CIVIL WAR INDEX
Primary Source Material
on the Soldiers and the Battles
Home The Armies The Soldiers The Battles Civilians Articles
 
If this website has been useful to you, please consider making a Donation.

Your support will help keep this website free for everyone, and will allow us to do more research. Thank you for your support!

48th New York Infantry

Online Books:
48th New York Infantry Soldier Roster - Annual Report of the Adjutant General of the State of New York For the Year 1893, Volume 24     View the Entire Book

Regimental History
Forty-eighth New York Infantry. — Cols., James H. Perry, William B. Barton, William B. Coan; Lieut.-Cols., William B. Barton, Oliver F. Beard, James F. Green, Dudley W. Strickland, William B. Coan, Nere A. Elfwing; Majs., Oliver F. Beard, James F. Greene, Dudley W. Strickland, William B. Coan, Samuel M. Swartwout, Nere A. Elfwing, Albert F. Miller, James A. Barrett. The 48th, the "Continental Guard," contained seven Brooklyn companies, one from New York, one from Monmouth county, N. J., and one from Brooklyn and Monmouth county. It was mustered into the U. S. service at Brooklyn Aug. 16 to Sept. 14, 1861, for three years; left the state for Washington Sept. 16; was attached to the 1st brigade of Gen. Sherman's force; embarked for Port Royal late in October, and was active in the capture of the fortifications of Port Royal ferry Jan. 1, 1862. In the siege operations against Fort Pulaski, Ga., the 48th took a prominent part and after the fall of the fortress was assigned to garrison duty there, with expeditions in September and October to Bluffton, Cranston's bluff and Mackay's point. In June, 1863, the regiment with the exception of Cos. G and I, left Fort Pulaski and proceeded to Hilton Head, where it was there attached to Strong's brigade, 10th corps, with which it participated in the movement against Fort Wagner in July. In the assault of July 18, the loss of the 48th was 242 killed, wounded and missing, including Col. Barton wounded and Lieut. -Col. Green killed. The regiment received high praise from the commanding officers for its gallantry in this action. In August it formed a part of the Florida expedition; was posted for some time at St. Augustine; participated in the disastrous battle at Olustee, with a loss of 44 in killed, wounded and missing; then retired to Jacksonville; proceeded up the river to Palatka on March 10, 1864, remained there until April when it was transferred to the Army of the James at Bermuda Hundred, and was assigned to the 2nd brigade, 2nd division, 10th corps. In the engagement at Port Walthall Junction the regiment again showed its mettle by heroic conduct in spite of severe loss. On May 30 it was assigned to the 1st brigade, 3d division, 18th corps, and on June 15, to the 2nd brigade, 2nd division, 10th corps. It took a prominent part in the battle of Cold Harbor; was in the first assault on Petersburg and in action at the explosion of the mine; and was engaged at Strawberry Plains and Fort Harrison. The original members not reenlisted were mustered out at New York city on Sept. 24, 1864, but 350 members having reenlisted in Dec, 1863, the regiment retained its organization. In Dec, 1864, with the 2nd brigade, 2nd division, 24th corps, the 48th was ordered to Fort Fisher, N. C., was active in the capture of the fortifications there in Jan., 1865, and served for some months in that vicinity. In March it was attached to the provisional corps, in April to the 10th corps and during the summer months performed various routine duties in the neighborhood of Raleigh, N. C, where it was finally mustered out on Sept. 1, 1865. During its term of service 2,173 members were enrolled, and of these 236 or over 10 percent, were killed or mortally wounded in action, a loss exceeded among the regiments of the state only by the 69th and 40th. It was 17th in the list of all of the regiments of the Union armies in total loss. In the battles of the regiment 868 men were reported killed, wounded or missing, and it earned by desperate fighting its right to be known as a crack fighting regiment.

Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing Company, 1908 - Volume 2

Whats New
Bibliography
About Us


Copyright 2010 by CivilWarIndex.com
A Division of Pier-Pleasure.com