3rd New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment
Encyclopedia
The 3rd New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry
regiment
that served in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
. It is also known as the Albany Regiment. They wore an americanized zouave uniform which consisted of a dark blue zouave jacket with red trimming, dark blue pantalloons, white gaiters, red fez with a blue tazzle, and a dark blue zouave vest with a red trimming.
The Third was present during the siege of Suffolk, after which it was ordered to Folly Island, where it took an active part in the operations against Fort Wagner, the bombardment of Fort Sumter
and attacks on Charleston in the summer and autumn of 1863, as part of Alford's brigade of the 18th Corps. In October 1863, it was returned to Virginia, where it was active in the advance under General Butler in May 1864, losing 5 killed, 50 wounded and 7 missing.
It fought in the battle of Drewy's Buff and was then transferred to the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 18th Corps, which moved to Cold Harbor, where it was active until June 12, 1864 at which time it was transferred to Bermuda Hundred. The regiment rejoined the 10th Corps on June 15, 1864 and formed part of the 1st Brigade, 2nd division, with which it was engaged in the assaults at Petersburg in June, the mine explosion of July 30, Fort Harrison and the Darbytown Road.
On December 3, 1864, the Third was attached to the 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 24th Corps and sent to North Carolina where it was engaged at Fort Fisher, Sugar Loaf Battery, Fort Anderson and Wilmington. It remained in North Carolina performing picket and garrison duty until General Sherman's arrival and the close of the war.
It was mustered out of the service at Raleigh on August 28, 1865.
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...
that served 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...
during the American Civil War
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...
. It is also known as the Albany Regiment. They wore an americanized zouave uniform which consisted of a dark blue zouave jacket with red trimming, dark blue pantalloons, white gaiters, red fez with a blue tazzle, and a dark blue zouave vest with a red trimming.
Service
On July 30, 1861, it was ordered to Baltimore and quartered at Fort McHenry until April 1, 1862. The Summer of 1862 was spent at Suffolk and on September 12, 1862 it was again ordered to Fort Monore. The original members not reenlisted were mustered out in May 1863, but the regiment remained in the field composed of 162 recruits, 200 veterans.The Third was present during the siege of Suffolk, after which it was ordered to Folly Island, where it took an active part in the operations against Fort Wagner, the bombardment of Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter is a Third System masonry coastal fortification located in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. The fort is best known as the site upon which the shots initiating the American Civil War were fired, at the Battle of Fort Sumter.- Construction :...
and attacks on Charleston in the summer and autumn of 1863, as part of Alford's brigade of the 18th Corps. In October 1863, it was returned to Virginia, where it was active in the advance under General Butler in May 1864, losing 5 killed, 50 wounded and 7 missing.
It fought in the battle of Drewy's Buff and was then transferred to the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 18th Corps, which moved to Cold Harbor, where it was active until June 12, 1864 at which time it was transferred to Bermuda Hundred. The regiment rejoined the 10th Corps on June 15, 1864 and formed part of the 1st Brigade, 2nd division, with which it was engaged in the assaults at Petersburg in June, the mine explosion of July 30, Fort Harrison and the Darbytown Road.
On December 3, 1864, the Third was attached to the 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 24th Corps and sent to North Carolina where it was engaged at Fort Fisher, Sugar Loaf Battery, Fort Anderson and Wilmington. It remained in North Carolina performing picket and garrison duty until General Sherman's arrival and the close of the war.
It was mustered out of the service at Raleigh on August 28, 1865.
Casualties
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.Commanders
- ColonelColonelColonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Frederick TownsendFrederick TownsendFrederick Townsend was a Union officer in the American Civil War. He founded and was Colonel of the 3rd New York Regiment, and later served with the US Army's 18th Infantry, where he was brevetted a brigadier general... - Colonel Samuel M. Alford
- Colonel Eldridge G. Floyd
- Colonel John E. Mulford
External links
- New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center - Civil War - 3rd Infantry Regiment History, photographs, table of battles and casualties, Civil War newspaper clippings, historical sketch, and battle flag for the 3rd New York Infantry Regiment.