United States Regiments & Batteries > New York > 78th New York Infantry Regiment


“1st Regiment Eagle Brigade”

“Cameron Highlanders”

The 78th New York Infantry Regiment lost 3 Officers and 55 Enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and 73 Enlisted men to disease during the Civil War. It is honored by a monument at Gettysburg shared with the 102nd New York Infantry Regiment.

1862
January to April Organized at New York City under the command of Colonel Daniel Ullman, Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Austin and Major Henry C. Blanchard. Company K was from Michigan.
April 29 Left New York for Washington, D.C. Attached to Defenses of Washington.
May 24 Moved to Harper’s Ferry and attached to 2nd Brigade, Sigel’s Division, Department of the Shenandoah
May 28-30 Defense of Harper’s Ferry
June Operations in the Shenandoah Valley attached to 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 2nd Corps, Pope’s Army of Virginia
August 9

Battle of Cedar Mountain

The regiment lost 22 casualties.

August 16-September 2

Pope’s Campaign in Northern Virginia

Attached to 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 2nd Corps, Army of Virginia

August 23-24

Battle of Sulphur Springs

August 29

Battle of Groveton (Brawner’s Farm)

August 30

Second Battle of Bull Run (Manassas)

September 6-12

Maryland Campaign

Attached to 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 12th Corps, Army of the Potomac

September 14

South Mountain

September 16-17

Battle of Antietam

The 78th New York went into action with 12 officers and 209 men. It was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Austin until he took over brigade command with the death of Colonel Goodrich. Captain Henry R. Stagg then took command of the regiment. the 78th New York lost 34 casualties.

From the first of three War Department markers for Goodrich’s Brigade at Antietam:

Goodrich’s Brigade was detached from its Division, when east of Joseph Poffenberger’s, and ordered to the assistance of Doubleday’s Division. It crossed the Hagerstwon Pike near Miller’s, formed in the north part of the West Woods and on the open ground east of them and, supported by Patrick’s Brigade, advanced in the direction of the Dunkard Church. When nearing this point it was stubbornly resisted by the enemy posted in the woods immediately southwest of this, and Colonel Goodrich was mortally wounded. The loss in the Brigade was heavy and it was obliged to retire.

From the second of three War Department markers for Goodrich’s Brigade at Antietam:

When nearing the East Woods, early on the 17th, Goodrich’s Brigade was detached from its Division and ordered to the assistance of Doubleday’s Division engaged north of this. The Purnell Legion was detached near D. R. Miller’s and did not participate with its Brigade in the action near this point, but was engaged with its Division west of the Dunkard Church. After the repulse of the Brigade near this point, the 78th New York was detached.

From the last of three War Department markers for Goodrich’s Brigade at Antietam:

Goodrich’s Brigade was detached from its Division, and supported Gibbon’s and Patrick’s Brigades of the First Army Corps in the fields and woods west of this point.

From the Official Report of Captain Henry Stagg on the 78th New York at Antietam:

We entered the action with 1 field officer (lieutenant-colonel), 1 adjutant, 1 sergeant-major, 2 captains, 3 first lieutenants, 5 second lieutenants, and 208 men. After the death of Colonel Goodrich, Lieutenant-Colonel Austin was left in command of the brigade until the action was over. Our loss in the action was 1 captain killed, 1 adjutant severely wounded, 8 men killed, and 18 wounded.

Official Records: Series 1, Vol 19, Part 1 (Antietam – Serial 27) , Page 516

October Duty at Bolivar Heights
November 9 Reconnaissance to Rippon, West Virginia.
December 2-6 Reconnaissance from Bolivar Heights to Winchester
December 9-16 March to Fredericksburg, Virginia.
December Duty at Fairfax
1863
January 20-24
“Mud March”
April 27-May 6

Chancellorsville Campaign

May 1-5

Battle of Chancellorsville

The regiment loast 131 casualties.

June 11-July 24

Gettysburg Campaign

July 1-3

Battle of Gettysburg

The 78th New York Infantry Regiment was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Herbert Von Hammerstein. It brought 198 men to the field and lost 6 men killed, 21 wounded and 3 missing fighting on Culp’s Hill.

There is a monument on Culp’s Hill at Gettysburg shared with the 102nd New York Infantry Regiment.

July 5-24 Pursuit of Lee to Manassas Gap, Virginia.
August-September Duty on line of the Rappahannock
September 24-October 3 Movement to Bridgeport, Alabama attached to 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 12th Corps, Army of the Cumberland
October 26-29 Reopening Tennessee River
October 28-29 Battle of Wauhatchie, Tennessee.
November 23-27

Chattanooga-Ringgold Campaign

November 23-24

Battle of Lookout Mountain

November 25

Mission Ridge

November 27

Ringgold Gap, Taylor’s Ridge

Decmber-May Duty at Bridgeport, Alabama.
1864
April Attached to 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 20th Corps, Army of the Cumberland
May 1 to July 12

Atlanta Campaign

May 8-11 Operations about Rocky Faced Ridge, Tunnel Hill and Buzzard’s Roost Gap
May 14-15

Battle of Resaca

May 19 Near Cassville
May 25 New Hope Church
May 26-June 5

Battles around Dallas, New Hope Church and Allatoona Hills

June 10-July 2 Operations about Marietta and against Kenesaw Mountain
June 11-14 Pine Hill
June 15-17 Lost Mountain
June 15 Gilgal or Golgotha Church
June 17 Muddy Creek
June 19 Noyes’ Creek
June 22 Kolb’s Farm
June 27

Assault on Kenesaw

July 4 Ruff’s Station, Smyrna Camp Ground
July 5-12 Chattahoochie River
July 12 Consolidated with 102nd Regiment New York Infantry Regiment.