42nd New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment

United States Regiments & Batteries > New York > Infantry

“Tammany Regiment”

The 42nd New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment lost 11 officers and 141 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 officer and 103 enlisted men to disease during the Civil War. It is honored by a monument at Gettysburg near the Copse of Trees.

1861
Organized at Great Neck, Long Island by the Tammany Society and the Union Defense Committee of New York City
June 22 Eight companies were mustered in under Colonel William D. Kennedy, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Doheny
June 28 Companies H and K mustered in
July 5 Lt. Colonel Doheny was discharged, and Milton Cogswell was mustered in as lieutenant colonel
July 18 Left State for Washington, D.C.
July 22 Colonel Kennedy died at Washington. Lieutenant Colonel Cogswell was promoted to colonel, Captain James J. Mooney of Company A was promoted to lieutenant colonel and Captain Peter Bowe of Company B was promoted to major
July Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D. C.
August Attached to Stone’s Brigade, Division of the Potomac
October Duty on the Upper Potomac attached to Gorman’s Brigade, Stone’s Division, Army of the Potomac
October 21-24 Operations on the Upper Potomac
October 21
Action at Ball’s Bluff

Five companies of the 42nd participated in the battle, commanded by Colonel Milton Cogswell, the only West Point-trained officer among the senior Union commanders at Ball’s Bluff. Captains Henry Alden of Company H and Michael Garretty of Company K, First Lieutenant James Gillis of Company E and 24 enlisted men were killed, 6 enlisted men wounded, and 6 officers and 95 enlisted men captured or missing, including Colonel Cogswell, who was lightly wounded and captured.
1862
January Attached to Burns’ Brigade, Sedgwick’s Division, Army of the Potomac
January 7 Edmund C. Charles mustered in as colonel
Febryary 19 Captain George N. Bomford of Company B promoted to lieutenant colonel
March 7-13 Moved to Harper’s Ferry, W. Va., then to Charlestown and Berryville, Va.
March 13-15 Movement toward Winchester and return to Bolivar Heights
March 22-April 1 Moved to Fortress Monroe attached to 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 2nd Army Corps, Army of the Potomac
April 5-May 4 Siege of Yorktown
April 22 Drummer William Walsh killed at Yorktown
May 31-June 1
Battle of Seven Pines or Fair Oaks

The regiment lost 1 enlisted man wounded
June 14
Tunstall Station

The regiment lost 9 enlisted men captured or missing
June 25-July 1 Seven days before Richmond
June 29 Battles of Peach Orchard and Savage Station
June 30
Glendale

The regiment lost 10 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 2 officers and 24 enlisted men wounded, and 2 officers and 19 enlisted men missing or captured
July 1 Malvern Hill
July-August At Harrison’s Landing
August 2 Lieutenant Colonel James Mooney and Major Peter Bowe were discharged. Captain George Bomford was promoted to lieutenant colonel and Lieutenant James E. Mallon of the 40th New York Infantry transferred in and was promoted to major
August 16-28 Movement to Alexandria
August 28-31 March to Fairfax Court House
August 31-September 2 Cover retreat of Pope’s army to Washington
September 6-22 Maryland Campaign
September 16-17
Battle of Antietam

The 42nd New York was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel George Bomford until he was wounded, when Major James E. Mallon took over. The regiment lost Lieutenants Samuel Dexter and Charles McPherson and 54 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, Lieutenants Thomas Abbott, Septimus Cobb, Henry Van Voost, 5 other officers and 105 enlisted men wounded, and 1 officer and 12 enlisted men captured or missing.

From the brigade marker at Antietam:

Dana’s Brigade, following Gorman’s in column of attack, passed through the East Woods, crossed the Cornfield and the Hagerstown Pike, about 50 yards in rear of Gorman, and entered the West Woods, where its advance was checked about 40 yards east of this point.

Its left flank having been attacked and turned, by McLaws’ and Walker’s Divisions, it was compelled to retire.

A portion of the Brigade, with the 1st Minnesota Infantry, occupied a line near the Nicodemus house which it held for a time until, its flank having been again turned, it retired to the woods and fields east of the Hagerstown Pike.
September 21 Colonel Cogswell was exchanged and released from captivity. He was transferred to the 2nd New York Heavy Artillery
September 22 Moved to Harper’s Ferry, W. Va.
October 16-17 Reconnaissance to Charlestown
October 30-November 17 Advance up Loudoun Valley and movement to Falmouth, Va.
December 12-15
Battle of Fredericksburg

The regiment lost 2 officers and 17 enlisted men wounded and 3 enlisted men captured or missing
1863
January 20-24 “Mud March”
February-April At Falmouth
March 16 – 17 Colonel Charles and Lieutenant Colonel Bomford discharged. Major Mallon prooted to colonel and Captain Patrick J. Downing of Company E promoted to major.
April 27-May 6 Chancellorsville Campaign
May 1 Captain William A. Lynch of Company K promoted to lieutenant colonel
May 3 Battle of Maryes Heights, Fredericksburg
May 3-4
Salem Church

The reiment lost 9 enlisted men wounded, one mortally
May 4 Banks’ Ford
May 16 Lt. Colonel Boford discharged
June 11-July 24 Gettysburg Campaign
July 1-4
Battle of Gettysburg

Commanded by Colonel James E. Mallon, the regiment brought 197 men to the field.

From the monument:

July 2, 1863. Went to support of 3rd. Corps about 5 p.m. Held this position July 3rd, and assisted in repulsing the assault of Pickett’s Division. Casualties; Killed 15, wounded 55, missing 4.

Captain Willia O’Shea and Lieutenants James Casey, Morris Fitzharris, Patrick Lennon and Thomas Mallon were wounded
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
Bristoe Station

The regiment lost Colonel Mallon and 3 enlisted men killed, 1 officer and 13 enlisted men wounded, and 10 enlisted men missing or captured
November 7-8 Advance to line of the Rappahannock
November 18 Lt. Colonel Lynch promoted to colonel but not mustered due to size of regiment
November 26-December 2 Mine Run Campaign
December 10 Captain Robet C. Wright of Company G promoted to lieutenant colonel with rank to October 14 but not mustered
1864
February 6-7 Demonstration on the Rapidan
February At Stevensburg
March Assigned to 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 2nd Army Corps
May 3-June 15 Campaign from the Rapidan to the James
May 5-7
Battle of the Wilderness

The regiment lost 7 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 2 officers and 4 enlisted men wounded, and 1 officer and 11 enlisted men missing or captured
May 8
Battle of Laurel Hill
May 8-21
Battle of Spottsylvania Court House

The regiment lost Captains John Coffey, Patrick Lennon, William O’Shea, Joseph Tobin and 14 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, Captain Robert Wright, Lieutenant Francis Reynlds and 25 enlisted men wounded, and 9 enlisted men missing or captured
May 10 Po River
May 12 Assault on the Salient or “Bloody Angle”
May 28-26 North Anna River
May 26-28 On line of the Pamunkey
May 28-31
Totopotomoy

Lieutenant George B. Ruddly was killed on picket
June 1-12
Cold Harbor

The regiment lost 5 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, Lieutenant Colonel Lynch, another officer, and 16 enlisted men wounded, and 2 enlisted men missing or captured
June 16-18
Before Petersburg

The regiment lost 3 enlisted men wounded
June 22-23
Jerusalem Plank Road

The regiment lost 4 enlisted men mortlally wounded, 7 enlisted men wounded, and 2 officers and 91 enlisted men missing or captured
July 13 Mustered out under Lt. Colonel Lynch and Major Downing. Veterans and Recruits transferred to 82nd Regiment New York Infantry.