United States Regiments & Batteries > New York > Infantry
“2nd Duchess and Columbia Regiment”
The 159th New York Infantry Regiment lost 10 officers and 74 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and 1 officer and 130 enlisted men to disease during the Civil War.
1862
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August 28 | Lieutenant Colonel Edward L. Molineux, 23d Militia, received authority to recruit the regiment in the first three Senatorial Districts of the State. |
September 3 | Colonel Homer Nelson was authorize to recruit in the 11th Senatorial District for the 167th Infantry Regiment |
October 28 | The men enlisted for the 167th Infantry under Colonel Nelson were sent from Hudson to East New York to be united with those of the 159th Infantry. The combined regiment retained the number of Lieutenant-Colonel Molineux’s regiment, which formed Companies B, F, H and K, the remaining companies being formed of the men enlisted originally for the 167th Infantry.
The companies were recruited principally: B, H and K at Brooklyn and F at Brooklyn and Brookhaven by Lieutenant Colonel Molineux |
November 1 | Mustered in for three years service at Park Barracks in New York City under Colonel Homer A. Nelson, Lieutenant-Colonel Edward L. Molineux and Major Gilbert A. Draper. |
November 2 | Left Park Barracks and embarked for Staten Island, then marched inland to New Dorp and established Camp Nelson. The regiment was issued Austrian muskets, most of which could not be fired, which were used for drill but replaced with Enfields before the regiment left the state. |
November 24 | Returned to New York City and embarked on steam transport Northern Light. Colonel Nelson resigned to accept his seat in the U.S. Congress, and Lieutenant Colonel Molineux was promoted to colonel assumed command of the regiment, while Major Draper was promoted to lieutenant colonel. Captain Charles A. Burt of the 91st New York Infantry was appointed major of the 159th. |
December 4 | Left State for New Orleans, La. Over 1,200 men were crowded aboard the ship, and Corporal James Bennet of Company D died en route and was buried at sea. |
December 13 | Arrived at Ship Island, Mississippi |
December 17 | Arrived at Baton Rouge, La., after a 23 day voyage of 2,292 miles. Attached to Grover’s Division, Dept. of the Gulf. |
1863
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January | Assigned to 3rd Brigade, 4th Division, 19th Army Corps, Dept. of the Gulf |
March 7-27 | Operations against Port Hudson, La. |
March 13 | Colonel Molineux assumed command of a provisional brigade which included the 159th, which marched nine miles that day and twelve miles the next to the rear of Port Hudson. |
March 20 | Returned to Baton Rouge |
March 28 | Moved to Donaldsonville on the transport Laurel Hill |
March 31 | Guarded division supplies on the transport Empire Parish to Thibodeaux |
April 3 | Marched to Terrebonne |
April 4 | Moved by rail on the New Orleans and Opelousas Railroad to Bayouu Boeuf. |
April 8 | Marched seven miles to Brashear City, leaving all but necessary baggage behid (which was subsequently burned and lost). |
April 9-May 14 | Operations in Western Louisiana |
April 11-20 | Expedition to Franklin and Opelousas, Teche Campaign |
April 11 | Moved by tansport Laurel Hill up Berwick Bay and Atchafalaya Bay to the McWilliams plantation on Grand Lake. |
April 14 |
Irish BendThe regiment was ordered to advance at the double quick across an open field against a Confederate line sheltered by a fence and woods. The 159th came within 50 yards of the enemy before halting to commence fire. Colonel Molineux had just given the order to continue the advance when a rifle ball entered his mouth and passed out his left cheek, carrying away half his upper jaw, and at the same moment a Confederate attack struck the regiment’s flank. The 159th was almost out of ammunition, and was ordered to fall back to the edge of the field. But reinforcements moved up against the Confederates, who retreated. The regiment lost Lieutenant Colonel Draper, Adjutant Robert Lathrop, 1st Lieutenant John Manley Jr., 1st Lieutenant William R. Plunkett, 2nd Lieutanant Byron F. Lockwood, Second Lieutenant Charles P. Price and 30 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded; Colonel Molineux, 2nd Lieutenant William F. Tiemann, Captain Wells O. Pettit, and 62 men wounded; and 16 men missing. It was the greatest loss of any regiment in the fight. Amazingly, Colonel Molineux survived to return to command the regiment. Major Burt, who had been detached to Genral Grover’s staff, was promoted to lieutenant colonel and took command of the regiment. Captin Edward Gaul was promoted to major. |
April 15 | Marched 15 miles north to McGuire’s plantation. |
April 16 | Marched 10 miles to New Iberia. |
April 17 | Marched 20 miles to Bayou Vermillion. Private Appleton W. Rackett was killed and Private William J. Brown was wounded drawing water. |
April 20 | Opelousas |
April 29 | Arrived at Berwick City with 5,000 head of horses and cattle collected from the area.
Governor Welles of Louisiana gave Colonel Molineux a bear cub, who the colonel presented to the regiment as a mascot. |
May 5-18 | Marched 60 miles to Alexandria and Simsport. |
May 22-25 | Moved to Port Hudson via the Empire Parish |
May 25-July 9 | Siege of Port Hudson |
May 27 |
Assault on Port HudsonAfter a long approach march, an unsuccessful attack was made that got within 30 yards of the Confederate defences. Color Corporal Jonathan Race was killed and Color Sergeant William Spanburg wounded in three places and the color staff shot into two pieces. 14 men were killed, and Captain Charles Lewis and 39 men wounded, four of whom later died. The regiment huddled on the field until after 11 p.m., when it withdrew. It temporarily consolidated into five companies afterward due to a lack of company officers. |
May 18 – June 13 | Manned rifle pits and furnished skirmishers throughout the siege. |
June 14 |
Second Assault on Port Hudsonthe second assault was also unsuccessful, costing 14 men wounded and 2 missing. |
July 9 |
Surrender of Port HudsonOne thousand volunteers were called for to create a storming column and the regiment provided 18 men, but the Confederates surrendered their position before the assault could be made. |
July 11 | Embarked on steamer Iberville for Donaldsonville |
July 15 | Colonel Molineux returned from his wound, partially recovered, rsuming command from Lieutenant Colonel Burt. |
July 16 | Crossed to east bank of Mississippi |
July 29 | Marched 73 miles to Carrollton as esort to baggage wagons. |
August 15 | Assigned to 1st Brigade, 4th Division, 19th Army Corps |
August 29 | Post and garrison duty at Thibodeaux encamped on the plantation of Madame Guion |
September 27 | Colonel Molineux was detailed to Geneal Franklin’s staff, and Lieutenant Colonel Burt assumed field command. |
1864
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January 7 | Lieutenant Colonel Burt resigned on surgeon’s certificate. Captain Hart took command of the regiment. |
January 15 | Major Edward Gaul, on detached duty in Albany, was promoted to lieutenant colonel and assumed command. |
February | Assigned to 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 19th Army Corps. Dept. of the Gulf. |
February 25 | Lieutenant Colonel Gaul arrived from New York and took command of the regiment. Captain William Waltermire of Company E was promoted to major. A new Company G joined the regiment, having been recruited at Hudson, and the remnants of the original Company G were consolidated among the other companies. Most of the new company were veterans of the 14th New York Infantry. |
March 2 | Ten men of the regiment were sentenced before the Provost Court with braking into slave cabins on a plantation, raping women, and stealing money, clothing and several hundred pounds of sugar. They were sentenced to the Dry Tortugas, one for life at hard labor, one for ten years, and the others for between 3 and eight years. |
March 21 | Travelled by rail to Algiers. |
March 24 | Embarked by steamer James Battell to Alexandria, Louisiana. |
March 25- May 22 |
Red River Campaign |
April 9 | With many men detached and a number cashiered or resigned, only nine officers were on duty with the regiment. |
April 11 | Guarding stores in Alexandria |
April 23 | Cane River Crossing |
April 24 | Colonel Molineux resumed command of the regiment |
April 29 | Crossed river to Pineville to cover work on the dam |
April 30-May 10 | Construction of dam at Alexandria. Colonel Molineux takes command of the brigade, Lieutenant Colonel Gaul took command of the regiment. |
May 13-20 | Retreat to Morganza |
May 16 | Mansura |
May-July | Duty at Morganza |
June 1-2 | Colonel Molineux left for New Orleans sick. Lieutenant Colonel Gaul was discharged, Major Waltermire was promoted to lieutenant colonel and Captain Robert Hart promoted to major. |
July 17-25 | Ordered to New Orleans, La., thence to Fortress Monroe and Bermuda Hundred, Va. with the first two divisions of the corps. |
June 19 | Embarked on steamer Ohio Belle for Fort Adams, Mississippi, then returning to Morganza. |
July 2 | Embarked on transport Lancaster No. 4 for Algiers. |
July 4 | Arrived in Algiers, staying in the Belvedier Iron Foundry in almost unbearable heat |
July 8 | Presented with a stand of colors and two guidons as a gift of the 23rd New York State National Guard |
July 17 | Embarked on steamer Cahawba for Fortress Monroe along with the 131st New York and the 22nd Iowa, over 1350 men |
July 24 | Arrived off Fortress Monroe after a 1,771 mile voyage and continued up the river to Bermuda Hundred |
July 26 | Duty in trenches at Bermuda Hundred between batteries 5 and 6 near Hatcher’s Houseassigned to the 10th Army Corps |
July 31-August 2 | Moved to Washington, D.C. under the command of Colonel Molineux via the transport Cahawba and marched up Pennsylvania Avenue (the bear at the head of the column, drawing considerable attention) to the “Soldiers Rest” at the railroad station. The regiment later camped near the fortifications northwest of the Capitol. |
August 7- November 28 |
Sheridan’s Shenandoah Valley Campaign. Assigned to the Army of the Shenandoah, Middle Military Division. |
August 14-17 | Marched to Berryville via the Leesburg Pike, Drainesville, Leesburg, Purcellville and Snickers Gap. |
August 21-22 | Near Charlestown |
August 24 |
Skirmish at HalltownCaptain Wells Petit was badly wounded and 9 enlisted men wounded, 2 mortally. |
September 4 |
On Skirmish line at Berryville.Henry Karcher was killed to artillery fire. |
September 19 |
Battle of WinchesterThe regiment lost Lieutenant Herman Smith and 11 men killed or mortally wounded, Captain Joseph McNutt, Lieutenants Edward Duffy, Henry Howard and 40 enlisted men wounded, and Captain William Tiemann and 19 men captured, of whom 8 later died in captivity. |
September 22 | Fisher’s Hill |
September 23 – 25 | Convoyed prisoners and captured equipment to Winchester, returning with a supply train, having marched 97 miles in four days. |
October 6-8 | To Mount Jackson, then on to Woodstock |
October 19 |
Battle of Cedar CreekThe regiment lost Major Robert M. Hart, Captain Duncan Richmond, 1 other officer and 4 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, First Lieutenant Barzillai Ransom and 10 enlisted men wounded, and 6 men missing. Major Hart had been serving on General Grover’s staff and fell into Confederate hands after being wounded, dying from loss of blood after being recaptured in the afternoon. Three Confederate officers and 31 men were captured in a charge during the second phase of the battle. |
October-January | Duty at Kernstown and Winchester |
1865
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January 6 | Marched to Stephenson’s Depot, then by train to Harpers Ferry and on to Baltimore, packed tightly into dirty boxcars. |
January 7 | Arrived in Baltimore and quartered in the overcrowded and dirty barracks at Camp Carroll. |
January 13 | Left the battacks and marched through Baltimore to the wharf, the bear drawing a large crowd. |
January 14 | Colonel Waltermire took command of the regiment. Embarked on steamer Sua-Noda for Savannah and assigned to 2nd Brigade, Grover’s Division, District of Savannah, Ga., Dept. of the South |
January 20 | Transferred to steamer George Leary, taken upriver and landed in Savannah and quartered in the Georgia Central Railroad Station |
January 26 | Took position in fortifications west of the city. |
March 9 | Moved to Hilton Head by steamer U.S.Grant |
March 15 | Moved to Charleston S.C. and then Morehead City, N.C. on the transport New York, transferring to the H.M. Wells. |
March 28 | The regiment lost to the 176th New York Infantry 19 to 17 in baseball. |
April 11 | In a return match, the regiment beat the 176th 17-16. Just before midnight news was received of Lee’s surrender, resulting in an all-night celebration. |
May 3 | To Savannah, Ga. on the steamer Star of the South and assigned to District of Savannah, Ga., Dept. of the South |
May 11 – 17 | Moved to Augusta by combination of march and rail |
July | Assigned to District of Augusta, Ga., Dept. of Georgia |
August 4 | William watermire was promoted to colonel, Wells Pettit to lieutenant colonel and William Tiemann to major, but the numerical strength of the regiment was insufficient for them to be mustered in the grade. |
October 9 | While awaiting transportation a fire broke out in the barracks, killing one man and the regimental mascot, a bear named Bruin, as well as destroying the regiment’s colors, a great deal of equipment, and almost all of the men’s personal clothing and effects. |
October 12 | Thirteen officers and 333 men mustered out under Colonel William Waltermire and Major Wells Petit at Augusta, Ga. |
October 13-15 | Marched 52 miles to the Central Railroad |
October 16 | By rail to Savannah |
October 18 | Embarked on steamer Varuna |
October 25 | Mustered out of state service |
October 27 | The Columbia County companies left by rail for a large public reception at Hudson and home. |