116th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment

United States Regiments & Batteries > Pennsylvania

The 116th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment lost 8 officers and 137 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and 1 officer and 88 enlisted men to disease during the Civil War. It is honored by a monument at Gettysburg.

1861
June 11-September 4 Organized at Philadelphia
1862
August 31 Left State for Washington, D.C.
September 7 Moved to Rockville, Md.
September 21 Moved to Fairfax Court House
October 6 Moved to Harper’s Ferry, W. Va.Attached to 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, the Irish Brigade
October 29-November 17 Advance up Loudon Valley and movement to Falmouth, Va.
December 12-15
Battle of Fredericksburg

Colonel Heenan was wounded in the arms and hand, but after having his wound treated returned to the regiment as it withdrew from the field, carrying the colors.

The regiment is honored on a monument to the Irish Brigade on the Fredericksburg waterfront at the City Dock. From the monument:

While posted here in the early morning of Dec. 13, 1862, the men of the Irish Brigade placed sprigs of boxwood in their caps in honor of their Irish heritage. Later in the day, they took part in the futile assaults against confederate positions on Marye’s Heights. After the battle, the Union dead closest to the Confederate positions wore sprigs of boxwood in their caps.
1863
January 20-24 Burnside’s 2nd Campaign, “Mud March.” The regiment was consolidated to a battalion of four companies, and Colonel Heenan was honorably mustered out as no longer having a command due his rank. Lieutenant Colonel Mulholland took a cut in grade to major to be able to stay with the battalion.
February-April At Falmouth
April 27-May 6 Chancellorsville Campaign
May 1-5
Battle of Chancellorsville

Major St. Clair A. Mulholland was awarded the Medal of Honor. According to his citation, while “in command of the picket line held the enemy in check all night to cover the retreat of the Army.”
June 11-July 24 Gettysburg Campaign
July 1-3
Battle of Gettysburg

The battalion was commanded by Major St. Clair A. Mulholland. From the monument on the Storny Hill:

July 2, 1863. In action 142 officers and men. Killed and wounded 37.
July 5-24 Pursuit of Lee
September 13-17 Advance from Rappahannock to the Rapidan
October 9-22 Bristoe Campaign
October 14 Auburn and Bristoe
November 7-8 Advance to line of the Rappahannock
November 26-December 2 Mine Run Campaign
1864
February 6-7 Demonstration on the Rapidan
February-May Duty at Stevensburg
May 4-June 12 Rapidan Campaign
May 5-7
Battle of the Wilderness
May 8-21
Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
May 10 Po River
May 12 Assault on the Salient
May 23-26 North Anna River
May 26-28 On line of the Pamunkey
May 28-31 Totopotomoy
June 1-12
Cold Harbor
June 16-18
First Assault on Petersburg

Beginning of Siege of Petersburg. Attached to 4th Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Army Corps.
June 22-23 Jerusalem Plank Road
July 27-29 Demonstration on north side of the James River
July 27-28 Deep Bottom
July 30 Mine Explosion, Petersburg (Reserve)
August 13-20 Demonstration on north side of James River at Deep Bottom
August 14-18 Strawberry Plains, Deep Bottom
August 25 Ream’s Station
October 27 Front of Forts Morton and Sedgwick
December 9-10 Reconnaissance to Hatcher’s Run
1865
February 5-7 Dabney’s Mills
March 25 Watkins’ House, Petersburg
March 28-April 9 Appomattox Campaign
March 30-31
Hatcher’s Run or Boydton Road and White Oak Road
April 2 Sutherland Station and Fall of Petersburg
April 6 Sailor’s Creek
April 7 High Bridge, Farmville
April 9
Appomattox Court House

Surrender of Lee and his army.
April At Burkesville
May 2-12 March to Washington, D. C.
May 23 Grand Review
June 3 Companies A, B, C and D mustered out
July 14 Companies E, F, G, H, I and K mustered out