NEW YORK SEVENTIETH INFANTRY (Three Years)

Seventieth Infantry.-Cols., Daniel E. Sickles, William Dwight, Jr., J. Egbert Farnum; Lieut.-Cols., William Dwight, Jr., J. Egbert Farnum, Thomas Holt, Daniel Mahan; Majs., J. Egbert Farnum, Thomas Holt, Daniel Mahan, William H. Hugo. The 70th, the 1st regiment of the Excelsior brigade, was composed of companies from New York city, Port Jervis, Paw Paw, Mich., Pittsburgh, Pa., Boston, Mass., Patterson and Newark, N. J., and was mustered into the U. S. service at Camp Scott, Staten island, June 20, 1861, for a three years' term. It left for Washington on July 23; was quartered in the city for a short time and then assigned to Sickles' brigade, Hooker's division, on guard duty at the forts along the Maryland side of the Potomac. Co. G joined the regiment in October being mustered in at Washington on Oct. 8. In the disposition of troops preparatory to the advance on the Peninsula. Sickles' brigade became the 2nd brigade, 2nd division, 3d corps, and reached Yorktown in April. In the battle of Williamsburg, the first battle of consequence in which the 70th took part it met with the heaviest loss of its service. Out of 700 engaged the loss was 330 killed, wounded or missing. At Fair Oaks and in the Seven Days' battles the regiment was active and embarked at Yorktown, Aug.20, for Alexandria, whence it moved at once to the support of Gen. Pope at Manassas. In a sharp encounter at Bristoe Station, the 70th lost 5 men and at the second Bull Run 23. The regiment returned to Washington and was stationed in that vicinity until November, when it moved to Falmouth. It was present at the battle of Fredericksburg, returning immediately afterward to its camp at Falmouth, which became its winter quarters. It was next in the field at Chancellorsville, and at Gettysburg lost 113, killed or wounded, and 4 missing. In the southward movement, the brigade met the enemy in a brisk engagement at Wapping heights, fought at Kelly's ford, participated in the Mine Run campaign, and spent the winter at Brandy Station. In the reorganization of the corps, the regiment was assigned in April, 1864, to the 2nd brigade, 4th division, 2nd corps, and on May 13, to the 4th brigade, 3d division, 2nd corps. It shared in the memorable campaign under Gen. Grant until July 1, 1864, when it was mustered out at the close of its term of service, the veterans and recruits being transferred to the 86th N. Y. infantry. Although not in service as long as the preceding New York regiments, the 70th won its right to be known as one of the "three hundred fighting regiments" by many an instance of gallantry and the loss of 182 by death from wounds out of a total enrollment of 1,226. It also lost 70 by death from disease, etc. Source: The Union Army, Vol. 2, p. 102 NEW YORK SEVENTIETH REGIMENT OF INFANTRY. First Regiment Excelsior Brigade; First Regiment Sickles' Brigade. (Three Years) General Daniel E. Sickles, as temporary Colonel, recruited this regiment under special authority from the War Department; it was organized at Camp Scott, Staten Island, and there mustered in the United States service for three years June 2022, 1861, except Company G, which was mustered in at Washington, D. C., October 8, 1861. Pursuant to the orders of the Secretary of War, dated December 5, I86I, it received, December 11, 1861, its State numerical designation. The three years' men of the 2d Infantry joined it May 19, 1863. The men not entitled to be mustered out with the regiment were, June 22, 1864, transferred to the 86th Infantry. The companies were recruited principally: A in part, B, D and G in New York city; C at Paw Paw, Mich.; E-Friend's Rifles-at Pittsburg, Pa.; F at Port Jervis, Orange. county; H at Boston, Mass.; A in part, and I at Paterson, N. J., and K at Newark, N. J. The regiment, except Company G, left the State July 23, 1861; served at and near Washington, D. C., from July, I86I; in Sickles' Brigade, Hooker's Division, Army of the Potomac, from October I5, 186I; in same, 2d, Brigade, and 2d Division, 3d Corps, Army of the Potomac, from March, 1862; in 2d Brigade, 4th Division, 2d Corps, Army of the Potomac, from April, 1864; in 4th Brigade, 3d Division, 2d Corps, Army of the Potomac, from May I3, 1864; and it was. honorably discharged and mustered out, under Col. J. Egbert Farnum, July 7, 1864, to date July I, 1864, at New York city. Source: Phisterer, p. 2,709 Gettysburg after battle report: Report of Maj. William H. Hugo, Seventieth New York Infantry. Hdqrs. First Regt., Excelsior Brigade, Camp near Rappahannock Station, Va., August 14, 1863. Maj.: In accordance with orders received yesterday, I have the honor herewith to forward the following report of the operations of this command since leaving Falmouth: On June 11, received orders to be in readiness to move at a moment's notice. About 5 p. m. of the same day, the wagon train moved, but the regiment with the rest of the brigade did not leave until the following morning, on account of a detail from the brigade being on picket. Commenced moving at 9 a. m., and marched to Hartwood Church, where we arrived at 5 p. m., and bivouacked for the night. On the morning of the 13th, we took up our line of march at 4.30 a. m., and marched to Rappahannock Station, where we joined the division, and bivouacked for the night. At 2 a. m. of the 14th, received orders to go on picket at Kelly's Ford, to which point we were marched, and where we remained until 7 p. m., when we received orders to withdraw the pickets and rejoin our division at Rappahannock Station. After rejoining the division, continued to march during the night, arriving at Catlett's Station at 7 a. m. of the 15th, where we halted until 1 p. m., when we again resumed the march, and arrived at Manassas Junction at 11 p. m., where we bivouacked for the night, remaining in this position until the morning of the 17th. At 9.30 a. m. of the 17th, we again resumed our march, and marched to Centreville, where we remained until the 19th. On the afternoon of the 19th, marched to Gum Springs, where we remained for six days, performing in that space of time one tour of picket duty. Left Gum Springs on the morning of the 25th, at 9.30 a. m.; crossed the Potomac into Maryland at Edwards Ferry about 2 p. m., and continued marching, following the tow-path of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, to the mouth of the Monocacy, where we bivouacked for the night. On the 26th, marched to Point of Rocks, where we bivouacked for the night. On the 27th, crossed Catoctin Mountains, and passed through Jefferson, bivouacking a short distance from Middletown. On the 28th, we resumed our march, passing through Middletown and Frederick City, and bivouacking near Walkersville. On the 29th, marched to Taneytown, having passed through Woodsborough, Ladiesburg, Middleburg, and Taneytown. On the afternoon of the 30th, marched about 6 miles beyond Taneytown, where the regiment was detailed for picket duty. On the morning of July 1, the pickets were withdrawn, and we resumed the march at 7.30 o'clock, arriving near Gettysburg at 12 m., having passed through Emmitsburg. At 8 a. m. of the 2d, the regiment was formed in line of battle, and remained in this position until 1 p. m., when orders were received to advance, halting in rear of the First Brigade and acting as its support. We lay in this position under a heavy fire of artillery until 4 o'clock. At this time we engaged the enemy, and held our ground against a superior force until dark, when we were relieved by the Second Corps. Our loss in this engagement was quite severe, losing in all 112--7 officers wounded, 21 men killed, 80 wounded, and 4 missing. At daylight on the morning of the 3d, the regiment was formed in line of battle, supporting the Fifth Corps. We lay in this position until 3 p. m., when we were ordered to the right, to support a battery of the Second Corps. In supporting this battery, we were exposed to a heavy artillery fire, losing 3 men. At dark we were relieved and marched to the left, where we bivouacked for the night. No movement was made on the 4th, 5th, and 6th. On the 5th and 6th, parties were sent out to bury the dead. On the morning of the 7th, started in pursuit of the enemy, passing through Emmitsburg, and bivouacking near Mechanicstown. On the 8th, marched to near Frederick City. On the 9th, passed through Middletown, and bivouacked in the mountains. On the 10th, resumed the march, and, crossing Antietam Creek, we bivouacked for the night at 7 o'clock, but receiving orders to move at 11 p. m., we again resumed the march, and continued marching until 3 a. m. on the following morning, when we halted at 6 a. m. July 11, resumed the march, and, halting about 6 p. m., we bivouacked for the night. On the morning of the 12th, we took our position in rear of the Twelfth Corps, where we remained for the night. On the 13th, marched to near Williamsport, where we remained until the 15th. On the 15th, we again resumed the march, and, passing through Fair Play and Sharpsburg, we halted for the night. July 16, we marched about 16 miles, and bivouacked near Knoxville. About 5 p. m. of the 17th, we again took up our line of march, and, crossing the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers at Harper's Ferry, we bivouacked for the night about 5 miles from the river. July 18, marched to Hillsborough, where we bivouacked. July 19, resumed our march at 7 a. m., and marched to Wood Grove, when we received orders to go on picket. July 20, the pickets were withdrawn, and we marched to Upperville, where we bivouacked for the night. We lay in this position until the afternoon of the 22d, when we resumed our march, and marched to Piedmont. At 4 a. m. of the 23d, we again took up our line of march, and came upon the enemy at Manassas Gap, when the brigade was ordered to charge, which it did in splendid style, driving the enemy before it. In this engagement, which was of short duration, the regiment sustained a loss of 33--1 officer killed, Capt. Price; 1 wounded, Maj. Mahen; 10 men killed, and 21 wounded. After the enemy was driven from his position, the regiment was deployed as skirmishers for the purpose of finding his whereabouts. After advancing about 3 miles, and finding no enemy, the regiment returned to the brigade, when the regiment with the rest of the brigade advanced as far as Front Royal. Here, finding the enemy had gone, we were marched back, a distance of about 5 miles, and bivouacked for the night. On the 25th, we resumed our march, passing through Salem, and bivouacking about 5 miles beyond the town. On the 26th, marched 2 miles beyond Warrenton, where we bivouacked for the night. On August 1, we left camp near Warrenton about 7 o'clock in the morning, and marched to our present position near Rappahannock Station the same day. Since then the regiment has been inactive, excepting that it has performed two tours of picket duty. Col. Farnum commanded the regiment from the time we left Falmouth until July 27, when he was detached on duty at New York. From that time until yesterday, when I assumed command, Capt. Gruett commanded the regiment. This should excuse me from making as minute a report as otherwise I should have done. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, WM. H. HUGO, Maj. Comdg. First Regt. Maj. J. P. Finkelmeier, Assistant Adjutant-Gen., Excelsior Brigade.

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

New York 70th Infantry (Union)

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