Overview
The 166th Pennsylvania Infantry (Nine Months’ Service) was a militia regiment raised primarily from York County, Pennsylvania. Organized near York between October 24 and December 8, 1862, it entered United States service for a nine months’ term as part of the Union Army. The regiment served in the Eastern Theater, participating in defensive operations and expeditions in Virginia.
This unit was attached to Gen. Peck’s brigade and is notable for its involvement in the defense of Suffolk and subsequent railroad destruction expeditions near the Blackwater and north of Richmond.
Organization & Service
The 166th Pennsylvania Infantry (Nine Months’ Service) was organized near York, Pennsylvania, with mustering completed by December 8, 1862. Upon organization, the regiment proceeded to Washington, D.C., and soon after embarked for Newport News, Virginia. It was then ordered to Suffolk, Virginia, where it was attached to General John J. Peck’s brigade.
During its service, the regiment participated in the defense of Suffolk, including the siege and associated skirmishes. After the siege, the 166th Pennsylvania took part in several expeditions aimed at destroying Confederate railroads near the Blackwater River. From June 27 to July 2, 1863, the regiment was stationed at White House, Virginia, and subsequently joined operations targeting railroads north of Richmond. The regiment then moved to Washington, D.C., and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where it was mustered out of service 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
- Defense of Suffolk, Virginia (including siege and skirmishes)
- Expeditions to destroy railroads near the Blackwater River
- Operations at White House, Virginia
- Expeditions to destroy railroads north of Richmond
Casualties
Specific casualty figures for the 166th Pennsylvania Infantry (Nine Months’ Service) are not detailed in available primary sources.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Colonel Andrew J. Fulton
- Lieutenant Colonel George W. Reisinger
- Major Joseph A. Renaut
Regimental Roster
The full roster of the 166th Pennsylvania Infantry (Nine Months’ Service), including officers and enlisted men, is available for genealogical and historical research. This roster provides names, ranks, and service details for those who served in the regiment during its nine months’ term.
To view the complete roster, visit the 166th 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
- Dyer, Frederick H., A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
- The Union Army, Federal Publishing Company, 1908, Vol. 1