73rd New York Infantry Regiment

United States Regiments & Batteries > New York > 73rd New York Infantry Regiment

“4th Excelsior Regiment”

“2nd Fire Zouaves”

The 73rd New York Infantry Regiment served from July of 1861 to June of 1865 in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. It lost 18 officers and 138 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and 1 officer and 76 enlisted men to disease, a total of 233. The regiment is honored by a monument at Gettysburg, as well as on the Excelsior Brigade monument there.

From the monument at Gettysburg: “Total enrollment 1350, Total casualties 711.”

1861
May to October The regiment was organized under the authority of the War Department at Camp Scott, Staten Island, N.Y., as the 4th Regiment, Sickles’ Excelsior Brigade, principally from members of the fire department.The regiment was organized as a Zouave regiment, modeled after French units serving in North Africa that used specialized light infantry tactics and wore distinctive uniforms. The uniform consisted of a dark blue chasseur jacket with light blue trim and light blue trefoils on each sleeve, sky blue chasseur trousers with two white stripes down each leg, brown leather gaiters, a light blue kepi with a dark blue band and dark blue piping, and a red Zouave fez with a blue tassel as a fatigue cap.
October 8
Officers of the regiment

The 4th Excelsior Regiment left New York for Washington, D.C. under the command of Colonel William R. Brewster, Lieutenant Colonel William McCanley and Major John Moriarity

  • Company A – Captain Michael W. Burns
  • Company B – Captain Thomas Smith
  • Company C – Captain Archibald Gibson
  • Company D – Captain Daniel Crowley
  • Company E – Captain William M. Fisk
  • Company F – Captain Alfred A. Donalds
  • Company G – Captain John Feeney
  • Company H – Captain William McCanty
  • Company I – Captain Charles B. Elliott
  • Company K – Captain Michael D. Purtell
October Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D. C. attached to Sickles’ Brigade, Hooker’s Division, Army of the Potomac
November 9 Expedition to Matthias Point.
December 11 The regiment was transferred from the War Department to the State of New York and designated as the 73rd New York Infantry Regiment.
1862
March Attached to 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 3rd Corps, Army of the Potomac
March 10 Advance on Manassas, Va.
March 18 Expedition from Dumfries to Fredericksburg and capture of stores
April 4 Reconnaissance from Liverpool Point to Stafford Court House and action at Stafford Court House
April Ordered to the Peninsula
April 10-May 4

Siege of Yorktown
May 5

Battle of Williamsburg

Lieutenants Benjamin Beach and John Glass and 20 enlisted men were killed, Captain John Feeney and 4 enlisted men were mortally wounded, 1 officer and 61 men were wounded and 15 men missing.
May 31-June 1

Battle of Seven Pines or Fair Oaks
June 12 The regiment lost 5 enlisted men wounded and 2 missing near Fair Oaks
June 15 Lost 1 enlisted man killed, 6 wounded and 9 missing near Fair Oaks
June 25-July 1

Seven days before Richmond

The regiment lost 8 men killed or mortally wounded, 1 officer and 22 men wounded and 1 officer and 3 enlisted men missing
June 25

Battle of Oak Grove
June 29

Peach Orchard and Savage Station
June 30

White Oak Swamp and Glendale
July 1

Battle of Malvern Hill
July 7 Major Moriarity was discharged.
August 5 Malvern Hill
August At Harrison’s Landing. Captain William Fisk was captured.
August 16-26 Movement to Fortress Monroe, then to Centreville
August 26-
September 2

Pope’s Campaign in Northern Virginia
August 27

Action at Bristoe Station or Kettle Run

Commanded by Captain Michael Burns, the regiment lost Lieutenants Henry Lewis and John McAllister and 8 enlisted men killed, Captain Alfred Donald and 4 enlisted men mortally wounded and Captain John Short, 2 other officers and 32 men wounded out of 8 officers and 99 men engaged.
August 29

Battle of Groveton, or Brawner’s Farm
August 30

Second Battle of Bull Run (Second Manassas)

The regiment lost 3 men wounded and Lieutenant Henry Tremain captured
September Duty in the Defenses of Washington. Colonel Brewster rejoined the regiment on September 2.
November At Fairfax Station Virginia.
November 1 Captain Michael Burns of Company A was promoted to major and Captain William McCauley of Company H to lieutenant colonel.
November 10-12 Operations along the Orange & Alexandria Railroad
December 12-15

Battle of Fredericksburg

The regiment lost 1 enlisted man wounded.
December At Falmouth
January 11 Lieutenant Colonel McCauley was discharged.
Janury 16 Major Burns was promoted to lieutenant colonel and Captain John Lawrence of Company H to major.
1863
January 20-24
“Mud March”

Company G was consolidated with Company E, and 375 men were transferred in from the 163rd New York Infantry Regiment.
February 5-7 Operations at Rappahannock Bridge and Grove Church
April 27-May 6

Chancellorsville Campaign
May 1-5

Battle of Chancellorsville

Lieutenant Thomas Dennan and 4 enlisted men were killed or mortally wounded, 2 officers and 27 enlisted men wounded, and 4 men were missing.
June 11 – July 24

Gettysburg Campaign
July 1-3

Battle of Gettysburg

Colonel Brewster commanded the Excelsior Brigade while the 73rd New York Infantry Regiment was commanded by Major Burns. Captain Eugene Shine, Lieutenants George Dennin and James Marksman and 47 enlisted men were killed, Lieutenant Martin Higgins and 9 enlisted men were mortally wounded. Eleven officers and 92 enlisted men were wounded, and 8 men were missing or captured.

From the Excelsior Brigade monument:

At 5:30 p.m. July 2, 1863, this regiment was detached to support General Graham’s Brigade at the Peach Orchard which was heavily attacked by McLaws’ Division of the Confederate Army. On July 3rd, supported the left centre of the army.
July 5-24 Pursuit of Lee to Manassas Gap, Va
July 23

Wapping Heights, Virginia
August Duty on line of the Rappahannock
September 1 Lieutenant Charles Near died of sunstroke in Virginia.
October 9-22

Bristoe Campaign

The regiment lost 1 enlisted man killed and Captain John Short wounded.
November 7-8 Advance to line of the Rappahannock
November 7

Kelly’s Ford
November 26-December 2

Mine Run Campaign
November 27 Payne’s Farm
December-May Duty near Brandy Station, Virginia.
1864
February 6-7 Demonstration on the Rapidan
March Attached to 2nd Brigade, 4th Division, 2nd Corps
May Transferred to 4th Brigade, 3rd Division, 2nd Army Corps
May 3-June 15

Campaign from the Rapidan to the James River
May 5-7

Battle of the Wilderness

The regiment lost 6 men killed, 3 officers and 51 men wounded, and Captain William Fisk and 5 men captured.
May 8 – 21

Spotsylvania Court House

Captains James McDermott, Michael Purtell and George Le Fort, Lieutenants John Phelan and Benedict Leonard and 3 enlisted men were killed or mortally wounded, 20 enlisted men were wounded and 3 men were missing.

Three men from the regiment were awarded the Medal of Honor for Spotsylvania. First Sergeant William Jones of Company A captured the flag of the 65th Vigrinia Infantry. He was killed on the 12th and the medal was awarded posthumously. Private Philip Schlachter of Company F captured the flag of the 15th Louisiana; and Private Christopher Wilson of Company E “took the flag from the wounded color bearer and carried it in the charge over the Confederate works, in which charge he also captured the colors of the 56th Virginia (C.S.A.) bringing off both flags in safety.”
May 10
Po River
May 12
Assault on the Salient or “Bloody Angle”
May 19 Harris Farm or Fredericksburg Road
May 23-26
North Anna River
May 26-28 On line of the Pamunkey
May 28-31
Totopotomoy

The regiment lost 3 men killed or mortally wounded, and 1 officer and 10 men wounded
June 1-12
Cold Harbor
June 16-18
First Assault on Petersburg

The regiment lost 3 men killed or mortally wounded, and 1 officer and 21 men wounded
June 18
Siege of Petersburg

The regiment lost 8 men killed or mortally wounded, and 1 officer and 4 men wounded in the nine months of the siege exclusive of th ebattles listed below
June 22-23
Jerusalem Plank Road, Weldon Railroad
July Attached to 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 2nd Army Corps
July 27-29
Demonstration on North side of the James

The regiment lost 1 enlisted man killed and 1 officer and 1 enlisted men wounded
July 27-28
Deep Bottom
August 13-20 Demonstration on North side of the James
August 14-18
Strawberry Plains, Deep Bottom

The regiment lost 2 enlisted men killed and Captain Thomas Manning and 2 enlisted men wounded
August 25
Ream’s Station
September 29-
October 2
Poplar Springs Church
September 29 Major Lawrence mustered out
October 24 Colonel Bretster mustereds out
October 27-28
Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher’s Run

The regiment lost 1 enlisted man killed, Captain Henry Bell and 3 enlisted men wounded, and Captain Samuel Greenwalt, Lieutenant Charles Porer and 26 men captured or missing
December 7 Lieutenant Colonel Burns was promoted to colonel, but not mustered
December 9-10 Reconnaissance to Hatcher’s Run
December 22 Captain James McKenna of Company G was promoted to lieutenant colonel but not mustered
1865
February 5-7
Dabney’s Mills, Hatcher’s Run
March 25

Watkins’ House

The regiment lost 3 enlisted men wounded
March 28-April 9

Appomattox Campaign

The regiment lost enlisted 6 men wounded.
March 29-31

Boydton Road and White Oak Ridge
March 31 Crow’s House
April 2

Fall of Petersburg
April 6

Sailor’s Creek
April 7
High Bridge and Farmville
April 9

Appomattox Court House

Surrender of Lee and his army.
May 2-12 Moved to Washington, D.C.
May 23 Grand Review
June 1 Men not mustered out from the 120th New York transferred in
June 29 The 73rd New York Infantry Regiment mustered out at Washington, D.C. under Colonel Michael Burns, Lt. Colonel McKenna