United States Regiments & Batteries > New York


129th New York Infantry Regiment”

The 8th New York Heavy Artillery Regiment lost 19 officers and 342 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 4 officers and 298 enlisted men by disease during the Civil War. The regiment is honored by a monument in the National Cemetery on the Cold Harbor battlefield.

The 129th New York Infantry Regiment was converted to heavy Artillery shortly after it was created and redesignated as the 8th New York Heavy Artillery Regiment.

1862
July Organized at Lockport, New York, as the 129th New York Infantry Regiment under Colonel Peter Porter, Lieutenant Colonel Willard Bates and Major James M. Willett
August 22 Mustered in under Colonel Peter A. Porter
August 23 Left State for Baltimore, Md. and attached to Defenses of Baltimore, Md., 8th Army Corps, Middle Department
October 19 Designation changed to 8th New York Heavy Artillery Regiment
October Garrison duty at Forts Federal Hill, Marshall and McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland attached to Defenses of Baltimore, Md., 8th Army Corps, Middle Department
1863
January Attached to 2nd Separate Brigade, 8th Army Corps
July 10 At Maryland Heights, attached to 2nd Brigade, Maryland Heights Division, Army of West Virginia
August 3 At Baltimore attached to 2nd Separate Brigade, 8th Army Corps
1864
February At Green Springs Run and Romney for a few days. Companies L and M join Regiment at Baltimore
May 12 Ordered to Join Army of the Potomac in the field attached to Tyler’s Heavy Artillery Division, 2nd Army Corps
May-June

Rapidan (Overland) Campaign

May 15-29 Attached to 4th Brigade, 2nd Division, 2nd Army Corps
May 17-21
Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
May 19
Harris Farm or Fredericksburg Road
May 23-26
North Anna River
May 26-28 On line of the Pamunkey
May 28-31
Totopotomy
June 1-12
Battle of Cold Harbor

The monument in the National Cemetery at Cold Harbor lists the names of the men killed or mortally wounded in the fighting on June 3. They include Colonel Porter. Lieutenant Colonel Bates was promoted to colonel. Major Willett was shot in the right side but survived and was promoted to lieutenant colonel. Captain Joel B.G. Baker of Company B was promoted to major.

June 16-18
First Assault on Petersburg
June 16 to April 2

Siege of Petersburg

June 22-23
Jerusalem Plank Road

Colonel Bates was mortally wounded, shot in the stomach, on June 22. Lieutenant Colonel Willett took over the regiment.

June 26 Attached to 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 2nd Army Corps
July 1 Lieutenant Colonel Willett was promoted to colonel.
July 27-29 Demonstration north of the James
July 27-28 Deep Bottom
July 30 Mine Explosion, Petersburg (Reserve)
June 24 Colonel Bates died at the City Point Hospital of his wound from June 22. Lieutenant Colonel Willett was promoted to colonel.
August 13-20 Demonstration north of the James
August 14-18
Strawberry Plains, Deep Bottom
August 25
Ream’s Station
October 27-28
Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher’s Run

Colonel Willett took command of the brigade while Major Baker commanded the regiment.

1865
January 14 Colonel Willett resigned due to “pressing private reasons” and the results of his wound from Cold Harbor. Lieutenant Colonel Baker was promoted to colonel.
March 25 Watkin’s House
March 28-April 9

Appomattox Campaign

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 March to Washington, D.C.
May 23 Grand Review
June 5 Mustered out. Veterans and Recruits of Companies G, H, I and K transferred to 4th New York Heavy Artillery; Companies A, B, C, D, E and F to the 10th New York Infantry, becoming companies H, G & I. Colonel Baker took command of the 10th New York Infantry.