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56th New
York Infantry
Online Books:
56th New York
Infantry Soldier
Roster - Annual Report of the Adjutant General of the State of New York For the Year
1893, Volume 25 View the Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| Fifty-sixth New York Infantry. — Cols., Charles H. Van Wyck, Rockwell Tyler;
Lieut. -Cols., James Jordan, Frederic Decker, John J. Wheeler, Rockwell Tyler, Eliphas
Smith; Majs., Jacob Sharpe, John J. Wheeler, Rockwell Tyler, Eliphas Smith, James Dubois.
The 56th regiment was organized at Newburgh and was composed of eleven companies, two
light batteries and two cavalry troops. The batteries later became the 7th and 8th
independent batteries and the cavalry part of the 1st mounted rifles. Co. L was the 5th
company of N. Y. sharpshooters. The men were mainly from Orange, Sullivan and Ulster
counties and were mustered into the U. S. service at Newburgh, Oct. 28, 1861, for three
years. The regiment left for Washington on Nov. 7, 1861, was there assigned to the 1st
brigade, Casey's division, and served in the vicinity of Washington until March, 1862. In
the opening of the spring campaign, the regiment, as part of the 1st brigade, 2nd
division, 4th corps, participated in the siege of Yorktown and was present without loss at
Williamsburg, Savage Station and Bottom's bridge. At Fair Oaks the loss of the command was
heavy — 66 killed and wounded and 5 missing. In June the brigade, in Peck's division
of the 4th corps, was present during the Seven Days' battles but not closely engaged, and
after the battle of Malvern hill was withdrawn to Yorktown. In December the brigade under
Naglee was assigned to the 18th corps and reached South Carolina early in Jan., 1862. The
regiment served about Charleston, was active in the siege of Fort Wagner in July, 1863,
and the subsequent operations in the vicinity. It was assigned to the 1st brigade, 3d
division, 18th corps, in March, 1863, and transferred to the 10th corps in October. While
with the 18th corps it was stationed on Folly island and at Beaufort. In the summer of
1864, the regiment was stationed at James island; lost 50 men in an engagement at
Honeyhill; was active at Coosawhatchie and Boyd's point in December, and shared in the
operations at Deveaux neck, S. C, during the same month with considerable loss. The
original members not reenlisted were mustered out at the expiration of the term of
enlistment and the regiment remained in the Department of the South, serving in the coast
division during the winter of 1864-65 and at Charleston from March, 1865 to Oct. 17, 1865,
when it was mustered out. The regiment lost during its term of service 64 by death from
wounds and 216 from other causes. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 2
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