Stryker65
Captain
- Joined
- Jun 5, 2023
- Location
- William & Mary
The Union League was formed in 1862 as a sort of homefront organization for Union men who wanted to spread and continue patriotic efforts in their home states. One of the most active was that in Pennsylvania -- the Pennsylvania Union League is directly responsible for raising nine regiments for the Union cause: two 3-month regiments, two 90-day regiments, four 1-year regiments, and one 3-year regiment.
The 17th Pennsylvania Infantry (1st Union League) was the first unit attributed to the Union League. The difference, however, is that the 17th was not formed in any way by the Union League. The Union League adopted it, post-service, when the unit reorganized as the 1st Pennsylvania National Guard. The 17th was one of the three-month regiments, and served with General Robert Patterson's army in the Shenandoah in 1861. Naturally, the 17th did not see any action.
Due to the Union League's formation in 1862, they were uniquely equipped to help finance the plethora of Emergency Militia units formed in response to Lee's invasion of Pennsylvania in 1863. The Union League was responsible for two Ninety Day units; specifically, the 52nd (2nd Union League) Militia and 59th (3rd Union League) Militia. The 52nd served from July 1 to September 1, and the 59th from July 11 to September 9. Neither unit saw action.
In 1864, the Union League really began organizing regiments. The next unit organized was the 183rd Pennsylvania Infantry (4th Union League). This regiment was immediately dispatched to the Second Corps, and served through Petersburg and Appomattox as part of that hard-fighting corps, in General John R. Brooke's brigade, in Barlow's/Miles's First Division.
The 5th Union League was, similar to the 2nd and 3rd, essentially a militia regiment. Formed in response to Early's invasion of the North, it was officially designated the 196th Pennsylvania Infantry. Enlisting for One Hundred Days, the regiment was first sent to Baltimore to protect that city, and, after the threat had subsided, moved to Camp Douglas to guard the Confederate prisoners there.
The final combat unit formed by Union League was the 198th Infantry (6th Union League), which, after its organization in September and October, 1864, was assigned to the 5th Army Corps to replace the mustered-out Pennsylvania Reserves and reassigned U. S. Regulars. Fighting at Boydton Plank Road and Five Forks, the unit served with the corps all through Appomattox.
The last Union League units did not see combat. The 213th (7th Union League), 214th (8th Union League), and 215th (9th Union League) were all organized in the spring of 1865, and were too late to see action. The 213th was sent to Annapolis and Baltimore, the 214th to Winchester and the Shenandoah, and the 215th to Washington. These regiments served only a few months before they too were mustered out, the war over.
I only recently discovered the Union League, and I must say that their contribution of helping to organize eight regiments for the Union cause is quite striking compared to other organizations that certainly did not do as much as the Union League did.
The 17th Pennsylvania Infantry (1st Union League) was the first unit attributed to the Union League. The difference, however, is that the 17th was not formed in any way by the Union League. The Union League adopted it, post-service, when the unit reorganized as the 1st Pennsylvania National Guard. The 17th was one of the three-month regiments, and served with General Robert Patterson's army in the Shenandoah in 1861. Naturally, the 17th did not see any action.
Due to the Union League's formation in 1862, they were uniquely equipped to help finance the plethora of Emergency Militia units formed in response to Lee's invasion of Pennsylvania in 1863. The Union League was responsible for two Ninety Day units; specifically, the 52nd (2nd Union League) Militia and 59th (3rd Union League) Militia. The 52nd served from July 1 to September 1, and the 59th from July 11 to September 9. Neither unit saw action.
In 1864, the Union League really began organizing regiments. The next unit organized was the 183rd Pennsylvania Infantry (4th Union League). This regiment was immediately dispatched to the Second Corps, and served through Petersburg and Appomattox as part of that hard-fighting corps, in General John R. Brooke's brigade, in Barlow's/Miles's First Division.
The 5th Union League was, similar to the 2nd and 3rd, essentially a militia regiment. Formed in response to Early's invasion of the North, it was officially designated the 196th Pennsylvania Infantry. Enlisting for One Hundred Days, the regiment was first sent to Baltimore to protect that city, and, after the threat had subsided, moved to Camp Douglas to guard the Confederate prisoners there.
The final combat unit formed by Union League was the 198th Infantry (6th Union League), which, after its organization in September and October, 1864, was assigned to the 5th Army Corps to replace the mustered-out Pennsylvania Reserves and reassigned U. S. Regulars. Fighting at Boydton Plank Road and Five Forks, the unit served with the corps all through Appomattox.
The last Union League units did not see combat. The 213th (7th Union League), 214th (8th Union League), and 215th (9th Union League) were all organized in the spring of 1865, and were too late to see action. The 213th was sent to Annapolis and Baltimore, the 214th to Winchester and the Shenandoah, and the 215th to Washington. These regiments served only a few months before they too were mustered out, the war over.
I only recently discovered the Union League, and I must say that their contribution of helping to organize eight regiments for the Union cause is quite striking compared to other organizations that certainly did not do as much as the Union League did.
Bringing the