Overview
The 7th New York Independent Battery was an artillery unit organized in New York for Union service during the American Civil War. Principally recruited from Orange and Ulster counties, it was originally formed at Windsor as an artillery company within the 10th Legion, 56th New York Infantry. The battery was mustered into United States service on October 30, 1861, for a three-year term and continued as a veteran organization after the original enlistment expired. The unit served primarily in the Eastern Theater and was notable for its participation in major campaigns, including the Peninsular Campaign and the operations against Petersburg and Richmond.
Organization & Service
The 7th New York Independent Battery was organized at Windsor, New York, and mustered into federal service on October 30, 1861, under the command of Captain Peter C. Regan. The battery left the state on November 7, 1861. Initially, it served as part of the 2nd Division, 4th Corps during the Peninsular Campaign in 1862, where it saw action at the Battle of Fair Oaks, suffering losses in killed, wounded, and missing.
Following the Peninsular Campaign, the battery was assigned to garrison duty at Norfolk and Portsmouth, Virginia, where it remained until the spring of 1864. At that time, it was attached to the 18th Corps, Army of the James, and participated in the operations against Petersburg and Richmond, including the first assault on Petersburg in May 1864. The battery remained in the trenches before Petersburg until the final assault on April 2, 1865, and was also engaged at Chaffin’s Farm. From January 1865, it served in Ferrero’s Division, defending Bermuda Hundred. The unit was ordered home and mustered out at Albany, New York, on July 22, 1865, still under Captain Regan.
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
- Peninsular Campaign (1862)
- Battle of Fair Oaks
- Garrison duty at Norfolk and Portsmouth, Virginia
- Operations against Petersburg and Richmond (May 1864–April 1865)
- First assault on Petersburg
- Chaffin’s Farm
- Defenses of Bermuda Hundred
- Final assault on Petersburg (April 2, 1865)
Casualties
- Killed in action: 3
- Died of disease: 28
- Total known losses: 31
- At the Battle of Fair Oaks, the battery lost 11 men killed, wounded, and missing.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Captain Peter C. Regan
Regimental Roster
The complete roster of the 7th New York Independent Battery, including officers and enlisted men who served during its term, is available for genealogical and historical research. This roster provides names, ranks, and service details as recorded in official state and federal records.
To view the full roster, visit the 7th New York Independent Battery Roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, various volumes (Peninsular Campaign, Army of the James operations)
- 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