| If this website has been useful to you, please consider
making a Donation.
Your support will help keep this website free for everyone, and will allow us to do
more research. Thank you for your support! |
126th New
York Infantry
Online Books:
126th 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-Sixth New York Infantry. — Cols., Eliakim Sherrill,
James M. Bull, William H. Baird, Ira Smith Brown; Lieut.- Cols., James M. Bull, William H.
Baird, Ira Smith Brown, John B. Geddes; Majs., William H. Baird, Philo D. Phillips, Ira
Smith Brown, Charles A. Richardson. This regiment, recruited in the counties of Ontario,
Seneca and Yates, was organized at Geneva, and there mustered into the U. S. service for
three years, Aug. 22, 1862. At the close of 1864, when it had become much reduced in
numbers by reason of its hard service, it was consolidated into a battalion of five
companies, A to E. The regiment left the state on Aug. 26, 1862, and took part in its
first fighting during the siege of Harper's Ferry, where it received the brunt of the
enemy's attack and suffered a large share of the casualties at Maryland and Bolivar
heights. It lost 16 killed and 42 wounded during the fighting, and was surrendered with
the rest of the garrison on Sept. 15. The men were immediately paroled and spent two
months in camp at Chicago, Ill., awaiting notice of its exchange. As soon as notice of its
exchange was received in December, it returned to Virginia, encamping during the winter at
Union Mills. The following extract is taken from Col. Fox's account of the regiment in his
work on Regimental Losses in the Civil War: "In June, 1863, it joined the Army of the
Potomac, and was placed in Willard's brigade, Alex. Hays' (3d) division, 2nd corps, with
which it marched to Gettysburg, where the regiment won honorable distinction, capturing 5
stands of colors in that battle. Col. Willard, the brigade commander, being killed there,
Col. Sherrill succeeded him, only to meet the same fate, while in the regiment the
casualties amounted to 40 killed, 181 wounded and 10 missing. At Bristoe Station the
regiment won additional honors by its conspicuous gallantry and sustained the heaviest
loss in that action; casualties, 6 killed, 33 wounded and 10 missing. The 126th having
been transferred to Barlow's (1st) division, entered the spring campaign of 1864 with less
than 300 men, of whom 100 were detailed at headquarters as a provost-guard. Its casualties
at the Wilderness were 5 killed, 62 wounded and 9 missing; and at Po river and
Spottsylvania, 6 killed, 37 wounded and 7 missing. Col. Baird was killed at
Petersburg." The regiment took part in the following important battles: Siege of
Harper's Ferry — including Maryland and Bolivar heights; Gettysburg, Auburn ford,
Bristoe Station, Morton's ford, Wilderness, Po river, Spottsylvania, North Anna,
Totopotomy, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Weldon railroad, siege of Petersburg, Deep Bottom,
Reams' station, Hatcher's run, and Sutherland Station, and was also present in the Mine
Run campaign, at Strawberry Plains, Boydton Road, Farmville and Appomattox. Commanded by
Col. Brown, it was mustered out at Washington, D. C, June 3, 1865. The total enrollment of
the regiment during service was 1,036, of whom 16 ofificers and 138 men were killed and
mortally wounded, or 14.7 per cent; 1 officer and 121 men died of disease and other
causes; total deaths, 17 officers and 259 men, 30 of whom died in the hands of the enemy.
The total of killed and wounded in the regiment amounted to 535. The percentage of killed
and mortally wounded at Gettysburg amounted to over 15, and the total casualties to 57.4
per cent. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 2
|
Whats New
Bibliography
About Us
|