NEW YORK EIGHTY-SIXTH INFANTRY (Three Years)

Eighty-sixth Infantry.-Cols., Benijah P. Bailey, Benjamin L. Higgins, Jacob H. Lansing, Nathan H. Vincent; Lieut.-Cols., Barnard J. Chapin, Benjamin L. Higgins, Jacob H. Lansing, Michael B. Stafford, Nathan H. Vincent, Luzern Todd; Majs., Seyman G. Rheinvault, Benjamin L. Higgins, Jacob H. Lansing, Michael B. Stafford, Nathan H. Vincent, Frederick Van Tine, Luzern Todd Samuel H. Leavitt. The 86th, known as the Steuben Rangers, was recruited in Steuben, Chemung and Onondaga counties, mustered into the U. S. service at Elmira, Nov. 20 to 23, 1861, and left for Washington on Nov. 23. It passed the first winter in the performance of guard duty at or near Washington and was not ordered to the front until Aug., 1862, when it joined the forces under Gen. Pope and lost 118 in killed, wounded and missing at the second Bull Run. It then moved to Fredericksburg, participated in the battle there with the 1st brigade, 3d division, 3d corps, and then went into winter quarters near Falmouth. It bore a prominent part in the battle of Chancellorsville, was engaged at Brandy Station, and was in the thick of the fight at Gettysburg. Moving southward via Wapping Heights, Auburn and Kelly's ford, no further loss was met with until the Mine Run campaign, when the regiment lost 32 in the action at Locust Grove. At Brandy Station, where the Army of the Potomac made its winter quarters, a large number of the regiment reenlisted and received their veteran furlough in Jan., 1864, and the 86th continued in the field as a veteran regiment. Camp was broken in April for the Wilderness campaign, the regiment being assigned to the 1st brigade, 3d division, 2nd corps, with which it fought through all the battles of that memorable advance toward Richmond, meeting its heaviest loss at the Po river, where 96 were killed, wounded or captured. It accompanied its brigade and division to Petersburg shared in the first assault, the engagements at the Weldon railroad, Deep Bottom, Strawberry Plains, Poplar Spring Church, the Boydton road, the Hicksford raid, Hatcher's run and in the Appomattox campaign, winning renown as a fighting regiment. It was commonly named "The fighting regiment of the Southern Tier." Out of a total enrollment of 1,318, the regiment lost 98 killed in action, 73 died from wounds, and 153 from other causes during service. The loss in officers was also heavy. Lieut.Col. Chapin was killed and Maj. Higgins severely wounded at Chancellorsville, and Lieut.-Col. Stafford fell before Petersburg. Source: The Union Army, Vol. 2, p. 113 NEW YORK EIGHTY-SIXTH REGIMENT OF INFANTRY (VETERAN). Steuben Rangers. (Three Years) This regiment, Col. Benajah P. Bailey, was organized at Elmira November 23, 1861, and there mustered in the service of the United States for three years November 20-23, 1861. June 21, 1864, the men of the 70th Infantry, not mustered out with their regiment, were transferred to this. At the expiration of its service the men entitled thereto were discharged and the regiment retained in service. The companies were recruited principally: A at Syracuse; B at Addison; C and F at Corning; D at Hornellsville; E at Elmira; G at Canisteo; H at Troupsburg; I in Steuben county and K at Woodhull. The regiment left the State November 23, 1861; served in 2d Brigade, Casey's Division, Army of Potomac, from December, 1861; in 3d Brigade, Smith's Division, Army of Potomac, from January 16, 1862; in 2d Brigade, Casey's Division, Army of Potomac, from February, 1862; in General Wadsworth's Military District of Washington, D. C., from March, 1862; in Piatt's Brigade, Reserve Corps, Army of Virginia, from August, 1862; in same brigade, Whipple's Division, 12th Corps, Army of Potomac, from October, 1862; in 1st Brigade, 3d Division, 3d Corps, Army of Potomac, from November, 1862; in 2d Brigade, 1st Division, 3d Corps, Army of Potomac, from June, 1863; in 1st Brigade, 3d Division, 2d Corps, Army of Potomac, from April, 1864; and it was honorably discharged and mustered out, commanded by Col. Nathan H. Vincent, June 27, 1865, near Washington, D. C. Source: Phisterer p. 2,954 Gettysburg after battle report: Report of Lieut. Col. Benjamin L. Higgins, Eighty-sixth New York Infantry. Hdqrs. Eighty-sixth Regt. New York Vols., August 5, 1863. Sir: I have the honor to report that at 6 a. m. July 2 my regiment left camp with 268 men for line of battle, and moved with brigade to take position in line, which position was obtained about 7.30 a. m. behind a stone wall, with the Twentieth Indiana on my right and the One hundred and twenty-fourth New York on my left. After remaining inactive until 10 a. m., I was ordered by Gen. Ward to send forward a sufficient body of men, under charge of a commissioned officer, to demolish all stone walls and fences in our front to the Emmitsburg road. I immediately sent Capt. Baker, of Company G, with 35 men on that duty. At about 11 a. m. Capt. Baker returned, and reported his mission accomplished. About 12 m. I received orders (which I immediately obeyed) to march my regiment to the right by the flank until I cleared the stone wall, then move to the front in line of battle, retaining the same position in reference to other regiments of the brigade as when first formed in line of battle. After advancing about half a mile to the middle of a wheat-field, and halting, we were ordered to march the regiment by the left flank, which we did to the summit of the hill near the extreme left of our line. The line was formed, the regiment still retaining its relative position with the Twentieth Indiana and the One hundred and twenty-fourth New York. My regiment, excepting the left company, was in the woods, in which position it remained inactive until about 4.30 p. m., when the enemy commenced shelling us, and our skirmishers began to be driven in, followed by a large force of the enemy in line of battle. At this time I was ordered to commence firing. We held our position here, keeping up active firing, for about fifteen minutes, when we were ordered to advance. This was done promptly for about 50 yards, when we were ordered to halt and commence firing. In this position my regiment remained actively engaging the enemy for about half an hour, when, being wounded, I was obliged to leave the line, the major succeeding me in command. The regiment was then ordered to about-face and march to the rear, which was obeyed, and on arriving at our original position was ordered to halt, about-face, and commence firing, all of which was done with alacrity for about ten or fifteen minutes, when we were relieved and ordered to march to the rear. The regiment was not again engaged during the day. The casualties in my regiment during the engagement were as follows: Officers and men. K. W. M. T. Commissioned officers........................ 1 3 1 5 Enlisted men................................. 11 40 .. 51 Total*................................... 12 43 1 56 K=Killed. W=Wounded. M=Missing. T=Total. Early on the morning of the 3d, my regiment was marched to a piece of woods near the center of our line of battle, where it remained during the day, part of the time under the artillery fire of the enemy, until 4 p. m., when it was ordered forward to the support of batteries, in which position it remained until about 8 p. m., when firing ceased. During this time we had 3 men wounded.* The regiment was then moved a short distance by the right flank, say 300 yards, then about 100 yards to the front, where it was halted, and remained under arms during the night. On the morning of the 4th, in compliance with an order from headquarters, the regiment was engaged in collecting arms and accouterments. On the 5th, my regiment was ordered to the piece of woods, where it remained until 4 a. m. of the 6th, when it marched from the battlefield. Respectfully submitted. B. L. HIGGINS, Lieut. Col., Comdg. Eighty-sixth New York Vols. Capt. John M. Cooney, Capt., and Assistant Adjutant-Gen.

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

New York 86th Infantry (Union)

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