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61st New
York Infantry
Online Books:
61st New York
Infantry Soldier
Roster - Annual Report of the Adjutant General of the State of New York For the Year
1893, Volume 26 View the Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| Sixty-first New York Infantry. — Cols., Spencer W. Cone, Francis C. Barlow,
Nelson A. Miles, K. Oscar Broady, George W. Scott; Lieut. - Cols., Francis C. Barlow,
William C. Massett, Nelson A. Miles, K. Oscar Broady, George W. Scott, Richard A. Brown;
Majs., William C. Massett, Arthur L. Brooks, Edward Z. Lawrence, William H. Spencer,
George W. Scott, Henry B. Todd, Willard Keech, Richard A. Brown, George W. Schaffer. This
regiment, known as the Clinton Guards, contained one company from Madison university,
Hamilton, one company from the vicinity of Albany, and the remainder from New York city.
It was mustered into the U. S. service at New York city during Sept., Oct. and Nov., 1861,
for three years, and left for Washington on Nov. 9. It was stationed for a short time at
Washington, but moved on Nov. 28, with Howard's brigade, Sumner's division, to Manassas
and with the same brigade became a part of the 1st division, 2nd corps, Army of the
Potomac, in March, 1862. It moved to the Peninsula early in the spring, took part in the
operations of the siege of Yorktown and was first closely engaged in the battle of Fair
Oaks, in which 106 were killed or wounded and 4 reported missing, out of 432 who went into
action. There Lieut.-Col. Massett and many other gallant men lost their lives. The loss in
the Seven Days' battles was still greater, and the ranks that gathered at Harrison's
landing after the battle of Malvern hill were sadly depleted. In July, the regiment was
assigned to the 3d brigade of its old division, in September to the 1st brigade of the
same division, in October to the 2nd brigade, and in November again to the 1st brigade. In
Sept., 1862, Co. I from Albany joined the regiment and took the place of a company
consolidated with the others. At Antietam the regiment was in the thick of the fight, and
at Fredericksburg it served in Hancock's division in the charge on Marye's heights and
lost 36 in killed, wounded and missing. At Chancellorsville in May, 1863, the troops under
Col. Miles made a gallant defense which won them high praise, and at Gettysburg the loss
was once more severe. There was little rest for the worn regiment during the autumn. At
Auburn, Bristoe Station, Rappahannock Station and in the Mine Run campaign, it was active,
and it was mid-winter when it finally established permanent quarters near Brandy Station.
In December and January a large number of men reenlisted and received veteran furlough.
The regiment was reunited in the spring of 1864 and served with honor through the severe
fighting which led up to Cold Harbor and Petersburg, suffering most severely in the bloody
angle at Spottsylvania. It joined in the first assault on Petersburg, June 15; was engaged
at Deep Bottom, Strawberry Plains, Reams' station and Hatcher's run, and on Dec. 20,
received the veterans and recruits of the 57th N. Y. infantry. It was present at the fall
of Petersburg, joined in the pursuit to Appomattox, and was engaged at Sailor's creek and
Farmville. On July 14, 1865, the 61st was mustered out at Alexandria, having lost 193 by
death from wounds and 123 from other causes, of whom 46 died in prison. The total
enrollment of the command was 1,526 members. Its record is a long and glorious one and it
bravely earned its right to rank among the most gallant organizations of the Union army. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 2
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