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16th New
York Artillery Heavy
Online Books:
16th New York
Artillery Heavy Soldier
Roster - Annual Report of the Adjutant General of the State of New York For the Year
1893, Volume 14 View the Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| Sixteenth New York Artillery (Heavy). — Col., Joseph J. Morrison;
Lieut. - Cols., John H. Ammon, Thomas J. Strong, Frederick W. Prince; Majs., Alexander H.
Davis, Charles E. Pearce, Thomas J. Strong, Julius C. Hicks, Frederick W. Prince, James C.
Caryl. The 16th was raised by Col. Joseph J. Morrison, who had previously distinguished
himself as captain of a light battery in the 3d N. Y. artillery. The regiment was
organized at New York city, the men being recruited from the state at large, and the
companies were mustered into the U. S. service for three years as follows: A and B Sept.
28, C Oct. 21, and D Dec. 7, at Albany; E and G Dec. 16, 1863, and Jan. 9, 1864,
respectively, at Riker's island; F, H, I and K Jan. 19 to Feb. 2, 1864, at Elmira; L and M
Jan. 26, 1864, at Auburn. It had a large number of surplus men, part of whom were
transferred to the 6th N. Y. artillery in Feb., 1864, and others to the 81st and 148th N.
Y. infantry and the 1st mounted rifles in May, 1864. The regiment left the state by
detachments, between Oct. 14, 1863, and Feb., 1864, and for several months performed
garrison duty at Fortress Monroe, Yorktown and Gloucester Point, serving as heavy
artillery and infantry. In July, 1864, seven companies were assigned to the 2nd brigade,
Terry's (1st) division, 10th corps, and two companies to the 1st brigade, 3d division,
same corps. On Aug. 9, 1864, when Gen. B. F. Butler called for volunteers to cut the Dutch
gap canal through the peninsula in the James river near Farrar's island, with a view to
outflanking the enemy's batteries and the obstructions in the river, Cos. A, B, C, F, G
and K responded, and 600 men were selected from them to perform the perilous task. During
the progress of the work, they were exposed to the enemy's fire, and only protected
themselves by throwing up the dirt from the canal as fast as possible, living in
"gopher holes" along the river bank. They were withdrawn after several of the
men had been killed and wounded, though Maj. Strong still continued in charge of the work
and Maj. Prince in command of the battalion. In Oct., 1864, seven companies were heavily
engaged with Terry's division at Darbytown road, sustaining a loss of 11 killed and 54
wounded, and in the action at the same place a few days later lost 13 killed and wounded.
From July 27 to Dec, 1864, when the regiment was before Petersburg and Richmond, it
sustained constant small losses, aggregating 30 killed, wounded and missing. From Dec,
1864, Cos. A, B, C, F, G and K served in the 1st division, 24th corps, and another
detachment in the artillery brigade, same corps, engaging with some loss at Fort Fisher,
the Cape Fear intrenchments, Fort Anderson, and near Wilmington, N. C. In July, 1865, the
various detachments of the regiment were united and on Aug. 21, 1865, commanded by Col.
Morrison, it was mustered out at Washington, D. C. The 16th lost by death during service
42 men killed in action; 2 officers and 284 men died of disease and other causes, a total
of 328. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 2
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