CIVIL WAR INDEX
Primary Source Material
on the Soldiers and the Battles
Home The Armies The Soldiers The Battles Civilians Articles
 
If this website has been useful to you, please consider making a Donation.

Your support will help keep this website free for everyone, and will allow us to do more research. Thank you for your support!

47th New York Infantry

Online Books:
47th New York Infantry Soldier Roster - Annual Report of the Adjutant General of the State of New York For the Year 1893, Volume 24     View the Entire Book

Regimental History
Forty-seventh New York Infantry. — Cols., Henry Moore, James L. Frazer, Henry Wood, Christopher R. McDonald; Lieut.-Cols., James L. Frazer, Pierce C. Kane, George B. Van Brunt, Albert B. Nicholas, Christopher R, McDonald, Joseph McDonald; Majs., Daniel Lloyd, Pierce C. Kane, George B. Van Brunt, David Allen, Christopher R. McDonald, Edward Eddy, Jr., Charles A. Moore, Frank A. Butts. The 47th, the "Washington Grays," was recruited in New York and Brooklyn and mustered into the U. S. service at East New York, Sept. 14, 1861, for a three years' term. It left the state Sept. 15, with 678 members, for Washington, and with the 1st brigade of Sherman's division, embarked for Hilton Head in October, and arrived there on Nov. 3. It was stationed at Hilton Head until Jan. 1, 1862, when it was ordered to Beaufort, S. C, to participate in the operations against Port Royal ferry and then returned to Hilton Head. Early in February the regiment moved to Edisto island and remained there until ordered to James island in June, where it became a part of the 1st brigade, 1st division and was engaged at Secessionville. On July 1 it returned to Hilton Head, where it performed guard and picket duty during the ensuing fall and winter. It was active in the assault on Fort Wagner in July, 1863, and was stationed in that vicinity during the remainder of the year. In the Florida expedition in Feb., 1864, the regiment suffered a loss at Olustee of 313 in killed, wounded and missing. After proceeding up the St. John's river as far as Palatka, the expedition returned to Hilton Head. In April the 47th was ordered to Virginia and assigned to the 2nd brigade, 2nd division, 10th corps, Army of the James, at Bermuda Hundred. On May 25, the division was assigned to the 18th corps and after several encounters near Bermuda Hundred, notably at Port Walthall Junction, the regiment joined the Army of the Potomac just before the battle of Cold Harbor, in which it bore an active part. On June 15, it was transferred to the 2nd brigade, 2nd division, 10th corps; took part in the first assault on Petersburg; was present at the mine explosion, July 30; and was active in engagements at Strawberry Plains, Fort Harrison and on the Darbytown road. The original members not reenlisted were mustered out in July, 1864, but the veterans and recruits continued as a regiment in the field. In Dec, 1864, in the 2nd brigade, 2nd division, 24th corps the regiment was ordered to Fort Fisher, N. C, and played its part in the reduction of that stronghold. The 47th passed the remaining months of its service in the Carolinas, being present at Smithfield, Fort Anderson, Wilmington, Cox's bridge and Bennett's house, and on April 2, 1865, was attached to the 2nd brigade, 2nd division, 10th corps. It was mustered out at Raleigh, N. C, Aug. 30, 1865, after four years of faithful and efficient service to the Union Cause. During its term of service the regiment lost 93 by death from wounds and 157 from other causes.

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

Whats New
Bibliography
About Us


Copyright 2010 by CivilWarIndex.com
A Division of Pier-Pleasure.com