68th New York Infantry Regiment

United States Regiments & Batteries > New York > 68th New York Infantry Regiment

“Cameron Rifles”

“2nd German Rifle Regiment”

The 68th New York Infantry Regiment lost 5 officers and 38 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and 1 officer and 74 enlisted men to disease during the Civil War. It is honored by a monument at Gettysburg.

1861
August 1-20 The 68th New York Infantry Regiment was organized at New York City under the command of Colonel Robert J. Betge, Lieutenant Colonel Gustav Von Gerber and Major Johann Kleefish and was mustered in for three years service.
August 24 Left New York for Washington, D.C.
August Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D. C. Attached to Casey’s Provisional Brigade, Division of the Potomac
October Attached to Blenker’s Brigade, Hooker’s Division, Army of the Potomac
November 19 Lieutenant Colonel Gustav Von Gerber died of disease, Major Kleefish was promoted to lieutenant colonel and Captain Albert Von Steinhausen of Company A was promoted to major
December Attached to Steinwehr’s 2nd Brigade, Blenker’s Division, Army of the Potomac
1862
March 10-15 Advance on Manassas, Virginia. Attached to 2nd Brigade, Blenker’s 2nd Division, 2nd Corps, Army of the Potomac
March 29 Major Von Steinhausen and Captains Otto Boetticher and Lewis Camp were captured at Warrenton Junction, Virginia.
April 5-18 Movement to Winchester, Virginia. and operations in the Shenandoah Valley attached to 2nd Brigade, Blenker’s Division, Mountain Department
April 18 Major Von Steinhausen was dismissed and Captain Carl Von Wedell was promoted to major.
June Attached to 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 1st Corps, Pope’s Army of Virginia
June 8

Battle of Cross Keys

The regiment lost 2 enlisted men killed.
July 7 to August 8 Duty at Sperryville.
August 6 Colonel Betge was discharged and Colonel Gotthilf Von Bourry was mustered in.
August 16-
September 2

Pope’s Campaign in Northern Virginia
August 29

Battle of Groveton (Brawner’s Farm)
August 30

Second Battle of Bull Run (Second Manassas)

Lieutenant Colonel Kleefish and 21 enlisted men were killed or mortally wounded, Lieutenant Max Von Amelunnen and 58 enlisted men were wounded, and 11 men were missing
September-November Duty in the Defenses of Washington. Attached to 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 11th Corps, Army of the Potomac
September 22 Lieutenant Colonel Kleefish died of his wounds in Washington. Captain Carl Vogel of Company D was promoted to lieutenant colonel
October Attached to 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 11th Corps
November 1-18 Movement to Centreville
December 9-16 Advance to Fredericksburg, Virginia.
December At Stafford Court House
1863
January 16 Major Von Wedell was discharged.
January 20-22
“Mud March”
February 9 Major Von Steinhausen’s dismissal was revoked.
March 13 Captain Albrect Von Schaumberg was wounded.
April 2 Captain Robert Rother of Company F was promoted to major.
April 27-May 6

Chancellorsville Campaign

Attached to 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 11th Corps
May 1-5

Battle of Chancellorsville

Captain Robert Rother, Lieutenant Aldebert Hoya and 1 enlisted man were killed, 3 men mortally wounded, Captain August Steuernagel and 15 enlisted men wounded and 32 men missing.
May 27 Lieutenant Colonel Carl Vogel was discharged.
June 11-July 24

Gettysburg Campaign
July 1-3

Battle of Gettysburg

The 68th New York Infantry Regiment was commanded at Gettysburg by Colonel Gotthilf Von Boury d’Ivernois. Captain Otto Friedrich and 12 enlisted men were killed or mortally wounded, Captains Arnold Kummer and Max Eckert, Lieutenant Carl Riese, Assistant Surgeon Jacob Lauble and 54 enlisted men were wounded and Captain Adolph Haack, Lieutenant Otto Mussehl and 65 enlisted men were captured during the fighting for Cemetery Hill.
July Guard duty along Orange & Alexandria Railroad attached to 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 11th Corps
August 31 Captain Paul Koenig was mortally wounded at White Sulpher Springs, Virginia.
September 24-October 3 Movement to Bridgeport, Alabama. Attached to 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 11th Corps, Army of the Cumberland
October 19-26 Operations in Lookout Valley, Tenn.
October 25 Colonel Von Bourry was cashiered. Captain Arnold Kummer was promoted to major
October 26-29 Reopening Tennessee River
October 28-29

Battle of Wauhatchie
November 12 Major Von Steinhausen was promoted to lieutenant colonel
November 23-27

Chattanooga-Ringgold Campaign
November 23 Orchard Knob
November 24-25

Tunnel Hill
November 25

Mission Ridge
November 28-December 17 March to relief of Knoxville, Tennessee.
December Assigned to Railroad Guard and garrison duty in the District of Nashville, Tennessee, Department of the Cumberland.
1864
April Attached to 4th Division, 20th Corps. Three years men from the 8th and 29th New York Infantry were transferred in.
June 8 Felix Prince Salm-Salm was appointed colonel of the regiment.
July Attached to 3rd Brigade, Defenses of Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad
December Attached to District of the Etowah
1865
January 27 Elrod’s Tan Yard (Detachment)
February 3-4 Skirmish at Ladd’s House, Hog Jaw Valley (Detachment)
February 10 Skirmish at Johnson’s Crook.
March Attached to 2nd Brigade, 2nd Separate Division, District of the Etowah
July Duty in District of Allatoona, Ga.
November District of Savannah, Ga.
November 30 The 68th New York Infantry Regiment was mustered out at Fort Pulaski, Georgia, under the command of Colonel Felix Prince Salm-Salm, Lt. Colonel Von Steainhausen and Major Kummer