72nd New York Infantry Regiment

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72nd New York Infantry Regiment
ActiveJuly 24, 1861 – October 31, 1864
CountryUnited States of America
BranchUnion Army
TypeInfantry
Part ofExcelsior Brigade
Nickname(s)"Third Excelsior Regiment"
EngagementsAmerican Civil War
Commanders
ColonelNelson Taylor[1]
ColonelWilliam O. Stevens[2]
ColonelJohn S. Austin
Insignia
2nd Division, III Corps
4th Division, II Corps
3rd Division, II Corps
New York U.S. Volunteer Infantry Regiments 1861-1865
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71st New York Infantry Regiment 73rd New York Infantry Regiment
Dr. Charles K. Irwin, 72nd New York, Culpeper, Virginia, September 1863.

The 72nd New York Infantry Regiment was one of five infantry regiments formed by former U.S. Congressman

Chancellorsville Campaign in Virginia, the Battle of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania, and the Overland Campaign. Leaders from the 72nd New York recruited men from New Jersey, as well as from cities and small towns across the State of New York.[4]

Service

Raised by former U.S. Congressman

Staten Island, New York with its members mustering in there from June through November 1861.[5] Listed on its rosters were men from New York City, who were assigned to Companies A, H or K; members of the 68th Militia from Dunkirk, who were assigned to Companies D, E and H; and recruits from Newark, New Jersey, who were assigned to Company F. Companies B, C, G, and I were staffed, respectively, by men from the New York State communities of Jamestown, Vermont, Westfield, and Delhi while Company L was composed of men from Delhi, Plattsburg and Sinclairsville, as well as from Massachusetts and New Jersey[6][ii] Commanded initially by Colonel Nelson Taylor, the regiment was awarded its state number on December 11.[6]

Part of Sickles'

Manassas Station Operations (August 25–27) and the Second Battle of Bull Run (August 28–30).[5][6]

Engaged later that summer in the Union's Northern Virginia Campaign, under the command of Major-General

John Pope, and in operations at Fairfax Station and along the Orange and Alexandria Railroad that fall, the 72nd New York received roughly 200 replacement soldiers in December 1862, bringing the regiment's strength to just over 400. It was then ordered into the Battle of Fredericksburg (December 12–15), where it remained in the field under arms and without tents for 50 hours before retreating with other Union Army troops.[5][6]

Encamped at Falmouth, Virginia through April 1863, the regiment participated in Major-General Ambrose Burnside's Mud March (January 1863) and in operations at Rappanhannock Bridge and Grove Church (February 5–7) before being ordered on to the Chancellorsville Campaign. During this phase of duty, the 72nd New York lost nearly one-fourth of its members in the intense combat of the Battle of Chancellorsville on May 7, including the regiment's commanding officer, Colonel William O. Stevens, who died the next day after having been mortally wounded and captured by Confederate States Army troops.[5][6]

Mine Run Campaign (November 27–December 2).[5][6]

Assigned to duties in the vicinity of Brandy Station until early May 1864, the 72nd New York assisted with operations along the Rapidan River (February 6–7), and was then assigned to the Overland Campaign led by Lieutenant-General Ulysses S. Grant. After fighting in the battles of the Wilderness (May 5–7), Spotsylvania Court House (May 8–21), North Anna (May 23–26), Totopotomoy Creek (May 28–31), and Cold Harbor (June 1–12), the regiment also participated in the opening weeks of the Siege of Petersburg until its leaders received orders to begin winding down the regiment's operations. On June 20, Companies A, B, D, E, F, I and K mustered out. Companies C, G, and H were then transferred to the 120th New York Infantry. Company G was then officially mustered out on July 2, followed by Company C on July 20 and Company H on October 31, 1864.[5][6]

Notable members

  • Haight, John H.: Winner of the U.S. Medal of Honor for extraordinary heroism displayed in 1862 during the Battle of Williamsburg, Manassas Station Operations, and Second Battle of Bull Run while serving as a sergeant with the regiment's G Company.[8][9][10][11]
  • Thomas Horan: Recipient of the U.S. Medal of Honor after the Battle of Gettysburg.[8][9][10][11]
  • Stevens, William O.: After advancing through the ranks, Stevens was commissioned as colonel on September 8, 1862 and placed in charge of the regiment, a post he held until he was killed in action on May 3, 1863 during the Battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia.[12]
  • Taylor, Nelson: Founder and first commanding officer of the regiment, Tayor was appointed as Brigadier-General of Volunteers, U.S. Army on September 7, 1862. Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives just prior to the end of the war, he served in Congress from March 4, 1865 to March 3, 1867.[13]
  • Sgt. John H. Haight
    Sgt. John H. Haight
  • Colonel William O. Stevens
    Colonel William O. Stevens
  • General Nelson Taylor
    General Nelson Taylor

Monuments and other memorials

  • 72nd New York Infantry monument, Gettysburg National Battlefield
    72nd New York Infantry monument, Gettysburg National Battlefield
  • Plaque, 72nd New York Infantry monument, Gettysburg National Battlefield
    Plaque, 72nd New York Infantry monument, Gettysburg National Battlefield

See also

  • List of New York Civil War regiments
  • New York in the Civil War


Footnotes

  1. temporary insanity
    as a legal defense for the first time in United States history.< br /> Upon the outbreak of the
    Eastern campaigns
    .
  2. ^ In "Report of the Adjutant-General". Saratoga Springs, New York: New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center.

Citations

  1. ^ Civil War in the East, 3rd Excelsior Regiment.
  2. ^ Federal Publishing Company (1908), p. 103.
  3. ^ Phisterer (1912), p. 2709.
  4. ^ Dyer (1908), pp. 1432; Federal Publishing Company (1908), pp. 103–104.
  5. ^ a b c d e f NPS 72nd New York.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g NYSMM, (2019).
  7. ^ Barram (2014), pp. 140–146; Brown (1902), pp. 134–136.
  8. ^ a b Sightline Media Group (2020).
  9. ^ a b VCOnline (2020).
  10. ^ a b CMOHS (2014).
  11. ^ a b The National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation (2020).
  12. ^ Hillhouse (1862), p. 331.
  13. ^ BD-USC, Taylor, Nelson.

References

  • Barram, Rick (2014). The 72nd New York Infantry in the Civil War: A History and Roster. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. pp. 1–307.
    OCLC 853310486
    . Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  • OCLC 1046585253
    . Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  • ASIN B01BUFJ76Q. Retrieved August 8, 2015.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain
    .
  • Federal Publishing Company (1908). Military Affairs and Regimental Histories of New York, Maryland, West Virginia, And Ohio (PDF). The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal States, 1861–65 – Records of the Regiments in the Union army – Cyclopedia of battles – Memoirs of Commanders and Soldiers. Vol. I.
    OCLC 1086145633.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain
    .
  • OCLC 1040003486
    . Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  • OCLC 1359922. Retrieved 2023-04-06.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain
    .
  • "72nd New York Infantry Regiment". The Civil War in the East. 2016. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  • "72ndInfantry Regiment: New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center". New York Division of Military and Naval Affairs. 2019. Retrieved 2019-04-08.
  • "72nd Regiment, New York Infantry (U.S. National Park Service)". nps.gov.
    U.S. National Park Service
    . January 19, 2007. Retrieved February 15, 2008.
  • "Hall of Valor: The Military Medals Database". The Hall of Valor Project. Sightline Media Group. 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  • "Medal of Honor Recipients". The Comprehensive Guide to the Victoria & George Cross. VCOnline. 2020. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  • "Stories of Sacrifice!". Congressional Medal of Honor Society. CMOHS. 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  • "Recipient Database". The National Medal of Honor Museum. The National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation. 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  • "Taylor, Nelson". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Washington, DC: U.S. House of Representatives. 2018. Retrieved October 4, 2018.

Further reading

External links
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