56th Regiment, Pennsylvania Infantry

Brief History
This regiment was organized at Camp Curtin, Harrisburg, March 7, 1862. It mustered out at Philadelphia, Pa., July 1, 1865.

For more information on the history of this unit, see:


 * The Civil War Archive section, 56th Regiment Infantry, (accessed 19 September 2012).

Companies in this Regiment with the Counties of Origin
Men often enlisted in a company recruited in the counties where they lived though not always. After many battles, companies might be combined because so many men were killed or wounded. However if you are unsure which company your ancestor was in, try the company recruited in his county first.

Field and Staff Officers - See Roster

Company A - Many men were recruited in Philadelphia County and Wayne County - SeeRoster

Company B - Many men were recruited in Indiana County - See Roster

Company C - Many men were recruited in Luzerne County and Northumberland County  - See Roster

Company D - Many men were recruited in Luzerne County and Philadelphia County - See Roster

Company F - Many men were recruited in Indiana County - See Roster

Company G - Many men were recruited in Luzerne County - See Roster

Company H - Many men were recruited in Centre County - See Roster

Company I - Many men were recruited in - Centre County and Luzerne County See Roster

Company K - Many men were recruited in Schuylkill County and Susquehanna County- See Roster

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 2,521 men on its roster for this unit. Roster.

Other Sources

 * Beginning United States Civil War Research gives steps for finding information about a Civil War soldier. It covers the major records that should be used. Additional records are described in ‘Pennsylvania in the Civil War’ and ‘United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865’ (see below).


 * National Park Service, The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, is searchable by soldier's name and state. It contains basic facts about soldiers on both sides of the Civil War, a list of regiments, descriptions of significant battles, sources of the information, and suggestions for where to find additional information.


 * Pennsylvania in the Civil War describes many sources, specifically for Pennsylvania, and how to find them. These include compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.


 * United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865 describes and explains United States and Confederate States records, rather than state records, and how to find them. These include veterans’ censuses, compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.


 * Pa-Roots gives a history of this regiment with its organizations and battles. It has a roster for each company and additional references.


 * Ranger95 outlines the battles for this regiment and has a roster for each company. It has an image of a monument for this regiment.


 * pacivilwar has an outline of the battles,Rosters, and misc. newspaper article.


 * Hofmann, J. William. "Address Delivered by Brevet Brigadier General J. William Hofmann, U.S. Vols. (Late Colonel, 56th Regiment, Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteer Infantry) At the Dedication of the Regimental Memorial Erected Upon the Field of Gettysburg, by the Liberality of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, September 11th, 1889". (Philadelphia: A.W. Auner, 1890). . Worldcat.