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44th New
York Infantry
Online Books:
44th New York
Infantry Soldier
Roster - Annual Report of the Adjutant General of the State of New York For the Year
1893, Volume 24 View the Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| Forty-fourth New York Infantry. — Cols., Stephen W. Stryker, James C. Rice,
Freeman Conner; Lieut. -Cols., James C. Rice, Edward P. Chapin, Freeman Conner, Edward B.
Knox; Majs., Stephen W. Stryker, James McKown, Edward P. Chapin, Freeman Conner, Edward B.
Knox, Campbell Allen. The 44th regiment, known as Ellsworth's Avengers, was organized at
Albany under the auspices of the Ellsworth association of the State of New York, which
planned to raise a memorial regiment to be composed of one man from each town and ward,
unmarried, not over 30 years of age or under 5 feet, 8 inches in height, and of military
experience. This plan was adhered to as far as possible and two companies from Albany
county, two from Erie county, one from Herkimer county, and a large number of scattered
squads reported at Albany in response to the request. These companies were mustered into
the service of the United States at Albany in Aug. and Sept., 1861, for three years, and
two new companies from Albany were mustered in Oct. 21, 1862. The regiment, numbering
1,061 men, left Albany on Oct. 21, 1861, for Washington and upon its arrival there was
assigned to the 3d brigade, 1st division, later with the 5th corps. Camp was established
on Oct. 28, at Hall's hill, Va., and the winter was passed there with routine duties. On
March 10, 1862, the regiment led the advance to Centerville, but soon returned to Fairfax
and proceeded thence to Yorktown, arriving on April 1. From May 5 to 19, the 44th
garrisoned Fort Magruder; then moved to Gaines' mill; was engaged at Hanover Court House,
with the loss of 86 killed, wounded and missing; participated in the Seven Days' battles
with a total loss of 56 at Gaines' mill and 99 at Malvern Hill, out of 225 engaged in the
last named battle. Returning to Alexandria, the regiment moved by way of Fortress Monroe
to Manassas, and in the battle of Aug. 30 lost 71 killed, wounded or missing. It was in
reserve at Antietam; was active at Shepherdstown, and Fredericksburg; shared in the
hardships of Burnside's "Mud March," and returned to winter quarters at
Stoneman's switch, near Falmouth. Camp was broken on April 27, 1863, for the
Chancellorsville campaign, the 44th being in the lead during the general movement of the
army and sharing in the fighting, after which it returned for a short rest to the camp at
Stoneman's switch. In June, the veterans of the 14th and 25th N. Y. were added to the
44th. At Gettysburg the regiment was posted on the left of the line and joined in the
defense of Little Round Top, where it met with its greatest loss — 111 killed,
wounded and missing. After spending some weeks in camp at Emmitsburg, the command was
present at the battle of Bristoe Station, active at Rappahannock Station and in the Mine
Run campaign, and went into winter quarters at Brandy Station. In Dec., 1863, a large
number of the men reenlisted and rejoined the regiment in camp after their veteran
furlough. May, 1864, was the month of the memorable Wilderness campaign, in which the
regiment served faithfully, suffering most severely at the Wilderness and at Bethesda
Church. By this time the regiment had become greatly reduced in numbers by hard service
and the loss in this campaign, while not so large in numbers as in previous battles, was
even greater in proportion to the number of men engaged. The regiment was active in the
first assault on Petersburg in June, 1864, at the Weldon railroad, and at Poplar Spring
Church. On Oct. 11, 1864, the 44th was mustered out at Albany and the veterans and
recruits were consolidated into a battalion, of which 266 men were transferred to the
140th and 183 to the 146th N. Y. The total strength of the regiment was 1,585, of whom 188
died during the term of service from wounds received in action, and 147 died from
accident, imprisonment or disease. The total loss in killed, wounded and missing was 730.
The men chosen for this command were of the flower of the state and displayed their
heroism on many a desperately contested field, where they won laurels for themselves and
for their state. Col. Fox numbers the 44th among the "three hundred fighting
regiments." |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 2
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