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185th New
York Infantry
Online Books:
185th 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 Eighty-fifth New York Infantry. — Cols., Edwin S. Jenny, Gustavus Sniper; Lieut. -Cols., Gustavus Sniper, Theodore M. Barber; Majs., John Leo,
Robert P. Bush. The 185th, known as the 6th Onondaga county regiment, the Onondaga and
Cortland regiment, and the Otsego regiment, was recruited in the counties of Onondaga and
Cortland and organized at Syracuse on Aug. 26, 1864. Shortly before that date a public
meeting had been held at the city hall at Syracuse and a committee of leading citizens
formed for the purpose of organizing the regiment. It was mustered into the U. S. service
at Syracuse for one year — Cos. A, B, C, D, E, G, H and I on Sept. 19; Co. F on Sept.
25, and Co. K on Sept. 21. When the regiment was mustered out the few three years men in
the organization were transferred to the 5th veteran infantry. The regiment left the state
on Sept. 27, 1864, and at once proceeded to the front, joining Grant's army before
Petersburg. On its arrival, Oct. 1, it was assigned to the 1st brigade, Griffin's
division, 5th corps, with which it took part in its first battle at Burgess farm and
sustained a few casualties. In December it participated in the Hicksford raid, during
which it lost 6 men captured. It was in the second battle of Hatcher's run in Feb., 1865,
losing 16 men killed, wounded and missing; was present without loss at Watkins' house in
March; then moved with the corps on the final Appomattox campaign, fighting at Quaker
road, Gravelly run, Five Forks and Appomattox. In the battle at the Quaker road, Col.
Sniper led the regiment in a brilliant and successful charge, personally holding aloft the
colors after 3 color-bearers had fallen and the conduct of both officers and men
throughout the engagement was worthy of the highest commendation, though the loss of the
regiment was severe, amounting to 203 killed and wounded, the brave Lieuts. E. F. Bauder
and Daniel Miller both being killed. A pathetic incident was the killing of Lieut. Hiram
Clark in the final skirmish at Appomattox, on the day of Lee's surrender. The regiment was
honorably discharged and mustered out near Washington, D. C, May 30, 1865, under Col.
Sniper. It lost by death during its term of service 3 officers and 59 enlisted men killed
and mortally wounded; 3 officers and 33 enlisted men died of disease and other causes, a
total of 98. Despite the fact that the regiment's period of service was comparatively
short it was able to establish a highly honorable record. It left for the seat of war with
923 officers and men and returned home with 22 officers and 544 enlisted men. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 2
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