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New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center: 42nd Infantry Regiment
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The Civil War in the East: 42nd New York Infantry Regiment

NEW YORK FORTY-SECOND INFANTRY (Three Years)

Forty-second Infantry.-Cols., William D. Kennedy, Milton Cogswell, Edmund C. Charles, James E. Mallon, William A. Lynch; Lieut.-Cols., Michael Doheny, James I. Mooney, George M. Bomford, William A. Lynch, Robert C. Wright; Majs., Peter Bowe, James E. Mallon, Patrick J. Downing. The 42nd, the "Tammany Regiment," was recruited in New York city; mustered into the U. S. service at Great Neck, L. I., June 22-28, 1861, for three years; was quartered on Long Island for nearly a month, embarking on July 18 for Washington, where it remained in camp but a short time when it was ordered to Poolville, Md., and assigned to Stone's brigade. On Oct. 15, the regiment became a part of Gorman's brigade, Stone's division, Army of the Potomac. It behaved gallantly in the battle of Ball's Bluff, but met with the heavy loss of 133 in killed, wounded and missing, including Col. Baker, Col. Cogswell and Capt. Garety. In Jan., 1862, the regiment was attached to Burns' brigade of its old division and in March, to the 3d brigade, 2nd division, 2nd corps, Army of the Potomac, with which it participated in the Peninsular campaign. It was active in the operations before Yorktown, the battle of West Point, and during the Seven Days' battles, losing at Glendale 56 in killed, wounded and missing. In the battle of Antietam the regiment met with the heaviest loss of its entire service-181 killed, wounded or missing, out of 345 engaged in the charge under Gen. Sedgwick which proved so fatal. At Fredericksburg the regiment was more fortunate, although 22 were killed or wounded. The winter was passed in camp near Falmouth and in May, 1863, broke camp for the Chancellorsville campaign, in which the regiment was active at Marye's heights and Salem Church. At Gettysburg, under command of Col. Mallon, the regiment received high commendation for heroic conduct but at the cost of a total loss of 74 members. On the southward march, the 42nd was engaged at Auburn, at Bristoe Station, where Col. Mallon was killed, shared in the operations about Mine Run, fought at Robertson's tavern, and went into winter quarters at Brandy Station. A large number of the men reenlisted in Dec., 1864. Camp was broken May 3, 1864, for the Wilderness campaign, in which the regiment, assigned to the 1st brigade, 2nd division, 2nd corps, conducted itself with courage and steadiness throughout the month of arduous service which culminated at Cold Harbor, the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Laurel Hill, the North Anna, Totopotomoy, all being fields of action for the 42nd. On July 13, 1864, the original members not reenlisted were mustered out at New York city and the veterans and recruits were transferred to the 82nd N. Y., which had also won an enviable reputation for fighting qualities. The total strength of the regiment was 1,210 members, of whom 718 were killed, wounded or captured, 152 being killed or dying of wounds and 106 dying of accident, disease or imprisonment. The regiment is numbered by Col. Fox among the "three hundred fighting regiments" and during its service always reflected credit on the state which sent it forth. Source: The Union Army, Vol. 2, p. 79 New York FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT OF INFANTRY. Tammany Regiment; Jackson Guards. (Three Years) This regiment, Col. William D. Kennedy, was organized at Great Neck, L.I., under the auspices of the Tammany Society and the Union Defense Committee of New York city, under special authority from the War Department; and mustered in the service of the United States for three years at Great Neck June 22 and 28 (H and K), 1861. The companies were recruited at New York city. June 28, 1864, the men who were not to be discharged with the regiment, veterans and recruits, were transferred to the 82d Infantry. The regiment left the State July 18, 1861; served at and near Washington, D. C., and Poolesville, Md., from July 20, 1861; in Stone,s Brigade, Division of Potomac, from August 4, 1861; in Gorman's Brigade, Stone's Division, Army of the Potomac, from October 15, 1861; in Burns, Brigade, same division, Army of the Potomac, from January, 1862; in Dana's, 3d, Brigade, Sedgwick,s, 2d, Division, 2d Corps, Army of the Potomac, from March, 1862; in 1st Brigade, 2d Division, 2d Corps, Army of the Potomac, from March, 1864; and it was honorably discharged and mustered out, under Lieut.-Col. Wm. A. Lynch, July I3, 1864, at New York city. Source: Phisterer, p. 2,253 Gettysburg after battle report: Report of Col. James E. Mallon, Forty-second New York Infantry. Camp near Sandy Hook, Md., July 16, 1863. Sir: I have the honor to report the following as the part taken by this regiment during the actions of July 2 and 3, near Gettysburg, Pa.: On the morning of the 2d instant, this regiment was placed, by order of Col. Hall, commanding brigade, in position to the left of the clump of trees near which were posted the batteries of the corps. During the morning I was called upon to furnish two companies for skirmish duty. Company F, Capt. J. W. Tobin, and Company D, Second Lieut. John Maguire, were detailed for this purpose. This small body, numbering in all but 36 enlisted men, did their duty faithfully. About 5 or 6 p. m. this regiment, with the Nineteenth Massachusetts, was ordered to go forward to the left to the assistance of Gen. Humphreys. The staff officer who conducted us led the commands, they marching by the right flank until they were well brought under musketry fire. At this time all the troops to the front were precipitately retiring in great disorder. To avoid the enfilading effect of the fire, which was now rapidly thinning the ranks; to infuse confidence in the hearts of those who among those retreating might have some manhood left; to present a disciplined, unwavering front toward the rapidly approaching and confident enemy, the two regiments formed line. From the moment of the commencement of this movement, I saw nothing of the staff officer who conducted us. When the rebels had arrived within 50 yards of the line, Col. Devereux and myself consulted as to the best course to be pursued. Already we were receiving fire from both flanks. We concluded that the best thing to be done was to retire. After having poured into the rebels several volleys, the regiments, the Ninettenth Massachusetts covering, moved to the rear. When we had retired about 200 yards, we were ordered by Capt. Leach, of the brigade staff, to rejoin the brigade. During this engagement the regiment lost 3 killed and 12 wounded. On the afternoon of the 3d instant, about 1 o'clock, the enemy opened with a destructive artillery fire, which will ever be remembered by those subjected to its fury. After this fire, which lasted about four hours, had considerably slackened, the infantry of the enemy debouched from the woods to our front for the grand attack of the battle. This regiment was posted about 100 yards in rear of the front line. When those of the enemy who approached our brigade front had been successfully disposed of, and when those who had with great energy and persistence penetrated that portion of our line to our right, near the corps batteries, I caused the regiment to be formed in line facing the decisive point. The line was but fairly established, and but just started in the direction of the contested point, when Col. Hall, with words of encouragement, cheered us forward. With the impetus conveyed by these words, the regiment vigorously advanced, and in that charge which rescued our batteries from the hands of our foe, which saved our army from disaster and defeat, which gave to us glorious, triumphant success, this regiment was foremost and its flag in the advance. The color-bearer, Sergt. Michael Cuddy, who established his great and superior courage in the first Fredericksburg battle, on this occasion displayed the most heroic bravery. When he fell, mortally wounded, he rose by a convulsive effort, and triumphantly waved in the face of the rebels, not 10 yards distant, that flag he loved so dearly, of which he was so proud, and for which his valuable life, without a murmur, was freely given up. The next day and the day after were spent in burying the dead. The detail from this regiment buried 84 rebels. The officers and men of this regiment did their duty fearlessly during the three days it was exposed to fire at Gettysburg. I have heard of no instance of misbehavior, and of none of special excellence excepting in the case of Sergeant Cuddy, the color-bearer, to whom I have already referred. All did well, and all deserve credit. The regiment lost 15 killed, 55 wounded, and 4 missing; total, 74. I append a correct list of casualties.* Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. E. MALLON, Col. Forty-second New York Volunteers. Lieut. William R. Driver, A. A. A. G., Third Brig., Second Div., Second Corps.

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

New York 42nd Infantry (Union)

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