147th New York Infantry Regiment

United States Regiments & Batteries > New York > 147th New York Infantry Regiment

The 147th New York Infantry Regiment enrolled 2,102 men during the Civil War. It lost 9 officers and 154 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and 2 officers and 175 enlisted men to disease. Of these 71 men died in Confederate prisons. the regiment is honored by a monument at Gettysburg.

1862
Organized at Oswego, New York.

  • Companies A, B and I were mainly recruited at Oswego
  • Company C at Richland, Albion and Williamstown
  • Company D at Fulton, Granby and Volney
  • Company E at Sandy Creek, Redfield, Boyleston and Orwell
  • Company F at Mexico, Palermo and New Haven
  • Company G at Oswego and Scriba
  • Company H at Constantia, Parish, Amboy and West Monroe
  • Company K at Oswego, Scriba and Fulton.
September 22 & 23 The 147th New York Infantry Regiment mustered in for three years service to the United States under the command of Colonel Andrew S. Warner, Lieutenant Colonel John G. Butler and Major Francis C. Miller.
September 25 Left New York for Washington, D. C.,
October Duty in the Defenses of Washington north of the Potomac
December Duty at Belle Plains, Va. assigned to Provost Guard, Army of the Potomac
1863
January Assigned to 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 1st Corps, Army of the Potomac
February 4 Transferred to 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 1st Army Corps, Army of the Potomac
March Colonel Warner resigned, having raised and commanded the regiment “at the request of citizens of my locality without presuming upon any military qualifications but for the purpose of speedily placing in the field an efficient regiment.” Lieutenant Colonel Butler, who had served as a captain in the 3rd New York Infantry Regiment, was promoted to colonel, and Major Miller, former captain in the 24th New York Infantry Regiment, was promoted to lieutenant colonel.
April 27-May 6

Chancellorsville Campaign
April 29-May 2 Operations at Pollock’s Mill Creek
April 29-30

Fitzhugh’s Crossing

The regiment was under fire for the first time and suffered a few casualties.
May 2-5

Battle of Chancellorsville

The regiment was in reserve and suffered no losses.
June 11-July 24

Gettysburg Campaign
July 1-3

Battle of Gettysburg

The 147th New York Infantry Regiment was commanded at the Battle of Gettysburg by Lieutenant Colonel Francis C. Miller. He was wounded on July 1st and Major George Harney took command.

The regiment was one of the first Union infantry regiments on the field, taking an advanced position north of the Chambersburg Pike. Lt. Colonel Miller was ordered to fall back but was shot in the head before he could pass the orders on to his men. The regiment stood its ground, taking heavy casualties, before orders finally reached it alowing it to withdraw. Although the 147th lost three quarters of its men, its stand saved Hall’s 2nd Maine Battery from destruction and probably saved the Union position south of Chambersburg Pike.

The 147th withdrew through town to the high ground south of Gettysburg. It was part of the defense of Culp’s Hill for the rest of the battle.

From the monument to the 147th at Gettysburg:

Killed and mortally wounded 76. Wounded 146, missing 79. Total loss 301. Number engaged 380.
July 5-24 Pursuit of Lee
August-October Duty on line of the Rappahannock and Rapidan
October 9-22

Bristoe Campaign
November 7-8 Advance to line of the Rappahannock
November 5 Colonel Butler was discharged for disability due to chronic diarrhea. Lieutenant Colonel Miller was promoted to colonel.
November 26-December 2

Mine Run Campaign
December Duty near Culpeper, Va.
1864
February 6-7. Demonstration on the Rapidan
March Assigned to 2nd Brigade, 4th Division, 5th Corps, Army of the Potomac
May 3-June 15

Campaign from the Rapidan to the James
May 5-7

Battle of the Wilderness

Colonel Miller was shot in the side and captured.
May 8

Laurel Hill
May 8-21

Spottsylvania Court House
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
June 1-12

Cold Harbor
June 1-3 Bethesda Church
June 16-18

First Assault on Petersburg
June 19

Siege of Petersburg
July 30

Mine Explosion (Battle of the Crater)

The regiment was in reserve.
August Assigned to 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 5th Corps,
August 18-21

Weldon Railroad
September Assigned to 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 5th Corps
September 29-October 2

Poplar Springs Church, Peeble’s Farm
October 27-28

Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher’s Run
December 7-12 Warren’s Raid on Weldon Railroad
December 10 Colonel Miller was paroled
1865
January 25 Veterans and recruits of the 76th New York Infantry Regiment were transferred in under the command of Captain Albert J. Jarvis when that regiment mustered out at the end of its term of enlistment.
February 5-7

Dabney’s Mills, Hatcher’s Run
March 28-April 9

Appomattox Campaign
March 29 Lewis Farm, near Gravelly Run
March 31

White Oak Road
April 1

Five Forks
April 2

Fall of Petersburg
April 3-9 Pursuit of Lee
April 9

Appomattox Court House

Surrender of Lee and his army.
May 1-12 March to Washington, D.C.
May 23 Grand Review
June 7 The 147th New York Infantry Regiment mustered out under the command of Colonel Francis C. Miller. Veterans and Recruits transferred to 91st New York Infantry