169th Regiment
Pennsylvania Volunteers
© Alice J. Gayley, all rights reservedThe companies of this regiment were recruited from:The men rendezvoused at Camp Howe, near Pittsburg, where they were organized during the months of October and November, 1862, and on the 28th of the latter month, the following field officers were selected:
- Company A - Mercer County
- Company B - Clarion County
- Company C - Mercer County
- Company D - Crawford County
- Company E - Butler County
- Company F - Erie County
- Company G - Erie County
- Company H - Crawford County
- Company I - Crawford County
- Company K - Crawford County
On the 1st of December, the regiment started for Washington, and upon its arrival, was ordered to Fortress Monroe, reporting to General Dix, in command of the Department, on the evening of the 5th. On the morning of the 7th, it was sent to Yorktown, and on the day following, to Gloucester Point, where it went into camp, and drill and the routine of guard and picket duty were commenced. Near the close of the month, it was transferred to Fort Keyes, which it garrisoned, and in addition performed picket duty on its front.
- Lewis W. Smith, of Allegheny county, Colonel
- Samuel M. Wickersham, of Allegheny county, Lieutenant Colonel
- William Smyth, of Butler county, Major
Detachments from the regiment were repeatedly sent out into the enemy's country, and were, in a marked degree successful in accomplishing the purpose for which they were sent. While out upon one of these, Corporal Lewis Eaton-who was afterwards fearfully wounded in the battle of Laurel Hill, on the 8th of May, 1864, while serving in the Eighty-third Regiment, receiving no less than five severe wounds through his body,-shot and wounded a rebel Colonel, and brought in his sword and trappings. Considerable sickness prevailed in the command during the winter and spring, and several died.
On the 9th of July, 1863, the regiment moved by transport to Washington, and thence marched through Frederick City and Boonesboro, to Funkstown, where it arrived on the 14th, reported to headquarters of the army of the Potomac, and was assigned to duty with the Eleventh Corps. It was at once moved to the front, and came up just in time to see the enemy's pickets retire, the main body of the rebel army having escaped across the river. It joined in the pursuit, making a rapid march to Williamsport, and arrived in time to receive a few parting shots, and to see the rear of the rebel train disappear on the Virginia shore.
On the following day it was detached from the corps, and moving back through Hagerstown to Monocacy, returned by rail via Baltimore and Philadelphia, to Harrisburg, where, on the 27th, it was mustered out of service.
Source: Bates, Samuel P. History of the Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-65, Harrisburg, 1868-1871.
Organization:
Organized at Pittsburg October 16, 1862.
Duty at Camp Howe, Pittsburg, till December 1.
Moved to Washington, D. C, thence to Fortress Monroe and
Yorktown, Va., December 1-7, and to Gloucester Point, Va., December 8.
Attached to Busteed's Independent Brigade, Yorktown, Va., 4th Corps,
Dept. of Virginia, to April, 1863.
King's Independent Brigade, 4th Corps, Dept. of Virginia, to June, 1863.
1st Division, 4th Corps, Dept. of Virginia, to July, 1863.
1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 11th Army Corps,
Army of the Potomac, to muster out.Service:
Duty at Yorktown and Gloucester Point, Va., till June, 1863.
Expedition to Gloucester Court House April 7.
Expedition from Yorktown to Walkerton and Aylett's June 4-5.
Dix's Peninsula Campaign June 27-July 7.
Ordered to Washington, D.C., July 9; thence march to Funkstown, Md.
Joined Army of the Potomac at Hagerstown, Md., July 14.
Pursuit of Lee to Williamsport, Md.
Moved to Harrisburg, Pa., via Baltimore and Philadelphia.
Mustered out July 27, 1863.
Losses:
Regiment lost during service 11 by disease.
Source: Dyer, Frederick H. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion Compiled and Arranged from Official Records of the Federal and Confederate Armies, Reports of he Adjutant Generals of the Several States, the Army Registers, and Other Reliable Documents and Sources.Des Moines, Iowa: The Dyer Publishing Company, 1908
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