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81st New
York Infantry
Online Books:
81st New York
Infantry Soldier
Roster - Annual Report of the Adjutant General of the State of New York For the Year
1893, Volume 30 View the Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| Eighty-first New York Infantry. — Cols., Edwin Rose, Jacob J. DeForest, John
B. Raulston, David B. White; Lieut. -Cols., Jacob J. DeForest, William C. Raulston, John
B. Raulston, David B. White, Lucius V. S. Mattison; Majs., Byron B. Morris, John McAmbly,
William C. Raulston, David B. White, Edward A. Stimson, Lucius V. S. Mattison. The 81st,
the 2nd Oswego regiment, was raised mainly in Oneida and Oswego counties and was mustered
into the U. S. service at Oswego and Albany from Dec, 1861, to Feb. 20, 1862, for three
years. It left the state for Washington on March 5, 1862, was quartered for a short time
at Kalorama heights and assigned to Palmer's brigade, Casey's division, 4th corps, with
which it embarked for the Peninsula with the general advance of McClellan's army. It was
present during the siege of Yorktown; in the battles of Williamsburg and Savage Station;
was closely engaged at Fair Oaks, with the loss of 137 killed, wounded and missing, among
whom Maj. McAmbly was killed and Lieut.-Col. DeForest wounded. During the Seven Days'
battles the regiment was employed in guarding trains, and after the evacuation of the
Peninsula was stationed at Yorktown until December, from which point it undertook a number
of expeditions into the surrounding country. Assigned to the 1st brigade, Peck's division,
4th corps, the 81st embarked for North Carolina in Dec, 1862, and was stationed at
Beaufort, and Morehead, N. C, in the 1st brigade, 2nd division, 18th corps. In Oct. 1863,
the regiment returned to Newport News and performed outpost duty along the Dismal Swamp
canal. In December a sufficient number reenlisted to secure the continuance of the 81st as
a veteran regiment, and upon their return from veteran furlough the regiment was assigned
to the 1st brigade, 1st division, 18th corps, with which it fought at Swift creek,
Drewry's bluff and Cold Harbor. In the two assaults on Cold Harbor the regiment took a
prominent part and suffered the heaviest loss in its history, 212 killed or wounded and 3
missing, half of the number engaged. It continued in service before Petersburg; was sent
to New York harbor in November; was attached to the 24th corps in December; was active in
the assault on Fort Harrison, and was mustered out of the service at Fortress Monroe Aug.
31, 1865. It earned a well-deserved reputation for gallantry and courage for which it paid
the penalty of loss during service of 107 by death from wounds and 99 from other causes. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 2
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