NEW YORK ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTH INFANTRY (Three Years)

One Hundred and Fourth Infantry.-Cols., John Rohrbach, Lewis C. Skinner, Gilbert G. Prey, John R. Sprang; Lieut.-Cols., R. Wells Kenyon, Lewis C. Skinner, Gilbert G. Prey, Henry G. Tuthill, John R. Strang, H. A. Wiley; Majs., Lewis G. Skinner, Gilbert G. Prey, John R. Strang, Henry V. Colt, Henry A. Wiley, William C. Wilson. This regiment, known as the Wadsworth Guards, or the Livingston county regiment, was recruited in the counties of Albany, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Rensselaer and Steuben. It was organized at Albany by the consolidation of the Morgan Guards, under Col. John J. Viele, with the Genesee regiment under Col. Rohrbach, and was mustered into the U. S. service from September, 1861, to March, 1862, for three years. On the expiration of its term of service a sufficient number reenlisted to enable it to continue in service as a veteran organization. The regiment left the state on March 22, 1862, and served for some weeks in Gen. Wadsworth's command in the District of Washington. As a part of the 3d corps, it was in action for the first time at Cedar mountain, but about a week later it was assigned to the 1st brigade, 2nd division, 1st corps, and moved on Pope's Virginia campaign being engaged at Rappahannock Station, Thoroughfare gap, Bull Run, and Little River turnpike, with a loss during the campaign of 89 killed, wounded and missing. Lieut. John P. Rudd who fell at Bull Run, was the first man of the regiment to be killed. In September the 104th moved on the Maryland campaign under Gen. McClellan; fought at South mountain, and lost 82 in killed, wounded and missing at Antietam, where the 1st corps, under Gen. Hooker, opened the battle. At Fredericksburg it lost 52 killed, wounded and missing; was in reserve at Chancellorsville; was heavily engaged at Gettysburg, where it lost 194 in killed, wounded and missing; engaged without loss in the Mine Run campaign, the last campaign of the old 1st corps. In March, 1864, it was assigned to the 5th corps, with which it continued during the remainder of the war. It took part in all the bloody battles of the Wilderness campaign, losing heavily at Spottsylvania the first assaults on Petersburg, and at the Weldon railroad. After Aug., 1864, it performed provost guard duty with its corps, and served with slight loss through the final battles of the war, ending with Lee's surrender at Appomattox. It was mustered out under Col. Strang, at Washington D. C., July 17, 1865, having lost during its term of service 5 officers and 85 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded; 2 officers and 145 enlisted men by disease and other causes, a total of 237. Source: The Union Army, Vol. 2, p. 125 NEW YORK ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTH REGIMENT OF INFANTRY (VETERAN). Wadsworth Guards; Livingston County Regiment. (Three Years) This regiment, Col. John Rorbach, was organized at Albany, March 4, 1862, by the consolidation of the Morgan Guards, Col. John J. Viele, with the Geneseo Regiment, Wadsworth Guards, Colonel Rorbach; the ten companies of the latter forming seven, and the five companies of the former, three, H, I and K, of the new organization. The regiment was mustered in the service of the United States for three years between September, 1861, and March, 1862. At the expiration of its term of enlistment, the men entitled thereto were discharged and the regiment retained in service. The companies were recruited principally: A at Nunda; B at Springwater; C at Centreville, Eagle and Pike; D at Geneseo; E at Groveland, Cohocton and Burns; F at Rochester; G at Fowlerville, Alabama and Gainesville; H and I at Troy; and K at Troy and Cohoes. The regiment left the State March 22, 1862; served in General Wadsworth's command, Military District of Washington, from March, 1862; in 2d Brigade, 2d Division, Department Rappahannock, from May, 1862; in 1st Brigade, 2d Division, 3d Corps, Army of Virginia, from June 26, 1862; in 1st Brigade, 2d Division, 1st Corps, Army of the Potomac, from September 12, 1862; in same brigade and division, 5th Corps, Army of the Potomac, from April, 1864; in 3d Brigade, 4th Division, 5th Corps, from May 9, 1864; in 1st Brigade, 2d Division, 5th Corps, from May 30, 1864; in 1st Brigade, 3d Division, 5th Corps, from June 6, 1864; as Provost Guard, 5th Corps, from August, 1864; in 2d Brigade, 3d Division, 5th Corps, from May, 1865; and it was honorably discharged and mustered out, under Col. John R. Strang, July 17, 1865, near Washington, D. C. Source: Phisterer, p. 3,219 Gettysburg after battle report: Report of Col. Gilbert G. Prey, One hundred and fourth New York Infantry. Hdqrs. 104th Regt. New York Volunteers, August 18, 1863. Capt.: In accordance with circular from headquarters Army of the Potomac, August 12, 1863, I have the honor to report that on the 28th of June last the One hundred and fourth Regt. New York Volunteers marched from Middletown, Md., to Frederick City, Md.; bivouacked for the night. On the 29th, marched to Emmitsburg, Md.; bivouacked for the night about 1 mile west of the town. On the morning of the 30th, marched across the State line into Pennsylvania, north of Emmitsburg; bivouacked until the next morning, when we resumed the march to Gettysburg, where we arrived about 1 o'clock. When the brigade was first formed in line of battle, my regiment was placed on the right center, and ordered to throw up a breastwork of such material as they could find. In a few minutes the order was countermanded, and we marched by the right flank in rear of the Thirteenth Massachusetts Regt. across the railroad embankment, passing through a piece of woods some distance into an open field. I was ordered to form line by Brig.-Gen. Paul on the right of the Thirteenth Massachusetts Regt., and, while doing so, was ordered by Brig.-Gen. Robinson, commanding division, to form on the left, and did so, my left resting near the Ninety-seventh Regt. (New York), my line running obliquely with the crest of the hill, where the enemy was strongly posted behind a stone wall covered with thick underbrush, the fire from the wall taking us on the flank as the line advanced. I ordered my three left companies to gain the wall and dislodge the enemy, which they did in gallant style. The enemy retired in confusion before them. I then advanced my line to the road on which the enemy had been posted. Here some 35 or 40 prisoners were taken, but having neither officers nor men to spare to take charge of them, I directed them to pass to the rear and join some already taken by the Thirteenth Massachusetts, which they did. Fifteen or 20 more prisoners were afterward taken by my regiment and sent to the rear. Shortly after gaining the road, the enemy began to move to our left in considerable force, and, as that was entirely unsupported, I caused my regiment to change front and take position behind the stone wall from which we had previously driven the enemy. As they still continued to advance on our front and right flank, I moved to the left, to connect with the Ninety-seventh New York. There we remained, firing, and held our position until ordered to retire. A list of the casualties has already been forwarded. We retired, and formed line behind a stone wall some 300 or 400 yards to the left of the cemetery, nearly parallel to the pike leading to Emmitsburg; remained there until the next morning, when we were moved to the right, to support a battery on Cemetery Hill. Remained there until about sundown of that day (July 2), when we were marched to the left, where the battle was raging at the time; formed line in rear of a portion of the Second Corps. When the battle closed, we were again marched to the right, and formed in line behind a stone wall on the west of the cemetery, and nearly down to the town; lay on our arms during the night. The next morning (July 3), we marched, under the fire of the enemy's sharpshooters, to the rear of the cemetery, to support a battery, as on the day before. About 2 o'clock of that day we were marched to the right of the cemetery, to screen us from the shot and shell that were playing into the place where we were; lay there about two hours, when we were marched, through a galling fire of shot, shell, and bullets, across the cemetery and to the left, and formed line in front of a brass battery in the woods immediately to the left of the cemetery. Sent out skirmishers. Continued in that position and capacity until about noon of the 5th, when we were marched to the left, and bivouacked near Round Top Mountain, so called. The next day (July 6) we marched to the State line near Emmitsburg; from thence (July 7) over the mountain to near Middletown; bivouacked for the night, and the next morning (July 8) passed through Middletown and bivouacked about 1 mile out toward South Mountain. Toward night marched to the western slope of the South Mountain, near and to the north of Turner's Gap, formed line, and were ordered to throw up a breastwork of stones, of which there was an abundance. Remained there until the 10th, and then marched on the pike toward Hagerstown, through Boonsborough, to within 3 miles of Funkstown, and filed to the right some three-fourths of a mile from the pike, and formed line nearly parallel to the pike, and were ordered to throw up breastworks, which we did, and remained there until the 12th July; then marched to Funkstown, formed line nearly parallel with Antietam Creek; was ordered to throw up breastworks. Remained there until the 14th July; thence to near Williamsport; bivouacked over night. The next morning (July 15) marched to near Crampton's Gap; bivouacked on the west side of the mountain. Thence (July 16) to Berlin; remained there until July 18, when we marched to Waterford, Va. Thence (July 19) to Hamilton. Thence to Middleburg July 20; remained there until July 22, when we marched to White Plains, arriving there at daylight July 23. Thence the same day to Warrenton. GILBERT G. PREY, Col. One hundred and fourth New York Volunteers. Capt. Byron Porter, Assistant Adjutant-Gen.

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

New York 104th Infantry (Union)

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