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New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center: 34th Infantry Regiment
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The Civil War in the East: 34th New York Infantry Regiment

NEW YORK THIRTY-FOURTH REGIMENT OF INFANTRY. (Two Years) Thirty-fourth Infantry.-Cols., William La Due, James A. Suiter, Byron Laflin; Lieut.-Cols., James A. Suiter, Byron Laflin, John Beverly; Majs., Byron Laflin, Charles L. Brown, John Beverly, Wells Sponables. The 34th, the "Herkimer Regiment,'" was composed of five companies from Herkimer county, two from Steuben, one from Albany, one from Clinton and one from Essex county, and was mustered into the U. S. service at Albany June 15, 1861, for two years. It left the state for Washington on July 3; was quartered at Kalorama heights until July 28, when it moved to Seneca mills and was there assigned to Gen. Stone's brigade. The regiment moved to Edwards ferry on Oct. 21, to Poolesville, Md., Oct. 23, and there established Camp McClellan, which was occupied until Feb. 24, 1862, when orders were received to move to Harper's Ferry. From Oct. 15, 1861, the regiment served in the 2nd brigade of Stone's division, which became in March, 1862, Sedgwick's division 2nd corps, Army of the Potomac, and in May, 1862, the brigade became the 1st brigade, 2nd division, 2nd corps. The early part of March, 1862, was spent in camp at Berryville, Va., and later in the month the regiment moved to Washington, where it was ordered to the Peninsula. It shared in the siege of Yorktown; lost 97 members killed, wounded or missing at Fair Oaks, and again lost heavily during the Seven Days' battles. It was then in camp at Harrison's landing until Aug. 15, when it was ordered to Newport News, and there embarked for Acquia creek. Subsequently it returned to Alexandria and was again at the front during the Maryland campaign in September. At Antietam it lost 154 in killed, wounded and missing, of whom 41 were killed or mortally wounded-over 13 per cent. of the 311 engaged. On Nov. 21, 1862, the regiment arrived at Falmouth; participated in the battle of Fredericksburg; then went into winter quarters near Falmouth, shared in the "Mud March," returned to camp and remained there until the Chancellorsville movement in the spring of 1863. In April the regiment moved to Banks' ford; was active at Chancellorsville; re-turned home on June 9, and was mustered out at Albany June 30, 1863, the three years' men having been transferred to the 82nd N. Y. infantry on June 8. The total enrollment of the regiment was 1,016 members, of whom 93 were killed in action or died of wounds during the term of service and 69 died from other causes. Source: The Union Army, Vol. 2, p. 73 New York THIRTY-FOURTH REGIMENT OF INFANTRY. Herkimer Regiment. (Two Years) This regiment, Col. Wm. LaDue, was accepted by the State May 24, 1861; organized at Albany, and there mustered in the service of the United States for two years June 15, 1861. Part of the 38th Militia entered this regiment. June 8, 1863, its three years, men were tarnsferred to the 82d Infantry. The companies were recruited principally: A at West Troy; B at Little Falls; C at Graysville and Norway; D at Champlain; E at Addison; F and G at Herkimer; H at Crown Point; I at Hammondsport, and K at Salisbury. The regiment left the State July 3, 1861; served at and near Washington, D. C., from July 5, 1861; in Stone's Brigade, Division of Potomac, from August 4, 1861; in 2d, Gorman's, Brigade, Stone's Division, Army of the Potomac, from October 15, 1861; in same brigade, Sedgwick's Division, 2d Corps, Army of the Potomac, from March 13, 1862; in 1st Brigade, 2d Division, 2d Corps, Army of the Potomac, from May, 1862; and was honorably discharged and mustered out, under Col. Byron Laflin, June 30, 1863, at Albany. Source: Phisterer, p. 2,125 Antietam after battle report: Report of Col. James A. Suiter, Thirty-fourth New York Infantry, of the battle of Antietam. HDQRS. THIRTY-FOURTH REGIMENT NEW YORK VOLS., Battle-field near Sharpsburg, Md., September 20, 1862. SIR: I would most respectfully make the following report of the battle of the 17th instant: We lay in camp near Keedysville, Md., on the 16th instant. In the evening of that day I received an order to be prepared to march at daylight on the morning of the 17th instant. In obedience to said order, I was under arms with my command, and so remained until the order was given to move, which was about 7.30 o'clock a. m. We moved in a northwesterly direction. Having arrived within about 1 1/2 miles of the battle-field, where Gen. Hooker's forces had been engaged with the enemy, we were formed in line of battle by brigades, Gorman's to the front, First Minnesota Regiment on the right, Eighty-second Regiment New York Volunteers second, Fifteenth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers third, and my command, Thirty-fourth Regiment New York Volunteers, on the left. Gen. Dana's brigade formed the second line, and Gen. Howard's brigade formed the third line. We were moved at double-quick. Arriving near the battle-field, we were moved by the right flank through a piece of timber-land in three columns. At this point we were considerably crowded, the three columns occupying an extent of not more than 40 paces from our left to the right flank of Gen. Howard's brigade, the Seventh Regiment Michigan Volunteers being crowded in my ranks, causing considerable confusion. Arriving at the open field, we were again ordered in line of battle, being still at double-quick. We moved over this field to the pike road leading to Sharpsburg. Fronting this was a piece of timber land, into which I moved my command, still at double-quick, arriving at about 20 yards in rear of a school-house, when I discovered the enemy under the hill. I immediately ordered my command to fire, which they did in gallant order. From some cause to me unknown, I had become detached from my brigade, the one hundred and twenty-fifth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers being on my right. On my left and rear I was entirely unsupported by infantry or artillery. The enemy were in strong force at this point, and poured a tremendous fire of musketry and artillery upon me. At this time I discovered that the enemy were making a move to flank me on the left. Lieut. Howe arriving at this time, I informed him of my suspicions. He replied that he thought they were our friends. Lieut. Wallace, of Company C, proposed going to the front, to make what discovery he could, which I granted. He returned, saying that the enemy were moving upon my left flank with a strong force. I turned and discovered Lieut. Richard Gorman, of Gen. Gorman's staff, and requested him to inform the general that the enemy were flanking me. He immediately returned for that purpose. Presently Gen. Sedgwick arrived upon the ground. Moving down my line, he discovered the situation of my command, and that the point could not be held by me, and gave the order for me to retire, which I did. Rallying my command, I formed them in line of battle, supporting a battery some 400 yards in rear of the battle-field. In this engagement the casualties were as follows, viz: 32 killed, 109 wounded, and 9 missing. Commissioned officers: 1 killed, 2f wounded, 1 taken prisoner. In connection with this I cannot speak in too great praise of my officers. When all acted gallantly it is impossible to single out any. I would therefore say that all did well and behaved in the most gallant manner. Of Maj. Beverly I would say that he was invaluable to me in assisting me on the left of my line in the most trying time. Of my color sergeant I cannot speak in too high terms. He (Sergt. Charles Burton) had carried the banner through all of the battles in which we had been engaged while on the Peninsula without receiving a wound. Here it was his fate to be struck five times, and when he was compelled to drop his colors he called upon his comrades to seize them and not to let them fall into the hands of the enemy. This was done by Corpl. G. S. Haskins, who nobly bore them from the field. All of which is respectfully submitted. JAMES A. SUITER, Col., Commanding. Capt. J. W. GORMAN, Assistant Adjutant-Gen. Source: Official Records: Series I. Vol. 19. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 27

New York 34th Infantry (Union)

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