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40th New
York Infantry
Online Books:
40th New York
Infantry Soldier
Roster - Annual Report of the Adjutant General of the State of New York For the Year
1893, Volume 23 View the Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| Fortieth New York Infantry. — Cols., Edward J. Riley, Thomas W. Eagan,
Madison M. Cannon; Lieut.-Cols., Thomas W. Eagan, Nelson A. Gesner, P. Allen Lindsay,
Augustus J. Warner, Madison M. Cannon, Thomas Crawford; Majs., Richard T. Halstead; Albert
S. Ingalls, P. Allen Lindsay, Augustus J. Warner, Emmons F. Fletcher, Madison M. Cannon,
Thomas Crawford, Augustus W. Keene. The 40th, the "Mozart Regiment," recruited
in New York city, received four Massachusetts companies into its organization and went
into camp at Yonkers, where it was mustered into the U. S. service June 14 to 27, 1861,
for three years. On July 4 it left the state for Washington, numbering 1,000 members and
after a short encampment at Washington, was ordered to Alexandria, where during the summer
it was engaged in the construction of Fort Ward and in guard duty along the Orange &
Alexandria railroad. It was assigned on Aug. 4, to Howard's brigade, Potomac division, but
was later attached to Sedgwick's brigade, Heintzelman's division, and passed the winter
near Alexandria. In March, 1862, with the 2nd brigade, 3d division, 3d corps, Army of the
Potomac, it embarked for Yorktown and was there engaged in the duties of the siege. The
regiment was closely engaged at Williamsburg and during that month the brigade was
assigned to the 1st division, 3d corps, with which it participated in the battle of Fair
Oaks, where the 40th lost 24 in killed or mortally wounded out of five companies engaged.
The regiment fought through the Seven Days' battles with a loss of 100 killed, wounded and
missing and rested for a few weeks at Harrison's landing before entering upon the campaign
in Virginia under Gen. Pope. At the second Bull Run 244 members of the regiment were
engaged and 86 were reported among the lost. At Chantilly the total loss was 61, but the
gallant conduct of the 40th and the 1st saved the day, and the regiment received the
highest official praise. At Fredericksburg the total loss was 123. The regiment shared in
the "Mud March" and then gathered its scattered heroes together to winter at
Falmouth. The recruits for the 87th N. Y. had been added to the 40th in Sept., 1862, and
after the battle of Chancellorsville, in which the loss was again severe, the regiment was
consolidated into a battalion of five companies. On May 30, 1863, the three years men of
the 37th and 38th N. Y. were assigned to the 40th, as were members of the 55th and l01st.
As part of the 3d brigade, 1st division, 3d corps, Army of the Potomac, from May, 1863,
the regiment proceeded from Chancellorsville to Gettysburg, where it again distinguished
itself for bravery with a loss of 150 killed, wounded or missing. It was active at Kelly's
ford and in the Mine Run campaign, after which winter quarters were established near
Brandy Station, where in December, the major portion of the members of the regiment
reenlisted. Many new recruits were also received during the winter, and at the opening of
the Wilderness campaign in the spring of 1864 the regiment took the field with greatly
replenished ranks. In March of that year it was assigned to the 1st brigade, 3d division,
2nd corps; was active at the Wilderness with the loss of 213 killed, wounded and missing;
and fought in the engagements at Spottsylvania, the Po river, the North Anna, Totopotomoy
and Cold Harbor. In July, 1864, the original members not reenlisted were mustered out at
New York city and the regiment was consolidated into six companies, which soon received
additional reinforcement by the addition of the veterans of the 74th N. Y. The veteran
regiment served before Petersburg until the fall of the city, being engaged at the Weldon
railroad, Deep Bottom, Strawberry Plains, Poplar Spring Church, Boydton Road, the
Hicksford raid, Hatcher's run, Fort Stedman, White Oak ridge, in the final assault on
Petersburg, April 2, 1865, and the pursuit of Lee to Appomattox. The regiment was mustered
out at Washington, June 27, 1865, having gallantly acquitted itself through four years of
almost constant fighting, and having well earned its right to be called a "Fighting
Regiment" through the loss of more men killed and wounded than any other New York
regiment save one — the 69th. Only through the addition of troop after troop of
veterans was it able to preserve its organization, but its reputation for courage made
assignment to its ranks a privilege. The total death loss of the command during its term
of service was 238 killed or died of wounds and 172 from accident, imprisonment or
disease. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 2
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