116th Pennsylvania Infantry in the American Civil War

Overview

The 116th Pennsylvania Infantry (Three Years’ Service) was an infantry regiment organized in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and mustered into United States service during July and August 1862 for a three-year term. The regiment served in the Union Army, primarily in the Eastern Theater, and was notably part of the Irish Brigade within the 2nd Corps, Army of the Potomac. The 116th Pennsylvania participated in many major campaigns and battles, including Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, and the Appomattox Campaign.

Organization & Service

The 116th Pennsylvania Infantry was recruited in Philadelphia and mustered in during July and August 1862. Although not at full strength, the regiment was ordered to Washington, D.C., on August 31, 1862, to reinforce General Banks in the Shenandoah Valley. Upon arrival, it reported to General Couch at Rockville, Maryland, but was soon returned to Washington and assigned to General Sigel’s camp at Fairfax Court House. The regiment remained there until October 6, when it moved to Harper’s Ferry and joined the Irish Brigade under General Thomas Francis Meagher, becoming part of the 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Corps, Army of the Potomac.

After encamping at Charlestown, the regiment was engaged at Snicker’s Gap in November 1862, then moved to Warrenton and Falmouth, Virginia, where it established winter quarters. The 116th Pennsylvania took part in the charge of the Irish Brigade at the Battle of Fredericksburg in December 1862, suffering heavy casualties. Due to losses, the regiment was consolidated into a battalion of four companies in January 1863 and remained at Falmouth until the Chancellorsville Campaign, where it was again actively engaged and received commendation from General Hancock.

At Gettysburg, the battalion fought on July 2 and 3, 1863, incurring further losses. It subsequently participated in the southward movement, including actions at Auburn, Blackburn’s Ford, and the Mine Run Campaign. The regiment wintered at Stevensburg, Virginia, and was reorganized during the winter of 1863–1864, with new companies from Philadelphia and Pittsburgh joining the reenlisted veterans to restore regimental strength.

In 1864, the 116th Pennsylvania was heavily engaged in the Overland Campaign, including the Wilderness, Todd’s Tavern, the Po River, Spotsylvania, and Cold Harbor, again suffering significant casualties. The regiment arrived before Petersburg on June 15, 1864, participated in the assault the following day, and fought at Reams’ Station. Following the reorganization of the 2nd Corps, the regiment was assigned to the 4th Brigade, 1st Division, and took part in engagements at Deep Bottom, the Weldon Railroad raid, Hatcher’s Run, and Dabney’s Mill. The 116th Pennsylvania was present at the Battle of Five Forks and the closing operations around Petersburg. After Lee’s surrender, Companies A, B, C, and D were mustered out at Alexandria on June 3, 1865, with the remainder of the regiment mustered out at Washington on July 14, 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

  • Snicker’s Gap (November 1862)
  • Fredericksburg (December 1862)
  • Chancellorsville (May 1863)
  • Gettysburg (July 2–3, 1863)
  • Auburn
  • Blackburn’s Ford
  • Mine Run Campaign
  • Wilderness (May 1864)
  • Todd’s Tavern
  • Po River
  • Spotsylvania
  • Cold Harbor
  • Petersburg (June 1864–April 1865)
  • Reams’ Station
  • Deep Bottom
  • Weldon Railroad raid
  • Hatcher’s Run
  • Dabney’s Mill
  • Five Forks
  • Appomattox Campaign

Casualties

According to Fox’s Regimental Losses and official reports, the 116th Pennsylvania Infantry suffered heavy casualties, particularly at Fredericksburg, where it lost approximately 43 percent of those engaged. Detailed figures for total killed, wounded, and died of disease are not fully specified in all sources.

Field Officers & Commanders

  • Colonel Dennis Heenan
  • Colonel St. Clair A. Mulholland
  • Colonel David W. Megraw
  • Lieutenant Colonel St. Clair A. Mulholland
  • Lieutenant Colonel Richard C. Dale
  • Lieutenant Colonel David W. Megraw
  • Lieutenant Colonel Robert J. Alston
  • Major George H. Bardwell
  • Major St. Clair A. Mulholland
  • Major John Teed
  • Major David W. Megraw
  • Major Robert J. Alston
  • Major Robert J. Taggart

Regimental Roster

The full roster of the 116th Pennsylvania Infantry (Three Years’ Service), including officers and enlisted men, is available on the regiment’s roster page. This roster provides names, ranks, and additional service details valuable for genealogical research.

To view the complete roster, visit the 116th Pennsylvania Infantry Roster page.

Sources & References

  • Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volumes XIX, XXV, XXVII, XXXVI, XL, XLVI
  • 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
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