United States Regiments & Batteries > New York > The 126th New York Infantry Regiment
The 126th New York Infantry Regiment lost 16 officers and 137 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and 1 officer and 122 enlisted men to disease during the Civil War. It is honored by a monument at Gettysburg.
1862
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Organized at Geneva, New York under the command of Colonel Eliakim Sherrill | |
August 22 | The 126th New York Infantry Regiment mustered in at Troy, New York. |
September 2 | Left New York for Baltimore, Maryland, then moved to Martinsburg, Virginia. |
September 11-12 | Retreat to Harper’s Ferry, Attached to Miles’ Command, Harper’s Ferry, Middle Department. |
September 12-15 |
Defense of Harper’s Ferry |
September 12-13 |
Maryland Heights16 men were killed and 42 wounded |
September 14-15 |
Bolivar HeightsA wayside marker on the Harpers Ferry battlefield quotes a letter from Lieutenant George York of Company I to his father: “On Sunday evening, the second day of our fight, I was ordered out in front of our camp to skirmish as the Rebs were getting rather thick. Now just keep in mind that I had been up for three nights before. You can imagine how pleasantly I must have felt. It was a dangerous position, but I felt as if I did not care whether the Rebs had me or not. Our hundred men were detailed and put under Lt. Munson & myself. You ought to have seen us hunting our way down Bolivar Heights for the front of our camp. At last we reached our position.” |
September 15 | The regiment was surrendered with the Harpers Ferry garrison. |
September 16 | Paroled and sent to Annapolis, Maryland; then to Camp Douglas, Chicago, Ill., and duty there guarding prisoners until November. |
November 22 | Declared exchanged |
November 23-25 | Moved to Washington, D. C. Camp at Arlington Heights, Virginia, Defenses of Washington |
December 3 | At Centreville, Va. attached to 3rd Brigade, Casey’s Division, Defenses of Washington, D.C. |
1863
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February | Attached to 3rd Brigade, Casey’s Division. 22nd Corps |
April | Attached to 3rd Brigade, Abercrombie’s Division, 22nd Corps |
June 25 | Ordered to join Army of the Potomac in the field attached to 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 2nd Corps |
June 25-July 24 |
Gettysburg Campaign |
July 1-3 |
Battle of GettysburgThe 126th New York Infantry Regiment was commanded by Colonel Eliakim Sherrill until he took command of the brigade on July 2. Lieutenant Colonel James M. Bull then took command of the regiment. Sherrill was then mortally wounded on July 3. From the monument to the 126th New York at Gettysburg:The regiment was in position two hundred yards at the left, July 2 until 7 p.m., when the brigade was conducted thirteen hundred yards farther to the left and the regiment with the 111th N.Y. and 125th N.Y., charged the enemy in the swale, near the source of Plum Run, driving them there from and advancing one hundred and seventy five yards beyond, towards the emmitsburg Road, to a position indicated by a monument on Sickles Avenue. At dark the regiment returned to near its former position. In the afternoon of July 3rd it took this position and assisted in repulsing the charge of the enemy, capturing three stands of colors and many prisoners. Number engaged, 30 officers, 425 enlisted men, total engaged 455. Killed, 5 officers, 35 enlisted men. Wounded, 9 officers 172 enlisted men. Missing, 10 enlisted men. Total losses, 231. |
July 5-24 | Pursuit of Lee to Manassas Gap, Virginia. |
August-October | Duty on line of the Rappahannock and Rapidan |
September 13-17 | Advance from the Rappahannock to the Rapidan |
October 9-22 |
Bristoe CampaignThe regiment lost 6 killed, 33 wounded and 10 missing, suffering the heavies loss of any regiment in the campaign. |
October 14 |
Auburn and Bristoe |
November 7-8 | Advance to line of the Rappahannock |
November 8 |
Brandy Station |
November 26-December 2 |
Mine Run Campaign |
December | Duty near Brandy Station, Virginia. |
1864
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February 6-7 | Demonstration on the Rapidan |
February 6-7 | Morton’s Ford |
March | Attached to 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Army Corps |
May 3-June 15 |
Campaign from the Rapidan to the JamesOf the remaining strength of less than 300 men, 100 were detailed as headuarters and provost guard. |
May 5-7 |
Battle of the WildernessThe regiment lost 5 men killed, 62 wounded, and 9 missing. |
May 10-21 |
Spottsylvania Court HouseThe regiment lost 6 killed, 37 wounded and 7 missing from May 10-21 |
May 10 |
Po River |
May 12 |
Assault on the Salient, “Bloody Angle” |
May 23-26 |
North Anna River |
May 26-28 | On line of the Pamunkey |
May 28-31 |
Totopotomoy |
June 1-12 |
Cold HarborAttached to Consolidated Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Corps, Army of the Potomac |
June 16-17 |
First Assault on PetersburgSiege of Petersburg begins |
June 18 |
Siege of Petersburg begins |
June 22-23 |
Jerusalem Plank Road, Weldon Railroad |
July 27-29 | Demonstration north of James River |
July 27-28 |
Deep Bottom |
August 13-20 | Demonstration north of James River |
August 14-18 | Strawberry Plains, Deep Bottom |
August 25 |
Ream’s Station |
November | Attached to 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Corps, Army of the Potomac |
December 9-10 | Reconnaissance to Hatcher’s Run |
December 25 | Consolidated into a battalion of five companies, A-E. |
1865
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February 5-7 |
Dabney’s Mills |
March 25 |
Watkins’ House |
March 28-April 9 |
Appomattox Campaign |
March 29-30 | On line of Hatcher’s and Gravelly Runs |
March 31 |
White Oak Road |
April 2 |
Sutherland Station and fall of Petersburg |
April 3-9 | Pursuit of Lee |
April 6 |
Deatonville Road, Sailor’s Creek |
April 7 |
High Bridge and 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 126th New York Infantry Regiment mustered out under the command of Colonel Ira Smith Brown. Veterans and Recruits transferred to 4th New York Heavy Artillery. |