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140th New
York Infantry
Online Books:
140th New York
Infantry Soldier
Roster - Annual Report of the Adjutant General of the State of New York For the Year
1893, Volume 38 View the Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| One Hundred and Fortieth New York Infantry, — Cols., Patrick H. O'Rorke,
George Ryan, Elwell S. Otis, William S. Grantsyne; Lieut.-Cols., Louis Ernest, Isaiah F.
Force, Elwell S. Otis, William S. Grantsyne, W. James Clark; Majs., Milo L. Starks,
Benjamin F. Harman, William J. Clark, Willard Abbott, Isaiah F. Force. The 140th, the
"Rochester Racehorses," was recruited in Monroe county, organized at Rochester,
and there mustered into the U. S. service on Sept. 13, 1862, for three years. In June,
1863, it received by transfer the three years men of the 13th N. Y., and in Oct., 1864,
the veterans and recruits of the 44th. The regiment left the state on Sept. 19, 1862,
proceeded to Washington and joined the Army of the Potomac in November, being assigned to
the 3d (Warren's) brigade, 2nd (Sykes') division, 5th corps. With this command it was
under fire for the first time at the battle of Fredericksburg, where it lost a few men
wounded and missing. The 5th corps was only partially engaged at Chancellorsville, though
the 140th lost 21 killed, wounded and missing in that disastrous battle. Describing this
gallant, fighting regiment, Col. Fox says: "Col. O'Rorke was killed at Gettysburg
while leading his men into action on Little Round Top, where their prompt action aided
largely in seizing that important position, the regiment losing there 26 killed, 89
wounded and 18 missing. The 140th was then in Ayres' division— the division of
regulars. In 1864 the regulars were brigaded in one command under Ayres, and the 140th was
placed in the same brigade; the division was commanded by Gen. Charles Griffin. But in
June, 1864, the regiment was transferred to the 1st Brigade of Ayres' (2nd) division. This
brigade was commanded in turn by Col. Gregory, Gen. Joseph Hayes, Col. Otis, and Gen.
Winthrop. The latter officer fell mortally wounded at Five Forks. The regiment was in the
hottest of the fighting at the Wilderness and suffered severely there, losing 23 killed,
118 wounded and 114 captured or missing; total, 255. Three days later it was engaged in
the first of the series of battles at Spottsylvania, in which action Col. Ryan and Maj.
Starks were killed. At Spottsylvania the casualties in the regiment were 12 killed and 48
wounded; and at the Weldon railroad, 4 killed, 19 wounded and 51 captured or missing. The
regiment was composed of exceptionally good material; the men were a neat, clean lot, and
in their handsome Zouave costume attracted favorable attention wherever they
appeared." The 140th took part in nearly all the great engagements of the Army of the
Potomac from Fredericksburg to the close of the war. It was actively engaged at
Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Bethesda Church, siege of
Petersburg, Weldon railroad, Poplar Spring Church, Hatcher's run, White Oak road and Five
Forks. It was present at Fredericksburg, Bristoe Station, Rappahannock Station, in the
Mine Run campaign, North Anna, Totopotomy, White Oak swamp and Appomattox. Other important
losses incurred besides those above detailed were, 60 wounded and missing at Bethesda
Church; 22 killed, wounded and missing in the first assault on Petersburg; 23 killed and
wounded at Hatcher's run; and 57 killed, wounded and missing during the final Appomattox
campaign. Col. O'Rorke, when he was killed at Gettysburg, was mounted on a rock at Little
Round Top, cheering on his men. He graduated at the head of his class at West Point in
1861 and was only 25 years of age when killed. The regiment was mustered out June 3, 1865,
near Alexandria, Va., under Col. Grantsyne. Its total enrollment during service was 1,707,
of whom 533 were killed and wounded; 8 officers and 141 men were killed and died of
wounds; 2 officers and 168 men died of disease and other causes; total deaths, 319, of
whom 77 died in Confederate prisons. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 2
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