142nd New York Infantry in the American Civil War

Overview

The 142nd New York Infantry (Three Years’ Service) was an infantry regiment organized at Ogdensburg, New York, and mustered into United States service on September 29, 1862, for a term of three years. Drawn primarily from St. Lawrence and Franklin counties, the regiment served in the Union Army, participating in operations across the Eastern and Southern theaters. The 142nd New York earned a reputation for its combat performance, particularly in the later stages of the war.

This unit is distinct from any other New York regiments with similar designations or service terms.

Organization & Service

The 142nd New York Infantry was organized at Ogdensburg and mustered in on September 29, 1862. The regiment departed for Washington, D.C., on October 6, 1862, where it remained on duty until April 1863. It was then ordered to Suffolk, Virginia, and participated in the campaign of Gordon’s division up the Virginia Peninsula in June 1863, followed by the Maryland march after the Battle of Gettysburg.

From Warrenton, Virginia, the regiment moved to Morris Island, South Carolina, arriving on August 17, 1863, and took part in operations there. In May 1864, the 142nd returned to Virginia and joined Butler’s Army of the James, assigned to the 1st Brigade, 2nd Division (Turner’s), 10th Corps. During the Cold Harbor operations, the division was temporarily attached to the 18th Corps. The regiment saw significant action at Drewry’s Bluff, Bermuda Hundred, and Fort Harrison.

In December 1864, the 10th Corps was merged into the newly formed 24th Corps, with the 142nd placed in Curtis’ (1st) Brigade, Ames’ (2nd) Division. The regiment participated in both expeditions against Fort Fisher, North Carolina, in December 1864 and January 1865, suffering notable casualties. After the capture of Fort Fisher, the regiment was present at the actions of Fort Anderson and Wilmington, North Carolina, and took part in the Carolinas campaign from March 1 to April 26, 1865. The regiment was mustered out under Colonel Albert M. Barney on June 17, 1865, at Raleigh, North Carolina. Remaining veterans and recruits were transferred to the 169th New York Infantry on June 27, 1865.

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

  • Defense of Washington, D.C. (1862–1863)
  • Suffolk, Virginia operations (Spring 1863)
  • Peninsula Campaign (June 1863)
  • Maryland march after Gettysburg (July 1863)
  • Morris Island, South Carolina (August 1863–May 1864)
  • Army of the James operations, including:
    • Drewry’s Bluff
    • Bermuda Hundred
    • Cold Harbor
    • Fort Harrison
    • Darbytown Road
  • First and Second Expeditions against Fort Fisher, North Carolina (December 1864, January 1865)
  • Fort Anderson and Wilmington, North Carolina (February 1865)
  • Carolinas Campaign (March–April 1865)

Casualties

  • Killed or mortally wounded: 3 officers, 126 enlisted men
  • Died of disease and other causes: 2 officers, 161 enlisted men
  • Total deaths: 292

Casualty figures are based on Fox’s Regimental Losses and the New York Adjutant General’s reports. Specific battle losses include: Drewry’s Bluff and Bermuda Hundred (19 killed, 78 wounded, 22 missing); Fort Harrison (6 killed, 51 wounded, 10 missing); Darbytown Road (8 killed, 90 wounded, 5 missing); Fort Fisher, December 1864 (20 killed and wounded); Fort Fisher, January 1865 (79 killed and wounded).

Field Officers & Commanders

  • Colonel Roscius W. Judson
  • Colonel Newton M. Curtis
  • Colonel Albert M. Barney
  • Lieutenant Colonel Newton M. Curtis
  • Lieutenant Colonel Albert M. Barney
  • Lieutenant Colonel William A. Jones
  • Major Nathan G. Axtell
  • Major William A. Jones
  • Major William S. P. Garvin

Other officers commanded at various times as indicated in official reports.

Regimental Roster

The complete roster of the 142nd New York Infantry (Three Years’ Service), including officers and enlisted men, is available on the regiment’s roster page. This resource provides names, ranks, and additional service details valuable for genealogical research.

To view the full roster, visit the 142nd New York Infantry (Three Years’ Service) Roster page.

Sources & References

  • Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volumes 27, 28, 33, 36, 40, 42
  • New York State Adjutant General’s Report (Annual Reports, 1862–1865)
  • 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)
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