The 27th New York Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment formed in Elmira, New York, to fight and defend the United States during the American Civil War. The regiment was also known as the "Union Regiment".

27th New York Infantry Regiment
"Union Regiment"
Company H, 27th Regiment NY Infantry National Color
ActiveMay 21, 1861, to May 10, 1863
CountryUnited States
AllegianceUnion
BranchInfantry
EngagementsFirst Battle of Bull Run

Battle of West Point
Siege of Yorktown
Seven Days' Battles
Second Battle of Bull Run
Battle of South Mountain
Battle of Antietam
Battle of Fredericksburg

Battle of Chancellorsville
Colors of the 27th Regiment, New York Volunteers. From the Liljenquist Family Collection of Civil War Photographs, Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress

History

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The regiment was organized on May 21, 1861, at Elmira, New York. Muster was called on June 15, 1861. The unit was enrolled for two-years of service.

Regimental organization

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Company A – recruited principally in Westchester County
Company B – recruited principally in Wayne County
Company C – recruited principally in Broome County
Company D – recruited principally in Broome County
Company E – recruited principally in Monroe County
Company F – recruited principally in Broome County
Company G – recruited principally in Livingston County
Company H – recruited principally in Livingston County
Company I – recruited principally in Allegany County
Company K – recruited principally in Orleans County


Service

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This regiment was organized by Col. Henry W. Slocum at Elmira, New York, and accepted by the State on May 21, 1861. The regiment mustered June 15, 1861, and left New York for Washington, D.C., on July 10, 1861. They were attached to Porter's Brigade, Hunter's Division, McDowell's Army of Northeast Virginia until August 1910. Next they were attached to Heintzelman's Brigade, Division of the Potomac, to October 1861. Slocum's Brigade, Franklin's 1st Division, 1st Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to May 1862. And 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 6th Army Corps, to May 1863.[1]

Advance on Manassas, Va., July 16–21, 1861. First Battle of Bull Run, Va., July 21. Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D.C., until March, 1862. Expedition to Pohick Church October 3, 1861. Advance on Manassas, Va., March 10–15, 1862. McDowell's advance on Fredericksburg April 4–12. Ordered to the Peninsula, Virginia, April 22. Siege of Yorktown, Va., April 24-May 4, on transports. West Point May 7–8. Near Mechanicsville May 20. Seven days before Richmond June 25-July 1. Gaines' Mill and Chickahominy June 27. White Oak Swamp and Glendale June 30. Malvern Hill July 1. At Harrison's Landing until August 16. Movement to Fortress Monroe, thence to Centreville August 16–28. In works at Centreville August 28–31, and cover Pope's retreat to Fairfax Court House September 1.[2]

During the Maryland Campaign from September 6–22, they were at Crampton's Gap, South Mountain,[1] September 14. Battle of Antietam September 16–17. Duty in Maryland until October 29. Movement to Falmouth, Va., October 29-November 19. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12–15. "Mud March" January 20–24, 1863. At Falmouth until April.

Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Operations about Franklin's Crossing April 29-May 2. Maryes Heights, Fredericksburg, May 3. Salem Heights May 3–4. Banks' Ford May 4. Mustered out May 31, 1863, expiration of term. Three years' men transferred to 121st Regiment New York Infantry.[2]

Time line

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Date
May 21, 1861 The Regiment Was Organized with Henry W. Slocum as Colonel
Joseph J. Chambers as Lieutenant Colonel, and Joseph J. Bartlett as Major
June 15, 1861 The Regiment mustered into Federal Service.
July 10, 1861 Left State for Washington, D.C. by rail via Harrisburg and Baltimore.
Attached to Porter's Brigade, Hunter's Division, McDowell's Army of Northeast Virginia
July 16–21, 1861 Advance on Manassas, Virginia
July 21, 1861 Battle of Bull Run
The regiment lost 1 officer and 25 men killed; Colonel Henry W. Slocum, another officer and 42 men wounded; and 60 men missing. Major Joseph J. Bartlett took command of the regiment when Colonel Slocum was wounded.
August 1861 Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D.C. attached to Heintzelman's Brigade, Division of the Potomac
August 13, 1861 Lieutenant Colonel Joseph J. Chambers Resigns
September 1, 1861 Colonel Henry W. Slocum was promoted to brigadier general, Major Joseph J. Bartlett to Colonel, Captain Alexander D. Adams of Company B to Lieutenant Colonel and Captain Curtis C. Gardiner of Company I to major
October 1861 Attached to Slocum's Brigade, Franklin's Division, Army of the Potomac
October 3, 1861 Expedition to Pohick Church
March 1862 Attached to Slocum's 2nd Brigade, Franklin's 1st Division, 1st Army Corps, Army of the Potomac
March 10–15, 1862 Advance on Manassas, Virginia
April 4–12, 1862 McDowell's advance on Fredericksburg
April 22, 1862 Ordered to the Peninsula, Virginia
April 24-May 4, 1862 Siege of Yorktown, Virginia on transports.
Attached to 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 6th Army Corps
May 7–8, 1862 West Point
May 20, 1862 Near Mechanicsville
June 25-July 1, 1862 Seven days before Richmond
The regiment lost 1 officer and 34 men killed or mortally wounded, 9 officers and 100 men wounded, and 18 men missing.
June 27, 1862 Gaines' Mill and Chickahominy
June 30, 1862 White Oak Swamp and Glendale
July 1, 1862 Malvern Hill
July 1862 At Harrison's Landing
July 24, 1862 Major Curtis C. Gardiner resigns, Captain Joseph H. Bodin of Company H promoted to major.
August 16–28, 1862 Movement to Fortress Monroe, then to Centreville.
August 28–31, 1862 In works at Centreville
September 1, 1862 Cover Pope's retreat to Fairfax Court House
September 6, 1862 Maryland Campaign Col Joseph J. Bartlett in charge of the whole Brigade.
September 14, 1862 Crampton's Gap, South Mountain led by Lieutenant Colonel Alexander D. Adams in the Assault
The regiment lost 9 men killed or mortally wounded, and 2 officers and 22 men wounded.
September 16–17, 1862 Battle of Antietam also led by Lieutenant Colonel Alexander D. Adams no real engagement in the Battle.
September 1861 Duty in Maryland
October 29 - November 19, 1862 Movement to Falmouth, Virginia
October 4–8, 1862 Colonel Joseph J. Bartlett promoted to brigadier general, Lieutenant Colonel Alexander D. Adams to colonel, Major Joseph H. Bodin to lieutenant colonel and Captain George G. Wanzer of Company E promoted to major.
December 12–15, 1862 Battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia
January 20–24, 1863 "Mud March"
February 1863 At Falmouth
April 27-May 6, 1863 Chancellorsville Campaign
April 29-May 2, 1863 Operations about Franklin's Crossing
May 3, 1863 Marye's Heights, Fredericksburg
May 3–4, 1863 Salem Heights
May 4, 1863 Banks' Ford
May 31, 1863 Mustered out, expiration of term, under Colonel Alexander D. Adams, Lieutenant Colonel Joseph H. Bodin and Major George G. Wanzer. Three years' men transferred to 121st Regiment New York Infantry.

Total strength and casualties

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Regiment lost during service 2 Officers and 72 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 Officers and 70 Enlisted men by disease. Total 146.[2]

The 27th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment was reformed following the Civil War to replace the 3rd New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment that was disbanded.


Further reading

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Books

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  • Buell, Dexter E. A brief history of Company B, 27th regiment N.Y. volunteers, its organization and the part it took in the war. Printed at the Office of the Republican. Lyons: 1874.
  • Fairchild, Charles Bryant. History of the 27th regiment N.Y. vols., being a record of its more than two years of service in the War for the Union, from May 21, 1861, to May 31, 1863. With a complete roster and short sketches of Commanding officers. Also, a record of experience and suffering of some of the comrades in Libby and other Rebel prisons. Compiled by C. B. Fairchild, of Company "D." Published under the direction of the following committee: Gen. H. W. Slocum [and] Capt. C. A. Wells. Binghamton, Carl & Matthews, printers [1888].
  • Hall, Henry Seymour. "Experience in the Peninsular and Antietam campaigns, January 3, 1894." MOLLUS-Kan160-84.
  • Hall, Henry Seymour. "Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, April 4, 1894. MOLLUS-Kan 185-205.
  • Hall, Henry Seymour. "Personal experience in organizing volunteer soldiers in April, 1861, and participating with them in the first battle of Bull run, July 21, 1861." A paper prepared and read before the Kansas commandery of the M.O.L.L.U.S., May 4, 1892.
  • Hall, Henry Seymour. "Personal experience under Generals Bumside and Hooker, in the battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, December 11, 12, 13 and 14, 1862, and May 1, 2, 3 and 4, 1863." A paper read [April 4, 1889] before the Kansas commandery of the Military order of the loyal legion of the United States.
  • Hall, Henry Seymour. "Personal experience under General McClellan, after Bull run, including the Peninsular and Antietam campaigns, from July 27, 1861, to November 10, 1862." A paper prepared and read before the Kansas commandery of the M.O.L.L.U.S., January 3, 1894.
  • Hall, Henry Seymour. "A volunteer at the first Bull run, May 4, 1892." MOLLUS-Kan 143–59.
  • Kilmer, George Langdon. "The Army of the Potomac at Harrison's landing." Battles and Leaders II 427–8.
  • Merrell, William Howard. Five months in Rebeldom; or, notes from the diary of a Bull run prisoner, at Richmond, by Corporal W. H. * Merrell, Color guard, Co. E, 27th regiment, N.Y.S.V. Rochester: Adams & Dabney, 1862.
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References

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  1. ^ a b "27th Infantry Regiment". New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs: Military History. 26 October 2010. Retrieved 24 December 2011.
  2. ^ a b c "Union Regimental Histories, New York". The Civil War Archive. Retrieved 24 December 2011.