116TH PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
brief history
The 116th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry began recruiting June 11th, 1862 in Philadelphia. Dennis Heenan, the first regimental commander of the 116th PVI, was born in Tipperary, Ireland and had several (pre-war) years of militia experience. Antrim, Ireland native St. Clair A. Mulholland - only in his twenties, was commissioned Lt. Colonel after he had raised two companies for the 116th PVI. Mulholland also brought pre-war militia experience with him and was known for his excellent drill instruction.
The 116th PVI was originally recruited as an all-Irish regiment that was to don the sobriquet “Brian Boru United Irish Legion.” Colonel Heenan was planning on offering the 116th PVI to Corcoran's Irish legion, which was being raised at the same time as the 116th PVI but the regiment never became a part of Corcoran’s Irish legion, nor would they don the name the “Brian Boru United Irish Legion.” In a rush to fill the regiment, the 116th PVI mustered in volunteers of non-Irish ethnicity - specifically, Pennsylvania Dutch, which would account for 18% of the approximately 700 men mustered into the 116th PVI. The remaining 82% of the soldiers were of Irish ancestry.
On August 31st, 1862 orders were received to move without delay to the defense of Washington D.C. The regiment was then sent to Harpers Ferry, VA, where they saw duty until October 29th. It was here at Harpers Ferry that the regiment was assigned to the Irish Brigade, which was comprised of the 63rd New York, 69th New York, 88th New York, 28th Massachusetts, and the 29th Massachusetts.
Movement was then made to Falmouth, VA where, on November 17th, General Sumner ordered the Irish Brigade to ford the Rappahannock river and capture rebel artillery in the town of Fredericksburg. This order was countermanded by General Burnside. Finally, on December 12th, the regiment crossed the Rappahannock and entered Fredericksburg. On December 13th the regiment marched through town, coming under heavy artillery fire, and at noon the division was ordered to charge a stone wall on the sunken road at the base of Marye's Heights. As they approached over open ground towards Cobb's rebel brigade, who were entrenched behind the stone wall, they came under merciless fire of musketry and in a short period of time nearly all of their officers and half of the men became casualties. Unwilling to turn back and within a few paces of the enemy works, they poured a steady rain of lead into their opposition. Color Sergeant Tynell sat quietly on the hill waving the regimental colors to and fro until shot in five places. After the ammunition ran out, the men remained near the enemy works until after dark. Under the cover of darkness, they were ordered back to town to re-form. The next morning orders to charge again were countermanded and the Union Army was withdrawn. The 116th PVI suffered 43% casualties at Fredericksburg and, after General Burnside's "mud march" of January 23rd, 1863, the depleted regiment was consolidated into a battalion of four companies. Colonel Heenan resigned his commission and Mulholland became the battalion commander.
On April 27th, 1863, the 116th PVI marched toward Chancellorsville. On May 1st, the Irish Brigade held a road leading to the United States Mine Ford on which the enemy was expected to force his way. From here the brigade was moved to Scott’s Mills and brought up to check the retreating troops of the 11th corps. The regiment was soon moved toward the Chancellor house where the 5th Maine battery took position on their left. Forty pieces of enemy cannons swept the open ground around the Chancellor house until the 5th Maine battery Commander, most of the gunners, and the horses were down. As the enemy came within a few hundred yards, the 5th Maine battery became prone to capture. Regardless of heavy enemy fire, the 116th PVI was ordered to rescue the guns. Charging through the mud and mire the men seized the guns and dragged all of them off to a point of safety. For his heroic action at the Chancellor house, 116th PVI Colonel Mulholland would receive the Medal of Honor. The battalion then joined the brigade on a new line where repeated enemy attacks were repulsed at every point. On May 5th, the Union Army retired to Falmouth.
The latter part of June found the regiment marching on the left flank of the army toward Gettysburg, PA. Early on the morning of July 2nd, the 2nd corps was deployed on the field three-quarters of a mile to the right of Little Round Top. The 116th PVI was deployed in the front of a column of regiments. General Sickles’ 3rd corps had moved out beyond its original line of defense and was strongly attacked and driven back by the enemy. The first division of the 2nd corps, with the 116th PVI on the extreme right, was ordered forward to check the enemy advance. With a wild cheer the Irish Brigade dashed among the enemy, engaging in hand-to-hand combat with veteran troops. The enemy line finally gave way and the brigade stood triumphant. Threatened from the flank and rear, the brigade began to retire in good order. After dark the division was ordered back to its original place on the line. This position was held throughout Pickett’s charge and until the close of the battle. When the battle ended the battalion joined in pursuit of Lee’s fleeing Army engaging in several skirmishes until Lee crossed the Potomac.
In early spring of 1864 Colonel Mulholland recruited 6 new companies resulting in a regiment of 10 companies - 800 men strong! The regiment went into position with the rest of the 2nd corps on the Brock Road in the Wilderness, VA on May 5th, 1864. General Hancock’s corps attacked Hill’s Confederate corps in repeated and desperate assaults driving the enemy for some distance. The Irish Brigade was heavily engaged and, although 80% of its members were new recruits, they behaved with steadiness and gallantry, losing largely in killed and wounded. On May 6th the regiment moved a mile to the right where it was attacked heavily by combined forces of Generals Hill and Longstreet, who were striving to crush the Union left. In every attempt the enemy was repulsed. The corps saw heavy action on May 10th at the Po River, where Colonel Mulholland was wounded - one of four wounds that he would receive throughout the course of the war. The brigade was ordered to charge but the regiment, impatient at the delay of formation, charged alone with enthusiasm and wild cheers, driving everything before it! At midnight of May 11th, 1864 the corps moved into place opposite a salient to the enemy’s position at Spotsylvania, VA. At dawn the corps charged and carried the enemy’s works, capturing an entire division, with guns and colors. It was here that 116th PVI Lt. Colonel Dale, second in command, was killed. At daybreak on May 18th at Spotsylvania Court House, the regiment joined in another charge on the rebel works, but was repulsed, losing heavily. During the month of May, 1864, the regiment suffered 147 casualties. The regiment arrived at Cold Harbor, VA on June 2nd. The next morning it joined in a charge on the enemy’s entrenchments and suffered heavily, including the loss of brigade Commander Colonel Byrnes. The regiment lost 16 killed, 41 wounded, and 5 missing. Never was the regiment in such desperate fighting as it was during Grant’s overland campaign of 1864.
The regiment moved south, crossing the James River and reaching the outer works before Petersburg on June 15th. The next day the brigade was ordered to charge the entrenched enemy. The regiment had to charge over an open field where they were exposed to terrible fire of artillery and musketry and many fell here. The enemy’s first line was taken but the new brigade Commander, Colonel Kelly, was killed. On June 21st the regiment was moved to Ream’s Station and deployed as skirmishers. They saw considerable action here and narrowly escaped a disaster. Returning to its position in front of Petersburg, the famous Irish Brigade was broken up and the 116th PVI was moved from the 2nd brigade and re-assigned to the 4th. On July 27th, the corps was moved to Deep Bottom, VA where the regiment participated in the battle of Strawberry Plains. About the middle of the following month the corps again moved to Deep Bottom and in this engagement the regiment lost heavily. From here the corps moved on the Weldon Railroad and set to work destroying track. On August 25th, 1864 the enemy attacked in great force and desperation at Ream’s Station. Again the regiment maintained its reputation for courage but suffered heavy casualties. Returning to Petersburg, the regiment became engaged in garrisoning forts, the dangerous occupation of picket duty, and engaging the enemy opposite their brigade front. This activity was carried out through November, 1864.
On December 9th, the Division moved out and drove the enemy from their lines at Hatcher’s Run, VA. The Division moved out once again and on February 5th, 1865, engaged the enemy at Dabney’s Mills, VA. The regiment actively participated in the eleven-day Appomattox Campaign which ended on April 9th, 1865 with the surrender of General Lee and his Army of Northern Virginia.
The regiment began their march to Washington D.C. on May 2nd and arrived on May 12th. The 116th PVI participated in the Grand Review on May 23rd and all companies were mustered out by July 14th, 1865. During active service, the regiment lost 8 officers and 137 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded, and 1 officer and 88 enlisted men lost to disease.
116th PVI Battles and Skirmishes
Charlestown, VA: / 10•16•1862Snicker’s Gap, VA: / 11•12•1862
Fredericksburg, VA: / 12•12-13•1862
Chancellorsville, VA: / 5•1-4•1863
Gettysburg, PA: / 7•2-3•1863
Falling Waters, MD: / 7•12•1863
Auburn, VA: / 10•14•1863
Bristoe Station, VA: / 10•14•1863
Mine Run, VA: / 11•28-30•1863
Morton’s Ford, VA: / 2•6•1864
Wilderness, VA: / 5•5-6•1864
Todd’s Tavern, VA: / 5•8•1864
Po River, VA: / 5•10•1864
Spotsylvania, VA: / 5•12•1864
Spotsylvania Court House, VA: / 5•18-19•1864
North Anna River, VA: / 5•23•1864
Pamunkey River, VA: / 5•28•1864
Tolopotomy, VA: / 5•30-31•1864
Cold Harbor, VA: / 6•3•1864
Petersburg, VA: / 6•16-18•1864
William’s Farm, VA: / 6•22•1864
Petersburg, VA, Siege: / 6•1864-3•1865
Deep Bottom, VA: / 7•26•1864
Strawberry Plains, VA: / 8•14-18•1864
Reams Station, VA: / 8•25•1864
Hatcher’s Run, VA: / 12•9•1864
Dabney’s Mill, VA: / 2•5•1865
Gravelly Run/Five Forks, VA: / 3•29-4•1•1865
Sunderland Station, VA: / 4•2•1865
Amelia Court House, VA: / 4•6•1865
Sailor’s Creek, VA: / 4•6•1865
Farmville, VA: / 4•7•1865
Appomattox, VA: / 4•9•1865