United States Regiments & Batteries > New York > Infantry
The 59th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment lost 14 officers and 129 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and 127 enlisted men to disease during the Civil War, 64 of whom died in Confederate prisons.
It is honored by a monument at Antietam, and a monument at Gettysburg. Lieutenant Colonel John Stetson is also honored by a monument where he fell at Antietam.
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1861
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| July – November | Organized at New York City under Colonel William Linn Tidball, Lieutenant Colonel Philip Joachimsen and Major William Northedge |
| November 23 | Left State for Washington, D.C. attached to Wadsworth’s Command, Defenses of Washington |
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1862
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| January | Attached to 2nd Brigade, Casey’s Division, Army of the Potomac |
| February 26 | Lt. Colonel Joachimsen discharged |
| March | Attached to Military District of Washington |
| March 21 | Captain John L. Stetson, formerly of the 16th New York Infantry, mustered in as lieutenant colonel |
| May | At Fort Pennsylvania attached to Sturgis’ Brigade, Military District of Washington |
| June | Ordered to the Peninsula, Va., to Join Army of the Potomac at Harrison’s Landing, Va. |
| July | Attached to 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 2nd Army Corps, Army of the Potomac |
| August 16-28 | Movement from Harrison’s Landing to Fortress Monroe, then to Alexandria and Centreville |
| August 28-31 | To Fairfax Court House |
| August 31- September 2 |
Cover Pope’s retreat to Washington |
| September 6-22 | Maryland Campaign |
| September 14 | Battie of South Mountain |
| September 16-17 |
Battle of AntietamThe regiment was commanded by Colonel William Linn Tidball and brought 21 officers and 300 enlisted men to the field. Lieutenant Colonel John L. Stetson, Captains Abraham Florentine, Gould Jennings, Miller Moody, Edward Wade, Charles Whitney, Lieutenants Stephen Roosa, William Smurr, Benjamin Van Steenbergh and 57 enlisted men were killed or mortally wounded. Captain Max Thoman, Lieutenants Barthold Heitman and James Purdy and 131 enlisted men were wounded and 23 enlisted men were missing. From the brigade marker at Antietam: Dana’s Brigade, following Gorman’s in column of attack, passed through the East Woods, crossed the Cornfield and the Hagerstown Pike, about 50 yards in rear of Gorman, and entered the West Woods, where its advance was checked about 40 yards east of this point. Its left flank having been attacked and turned, by McLaws’ and Walker’s Divisions, it was compelled to retire. A portion of the Brigade, with the 1st Minnesota Infantry, occupied a line near the Nicodemus house which it held for a time until, its flank having been again turned, it retired to the woods and fields east of the Hagerstown Pike. |
| September 19 | Lieutenant Purdy was promoted to captain |
| September 22 | Moved to Harper’s Ferry |
| October 16-17 | Reconnaissance to Charlestown |
| October 30- November 19 |
Advance up Loudoun Valley and movement to Falmouth, Va. |
| Novemner 17 | Major Northedge was promoted to lieutenant colonel with rank from September 17 |
| December 12-15 |
Battle of FredericksburgCaptain Edward Reynolds, Lieutenant Hannibal Seymour and 9 enlisted men were killed or mortally wounded. Lieutenant Francis Woodruff, 1 other officer and 30 enlisted men were wounded. |
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1863
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| January 3 | Captain Max Thoman of Company C was promoted to major |
| January 8 | Colonel Tidball was discharged and Lieutenant Colonel Northedge was promoted to colonel. |
| January 9 | Major Thoman was promoted to lieutenant colonel and Captain Purdy to major |
| January 20-24 | “Mud March” |
| February-April | At Falmouth |
| March 4 | Lt. Colonel Northedge promoted to major |
| April 27-May 6 | Chancellorsville Campaign |
| April 29-May 2 | Operations at Franklin’s Crossing |
| May 3 | Battle of Maryes Heights, Fredericksburg |
| May 3-4 |
Salem Church, Marye’s HeightsThe regiment lost 2 enlisted men killed, Lieutenant Richard Dellamore and 6 enlisted men wounded, and 6 men missing |
| May 4 | Banks’ Ford |
| June 11-July 24 | Gettysburg Campaign |
| June 5 | Major Purdy was discharged |
| June 25 | The regiment was consolidated to a battalion of four companies due to losses. Companies G and K were consolidated with Company A; E and H with Company B; B and D with Company C; and F and I with Company D. |
| June 5 | Colonel Northedge was dismissed for drunkeness, breach of arrest, and offering violence to the commanding officer of his regiment while under arrest. |
| July 1-4 |
Battle of GettysburgThe 59th New York was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Max A. Thoman. He was mortally wounded and Captain William McFadden took command. Lt. Colonel Thoman, Adjutant William Pohlman and 10 enlisted men were killed or mortally wounded and 1 officer and 21 enlisted men wounded out of 182 men engaged. Sergeant James Wiley of Company B was awarded the Medal of Honor for capturing the flag of a Georgia regiment on July 3rd. |
| July 5-24 | Pursuit of Lee |
| August-October | Duty on line of the Rappahannock |
| August 1 | Former Colonel Tidball was re-enrolled with the rank of lieutenant colonel. The 59th New York’s reduced status as a battalion did not allow a colonel in command. |
| September 13-17 | Advance from the Rappahannock to the Rapidan |
| October 9-22 |
Bristoe CampaignThe regiment lost 5 enlisted men wounded and 2 missing |
| October 14 | Auburn and Bristoe |
| October 15 | Blackburn’s Ford |
| November 7-8 | Advance to line of the Rappahannock |
| November 19 | Lt. Colonel Tidball was discharged |
| November 20 | Captain Horace P. Rugg of Company A was promoted to lieutenant colonel |
| November 26-December 2 | Mine Run Campaign |
| Decmber-May | At Stevensburg |
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1864
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| March | Attached to 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 2nd Army Corps |
| May 3-June 15 | Campaign from the Rapidan to the James |
| May 5-7 |
Battle of the WildernessThe regiment lost 4 men killed or mortally wounded, 6 men wounded and 4 missing |
| May 8 |
Battle of Laurel Hill |
| May 8-21 |
Battle of Spottsylvania Court HouseLieutenant Eugene Wright and 14 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, Captain George Crawford, Lieutenant Charles Hunt and 14 enlisted men wounded, and 1 officer and 4 enlisted men missing |
| May 10 | Po River |
| May 12 | Assault on the Salient or “Bloody Angle” |
| May 23-26 |
North Anna RiverThe regiment lost 5 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded |
| May 26-28 | On line of the Pamunkey |
| May 28-31 |
TotopotomoyThe regiment lost 2 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 2 officers and 23 enlisted men wounded |
| June 1-12 |
Cold HarborThe regiment lost 12 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and Captain Edwin Richards, 2 other officers and 21 enlisted men wounded |
| June 16-18 |
Before PetersburgThe regiment lost 3 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 6 enlisted men wounded, and 2 officers and 57 enlisted men missing |
| June 15 – April 2 |
Siege of PetersburgThe regiment lost 5 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 2 officers and 20 enlisted men wounded, and 11 men mising in the course of the nine-month siege |
| June 22-23 |
Jerusalem Plank RoadLieutenant William Kelly wounded and Captains Ambrose Cole and William McFadden captured. McFadden eventually excaped from prison and rejoined regiment while Coles was paroled |
| July 5 | Five companies of Veterans of the 82nd New York Infantry Regiment added as Companies E-I, and Company K formed of new recruits. |
| July 18 | Henry Wadsworth Hudson, recently mustered out as colonel of the 82nd New York, was appointed colonel. But he was never mustered and his commission was revoked. |
| July 27-29 | Demonstration north of the James |
| July 27-28 |
Deep BottomThe regiment lost 8 enlisted men wounded and 12 missing |
| August 13-20 | Demonstration north of the James |
| August 14-18 |
Strawberry Plains, Deep BottomThe regiment lost 2 enlisted men mortally wounded, Lieutenants Thomas Huggins and Saveri Venturi and 14 enlisted men wounded, and 5 men missing |
| August 25 |
Ream’s StationLieutenants William Bell and Saveri Venturi and 3 enlisted men were wounded and 37 men captured |
| September 16 | Captain William McFadden of Company B promoted to major |
| October 5 | Lt. Colonel William A. Olmstead, formerly of the 2nd New York Infantry, was commissioned colonel, with rank from September 26 |
| October 27-28 |
Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher’s RunThe regiment lost 5 enlisted men wounded, 1 mortally |
| November 17 | Lt. Colonel Rugg discharged |
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1865
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| January 9 | Major James Jewell of the 51st New York Infantry transferred in as lieutenant colonel |
| January 12 | Major McFadden discharged |
| February 5-7 | Dabney’s Mills, Hatcher’s Run |
| March 25 | Watkins’ House |
| March 28-April 9 | Appomattox Campaign |
| March 29 | On line of Gravelly and Hatcher’s Run |
| March 30-31 | Boydton and White Oak Road |
| March 31 | Crow’s House |
| April 2 | Fall of Petersburg |
| April 6 | Sailor’s Creek |
| April 7 |
High Bridge and FarmvilleThe regiment lost 2 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded |
| April 9 |
Appomattox Court HouseSurrender of Lee and his army. |
| April | At Burkesville |
| April 18 | Captain William Simms of Company D promoted to major |
| May 2-16 | March to Washington, D.C. |
| May 23 | Grand Review |
| June 30 | Mustered out under Colonel Williamm A. Olmsted, Lt. Colonel James Jewell and Major William Simms |