Overview
The 186th New York Infantry (One Year’s Service) was an infantry regiment organized at Sacket’s Harbor, New York, during the final year of the Civil War. Principally recruited from Jefferson and Lewis counties, the regiment mustered into United States service between September 5 and September 29, 1864, for a term of one year. Company G was mustered in at Hart’s Island for one and three years’ service. The regiment served in the Union Army, primarily in the Eastern Theater, and was attached to the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 9th Army Corps.
The 186th New York Infantry is noted for its participation in the closing campaigns around Petersburg, Virginia, and for its role in the assault on Fort Mahone, where it sustained significant casualties and received commendation for gallantry.
Organization & Service
The 186th New York Infantry was organized at Sacket’s Harbor, New York, with recruitment focused in Jefferson and Lewis counties. The regiment was mustered into federal service from September 5 to September 29, 1864. Company G was mustered in at Hart’s Island on September 28, 1864, for both one and three years’ service. Upon completion of organization, the regiment departed New York for the front on September 28, 1864.
Upon arrival, the 186th New York was assigned to the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 9th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac. The regiment participated in the operations at Hatcher’s Run in October 1864 and was engaged at Fort Stedman in March 1865. On April 2, 1865, the regiment took a prominent role in the storming of Petersburg, being among the first to enter Confederate works. During the assault on Fort Mahone, Colonel Bradley Winslow was wounded while leading a charge, and the regiment was commended by brigade and division commanders for its conduct. The regiment’s losses in this action totaled 180 killed, wounded, and missing.
Following the fall of Petersburg and the conclusion of hostilities, the 186th New York Infantry was mustered out of service under the command of Lieutenant Colonel E. J. Marsh on June 2, 1865, at Alexandria, Virginia.
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
- Hatcher’s Run (October 1864)
- Fort Stedman (March 1865)
- Assault on Petersburg and Fort Mahone (April 2, 1865)
Casualties
- Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded: 45
- Officers died of wounds and other causes: 1
- Enlisted men died of wounds and other causes: 39
- Total deaths: 88
- Loss at Fort Mahone (killed, wounded, and missing): 180
Field Officers & Commanders
- Colonel Bradley Winslow
- Lieutenant Colonel E. J. Marsh
- Major Abram D. Sternberg
Regimental Roster
The full roster of the 186th New York Infantry (One Year’s 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 186th New York Infantry (One Year’s Service) Roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Vol. XLVI, Part 1
- 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