New York in the American Civil War

Overview

New York played a central role in the American Civil War, providing more troops, matériel, and financial support to the Union cause than any other state. As a populous and industrialized state, New York’s factories, railroads, and ports were vital to the Union war effort. The state’s political leadership was divided, with strong support for the Union but also significant opposition to certain war policies, particularly the draft. New York City, as a major commercial hub, was both a center of support and a site of unrest, most notably during the 1863 Draft Riots.

Throughout the war, New York contributed large numbers of infantry, cavalry, and artillery regiments, as well as numerous officers who rose to prominence in both field and staff positions. The state’s financial institutions and industries played a key role in equipping and sustaining Union armies in the field.

Background

Prior to the Civil War, New York was the most populous state in the Union and a center of commerce, manufacturing, and immigration. The state’s political climate was complex, with strong abolitionist sentiment in some regions and significant Democratic opposition to Republican war measures in others. While the majority of New Yorkers supported the Union, there were divisions over issues such as conscription and emancipation. Mobilization efforts began promptly after the attack on Fort Sumter, with state and local authorities organizing recruitment drives and forming volunteer regiments. The state government, under Governor Edwin D. Morgan, worked closely with federal authorities to supply troops and resources.

Military Contributions

New York furnished more than 400,000 men to the Union Army, including infantry, cavalry, artillery, and engineer units. The state organized over 200 infantry regiments, several cavalry regiments, and numerous artillery batteries. Notable formations included the Excelsior Brigade and the Irish Brigade, both of which saw extensive service in major campaigns. New York regiments served in nearly every theater of the war, from the Eastern campaigns in Virginia to operations in the Western and Gulf regions. Estimates of total troop contributions vary by source, but New York’s role as the leading supplier of manpower is consistently attested in official reports.

Regiments Raised in New York

Select a regiment below to view a summary and links to related battles and rosters.

• 1st New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 2nd New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 3rd New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 4th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 5th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 5th New York Veteran Infantry in the American Civil War
• 6th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 7th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 7th New York Veteran Infantry in the American Civil War
• 8th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 9th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 10th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 11th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 12th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 13th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 14th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 15th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 16th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 17th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 17th New York Veteran Infantry in the American Civil War
• 18th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 19th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 3rd New York Light Artillery in the American Civil War
• 20th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 21st New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 22nd New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 23rd New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 24th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 25th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 26th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 27th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 28th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 29th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 30th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 31st New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 32nd New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 33rd New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 34th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 35th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 36th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 37th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 38th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 39th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 40th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 41st New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 42nd New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 43rd New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 44th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 45th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 46th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 47th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 48th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 49th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 50th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 51st New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 52nd New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 53rd New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 54th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 55th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 56th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 57th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 58th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 59th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 60th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 61st New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 62nd New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 63rd New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 64th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 65th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 66th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 67th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 68th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 69th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 70th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 71st New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 72nd New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 73rd New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 74th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 75th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 76th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 77th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 78th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 79th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 80th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 81st New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 82nd New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 83rd New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 84th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 85th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 86th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 87th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 88th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 89th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 90th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 91st New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 92nd New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 93rd New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 94th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 95th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 96th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 97th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 98th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 99th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 100th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 101st New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 102nd New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 103rd New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 104th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 105th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 106th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 107th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 108th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 109th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 110th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 111th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 112th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 113th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 114th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 115th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 116th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 117th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 118th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 119th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 120th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 121st New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 122nd New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 123rd New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 124th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 125th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 126th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 127th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 128th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 129th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 130th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 131st New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 132nd New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 133rd New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 134th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 135th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 136th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 137th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 138th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 139th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 140th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 141st New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 142nd New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 143rd New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 144th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 145th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 146th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 147th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 148th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 149th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 150th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 151st New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 152nd New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 153rd New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 154th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 155th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 156th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 157th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 158th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 159th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 160th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 161st New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 162nd New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 163rd New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 164th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 165th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 166th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 167th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 168th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 169th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 170th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 171st New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 172nd New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 173rd New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 174th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 175th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 176th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 177th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 178th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 179th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 180th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 181st New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 182nd New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 183rd New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 184th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 185th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 186th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 187th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 188th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 189th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 190th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 191st New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 192nd New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 193rd New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• 194th New York Infantry in the American Civil War
• Independent Corps New York Light Infantry in the American Civil War
• 1st New York Cavalry in the American Civil War
• 2nd New York Cavalry in the American Civil War
• 3rd New York Cavalry in the American Civil War
• 4th New York Cavalry in the American Civil War
• 5th New York Cavalry in the American Civil War
• 6th New York Cavalry in the American Civil War
• 7th New York Cavalry in the American Civil War
• 8th New York Cavalry in the American Civil War
• 9th New York Cavalry in the American Civil War
• 10th New York Cavalry in the American Civil War
• 11th New York Cavalry in the American Civil War
• 12th New York Cavalry in the American Civil War
• 13th New York Cavalry in the American Civil War
• 14th New York Cavalry in the American Civil War
• 15th New York Cavalry in the American Civil War
• 16th New York Cavalry in the American Civil War
• 17th New York Cavalry in the American Civil War
• 18th New York Cavalry in the American Civil War
• 19th New York Cavalry in the American Civil War
• 20th New York Cavalry in the American Civil War
• 21st New York Cavalry in the American Civil War
• 22nd New York Cavalry in the American Civil War
• 23rd New York Cavalry in the American Civil War
• 24th New York Cavalry in the American Civil War
• 25th New York Cavalry in the American Civil War
• 26th New York Cavalry in the American Civil War
• 1st New York Dragoons in the American Civil War
• 1st New York Mounted Rifles in the American Civil War
• 2nd New York Mounted Rifles in the American Civil War
• 1st New York Veteran Cavalry in the American Civil War
• 2nd New York Veteran Cavalry in the American Civil War
• Oneida Cavalry in the American Civil War
• 1st New York Provisional Cavalry in the American Civil War
• 2nd New York Provisional Cavalry in the American Civil War
• 3rd New York Provisional Cavalry in the American Civil War
• 4th New York Provisional Cavalry in the American Civil War
• 1st New York Artillery in the American Civil War
• 2nd New York Artillery in the American Civil War
• 3rd New York Artillery Light in the American Civil War
• 4th New York Artillery Heavy in the American Civil War
• 5th New York Artillery Heavy in the American Civil War
• 6th New York Artillery Heavy in the American Civil War
• 7th New York Artillery Heavy in the American Civil War
• 8th New York Artillery Heavy in the American Civil War
• 9th New York Artillery Heavy in the American Civil War
• 10th New York Artillery Heavy in the American Civil War
• 11th New York Artillery Heavy in the American Civil War
• 12th New York Artillery Heavy in the American Civil War
• 13th New York Artillery Heavy in the American Civil War
• 14th New York Artillery Heavy in the American Civil War
• 15th New York Artillery Heavy in the American Civil War
• 16th New York Artillery Heavy in the American Civil War
• 1st New York Marine Artillery in the American Civil War
• 1st New York Battalion Heavy Artillery in the American Civil War
• 2nd New York Battalion Light Artillery in the American Civil War
• 3rd New York Battalion Heavy Artillery in the American Civil War
• 4th New York Battalion Heavy Artillery in the American Civil War
• 5th New York Battalion Heavy Artillery in the American Civil War
• 6th New York Battalion Heavy Artillery in the American Civil War
• 7th New York Battalion Heavy Artillery in the American Civil War
• Rocket Battalion of Artillery in the American Civil War
• 1st New York Independent Battery in the American Civil War
• 2nd New York Independent Battery in the American Civil War
• 3rd New York Independent Battery in the American Civil War
• 4th New York Independent Battery in the American Civil War
• 5th New York Independent Battery in the American Civil War
• 6th New York Independent Battery in the American Civil War
• 7th New York Independent Battery in the American Civil War
• 8th New York Independent Battery in the American Civil War
• 9th New York Independent Battery in the American Civil War
• 10th New York Independent Battery in the American Civil War
• 11th New York Independent Battery in the American Civil War
• 12th New York Independent Battery in the American Civil War
• 13th New York Independent Battery in the American Civil War
• 14th New York Independent Battery in the American Civil War
• 15th New York Independent Battery in the American Civil War
• 16th New York Independent Battery in the American Civil War
• 17th New York Independent Battery in the American Civil War
• 18th New York Independent Battery in the American Civil War
• 19th New York Independent Battery in the American Civil War
• 20th New York Independent Battery in the American Civil War
• 21st New York Independent Battery in the American Civil War
• 22nd New York Independent Battery in the American Civil War
• 23rd New York Independent Battery in the American Civil War
• 24th New York Independent Battery in the American Civil War
• 25th New York Independent Battery in the American Civil War
• 26th New York Independent Battery in the American Civil War
• 27th New York Independent Battery in the American Civil War
• 28th New York Independent Battery in the American Civil War
• 29th New York Independent Battery in the American Civil War
• 30th New York Independent Battery in the American Civil War
• 31st New York Independent Battery in the American Civil War
• 32nd New York Independent Battery in the American Civil War
• 33rd New York Independent Battery in the American Civil War
• 34th New York Independent Battery in the American Civil War
• 35th New York Independent Battery in the American Civil War
• 36th New York Independent Battery in the American Civil War
• 1st New York Engineers in the American Civil War
• 15th New York Engineers in the American Civil War
• 50th New York Engineers in the American Civil War
• 1st New York Battalion Sharpshooters in the American Civil War
• 1st U S Sharpshooters in the American Civil War

Battles & Campaigns

• Battle of Gettysburg (PA, 1863) – New York regiments played a significant role.
• Battle of Antietam (MD, 1862) – Numerous New York units engaged.
• Battle of Chancellorsville (VA, 1863) – Involvement of New York brigades.
• Peninsula Campaign – New York troops participated throughout.
• Battle of Fredericksburg (VA, 1862) – Major New York presence.

Some engagements associated with New York remain unclear in surviving primary sources.

Notable Commanders from New York

• Major General Daniel E. Sickles – Commander of the Excelsior Brigade and III Corps.
• Brigadier General Francis C. Barlow – Led the 61st New York Infantry and later commanded divisions in the Army of the Potomac.
• Major General Henry W. Slocum – Commanded XII Corps and later XX Corps.
• Brigadier General Thomas Francis Meagher – Commander of the Irish Brigade.

Official Records References

• Official Records, Series I, Volumes II, VI, IX, XII, and others: reports involving New York troops.
• Adjutant General’s Report of the State of New York.
• Dyer’s “Compendium of the War of the Rebellion.”