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179th New York Infantry

Online Books:
179th New York Infantry Soldier Roster - Annual Report of the Adjutant General of the State of New York For the Year 1893, Volume 42     View the Entire Book

Regimental History
One Hundred and Seventy-ninth New York Infantry. — Col., William M. Gregg; Lieut. -Cols., Franklin B. Doty, Albert A. Terrill; Majs., J. Barnett Sloan, John Barton, Albert A. Terrill, Giles H. Holden. This regiment, recruited in the counties of Chemung, Erie, Steuben, Tioga and Tompkins, was organized at Elmira for one and three years' service. Cos. A, B. C, D, E, F and G were mustered into the U. S. service from May 11 to July 20, 1864, for three years; Co. H for one and three years, on Sept. 13, 1864; and I and K for one year on Sept. 13-15, 1864. Co. A, originally enlisted for Col. Lewis T. Barney's 180th N. Y., did not join the regiment until Feb. 21, 1865. The 179th left the state by detachments from May, 1864, proceeding to Washington, D. C, where it served in the 22nd corps until the summer of 1864 in the performance of garrison duty. On June 11, 1864, it joined Grant's army at Cold Harbor, where it was assigned to the 2nd brigade, 1st division, 9th corps. In the 1st brigade, same division and corps, it took an active part in the first assaults on Petersburg in June, losing 11 killed, 70 wounded and 10 missing. On the failure of the assaults the regiment went into the intrenchments occupied by the 9th corps, on a part of the line very near to the enemy's works, where the men were exposed to an almost incessant fire during the long siege, resulting in a daily loss of men. The casualties of the regiment from this source during the siege amounted to 62 killed, wounded and missing. Among the killed during the assault of June 17 was Maj. Sloan. The famous mine which was exploded on July 30, 1864, was dug within and in front of the line of the 9th corps and the 179th was hotly engaged during the assault which followed the explosion. Its loss here was 56 killed, wounded and missing, among the mortally wounded being the gallant Maj. Barton. The regiment was again in action at the battle of the Weldon railroad, where it sustained some casualties. Both the regiment and the division were now much reduced in numbers by their severe losses, and a reorganization of the corps took place which placed the 179th in the 2nd brigade of Potter's division, with which it was warmly engaged at Poplar Spring Church in September, losing 58 killed, wounded and missing. The regiment next took part in the action at Hatcher's run, and it rendered excellent service during the critical attack of Fort Stedman, March 25, 1865. It then entered on the final campaign and took a prominent part in the storming of Petersburg, April 2, 1865, losing 60 killed, wounded and missing, including Lieut. -Col. Doty, mortally wounded. This was the last battle in which it was engaged, and on June 8, 1865, under Col. Gregg, it was mustered out at Alexandria, Va. The regiment lost during its term of service, 7 officers and 66 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded; 118 enlisted men from disease and other causes; a total of 191, of whom 25 died as prisoners.

Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing Company, 1908 - Volume 2

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