This regiment was raised in the counties of Westmoreland, Fayette, Greene, Beaver, Allegany and Erie. The men rendezvoused at Camp Howe, near Pittsburgh. The field officers were Colonel Joseph Jack of Westmoreland County; Lieutenant Colonel John Murphy of Washington County; and Major John J. Cree of Fayette County. They moved to Washington D. C., then on to Newport News and Suffolk, Virginia. This regiment joined other groups, and then moved into North Carolina in 1863. They moved around in Virginia and then back to Harper's Ferry, West Virginia in July 1863. This group had several expeditions against the enemy, but did not come to battle. The regiment skirted around the Gettysburg Battle. As the army under General Meade approached the Potomac, this regiment engaged in the pursuit of Lee. This regiment went after the enemy as it escaped into Virginia. This regiment was then ordered back to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and they were mustered out of service on July 25, 1863 before the war was over.
It is noted that no men were lost in battle, but 25 men died of disease.
It is also noted that three Tent #56 Union Soldiers were from Westmoreland County, and went into service at the same time under Colonel Joseph Jack from Mt. Pleasant, Pennsylvania. These three soldiers went into the 168th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, but each was assigned to a different company. These soldiers were Jacob Barnhart, Jacob (John) Fisher and Henry C. Blystone.
Camp Howe was located in the Oakland District in 1862, as painted by Jasper Lawman. Lawman's widow presented this painting, displayed above, to the Soldiers & Sailors Military Museum Memorial. This camp was located in what is now the Schenley Park Area in Pittsburgh.