66th New York Infantry Regiment

United States Regiments & Batteries > New York > 66th New York Infantry Regiment

“Governor’s Guard”

The 66th New York Infantry Regiment lost 9 officers and 88 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 4 officers and 120 enlisted men to disease during the Civil War. It is honored by a monument at Gettysburg.

1861
Organized at New York City.
November 4 Mustered in under the command of Colonel Joseph C. Pinckney, former colonel of the 6th New York State Militia, Lieutenant Colonel James Bull, and Major Orlando Morris.
November 16 Left State for Washington, D.C. for duty in the Defenses of Washington attached to Graham’s Brigade, Buell’s Division. Army of the Potomac
1862
January Attached to French’s Brigade, Sumner’s Division, Army of the Potomac
March 10 Advance on Manassas, Virginia.
March

Peninsula Campaign

Ordered to the Virginia Peninsula and attached to 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Corps
April 16-May 4

Siege of Yorktown
May 31-June 1

Battle of Seven Pines or Fair Oaks

The regiment lost 2 enlisted men killed and 5 wounded.
June 25-July 1

Seven days before Richmond

The regiment lost 4 enlisted men killed or mortally woundd, 8 wounded and 33 captured
June 27

Battle of Gaines’ Mill
June 29

Peach Orchard and Savage Station
June 30

White Oak Swamp and Glendale
July 1

Malvern Hill
July-August At Harrison’s Landing
August 16-30 Movement to Fortress Monroe, thence to Alexandria and Centreville
August 31-
September 1		 Covered retreat of Pope’s army to Washington, D.C.
September 16-17

Battle of Antietam

The regiment was commanded by Captain Julius Wehle. Other than Captain Nelson, acting lieutenant-colonel, and Captain Hammell, acting major, no other officer of the regiment was above the rank of second lieutenant.

Lieutenant Frederick Crissey and 22 enlisted men were killed or mortally wounded, and Captain Hammell and 79 enlisted men wounded.

From the brigade marker at Antietam:

Brooke’s Brigade formed the reserve of Richardson’s Division.

After checking an attempt of the enemy to gain the right rear of French’s Division near Roulette’s house, it co-operated with Caldwell in his advance across the Bloody Lane and through the cornfield to the south, the advance Regiments driving the enemy from Piper’s barn and outhouses. The ammunition of the Brigade having been exhausted, it was withdrawn and occupied a position a short distance north of this point, in support of Battery K, 1st U.S. Artillery.
September 22 to October 29 Duty at Harper’s Ferry
October 16-17 Reconnaissance to Charlestown
October 29-
November 19		 Movement up Loudoun Valley and to Falmouth, Virginia.
December 3 Colonel Pinckney was discharged. Major Morris was promoted to colonel and Captain Peter Nelson of Company G to major
December 12-15

Battle of Fredericksburg

Lieutenant Colonel James H. Bull, Captain Julius Wehle, Captain John Dodge and 16 enlisted men were killed or mortally wounded, Captain John Hammell, Lieutenant James Switzer and 45 rnlisted men were wounded, and 8 men were missing out of 238 engaged.
December 13 Lieutenant John McNiell died of disease at Stevensburg, Virginia.
December-April Duty at Falmouth, Virginia.
1863
January 20-24
“Mud March”
March 15 Lieutenant George Gaynor died of disease.
April 27-May 6

Chancellorsville Campaign
May 1-5

Battle of Chancellorsville

The regiment lost 3 enlisted men killed, 2 officers and 8 enlisted men wounded, and Captain Abraham Feder, 1 other officer and 55 enlisted men captured
June 11-July 24

Gettysburg Campaign
July 1-4

Battle of Gettysburg

The 66th New York Infantry Regiment was commanded by Colonel Orlando H. Morris. He was wounded in the Wheatfield while carrying the colors on July 2nd. Lieutenant Colonel John S. Hammell took command until he, too was wounded. Major Peter A. Nelson then took over the regiment.

The 66th brought 176 men to the field. Captains George Ince and Elijah Munn and 5 enlisted men were killed or mortally wounded, Colonel Morris, Lt. Colonel Hammell, Lieutenant Daniel Banta, Lieutenants Albert Gosse and Cornell Hardenbrook and 22 enlisted men were wounded, and 1 officer and 9 enlisted men missing.

< See Major Nelson’s Official Report on the 66th New York at Gettysburg >
July 5-24 Pursuit of Lee
August-October Duty on line of the Rappahannock
September 13-17 Advance from the Rappahannock to the Rapidan
October 9-22

Bristoe Campaign
October 14

Auburn and Bristoe

The regiment lost 2 enlisted men wounded
November 7-8 Advance to line of the Rappahannock
November 26-December 2

Mine Run Campaign

The regiment lost 1 man wounded
December-May Duty at and near Stevensburg, Virginia.
December 13 Captain John McNiell died of disease at Stevensburg, Virginia
1864
February 6-7 Demonstration on the Rapidan
March Attached to 4th Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Corps
May 3-June 15

Campaign from the Rapidan to the James
May 5-7

Battle of the Wilderness

The regiment lost 2 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 5 wounded, and 4 missing
May 8-21
Battle of Spottsylvania Court House

Lieutenant Thomas Johnston and 13 enlisted men were killed or mortally wounded, Lieutenant Nelson Strickland, 1 other officer and 39 enlisted men wounded, and 18 men missing
May 10 Po River
May 12

Assault on the Salient or “Bloody Angle”
May 23-26

North Anna River

The regiment lost 2 enlisted men killed, 2 wounded and 2 missing
May 26-28 On line of the Pamunkey
May 28-31

Totopotomoy
June 1-12

Cold Harbor

Colonel Morris was killed commanding the brigade, and 8 enlisted men were killed or mortally wounded, 17 men wounded and 18 missing
June 16-18

Grant’s First Assault on Petersburg

Lieutenant James Bullis and 6 enlisted men were killed or mortally wounded and Lieutenant Colonel Hammell, Major Nelson, Captain James Derrickson, Lieutenants Friederich Herzberg, Adolph Nelson and George Turbayne and 47 enlisted men captured. The regiment totalled only 70 officers and enlisted men after the battle.
June 16- April 2

Siege of Petersburg

The regiment lost 1 man mortally wounded and 1 officer and 17 enlisted men wounded during the siege exclusive of the casualties listed in the battles below
June 22-23

Jerusalem Plank Road, Weldon Railroad

Captain Burton Davis and 2 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, Lieutenant Stephen Newman and 8 enlisted men wounded
July 27-29 Demonstration on the north side of the James
July 27-28

Deep Bottom

The regiment lost 4 enlisted men killed, 4 wounded, and 1 missing
August 13-20 Demonstration on north side of the James
August 14-18

Strawberry Plains, Deep Bottom

The regiment lost 1 enlisted man mortally wounded and 4 wounded
August 25

Ream’s Station

The regiment lost 2 enlisted men killed, 5 wounded and 17 missing
November Original members of the regiment were mustered out, while reenlisted men and recruits fwere ormed as a Veteran regiment.
November 30 Colonel Hammell was paroled and returned to regiment.
December Lieutenant George Turbayne was killed in prison at Andersonville, Georgia while crossing the dead line.
December 9-10 Reconnaissance to Hatcher’s Run.
1865
February 5-7

Dabney’s Mills, Hatcher’s Run
March 1 Major Nelson and Captain Derrickson were paroled.
March 25 Watkins’ House
March 28-April 9

Appomattox Campaign

The regiment lost 3 enisted men killed or mortally wounded and 10 wounded during the two weeks of the campaign.
March 29-31

Boydton and White Oak Roads
April 2

Sutherland Station and fall of Petersburg
April 6

Sailor’s Creek
April 7

High Bridge and Farmville
April 9

Appomattox Court House

Surrender of Lee and his army.
May 2-12 Moved to Washington, D. C,
May 5 Major Nelson was discharged.
May 23 Grand Review
June Moved to New York and duty at Fort Richmond in New York harbor.
August 30 The 66th New York Infantry Regiment mustered out under the command of Colonel John S. Hammell.