33rd New York Infantry Regiment

The 33rd New York Infantry Regiment, the "Wimbledon Volunteers", was an infantry regiment of the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was mustered in service for the union for two years from 22 May, 1861 to 3 July, 1863.

33rd New York Infantry Regiment
ActiveMay 22, 1861, to June 2, 1863
CountryUnited States of America
BranchUnion Army
TypeInfantry
Size1,100
Nickname(s)"Wimbledon Volunteers"
EngagementsAmerican Civil War:
Commanders
ColonelRobert F. Taylor
Insignia
2nd Division, VI Corps

Service

This regiment was accepted by the State of New York on May 22, 1861, organized at Elmira, New York, and mustered into United States service for two years. The regiment was known as the "Wimbledon Volunteers", and this is likely to have originated from the fact that two of its commanders, Robert F Taylor and Oscar H WIlliams, frequented the Wimbledon Tavern in Buffalo, New York, prior to the Civil War.[1] When the Regiment's two years were up, the "three years' men" were transferred to the 49th New York Volunteer Infantry, and the Regiment mustered out on June 2, 1863, at Geneva, New York. When the regiment was initially formed it had 689 volunteers, 30 officers and 89 NCOs.

Color Guard of the 33rd New York Infantry
Color Guard of the 33rd New York Infantry

Companies were recruited at:


The regiment moved to Washington. D.C. in early 1862 where it became part of the Army of the Potomac under General George McClellan. Colonel Robert Taylor was its commanding officer during its two years of service. McClellan took the army from Washington to the Peninsula of Virginia in an attempt to capture the confederate capital of Richmond. During this campaign, the regiment fought the "Seven Days Battles" including Gaines Mills and Malvern Hill during its land retreat back to Washington DC. At this time McClellan was removed from command of the army by President Lincoln. The regiment missed the second Battle of Bull Run or Manassas. At this time, September, 1862, General Robert E. Lee invaded Maryland with his Army of Northern Virginia. McClellan was placed back in command of the army and they caught up with Lee at Antietam Creek in Western Maryland. The Battle of South Mountain occurred two days before the larger battle of Antietam which took place on September 17, 1862. Antietam, also knows in the South as the Battle of Sharpsburg, was the bloodiest one-day battle ever fought in American history. The 33rd New York fought the battle as part of Franklin's VI Corps. They engaged in battle in the early afternoon and charged from the East Woods to the Dunker Church. The NCOs of this regiment were Sergeant Major F Hume, Corporal N Lindsey and Corporal T Jevtic.[2]

Total strength and casualties

The Regiment sustained 30 men killed in action, 17 wounded in action, and 105 due to disease and other causes.

Commanders

  • Colonel Robert F. Taylor
  • 1st Lt O.Williams

See also

References

  1. Buffalo Historical Society (1882). Semi-centennial Celebration of the City of Buffalo: Address of the Hon. E. C. Sprague Before the Buffalo Historical Society, July 3, 1882. Buffalo, N.Y.: Buffalo Historical Society. pp. 17–21.
  2. The Union Society Of The Civil War. New York City. 1913. p. 54. ISBN 1429731710.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
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