28th New York Infantry in the American Civil War

Overview

The 28th New York Infantry (Two Years’ Service), known as the “Niagara Rifles,” was an infantry regiment organized in New York State for Union service during the American Civil War. The regiment was mustered into United States service for a two-year term on May 22, 1861, at Albany, New York. It drew its companies primarily from Niagara County, with additional companies from Orleans, Ontario, Genesee, and Sullivan counties. The 28th New York served in the Eastern Theater and participated in several major campaigns and battles, including Cedar Mountain, Antietam, and Chancellorsville.

Organization & Service

The 28th New York Infantry was organized at Albany and spent its initial month in camp at Camp Morgan. On June 25, 1861, the regiment departed New York for Washington, D.C. It was assigned on July 7 to Butterfield’s brigade, Keim’s division, within General Patterson’s force, joining at Martinsburg, West Virginia. The regiment occupied camp at Berlin until August 20, then moved to Darnestown, Maryland, remaining there until October 20. Although ordered to Ball’s Bluff, the regiment did not arrive in time to participate in the battle.

From December 5, 1861, to January 6, 1862, the regiment was encamped at Fredericksburg, Virginia, then moved to Hancock, Maryland, until March 1. It subsequently advanced to Winchester as part of the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Corps, Army of the Potomac. In the spring of 1862, Company E engaged near Columbia Furnace and Company I near Montevideo. In May, the regiment was transferred to the Department of the Shenandoah, marching through Front Royal, Middletown, Newton, Winchester, and Bunker Hill. In June, it moved to Williamsport and Front Royal, and in July to Culpeper Court House and Cedar Mountain.

At the Battle of Cedar Mountain, the regiment suffered significant losses. On August 21, it was engaged at Rappahannock Station. On June 26, the 28th was assigned to the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Corps, Army of Virginia, and on September 12 to the same brigade and division of the 12th Corps, Army of the Potomac. During the Second Battle of Bull Run, the regiment was posted at Manassas Junction and later withdrew to Centerville and Alexandria, departing for Maryland on September 3.

The regiment was closely engaged at Antietam, where the corps commander, General Mansfield, was mortally wounded. General Williams succeeded him, and the corps encamped at Harper’s Ferry. In December, the regiment marched toward Dumfries, then to Fairfax Station and Stafford Court House, where it established winter quarters. The final major engagement for the 28th New York was at Chancellorsville, where it again sustained heavy losses. The regiment returned to New York and was mustered out at Albany on June 2, 1863.

Engagements & Campaigns

• Martinsburg, West Virginia (1861)
• Ball’s Bluff (arrived after the battle, October 1861)
• Fredericksburg (winter encampment, 1861–1862)
• Columbia Furnace (Company E, 1862)
• Montevideo (Company I, 1862)
• Front Royal, Middletown, Newton, Winchester, Bunker Hill (May 1862)
• Williamsport, Front Royal (June 1862)
• Culpeper Court House, Cedar Mountain (July–August 1862)
• Battle of Cedar Mountain (August 9, 1862)
• Rappahannock Station (August 21, 1862)
• Second Bull Run Campaign (August–September 1862; posted at Manassas Junction)
• Antietam (September 17, 1862)
• Chancellorsville (May 1–3, 1863)

Casualties

• Killed or died of wounds: 68
• Died of disease or other causes: 49
• Total loss during service: 117
• At Cedar Mountain: 213 killed, wounded, or missing out of 339 engaged; 41 mortally wounded
• At Chancellorsville: 78 killed, wounded, or missing

Field Officers & Commanders

• Colonel Dudley Donnelly
• Colonel Edwin F. Brown
• Lieutenant Colonel Edwin F. Brown
• Lieutenant Colonel Elliott W. Cook
• Major James R. Mitchell
• Major Elliott W. Cook
• Major Theophilus Fitzgerald

Regimental Roster

The complete roster of the 28th New York Infantry (Two Years’ Service), including officers and enlisted men, is available on the regiment’s roster page. This resource provides names, ranks, and service details for those who served in the unit.

To view the full roster, visit the 28th New York Infantry (Two Years’ Service) Roster page.

Sources & References

• Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volumes 5, 9, 12, 19, 21
• 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
• The Union Army, Vol. 2, Federal Publishing Company, 1908