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New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center: 44th Infantry Regiment
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The Civil War in the East: 44th New York Infantry Regiment

NEW YORK FORTY-FOURTH INFANTRY (Three Years)

Forty-fourth Infantry.-Cols., Stephen W. Stryker, James C. Rice, Freeman Conner; Lieut.-Cols., James C. Rice, Edward P. Chapin, Freeman Conner, Edward B. Knox; Majs., Stephen W. Stryker, James McKown, Edward P. Chapin, Freeman Conner, Edward B. Knox, Campbell Allen. The 44th regiment, known as Ellsworth's Avengers, was organized at Albany under the auspices of the Ellsworth association of the State of New York, which planned to raise a memorial regiment to be composed of one man from each town and ward, unmarried, not over 30 years of age or under 5 feet, 8 inches in height, and of military experience. This plan was adhered to as far as possible and two companies from Albany county, two from Erie county, one from Herkimer county, and a large number of scattered squads reported at Albany in response to the request. These companies were mustered into the service of the United States at Albany in Aug. and Sept., 1861, for three years and two new companies from Albany were mustered in Oct. 21, 1862. The regiment, numbering 1,061 men, left Albany on Oct. 21, 1861, for Washington and upon its arrival there was assigned to the 3d brigade, 1st division, later with the 5th corps. Camp was established on Oct. 28, at Hall's hill, Va., and the winter was passed there with routine duties. On March 10, 1862, the regiment led the advance to Centerville, but soon returned to Fairfax and proceeded thence to Yorktown, arriving on April 1. From May 5 to 19, the 44th garrisoned Fort Magruder; then moved to Gaines' mill; was engaged at Hanover Court House, with the loss of 86 killed, wounded and missing; participated in the Seven Days' battles with a total loss of 56 at Gaines' mill and 99 at Malvern Hill, out of 225 engaged in the last named battle. Returning to Alexandria, the regiment moved by way of Fortress Monroe to Manassas, and in the battle of Aug. 30 lost 71 killed, wounded or missing. It was in reserve at Antietam; was active at Shepherdstown, and Fredericksburg; shared in the hardships of Burnside's "Mud March," and returned to winter quarters at Stoneman's switch, near Falmouth. Camp was broken on April 27, 1863, for the Chancellorsville campaign, the 44th being in the lead during the general movement of the army and sharing in the fighting, after which it returned for a short rest to the camp at Stoneman's switch. In June, the veterans of the 14th and 25th N. Y. were added to the 44th. At Gettysburg the regiment was posted on the left of the line and joined in the defense of Little Round Top, where it met with its greatest loss-111 killed, wounded and missing. After spending some weeks in camp at Emmitsburg, the command was present at the battle of Bristoe Station, active at Rappahannock Station and in the Mine Run campaign, and went into winter quarters at Brandy Station. In Dec., 1863, a large number of the men reenlisted and rejoined the regiment in camp after their veteran furlough. May, 1864, was the month of the memorable Wilderness campaign, in which the regiment served faithfully, suffering most severely at the Wilderness and at Bethesda Church. By this time the regiment had become greatly reduced in numbers by hard service and the loss in this campaign, while not so large in numbers as in previous battles, was even greater in proportion to the number of men engaged. The regiment was active in the first assault on Petersburg in June 1864, at the Weldon railroad, and at Poplar Spring Church. On Oct. 11, 1864, the 44th was mustered out at Albany and the veterans and recruits were consolidated into a battalion, of which 266 men were transferred to the 140th and 183 to the 146th N. Y. The total strength of the regiment was 1,585, of whom 188 died during the term of service from wounds received in action, and 147 died from accident, imprisonment or disease. The total loss in killed, wounded and missing was 730. The men chosen for this command were of the flower of the state and displayed their heroism on many a desperately contested field, where they won laurels for themselves and for their state. Col. Fox numbers the 44th among the "three hundred fighting regiments." Source: The Union Army, Vol. 2, p. 81 New York FORTY-FOURTH REGIMENT OF INFANTRY. Ellsworth Avengers; People's Ellsworth Regiment. (Three Years) This regiment, Col. Stephen W. Stryker, was recruited under the auspices of the Ellsworth Association of the State of New York. The original plan was to obtain from every ward and town of the State one man; this plan was not adhered to, but later more than one enlistment was allowed to each, and the counties of Albany and Erie furnished each two companies, and Herkimer county one company. The men reported individually at Albany, where the regiment was organized under orders from the State dated October 15, 1861. The companies were mustered in the service of the United States for three years, A, B, C, D and E August 30; F and G September 6; H and I September 15, and K September 24, 1861. September 20, 1862, Companies C and E were merged into the others, and replaced by new companies, recruited at Albany, October 21, 1862. New Company E was also known as the Normal School Company. In June, 1863, the three years' men of the ~4th and 25th Infantries joined the regiment by transfer. September 23, 1864, the men not entitled to be mustered out with the regiment were formed into a battalion, and October 11, 1864,, this battalion was transferred to the 140th Infantry (266 enlisted men), and the 146th Infantry (183 enlisted men). The regiment left the State October 21, 1861; served in the 3d Brigade, 1st Division, Army of the Potomac, from October 26, 1861; in the 3d Brigade, 1st Division, 3d Corps, Army of the Potomac, from March, 1862; in the 3d Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Corps, Army of the Potomac, from May, 1862, and it was honorably discharged and mustered out, under Col. Freeman Conner, October 11, 1864, at Albany. Source: Phisterer, p. 2,289 Gettysburg after battle report: Reports of Lieut. Col. Freeman Conner, Forty-fourth New York Infantry. Hdqrs. Forty-fourth New York Volunteers, July 6, 1863. Lieut.: I have the honor to submit the following report of the action taken by this regiment in the engagement on July 2: About 4 p. m. our regiment, Col. J. C. Rice commanding, was placed in position on Round Top hill, with the Eighty-third Pennsylvania on our left and the Sixteenth Massachusetts on our right. Company B was immediately thrown out as skimishers. When they had advanced about 200 yards, they met the enemy advancing in three lines of battle. Orders were immediately given by Capt. L. S. Larrabee, commanding the company, to fall back upon the battalion. It was while executing this order that that faithful and brave officer was shot through the body and instantly killed, being the first officer that this regiment ever had killed in battle. The enemy continued to advance until the first line came within about 40 yards of our line. Upon their first appearance we opened a heavy fire upon them, which was continued until they were compelled to retreat. After they had disappeared in our immediate front, we turned our fire upon those who had advanced in the hollow to our right, and continued it until we were out of ammunition. After we had been engaged about one hour, Col. Vincent, commanding brigade, was wounded, and the command fell upon Col. J. C. Rice, and the command of the regiment upon myself. We remained in our position until the next morning about 8 a. m., when we were relieved by Col. Hayes, Eighteenth Massachusetts. We were then moved to the right about three-eighths of a mile, and formed in line of battle, the Sixteenth Michigan on our left and the Twentieth Maine on our right. I regret to add that in addition to Capt. Larrabee, whose death I have already noticed, the officers are called upon to mourn the loss of First Lieut. Eugene L. Dunham, Company D, a brave and efficient officer, who was instantly killed during the heavy firing from the enemy in our front. Capt. William R. Bourne, Company K; Capt. Bennett Munger, Company C; Adjt. George B. Herendeen; First Lieut. Charles H. Zeilman, commanding Company F, and Second Lieut. Benjamin N. Thomas, Company K, were wounded, the latter, it is feared, mortally. It affords me great pleasure to be able to state that both officers and men behaved with the greatest coolness and bravery, not a single case of cowardice having come to my ear. Our casualties were: Officers and men. K W M T Commissioned officers........................ 2 5 .. 7 Enlisted men................................. 24 73 7 104 Total*................................. 26 78 7 111 K=Killed. W=Wounded. M=Missing. T=Total. Most respectfully, your obedient servant, FREEMAN CONNER, Lieut. Col., Comdg. Forty-fourth New York Volunteers. Lieut. George B. Herendeen, Acting Assistant Adjutant-Gen. ----Hdqrs. Forty-fourth New York Volunteers, August 14, 1863. Lieut.: I have the honor to make the following supplementary report of the operations of this command, from June 29 until its arrival at Warrenton, Va.: On Friday, July 10, I was ordered to take my command, in company with the remainder of the Third Brigade, to Jones' Cross-Roads, Md., near Antietam Creek. Pickets were established, for which my regiment furnished three companies. The following morning at daylight skirmishing began, the enemy making his appearance in front in quite heavy force. Skirmishers were thrown out from my command with the others of the brigade, and the skirmishing was continued until I was relieved at 3 p. m. by a portion of the Second Corps, when I rejoined the brigade. Recrossed the Potomac River on Friday, July 17. Reached Manassas Gap on Thursday, 23d instant, where we anticipated a fight, but were disappointed. Bivouacked near Warrenton, Va., July 29. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, FREEMAN CONNER, Lieut.-Col., Comdg. Forty-fourth New York Vols. Lieut. John M. Clark, Acting Assistant Adjutant-Gen.

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

New York 44th Infantry (Union)

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