3rd New York Infantry Regiment

The 3rd New York organized at Albany, received its numerical designation May 7, 1861, and was mustered into the U. S. service there on May 14, 1861, for two years.[6] In April, 1863, a number of the members of the regiment re-enlisted for one and two years; these and the three years' men of the regiment were formed into a battalion May 18, 1863, and retained in the service, while those whose term of service had expired had been sent to Albany, where they were honorably discharged May 21, 1863.

The original companies were recruited principally:

• A — Williamsburgh Volunteers — Williamsburgh, and Brooklyn
• B - Newburgh, Cornwall, Fishkill, and Matteawan
• C - Albany, Cohoes, Otsego, Schoharie, and Troy
• D - Albany
• E — Syracuse Zouaves — Syracuse, Baldwinsville, Geddes, Salina, and Skaneateles
• F - Albany, Cohoes, and Stockport
• G - Albany, Bethlehem, Greenbush, Pittsfield, Sand Lake, Schenectady, Stillwater, Sudbury, Syracuse, and Troy
• H - Owego, Halsey Valley, Ridgeford, Spencer, and Tioga
• I - Oneida, Albany, Augusta, Brooklyn, Hampton, New York city, Syracuse, Vernon, Walesville, and Westmoreland
• K - Havana, Alpine, Beaver Dams, Benton, Burdette, Branchport, Catherine, Dix, Monterey, Odessa, Orange, Penn Yan, Millport, and Starkey.

On May 18, 1861, it left for New York and on June 3 arrived at Fortress Monroe. It shared in the engagement at Big Bethel, losing 2 men killed and 27 wounded, and returned to Fortress Monroe.

On July 30 it was ordered to Baltimore and quartered at Fort McHenry until April 1, 1862. The summer of 1862 was spent at Suffolk and the 3rd was present during the siege. On Sept. 12, the 3rd was again ordered to Fortress Monroe. The original members who were not reenlisted were mustered out in May 1863, but the regiment remained in the field, composed of 162 recruits and 200 veterans. The three years' men of the 9th New York ("Hawkins' Zouaves"), and sufficient drafted men were assigned to the battalion, and the latter brought up to a regimental standard. It commenced its service, as a veteran command with about 800 men, and subsequently received 700 conscripts and about 200 recruits.[7] On June 13, 1865, the men of the 112th New York ("Chautauqua Regiment"), not discharged with their own regiment, were transferred to this.[8]

The regiment was then ordered to Folly Island, where it took an active part in the operations against Rebel positions in Charleston Harbor. It took part in the Second Battle of Fort Wagner and the bombardment of Fort Sumter during the summer of 1863.[7] In late August and into September it made attacks on Charleston going into the autumn. Of note, it was one of the regiments that occupied Wagner on September 8.[8]

It returned to Virginia, where it became part of the Army of the James at Bermuda Hundred. In April, 1864 it visited Gloucester Point and West Point, and made a reconnaissance to within a few miles of King William Court House. It then moved up the James river and was active in the advance under Gen. Butler in May 1864, losing 5 killed, 50 wounded and 7 missing.[8][7]

It fought in the battle of Drewry’s Bluff and was then transferred to the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, XVIII Corps, which moved to Cold Harbor, where it was active until June 12, 1864, at which time it was transferred back to Bermuda Hundred. The regiment rejoined the X Corps on June 15, 1864, and formed part of the 1st Brigade, 2nd division, with which it was engaged in the assaults at Petersburg. On the 15th it started for Petersburgh, and reached a point within about two miles of the city, where it encountered the enemy, charged his works, captured 230 men of Wise's brigade, the battle-flag of the 26th Virginia, and some nine or ten pieces of artillery. It fell back on the 12th of July and resumed its old position from June. It fought at the Battle of the Crater on July 30, Fort Harrison and the Darbytown Road.[8]

On December 3, 1864, the Third was attached to the 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, XXIV Corps and sent to North Carolina where it was engaged at Fort Fisher, Sugar Loaf Battery, Fort Anderson and Wilmington. At Fort Fisher, the State color which it carried was the first regimental color which was hoisted on the enemy's works.[7] It remained in North Carolina performing picket and garrison duty until General Sherman's arrival and the close of the war.

Commanded by Lieut.-Col. George W. Warren,[9][note 5] it was mustered out of the service at Raleigh on August 28, 1865.[10]

The regiment suffered 37 deaths from wounds and 85 from other causes, for a total of 122 fatalities. Of these, one officer was killed in combat while 2 more died from disease or accident. Thirty Six enlisted men were killed while 83 died from disease or accident.[12][13]

• Colonel Frederick Townsend
• Colonel Samuel M. Alford
• Colonel Eldridge G. Floyd
• Colonel John Elmer Mulford

The 3rd New York was issued the British Pattern 1853 rifles[15][note 6] (.58 and .577 Cal) from stocks already in the State of New York's possession.[note 7]

Pattern 1853 Enfield rifle-musket

The men of the regiment were issued an Americanized Zouave uniform which they wore for the duration of service. The uniform consisted of a dark blue Zouave jacket with red trimming, dark blue pantaloons, white gaiters, red fez with a blue tassel, and a dark blue Zouave vest with a red trimming. The transfers from the 9th New York continued wearing their original uniforms until they wore out when they were issued 3rd New York uniforms. [17]

• List of New York Civil War regiments

Footnotes

Citations

References

• New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center
• "In Search of my Son" Stillman K. Wightman account of recovering the body of his son Sgt Major Edward Wightman of the 3rd New York Infantry killed at the Battle of Ft Fisher January 1865