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.

[1] 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.