Overview
The 163rd New York Infantry (Three Years’ Service) was an infantry regiment raised for Union service during the American Civil War. Organized primarily in New York City, Brooklyn, and Jamaica in the summer of 1862, the regiment was mustered into United States service at New York City on October 11, 1862, for a three-year term. The 163rd New York served in the Eastern Theater and was known as the 3rd Regiment of the Empire Brigade. Its independent existence was brief, but it established a reputation for bravery during its short service.
Organization & Service
The 163rd New York Infantry began recruiting in the summer of 1862, drawing men mainly from New York City, Brooklyn, and Jamaica. The regiment was organized at New York City, with its ten companies consolidated into six under Colonel F. H. Braulick. The unit left New York State on October 5, 1862, and proceeded to Washington, D.C., where it was mustered into federal service for three years on October 11, 1862.
After remaining in Washington until November 1862, the regiment participated in skirmishes at Cedar Creek and Waterloo, Virginia. In December, the 163rd was attached to Carroll’s (2nd) Brigade, Whipple’s (3rd) Division, 3rd Corps, Army of the Potomac. The regiment fought at the Battle of Fredericksburg, suffering significant casualties. On January 20, 1863, under Lieutenant Colonel John B. Leverick, the regiment was consolidated with the 73rd New York Infantry. General Whipple, in announcing the consolidation, commended the regiment’s conduct and bravery, noting its positive reputation despite its short independent service.
Research This Regiment Further
If you’d like to explore this unit’s history in more depth, regimental histories and Civil War reference works offer valuable detail.
Engagements & Campaigns
- Skirmishes at Cedar Creek, Virginia (November 1862)
- Skirmish at Waterloo, Virginia (November 1862)
- Battle of Fredericksburg (December 1862)
Casualties
- Killed and mortally wounded: 3 officers, 15 enlisted men
- Died of disease: 8 enlisted men
- Total known losses: 26
Field Officers & Commanders
- Colonel F. H. Braulick
- Lieutenant Colonel John B. Leverick
- Major James J. Byrne
Regimental Roster
The full roster of the 163rd 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 163rd New York Infantry (Three Years’ Service) Roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Vol. 21
- 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, Federal Publishing Company, 1908, Vol. 2