NEW YORK SEVENTY-EIGHTH INFANTRY (Three Years)

Seventy-eighth Infantry.-Cols., Daniel Ullman, Herbert Hammerstein; Lieut.-Cols., Jonathan Austin, Henry C. Blanchard, Henry R. Stagg, Herbert Hammerstein, William Chalmers; Majs., Henry C. Blanchard, Henry R. Stagg, William H. Randall. The 78th, known as the 78th Highlanders, was composed principally of members from New York city, Utica, Buffalo, Bath, China, Rochester and Suspension Bridge, with one company from Michigan. It was mustered into the U. S. service at New York city, Oct. 1, 1861, to April 12, 1862, for a three years' term, and left for Washington on April 29. The regiment encamped for a short time at Washington and on May 25, was ordered to Harper's Ferry, where it was assigned to the 2nd brigade, Sigel's division, Department of the Shenandoah and on June 26 it became a part of the 3d brigade, 2nd division, 2nd corps, Army of Virginia. The command was first closely engaged at Cedar mountain, where it lost 22 killed, wounded or missing. At Antietam the loss was 34, and the regiment moved from there to Hillsboro and Ripon, Va., and went into winter quarters with the 12th corps, to which it had been assigned on Sept. 12, with the same brigade and division as before. At Chancellorsville in May, 1863, the 12th corps bore an important part and the 78th suffered severely-131 in killed, wounded and missing. In June the regiment moved to Gettysburg, where it was closely engaged in the battle and upon the arrival of the army in Virginia, was ordered to join the forces in Tennessee. It arrived at Bridgeport, Ala., Oct 1; was in action at Wauhatchie, Tenn.; shared in the ensuing engagements in the vicinity of Chattanooga, and passed the winter in that locality. In May, 1864, with the same brigade and division 20th corps, the regiment moved with Gen. Sherman on the advance toward Atlanta, being engaged at Mill Creek gap, Resaca, Dallas, and in the battles about Kennesaw mountain. On July 12, 1864, owing to depleted ranks the 78th was transferred to the 102nd N. Y. infantry, with which it completed its term of enlistment. During its service the regiment lost 58 by death from wounds and 75 from other causes. Source: The Union Army, Vol. 2, p. 108 NEW YORK SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT OF INFANTRY. Seventy-eighth Highlanders; Lochiel Cameron Highlanders; First Regiment, Eagle Brigade. (Three Years) This regiment was organized in New York city April 26, 1862, by the consolidation of the men enlisted by Col. Samuel McK. Elliott since April, 1862, for the Lochiel Cameron Highlanders, the original 78th Regiment, and of those enlisted by Gen. Gustavus A. Scroggs for his, or part of the, 4th Regiment, Eagle Brigade, with the men enlisted by Col. Daniel Ullman for the 1st Regiment, Eagle Brigade, with the latter as Colonel. It was mustered in the service of the United States for three years between October 1, 1861, and April 12, 1862. The companies were recruited principally: A, B and C in New York city; D in Utica; E in Buffalo; F at Bath; G at China; H at Rochester; I at Suspension Bridge, and K in Michigan. The regiment left the State April 29, 1862; served at Washington, D. C.; at Harper's Ferry, W. Va., from May 25, 1862; in 2d Brigade, Sigel's Division, Department Shenandoah, from June 16, 1862; in 3d Brigade, 2d Division, 2d Corps, Army of Virginia, from June 26, 1862; in same brigade and division, 12th Corps, from September 12, 1862; in same brigade and division, 20th Corps, Army of the Cumberland, from April 20, 1864; and it was transferred, under Col. Herbert Hammerstein, July 12, 1864, to the 102d Infantry. Source: Phisterer p. 2,830 Antietam after battle report: Report of Capt. Henry R Stagg, Seventy-eighth New York Infantry, of the battle of Antietam. HDQRS. SEVENTY-EIGHTH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS, Loudoun Heights, September 27, 1862. COL.: I have the honor to submit the following report of the battle of the 17th instant: We entered the action with 1 field officer (lieutenant-colonel), 1 adjutant, 1 sergeant-major, 2 captains, 3 first lieutenants, 5 second lieutenants, and 208 men. After the death of Col. Goodrich. Lieut.-Col. Austin was left in command of the brigade until the action was over. Our loss in the action was 1 captain killed, 1 adjutant severely wounded, 8 men killed, and 18 wounded. HENRY R. STAGG, Capt., Commanding Seventy-eighth New York Volunteers. Col. REDDEN, Commanding Third Brigade. Source: Official Records: Series I. Vol. 19. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 27 Gettysburg after battle report: Report of Lieut. Col. Herbert von Hammerstein, Seventy-eighth New York Infantry. Littlestown, Pa., July 6, 1863. Capt.: I have the honor to report the part which my regiment took in the engagement on July 2, 3, and 4. On the morning of the 2d, about 6 o'clock, my regiment took position on the left of the brigade, in line of battle, having the Sixtieth New York Volunteers on its right and the First Army Corps on its left. It covered part of the crest of a steep hill. A breastwork of trees and dirt was soon thrown up, and the day passed till about 4 o'clock without any incident. At about that time a battery of the enemy, numbering eight pieces, opened on a battery on our left, the shots passing our line without doing injury, when Battery K, Fifth U. S. Artillery, with two 10-pounder Parrott and two Napoleon guns, was at 4.30 o'clock ordered up to occupy the position which my regiment occupied and silence the rebel guns. I fell back a few yards to the rear of the battery, and remained there during the artillery contest. The firing of this battery was masterly; at 5.30 o'clock every gun of the enemy was silenced, the battery losing several of their gunners and drivers. My men volunteered to supply their places, and, besides, assisted during the whole engagement in carrying ammunition from the caissons to the guns. We only lost 1 man killed and 1 wounded at that place. At about 6 o'clock the battery was withdrawn, and, after reoccupying my old position, I received orders from Brig.-Gen. Greene to relieve the Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers as skirmishers with my regiment. I at once marched the regiment down to the center of our brigade, crossed the breastworks, and deployed my skirmishers, not being able to see the Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and having no time to look for them, as the enemy was already pressing all the skirmishers back. Our skirmishers came in soon, and, after giving and receiving some severe volleys of musketry, we fell back across the breastworks. The whole line behind the works was then occupied by our brigade, no interval existing. Gen. Greene ordered me to fall in, with my regiment in front of me, which I did. I joined the One hundred and second New York, and we, with the rest of the brigade, succeeded in repulsing a most furious attack of the enemy, beginning at 6.40 o'clock and ending at 9.30 o'clock, when the enemy fell back, and we fired our last round of ammunition. The rest of the night we remained behind the breastworks under arms, only annoyed by sharpshooters. Filling our boxes with ammunition, at 3.30 a. m. I received orders to occupy a place between the One hundred and second and Sixtieth Regt.'s, which was done immediately, and ten minutes afterward the attack began with the same energy which the rebels displayed on the evening before. Our men succeeded in repulsing them totally, with the same coolness and determination, before 6 a. m. At 7.40 o'clock my regiment was relieved by the One hundred and fiftieth New York Volunteers, to rest and clean their guns. At 9 a. m. we reoccupied our old place, remaining there until 1 p. m., only annoyed by sharpshooters. At 1 o'clock we were relieved again. From 9 p. m. till 1 a. m. we were at the breastworks again. After that we remained somewhat in the rear of the breastworks, the enemy having entirely abandoned his lines in our front. The official list of killed, wounded, and missing has been forwarded already to your headquarters.* Among the wounded is Maj. Randall, who was shot while gallantly discharging his duties. The main loss endured was while the regiment was skirmishing. Having commanded this regiment the first time in action (its strength being not more than 200), I am fully satisfied with the conduct of officers and men; they fought with cool determination, like good soldiers and brave men. Adjutant Postley was conspicuous for the coolness and zeal with which he kept the regiment supplied with ammunition under a very hot fire. In submitting this report, I have the honor to be, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, H. HAMMERSTEIN, Lieut.-Col., Comdg. Capt. C. P. Horton, Assistant Adjutant-Gen.

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

New York 78th Infantry (Union)

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