Battle of Cross Keys

In its first combat the regiment launched a bayonet charge which was praised by General Bohlen. It lost 11 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 1 officer and 13 enlisted men wounded, and 4 men missing.

The brigade was redesignated as the 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 1st Corps, Army of Virginia.Colonel Kryzanowski took command of the brigade as senior colonel.

Pope’s Campaign in Northern Virginia

The regiment lost 16 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 2 officers and 28 enlisted men wounded, and 11 men missing during the campaign

Battle of Groveton

Second Battle of Bull Run

Commanded by Major William Henkel while Kryzanowski commanded the brigade. The regiment lost 14 men killed, 32 wounded and 11 men missing. Major Henkel was wounded, but remained in command on the field for three hours. Lieutenant Max Schmidt was also wounded.

Captain Frederick Braun took command of the regiment after Major Henkel left the field.

Chancellorsville Campaign

Battle of Chancellorsville

The regiment was commanded by Captain Frederick Braun of Company C, and brought 238 officers and men to the field. The division was struck just after 5 p.m. by Jackson’s attack. It held for about half an hour before being outflanked on each flank and retreating. Captain Braun was mortally wounded, and 30 other men were killed, wounded or missing.

Captain Emil Koenig took command. The regiment was not engaged for the rest of the battle, and afterwards returned to its camp at Stafford Court House.

Gettysburg Campaign

Battle of Gettysburg

Part of the 58th New York Infantry Regiment reached the battlefield as the battle was beginning. Lieutenant Colonel August Otto led two companies into Gettysburg and into battle on the north side of town. After the line collapsed the companies fell back through the town to Cemetery Hill.

Captain Emil Koenig brought his Creagerstown reconnaissance detachment back to Emmitsburg and collected a squad of men from the regiment who had been on picket duty. They made their way towards Gettysburg but were slowed by ammunition and supply trains. They arrived in late afternoon and joined with the rest of the regiment on Cemetery Hill.

In the evening Lieutenant Colonel Otto was ordered to General Schurz’s staff as chief of staff, leaving Captain Koenig in command of the regiment.

Monument to the 58th New York Infantry Regiment at Gettysburg

From the monument

Two companies of the regiment held this position July 1, 1863 until ordered to Cemetery Hill. Were there joined by the other companies and engaged on the 2nd and 3rd. After the repulse of Pickett’s Charge, skirmished into Gettysburg.

Casualties: killed 2, wounded 16, missing 3. Total 20.

Battle of Gettysburg (continued)

The regiment supported artillery batteries on Cemetery Hill, enduring heavy shelling all day.  First Lieutenant and Adjutant Louis Dietrich and Private Louis Krause were killed and Captains Gustavus Stoldt and Edward Antonieski were mortally wounded.

At dusk the Confederate attack on Cemetery Hill overran Wiedrich’s battery. The regiment and the 119th New York moved to retake the pieces but the battery was recaptured before they arrived. The regiment remained with the battery in case of further attacks, with the company of Lieutenant Schwartz sent out as skirmishers.

After Pickett’s Charge on July 3rd Lieutenant Schwart’s company moved into town, exchanging fire with Confederate sharpshooters. Lieutenant Lauber and twenty men joined Schwartz. They captured 200 prisoners during the night, many of them sleeping sharpshooters who had not been told of the Confederate withdrawal.

Battle of Wauhatchie, Tennessee

The regiment was commanded by Captain Michael Esembaux.