61st New York Volunteer Infantry

“Clinton Guard” 2^nd Corps Army of the Potomac 1861 – 1865.

The 61^st New York Infantry Regiment, known as the “Clinton Guard”, was mustered into the U.S. Service at New York City in the fall of 1861. It contained companies from Hamilton, Albany and vicinity and New York City.  After forming up at Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island, the regiment under command of Colonel Spencer W. Cone, proceeded to Washington, D.C. via Philadelphia, arriving at the capital’s Camp Kendall, November 1861.  The regiment was stationed for a short time in Washington, but moved on November 28 – with Howard’s brigade, Sumner’s division – to Manassas in Virginia.  In March of 1862 the 61^st N.Y., as part of Howard’s brigade, became part of the 1^st division, 2^nd corps, Army of the Potamac.

In the early spring of 1862, the 61^st moved on to the Peninsula (Va.) campaign and took part in the siege operation at Yorktown and for the first time became closely engaged in battle at Fair Oaks.  Of the 432 men who went into action, 104 were killed or wounded and 6 were reported missing.  Colonel Francis C. Barlow, who had replaced Colonel Cone (who had resigned), led the regiment into battle.  By the end of this campaign, known as the Seven Days Battle, the 61^st gathered at Harrison’s Landing with even greater losses.

   After several months of rest, drilling and replenishment (from recruiting), the 61^st and the Army of the Potomac were in the thick of it, blocking General Lee’s invasion of the North at a place called Sharpsburg, Maryland.  There (the Battle of Antietam), under the gallant command of Colonel Barlow, the 61^st flanked a Rebel fortified position in a sunken road (later named Bloody Lane), capturing nearly 300 prisoners and 2 Confederate colors.  In the same day’s battle, Colonel Barlow was wounded and was immediately succeeded by Colonel Nelson A. Miles, an equally brave and gallant soldier.

Under the command of Nelson Miles, the 61^st participated in the Battle of Fredericksburg, charging the Rebels at the foot of Maryes Heights.  The attempt to reach the enemy lines was stopped when Miles received a bullet wound in the neck. The 61^st lost 36 (killed, wounded or missing) at the Battle of Fredericksburg.

At Chancellorsville, in May 1863, the troops under Colonel Miles made a gallant defense on the skirmish line, which won them high praise.

Two months later, the Army of the Potomac was again on the march trying to stem another invasion to the North by General Lee’s army.  This time they met in Gettysburg, Pa. (July 1-3).  The regiment, by now only numbering 93 men, fought the Rebels in the Wheatfield on the second day of the battle, losing 62 killed and wounded.

During the autumn of 1863 there was little rest for the worn regiment.  They were active at Auburn, Bristoe Station, Rappahannock Station, and in the Mine Run Campaign, and it was not until midwinter when they finally established a permanent quarters near Brandy Station.  In December and January a large number of men re-enlisted and received furloughs.

 

In the spring of 1864, the regiment reunited and served with honor through the severe fighting which led up to Cold Harbor and Petersburg, suffering most severely in the bloody angle at Spotsylvania.  The 61^st joined in the first assault on Petersburg on June 15, was engaged at Deep Bottom, Strawberry Plains, Reams Station, and Hatcher’s Run.  The regiment was present at the fall of Petersburg, joined in the pursuit to Appomattox, and was engaged at Saylor’s Creek and Farmville.

On July 14, 1865 the 61^st New York was mustered out at Alexandria, Virginia.  Throughout the Civil War the 61^st lost 193 from death by wounds, 123 from other causes, including 46 who died in rebel prisons.  The regiment’s total enrollment was 1,526.  The record of the 61^st New York is a long and glorious one. Besides numerous citations, five Medals of Honor were awarded members of the 61^st New York. Four captured enemy colors are credited to this regiment.

The bravery of the men who served in the 61^st ranks this among the most gallant regiments of the Union Army.

SIXTY-FIRST NEW YORK INFANTRY

“CLINTON GUARD”

Miles’ Brigade – Barlow’s Division –

(1)     Col. FRANCIS C. BARLOW;  Major-Gen. U.S.V.           

(2)     Col. NELSON A. MILES; Major-Gen.U.S.A.

(3)    Lt. Col. OSCAR K. BROADY

(4)    Col. GEORGE W. SCOTT; Bvt.Brig-Gen, U.S.V.

Losses	Officers	En. Men	Total
Killed and mortally wounded	16	177	198
Died of disease, accidents, etc	2	90	92
Died in rebel prisons	--	31	31

 

Totals

18

296

316

 

 

Battles	Killed	Wounded*	Missing**	Total
Fair Oaks, Va	31	73	6	110
Peach Orchard, Va	-	4	-	4
White Oak Swamp, Va	2	5	-	7
Glendale, Va	6	55	18	79
Malvern Hill, Va	2	22	3	27
Antietam, Md.	6	34	1	41
Fredericksburg, Va	9	27	-	36
Chancellorsville, Va; May 3, 1863	1	16	10	27
Gettysburg, Pa; Jul. 2, 1863	6	56	-	62
Bristoe Station, Va	-	-	1	1
Wilderness, Va	-	3	-	3
Corbin’s Bridge, Va., May 8, 1864	5	31	-	36
Po River, Va., May 10, 1864	3	10	-	13
Spotsylvania, Va., May 12-18, 1864	13	38	2	53
North Anna and Totopotomoy, Va	1	2	-	3
Cold Harbor, Va	2	17	3	22
Siege of Petersburg	18	78	10	106
Strawberry Plains, Va., July 27, 1864	-	1	1	2
Deep Bottom, Va., August 16, 1864	2	5	7	14
Ream’s Station, Va.	3	11	25	39
Saylor’s Creek, Va.	2	9	1	12
Farmville, Va.	4	12	-	16
*Includes the mortally wounded.   **Includes the captured.
Totals	116	509	88

   Present also at Yorktown; Savage Station; Mine Run; Hatcher’s Run; White Oak Road; Appomattox.  NOTES:  The Sixty-First had the good fortune and honor to be commanded by men who proved to be among the ablest soldiers of the war.  They made brilliant records as colonels of this regiment, and being promoted, achieved a national reputation as division generals.  The Sixty-First saw an unusual amount of active service and hard fighting.  At Fair Oaks, under command of Colonel Barlow, they lost 110 killed and wounded, out of 432 who were in the action; Lieutenant-Colonel W. C. Masset, and five of the color-guard were killed in this fight.  At Antietam the regiment captured two stands of colors, and at Fredericksburg, under Colonel Miles, it sustained a severe loss in proportion to its numbers, the colonel being severely wounded here.  The regiment was recruited from various counties in the state, one company being composed of students from Madison University.  It was organized in New York City, from August 22^nd to October 26, 1861.  It reenlisted at the end of its three years’ term, and served until July 1865.  It served through the war in the First Brigade, First Division, Second Corps.  This division was commanded by Generals Richardson (killed at Antietam), Hancock, Caldwell, Barlow and Miles.