NEW YORK FIRST ENGINEERS (Three Years)

First Engineers.-Cols., Edward W. Serrell, James F. Hall; Lieut.Cols., Edward W. Serrell, James F. Hall, James E. Place; Majs., James F. Hall, Richard Butts, Joseph Walker, James E. Place, Alfred F. Sears, Frederick E. Greaf, Frederick H. Cruso. This regiment, "Serrell's Engineers," recruited from the state at large, rendezvoused at New York city and was there mustered into the U. S. service from Oct. 11, 1861, to Feb 19, 1862, for three years. The original Co. L became the 4th N. Y. battery in Oct., 1861, and in Jan., 1864, 205 men of the Enfants Perdus, and 2 officers and 40 of the 4th N. Y. battery were transferred to this regiment, Co. L being organized of the men of the 4th battery. Co. M was formed in April, 1864, from recruits in the field. The original members (except veterans) were mustered out by detachments as their term of service expired, and the regiment, composed of veterans and recruits, continued in the service as a veteran organization. The regiment left the state by detachments from Oct., 1861, to Feb., 1862, proceeding to Port Royal, S. C., where it served in the 10th corps, Department of the South, until 1864, and took part in the following engagements: Port Royal ferry, with Com. Tatnall's flotilla, Battery Vulcan, S. C., Fort Pulaski, Ga. (its flag being the first to float over that fortress), James island, Secessionville, Coosawhatchie river, Caston's and Frampton's plantations, Morris island, siege of Fort Wagner, bombardment of Fort Sumter, Seabrook, John's island, Olustee, Fla., and Morris island. Its heaviest casualties during this period were at Morris island, where it lost 25 killed and wounded, and at the siege of Fort Wagner where the loss was 21 killed and wounded. From May, 1864, Cos. B, D, E, F, H, K, L and M served with the Army of the James. In the operations against Petersburg and Richmond in May, 1864, its services were particularly valuable at Bermuda Hundred, as also during the siege of Petersburg, where the regiment sustained a loss of 19 in killed and wounded. During the year 1864, portions of the regiment took part in engagements at Dutch gap and Chaffin's farm, Va., John's island, Honey Hill, Deveaux's neck and Tillafinny Station, S. C. The last active service of the regiment was in the final assault on Petersburg, April 2, 1865. It was mustered out at Richmond, Va., June 30, 1865, under command of Col. Hall. It lost during its term of service 2 officers and 24 men killed and mortally wounded; 5 officers and 114 men by disease, accidents, in prison, etc., a total of 145 officers and men. Source: The Union Army, Vol. 2 p. 233 New York FIRST REGIMENT OF ENGINEERS (VETERAN). Serrell's Engineers; Engineer's and Artisans; New York Volunteer Corps of Engineers. (Three Years) This regiment was organized under Col. Edward W. Serrell at New York city and accepted by the State September 27, 1861. The companies were mustered in the United States service for three years at New York city, A, B, C, D and E October 11, 1861; G, K and I December 2, 3 and 13, 1861, respectively; F in January, and H February 19, 1862. The original Company L became the 4th N. Y. Volunteer Battery in October, 1861. In January, 1864, 205 enlisted men of the Enfants Perdus and two officers and forty enlisted men of the 4th N. Y. Volunteer Battery were assigned to the regiment by transfer; Company L was reorganized of men of the 4th Battery and Company M in April, 1864, from recruits in the field. Company M was, however, not fully organized until April, 1865, up to which time the incompleted company was commanded by details of officers of other companies. At the expiration of its term of service the men entitled thereto were discharged and the regiment continued in the service. The companies were recruited principally: A, B, D, H and L at New York city; C at Athens, Hudson and Cooperstown, Newark, N. J., and in Pennsylvania; E at Kingston, Pa., Newark, N. J., Sing Sing, Poughkeepsie, New York city and in Ulster county; F at New York city, Brooklyn, Rochester, Canandaigua and Newark, N. J.; G at New York city, Canandaigua and in Otsego county; I at New York city, Newburgh, Schuyler's Falls, Mooers Forks, Goshen, Saranac, Piermont, Plattsburgh, Centreville and Ellenburgh; K in New Jersey, at Newton, Dover, Paterson, Morristown, Stanhope and Rockaway, and M at New York city, Brooklyn, Tompkinsville, Kingston and Tarrytown. Companies A, B, C, D and E left the State for Port Royal, S. C., under Colonel Serrell, October 2, 1861; G, I and K December 14, 1861, and F and H in February, 1862; and the regiment served in the Department of the South, 10th Corps, and, from May, 1864, Companies B, D, E, F, H, K, L and M with the Army of the James. The regiment, commanded by Col. James F. Hall, was honorably discharged and mustered out, Companies A, C, G and I at Hilton Head, S. C., the other companies June 30, 1865, at Richmond, Va.

Source: Phisterer, p. 1,634

New York 1st Engineers (Union)

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