38th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment

United States Regiments & Batteries > New York > Infantry

“2nd Regiment Scott Life Guard”

The 38th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment lost 3 officers and 72 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and 3 officers and 39 enlisted men to disease during the Civil War.

1861
April – June Organized at New York City
June 3 Mustered in under Colonel J. H. H. Ward, Lt. Colonel Addison Farnsworth and Major James Potter
June 19 Left State for Washington, D.C. by rail via Harrisburg and Baltimore
June 21 Reached Washington and camped on Meridian Hill. Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D. C.
July 4 In Review of the Army by President Lincoln and General Scott
July 7 Exchanged arms at Washington arsenal and marched across the Potomac to Alexandria. Attached to Wilcox’s Brigade, Heintzelman’s Division, McDowell’s Army of Northeast Virginia
July 16-21 Advance on Manassas, Va.
July 17 Advanced to Fairfax Station
July 19 Camped at Centerville
July 21
Battle of Bull Run

The regiment lost 19 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, Captains Robert Allason and Eugene McGrath, Lt. John Hyde, and 47 enlisted men wounded, Major Potter, Captain Hugh McQuade and Lieutenant Thomas Hamblin wounded and captured, and 54 enlisted men captured
August Duty in the Defenses of Washington constructing Fort Ward, D.C. attached to Howard’s Brigade, Division of the Potomac
August 18 Four enlisted men captured on picket duty at Munson’s Hill
September Ninety-seven men of the Fourth Maine who had refused duty with that regiment were transferred to the 38th. The camp was moved to the old Fairfax Road, where work was done on Fort Lyon
October Attached to Sedgwick’s Brigade, Heintzelman’s Division, Army of the Potomac
December 26 Captain Hugh McQuaide of Company F died in Richmond while a prisoner
December 27 Lieutenant Colonel Addison Farnsworth promoted to colonel of the 79th New York Infantry
1862
January 11 Captain William Baird of Company H promoted to major
January 18 James C. Strong mustered in as lieutenant colonel at Alexandria, Virginia
March Attached to 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 3rd Army Corps, Army of the Potomac
March 10-15 Advance on Manassas, Va.
March 17 Ordered to the Peninsula, Va. Marched to Alexandria and embarked
March 20 Arrived Fortress Monroe
MArch 21 To Big Bethel
April to August Peninsula Campaign
April 5-May 4
Siege of Yorktown

5 enlisted men was killed or wounded. The regiment was on picket, and was the first to march into the enemy camp and raise the flag
May 5
Battle of Williamsburg

The regiment lost Captains Calvin DeWitt and Samuel Dwyer and 17 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, Lt. Colonel Strong, Captains George Dennett, Augustus Funk and Robert Watson, Lieutenants Edward Miller and Walter Scott, and 58 enlisted men wounded, and 5 enlisted men captured or missing
May 12 Marched to Fair Oaks
May 31-June 1
Battle of Seven Pines or Fair Oaks

The regiment lost 2 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, Lieutenant Fergus Walker and 12 enlisted men wounded, and 3 enlisted men captured or missing
June 25-July 1
Seven days before Richmond

The regiment lost 4 enlisted men wounded and 33 missing or captured
June 25 Battles of Oak Grove near Seven Pines
June 26 The Orchards

3 enlisted men became casualties
June 27 Marched on reconnoissance within five miles of Richmond, the nearest any infantry unit came during the campaign.
June 30
White Oak Swamp and Glendale

The regiment lost 10 enlisted men casualties
July 1
Malvern Hill

The regiment lost 10 enlisted men
July At Harrison’s Landing attached to 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 3rd Army Corps
August 16-26 Movement to Fortress Monroe, then to Centreville
August 27-September 2 Pope’s Campaign in Northern Virginia
August 28
Blackburn’s Ford

The regiment lost Lieutenants Samuel Johnston and Jeffery Pendergrass captured, and six enlisted men casualties
August 29 Battles of Groveton
August 30
Bull Run

Lieutenant Henry Pratt wounded
September 1
Chantilly

The regiment lost Captain Oliver Tilden and 6 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 2 officers and 26 enlisted men wounded and 2 officers and 2 enlisted men captured or missing
September Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D.C.
September 30 Major Potter exchanged from Confederate prison
October 10 Colonel Ward promoted to brigadier general
October – November Movement to Falmouth, Va.
November 16 – 17 Lt. Colonel Strong promoted to colonel and Captain Augustus Funk of Company H to major, both with rank from October 10
December 12-15
Battle of Fredericksburg

The regiment lost Lieutenant John Campbell and 23 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, Captain John Brady, Lieutenants Gustavus Bothner, Benjamin French, Edwin Slater, 5 other officers and 68 enlisted men wounded, and 32 enlisted men missing or captured
1863
January 20-24 “Mud March”
January 26 Captain Robert Allason of Company C promoted to lieutenant colonel
February-April At Falmouth
April 27-May 6 Chancellorsville Campaign
May 1-5
Battle of Chancellorsville

The regiment lost 3 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 15 wounded, and Lieutenant Michael Moran and 18 enlisted men captured or missing
June 3 Three years men transferred to 40th Regiment New York Infantry. Marched to Aquia Creek.
June 4 Embareked for Washington, then landed and transferred to train for New York via Baltimore and Philadelphia
June 6 Arrived New York City
June 22 279 men mustered out, expiration of term under Colonel Strong, Lt. Colonel Allason and Major Funk