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124th New
York Infantry
Online Books:
124th New York
Infantry Soldier
Roster - Annual Report of the Adjutant General of the State of New York For the Year
1893, Volume 36 View the Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| One Hundred and Twenty-fourth New York Infantry. — Cols., A. Van Horn Ellis,
Francis M. Cummins, Charles H. Weygant; Lieut.-Cols., Francis M. Cummins, Charles H.
Weygant, Henry S. Murray; Majs., James Cromwell, Charles H. Weygant, Henry S. Murray,
James W. Benedict. This regiment, known as the "Orange Blossoms," was recruited
in the county of Orange, organized at Goshen, and there mustered into the U. S. service
Sept. 5, 1862, for three years. A part of the 71st regiment national guard, on their
return from their second three months' service in Sept., 1862, formed the nucleus of the
124th. It left the state on Sept. 6, 1862, 930 strong; served for several weeks in
Virginia; then joined the Army of the Potomac at Harper's Ferry; was attached to the 1st
brigade, Whipple's (3d) division, 3d corps, in Nov. 1862; joined Burnside's army on its
way to Fredericksburg and arrived at Falmouth Nov. 24. The corps was only lightly engaged
at Fredericksburg and the loss of the 124th was small. It was hotly engaged at
Chancellorsville, losing 28 killed, 161 wounded and 15 missing — a total of 204 out
of 550 engaged. The heroic efforts of Col. Ellis during the battle to redeem the fortunes
of the day evoked general commendation. In the 2nd brigade, Birney's (1st) division, 3d
corps, it marched on the field at Gettysburg with 290 officers and men, of whom 28 were
killed, 57 wounded and 5 reported missing, both Col. Ellis and Maj. Cromwell being killed
while bravely cheering on their men. A beautiful monument has been erected by the regiment
at Gettysburg, surmounted by a life size marble statue of their heroic colonel. During the
pursuit of Lee after the battle, the regiment was engaged at Jones' cross-roads and
Wapping heights. In the subsequent campaigns in Virginia it was under fire at Auburn and
Kelly's ford, suffered a loss of 16 during the Mine Run campaign, and then went into
winter quarters at Brandy Station. In April, 1864, the 3d corps was discontinued and
Birney's division became the 3d division of the 2nd corps, but the men were allowed to
retain the beloved diamond shaped badge on their caps and the piece of orange ribbon on
their coats. Gen. Ward was still in command of the brigade. The regiment lost 58 killed,
wounded and missing at the Wilderness, and 61 at Spottsylvania, where the regiment was in
the front line during the celebrated charge of Gen. Hooker, both Col. Cummins and
Lieut.-Col. Weygant being among the wounded. Continuous hard fighting followed at the
North Anna river, Totopotomy, Cold Harbor, Petersburg and the Weldon railroad. In July,
1864, Gen. Mott succeeded to the command of the division, and Gen. DeTrobriand to the
command of Ward's old brigade. During the remainder of the year, while before Petersburg,
it was engaged at Deep Bottom, Strawberry Plains, Poplar Spring Church, Boydton plank
road, the Hicksford raid, and early in 1865 it was active at Hatcher's run, Fort Stedman
and the final assault on Petersburg. It then entered on the Appomattox campaign, being
engaged at White Oak ridge, Deatonsville road, Farmville and Appomattox Station. In
reporting the action of March 25, near Watkins' house, Lt.-Col. Weygant, commanding the
regiment, says that his men charged in gallant style a force of the enemy composed of the
42nd, 59th and 60th Ala. regiments, "capturing the battle flag of the 59th Alabama, 6
officers and 159 men, about 20 of whom were wounded, including Lieut.-Col. Troy of the
60th Ala. The enemy being completely dispersed I returned to my former position, leaving
between 20 and 30 of their dead upon the field. At 11:30 p. m. I received orders to
withdraw and return to camp, which I did, bringing with me about 75 stands of arms. All
this, I am happy to say, was accomplished without the loss of a man, either in killed,
wounded or missing." The regiment was mustered out, under Col. Weygant, June 3, 1865,
near Washington, D. C. The total enrollment during service was 1,320, of whom 11 officers
and 137 men, or 11.2 per cent, were killed and mortally wounded; 1 officer and 94 men died
of disease and other causes; 11 men died in Confederate prisons; 516 officers and men were
killed and wounded. Private Archibald Freeman and Corp. George W. Tomkins were awarded
medals of honor by Congress for the capture of battle flags, at Spottsylvania and near
Watkins' house, respectively. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 2
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