160th New York Infantry in the American Civil War

Overview

The 160th New York Infantry (Three Years’ Service) was an infantry regiment organized in New York State for service in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Recruitment was conducted by Colonel Charles C. Dwight in the counties of Cayuga, Seneca, Wayne, Ontario, Allegany, Erie, and Wyoming. The regiment mustered into United States service at New York City on November 21, 1862, for a three-year term. The 160th New York served primarily in the Department of the Gulf and later in the Shenandoah Valley, participating in several major campaigns and engagements.

Organization & Service

The 160th New York Infantry was organized at Auburn, New York, and mustered in on November 21, 1862. Shortly after, the regiment departed the state on December 4, 1862, and was sent to the Department of the Gulf. Upon arrival, it was assigned to the 2nd Brigade, Augur’s Division, 19th Army Corps. The regiment saw its first action in January 1863 during an engagement with the Confederate gunboat Cotton, suffering its initial casualties. In March 1863, Company F, under Captain Josiah P. Jewett, was involved in the action aboard the gunboat Diana at Pattersonville, resulting in significant losses, including the mortal wounding of Captain Jewett.

The regiment participated in the Battle of Fort Bisland, and was subsequently engaged at Jeanerette and Plain Store. It played a notable role in the siege of Port Hudson, taking part in the general assaults of May 27 and June 14, 1863, and incurred further losses. After the fall of Port Hudson, the 160th New York performed post and garrison duties until March 1864, when it joined Banks’ Red River Expedition as part of the 2nd Brigade, 1st (Emory’s) Division, 19th Corps. The regiment was heavily engaged at Pleasant Hill, Sabine Cross Roads, Cane River Crossing, and Mansura.

In July 1864, the regiment moved north with the first two divisions of the 19th Corps and, as part of Dwight’s (1st) Division, participated in General Sheridan’s Shenandoah Valley Campaign. The 160th New York sustained severe losses at the battles of Opequon (Winchester) and Cedar Creek. Lieutenant Colonel John B. Van Petten was wounded at Winchester but remained in command until the battle’s conclusion. The regiment left the Shenandoah Valley in April 1865, proceeded to Washington, D.C., and took part in the Grand Review in May. It then moved to Savannah, Georgia, where it was mustered out of service under Colonel Henry P. Underbill on November 1, 1865.

Engagements & Campaigns

• Action with the gunboat Cotton (January 1863)
• Pattersonville (March 1863, including action aboard the gunboat Diana)
• Fort Bisland
• Jeanerette
• Plain Store
• Siege of Port Hudson (including assaults of May 27 and June 14, 1863)
• Red River Expedition (Pleasant Hill, Sabine Cross Roads, Cane River Crossing, Mansura)
• Opequon (Winchester)
• Cedar Creek

Casualties

• Killed and died of wounds: 6 officers, 47 enlisted men
• Died of disease and other causes: 1 officer, 159 enlisted men
• Total deaths: 219

Field Officers & Commanders

• Colonel Charles C. Dwight
• Colonel Henry P. Underbill
• Lieutenant Colonel John B. Van Petten
• Lieutenant Colonel John B. Burreed
• Major William M. Sentell
• Major Daniel L. Vaughan
• Captain Josiah P. Jewett (Company F, mortally wounded at Pattersonville)

Regimental Roster

The full roster of the 160th New York Infantry (Three Years’ Service), including officers and enlisted men, is available on the regiment’s roster page. This resource provides names, ranks, and additional service details valuable for genealogical research.

To view the complete roster, visit the 160th New York Infantry (Three Years’ Service) Roster page.

Sources & References

• Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volumes XV, XXVI, XXXIV, XXXIX
• New York State Adjutant General’s Report
• Dyer, Frederick H. “A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion”
• Fox, William F. “Regimental Losses in the American Civil War”
• The Union Army, Vol. 2 (Federal Publishing Company, 1908)