188th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment
Encyclopedia
The One Hundred and Eighty-Eighth New York Volunteer Infantry was an American Civil War
infantry
regiment
from New York
that served from October 1864 through July 1865 in the Union Army
.
Colonel James R. Chamberlain, succeeded by Col. John McMahon, received authority, September 14, 1864, to recruit this regiment, with headquarters at Rochester, where it was organized and mustered in the service of the United States for one year, October 4, 5, 7, 10 and 22, 1864; except Company A, originally Company C, 183d Infantry, which was mustered in at Elmira September 24, 1864.
The companies were recruited principally: A at Villenova, Allegany, Madison, Yorkshire, Freedom and Mansfield; B at Rochester, Avon, Phelps, Victor, Italy, Penn Yan, Naples and Geneseo; C at Italy, Jerusalem, Rochester, Milo, Avon, Middlesex and Springtwater; D at Springwater, York, Sparta, Avon, Potter, Portage, North Dansville, Geneseo, Leicester and Mt. Morris; E at Livonia, Potter, Portage, Richmond, Avon, Farmington, Jerusalem, Springwater, Seneca, York and Leicester; F at Rochester, Corning, Canandaigua, Hornby and Tuscarora; G at Springwater, Avon, Gorham, Mt. Morris, Canandaigua, Sparta, Middlesex, Leicester, Italy and Barrington; H at Rochester, Sparta, Avon, Dansville and Springwater; I at Avon, Nunda, Rochester, Dansville, Livonia, Groveland, Conesus, Mt. Morris, Phelps and York; and K at Rochester, North Dansville, Conesus, Groveland, Torry, Milo, Avon and Middlesex.
on October 13, 1864. Initially, only seven companies left the state but company K followed in November. The army was before Petersburg
, Virginia at that time. The regiment was placed in 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, V Corps
then under Major General Gouverneur Warren
. The 188th New York remained in this assignment for its entire federal service.
On October 27, less than a month after first muster, the regiment went into battle at Hatcher's Run near the Weldon Railroad. The regiment suffered 7 dead and between 39 and 46 wounded (depending on reports).
On December 8, 1864 the regiment participated on a raid to Hicksford, Virginia where two soldiers were taken prisoner.
February 6 and 7, 1865 saw the regiment at Hatcher's Run
again. During this battle the regiment suffered 5 dead, 21 wounded, and 3 missing.
The Appomattox campaign saw the regiment fight with its corps at White Oak ridge, Gravelly Run and Five Forks, when its casualties aggregated 45 killed and wounded. The 188th New York also participated in the final assault on Petersburg and was present at Appomattox Station on April 9 when General Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia
. According to the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, it reported that the 188th was the regiment that "busted up the confederacy." They were given the honor of posting guard duty around the court house while Lee surrendered the confederacy to Grant.
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
that served from October 1864 through July 1865 in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
.
Colonel James R. Chamberlain, succeeded by Col. John McMahon, received authority, September 14, 1864, to recruit this regiment, with headquarters at Rochester, where it was organized and mustered in the service of the United States for one year, October 4, 5, 7, 10 and 22, 1864; except Company A, originally Company C, 183d Infantry, which was mustered in at Elmira September 24, 1864.
Formation
The regiment was formed in upstate New York, drawing men from Monroe, Ontario, Livingston, Yates, and Steuben counties for one year of service. Company A of the 188th New York was mustered in at Elmira, Chemung County, New York on September 24, 1864. Company A was originally Company C of the 183rd New York Infantry. Companies B through J were mustered into federal service on October 4, 1864 at Rochester, Monroe County, New York. Company K did not join the regiment until November.The companies were recruited principally: A at Villenova, Allegany, Madison, Yorkshire, Freedom and Mansfield; B at Rochester, Avon, Phelps, Victor, Italy, Penn Yan, Naples and Geneseo; C at Italy, Jerusalem, Rochester, Milo, Avon, Middlesex and Springtwater; D at Springwater, York, Sparta, Avon, Potter, Portage, North Dansville, Geneseo, Leicester and Mt. Morris; E at Livonia, Potter, Portage, Richmond, Avon, Farmington, Jerusalem, Springwater, Seneca, York and Leicester; F at Rochester, Corning, Canandaigua, Hornby and Tuscarora; G at Springwater, Avon, Gorham, Mt. Morris, Canandaigua, Sparta, Middlesex, Leicester, Italy and Barrington; H at Rochester, Sparta, Avon, Dansville and Springwater; I at Avon, Nunda, Rochester, Dansville, Livonia, Groveland, Conesus, Mt. Morris, Phelps and York; and K at Rochester, North Dansville, Conesus, Groveland, Torry, Milo, Avon and Middlesex.
Federal service
The 188th New York left the state to join the Army of the PotomacArmy of the Potomac
The Army of the Potomac was the major Union Army in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War.-History:The Army of the Potomac was created in 1861, but was then only the size of a corps . Its nucleus was called the Army of Northeastern Virginia, under Brig. Gen...
on October 13, 1864. Initially, only seven companies left the state but company K followed in November. The army was before Petersburg
Siege of Petersburg
The Richmond–Petersburg Campaign was a series of battles around Petersburg, Virginia, fought from June 9, 1864, to March 25, 1865, during the American Civil War...
, Virginia at that time. The regiment was placed in 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, V Corps
V Corps (ACW)
The V Corps was a unit of the Union Army of the Potomac during the American Civil War.-1862:The corps was first organized briefly under Nathaniel P. Banks, but then permanently on May 18, 1862, designated as the "V Corps Provisional"...
then under Major General Gouverneur Warren
Gouverneur K. Warren
Gouverneur Kemble Warren was a civil engineer and prominent general in the Union Army during the American Civil War...
. The 188th New York remained in this assignment for its entire federal service.
On October 27, less than a month after first muster, the regiment went into battle at Hatcher's Run near the Weldon Railroad. The regiment suffered 7 dead and between 39 and 46 wounded (depending on reports).
On December 8, 1864 the regiment participated on a raid to Hicksford, Virginia where two soldiers were taken prisoner.
February 6 and 7, 1865 saw the regiment at Hatcher's Run
Battle of Hatcher's Run
The Battle of Hatcher's Run, also known as Dabney's Mill, Armstrong's Mill, Rowanty Creek, and Vaughn Road, fought February 5–7, 1865, was one in a series of Union offensives during the Siege of Petersburg, aimed at cutting off Confederate supply traffic on Boydton Plank Road and the Weldon...
again. During this battle the regiment suffered 5 dead, 21 wounded, and 3 missing.
The Appomattox campaign saw the regiment fight with its corps at White Oak ridge, Gravelly Run and Five Forks, when its casualties aggregated 45 killed and wounded. The 188th New York also participated in the final assault on Petersburg and was present at Appomattox Station on April 9 when General Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia
Army of Northern Virginia
The Army of Northern Virginia was the primary military force of the Confederate States of America in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War, as well as the primary command structure of the Department of Northern Virginia. It was most often arrayed against the Union Army of the Potomac...
. According to the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, it reported that the 188th was the regiment that "busted up the confederacy." They were given the honor of posting guard duty around the court house while Lee surrendered the confederacy to Grant.
Deactivation
The regiment was mustered out of federal service on July 1, 1865 at Washington, DC with less than the planned one year of service.Regiment commanders
- September 14 - October 12, 1864 - Colonel James R. Chamberlain
- October 12, 1864 to July 1, 1865 - Colonel John E. McMahon
Other Officers
- Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Doolittle
- Major Christopher C. Davison
- Adjutant Orville Curtiss
- Quartermaster Henry E. McMahon
- Surgeon O. Sprague Paine
- Assistant Surgeon Gideon O. Spencer - October 10, 1864 to February 13, 1865
- Assistant Surgeon Charles E. Hill - May 1 to July 1, 1865
Battle summary
- October 27, 1864 - Hatcher's Run, Virginia
- December 8, 1864 - Warren's Raid, Virginia
- February 6-7, 1865 - Hatcher's RunBattle of Hatcher's RunThe Battle of Hatcher's Run, also known as Dabney's Mill, Armstrong's Mill, Rowanty Creek, and Vaughn Road, fought February 5–7, 1865, was one in a series of Union offensives during the Siege of Petersburg, aimed at cutting off Confederate supply traffic on Boydton Plank Road and the Weldon...
, Virginia - March 19, 1865 - White Oak Ridge, Virginia
- March 29, 1865 - Gravelly Run, Virginia
- March 29, 1865 - Lewis Farm, Virginia
- March 30, 1865 - Five Forks, Virginia
- March 31, 1865 - Gravelly Run, Virginia
- April 1, 1865 - Five ForksBattle of Five ForksThe Battle of Five Forks was fought on April 1, 1865, southwest of Petersburg, Virginia, in Dinwiddie County, during the Appomattox Campaign of the American Civil War. The battle, sometimes referred to as the "Waterloo of the Confederacy," pitted Union Maj. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan against...
, Virginia - April 2, 1864 - Fall of Petersburg
- April 9, 1865 - Appomattox Courthouse (not a battle)
Casualties
- Officers killed or mortally wounded: 1
- Officers Died of Disease, Accidents, etc.: 0
- Enlisted Men Killed or Mortally Wounded: 36
- Enlisted Men Died of Disease, Accidents, etc.: 53
- Enlisted Men Missing: 4