NEW YORK SIXTY-NINTH INFANTRY (Three Years)

Sixty-ninth Infantry.-Cols., Robert Nugent, William Wilson; Lieut.-Cols., James Kelly, James E. McGee, John Garrett, James J. Smith; Majs., James Cavanagh, John Garrett, Richard Moroney. The 69th, the 1st regiment of the Irish brigade, was the outgrowth of the 69th militia (q. v.) and contained members from New York city, Chicago, Ill., Brooklyn and Buffalo. It was mustered into the U. S. service at New York city Sept. 7 to Nov. 17, 1861, for three years, and left for Washington on Nov. 18. It was stationed at Fort Corcoran near Washington and became a part of the Irish brigade under Gen. Meagher in December. At the time of the general advance under Gen. McClellan in March, 1862, the Irish brigade became the 2nd brigade, 1st division, 2nd corps, and moved to the Peninsula in April after having its first encounter with the enemy at Rappahannock Station, Va. The part taken by the brigade in the siege of Yorktown was not especially prominent, but its prompt action at Fair Oaks helped to save the day, and during the Seven Days' battles it was constantly in action, the 69th alone losing 208 in killed, wounded and missing. At the second Bull Run the division arrived too late for the battle but at Antietam the Irish brigade was in the midst of the fight at the "Bloody Lane," where the loss of the regiment was 196 in killed, wounded and missing out of 317 engaged. After the battle the regiment was withdrawn to Charlestown, W. Va., and then moved via Snicker's gap and Hartwood Church to Fredericksburg, where it again suffered severely in the desperate but unsuccessful assault on Marye's heights, the total loss being 128. The winter was passed in camp near Falmouth; the regiment was prominent in the Chancellorsville campaign and again at Gettysburg; then fought at Auburn and Bristoe Station; shared in the Mine Run campaign; and went into winter quarters near Brandy Station. The loss of the regiment was so severe that in June, 1863, it became necessary to consolidate it into two companies. In Dec. and Jan., 1863-64, a large number of these tried soldiers reenlisted and upon their return from veteran furlough received the addition of many new recruits, which insured the continuance of the regiment in the field as a veteran organization. The regiment bore a heavy part in the battles of the Wilderness and Cold Harbor; lost heavily in the first assault on Petersburg; remained in position before Petersburg during the long siege; was active at the Weldon railroad, Strawberry Plains, Reams' station, Hatcher's run and the Appomattox campaign, and was finally mustered out at Alexandria, June 30, 1865. The 69th lost the greatest number of men killed or wounded of any of the New York regiments. It ranks 6th in total loss among all the regiments in the Union army and 7th in percentage of loss to total enrollment. The total number enrolled was 1,513, of whom 261 died from wounds and 151 from other causes, 63 dying in prisons. Source: The Union Army, Vol. 2, p. 101 New York SIXTY-NINTH REGIMENT OF INFANTRY (VETERAN). First Regiment, Irish Brigade. (Three Years) This regiment, Col. Robert Nugent, originally recruited under special authority from the War Department, was turned over to the state September 2, 1861, and organized in New York city as one of the regiments of the Irish, or Meagher's, Brigade, November 2, 1861. It was mustered in the service of the United States for three years between September 7 and November 17, 1861. A large number of the members of the 68th Militia joined the regiment, on their return from their three months' service, and the majority of the men were recruited in New York city, Company D, however, principally at Chicago, Ill.; Company F partly at Brooklyn, and K partly at Buffalo. June 12, 1863, the regiment was consolidated into a battalion of two companies, A and B. In February, 1864, this battalion returned from its veteran furlough with six companies, A, B, C, F, G and K; B and F being the former Companies B and A; the others being newly organized. At the expiration of its term of service, those entitled thereto were mustered out and the regiment retained in service. The regiment left the state, November 18, 1861; served at Fort Corcoran, D. C., from November, 1861; in the Irish Brigade, Sumner's Division, Army of the Potomac, from December, 1861; in the same, 2d, Brigade, Richardson's, 1st Division, 2d Corps, Army of the Potomac, from March, 1862; and it was honorably discharged and mustered out, under Colonel Nugent, June 30, 1865, near Alexandria, Va. Source: Phisterer, p. 2,694 Antietam after battle report: Report of Maj. James Cavanagh, Sixty-ninth New York Infantry, of the battle of Antietam. HDQRS. 69TH REGT. N. Y. S. VOLS., IRISH BRIG., Camp on the Field, near Sharpsburg, Md., September 21, 1862. GEN.: Agreeably to request, I herewith transmit to you the following report of our participation in the late battle of the 17th instant: As you are aware, Lieut. Col. James Kelly had command of our regiment up to the time he was wounded and borne from the field, which I deeply regret happened to so brave an officer, the fight being yet, so far as our regiment was concerned, only a short time in progress. The command thus devolving upon your humble servant, the control of the regiment was in the hands of myself, ably assisted by the adjutant, Lieut. James J. Smith. I may here mention the sorrow I felt, which extended to the whole of my command, when I heard that our acting major, Capt. Felix Duffy, had been mortally wounded in the early part of the engage used our best endeavors to maintain our reputation and uphold the prestige of our flag. We remained upon the field in the front line until we had expended the last round of cartridges, and only left it when the fire of the enemy had ceased and the brigade was relieved by that of Gen. Caldwell. I hardly know in what terms to express my appreciation of our regiment, both officers and men, and in making any particular mention of bravery on the field, I speak of those who actually came under my own observation. Capt. James E. McGee, of Company F, most particularly distinguished himself by his coolness and bravery during the whole engagement, and while in the heat of battle, after his command had been almost entirely decimated, picking up the green flag, the bearer of which had been carried from the field wounded, and bearing its folds aloft throughout the battle. Capt. James Saunders, of Company A, and Capt. Richard Moroney, Company I, I am proud to say, acted most bravely, cheering on their men, and encouraging them throughout the battle. Lieut. Terrance Duffey, of Company G, and First Lieut. John T. Toal, of Company H, I am also happy to say, throughout that trying hour did all that could be expected in rallying their commands, which had become so greatly reduced in numbers. Of the many officers who entered the field, the above whom I have mentioned are all that were left me, the remainder having been either killed or wounded during the engagement. I cannot forbear mentioning the deep sorrow that has been cast over our regiment by our great loss in officers and men. Those that were of us, and who are now numbered among the gallant dead, I can speak of as having been good soldiers, and an honor to our race--Capt. Felix Duffy, Lieut. Patrick J. Kelly, Lieut. Charles Williams, and Lieut. John Conway. I feel that our regiment has sustained a great loss, and one the recollection of which will be ever green in my memory. For those officers who have been wounded, and are for a time prevented from rejoining their commands, I can only speak as I have of the few that are left with me. Good soldiers, brave men, I cheerfully recommend for your consideration all of them, who in this fight stood nobly up for their country, and only left the field when borne away wounded. Among them I will mention the brave Capts. Shanley and Whitty, both disabled for the second time, and Lieuts. Nagle and Patrick Kearney, who, until wounded, did the regiment good service by their gallant conduct. Among the non-commissioned officers who particularly distinguished themselves on the field, I take occasion to mention the following as being most worthy of your consideration for promotion to a commission, viz: First Sergts. Murtha Murphy, Company C; Michael Brennan, Company B; Bernard O'Neil, Company C, and Soucoth Mansergh, Company H. Among the privates who also distinguished themselves during the action, I also recommend Patrick O'Neil, of Company C, and John Kelly, of Company --; and of the non-commissioned staff, Sergt. Maj. Patrick Callahan, who on the field behaved with great gallantry. In conclusion, I beg to call your attention to the fact that we had with us in the battle some forty-odd new recruits, who, considering all things, behaved well, and were of great assistance to us. Congratulating you on your many narrow escapes from time to time during that memorable day, I have the honor to be, respectfully, yours, JAMES CAVANAGH, Maj., Comdg. Sixty-ninth Regt. New York State Vols. Brig. Gen. THOMAS FRANCIS MEAGHER, Commanding Irish Brigade, Sumner's Corps. Source: Official Records: Series I. Vol. 19. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 27 Gettysburg after battle report: Report of Lieut. James J. Smith, Sixty-ninth New York Infantry. Hdqrs. Sixty-ninth Regt., New York Vols., August 5, 1863. Lieut.: In compliance with notice from brigade headquarters, I beg leave to submit the following report of the part this regiment took in the action near Gettysburg, Pa.: We arrived near Gettysburg on the evening of July 1, having marched from Uniontown, Md. About 10 a. m. July 2 we were placed in position in line of battle, forming at the time part of the second line, the Twenty-eighth Massachusetts Volunteers, of our own brigade, being immediately in our front. The regiment was engaged during the morning and up to 5 p. m. in taking down fences, &c., sometimes under a heavy artillery fire. At 5 p. m. we received orders to move rapidly to the left, to a point about 2 miles distant, and at the base of a rocky and precipitous hill, occupied by our troops, then attacked by the enemy in strong force. Marching by the flank, we moved up to and across a corn-field and entered a wood, on each side of which was an open corn-field, that on the left occupied by our troops (I think some of the Fifth Corps), one regiment of which I recognized as the Fourth U. S. Infantry. After the line was formed, we moved forward until we met the enemy, who were posted behind large boulders of rock, with which the place abounded; but after our line delivered one or two volleys, the enemy were noticed to waver, and upon the advance of our line (firing) the enemy fell back, contesting the ground doggedly. One charge to the front brought us in a lot of prisoners, who were immediately sent to the rear. Our line moved forward (still firing), I should judge, not less than 200 yards, all the time preserving a good line and occupying the most advanced part of the line of battle, when we came suddenly under a very severe fire from the front, most probably another line of battle of the enemy; we also about this time got orders to fall back. We had scarcely got this order when we were attacked by the enemy on our right flank in strong force, and extending some distance to the rear, evidently with the intention of surrounding us. It was impossible after falling back to rally the men, as the enemy's line extended down to the corn-field that we had to cross; also there was no line immediately in rear of us to rally on; also in consequence of the small number of men in our regiment falling back in double-quick time, and the great confusion that prevailed at the time we crossed the corn-field. I collected about one dozen of our men together, and was informed that the division was reforming on the ground that we occupied in the morning. Arriving on the ground where the division was forming, I reported to Col. Brooke, Fifty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers, then commanding division. It was here I was informed for the first time of the wounding of Capt. Richard Moroney, who commanded the regiment on entering the field, and I take great pleasure in saying that I can testify to the able manner in which he managed our little battalion as our commanding officer during the engagement and up to the time of receiving his wounds. After most of the division were collected together, we got orders to move to the right, to occupy a certain part of the field, near where we were posted previous to going into action. We reached the said place about 10 p. m., and got into position for the night. Next morning the line was advanced to the front and left under a heavy artillery fire. Most of the day engaged in throwing up earthworks and strengthening our position. About 1 p. m. the enemy advanced a strong column against the line, but were repulsed with great loss, many of the men throwing down their arms and coming in as prisoners. On the morning of July 4, Lieut. O'Neil reported to me, he having been absent without leave, keeping with him 7 or 8 enlisted men, since July 2, the time of the engagement. Charges have been preferred against him. I beg leave to report that this regiment entered the field with 6 officers and 69 enlisted men, and that we lost during the action 5 men killed, 1 officer and 13 men wounded, and 6 men missing. In conclusion, I will state that, with the single exception that I have made above, I feel proud to say that all the officers and men engaged in the action acted as good soldiers and brave men. I have the honor to be, lieutenant, very respectfully, yours, &c., JAMES J. SMITH, 1st Lieut. and Adjt., Comdg. Sixty-ninth Regt. New York Vols. Lieut. W. S. Bailey, Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Second Brig., First Div., Second Corps.

Source: Official Records: Series I. Vol. 27. Part I. Reports. Serial No. 43

New York 69th Infantry (Union)

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