouth until the opening of the Chancellorsville movement, in which it
was active, and returning afterward to its old camp. Its work at
Chancellorsville received special complimentary mention by Gen. Hancock.
The battalion lost heavily at Gettysburg, where it was active on July 2
and 3, and joined in the southward movement which followed, being
engaged at Auburn, Blackburn ford, and in the Mine Run movement. Winter
quarters were established at Stevensburg and during the winter the
regiment was reorganized, three companies from Philadelphia and three
from Pittsburg, being added to the reenlisted men of the battalion,
which filled the ranks to the required strength. The Irish brigade was
closely engaged at the Wilderness, Todd's Tavern, the Po river,
Spottsylvania and Cold Harbor, its ranks being again greatly reduced in
numbers by the almost daily encounters with the enemy. The 116th arrived
in front of Petersburg on June 15, charged the works the next day and
joined in the action at Reams' station a few days later. Upon the
reorganization of the 2nd corps it was attached to the 4th brigade, 1st
division, with which it shared in the engagements at Deep Bottom and the
raid on the Weldon railroad in July, the Hatcher's run movement in
December, and the skirmish at Dabney's mill in Feb., 1865. At the close
of the siege the regiment participated in the battle at Five Forks, and
after Lee's surrender returned to Alexandria, where Cos. A, B, C and D
were mustered out on June 3, and the remainder of the regiment at
Washington on July 14. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 1
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