Raised by former U.S. Congressman Daniel Sickles, under authority of the U.S. War Department on May 18, 1861, the 72nd New York Infantry was organized at Camp Scott on 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][lower-roman 2] Commanded initially by Colonel Nelson Taylor, the regiment was awarded its state number on December 11.[6]
Part of Sickles' Excelsior Brigade, the 72nd New York participated in many of the war's most significant battles. Transported to Washington, D.C., the members of this regiment were initially attached to Division of the Potomac (Sickles' Brigade), and assigned to defend the city before participating in the Union Army's expedition to lower Maryland (September 15–October 2, 1861). They were then reassigned as Sickles' Brigade to the U.S. Army of the Potomac in October as part of the division commanded by Brigadier-General Joseph Hooker. Their next significant deployment came as part of the U.S. Army's Third Corps, Second Division when they engaged in the Union Army's advance on Manassas, Virginia (March 10, 1862), the expedition from Dumfries to Fredericksburg, capture of stores (March 18), and reconnoissance from Liverpool Point to Stafford Court House and subsequent operations there (April 4). Reassigned to the Peninsula Campaign, they then participated in the Siege of Yorktown, Virginia (April 5–May 4, 1862), and incurred heavy casualties in the Battle of Williamsburg (May 5). By the time that battle was over, nearly 200 members of the regiment had been killed or wounded, a loss rate which the regiment would not experience again for the remainder of the war. Next engaged in the Battle of Seven Pines/Fair Oaks (May 31–June 1), the regiment then fought in the Seven Days Battles at Oak Grove (June 25), the Peach Orchard and Savage's Station (June 29), White Oak Swamp and Glendale (June 30), and Malvern Hill (July 1 and August 5). Transferred from the Peninsula during the fall of 1862, the regiment saw heavy action in the Union's 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'sMud 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]
Union Gen. Daniel Sickles rides past his staff to inspect the front lines of the III Corps at the Peach Orchard salient during the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg (July 2, 1863).
Assigned next to the Gettysburg Campaign, the 72nd New York fought in the Battle of Gettysburg under the command of Colonel John Austin. Positioned near the Emmettsburg Road, the regiment was forced to retreat when the Third Corps was routed from its advance position.[7] By the time the second day's fight was over, Austin and one-third of the regiment had become casualties, as had Sickles, the regiment's founder, whose leg was so badly damaged by a stray cannon ball that it required amputation. When the engagement was over, the regiment was ordered to pursue Confederate troops from Gettysburg into Maryland and Virginia, and re-engaged with the enemy in the battles of Wapping Heights (July 23), Bristoe Station (October 14) and Kelly's Ford (November 7), as well as in the 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]
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
Colonel William O. Stevens
General Nelson Taylor
Monuments and other memorials
72nd New York Infantry monument, Gettysburg National Battlefield
Plaque, 72nd New York Infantry monument, Gettysburg National Battlefield
↑ Born to a wealthy family in New York City, Sickles was involved in a number of scandals, most notably the 1859 homicide of his wife's lover, U.S. Attorney Philip Barton Key II, whom Sickles gunned down in broad daylight in Lafayette Square, across the street from the White House. He was acquitted after using temporary insanity as a legal defense for the first time in United States history.< br /> Upon the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861, Sickles became one of the war's most prominent political generals, recruiting the New York regiments that became known as the Excelsior Brigade in the Army of the Potomac. Despite his lack of military experience, he served as a brigade, division, and corps commander in some of the early Eastern campaigns.
↑ In "Report of the Adjutant-General". Saratoga Springs, New York: New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center.
The Irish Brigade was an infantry brigade, consisting predominantly of Irish Americans, who served in the Union Army in the American Civil War. The designation of the first regiment in the brigade, the 69th New York Infantry, or the "Fighting 69th", continued in later wars. The Irish Brigade was known in part for its famous war cry, the "Faugh a Ballaugh", which is an anglicization of the Irish phrase, fág an bealach, meaning "clear the way" and used in various Irish-majority military units founded due to the Irish diaspora. According to Fox's Regimental Losses, of all Union army brigades, only the 1st Vermont Brigade and Iron Brigade suffered more combat dead than the Irish Brigade during America's Civil War.
The 14th Indiana Infantry Regiment, later referred to as the Gallant Fourteenth, was an infantry regiment and part of the Union Army's celebrated "Gibraltar Brigade" of the Army of the Potomac during the American Civil War. Organized in May 1861 at Camp Vigo, near Terre Haute, Indiana, it was the state's first regiment organized for three years of service. The 14th Indiana served in major campaigns and battles in the Eastern Theater, mostly in West Virginia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. During its three years of service, the regiment had a total of 222 casualties.
The Philadelphia Brigade was a Union Army brigade that served in the American Civil War. It was raised primarily in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with the exception of the 106th regiment which contained men from Lycoming and Bradford counties.
George Pierce Doles was an American businessman and Confederate general during the American Civil War. His men played a key role on the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg in driving back the Union XI Corps.
The 4th Ohio Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It served in the Eastern Theater in a number of campaigns and battles, but perhaps is most noted for its actions in helping secure Cemetery Hill during the Battle of Gettysburg.
Leopold von Gilsa was a career soldier who served as an officer in the armies of Prussia and later the United States. He is best known for his role in the misfortunes of the XI Corps in the Army of the Potomac during the American Civil War, particularly at the battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, where many of his men were unjustly accused of cowardice.
William Root Brewster was an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War who commanded a regiment in the famed Excelsior Brigade of the Army of the Potomac. He later commanded the brigade, including at the Battle of Gettysburg where Brewster and his men were overrun by Confederates while defending the Emmitsburg Road position of the III Corps not far from the Peach Orchard.
The 70th New York Infantry Regiment was one of five infantry regiments formed by former U.S. Congressman Daniel Sickles and established as part of the Excelsior Brigade which fought with the Union Army during multiple key engagements of the American Civil War, including the Chancellorsville, Gettysburg and Overland campaigns. Leaders from the 70th New York recruited men from New Jersey, as well as from cities and small towns across the State of New York.
The Excelsior Brigade was a military unit in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Mainly composed of infantry regiments raised in the state of New York primarily by former U.S. Representative Daniel Sickles, the brigade served in several of the Army of the Potomac's most important battles in the Eastern Theater, including Chancellorsville and Gettysburg.
The 140th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry was a Union Army regiment in the American Civil War, serving in the Eastern Theater. Recruited in late 1862, it fought from the Battle of Chancellorsville through the war until the Army of Northern Virginia's surrender at Appomattox Court House. Its losses during the war were among the highest of any Union regiment.
The 140th New York Infantry Regiment was a volunteer infantry regiment that was created on September 13, 1862, for the Union Army during the American Civil War. From January 1864 they wore a Zouave uniform.
The 74th New York Infantry Regiment was a Union regiment recruited in 1861, during the American Civil War. The regiment was part of Sickles' Excelsior Brigade and their first commander was sailor and engineer COL Charles K. Graham.
The 66th Ohio Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was noted for its holding the high ground at the center of the line at Antietam as part of Tyndale's 1st Brigade, Greene's 2nd Division of Mansfield's XII Corps.
John Nicholas Coyne Jr. was a United States military officer who fought with the Union Army as a member of the 70th New York Infantry during the American Civil War. He received his nation's highest award for valor, the U.S. Medal of Honor, for capturing an enemy flag while engaged in hand-to-hand combat during the Battle of Williamsburg in Virginia on May 5, 1862. That flag was "[t]he first Confederate flag captured on the battle-field" by the Union Army during the war, according to historian Thomas S. Townsend. Coyne's medal was conferred on April 18, 1888.
John H. Haight was a United States soldier who fought with the Union Army during the American Civil War as a member of the 72nd New York Infantry. He was recognized with his nation's highest honor for valor, the U.S. Medal of Honor, for the extraordinary heroism he displayed in 1862 during the Battle of Williamsburg, Manassas Station Operations, and Second Battle of Bull Run.
The 66th New York Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
The 120th New York Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
The 119th New York Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
The 54th New York Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
The 8th Louisiana Infantry Regiment was a unit of volunteers recruited in Louisiana that fought in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. Formed in June 1861, the regiment was sent to fight in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. Joining a brigade of Louisiana regiments, it fought in Jackson's Valley campaign and at Gaines' Mill, Malvern Hill, Second Bull Run, Antietam, and Fredericksburg in 1862. The regiment served at Chancellorsville, Second Winchester, Gettysburg in 1863. At Rappahannock Station in November 1863, most of the regiment was captured. The unit fought at the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, and the Valley campaigns of 1864. It served at Petersburg starting in December 1864 and surrendered at Appomattox in April 1865.
"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.
Hawks, Steve A. "Excelsior Brigade", in "Union Monuments at Gettysburg (New York Infantry)". Stone Sentinels: Retrieved online October 4, 2018.
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