Overview
The 19th New York Independent Battery was an artillery unit recruited primarily from Niagara County, New York, for Union service during the American Civil War. Organized at Elmira, New York, the battery was mustered into United States service for a three-year term on October 27, 1862. Serving in both the defenses of Washington and in active campaigns with the Army of the Potomac, the battery participated in several major engagements in the Eastern Theater. Notable for its service in the Wilderness Campaign and the siege of Petersburg, the unit sustained significant casualties and was recognized for its performance in several hard-fought battles.
Organization & Service
The 19th New York Independent Battery was organized at Elmira and mustered in for three years’ service on October 27, 1862, under Captain William H. Stahl. The battery departed New York on October 29, 1862, and was stationed in the defenses of Washington, D.C., through the winter of 1862–1863. In the spring of 1863, the battery was attached to the 7th Corps and participated in the siege of Suffolk, Virginia. Following this operation, the unit returned to the Washington defenses.
In March 1864, the battery was ordered to the front and assigned to the 9th Army Corps. It took part in the Wilderness Campaign, engaging at the battles of the Wilderness and Spottsylvania, where it suffered 16 casualties. The battery continued to serve in subsequent actions at North Anna, Totopotomy, Cold Harbor, and the initial assaults on Petersburg. During the assault on the Petersburg works, it incurred additional losses. The battery was present at the Battle of the Crater, with three men wounded, and later fought at the Weldon Railroad, Poplar Grove Church, and Hatcher’s Run. At Fort Stedman in March 1865, the battery lost one man killed and had two officers and twelve men reported missing. The unit participated in the final assault on Petersburg on April 2, 1865. The battery was mustered out of service under Captain Edward W. Rogers on June 13, 1865, at Elmira. Captain Stahl had died of disease in Washington on September 15, 1863.
Research This Regiment Further
If you’d like to explore this unit’s history in more depth, regimental histories and Civil War reference works offer valuable detail.
Engagements & Campaigns
- Defenses of Washington, D.C. (Winter 1862–1863)
- Siege of Suffolk (Spring 1863)
- Wilderness Campaign (May–June 1864)
- Battle of the Wilderness
- Battle of Spottsylvania
- North Anna
- Totopotomy
- Cold Harbor
- Assaults on Petersburg
- Battle of the Crater
- Weldon Railroad
- Poplar Grove Church
- Hatcher’s Run
- Fort Stedman (March 1865)
- Final Assault on Petersburg (April 2, 1865)
Casualties
- Killed in action: 9 enlisted men
- Mortally wounded: 5 enlisted men
- Died of disease: 1 officer, 17 enlisted men
- Total deaths: 32
Field Officers & Commanders
- Captain William H. Stahl (died of disease, September 15, 1863)
- Captain Edward W. Rogers
Regimental Roster
The complete roster of the 19th New York Independent Battery, including officers and enlisted men who served during its three-year term, is available for genealogical and historical research. This roster provides details on enlistment, service, and casualties for members of the battery.
To view the full roster, visit the 19th New York Independent Battery Roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, various volumes (Army of the Potomac, 9th Corps, Artillery reports)
- New York State Adjutant General’s Report
- Dyer, Frederick H., A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
- Fox, William F., Regimental Losses in the American Civil War