170th New York Infantry in the American Civil War

Overview

The 170th New York Infantry (Three Years’ Service) was an infantry regiment organized at Staten Island, New York, and mustered into United States service on October 7, 1862, for a term of three years. The regiment was part of the Union Army and served primarily in the Eastern Theater. It was one of four regiments forming the Corcoran Legion, a brigade composed almost entirely of Irish soldiers, with companies recruited mainly from New York City and Brooklyn.

The 170th New York Infantry gained distinction for its active participation in several major campaigns and battles, including the defense of Suffolk, the Overland Campaign, the Siege of Petersburg, and the Appomattox Campaign. The regiment was noted for its high casualty rates in several engagements and was commended for its conduct and efficiency by brigade and division commanders.

Organization & Service

The 170th New York Infantry was organized at Staten Island and mustered into service on October 7, 1862. Shortly after, on October 16, the regiment left New York for Washington, D.C., where it served for about a month in the defenses of the capital as part of Casey’s Division. The regiment then moved to Fortress Monroe and, after several weeks on the Virginia Peninsula, participated in the Blackwater expedition and skirmishes at Deserted House and Union Mills.

Following these operations, the regiment was stationed at Suffolk, Virginia, and took part in the defense of Suffolk in the spring of 1863, serving under Col. Murphy of the 69th Militia and within the 1st Division, 7th Corps, commanded by Gen. Corcoran. The regiment remained in the vicinity of Suffolk until July 1863, when the Corcoran Legion was ordered to Washington, D.C., for garrison and outpost duty.

In May 1864, the 170th New York Infantry was transferred to the Army of the Potomac and assigned to Gibbon’s (2nd) Division, 2nd Corps. The regiment arrived in time to participate in the closing battles around Spotsylvania. At the Battle of North Anna, the regiment suffered its heaviest casualties of any unit engaged there. The regiment also sustained significant losses during the initial assaults on Petersburg in June 1864 and was again heavily engaged at Reams’ Station, where Major Donnelly was killed. From June 1864 until the end of the war, the regiment, along with the 8th New York Heavy Artillery, formed the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 2nd Corps. The 170th continued to serve through the final Appomattox Campaign, participating in the pursuit and surrender of Lee’s army.

Engagements & Campaigns

• Blackwater Expedition
• Deserted House
• Union Mills
• Defense of Suffolk
• Siege of Suffolk
• Carrsville
• Edenton Road
• Spotsylvania
• North Anna
• Totopotomy
• Cold Harbor
• Petersburg (June 16–22, 1864)
• Weldon Railroad
• Deep Bottom
• Strawberry Plains
• Reams’ Station
• Boydton Plank Road
• Vaughn Road
• Hatcher’s Run
• Petersburg Works (March 1865)
• Farmville
• Appomattox Campaign

Casualties

• Killed or mortally wounded: 10 officers, 119 enlisted men
• Died of disease and other causes: 2 officers, 96 enlisted men
• Total deaths: 227
• Total killed and wounded: 481

Casualty figures are based on Fox’s Regimental Losses and state reports. At North Anna, the regiment lost 22 killed, 55 wounded, and 22 missing. At Petersburg (June 16–22, 1864), casualties were 22 killed, 111 wounded, and 3 missing. At Reams’ Station, the regiment suffered 85 killed, wounded, and missing.

Field Officers & Commanders

• Colonel Peter McDermott
• Colonel James P. McIvor
• Lieutenant Colonel James P. McIvor
• Lieutenant Colonel Michael C. Murphy
• Lieutenant Colonel John B. Donnelly
• Lieutenant Colonel Charles Hagan
• Major George W. Warner
• Major John B. Donnelly
• Major John Connery
• Major Charles Hagan

Regimental Roster

The full roster of the 170th New York Infantry (Three Years’ Service), including officers and enlisted men, is available for genealogical and historical research. This roster provides names, ranks, and additional service details where available.

To view the complete roster, visit the 170th New York Infantry (Three Years’ Service) Roster page.

Sources & References

• Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, various volumes
• New York State Adjutant General’s Reports
• 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