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72nd New
York Infantry
Online Books:
72nd New York
Infantry Soldier
Roster - Annual Report of the Adjutant General of the State of New York For the Year
1893, Volume 28 View the Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| Seventy-second New York Infantry. — Cols., Nelson Taylor, William O. Stevens,
John S. Austin; Lieut.-Cols., Israel Moses, John S. Austin, John Leonard; Majs., William
O. Stevens, John Leonard, Casper K. Abell. The 72nd, the 3d regiment of the Excelsior
brigade, was composed mainly of members from New York city and Chautauqua county, and was
mustered into the U. S. service at Camp Scott, Staten island, from June to Oct., 1861, for
three years. It left there on July 24, 1861, for Washington, where it was joined by two of
its companies late in October. After serving for a few months in the vicinity of
Washington the regiment was assigned to Sickles' Excelsior brigade, Hooker's division,
served along the Potomac in Maryland, near Stafford Court House, Va., and proceeded to the
Peninsula in April, 1862, with the 2nd brigade, 2nd division, 3d corps. It suffered its
first severe loss at Williamsburg, where the Excelsior brigade bore the heaviest burden of
the battle, the loss of the 72nd being 195 killed, wounded or missing, 77 of whom were
killed or mortally wounded. At Fair Oaks and in the Seven Days' battles the regiment was
active and was then withdrawn from the Peninsula to join in the campaign under Gen. Pope
in Virginia, during which it lost 37 men. It was withdrawn with the brigade to the
vicinity of Washington for much needed rest and reinforcement, and remained there through
the Maryland campaign, leaving for Falmouth in November. It participated in the battle of
Fredericksburg; went into winter quarters at Falmouth; broke camp late in April, 1863, for
the Chancellorsville movement; took a prominent part in that battle, Col. Stevens and 4
other officers being killed, the total loss of the regiment being 101. At Gettysburg the
regiment, which had by this time become noted for its fighting qualities, occupied an
advanced position on the Emmitsburg road, which was valiantly defended by the brigade,
although finally forced to yield it. The loss of the 72nd here was 114, and the ranks,
which later fought at Kelly's ford, Bristoe Station and in the Mine Run campaign, were
sadly thinned. The winter camp was established at Brandy Station and in April, 1864, the
regiment was assigned to the 2nd brigade, 4th division, 2nd corps, with which it served in
the Wilderness campaign until May 13, when it was transferred to the 4th brigade, 3d
division. It was active in the campaign until June 19, when seven companies were mustered
out before Petersburg. The remaining three companies were mustered out July 2 and 20 and
Oct. 31, 1864, the veterans and recruits being transferred to the 120th N. Y. infantry.
During its term of service the regiment lost 184 by death from, wounds and 96 by death
from other causes. It is ranked by Col. Fox as one of the "three hundred fighting
regiments." |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 2
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