United States Regiments & Batteries > New York > Infantry
“Ulster Regiment”
“Washington Guard”
The 120th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment was formed in August of 1862 and mustered out in June of 1865. The regiment was part of the Army of the Potomac for its entire career, fighting in all of its battles from Fredericksburg to Appomattox. It lost 11 officers and 140 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 3 officers and 179 enlisted men to disease during the Civil War. The regiment is honored by a monument at Gettysburg.
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1862
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| August 22 | Organized at Kingston, N.Y., and mustered in under Colonel George H. Sharpe, Lieutenant Colonel Cornelius D. Westbrook and Major John R. Tappen. All had been captains in the 20th New York State Militia during its 90 day enlistment in 1861.
 Colonel Sharpe |
| August 24 | Left State for Washington, D.C.; Attached to Whipple’s Brigade, Defenses of Washington, D.C. |
| October | Attached to 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 3rd Army Corps, Army of the Potomac (Daniel Sickles’ Excelsior Brigade) |
| November | At Fairfax Station, Va. |
| November 10-12 | Operations on Orange & Alexandria Railroad |
| December | Transferred from 1st Brigade to 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 3rd Army Corps |
| December | Rappahannock Campaign |
| December 12-15 |
Battle of Fredericksburg |
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1863
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| January | At Falmouth |
| January 20-24 | “Mud March” |
| February 5-7 | Operations at Rappahannock Bridge and Grove Church |
| February 9 | Colonel Sharpe was “temporarily” assigned to the army’s Provost office. In reality the brilliant Sharpe would head the army’s intelligence department for the rest of the war.
Colonel Sharpe would retain his rank as colonel of the 120th New York throughout the war, which left Lieutenant Colonel Cornelius Westbrook in command. But Lieutenant Colonel Westbrook was detailed to engineering duties at this time, leaving Major John R. Tappen in acting command of the regiment. |
| April 27-May 6 | Chancellorsville Campaign |
| May 1-5 |
Battle of ChancellorsvilleThe regiment lost 4 men killed, 49 men wounded and 13 missing |
| June 11-July 24 | Gettysburg Campaign |
| July 1-3 |
Battle of GettysburgThe 120th New York Infantry Regiment was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Cornelius D. Westbrook until he was wounded on July 2. Major John R. Tappen then took command. Lieutenant Colonel Westbrook would not return to the regiment, remaining on medical leave until he was discharged in February. From the monument: Held this part of the line on the second day of July, 1863. Present for duty,  Monument at Gettysburg |
| July 5-24 | Pursuit of Lee to Manassas Gap, Va. |
| July 23 | Wapping Heights |
| August | Duty on line of the Rappahannock and Rapidan |
| September 13-17 | Advance from the Rappahannock to the Rapidan |
| October 8-22 | Bristoe Campaign |
| October 8-10 | James City |
| October 10 | Russell’s Ford, Robertson’s River, and Bethesda Church |
| November 7-8 | Advance to line of the Rappahannock |
| November 7 | Kelly’s Ford |
| November 26-December 2 | Mine Run Campaign |
| November 27 | Payne’s Farm |
| November 28-30 | Mine Run |
| December-May | Duty near Brandy Station |
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1864
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| February 6-7 | Demonstration on the Rapidan |
| February 27 | Lieutenant Colonel Westbrook was discharged due to his Gettysburg wounds. Major Tappen was promoted to lieutenant colonel and Captain Lockwood was promoted to major. |
| March | Attached to 2nd Brigade, 4th Division, 2nd Army Corps |
| May 3-June 15 | Campaign from the Rapidan to the James. attached to 4th Brigade, 3rd Division, 2nd Army Corps |
| May 5-7 |
Battle of the WildernessThe regiment lost 5 killed, 48 wounded and 8 missing |
| May 8 | Laurel Hill |
| May 8-21 |
Spotsylvania Court House |
| May 12 | Assault on the Salient or “Bloody Angle” |
| May 19 |
Harris Farm or Fredericksburg Road |
| May 23-26 |
North Anna River |
| May 26-28 | On line of the Pamunkey |
| May 28-31 | Totopotomoy |
| June 1-12 |
Cold Harbor |
| June 16-18 | Before Petersburg |
| June 16 | Siege of Petersburg |
| June 22-23 | Jerusalem Plank Road, Weldon Railroad |
| June 24 | Captain Abram L. Lockwood of Company A promoted to major |
| July | Attached to 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 2nd Army Corps |
| July 27-29 | Demonstration north of the James |
| July 27-28 | Deep Bottom |
| July 30 | Mine Explosion, Petersburg (Reserve) |
| August 13-20 | Demonstration north of the James |
| August 14-18 | Strawberry Plains, Deep Bottom |
| September 29-October 2 | Poplar Springs Church |
| October 27-28 |
Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher’s RunThe regiment lost 8 killed, 30 wounded and 21 missing |
| November 5 | Front of Forts Hascall and Morton |
| December 9-10 | Reconnaissance to Hatcher’s Run |
| December 3 | Lieutenant Colonel Tappen mustered out |
| December 20 | Major Lockwood promoted to lieutenant colonel |
| December 26 | Captain Walter Scott of Company G promoted to major |
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1865
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| February 5-7 |
Dabney’s Mills, Hatcher’s RunThe regiment lost 6 killed, 32 wounded and 46 missing |
| March 25 | Watkins’ House |
| March 28-April 9 | Appomattox Campaign |
| March 29-31 |
Boydton and White Oak Roads |
| April 2 |
Fall of PetersburgFirst Lieutenant William Plimley of Company F earned the Medal of Honor “while acting as aide to a general officer, voluntarily accompanied a regiment in an assault on the enemy’s works and acted as leader of the movement which resulted in the rout of the enemy and the capture of a large number of prisoners.” |
| April 3-9 | Pursuit of Lee |
| April 6 |
Sailor’s Creek |
| April 7 | High Bridge, Farmville |
| April 9 |
Appomattox Court HouseSurrender of Lee and his army. |
| April | At Burkesville |
| May 2-12 | Moved to Washington, D.C. |
| May 23 | Grand Review |
| June 3 | The 120th New York Infantry Regiment mustered out under Lieutenant Colonel Lockwood. Veterans and Recruits were transferred to 73rd New York Infantry. |