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170th New
York Infantry
Online Books:
170th New York
Infantry Soldier
Roster - Annual Report of the Adjutant General of the State of New York For the Year
1893, Volume 41 View the Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| One Hundred and Seventieth New York Infantry. — Cols., Peter McDermott, James
P. McIvor; Lieut. -Cols., James P. McIvor, Michael C. Murphy, John B. Donnelly, Charles
Hagan; Majs., George W. Warner, John B. Donnelly, John Connery, Charles Hagan. This was
one of the four regiments forming the Corcoran Legion, a brigade composed almost entirely
of Irish soldiers. Its companies were recruited principally in New York city and Brooklyn
and it was organized at Staten island, where it was mustered into the U. S. service on
Oct. 7, 1862, for three years. The regiment left the state on Oct. 16, served for a month
in the defenses of Washington, in Casey's division, and then embarked for Fortress Monroe.
After a few weeks' service on the Peninsula, during which it participated in the
Blackwater expedition and the skirmishes at the Deserted House and Union Mills, it went to
Suffolk. Speaking of this splendid fighting regiment, Col. Fox says: "It was actively
engaged in the defense of Suffolk, at which time the Legion was commanded by Col. Murphy,
of the 69th militia, and the division by Gen. Corcoran — the 1st division, 7th corps.
It remained on duty in that vicinity until July, 1863, when the Legion (Gen. Corcoran
commanding) was ordered to Washington, where it performed garrison and outpost duty. In
May, 1864, it was transferred to the Army of the Potomac and placed in Gibbon's (2nd)
division of the 2nd corps, the Legion, under command of Col. Murphy, arriving just in time
to take part in the closing battles around Spottsylvania. At the North Anna the 170th
encountered a severe musketry fire, its casualty list there being the largest of any
regiment in that battle: 22 killed, 55 wounded and 22 missing. It met with another heavy
loss at Petersburg, June 16-22, where its casualties amounted to 22 killed, 111 wounded
and 3 missing. Most of this loss occurred in the assault of June 16. The regiment was
again hotly engaged at Reams' station, where Maj. Donnelly was killed. From June, 1864,
until the close of the war, the Legion, together with the 8th N. Y. heavy artillery,
formed the 2nd brigade, 2nd division, 2nd corps." The casualties of the regiment at
Reams' station amounted to 85 killed, wounded and missing. It met with further losses at
Boydton plank road in October, at the Petersburg works in March, 1865, and then took part
with the 2nd corps in the final Appomattox campaign, which ended with Lee's surrender. A
list of the important battles in which the 170th was engaged includes the siege of
Suffolk, Carrsville, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Weldon railroad,
Deep Bottom, Reams' station, Boydton plank road, Hatcher's run, Deserted House, Edenton
road, Totopotomy, Strawberry Plains, Vaughn road, Farmville and Appomattox. Col. McDermott
resigned shortly after the regiment took the field and his successor, Col. McIvor,
commanded it during most of its active service. He was a gallant officer and rose to the
rank of brevet major-general in 1865. The regiment was warmly commended by its brigade and
division commanders for its conduct in battle and its efficiency. Its total enrollment was
1,002, of whom 10 officers and 119 men — or 12.8 per cent. — were killed and
mortally wounded; 2 officers and 96 men, died of disease and other causes; total deaths,
227. The total number killed and wounded was 481. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 2
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