NEW YORK ONE HUNDRED AND NINETEENTH INFANTRY (Three Years)

One Hundred and Nineteenth Infantry.-Cols., Elias Peissner, John T. Lockman; Lieut.-Cols., John T. Lockman, Edward F. Lloyd, Isaac P. Lockman; Majs., Harvey Baldwin, Jr., Benjamin A. Willis, Isaac P. Lockman, Charles F. Lewis, Chester H. Southworth. This regiment was recruited and organized at New York city in the summer of 1862, and was mustered into the U. S. service on Sept. 4-5, for three years. On the 6th the regiment left for Washington, where it was attached to the 2nd brigade, 3d (Schurz') division, 11th corps (Howard), and went into winter quarters at Stafford, Va. At the battle of Chancellorsville, Howard's corps was surprised and suffered severely, the 119th losing 21 killed, 67 wounded and 32 missing, Col. Peissner being killed while rallying his men. The regiment was commanded at Gettysburg by Col. Lockman, and was heavily engaged on the first two days of the battle, losing 140 in killed, wounded and missing. After returning with the army to Virginia, it was ordered with its corps on Sept. 24, to Tennessee. It was present but not active at the midnight battle of Wauhatchie, fought valiantly at Missionary ridge, and was then ordered with the corps to the relief of Knoxville, enduring severe hardships and privations during the campaign. In April, 1864, when the 11th corps was broken up, the regiment was assigned to the 2nd brigade, 2nd division, of the newly formed 20th corps, commanded by Gen. Hooker, the veteran Gen. Geary being in command of the division. It moved on the Atlanta campaign and took part in numerous battles in the next four months, including Rocky Face ridge, Resaca, where the brave Lieut.-Col. Lloyd was killed, New Hope Church, Kennesaw mountain, Peachtree creek, and the siege of Atlanta. After the fall of Atlanta, it remained with the corps to hold the city, while the rest of the army went in pursuit of Hood. On Nov. 15, the regiment moved with Sherman's army on the grand march through Georgia to the sea and took part in the siege of Savannah, Geary's division being the first to enter the city upon Hardee's evacuation. Early in the year 1865, it moved on the campaign of the Carolinas fighting at Averasboro, Bentonville, Raleigh and Bennett's house, but sustaining a loss of only 4 missing. After Gen. Johnston's surrender, it marched on to Washington with the 20th corps, where it participated in the grand review, and was mustered out at Bladenburg, Md., June 7, 1865, commanded by Col. Lockman. The total enrollment of the regiment was 69 officers, 981 men. It lost by death during service, 6 officers and 71 men, killed and mortally wounded; 2 officers and 92 men by disease and other causes, a total of 171. Source: The Union Army, Vol. 2, p. 135 NEW YORK ONE HUNDRED AND NINETEENTH REGIMENT OF INFANTRY. (Three Years) Colonel Elias Peissner received authority, June 26, 1862, to recruit this regiment; it was organized in New York city, and there mustered in the service of the United States for three years September 4 and 5, 1862. The companies were recruited principally: A--Halleck Guard--B, C, D--Sigel Life Guard, Siegel Sharpshooters--E, F, G, I and K in New York city, and H at Hempstead. The men not mustered out with the regiment were transferred to the 102d Infantry June 7, 1865. The regiment left the State September 6, 1862; served in the defenses of Washington, from September, 1862; in the 2d Brigade, 3d Division, 11th Corps, Army of the Potomac, from October, 1862; in the 2d Brigade, 2d Division, 20th Corps, Army of the Cumberland, from April, 1864; and was honorably discharged and mustered out, under Col. John T. Lockman, June 7, 1865, near Bladensburg, Md. Source: Phisterer, p. 3,397 Gettysburg after battle report: Report of Maj. Benjamin A. Willis, One hundred and nineteenth New York Infantry. Near Warrenton Junction, Va., July 30, 1863. Gen.: I have the honor to submit, pursuant to request, the following report of the part taken by the One hundred and nineteenth New York Volunteers in the series of engagements fought at Gettysburg, on July 1, 2, and 3: It may be proper for me to state at the outset that I was not in command of the regiment during the battle, and consequently cannot recite accurately the orders received by my regimental commander. On July 1, about 5 a. m., we started on the road to Gettysburg; marched hastily over rough and muddy roads through a drenching rain, reaching there about 12 o'clock that day, a distance of 11 miles. At this time the First Corps had already been engaged for some time, and had commenced to retire. We continued the march through the town, and, according to your order, took position on the right of the road leading from Gettysburg to Chambersburg, in an orchard, where we for a short time halted, being subjected meanwhile to a severe cannonade of the enemy. Here one company (H) was ordered by you to deploy as skirmishers, which they did in handsome style, having instructions from you to prevent the enemy from advancing to a large barn and several adjacent buildings on our right. Your instructions were carried out to the letter. The First Division of our corps had already advanced against the enemy, when, showing signs of being overwhelmed, we with the rest of the brigade were ordered forward to their support, taking position on their left, and having on our left the First Brigade, of the Third Division Here we withstood an enemy more than threefold our number, receiving volleys of musketry in swift succession, and suffering severely from a destructive fire of shot and shell. Our regiment did not yield, but stood firmly until the First Division, Second Corps, had fallen far back toward the town, and the First Brigade, of our division, on our left, had disappeared from the field. At this juncture, with an enemy in front and on either flank, not only threatened with, but experiencing, a heavy enfilading fire, we retired in good order, and, I believe, were the last regiment to reach the foot of Washington street, where we again took a position to cover the town, and held the enemy in check until our trains of baggage-wagons and ambulances had withdrawn to the rear. This movement was a success, in part due to a section of Capt. Dilger's renowned battery, planted upon an eminence near the square in the town of Gettysburg. You then ordered us to march to the opposite side of the town, which we accordingly did in most excellent order, taking a position along a stone wall by an orchard, on the edge of the town. In this position we remained until near nightfall, when we moved in a corn-field on the west side of the road from Emmitsburg to Gettysburg, between the cemetery and the town. Here we remained undisturbed during the night, sleeping on our arms; and here ends the first day's struggle. Next day, July 2, continuous skirmishing was going on in our immediate front, and sharpshooters of the enemy, who during the night had couched themselves in houses and steeples of public buildings, harassed us constantly with their fire. About 4 p. m. opened what is said to be the grandest cannonade of the war, which lasted for about five hours, chiefly directed to the position held by your brigade and the residue of the corps. My regiment endured it with a coolness and resolution most commendable. Late in the evening (about 9 p. m.) the enemy made a most desperate charge upon a battery supported by the First Division of our corps. They rushed forward with incredible fierceness, driving back the First Division in disorder, and actually reached the guns (one of which our men had already spiked) and demanded a surrender, but the commander of the battery and his brave cannoneers did not yield. Then you, seeing the critical position of affairs, and well knowing how soon the enemy would possess himself of the battery and the commanding heights if not forced back, called upon our regiment and the Fifty-eighth New York Volunteers, also of your brigade, to fall in and advance against them. It is needless for me to say, general, for you led us in person, with what alacrity the regiment responded, and with what determination it moved forward, and with what courage it met the foe, and, in conjunction with the gallant Fifty-eighth, drove him back, saved the position, and thus secured the whole army from irreparable disaster. Here ends the second day's struggle. During the night you ordered us to take position opposite the cemetery, in a field. Here the regiment remained during the whole of the day (July 3), maintaining its ground and receiving the attacks of the enemy with the greatest coolness and gallantry. As is well known, we were constantly perplexed as on the previous day, and that again from--a. m. until--p. m. the regiment was under the heaviest fire of the enemy's cannon, exhibiting the same coolness which had characterized it before. When night came, a heavy rain commenced, and firing ceased. We slept on our arms again, but had no encounter, it appearing that the enemy, defeated and disheartened, had fled away. The next morning (July 4) about 8 a. m. you ordered us, with the Twenty-sixth Wisconsin Volunteers, on a reconnaissance, you commanding it in person. We advanced in an easterly direction toward York for the distance of about 2 miles, completely scouring the whole country, and taking many prisoners. You then, having accomplished your purpose, ordered us to return to the position we had left in the morning. This being done, we there remained until ordered forward with the rest of the corps in pursuit of the enemy toward Emmitsburg. Our regiment had suffered very heavily in the loss of officers and enlisted men. Col. Lockman fell, wounded, while gallantly standing at his post. Adjutant Dodge, Capt. Volkhausen, and Lieut. Trumpelman were all seriously wounded while nobly struggling against the enemy, the two former (Adjutant Dodge and Capt. Volkhausen) having had their legs amputated, and the latter (Lieut. Trumpelman), I regret to say, has since died from the effect of his wound. Lieut. M. Rasemann and Lieut. Frost were, I am sad to say, killed. Both died the death of heroes. Lieut. A. B. von Cloedt is a prisoner in the hands of the enemy. Lieut.-Col. Lloyd, who assumed command of the regiment upon Col. Lockman's receiving the wound, behaved with the utmost coolness. Of the other officers and soldiers, I can speak only in terms of the highest praise. The loss of the regiment in killed, wounded, and missing amounts in the aggregate to the number of 144, including officers and privates.* All of which is respectfully submitted. I am, general, respectfully, yours, BENJAMIN A. WILLIS, Maj., Comdg. 119th Regt. New York Vols. Col. W. Krzyzanowski, Comdg. Second Brigade, Third Division, Eleventh Corps. Series I. Vol. 27. Part I. Reports. Serial No. 43

New York 119th Infantry (Union)

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