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102nd New York Infantry

Online Books:
102nd New York Infantry Soldier Roster - Annual Report of the Adjutant General of the State of New York For the Year 1893, Volume 33     View the Entire Book

Regimental History
One Hundred and Second New York Infantry. — Cols.. Thomas B. Van Buren, James C. Lane. Herbert Hammerstien, Harvey S. Chatfield; Lieut.-Cols., William B. Hayward, James C. Lane, Harvey S. Chatfield, Oscar J. Spaulding; Majs., James C. Lane, F. Eugene Trotter, Gilbert M. Elliott, Lewis R. Stegman, Oscar J. Spaulding, Reuben H. Wilber. This regiment, known as the Van Buren light infantry, was principally recruited at New York city, and was formed by the consolidation of the Von Beck rifles under Col. R. H. Shannon, and part of the McClellan infantry under Col. S. Levy, with Col. Van Buren's command. The organization was completed later by the addition of two companies from the 78th Cameron Highlanders and Co. A, 12th militia, and was mustered into the U. S. service from Nov., 1861, to April, 1862. In July, 1864, its ranks were filled by the transfer of the officers and men of the 78th N. Y. infantry. On the expiration of its term of service the original members (except veterans) were mustered out, and the regiment, composed of veterans and recruits continued in service. Early in June, 1865, it received by transfer the remaining men of the 119th, 154th, 137th, 149th, 134th, and 184th N. Y. Vols. The regiment, eight companies, left the state on March 10, 1862, followed by Cos. I and K on April 7. Assigned to the 2nd brigade, 2nd division, 2nd corps, Army of Virginia, it fought its first severe engagement at Cedar mountain, where its loss was 115 killed, wounded and missing. The regiment then moved with its corps to the support of Pope, fought at the second battle of Bull Run, and went into position at Chantilly, but was not engaged. In the same brigade and division, 12th corps, it was actively engaged at Antietam, losing 37 killed, wounded and missing, and was then successively engaged in the minor actions at Lovettsville, Ripon, Hillsboro, Winchester, Wolf Run shoal, and Fairfax Station, going into winter quarters at Stafford Court House. At the battle of Chancellorsville the 102nd, which fought in Geary's division of the 12th corps, lost 90 killed, wounded and missing. It was heavily engaged with the "White Star" division at Gettysburg, where its total loss was 29. It followed with its corps in pursuit of Lee's fleeing army, being engaged at Ellis' ford and Stevensburg, and in the latter part of September moved with the corps to Tennessee to reinforce Gen. Rosecrans. It engaged in the midnight battle of Wauhatchie; then started on the Chattanooga and Rossville campaign, fighting the famous "Battle above the clouds" on Lookout mountain, where the division led the advance; then fought at Missionary ridge and Ringgold gap, its loss in the campaign being 14 killed, wounded and missing. In the same brigade and division, 20th corps, the 102nd was with Gen. Sherman all through his Atlanta campaign, fighting at Villanow, Mill Creek gap, Resaca, Calhoun, Cassville, Dallas, Acworth, Kennesaw mountain, Chattahoochee river, Peachtree creek, where its losses amounted to 53 in killed, wounded and missing, and at Bald hill. It moved in November with Sherman's army on the march to the sea, shared in the siege of Savannah, its active service closing with the campaign in the Carolinas, during which it was engaged at Wadesboro, Averasboro, Bentonville, Goldsboro, Raleigh, and Bennett's house, losing 18 killed, wounded and missing during this final campaign. It was mustered out under Col. Chatfield, July 21, 1865, at Alexandria, Va. During its long and honorable service the 102nd buried its dead in seven states, and participated in over 40 battles and minor engagements. It participated in many a famous charge, one of the most gallant being at Lookout mountain, where the regiment, as part of Ireland's brigade, struck the enemy on the flank and drove him in confusion from the field. It belonged to the gallant White Star division, commanded by Gen. Geary, who complimented the regiment as follows: "It may safely be asserted that no organization in the army has a prouder record, or has passed through more arduous, varied and bloody campaigns." The loss of the regiment during service was 7 officers and 67 men killed and mortally wounded; 82 men died of disease, accident, etc., a total of 7 officers and 149 enlisted men. The gallant Maj. Elliott was killed in action at Lookout mountain.

Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing Company, 1908 - Volume 2

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