NEW YORK ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-SEVENTH INFANTRY (Three Years)

One Hundred and Thirty-seventh Infantry.-Cols., David Ireland, Koert S. Van Voorhes; Lieut.-Cols., Koert S. Van Voorhes, Milo B. Eldridge; Majs., Wetsell Willoughby, Milo B. Eldridge, Frederick A. Stoddard. This regiment, recruited in the counties of Tompkins, Tioga and Broome-the 24th senatorial district-was organized at Binghamton, and was there mustered into the U. S. service for three years on Sept. 25-26, 1862. It left on the 27th 1,007 strong, for Harper's Ferry, and was there assigned to the 3d brigade, 2nd (Geary's) division,-the "White Star" division-12th corps, to which it was attached throughout the whole period of its active service. The list of important battles in which the regiment took part includes Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wauhatchie, Missionary ridge, Lookout mountain, Ringgold, Rocky Face ridge, Resaca, Cassville, Lost mountain, Kennesaw mountain, Peachtree creek, the siege of Atlanta, and numerous minor actions on the march to the sea and in the campaign of the Carolinas. Col. W. F. Fox, in his account of this regiment, says: "It won special honors at Gettysburg, then in Greene's brigade, which, alone and unassisted, held Culp's hill during a critical period of that battle against a desperate attack of vastly superior force. The casualties in the 137th at Gettysburg exceeded those of any other regiment in the corps, amounting to 40 killed, 87 wounded and 10 missing. The gallant defense of Culp's hill by Greene's brigade, and the terrible execution inflicted by its musketry on the assaulting column of the enemy, form one of the most noteworthy incidents of the war. The 12th corps left Virginia in Sept., 1863, and went to Tennessee, joining Grant's army at Chattanooga. In the month following their arrival the regiment was engaged in the midnight battle at Wauhatchie, where it lost 15 killed and 75 wounded; and, a few weeks later, fought with Hooker at Lookout mountain in the famous 'battle above the clouds;' casualties in that battle, 6 killed and 32 wounded. In April, 1864, the corps number was changed to the 20th, Gen. Hooker being placed in command. A large accession was received from the 11th corps, but Col. Ireland and Gen. Geary retained their respective commands. The 137th shared in all the marches and battles of the Atlanta campaign, and then marched with Sherman to the sea." Col. Ireland succumbed to disease at Atlanta, and Col. Van Voorhes succeeded to the command. When the campaign of the Carolinas closed with the surrender of Johnston, the regiment marched with the corps to Washington, where it participated in the grand review and was mustered out near Bladensburgh, Md., June 9, 1865. The total enrollment of the regiment was 1,111, of whom 6 officers and 121 men, were killed and mortally wounded-11.4 per cent. of the enrollment; 4 officers and 167 men died of disease, accidents, and all other causes, a total of 294. The total number of killed and wounded was 490. Source: The Union Army, Vol. 2, p. 148 NEW YORK ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT OF INFANTRY. (Three Years) Colonel David Ireland received authority, August 31, 1862, to recruit this regiment; it was organized at Binghamton, and there mustered in the service of the United States for three years September 25 and 26, 1862. In December, 1864, a company of recruits, mustered in for one year, joined the regiment at Savannah, Ga., and became Company L. June 8, 1865, the men not to be mustered out with the regiment were transferred to the 102d Infantry. The companies were recruited principally: A at Binghamton and Sanford; B at Binghamton, Chenango, Conklin, Kirkwood, Richford, Union and Windsor; C at Owego; D at Ithaca; E at Binghamton, Chenango, Lisle, Maine, Triangle, Union and Whitney's Point; F at Binghamton, Colesville, Chenango, Conklin, Kirkwood, Port Crane, Sanford and Windsor; G at Berkshire, Richford, Newark Valley, Caroline, Groton and Candor; H at Spencer, Candor, Barton and Owego; I at Ulysses, Newfield and Ithaca; K at Groton, Danby and Caroline; and L at Elmira. The regiment left the State September 27, 1862; it served in the 3d Brigade, 2d Division, 12th Corps, from September 30, 1862; in the 3d Brigade, 2d Division, 20th Corps, from April, 1864; and it was honorably discharged and mustered out, under Col. Koert S. Van Voorhees, June 9, 1865, near Bladensburg, Md. Source: Phisterer, p. 3,593 Gettysburg after battle report: Report of Col. David Ireland, One hundred and thirty-seventh New York Infantry. In the Field, at Littlestown, Pa., July 6, 1863. Capt.: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken in the late engagement by the One hundred and thirty-seventh Regt. New York Volunteers: On the afternoon of July 1, we marched from the village of Two Taverns to near the town of Gettysburg, when we took a road to the left, and on arriving at the left of our lines we formed column of division, and deployed a company as skirmishers. In this manner we advanced about half a mile to the brow of a hill, and there remained for the night. Early on the morning of Thursday, July 2, we marched from the position on the left to a position on the right of the road to Gettysburg and parallel to it. In this position we constructed a line of breastworks covering the front of the regiment. The breastworks were completed about noon. We marched in them and remained there until about 6 p. m., when I received orders to send out a company of skirmishers. Company H, Capt. C. F. Baragar, was detailed. At the same time we were ordered to change our position to the line of works constructed by Gen. Kane's brigade, to occupy which we had to from line one man deep. In this position the right of our regiment was entirely unprotected. About 7 p. m. our skirmishers were driven in by the enemy, who were advancing in force, and, as near as I could see, in three lines. We remained in this position fighting the enemy until about 7.30 o'clock, when the enemy advanced on our right flank. At this time I ordered Company A, the right-flank company, to form at right angles with the breastworks, and check the advance of the enemy and they did for some time, but, being sorely pressed, they fell back a short distance to a better position, and there remained until Lieut. Cantine, of Gen. Greene's staff, brought up a regiment of the First Corps. I placed them in the position occupied by Company A, but they remained there but a short time. They fell back to the line of works constructed by the Third Brigade. At this time we were being fired on heavily from three sides--from the front of the works, from the right, and from a stone wall in our rear. Here we lost severely in killed and wounded. At this time I ordered the regiment back to the line of works of the Third Brigade, and formed line on the prolongation of the works, and there held the enemy in check until relieved by the Fourteenth New York Volunteers, Col. Fowler commanding, and the Second Brigade, Second Division, Gen. Kane commanding. While in this position, and previous to being relieved, Capt. Gregg, in command of a small squad of men, charged with the bayonet the enemy that were harassing us most, and fell, mortally wounded, leading and cheering on his men. When relieved by the Fourteenth New York, we formed line in their rear, and in that position remained during the night. At 3 a. m. of Friday, July 3, we relieved the One hundred and forty-seventh New York Volunteers in the breastworks, and at 4 a. m. the enemy advanced with a yell and opened on us. Their fire was returned, and kept up unceasingly until 5.45 o'clock, when we were relieved in splendid style by the Twenty-ninth Ohio Volunteers, commanded by Capt. Hayes. We relieved them at 7 a. m., and were relieved again at 9.30 a. m. We relieved the Twenty-ninth Ohio again about 10.15 a. m. We were there but a short time when the fire slackened, and we retired a short distance, when the men rested and cleaned their arms. We relieved the Fifth Ohio Volunteers, Col. Patrick commanding, at 9 p. m., and were relieved by him at 1 a. m. on Saturday, July 4. We were not under fire again during the engagement. During the heavy musketry firing on the morning of Friday, July 3, a squad of 52 rebels surrendered to Capt. Silas Pierson, who sent them to the rear. From them we learned that we had been engaged with the Stonewall Division, of Ewell's corps. Throughout the whole of the engagement the officers and men of this regiment did their duty, and did it well--more especially those officers that are killed. Capt. Gregg fell, nobly leading on his men. I had thanked Capt. Williams for his coolness and courage but a short time before he fell, and Lieut. Van Emburgh, acting adjutant, was everywhere conspicuous for his bravery, and fell, cheering the men. He was a good and brave officer. His loss will be much regretted. Lieut. Hallett fell, doing his duty. From our heavy loss in killed and wounded, some idea may be formed of the severity of the fire we were under. We had killed, wounded, and missing as follows: Killed, 38, and wounded, 86.* Very respectfully, your obedient servant, DAVID IRELAND, Col., Comdg. 137th New York Volunteers. Capt. C. P. Horton, Assistant Adjutant-Gen., Third Brigade.

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

New York 137th Infantry (Union)

Related Records