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108th New
York Infantry
Online Books:
108th New York
Infantry Soldier
Roster - Annual Report of the Adjutant General of the State of New York For the Year
1893, Volume 34 View the Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| One Hundred and Eighth New York Infantry. — Cols., Oliver H. Palmer, Charles
J. Powers; Lieut. -Cols., Charles J. Powers, Francis E. Pierce; Majs., George B. Force,
Francis E. Pierce, Harmon S. Hogaboom, William H. Andrews. The 108th regiment was
recruited and organized at Rochester, where it was mustered into the U. S. service for
three years, Aug. 16-18, 1862. It left the state the following day, and served in the
defenses of Washington, until Sept. 6, when it was assigned to the 2nd brigade, 3d
division (French's), 2nd corps, and engaged in its first battle at Antietam. The new
regiment suffered a loss in the battle of 30 killed, 122 wounded and 43 missing. Its next
battle was at Fredericksburg, where Gen. Couch commanded the corps, and the regiment again
suffered severely, losing 92 in killed, wounded and missing. Its loss at Chancellorsville
was 52, Gen. Hancock being in command of the corps and Gen. Alex. Hays the division. At
Gettysburg, where the regiment again met with a severe loss on the second and third days,
its casualties amounted to 102 killed and wounded. In October it was engaged with some
loss at Auburn and Bristoe Station, a 2nd corps affair; was active during the Mine Run
campaign at the close of the year, and at the battle of Morton's ford in Feb., 1864. On
the reorganization of the Army of the Potomac in March, 1864, the 3d division was
consolidated with the 1st and 2nd, the 108th being assigned to the 3d brigade, 2nd
division, 2nd corps, with which it crossed the Rapidan and engaged in the Wilderness
campaign. It lost 52 at the battle of the Wilderness, 53 at Spottsylvania, suffered
constant losses in the subsequent battles leading up to Petersburg, and in the battles at
the Weldon railroad, Deep Bottom, Strawberry Plains, Reams' station, Boydton plank road,
Hatcher's run, the final assault on Petersburg, and fought its last battle at Farmville,
two days before Lee's surrender. It was mustered out under Col. Powers, May 28, 1865, at
Bailey's cross-roads, Va., and the men not then entitled to discharge were transferred to
the 59th N. Y. Maj. Force was killed at Antietam, and both Col. Palmer and Col. Powers
were promoted to the rank of brevet brigadier-general for faithful and meritorious
services. The regiment lost during service 9 officers and 106 men killed and mortally
wounded; 90 men died of disease and other causes, a total of 205. Among the many brilliant
achievements of the regiment, it is related that in the fight at Morton's ford the 108th
advanced rapidly and without firing a shot to a stone wall occupied by the enemy, when
they delivered a volley and with shouts leaped over the wall and were soon in possession
of an important position which virtually decided the contest. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 2
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