26th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment

United States Regiments & Batteries > New York > Infantry

“2nd Oneida Regiment”

The 26th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment lost 5 officers and 101 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 42 enlisted men to disease in the Civil War.

1861
May 21 Organized at Elmira, N.Y., and mustered in under Colonel William H. Christian, Lieutenant Colonel Richard H. Richardson and Major Gilbert S. Jennings
June 19 Left State for Washington, D.C.
June 20 Arrived in Washington. Attached to McCunn’s Brigade, Army of Northeast Virginia and duty in the Defenses of Washington, D. C., and at Fort Lyon
June 21 Marched 11 miles toward Bull Run, meeting the returning army, and returned to Alexandria
August Attached to Heintzelman’s Brigade, Division of the Potomac
October Attached to Slocum’s Brigade, Franklin’s Division, Army of the Potomac
October 3 Expedition to Pohick Church, Va.
1862
March Attached to Wadsworth’s Command, Defenses of Washington
May Attached to 1st Brigade, Ord’s Division, Dept. of the Rappahannock
May 25-June 18 Expedition to Front Royal
June Attached to 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 3rd Corps, Pope’s Army of Virginia
July Duty at Manassas, Warrenton and Culpeper
August 9
Battle of Cedar Mountain
August 16 Pope’s Campaign in Northern Virginia
August 21-23 Fords of the Rappahannock
August 28 Thoroughfare Gap
August 29
Battle of Groveton
August 30
Battle of 2nd Bull Run

The regiment lost 4 officers and 50 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded (including Captains Casselman and G. S. Jennings and Lieutenant Leonard), 2 officers and 87 enlisted men wounded and 25 enlisted men missing or captured. Colonel Christian took command of the brigade, leaving Lt. Colonel Richardson in command of the regiment
September 1
Battle of Chantilly
September 6-22 Maryland Campaign; attached to 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 1st Army Corps, Army of the Potomac
September 14
Battle of South Mountain

The regiment suffered two wounded
September 16-17
Battle of Antietam

The regiment was commanded by Lt. Colonel Richardson while Colonel Christian commanded the brigade. It lost 7 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 39 enlisted men wounded and 20 enlisted men missing or captured.

From the brigade marker on the Antietam battlefield:

Christian’s Brigade advanced from the Poffenberger Woods in support of Hartsuff’s left. The 90th Pennsylvania was detached to support Matthew’s Pennsylvania Battery in the field between D. R. Miller’s and the East Woods, but soon thereafter rejoined the Brigade, which moved through the East Woods and came into line on either side of the Smoketown Road, the 26th and 94th New York forming on the west edge of the East Woods, south of the Smoketown Road. The 88th Pennsylvania fought on the line of, and finally relieved, the 83rd New York, which was the left of Hartsuff’s Brigade, the 90th Pennsylvania relieving the right of Hartsuff and charging about 40 yards beyond it. The Brigade fought until its ammunition was nearly exhausted when it was relieved by the advance of the Twelfth Corps. This tablet marks the point reached by the 90th Pennsylvania.
September 18 At Sharpsburg, Md.
September 19 – 20 Colonel Christian resigned. Lieutenant Colonel Richardson promoted to colonel, Major Jennings to lieutenant colonel and Captain Ezra F. Wetmore of Company F to major.
October 30-November 19 Movement to Falmouth, Va.
November 20 At Brook’s Station
December 12-15
Battle of Fredericksburg

The regiment lost Adjutant WIlliam K. Baker and 43 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, Lieutenant Colonel Jennings, 9 other officers and 103 enlisted men wounded, and 11 enlisted men missing or captured.
1863
January 20-24 “Mud March”
February At Falmouth and Belle Plains
April 27 Chancellorsville Campaign
May 6 Operations at Pollock’s Mill Creek
May 1-5
Battle of Chancellorsville
May 28 Three hundred fifty men mustered out under Colonel Richardson, Lieutenant Colonel Jennings and Major Wetmore. Three years men transferred to 97th Regiment New York Infantry.