United States Regiments & Batteries > Pennsylvania > Infantry
The 56th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment served from October of 1861 until July of 1865 in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. It lost 7 officers and 111 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and 1 officer and 96 enlisted men to disease during the Civil War. It is honored by a monument at Gettysburg.
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1861
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| Fall | Recruited in the counties of Centre, Indiana, Luzerne, Philadelphia, Susquehanna and Wayne and organized at Camp Curtin, Harrisburg |
| September 1 | Sullivan A. Meredith, formerly colonel of the 10th Pennsylvania Infantry, was appointed colonel |
| September | J. William Hofmann was appointed lieutenant colonel and Thomas S. Martin major |
| October 16 | Mustered in |
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1862
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| March 8 | Left State for Washington, D.C. with only eight and one half companies complete. Duty at Fort Albany attached to Defenses of Washington. |
| April 4 | At Budd’s Ferry on the lower Potomac |
| April 24 | At Aquia Creek Landing |
| May 10 | Five Companies moved to Belle Plains |
| May 21-27 | Guard railroad bridge at Potomac Creek. Attached to Doubleday’s Brigade, Dept. of the Rappahannock |
| June | Guard duty near Fredericksburg. Attached to 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 3rd Corps, Army of Virginia |
| August 16-September 2 | Pope’s Campaign in Northern Virginia |
| August 28 |
Battle of Gainesville |
| August 29 |
Groveton (Brawner’s Farm) |
| August 30 |
Second Battle of Bull Run (Manassas)Colonel Meredith was badly wounded. Lieutenant Colonel John W. Hofmann took command of the regiment. |
| September 6-24 | Maryland Campaign. Attached to 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 1st Army Corps, Army of the Potomac |
| September 14 |
Battle of South MountainThe Regiment fought at Turner’s Gap. It was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel John W. Hofmann until he took over command of the brigade from the wounded Colonel William Pratt. Captain Frederick Williams then took command. |
| September 16-17 |
Battle of AntietamThe regiment was held in reserve north of Poffenberger’s Farm to support the First Corps Artillery. From the brigade marker on the Antietam battlefield: Hofmann’s Brigade was held in support of the Corps Artillery. |
| September-October | Duty on the battlefield of Antietam |
| October 20-30 | At Bakersville, except Co. “A” at Fairfax |
| October 30-November 19 | Movement to Falmouth, Va. |
| November 2-3 | Union, Va. |
| November 29 | Colonel Meredith was promoted to brigadier general. He had not recovered from his wound at Second Bull Run and would not return to field command. |
| December 12-15 |
Battle of Fredericksburg |
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1863
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| January 20-24 |
Burnside’s 2nd Campaign, “Mud March” |
| February – April | At Falmouth and Belle Plains |
| April 27-May 6 |
Chancellorsville Campaign |
| April 29-May 2 | Operations at Pollock’s Mill Creek |
| April 29-30 | Fitzhugh’s Crossing |
| May 2-5 |
Battle of Chancellorsville |
| June 9 |
Battle of Brandy StationCommanded by Colonel John William Hofmann, the regiment was temporarily attached to a composite infantry brigade supporting the Cavalry Corps. |
| June 11-July 24 |
Gettysburg Campaign |
| July 1-3 |
Battle of GettysburgThe 56th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment was commanded by Colonel John W. Hoffmann. The official casualty figures differ slightly from those on the monument, with 14 killed, 61 wounded, and 55 missing. From the monument at Gettysburg: The Regiment here delivered the opening fire of the infantry in the Battle of Gettysburg in the forenoon of July 1st, 1863. July 2nd and 3rd, occupied position on Culp’s Hill as indicated by stone marker. Went into action with 252 officers and men. Killed and died of wounds 17 Wounded 58 Captured or missing 55 Total 130 |
| July 5-24 | Pursuit of Lee |
| August-October | Duty on line of the Rappahannock |
| October 9-22 |
Bristoe Campaign |
| November 7-8 | Advance to line of the Rappahannock |
| November 26-December 2 |
Mine Run Campaign |
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1864
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| February 6-7 | Demonstration on the Rapidan |
| March 10-April 17 | On Veteran furlough |
| May 4-June 12 | Rapidan Campaign. Attached to 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 5th Array Corps, Army Potomac |
| May 5-7 |
Battle of the Wilderness |
| May 8-21 |
Battle of Spottsylvania Court House |
| May 8 |
Laurel Hill |
| May 12 |
Assault on the Salient |
| May 23-26 |
North Anna River |
| May 25 | Jericho Ford |
| May 28-31 |
Totopotomoy |
| June 1-12 |
Battle of Cold Harbor |
| June 1-3 | Bethesda Church |
| June 16-18 | Before Petersburg; Siege of Petersburg begins |
| July 30 | Mine Explosion, Petersburg (Reserve) |
| August 18-21 | Weldon Railroad |
| September 29-October 2 | Poplar Springs Church. Attached to 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 5th Army Corps |
| October 27-28 | Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher’s Run |
| December 7-12 | Warren’s Raid on Weldon Railroad |
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1865
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| February 5-7 | Battle of Dabney’s Mills, or Hatcher’s Run |
| March 28-April 9 |
Appomattox Campaign |
| March 29 | Lewis Farm near Gravelly Run |
| March 31 | Boydton and White Oak Road |
| April 1 |
Battle of Five Forks |
| April 2 |
Fall of Petersburg |
| April 9 |
Appomattox Court HouseSurrender of Lee and his army. |
| May 2-12 | March to Washington, D.C. |
| May 23 | Grand Review |
| July 1 | The 56th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment was mustered out at Philadelphia, Pa. |