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102nd New
York Infantry
Online Books:
102nd New York
Infantry Soldier
Roster - Annual Report of the Adjutant General of the State of New York For the Year
1893, Volume 33 View the Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| One Hundred and Second New York Infantry. — Cols.. Thomas B. Van Buren, James
C. Lane. Herbert Hammerstien, Harvey S. Chatfield; Lieut.-Cols., William B. Hayward, James
C. Lane, Harvey S. Chatfield, Oscar J. Spaulding; Majs., James C. Lane, F. Eugene Trotter,
Gilbert M. Elliott, Lewis R. Stegman, Oscar J. Spaulding, Reuben H. Wilber. This regiment,
known as the Van Buren light infantry, was principally recruited at New York city, and was
formed by the consolidation of the Von Beck rifles under Col. R. H. Shannon, and part of
the McClellan infantry under Col. S. Levy, with Col. Van Buren's command. The organization
was completed later by the addition of two companies from the 78th Cameron Highlanders and
Co. A, 12th militia, and was mustered into the U. S. service from Nov., 1861, to April,
1862. In July, 1864, its ranks were filled by the transfer of the officers and men of the
78th N. Y. infantry. On the expiration of its term of service the original members (except
veterans) were mustered out, and the regiment, composed of veterans and recruits continued
in service. Early in June, 1865, it received by transfer the remaining men of the 119th,
154th, 137th, 149th, 134th, and 184th N. Y. Vols. The regiment, eight companies, left the
state on March 10, 1862, followed by Cos. I and K on April 7. Assigned to the 2nd brigade,
2nd division, 2nd corps, Army of Virginia, it fought its first severe engagement at Cedar
mountain, where its loss was 115 killed, wounded and missing. The regiment then moved with
its corps to the support of Pope, fought at the second battle of Bull Run, and went into
position at Chantilly, but was not engaged. In the same brigade and division, 12th corps,
it was actively engaged at Antietam, losing 37 killed, wounded and missing, and was then
successively engaged in the minor actions at Lovettsville, Ripon, Hillsboro, Winchester,
Wolf Run shoal, and Fairfax Station, going into winter quarters at Stafford Court House.
At the battle of Chancellorsville the 102nd, which fought in Geary's division of the 12th
corps, lost 90 killed, wounded and missing. It was heavily engaged with the "White
Star" division at Gettysburg, where its total loss was 29. It followed with its corps
in pursuit of Lee's fleeing army, being engaged at Ellis' ford and Stevensburg, and in the
latter part of September moved with the corps to Tennessee to reinforce Gen. Rosecrans. It
engaged in the midnight battle of Wauhatchie; then started on the Chattanooga and
Rossville campaign, fighting the famous "Battle above the clouds" on Lookout
mountain, where the division led the advance; then fought at Missionary ridge and Ringgold
gap, its loss in the campaign being 14 killed, wounded and missing. In the same brigade
and division, 20th corps, the 102nd was with Gen. Sherman all through his Atlanta
campaign, fighting at Villanow, Mill Creek gap, Resaca, Calhoun, Cassville, Dallas,
Acworth, Kennesaw mountain, Chattahoochee river, Peachtree creek, where its losses
amounted to 53 in killed, wounded and missing, and at Bald hill. It moved in November with
Sherman's army on the march to the sea, shared in the siege of Savannah, its active
service closing with the campaign in the Carolinas, during which it was engaged at
Wadesboro, Averasboro, Bentonville, Goldsboro, Raleigh, and Bennett's house, losing 18
killed, wounded and missing during this final campaign. It was mustered out under Col.
Chatfield, July 21, 1865, at Alexandria, Va. During its long and honorable service the
102nd buried its dead in seven states, and participated in over 40 battles and minor
engagements. It participated in many a famous charge, one of the most gallant being at
Lookout mountain, where the regiment, as part of Ireland's brigade, struck the enemy on
the flank and drove him in confusion from the field. It belonged to the gallant White Star
division, commanded by Gen. Geary, who complimented the regiment as follows: "It may
safely be asserted that no organization in the army has a prouder record, or has passed
through more arduous, varied and bloody campaigns." The loss of the regiment during
service was 7 officers and 67 men killed and mortally wounded; 82 men died of disease,
accident, etc., a total of 7 officers and 149 enlisted men. The gallant Maj. Elliott was
killed in action at Lookout mountain. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 2
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