United States Regiments & Batteries > New York


“People’s Ellsworth Regiment”

The 44th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment had a total enrollment of 1,838.

According to the regimental history:
4 officers and 188 enlisted men were killed in action or died of wounds.
2 officers and 118 enlisted men died of disease.
113 officers and men were captured in action.
524 officers and men were wounded in action.
139 men were promoted from the ranks to officers.
15 men were known deserters.

The regiment is honored by the largest monument to a single regiment on the battlefield of Gettysburg.

1861
August 8th –
October 21
Organized at Albany, N.Y. The regiment was raised as a tribute to Colonel Elmer Ellsworth, who was killed in the occupation of Alexandria, Virginia at the very beginning of the war. One man would be furnished from each town and ward in New York, to be unmarried, under 30, with some military experience, and taller than 5′ 8″.
August 30 Mustered in under Colonel Stephen W. Stryker, Lieutenant Colonel James O. Rice and Major James McKnown
October 21 Moved to Washington, D.C. and attached to Butterfield’s Brigade, Fitz-John Porter’s Division, Army of the Potomac
1862
January 2 Major McKnown discharged and Captain Edward P. Chapin of Company A promoted to major
March Attached to Butterfield’s 3rd Brigade, Porter’s 1st Division, 3rd Army Corps, Army of the Potomac
March 10-15 Advance on Manassas, Va.
March 22-24 Moved to the Peninsula, Va.
March 30 Reconnaissance to Big Bethel
April 5 Warwick Road
April 5-May 4
Siege of Yorktown

The regiment lost 1 killed and 2 enlisted men wounded

May 10 Reconnaissance up the Pamunkey
May 18 Attached to 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Army Corps as division is transferred to the Fifth Corps
May 24 New Bridge
May 27
Battle of Hanover Court House

The regiment lost 31 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, and 3 officers and 52 men wounded

May 27-29 Operations near Hanover Court House
June 25-July 1 Seven days before Richmond
June 26 Battles of Mechanicsville
June 27
Gaines’ Mill

The regiment lost 16 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 4 officers and 27 enlisted men wounded, and 17 enlisted men missing

June 30 White Oak Swamp and Turkey Bend
July 1
Malvern Hill

The regiment lost 21 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 2 officers and 72 enlisted men wounded, and 6 enlisted men missing

July 4 Colonel Stryker was discharged. Major Edward P. Chapin was discharged and became colonel of the 116th New York Infantry.
July 14 Lieutenant Colonel James C. Rice was promoted to colonel.  Major Edward P. Chapin was promoted to lieutenant colonel. Captain Freeman Connor of Company D was promoted to major.
July-August At Harrison’s Landing. Lieutenant Colonel Chapin became colonel of the 116th New York Infantry. Major Connor was promoted to lieutenant colonel and Captain Edward Knox of Company D was promoted to major.
August 16-28 Movement to Fortress Monroe, then to Centreville
August 28-
September 2
Pope’s Campaign in Northern Virginia
August 30
Second Battle of Bull Run (Manassas)

The regiment lost 16 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 6 officers and 37 enlisted men wounded, and 12 enlisted men missing

September 6-22 Maryland Campaign
September 16-17
Battle of Antietam
September 19
Shepherdstown

The regiment lost 2 enlisted men wounded

September-October At Sharpsburg, Md.
October Two full companies added, one of Albany State Normal School students and the other from Yates Co., N. Y.
October 30-November 19 Movement to Falmouth, Va.
December 12-15
Battle of Fredericksburg

The regiment lost 7 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, Lieutenant Colonel Connor, 4 other officers and 32 enlisted men wounded and 3 enlisted men missing

December 29-30 Expedition to Richards and Ellis Fords, Rappahannock River
1863
January 20-24 “Mud March”
February-April At Falmouth
April 3 Lieutenant Colonel Connor discharged for his wounds at Fredericksburg
April 27-May 6 Chancellorsville Campaign
May 1-5
Battle of Chancellorsville

The regiment lost 1 enlisted man mortally wounded and 3 enlisted men wounded.

May 12 Lieutenant Colonel Connor reinstated
MAy 24 Three years men and recruits from the mustered-out 14th New York Infantry transfer in
June 17 Aldie
June 21 Middleburg and Upperville
July 1-4
Battle of Gettysburg

Commanded by Colonel James C. Rice, who took over the brigade during the battle, leaving command of the regiment to Lieutenant Colonel Freeman Conner. It brought 460 men to the field, losing 26 killed, 82 wounded and 3 missing.

From the monument on Little Round Top

The 44th N.Y. Infantry, Lieut. Colonel Freeman Conner commanding, held position about 100 feet in advance of this monument, designated by a marker, from about 3 p.m. July 2, to about 11 a.m. July 3, 1863. Number engaged 313.

Casualties. Killed, 2 officers, 24 enlisted men. Wounded, 5 officers (of whom one died), 75 enlisted men (of whom ten died). Total loss, 106.

At noon of July 3rd, was placed in reserve at the right of Little Round Top where it remained until close of the battle.

July 10 Three years men from the mustered-out 25th New York Infantry transfer in
July 5-24 Pursuit of Lee
August Duty at Warrenton, Beverly Ford and Culpeper
August 23 Colonel Rice was promoted to brigadier general
October 9-22 Bristoe Campaign
November 7-8 Advance to line of the Rappahannock
November 7
Rappahannock Station

The regment lost 3 enlisted men killed and 1 officer and 4 enlisted men wounded

November 26-December 2
Mine Run Campaign
December At Beverly Ford
1864
May 3-June 15 Campaign from the Rapidan to the James
May 5-7
Battle of the Wilderness

The regiment lost 1 officer and 14 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and 1 officer and 51 enlister men wounded

May 8 Laurel Hill
May 8-21
Spotsylvania Court House

The regiment lost 2 officers and 31 enisted men killed or mortally wounded and 3 officers and 45 enlisted men wounded from May 8 through 21. Lieutenant Colonel Connor and Major Knox were both wounded

May 12 Assault on the Salient
May 23-26
North Anna River
May 23 Jericho Ford
May 26-28 On line of the Pamunkey
May 28-31
Totopotomoy

The regimen tlost 1 enisted man killed and 2 officers and 7 enlisted men wounded from the North Anna to the Totopotomoy

June 1-12
Cold Harbor

The regiment lost 6 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and 2 officers and 15 enlisted men wounded

June 1-3 Bethesda Church
June 16-18
Assault on Petersburg

The regiment lost 3 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and 4 enlisted men wounded

June 16- October 11
Siege of Petersburg

The regiment lost 1 officer and 3 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and 17 enlisted men wounded

August 18-21 Six Mile House, Weldon Railroad
September 29-October 2
Poplar Springs Church, Peeble’s Farm

The regiment lost 3 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 1 officer and 19 men wounded and 4 enlisted men missing

October 11 Mustered out at Albany. Battalion of 266 recruits transferred to 140th New York Infantry.