16th United States Infantry

16th United States Infantry

16th United States Infantry Regiment
Modern Coat of Arms

Term of Service: May 1861-Present

Allegiance: Union
Type: Infantry
Organization: 

Third ("Regular") Brigade (John H. King), First Division, XIV Corps

Selected Engagements:

Battle of Corinth
Battle of Stones River
Battle of Chickamauga
Siege of Chattanooga
Battle of Missionary Ridge
Atlanta Campaign

Commanders:

1st Battalion, Maj. Sidney Coolidge, Capt. R. E. A. Crofton

History:

The 16th U.S. Infantry was one of four regular infantry regiments of the United States Army that participated in the Battle of Chickamauga. The 16th was created at Chicago, Illinois in May of 1861. Just a few months later in October of 1861, the 16th was ordered to join the Army of the Ohio (later renamed the Army of the Cumberland) which was amassing in central Kentucky. The 16th participated in the Battles of Shiloh, Corinth and Stones River during 1862 and early 1863. Between the months of June and November of 1863, the 16th saw action at Hoover’s Gap, Chickamauga and Chattanooga. Following the Union’s victory in the Chattanooga campaign, the 16th participated in a number of small skirmishes during 1864 leading up to the siege of Atlanta. Atlanta would be the last significant engagement of the Civil War for the 16th as it spent the last months of the war occupying Chattanooga and Lookout Mountain. Following the end of the war, the 16th was garrisoned briefly in Tennessee and Louisiana until it was consolidated with the 2nd U.S. Infantry.  

Author: Sam Doss, March 20, 2015
Further Reading:
Frederick H. Dyer, “A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion,” Last updated January 17, 2009, http://www.civilwararchive.com/Unreghst/unrginf2.htm#16thinf.
Mark W. Johnson, That Body of Brave Men: The U.S. Regular Infantry and the Civil War in the West. Da Capo, 2003.