61st New York Infantry Regiment

United States Regiments & Batteries > New York > 61st New York Infantry Regiment

“Astor Regiment” “1st Regiment Clinton Guard”

The 61st New York Infantry Regiment lost 16 officers and 177 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 officers and 121 enlisted men to disease, a total of 316. It is honored by a monument at Gettysburg.

1861
October 25 The 61st New York Infantry Regiment organized at New York City.
November 9 Left New York for Washington, D.C. under Colonel Spencer W. Cone, Lieutenant Colonel Francis C. Barlow and Major William C. Massett
November Duty at Bladensburg, Defenses of Washington, D.C. Attached to Howard’s Brigade, Sumner’s Division, Army of the Potomac
November 3-11 Expedition to Lower Maryland
November 28 At Camp California, near Alexandria, Virginia.
1862
January Lieutenant Colonel Francis Barlow led a revolt among the officers of the regiment to have Colonel Cone and Major Massett removed for incompetence.
March 10 Advance on Manassas, Va. attached to Howard’s 1st Brigade, Richardson’s 1st Division, 2nd Corps, Army of the Potomac
March 20 Reconnaissance to Gainesville
March 28-31 Operations along the Orange & Alexandria Railroad
April 14 Colonel Cone was discharged.
April 16-May 4

Peninsula Campaign

Ordered to the Virginia Peninsula and the Siege of Yorktown.

Lieutenant Colonel Barlow was promoted to colonel, Major Massett to lieutenant colonel and Captain Arthur L. Brooks of Company G to major
May 12 Major Brooks died of disease at Yorktown.
May 14 Captain Zachary Lawrence of Company A promoted to major.
May 31-June 1

Battle of Seven Pines or Fair Oaks

Lieutenant Colonel William Masset, Captains Theodore Russell and Joseph Trenor, Lieutenants Henry Coultis, John McDonald, William McIntyre and 42 enlisted men were killed or mortally wounded, Captain Walter H. Maze, Lieutenants Peter Bain, Cornelius Bergen, Charles Howard and 56 enlisted men were wounded, and four enlisted men were missing out of 432 men engaged.

Nelson Miles was appointed lieutenant colonel effective May 31.
June 25-July 1

Seven days before Richmond

In addition to the officers listed below, from June 25 until July 1 the regiment lost 28 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 2 officers and 71 enlisted men wounded, and 11 enlisted men missing
June 29

Battles of Peach Orchard, Allen’s Farm and Savage Station
June 30

White Oak Swamp and Glendale

Captains Manton Angell and Dennis Moore and Lieutenants Lucien Cadwell and David Gregory were wounded, Captain Moore also captured
July 1

Malvern Hill
July-August At Harrison’s Landing. Attached to 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Corps, Army of the Potomac
August 7 Major Lawrence was discharged
August 16-30 Movement to Fortress Monroe, then to Alexandria and Centreville
August 31-
September 2		 Covered Pope’s retreat to Washington
September 6-22

Maryland Campaign
September 16-17
Battle of Antietam

The regiment was commanded by Colonel Barlow and consisted of only 105 men. At Antietam it was temporarily consolidated with the 64th New York. Its attack flanked the Sunken Road, capturing over 300 Confederates. While repelling the Confederate counterattack, Colonel Barlow was wounded in the groin by artillery case shot, and Lieutenant Colonel Miles took command of the regiment.

Second Lieutenant Theodore W. Greig of Company C earned the Medal of Honor for capturing the battle flag of the 44th Alabama Infantry, despite being shot in the neck. The flag was in private hands for many ears but was returned to the State of Alabama in 2001 and is in the collection of the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

Captain Manton Angell and 11 enlisted men were killed or mortally wounded and Colonel Barlow and 27 enlisted men were wounded.

From the brigade monument at Antietam:

Caldwell’s Brigade relieved Meagher’s and became heavily engaged with the Confederate Infantry occupying the Sunken Road and Piper’s cornfield south of it. After an obstinate contest, the Brigade succeeded in dislodging the Confederates from the Sunken Road and, having repelled several attempts to turn its flanks, advanced to the high ground overlooking Piper’s house, where it was halted by command of General Richardson.
September 22 to October 29 Duty at Harper’s Ferry. Company I was consolidated with another company and was replaced with a new company of recruits from Albany.
September 30 Colonel Barlow was promoted to Brigadier General, Lieutenant Colonel Nelson Miles was promoted to colonel, and Captain Oscar N. Broady of Company C was promoted to lieutenant colonel.
October 16-17 Reconnaissance to Charlestown
October 29-
November 17		 Advance up Loudoun Valley and movement to Falmouth.
November 17 Captain William Spencer was promoted to major with rank from August 7
December
Manassas Gap

The regiment lost 2 enlisted men missing.
December 12-15

Battle of Fredericksburg

The regiment lost 13 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and Lieutenant Colonel Nelson Miles and 22 enisted men were wounded in the assault on Marye’s Heights.
December 21 Major Spencer was discharged for disability.
1863
January Duty at Falmouth
January 20-24
“Mud March”
February 18 First Lieutenant George W. Scott of Company D was promoted to major
April 27-May 6

Chancellorsville Campaign
May 1-5

Battle of Chancellorsville

The regiment lost 1 officer killed, Colonel Miles wounded in the neck and abdomen (at first thought to be fatal) and 15 enlisted men wounded, and 1 officer and enlisted men missing. Miles was awarded the Medal of honor for his actions in the battle.
June 11-July 24

Gettysburg Campaign
July 1-4

Battle of Gettysburg

The regiment was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Oscar Knut Broady. It brought 148 men to the field and lost Lieutenant Franklin Garland and 13 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and Captain Willard Keech, Lieutenants Charles Fuller, James Owens and 43 enlisted men wounded in fighting in the Wheatfield.

< See Lieutenant Colonel Broady’s Official Report for the 61st New York at Gettysburg >
July 5-24 Pursuit of Lee to Manassas, Virginia.
August-October Duty on line of the Rappahannock
September 13-17 Advance from the Rappahannock to the Rapidan
October 9-22

Bristoe Campaign

The regiment lost 1 enlisted man killed.
October 14 Auburn and Bristoe
November 7-8 Advance to line of the Rappahannock
November 26-December 2

Mine Run Campaign
December-May Duty at Stevensburg
1863
February 6-7 Demonstration on the Rapidan
May 3-June 15

Campaign from the Rapidan to the James
May 5-7

Battle of the Wilderness
May 8

Corbin’s Bridge

Captain Thomas Morrison, Lieutenants William Collines and John Hicks, and 10 enisted men were killed or mortally wounded, Lieutenant Thomas Welch and 22 enlisted men wounded, and 1 enlisted man missing
May 8-21

Battle of Spottsylvania Court House
May 12 Major Scott was promoted to lieutenant colonel.
May 10

Po River

The regiment lost 4 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and wounded
May 12

Assault on the Salient or “Bloody Angle”

The regiment lost 16 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and Lieutenant Robert Solomon and 33 enlisted men wounded.
May 23-26

North Anna River
May 26-28 On line of the Pamunkey
May 28-31

Totopotomoy

The regiment lost 2 enlisted men wounded
June 1-12

Cold Harbor

The regiment lost Lieutenants James Owens, Joel Perrington and Isaac Plumb and 8 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 10 enlisted men wounded and 2 enlisted men missing.
June 9 Colonel Miles was promoted to brigadier general. Lieutenant Colonel Broady was promoted to colonel but never mustered.
June 16-18

Grant’s First Assault on Petersburg
June 16-18

Siege of Petersburg
June 22-23

Jerusalem Plank Road

The regiment lost 10 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 1 officer and 23 enlisted men wounded and 7 missing.
July 27-29 Demonstration on north side of the James.
July 27-29

Deep Bottom

the regiment lost 1 enlisted man wounded and 1 missing
August 13-20 Demonstration north of the James
August 14-18

Strawberry Plains, Deep Bottom

The regiment lost 2 enlisted men killed, 5 wounded and 7 missing
August 25

Ream’s Station

The regiment lost 3 enlisted men killed, 11 wounded, and 25 missing or captured.
October 29 Colonel Broady mustered out. Major Scott was promoted to lieutenant colonel.
November 10 Lieutenant Colonel Scott was promoted to colonel
December 9-10

Reconnaissance to Hatcher’s Run

The regiment lost 1 man wounded.
December 9

Hatcher’s Run
December 20 Veterans and recruits from the 57th New York Infantry transferred into the regiment.
1865
February 5-7

Dabney’s Mills, Hatcher’s Run
March 13 Captain George Schaffer of the 91st New York Infantry transferred in and was promoted to major.
March 25

Watkins’ House

The regiment lost 6 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 17 wounded, and 2 missing
March 28-April 9

Appomattox Campaign

During the campaign the regiment lost Lieutenant William Malcom and 10 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, Lieutenant James Smith and 36 enlisted men wounded, and 4 enlisted men captured or missing.
March 29-30 On line of Hatcher’s and Gravelly Runs
March 31

Hatcher’s Run or Boydton Road and White Oak Road
April 2

Sutherland Station and Fall of Petersburg
April 6

Sailor’s Creek

Lieutenant William Malcom was killed.
April 7

High Bridge and Farmville

Lieutenant James Smith wounded
April 9

Appomattox Court House

Surrender of Lee and his army.
April At Burkesville
May 2-12 March to Washington, D.C.
May 23 Grand Review
July 14 The 61st New York Infantry Regiment mustered out under the command of Colonel George W. Scott and Major Schaffer
Officers of the 61st New York Infantry Regiment at Falmouth, Virginia

Officers of the 61st New York Infantry Regiment at Falmouth, Virginia; Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, Civil War Photographs, LC-USZ62-95369