NEW YORK FIFTY-SEVENTH INFANTRY (Three Years)

Fifty-seventh Infantry.-Cols. Samuel K. Zook, Alford B. Chapman, James W. Britt; Lieut.-Cols., John A. Page, Philip J. Parisen, Alford B. Chapman, James W. Britt, Augustus M. Wright, George W. Jones, James C. Bronson; Majs., Philip J. Parisen, Alford B. Chapman, N. Garrow Throop, John H. Bell, William A. Kirk, George W. Jones, James C. Bronson, George Mitchell. The 57th the "National Guard Rifles," contained companies from the National guard Rifles, the Clinton Rifles, the United States Voltigeurs, the Washington Zouaves and the Manhattan Rifles, and was mustered into the U. S. service at New York city, Aug. 12 to Nov. 19, 1861, for three years. It left for Washington on Nov. 19, was assigned to French's brigade, Sumner's division, Army of the Potomac, and passed the winter in the vicinity of Washington. In March, 1862, it was attached to the 3d brigade, 1st division, 2nd corps, and joined in the general advance to Manassas Junction. It then moved to the Peninsula, participated in the siege of Yorktown; was present at the battle of Fair Oaks; active in the Seven Days' battles, after which it proceeded to Harrison's landing. It went to the support of Gen. Pope at Bull Run and arrived just before the battle of Chantilly, but was not actively engaged. At Antietam the regiment lost 98 in killed and wounded and 3 missing. After the battle it moved to Halltown Snicker's gap and Falmouth and suffered severely at Fredericksburg, where the division, under Gen. Hancock made a gallant but unsuccessful assault on Marye's heights. The regiment here lost 87 out of 192 engaged. The winter was passed near Falmouth and in the Chancellorsville campaign in the spring of 1863 the regiment was active. At Gettysburg the loss of the depleted command was 34 and then moving southward with the army, the 57th was active at Auburn, Bristoe Station and in the Mine Run campaign. Winter quarters were established near Brandy Station and occupied until the opening of the Wilderness campaign, during which the regiment was repeatedly in action. In the battle at the Wilderness the loss was 58, and in the assault on Petersburg, June 15, the action at the Weldon railroad and at Reams' station the loss was 63. Co. C was mustered out on July 14, 1864; Cos. F, D and I in August; Cos. K, A and B in September; Co. H on Oct. 15; and the reenlisted men and recruits were transferred to the 61st N. Y. infantry on Dec. 6. The regiment during its term of service lost 103 by death from wounds and 91 from other causes. Source: The Union Army, Vol. 2, p. 92 New York FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT OF INFANTRY. National Guard Rifles; Clinton Rifles; United States Voltigeurs; Zook's Voltigeurs. (Three Years) This regiment received its numerical designation October 19, 1861;; was organized and mustered in the service of the United States at New York city for three years between August 12 and November 19, 1861. It was formed by the consolidation of several organizations recruited under special authority from the War Department. The National Guard Rifles or Zook's Voltigeurs, Col. Samuel K. Zook, formed Companies A, B, C, D and E; the Clinton Rifles, Col. J. A. Page, became Companies F, G and H (A and E=F and G; D, F and G= H); the United States Voltigeurs or Volunteers (Companies B and C), Col. Albert C. Ramsay, formed Companies I and K; and Samuel K Zook was appointed Colonel of the regiment. Before this consolidation the Washington Zouaves, Col. James H. Romain, had been merged into the Voltigeurs, and the Manhattan Rifles, Col. George W. Vanderbilt, in the National Guard Rifles. During the summer of 1864 the companies, being small in numbers, were, for tactical purposes, consolidated, the company organization on paper remaining intact. Company C was mustered out July I4, 1864; Companies F, I and D August 11, 13 and 14, 1864, respectively; Companies K, A and B September 3, 10 and 23, respectively, and Company H October 15, 1864; the men not entitled to be discharged were transferred to Companies E and G; the last regimental commander was Capt. Orlando F. Middleton; honorably discharged September 24, 1864. The companies were recruited principally: A, D, E, F and G in New York city; B in Utica; C in Kings county; and H, I and K in Dutchess county. The regiment left the State November 19, 1861; served in French's Brigade, Sumner's Division, Army of the Potomac, from November, 1861; in the same, 3d, Brigade, 1st, Richardson's, Division, 2d Corps, Army of the Potomac, from March 13, 1862; commanded by Zook, Caldwell and Hancock respectively, at Gettysburg; it was part of the Consolidated Brigade, same division and corps, from July to November, 1864; and the two companies remaining in the field, E and G, were, December 6, 1864, transferred to the 61st Infantry. Source: Phisterer, p. 2,489 Antietam after battle report: Report of Maj. Alford B. Chapman, Fifty/seventh New york Infantry, of the battle of Antietam. CHAMP ON BOLIVAR HEIGHTS, September 24, 1862. Lieut. : I have the honor to submit the following report of the movements of my command during the action of the 17th instant near Sharpsburg: About noon of that day we became actively engaged with the enemy, our brigade having relieved that of Gen. Meagher. This regiment and the Sixty-sixth Regiment received orders to march on the enemy, who were at that time drawn up in a deep ditch at the foot of the hill on which we were, and from whence they were pouring a galling fire into our ranks. Animated by the presence of both their brigade and division commanders, the regiment moved forward with a determined enthusiasm I have never seen excelled. In a few minutes we had cleared the ditch of every living enemy, and were driving them in great disorder through the corn field beyond. It was during this period of the action that we lost our noble and gallant Lieut.-Col. Parisen and several valuable line officers. We took the colors of the Twelfth Alabama and many prisoners. I am unable to form any very correct estimate of the number of the latter, but they considerably exceeded the number of men in the ranks of my regiment. Remaining a short time in line at the farther end of this corn field, I received orders to move the regiment to the support of a battery on our left and rear. I filed round the foot of the hill under a terrible fire of grape and canister, which fortunately caused us comparatively slight loss, being aimed too high. Arriving on the left of the battery, I found Gen. Richardson, who was in the act of assigning me my position, when he was badly wounded and carried from the field. I then formed to the right of Caldwell's brigade, and remained in that position until I received orders from the colonel commanding this brigade to form on the left of the Second Delaware, then posted on the hill, on which we remained during the two succeeding days. It is with gratification that I have to speak of the general conduct of my command, both officers and men. They acted nobly throughout. I would especially mention Capt. N. Grarrow Throop (severely wounded); Capt. James W. Britt (who, although wounded, refused to leave the field); Capts. Kirk, Curtiss, and Mott; Lieut. John H. Bell (severely wounded), Lieuts. Jones, Wright, Higbee (killed), and Folger (killed). The medical officers of the regiment, Surgs. Robert V. McKim and Asst. Surgs. Henry C. Dean and Nelson Neely, are deserving of all praise for their care and attention to the wounded, and the promptness with which they caused them to be removed from the field. Among the enlisted men I would especially mention First Sergeant Finlason, of Company F (killed); First Sergt. John S. Paden, Company A (killed); Sergeant Stobbe, Company A (wounded), and Kelly, Company A; First Sergeant Hall, Company I, and Alcoke, Company K, and Sergeant Brower, Company K. These last three I placed in command of companies which had lost officers and sergeants. I have considered it unnecessary to submit a more elaborate report, inasmuch as every movement was made under the immediate supervision of the colonel commanding this brigade, who on that day seemed omnipresent. We took into the battle 309 officers and men, and lost during the day 97 killed and wounded and 3 missing. A detailed list of casualties has already been sent in. I am, sir, with much respect, your obedient servant, A.B. CHAPMAN, Maj., Commanding Fifty-seventh New York Volunteers. Lieut. CHARLES P. HATCH, Acting Assistant Adjutant-Gen. Source: Official Records: Series I. Vol. 19. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 27 Gettysburg after battle report: Report of Lieut. Col. Alford B. Chapman, Fifty-seventh New York Infantry. Camp near Morrisville, Va., August 5, 1863. Capt.: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by this regiment in the recent actions near Gettysburg, Pa.: This brigade, having been detailed the day previous as guard to the wagon train, did not arrive on the scene of action until the morning of July 2. On the afternoon of that day, the division was moved rapidly to the left, to the support of the Third Corps, then engaged in repelling a severe attack of the enemy on that point. This regiment brought up the rear of the brigade, which was then the rearmost of the division, but in taking position in line was moved to the right. I was directed by Gen. Zook to take a position in supporting distance of the front line. I moved into the position assigned me, within a few rods of the front line. The firing at this time was very severe, and Gen. Zook was soon after mortally wounded and taken from the field. Shortly afterward, a staff officer rode up to me and stated that the right of the line had broken, and that the enemy were coming in rapidly on that flank, advising me to move my regiment to the rear to avoid being taken. I determined and was about to change front forward to the right and endeavor to protect the right flank of the brigade, when the whole line in front of me suddenly gave way, breaking through the ranks of my regiment in considerable disorder. I held my men together until the greater part of the front line had broken through, and then moved to the rear in line and in good order, the enemy following closely. During this retrograde movement I halted my regiment several times, and endeavored to rally men enough on its flanks to check the advance of the enemy, but without success. Another line of our troops soon after moved into action, and I reported to Gen. Caldwell, and joined other regiments of the division then collecting together. On the morning of July 3, I was directed to erect slight breastworks in front of my regiment, the division being then in line to the right of the field in which it was engaged the day previous. This was done in a short time, and proved of great service during the day in protecting the men from the fire of artillery. During the day we sustained the most severe and long-continued artillery fire of the war, followed by a most determined infantry attack, which was successfully repulsed. In our immediate front the enemy's infantry did not succeed in advancing beyond our picket line excepting as prisoners of war. The list of casualties in my regiment has been heretofore forwarded.* I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, A. B. CHAPMAN, Lieut. Col. Fifty-Seventh New York Vols., Comdg. Regt. Capt. George W. Jones, Acting Assistant Adjutant-Gen.

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

New York 57th Infantry (Union)

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