Overview
The 165th Pennsylvania Infantry (Nine Months’ Service) was a Union militia regiment organized in Pennsylvania during the American Civil War. Composed primarily of companies from Adams County, with additional companies from Franklin and Cumberland counties, the regiment was mustered into service at Chambersburg between November 25 and December 4, 1862. Serving in the infantry branch, the 165th Pennsylvania operated mainly in the Department of Virginia and North Carolina, participating in defensive and expeditionary operations during its brief service term.
This regiment served for nine months and should not be confused with other Pennsylvania infantry units of different service terms.
Organization & Service
The 165th Pennsylvania Infantry (Nine Months’ Service) was organized at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, between November 25 and December 4, 1862. The regiment was composed of companies recruited from Adams, Franklin, and Cumberland counties. Colonel Charles H. Buehler commanded the unit, with Lieutenant Colonel E. G. Fahnestock and Major Nash G. Camp as principal field officers.
After organization, the regiment moved to Washington, D.C., on December 8, 1862, and shortly thereafter proceeded to Suffolk, Virginia, where it encamped for an extended period. The 165th Pennsylvania was attached to the 1st Division, 7th Corps, Department of Virginia. In January 1863, the regiment participated in an expedition to the Blackwater River, during which part of the unit was engaged at the Battle of Deserted House and took part in the pursuit of Confederate forces.
During the spring of 1863, the regiment played a role in the defense of Suffolk during the siege by Confederate General James Longstreet. In May, the 165th Pennsylvania joined a raid on the Weldon Railroad, disrupting Confederate supply lines. The regiment subsequently moved toward Richmond, destroying bridges on the South Anna River before withdrawing to Yorktown. The unit returned to Pennsylvania and was mustered out of service at Gettysburg on July 28, 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
- Expedition to the Blackwater River (January 1863)
- Battle of Deserted House (January 1863)
- Siege of Suffolk (April–May 1863)
- Raid on the Weldon Railroad (May 1863)
- Operations near the South Anna River (June 1863)
Casualties
Specific casualty figures for the 165th Pennsylvania Infantry (Nine Months’ Service) are not detailed in available primary sources. The regiment is not listed among those with high losses in Fox’s Regimental Losses, and official reports do not provide a comprehensive breakdown of killed, wounded, or disease-related deaths.
Some details are incomplete in surviving primary sources.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Colonel Charles H. Buehler
- Lieutenant Colonel E. G. Fahnestock
- Major Nash G. Camp
Regimental Roster
The full roster of the 165th Pennsylvania Infantry (Nine Months’ Service), including officers and enlisted men, is available for genealogical and historical research. This roster provides names, ranks, and additional service details when available.
To view the complete roster, visit the 165th Pennsylvania Infantry (Nine Months’ Service) Roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Vol. XVIII, XX, XXVII
- Pennsylvania Adjutant General’s Report, 1863
- Dyer, Frederick H., A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
- Federal Publishing Company, The Union Army, Vol. 1 (1908)