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48th New
York Infantry
Online Books:
48th New York
Infantry Soldier
Roster - Annual Report of the Adjutant General of the State of New York For the Year
1893, Volume 24 View the Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| Forty-eighth New York Infantry. — Cols., James H. Perry, William B. Barton,
William B. Coan; Lieut.-Cols., William B. Barton, Oliver F. Beard, James F. Green, Dudley
W. Strickland, William B. Coan, Nere A. Elfwing; Majs., Oliver F. Beard, James F. Greene,
Dudley W. Strickland, William B. Coan, Samuel M. Swartwout, Nere A. Elfwing, Albert F.
Miller, James A. Barrett. The 48th, the "Continental Guard," contained seven
Brooklyn companies, one from New York, one from Monmouth county, N. J., and one from
Brooklyn and Monmouth county. It was mustered into the U. S. service at Brooklyn Aug. 16
to Sept. 14, 1861, for three years; left the state for Washington Sept. 16; was attached
to the 1st brigade of Gen. Sherman's force; embarked for Port Royal late in October, and
was active in the capture of the fortifications of Port Royal ferry Jan. 1, 1862. In the
siege operations against Fort Pulaski, Ga., the 48th took a prominent part and after the
fall of the fortress was assigned to garrison duty there, with expeditions in September
and October to Bluffton, Cranston's bluff and Mackay's point. In June, 1863, the regiment
with the exception of Cos. G and I, left Fort Pulaski and proceeded to Hilton Head, where
it was there attached to Strong's brigade, 10th corps, with which it participated in the
movement against Fort Wagner in July. In the assault of July 18, the loss of the 48th was
242 killed, wounded and missing, including Col. Barton wounded and Lieut. -Col. Green
killed. The regiment received high praise from the commanding officers for its gallantry
in this action. In August it formed a part of the Florida expedition; was posted for some
time at St. Augustine; participated in the disastrous battle at Olustee, with a loss of 44
in killed, wounded and missing; then retired to Jacksonville; proceeded up the river to
Palatka on March 10, 1864, remained there until April when it was transferred to the Army
of the James at Bermuda Hundred, and was assigned to the 2nd brigade, 2nd division, 10th
corps. In the engagement at Port Walthall Junction the regiment again showed its mettle by
heroic conduct in spite of severe loss. On May 30 it was assigned to the 1st brigade, 3d
division, 18th corps, and on June 15, to the 2nd brigade, 2nd division, 10th corps. It
took a prominent part in the battle of Cold Harbor; was in the first assault on Petersburg
and in action at the explosion of the mine; and was engaged at Strawberry Plains and Fort
Harrison. The original members not reenlisted were mustered out at New York city on Sept.
24, 1864, but 350 members having reenlisted in Dec, 1863, the regiment retained its
organization. In Dec, 1864, with the 2nd brigade, 2nd division, 24th corps, the 48th was
ordered to Fort Fisher, N. C., was active in the capture of the fortifications there in
Jan., 1865, and served for some months in that vicinity. In March it was attached to the
provisional corps, in April to the 10th corps and during the summer months performed
various routine duties in the neighborhood of Raleigh, N. C, where it was finally mustered
out on Sept. 1, 1865. During its term of service 2,173 members were enrolled, and of these
236 or over 10 percent, were killed or mortally wounded in action, a loss exceeded among
the regiments of the state only by the 69th and 40th. It was 17th in the list of all of
the regiments of the Union armies in total loss. In the battles of the regiment 868 men
were reported killed, wounded or missing, and it earned by desperate fighting its right to
be known as a crack fighting regiment. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 2
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