Historical Sketch:
Col., John Patrick ; Lieut.-Col., James B. Freeman ; Maj., Algernon S. Patrick. The 66th was never completely organized and after a nominal existence of about 8 months ceased to exist as a separate organization. Toward the end of May, 1861, Alfred W. Chantry, of Philadelphia, was given verbal authority by the secretary of war to recruit a regiment for three years' service. Vexatious delays ensued before the men could be mustered in and many of them joined other commands. Moreover, the government had no clothing to issue to the men and it was only through the generosity of a private citizen of Philadelphia, Benjamin L. Berry, that complete outfits of grey cloth were supplied to the officers and men. Finally, the first company was mustered in on July 1, and by the end of the month four more were mustered in. John Patrick was chosen lieutenant-colonel on July 26, and James B. Freeman, major. On Aug. 24, at the earnest solicitation of Col. Slifer, secretary of state, the five companies mustered in proceeded to Washington under the command of Col. Chantry, and were there assigned to Fitz John Porter's provisional division. Additional companies recruited in Philadelphia joined the regiment and on Sept. 20 it was attached to Gen. Banks' army at Darnestown, Md., where it was assigned to Abercrombie's brigade. With its division, it moved to Frederick, Md., in November and went into winter quarters. In October its maximum strength was only 620 officers and men and the following January Col. Chantry was relieved of his command as he had not succeeded in recruiting the regiment to the maximum standard. Meantime, by order of the war department, it was made a part of the state's quota, and was numbered the 66th of the line, having been previously known as the 30th. Col. Patrick and a number of the other officers resigned their commissions in Feb., 1862. Such was the disorganized condition of the regiment, in addition to its lack of numbers, that on March 1 Gov. Curtin ordered that it be disbanded and the enlisted men transferred to the 73d and 99th Pa. infantry. This was done despite the mutinous opposition of the men. Cos. B, D and C were transferred to the 73d; A and G to the 99th; E, F and K were disbanded and the men divided among the companies of the 73d.
Roster:
The Roster of this unit contains the names of 1128 men. Source:
The Union Army by Federal Publishing Company, 1908 - Volume 1 Bibliography:
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Fox, Arthur B. Pittsburgh During the American Civil War 1860–1865. Chicora, Pennsylvania: Mechling Bookbindery, 2002.
Greater Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce. Southern Revenge: Civil War History of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. Chambersburg, Pennsylvania: Greater Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce, 1989.
Miller, William J. The Training of an Army: Camp Curtin and the North's Civil War. Shippensburg, Pennsylvania: White Mane, 1990.
Sandou, Robert M. Deserter County: Civil War Opposition in the Pennsylvania Appalachians. Fordham University Press, 2009.
Skinner, George W., ed. Pennsylvania at Chickamauga and Chattanooga: Ceremonies at the Dedication of the Monuments Erected by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Wm. Stanley Ray, State Printer, 1897.
Taylor, Frank H. Philadelphia in the Civil War. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The City, 1913.
Wingert, Cooper H. Harrisburg and the Civil War: Defending the Keystone of the Union. Charleston, South Carolina: The History Press, 2013. ISBN 9781626190412.
Young, Ronald C. Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in the Civil War. Lancaster, Pennsylvania: published by the author, 2003.
Historical Sketch: