The regiment was organized in
Elmira, New York and companies were mustered in for one or three year enlistments in April, May, July, and September 1864; it was composed of companies from
Chemung,
Steuben,
Erie,
Tioga,
Tompkins and other Counties. The regiment left the State in detachments throughout 1864; it served in
22nd Corps, from May 1864; in 1st Division,
9th Corps, from June 1864; in 2nd Division, 9th Corps, from September 1864; and was honorably discharged and mustered out June 8, 1865, near
Alexandria, Virginia. The 179th proceeded to Washington, D. C., where it served in the summer of 1864 in the performance of garrison duty. In June, it joined
Grant's army at Cold Harbor, and took part in the first failed assaults on Petersburg; then went into
entrenchments exposed to fire during the siege, daily losing men. The 179th was engaged in the
Battle of the Crater, with dozens killed, wounded and missing; it was reduced by severe losses, and reorganized with more losses in the fall. The regiment rendered service during the attack of Fort Stedman in March 1865 and took part in its last battle, the storming of Petersburg in April, with yet more losses. == Total strength and casualties ==