24th New York Infantry Regiment

United States Regiments & Batteries > New York > 24th New York Infantry Regiment

“Oswego County Regiment”

The 24th New York Infantry Regiment lost 6 officers and 82 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and 1 officer and 30 enlisted men to disease in the Civil War.

1861
Organized at Elmira, N.Y. under the command of Colonel Timothy Sullivan, Lieutenant Colonel Samuel R. Beardsley, and Major Jonathan Tarbell
May 17 The 24th New York Infantry Regiment mustered in
July 2 Left New York for Washington, D.C. by rail via Harrisburg and Baltimore and arrived the next day. Attached to Keyes’ Brigade, Division of the Potomac for duty in the Defenses of Washington, D. C.
July 21 The regiment was issued Enfield rifled muskets
October Attached to Keyes’ Brigade, McDowell’s Division, Army of the Potomac
November 20 -December 16 Colonel Sullivan took command of the brigade, leaving Lieutenant Colonel Beardsley in command of the regiment
December 16-19 Major Tarbell resigned to become colonel of the 91st New York Infantry Regiment. Captain Andrew J. Barney of Company K was promoted to major
1862
January Attached to Augur’s Brigade, McDowell’s Division, Army of the Potomac
March Attached to 1st Brigade, King’s 3rd Division, McDowell’s 1st Corps, Army of the Potomac
March 10-15 Advance on Manassas, Virginia.
March 16 At Upton’s Hill
April Attached to 1st Brigade, King’s Division, Department of the Rappahannock
April 9-19 McDowell’s advance on Falmouth, Va.
April 20 Duty at Fredericksburg, Virginia
May 25-29
McDowell’s advance on Richmond
June Attached to 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 3rd Corps, Pope’s Army of Virginia
June 1-21 Operations against Jackson
June – August Duty at Falmouth
July 7-August 4 Colonel Sullivan took command of the brigade as senior colonel, leaving Lieutenant Colonel Beardsley in command of the regiment.
August 16

Pope’s Campaign in Northern Virginia
August 21-23 Fords of the Rappahannock
August 24 Sulphur Springs
August 28

Battle of Gainesville
August 29

Battle of Groveton, or Brawner’s Farm

The regiment was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Beardsley, who was wounded, and lost 1 officer and 9 men killed and 3 men mortally wounded. Colonel Sullivan was in command of the brigade, leaving Major Barney in command of the regiment.
August 30

Second Battle of Bull Run (Second Manassas)

The 24th New York Infantry Regiment lost Major Barney, 3 ofther officers and 48 men killed and 1 officer and 14 men mortally wounded. Captain Melzar Richards of Company D, 6 other officers and 89 enlisted men were wounded and 2 officers and 57 enlisted men missing or captured in the two days of fighting. Captain John D. O’Brien took command of the regiment.

The 24th New York is featured on a trailside marker near the deep cut on the Bull Run battlefield.
September 6-22

Maryland Campaign

Attached to 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 1st Corps, Army of the Potomac
September 14

Battle of South Mountain

Commanded by Captain John D. O’Brien of Company A. The regiment lost 1 man killed, 2 mortally wounded, Captains William D. Ferguson of Company G and Melzar Richards of Company D, 1 other officer and 20 men were wounded.
September 16-17

Battle of Antietam (Sharpsburg)

The regiment fought in the Cornfield under the command of Captain John O’Brien, losing 4 men killed, 2 mortally wounded, and 11 men wounded. Captain O’Brien was wounded and lost his leg, and Lieutenant Ratigan, of Co. C; and Ensign John S. McNair were also wounded.

From the brigade marker on the Antietam battlefield:

Phelps’ Brigade formed line at 5:30 A. M. on September 17, and moved in support of Gibbon’s Brigade. When Gibbon deployed, 135 yards north of this in the Cornfield and on the plateau west of the Hagerstown Pike, Phelps’ Brigade (425 officers and men) halted 25 paces in his rear, in the Cornfield. After Gibbon advanced and became heavily engaged on both sides of the Pike, Phelps moved to the support of his left and fought on this ground. The subsequent movements of this Brigade conformed to those of Gibbon. After heavy loss it retired to the fields north of D. R. Miller’s and thence beyond the Poffenberger Lane.
September – October

Duty in Maryland
September 29 Adjutant Robert Oliver, Jr. was promoted to major
October 29-November 19 Movement on Falmouth, Virginia.
November 4 Captain Francis C. Miller resigned to become colonel of the 147th New York Infantry Regiment
December 12-15

Battle of Fredericksburg
1863
January 14-16 Colonel Sullivan resigned. Lieutenant Colonel Beardsley was promoted to colonel, Major Oliver to lieutenant colonel, and Captain Richards to major
January 20-24 “Mud March”
January – April At Belle Plains
April 27-May 6

Chancellorsville Campaign
April 29-May 2 Operations at Pollock’s Mill Creek
May 1-5

Battle of Chancellorsville

The regiment lost 2 men wounded.
May 29 The 24th New York Infantry Regiment mustered out at Oswego on the expiration of its term of enlistment, under the command of Colonel Beardsley, Lieutenant Colonel Oliver and Major Richards. Three years men were transferred to 76th New York Infantry.