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179th New
York Infantry
Online Books:
179th New York
Infantry Soldier
Roster - Annual Report of the Adjutant General of the State of New York For the Year
1893, Volume 42 View the Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| One Hundred and Seventy-ninth New York Infantry. — Col., William M. Gregg;
Lieut. -Cols., Franklin B. Doty, Albert A. Terrill; Majs., J. Barnett Sloan, John Barton,
Albert A. Terrill, Giles H. Holden. This regiment, recruited in the counties of Chemung,
Erie, Steuben, Tioga and Tompkins, was organized at Elmira for one and three years'
service. Cos. A, B. C, D, E, F and G were mustered into the U. S. service from May 11 to
July 20, 1864, for three years; Co. H for one and three years, on Sept. 13, 1864; and I
and K for one year on Sept. 13-15, 1864. Co. A, originally enlisted for Col. Lewis T.
Barney's 180th N. Y., did not join the regiment until Feb. 21, 1865. The 179th left the
state by detachments from May, 1864, proceeding to Washington, D. C, where it served in
the 22nd corps until the summer of 1864 in the performance of garrison duty. On June 11,
1864, it joined Grant's army at Cold Harbor, where it was assigned to the 2nd brigade, 1st
division, 9th corps. In the 1st brigade, same division and corps, it took an active part
in the first assaults on Petersburg in June, losing 11 killed, 70 wounded and 10 missing.
On the failure of the assaults the regiment went into the intrenchments occupied by the
9th corps, on a part of the line very near to the enemy's works, where the men were
exposed to an almost incessant fire during the long siege, resulting in a daily loss of
men. The casualties of the regiment from this source during the siege amounted to 62
killed, wounded and missing. Among the killed during the assault of June 17 was Maj.
Sloan. The famous mine which was exploded on July 30, 1864, was dug within and in front of
the line of the 9th corps and the 179th was hotly engaged during the assault which
followed the explosion. Its loss here was 56 killed, wounded and missing, among the
mortally wounded being the gallant Maj. Barton. The regiment was again in action at the
battle of the Weldon railroad, where it sustained some casualties. Both the regiment and
the division were now much reduced in numbers by their severe losses, and a reorganization
of the corps took place which placed the 179th in the 2nd brigade of Potter's division,
with which it was warmly engaged at Poplar Spring Church in September, losing 58 killed,
wounded and missing. The regiment next took part in the action at Hatcher's run, and it
rendered excellent service during the critical attack of Fort Stedman, March 25, 1865. It
then entered on the final campaign and took a prominent part in the storming of
Petersburg, April 2, 1865, losing 60 killed, wounded and missing, including Lieut. -Col.
Doty, mortally wounded. This was the last battle in which it was engaged, and on June 8,
1865, under Col. Gregg, it was mustered out at Alexandria, Va. The regiment lost during
its term of service, 7 officers and 66 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded; 118
enlisted men from disease and other causes; a total of 191, of whom 25 died as prisoners. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 2
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