Civil War Field Desk, 116th Pennsylvania of the Irish Brigade / SOLD

Civil War portable field desk popular with quartermasters and staff officers during the Civil War. This example retains its original black paint and has a large door that opens to serve as a writing top. The interior has numerous compartments and “116th PA” in white paint on the bottom sliding drawer. The desk measures 28 ½” wide at the top and 28 ½” tall, with a depth of 12.” The back of the desk has some edge loss to the wood and loose nails but is in good overall condition. A nice Civil War field desk used by an officer of the famed Irish Brigade.

 PENNSYLVANIA 116TH INFANTRY

(Three Years)

One Hundred and Sixteenth Infantry.-Cols., Dennis Heenan, St. C. A. Mulholland, David W. Megraw; Lieut.-Cols., St. Clair A. Mulholland, Richard C. Dale, David W. Megraw, Robert J. Alston; Majs., George H. Bardwell, St. Clair A. Mulholland, John Teed, David W. Megraw, Robert J. Alston, Robert J. Taggart.  The 116th, recruited in Philadelphia, was there mustered into the U.S. service in July and Aug., 1862, for a three years' term.  On Aug. 31, though not complete in numbers, it was ordered to Washington on account of the necessity for troops to reinforce Gen. Banks in the Shenandoah, Valley.  It reported to Gen. Couch at Rockville, Md., but was immediately returned to Washington, where it was assigned to the camp of Gen. Sigel at Fairfax Court House. Here it remained until Oct. 6, when it moved to Harper's Ferry and became a part of the Irish brigade, under Gen. Meagher, the 2nd brigade, 1st division, 2nd corps. It went into camp at Charlestown, was engaged at Snicker's gap in November, then moved to Warrenton and Falmouth where winter quarters were built. It shared in the brilliant but unfortunate charge of the Irish brigade at Fredericksburg, losing in killed and wounded, 43 per cent. of the members engaged. Owing to the sad reduction in its effective strength the 116th was consolidated into a battalion of four companies in Jan. 1863, remaining in the camp at Falmouth until the opening of the Chancellorsville movement, in which it was active, and returning afterward to its old camp. Its work at Chancellorsville received special complimentary mention by Gen. Hancock. The battalion lost heavily at Gettysburg, where it was active on July 2 and 3, and joined in the southward movement which followed, being engaged at Auburn, Blackburn ford, and in the Mine Run movement. Winter quarters were established at Stevensburg and during the winter the regiment was reorganized, three companies from Philadelphia and three from Pittsburg, being added to the reenlisted men of the battalion, which filled the ranks to the required strength. The Irish brigade was closely engaged at the Wilderness, Todd's Tavern, the Po River, Spotsylvania and Cold Harbor, its ranks being again greatly reduced in numbers by the almost daily encounters with the enemy. The 116th arrived in front of Petersburg on June 15, charged the works the next day and joined in the action at Reams' station a few days later. Upon the reorganization of the 2nd Corps it was attached to the 4th brigade, 1st division, with which it shared in the engagements at Deep Bottom and the raid on the Weldon railroad in July, the Hatcher's run movement m December, and the skirmish at Dabney's mill in Feb., 1865. At the close of the siege the regiment participated in the battle at Five Forks, and after Lee's surrender returned to Alexandria, where Cos. A, B,

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Inventory Number: IDE 138 / SOLD