In the spring of 1862, a call was made by the Federal government for more troops. The Civil War had been in progress for more than a year, and the 116th Pennsylvania, recruited principally from Philadelphia, was one of the regiments then authorized. Tipperary born Dennis Heenan, a man of years of prewar militia experience who had also served as Lt. Col. of the Irish 24th Pennsylvania Militia in the early months of the war, was chosen as Colonel. Though a young man in his early twenties, Antrim native St. Clair A. Mulholland, also of militia experience and described as an "excellent drill instructor," had raised two companies for the regiment and was appointed Lt. Colonel. George H. Bardwell was selected as Major. Though originally recruited as an Irish regiment intended to be called the "Brian Boru United Irish Legion," pressures to fill the regiment in a timely manner made it difficult to maintain a purely Irish character, and a number of "Pennsylvania Dutch," who would by the end of the war account for roughly 18% of the regiment, were recruited to the ranks. 

Toward the end of August of 1862, the One-sixteenth mustered approximately seven hundred men. Although still under-strength, the regiment was ordered, due to General Banks' defeat and hasty retreat down the Shenandoah Valley, to move to Washington without delay. For the next month the regiment was shuffled back and forth between Maryland, Washington and northern Virginia, engaged in drill, fatigue, guard and picket duties. The regiment was then ordered to report to Harper's Ferry, Virginia, and on October 10th, joined Brig. General Thomas F. Meagher's famed Irish Brigade. This was undoubtedly received favorably by the unit's commanders, as both Col. Heenan and Lt. Col. Mulholland had attempted to raise units for the Irish Brigade the year before, and Col. Heenan had been planning to offer the One-sixteenth to Corcoran's Irish Legion, being raised at this time.           

The regiment's first engagements, Charlestown and Snicker's Gap, would be minor, producing no serious injuries or fatalities, and not in any way preparing the the men for their first taste of real war--the futile and tragic assault on Marye's Heights at the battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia, on December 13, 1862. At the close of the battle, most of the One-sixteenth's field and company officers were killed or wounded, with severe losses in the ranks. The new regiment never wavered and fought like veterans, establishing the reputation for courage and discipline that would be their hallmark throughout the war.

In his regimental history, Mulholland emphasizes the fact that most of the men of the 116th were from the city, often siting the "superiority of the city men over those who had come from the farm." Nowhere was this more apparent than on the long forced-march in late June of 1863 toward Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where very few men were missing when the roll-call was given at its end. Though fatigued from the march in the oppressive heat, arriving in their home state revitalized the men..  As the division advanced and fought, the One Hundred and Sixteenth held its extreme right flank. Advancing at "right shoulder shift" through hilly, rough ground strewed with trees and huge boulders, the regiment's alignment was well maintained as it approached the crest of a hill. A body of the enemy, having first reached the top from the other side, delivered a volley over the heads of the men of the 116th. The regiment rushed forward and delivered a volley of their own, having deadly effect on the enemy, and the lines were soon within a few feet of each other. The battle became hand-to-hand but the enemy, weary and demoralized, soon surrendered and were sent to the rear.        

The next morning the 116th was placed in support of Sterling's 2nd Connecticut Battery by General Hancock, commander of the 2nd Corps. Here they waited until eleven o'clock, when the men joined in the glad cheer for the 12th Corps' victory on Culp's Hill. During the two hour artillery duel that followed, the men hugged the ground closely as they lay in front of Sterling's guns, with both his fire and that of the enemy's passing over them. The rebel gunners over shot, and the 116th's Company B, deployed in rear of the battle line as divisional Provost Guard, suffered more than the men in front.

Col. Mulholland's men were never happier than when watching the Confederate infantry advancing to sure destruction in the midst of "Picket's Charge." "It was Fredericksburg reversed, never were the men of the Regiment so eager to rush into the fight." The enemy disappeared behind a knoll just as he came within firing range--the 116th was ordered "ready!" When the rebels reappeared it was not the Confederate battle flag that was seen, but the white flag of surrender, and within ten minutes most of Wilcox's Brigade were prisoners of war. The battle ended abruptly as "the firing suddenly ceased and Gettysburg became the victory that marked the beginning of the end of the war."

Of the 2nd Corps, Col. Mulholland states that "thirty-three battle flags, six thousand prisoners and thirteen thousand stands of small arms were truly a bountiful harvest to be gathered by the men who wore the trefoil." Of the men of his command, the Colonel reported that "every one of them did their duty in a manner that excited my warmest admiration and gratitude."

New recruits were finally received by the 116th in the spring of 1864, and six new companies: E, F and G from Philadelphia, H, I, and K from Pittsburgh and surrounding area, brought the regiment up to full strength for the first time. Though the majority of its men were now new recruits, the regiment fought with its characteristic steadiness and gallantry throughout the Spring Campaign of 1864.

In July the Irish Brigade was broken up--the 116th Pennsylvania transferred to the 4th Brigade of the 1st Division, 2nd Army Corps, where it remained when the brigade was reinstated in November, 1864. The men deeply regretted leaving the Irish Brigade, having fought nearly two years and many a bloody battle along side them, being regarded a "core" regiment in their honored ranks.

The 116th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry had spent 31-1/2 months in U.S. combat service in the American Civil War, 23 of those (73%) as members of the Irish Brigade. They would, through the mingling of their blood and spirit on many a terrible battlefield with that unit's other gallant regiments, be proudly, and forever after, an integral part of its history and hallowed name.

All companies of the 116th were mustered out by July 14, 1865.  During active service, the regiment lost 8 officers and 137 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded, while 1 officer, 88 enlisted men died by disease.

We honor the men of the 116th Pennsylvania Volunteers.  Our Division motto is Faugh An Ballagh for Clear the Way!