85th Pennsylvania Infantry in the American Civil War

Overview

The 85th Pennsylvania Infantry (Three Years’ Service) was an infantry regiment organized in Pennsylvania for service in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The regiment was recruited from Fayette, Washington, Somerset, and Greene counties, and mustered into United States service at Camp La Fayette near Uniontown on November 12, 1861, for a three-year term. The 85th Pennsylvania served primarily in the Eastern and Southern theaters, participating in major campaigns in Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

This regiment was attached to several different commands during its service, including the Army of the Potomac and the Army of the James. It is distinct from any other Pennsylvania infantry units of different service terms.

Organization & Service

The 85th Pennsylvania Infantry was organized at Camp La Fayette and mustered in on November 12, 1861. Shortly after, it was ordered to Washington, D.C., where it encamped at Camp Good Hope and was assigned to a brigade under Col. Tidball, working to strengthen the capital’s defenses. On March 29, 1862, the regiment was attached to the 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 4th Corps, and moved to Fortress Monroe, joining the Army of the Potomac for the Peninsula Campaign.

The regiment participated in the battles of Williamsburg and Fair Oaks, though it was not actively engaged in subsequent battles of the campaign. After the Peninsula operations, the 85th was stationed at Suffolk, Virginia, before being ordered to New Berne, North Carolina, where it joined the Goldsboro expedition and saw action against Confederate forces. In January 1863, the regiment camped near New Berne and was then ordered to Hilton Head, South Carolina, at the end of the month. It moved to Folly Island on April 1, 1863, and took part in the siege of Fort Wagner, suffering significant losses due to sickness and exposure during the summer. After the fall of Fort Wagner, the regiment occupied Morris Island and later returned to Hilton Head, encamping near Port Royal in December 1863.

In February 1864, the 85th Pennsylvania joined an expedition to Whitemarsh Island near Savannah, Georgia, which was unsuccessful. In April 1864, the regiment was transferred to the Army of the James and stationed at Bermuda Hundred, Virginia, performing picket duty until June. The regiment then moved to the Petersburg area and was engaged in several actions from June to October 1864. On October 14, 1864, the veterans and recruits were transferred to the 188th Pennsylvania Infantry, and the remaining men were mustered out at Pittsburgh on November 22, 1864, after spending a month in camp at Portsmouth, Virginia.

Engagements & Campaigns

• Defenses of Washington, D.C. (Winter 1861–62)
• Peninsula Campaign (Spring–Summer 1862)
• Battle of Williamsburg
• Battle of Fair Oaks
• Goldsboro Expedition (North Carolina, late 1862)
• Siege of Fort Wagner (South Carolina, Summer 1863)
• Occupation of Morris Island
• Expedition to Whitemarsh Island (February 1864)
• Bermuda Hundred operations (Spring 1864)
• Operations before Petersburg (June–October 1864)

Casualties

According to available records, the 85th Pennsylvania Infantry suffered losses from both combat and disease. Exact figures may vary between sources, but Dyer’s Compendium and state reports indicate the following:

• Killed or mortally wounded: 3 officers, 54 enlisted men
• Died of disease: 2 officers, 119 enlisted men
• Total deaths: 178

Field Officers & Commanders

• Colonel Joshua B. Howell
• Lieutenant Colonel Norton McGiffin
• Lieutenant Colonel H. A. Purviance
• Lieutenant Colonel Edward Campbell
• Major Absalom Guiler
• Major James B. Tredwell
• Major Edward Campbell
• Major Isaac M. Abraham

Regimental Roster

The full roster of the 85th Pennsylvania Infantry (Three Years’ Service), including officers and enlisted men, is available for genealogical and historical research. The roster provides names, ranks, and, when available, additional service details for each member of the regiment.

To view the complete roster, visit the 85th Pennsylvania Infantry (Three Years’ Service) Roster page.

Sources & References

• Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volumes IX, XI, XIV, XVIII, XXVIII
• Pennsylvania 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