Nav: Home > History > Unit History

28th New York Infantry Regiment

Niagara Rifles; Scott Life Guard

Colonel Dudley Donnelly Colonel Edwin F. Brown

A Unit History

The First Volunteers

The 28th New York one of the early regiments of the war and was one of the first volunteer regiments to march to the aid of Washington after the Southern States seceded from the Union.

Following the bombardment of Fort Sumter on April 12th 1861, which started the War Between the States, the immediate concern within the Union was the Capital, Washington, with the exception of a few local militia regiments, was almost completely undefended. A number of the more prepared militia regiments rushed to the defense of Washington. However, it was clear that the war would take more than the service of the militia. On April 15th, Abraham Lincoln made a call for 75,000 volunteers to enlist for two years.

On the morning of April 15th, a number of people became aware that the President was going to call for Volunteers that afternoon and by the time the President made the request recruitment stands were already in place across parts of the Union. Within Western New York recruitment stands in Lockport and Batavia were established by Elliot W Cook, William W Bush and James B Mitchell. By the time of the call for 75,000 volunteers, the men who would become companies A, B and F were already being recruited.

William W Bush, a tavern owner from Lockport, was officially recognized as "The First Volunteer". The companies of the 28th New York were principally recruited from Niagara, Orleans, Genesee, Ontario and Sullivan counties and, as companies were completed, they were sent to rendezvous at Albany. By May 18th the required number of companies was complete and, following the election of Officer - five weeks after the start of the war - the regiment was mustered into the service of the United States in Albany on May 22nd.

The men who had enlisted where the first volunteers from Western New York and some of the first volunteers in the Union. They are officially recognized as being the first volunteers from Genesee, Niagara and Ontario counties of New York State. These men enlisted without bounty or draft. They served the Union because they knew that it was the right thing to do rather than because it was what they were told to do.

At the time of its formation, the regiment was commanded by Colonel Dudley Donnelly. Prior to this he had been magistrate in the City of Lockport and had been Lieutenant-Colonel of the 66th New York Militia (Based in Niagara County) before he volunteered in April 1861.

When mustered, the regiment consisted of around 800 officers and enlisted men. The companies which formed the 28th New York were recruited from the following areas of New York state:

A, B, C and K recruited at Lockport; D at Medina; E at Canandaigua; F at Batavia; G at Albion; H at Monticello and I at Niagara Falls.

1861, From Albany on to Washington.

The regiment was garrisoned at Albany training for a month while the men were gradually equipped. One of the last items which they received, on June 23rd 1861, was their rifles. The men of the 28th New York were armed with US Model 1841 rifles which were been modified by Remington, under contract to the State of New York, to be rifled to .54 caliber and also modified to attach a sword bayonet. The original order was for 5,000 rifles; however, due to a shortage of sword bayonets, only 2,500 were ever completed as ordered. The remaining rifles were modified to allow the attachment of socket bayonets instead.

The following day, on June 24th 1861, the 28th New York was ordered to Washington. The journey took them down the Hudson River by barge to Elizabethport, New Jersey. From there the regiment continued into Maryland by railroad.

On June 26th, the regiment was required to de-train at Baltimore and marched through the city two months after the 6th Mass was attacked by Southern sympathizers, however, apart from a few cheers for Jeff Davis the regiment passed unmolested.

The 28th arrived in Washington that evening and camped a mile north of the city on New York Avenue. The camp was named in honor of Senator Harris of New York State. On July 4th, the 28th New York participated in the first Grand Review of the war involving all of the soldiers who were in Washington at that time before President Lincoln, General Winfield Scott and the Cabinet.

The 28th New York spent 10 days at Fort Harris drilling. However, on July 6th, the regiment marched west to link up with the army of the Shenandoah under the command of General Patterson at Martinsburg in West Virginia.

Isaac W Sly - The first to fall.

The 28th New York forded the Potomac River on July 8th and arrived at Martinsburg that evening. On the first night in Virginia the 28th New York saw enemies everywhere. One picket reported having fired 30 rounds into a tree stump to ensure that it was not an enemy combatant.

On July 10th, companies A & C, under the command of Captain Cook and Captain Mapes, moved several miles north to guard the forage train of Captain Skeels. Company A was extended as skirmishers.

A company of about fifty Confederate cavalry charged and the skirmish line withdrew to a tree line, firing as they fell back. It was at this time; taking aim while falling back, that Private Isaac W Sly, of Company A, was hit in the chin. The bullet passed through his spinal column and killed him instantly.

With reserves brought up the Confederates withdrew leaving three men killed and several wounded in the skirmish.

Isaac Sly's body was brought back to Martinsburg and was buried on July 11th with military honors.

Into the Valley with Patterson & Banks, 1861 to 1862

At the time of the First Battle of Bull Run, the 28th New York was under the command of General Patterson, in the Shenandoah Valley and, due to tactical errors by Patterson, was neither present at that battle nor able to carry out its primary orders: To prevent Confederate reinforcements from arriving at Manassas.

People in the northern states went into the First Battle of Bull Run expecting a quick victory in the war. The Union defeat at 1st Bull Run hit morale across the entire army very hard and proved that the Southern States would not just roll over without a fight.

After 1st Bull Run, General Patterson was removed as Division commander and was replaced by General Nathaniel Banks.

Following the replacement of Patterson as Division commander, the 28th moved to Harpers Ferry where it spent the month of August 1861 encamped. In late August, following the restructuring of the Union forces, the regiment marched to Darnestown and joined the brigade with which it would serve out the rest of it's enlistment, under the command of General Alpheus Starkey Williams.

The 28th New York camped at Darnestown for two months through to October 21st. At that time, the 28th was suddenly ordered to make a forced night march to Ball's Bluff where a battle was taking place. The 28th arrived the following morning and for the first time saw the aftermath of battle. Ambulances containing dead and wounded were lining the road and wounded soldiers lay on the ground with no protection from the October rain which was falling.

Ball's Bluff was an attempted crossing of the Potomac which resulted in the Union soldiers being driven into the river and shot as they attempted to swim back. Stories are told of blue-clad bodies drifting down the Potomac and through Washington.

The Confederates who had defended Ball's Bluff withdrew the following day and the Union army crossed the Potomac on October 25th. On the 26th the regiment arrived in Muddy Branch, MD, where log cabins were built in preparation for winter. The official history of the regiment goes into great detail regarding these log cabins and they were obviously constructed with great pride. The 28th spent Thanksgiving here.

While camped at Muddy Branch, on Friday November 22nd, 1861, the regiment was presented with a gift of a regimental flag made by the ladies of Batavia. The flag was presented by Captain Charles H Fenn of Company F, which had been recruited in Batavia, and it is described in the history of the regiment as being a “beautiful flag”.

Much to the disappointment of the men of the regiment, on Dec 4th, they were ordered to march and leave the log cabins to another regiment. In an act which does not put certain, unknown, members of the regiment in a very good light, by the time the regiment had fallen in to march off, the entire camp was ablaze.

The 28th New York spent the next three days marching the 35 miles from Muddy Branch to Frederick, MD. Once here they set up camp in a maple grove overlooking Frederick City. A sketch of the camp where the 28th New York spent December 1861 and early January 1862 is shown below.

Camp White - Winter encampment at Frederick, MD

In early January 1862, Confederate movements north out of Winchester, VA, towards Hancock MD, called for additional soldiers to be moved to Hancock and General Williams brigade spent three days marching through snowstorms from Frederick. However, the winter conditions made it difficult for the Confederates to move their artillery and eventually withdrew to Winchester. The 28th, and William's brigade, spent the next two months encamped at Hancock and saw no sight of their foe until the arrival of spring 1862.

Down the Shenandoah, Spring 1862.

In late February 1862, the Brigade left their winter quarters and marched to Clear Springs, then they crossed the Potomac at Williamsport on March 2nd at the same place they had crossed eight months earlier under Patterson.

As in 1861, it was the forces of General Jackson which once again faced the 28th New York. Company B of the regiment was the advance guard for Crawford’s Brigade and came under repeated fire from the Confederate pickets as they advanced.

As the Union advanced south into the Shenandoah, the Confederates withdrew towards Winchester, the residents of which town Jackson had promised “would not be abandoned to the enemy”. However, the position of Winchester was considered to be difficult to defend by either army, so Jackson withdrew leaving Winchester to the advancing Union forces.

The 28th, along with the rest of Crawford’s brigade remained at Winchester for 10 days at which time Williams’ Division was ordered to march from Winchester to Centerville to combine with the army there. The brigade was slowed crossing the Shenandoah while a bridge was repaired. This delay was fortuitous as Winchester had come under attack almost as soon as General Banks had left with Williams’ Division. Crawford was ordered back to carry out a forced march back to Winchester to support General Shields’ Division.

General Shields, on March 23rd 1862, did something which no other Union General was able to do during the Civil War: He defeated General Jackson. Williams’ Division followed up this defeat and pursued the retreating Confederate forces. By March 25th, the regiment was encamped at Newtown, Virginia and continued south to Woodstock on April 1st, where they remained for two weeks.

During this stage of the campaign General Jackson had regularly used Ashby’s cavalry as a rearguard. On the night of April 15th, company E of the 28th, along with companies of the 5th Connecticut and 46th Pennsylvania marched 13 miles and were able to surround and capture an entire company of Ashby’s cavalry including their horses and supplies. The following day the division continued to advance towards New Market.

While the Union forces were advancing southwards, the Confederates were retreating and spent much time using their cavalry as rearguard to carry out activities designed to slow the advance. Destroyed bridges needed to be repaired at almost every crossing point.

When the Division arrived at Mount Jackson, the terminus for the Manassas Railroad, on April 17th, they found a scene of destruction as the Confederates had burned every building, engine and car to prevent it from falling into Union hands.

“Banks’ Retreat” and The Battle of Winchester, Spring 1862.

On April 25th, the regiment arrived at Harrisonburg, where they remained encamped. However, as Banks was somewhat isolated, he was ordered to advance on Staunton as soon as the railroad connection north could be re-established. As this could not be quickly achieved, the order was received to withdraw to Strasburg to reestablish supply lines.

Having withdrawn to New Market, the Division of General Shields was order to join General McDowell at Fredericksburg, leaving Banks with only Williams Division of 5,000 men to defend the entire valley against the army of General Jackson.

Jackson immediately heard of the Union forces being divided and moved to counter attack. On May 13th, the regiment continued the withdrawal towards Strasburg which, after two long marches, was reached on May 14th.

While Williams Division had been withdrawing northwards, Confederate General Jackson had been reinforced with the divisions of Generals Ewell and E Johnson giving him an army of 17,500, this was countered by 4,000 infantry and 1,500 cavalry which remained under the command of General Banks.

Banks realized how poor his position at Strasburg had become decided to withdraw towards Winchester and, unless engaged prior to reaching the town, to make a stand there.

The Union 1st Maryland regiment was surprised, surrounded and almost completely destroyed at Front Royal on May 23rd and, the following morning, Banks began an effort to get his remaining command away from the advancing Confederate army.

“Banks’ Retreat” as it became known was pursued closely by the army under General Jackson. Colonel Donnelly of the 28th NY was in command of the 1st Brigade at this time and the armies carried out a series of running skirmishes driving off forces of cavalry who were harassing the wagon trains withdrawal.

The Division was under attack throughout May 24th and eventually was able to take up a defensive position to the south of Winchester. The main force under General Jackson engaged the small command at Winchester and attempted to envelop them on both flanks. The 28th New York quickly moved to the left flank and was able to resist the best efforts of the Confederate Brigade coming against them. Donnelly, commanding the left wing of the Division, received word that the right flank had been compromised and was in retreat and he ordered the retreat of the Division through Winchester.

The 28th New York was the Union rearguard and was the last regiment to leave the field. They came under fire from civilians in their homes as they withdrew through the town and were again under attack from Confederate Cavalry as they fell back to the north of the town and many men were captured.

With most of the wagon train having been saved, the regiment withdrew across the Potomac on May 26th and as the number of stragglers caught up, the total losses to the regiment were found to be 60 captured and 3 wounded. The retreat from Strasbourg to Winchester and across the Potomac was such that the 28th NY had also lost all knapsacks.

Despite a large amount of the division wagon train having been secured and withdrawn safely, General Banks would be remembered as “Commissary Banks” in the South for the amount of supplies captured during the retreat.

Into The Valley Once Again – Summer 1862.

Within a week of retreating across the Potomac, on June 2nd, the 28th NY was once again making use of the ferry at Williamsport and crossing into Virginia. On the following day, the 28th marched back through Winchester. People of this town were known to have fired on the regiment as they had withdrawn and there was a great feeling of bitterness as they passed.

The hospital in Winchester, which had been used to treat Union wounded from the battle, was still occupied and the wounded had been left when the Confederates withdrew. These men were very happy to see the Union column marching southwards.

On June 9th, the 28th NY arrived at Front Royal and found evidence of the severe fight there three weeks earlier. The feeling was that the 1st Maryland Infantry had put up a very good resistance before they were overpowered.

The 28th spent two weeks in New Market and many of the officers of the regiment made the acquaintance of Belle Boyd, a resident of the town. Only later did it transpire that Miss Boyd was a Confederate spy.

In late June, on word of the location of Jackson, the brigade marched and passed through Chester Gap into the Luray Valley; however, after a 20 mile march they were ordered to return to Front Royal. It was another “Jackson scare” and he was not found where he was expected.

On July 6th 1862, the 28th New York left the Shenandoah Valley for their first operations outside of that setting. Banks’ Division marched to Warrenton on July 11th where they joined the army of General Pope.

The 28th New York, along with their brigade marched to Culpeper Court House on July 16th and camped near the town. The history of the regiment makes reference to the open and outspoken hatred which the people of this town showed to the northern army.

While camped at Culpeper Court House, the Army of the Virginia was reorganized and merged into the Army of the Potomac. Early in the war, the designation of the 28th NY had been the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Corps, Army of Virginia. The 2nd Corps was, in it’s entirety, renamed the 12th Corps, Army of the Potomac. It is under this designation which the 28th NY served for the remainder of their service. The connection to that Corps can be seen by the following extract from the history of the regiment detailing the army reorganization:

General Williams, the old brigade leader, now commanded the division. The corps was commanded, as heretofore, by General Banks, and designated the Second Corps, Army of Virginia. This was changed within a month to the Twelfth Corps, Army of the Potomac, which number it retained until the fall of 1863, when the Eleventh and Twelfth Corps were consolidated and numbered the Twentieth; much to the regret and indignation of the men of the old Twelfth, who felt they had made a name and record of which any corps would be proud. And they have never forgiven the cruel order that took from them the number they loved so well and had made illustrious in the record of the war.

The Battle of Cedar Mountain – August 1862.

In early August, 1862, the Army of Virginia, consisting of three divisions, was formed and Jackson moved to strike Banks division while it was separated from the other two, under McDowell and Sigel.

On August 7th, three divisions of Jacksons’ Corps, under Ewell, Winder and A.P. Hill marched from Gordonsville and, the following day, engaged Union cavalry at Orange Court House. General Williams Division was ordered to march to their assistance and Crawfords’ Brigade - consisting of the 46th Pennsylvania, 5th Connecticut, 10th Maine and 28th New York Infantry along with Roemer’s and Knapp’s batteries - was ordered to take the lead.

The regiment bivouacked in the vicinity of Cedar Mountain for the night. On the early morning of August 9th 1862, the Division formed and came under artillery fire from Cedar Mountain, a mile distant. From here Jackson was able to overview the entire movement of both sides.

Cedar Mountain is also known as Slaughter’s Mountain, after the name of a prominent minister who owned a farm on the mountain. The name would be appropriate for the upcoming battle.

Union cavalry initially halted the advance of Confederate cavalry, but soon reported the approach of the enemy in force. Banks was ordered to hold his position until the remainder of the Corps could arrive to support.

The early hours of the battle was almost solely the realm of the artillery with a long range duel occurring. The Confederates eventually positioned an artillery battery at close range in woods opposite the 1st Brigade and was close enough to be able to fire grape and canister shot in the direction of the Union line.

Despite the limited damage being caused by the artillery battery, a council was held regarding the best course of action and, despite the objections of some officers stating that the total disposition of the Confederate forces was not known, it was decided to charge the artillery to remove them from the fight.

As a result, at about 5pm, General Crawford was ordered to advance. He formed the 5th Connecticut, 28th New York and 46th Pennsylvania in line of battle, but decided to leave the strongest regiment of the brigade, the 10th Maine, in reserve.

The Confederates, observed the Union movement and starting to mass infantry to their front. As a result of this the order was given for Union artillery to fire on the woods where the artillery was located.

However, before the order could be fully relayed to the artillery, General Banks ordered the advance to commence at once and the Brigade, rose up, broke through their fence cover and leapt forward with loud cheers. The 28th NY followed the colors of the regiment which were carried by Sergeant William Lewis of Company D.

The 28th New York fixed bayonets while advancing at the double quick and the entire line was immediately met by a volley from the Confederate infantry to their front and right.

The advance of Crawford's Brigade at Cedar Mountain

The expectation of Crawford was that the entire brigade of General Gordon was to advance on their right flank to support the advance. Despite this, only six companies from the 3rd Wisconsin were ordered forward. However, they met with such resistance over rough terrain that they could not keep pace with the main advance.

The 3rd Wisconsin was facing the Stonewall Brigade which was already moving forward and they were no match for the four strong Confederate regiments. The 3rd Wisconsin quickly lost of 25% of their number and they were forced to withdraw, allowing the Stonewall Brigade to move forward and around the flank of Crawford’s advance.

Despite the deadly fire of the Confederates, Crawford’s three regiments pressed forward into the woods and they engaged the Confederate brigades of Campbell and Taliaferro - a total of nine regiments. The attack deteriorated into close combat and, despite the numerical advantages, the two Confederate brigades broke and ran.

At this time Colonel Donnelly of the 28th was mortally wounded and was escorted from the field.

General Jackson moved up to rally his broken brigades and was later quoted as saying that “the Federal infantry fell with great vigor upon the extreme left and by the force of superior numbers, bearing down all opposition, turned it and poured a destructive fire into its rear. Campbell’s Brigade fell back in disorder… and the left flank of Taliaferro’s brigade being exposed to the flank fire fell back”.

The feeling in the history of the regiment and reports of the battle is that if the advance had been properly supported, at this point, the result of the battle of Cedar Creek could have gone the way of the Union; however, as the forward movement of the brigade slowed, the Confederates were able to rally and began to surround the advance.

Two fresh Confederate brigades arrived to their front and right and, with the Stonewall Brigade now falling onto the rear of Crawford’s men, they were forced to break and fight their way back across the field from where they had just come.

As the situation deteriorated, the color guard became totally surrounded and as their numbers fell they made every effort to get the regimental flags out of the battle. Every man of the color guard was eventually killed, wounded or captured and the regimental colors were captured on the field by the 5th Virginia of the Stonewall Brigade.

Lt-Colonel Brown had his left arm shattered and was taken prisoner. The story in the history of the regiment states that his captor also tried to make a wounded soldier from the 5th Connecticut get up, but he was unable to get up as he had been wounded in both legs. As Colonel Brown and his captor proceeded away, Colonel Brown felt a bullet pass his head and his captor fall dead, having been shot by the wounded soldier they had just left. The Colonel of the 2nd Massachusetts, seeing Colonel Brown wounded, ordered a Corporal from his regiment forward to assist him. Colonel Brown was aided back to the Union lines and was taken back to the hospital.

18 officers from the 28th NY had taken the field that day and they were all either killed wounded or captured. Major Cook was captured. Adjutant Sprout was killed and his body was found at the furthest point reached by the brigade.

Of the 339 men who had taken the field 196 were lost. The entire brigade had lost over 50% of its strength and the third brigade, which now moved forward in support suffered similar losses. As night began to fall, the Union Division returned to their original locations and the corps was withdrawn after dark leaving the field littered with the dead.

The battle cost over a third of the entire Union force present on the field and the casualties taken to the officers of the three regiments who carried out the charge was seldom equaled in war. Every field officer in the three regiments was either killed wounded or captured.

Banks engaged a force several times stronger than his own and made a huge tactical error in carrying out a charge against unknown enemy. Based on the history of the 28th NY, it was described as “one of the greatest blunders, and one of the most wicked, useless and unnecessary sacrifices of human life that the history of the war affords”.

Colonel Packer of the 5th Connecticut stated that “it was as if the men had deliberately walked into a fiery furnace, and I wonder how any escaped from certain death upon that field”.

The total Union strength present was 6,500 infantry and 1,500 cavalry. This number was countered by the entire strength of the Corps of General Thomas Jackson – approximately 25,000 soldiers.

The aftermath of the battle of Cedar Mountain saw numerous general officers passing the blame for the sacrifice. The army commander, General Pope, blamed General Banks. General Crawford supported General Banks and, instead suggested that the blame should lay with Confederate General “Stonewall” Jackson for pushing the initiative and General Gordon for not supporting the advance.

Ultimately, whoever was the blame it was the men of the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Corps, Army of Virginia who suffered as a result.

The aftermath of Cedar Mountain.

Leaving the battlefield of Cedar Mountain behind them, the regiment returned to their camp ground north of Culpeper Court House and the wounded were housed in the buildings of the town.

Company E of the 28th had been spared the carnage of the Battle of Cedar Mountain as they were Provost Guard during the battle. They rejoined the regiment and the 28th New York was consolidated into four companies. However, so many officers had been lost on August 9th that some of the companies had to be commanded by Sergeants.

When the regiment was reviewed by General Crawford on August 13th, the regiment was only able to muster seventy-eight men. He addressed the regiment regarding the futile display of heroism in the recent battle and stated that he did not deem in unsoldierly to shed tear in memory of the dead.

While camped at Culpeper, Colonel Donnelly died on August 15th and the regiment formed to escort his body to the railroad station. Only 64 men of the 28th New York were fit to carry out this duty.

Three days later, the regiment left Culpeper, with the Army of Virginia towards Washington. They left the regimental surgeon and a large number of the wounded of the regiment, including Colonel Brown, at Culpeper and were captured when the town was taken by advancing Confederates.

2nd Manassas Campaign - Fall 1862.

One of the main problems with the Union experienced during the Civil War was moving through enemy territory and the need to resupply the armies a long way from their main supply bases. As a result, the 28th New York, in fact the whole of the 12th Corps, spent much of this campaign in reserve and spent much time guarding the immense baggage trains to supply the armies activities.

By August 24th the 28th NY was at Sulphur Springs, then on to Waterloo Bridge, Warrenton Junction and Catlets Station and finally the army arrived at Manassas on August 30th. The regiment was stationed at Bristoe Station, about three miles from Manassas, guarding railroad cars there and could clearly hear the sounds of a major engagement taking place only a few miles away.

On the following morning the men of the regiment were left in no illusion as to the result of the battle when they were ordered to fire all of the trains and, with the exception of the ambulance wagons, destroy all of the regimental wagons. As the Confederates had destroyed the railroad bridge over Broad Run on August 27th there was no way to get the supply train out, so over 100 fully loaded railroad cars were destroyed to deny the enemy the supplies and ammunition.

The 12th Corps withdrew to Centerville where the defeated army of General Pope was concentrating. The following day, the retreat continued to Fairfax. On the following day the 12th Corps was held in reserve for the rear-guard action at Chantilla.

On September 2nd, the army continued the retreat and arrived at Alexandria. The 28th was camped at Fort Albany. As much of the armies supplies had been lost following the defeat at the Second Battle of Bull Run, much of the army, including the 28th New York, was surviving on very reduced rations and the history of the regiment states that this was the most difficult and hardest experience of "a soldiers life" which many of them experienced.

After two days rest at Fort Albany, the regiment moved to Rockville where they remained for four days. During this time, a number of changes took place within both the regiment and the army as a whole: with no complaints from the men under his command, General Pope was replaced with General McClellan as army commander, and the 12th Corps commander ,General Banks, was assigned to the defenses of Washington, with General Mansfield taking over command of the 12th Corps.

Within the 28th NY, a number of officers who had been on detached duty returned, with Captain William H. H. Mapes, as the senior officer, taking command of the regiment. The four companies were now commander by Captains Fitzgerald, Fenn, Waller, and Judd.

William H H Mapes

General Crawford made some efforts at this time to have the brigade an opportunity to get some rest and suggested that "the very existence of the organization demanded it. That captains are commanding regiments and corporals, companies, that the severe service endured, the exposures suffered, and the deprivation of proper food the men had been subjected to had sent many to the hospital. That men never known to fall behind on previous marches, were compelled to now from absolute want of muscular tone".

However, despite this review, the requested "rest" never came. However, with the change in army command, the men's confidence soon returned and supplies were made available to the entire army in preparation for the approaching campaign.

On to Antietam - September 1862.

By September 10th, the 12th Corps was marching again, this time to Damascus and to Frederick City on September 13th. The Confederate army had passed through the same city only two days earlier and an encounter was expected at any time.

On September 14th, to allow the roads to remain clear for ammunition wagons, the regiment was marching across Maryland fields. The men of the 12th Corps, while marching, could see and hear the battle at South Mountain in the distance. Once again the 12th Corps was held in reserve and the Confederates withdrew during the night. The next day, the 28th New York marched past the scene of Burnside's fight the previous day and marched past where General Reno was killed. The ground was littered with the dead of both armies.

The army continued in pursuit of the Confederate forces and, on September 16th marched into position with 12th Corps near Poffenberger farm, where they were held in reserve to General Hooker and the 1st Corps.

Early the following morning Hooker moved against the left of the Confederate army and despite initial successes found his Corps being driven back and called upon the 12th Corps for support. The history of the regiment states that General Mansfield, commanding the 12th Corps, was conspicuous for riding around the field rapidly during the early stages of this fight and he appeared nervous or excited while he tried to identify the Confederate position. His actions quickly brought enemy fire his direction and he was hit, mortally wounded, directly in front of the 28th NY.

The 12th Corps was engaged in the fight for the woods and the cornfield and musket fire was severe for both sides. The sixty-five men which they 28th was able to field for the battle suffered two men killed, nine wounded and one captured during this fight. Eventually, they received support from General Sumner and the 12th Corps returned to the position which they had held that morning.

The 28th New York and 12th Corps was resupplied, but was held in reserve for the remainder of the day.

The following day, the 12th Corps lay in position all day awaiting the resumption of the battle, but with the exception of firing to the far south of the Union line, the day passed without event. When a truce to bury the dead was called on September 18th, the sight in the Cornfield was one of a field almost completely covered in dead and wounded men. Nearly 4,000 men had been killed in the battle and 20,000 wounded.

The order came late on the 18th to prepare to attack the Confederate position the following day; however, as the day dawned the Confederates had withdrawn and many people were asking why General McClellan had allowed the Confederate army to escape. Some of the best Corps in the Army of the Potomac, the Fifth and Sixth, had been held in reserve the previous day completely uncommitted and questions were raised regarding McClellan's generalship.

The battle of Antietam was the single bloodiest day in the Civil War with the official records showing 12,410 Union and 10,291 Confederate soldiers killed, wounded or captured. The fighting was so several that several regiments were almost wiped out with a number of regiment losing well in excess of 60% of their entire manpower and the 1st Texas, of Hood's Brigade, losing 82% of their men as casualties.

Regimental Reorganization and the Mud March - Winter 1862.

Following the Battle of Antietam, the 12th Corps marched to Harpers Ferry and, on September 20th, onto Pleasant Valley. On October 2nd, the regiment moved to Maryland Heights, where they established a camp and named it in memory of the late Colonel Dudley Donnelly.

Soon the regiment was quartered in log cabins and was looking forward to a winter encamped here. The history of the regiment suggests, not unduly, that a friendly rivalry existed between the cabins for best construction and goes so far as to state that the cabins of Sergeants Coleman, of Company G, and Palmer, of Company D, were generally regarded as the finest in camp. The cabins were made partially from scavenged masonry from nearby ruined building. Among these buildings was the school house where John Brown had stored his guns prior to the raid on Harpers Ferry.

Having marched over 1,000 miles since they left Hagerstown on July 7th 1861, the regiment enjoyed a well deserved rest of several weeks at Camp Donnelly.

While camped here the regiment received a significant boost in both morale and numbers as, having received their parole, over 100 men who had been captured at Winchester and Cedar Mountain returned to the ranks including Colonel Brown and Major Cook, who commanded the regiment while Colonel Brown continued to recover from his wounds received at Cedar Mountain.

October 31st brought news that the regiment was to move and they reluctantly left the cabins which they had built and returned to Pleasant Valley. Here, the 28th was encamped in an orchard which had been recently vacated by the 20th Connecticut. Following a few days wait, to ensure that they were not going to be moving, log cabins were again built.

The 12th Corps was left for some time to defend the upper Potomac and Major-General Henry Slocum was assigned to command the Corps and General Alpheus Williams returned to command of the Division, much to the satisfaction of the men under his command.

While camped here, Colonel Brown, having recovered from his wounds, returned to the regiment and was promoted to full Colonel of the 28th New York. Major Cook was likewise promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel and Captain Fitzgerald, of Company E, was promoted to Major.

On December 10th, the 28th New York was again on the move. They were called to join the Grand Reserve Division of the Army of the Potomac in northern Virginia. They marched for six days through mud, sleet and rain and entered Virginia for the last time. Marching via Hillsborough, Leesburg, Centerville, Fairfax Station and Occoquan River, the regiment arrived at Dumfries on December 16th. While carrying out this march, they regiment heard of the bloody defeat of the army, under Burnside, at the Battle of Fredericksburg.

The following day, the regiment received orders to move to Fairfax Station to guard a supply depot against a perceived attack from Confederate cavalry. The weather was so severe that the building of log cabins was necessary.

The regiment spent Christmas here, but, on December 28th was again ordered to march back to Dumfries. Confederate cavalry under General Stuart were raiding around the Union army and this move was carried out in an effort to intercept the raid. However, the move proved unsuccessful and the following day the regiment was ordered to return to Fairfax where they reoccupied the log cabins which they had left on the 28th.

Three weeks were spent at Fairfax during which time the regiment reviewed for Generals Williams and Slocum. On January 19th, 1863, the regiment was ordered to march to Stafford Court House. Due to a serious rain storm, this march took five days to complete. Several attempts to cross Choppowamsie Creek were abandoned due to the creek overflowing. Eventually, a bridge was built to facilitate the crossing.

During the march the men progressed through mud, rain, sleet and snow and all were soaked to the skin by the time they arrived at Stafford Court House. The history of the regiment describes that “the men literally wallowed in the red mud, a sticky paste like glue, which covered their feet and clothes. They fastened their trousers about their ankles, wading on with their shoes firmly tied to their feet, to prevent them being lost in the mud.”

The difficulties experienced by the infantry were even worse for the wagon trains and artillery which could hardly be moved.

Into Winter Camp – Early 1863.

On January 23rd, the regiment arrived at Stafford Court House and the weather turned very bad with many inches of snow coating the ground. The 28th New York would spend the next three months encamped here - the longest time they spent camped at any single location and, while camped here, they heard of the replacement of General Burnside as army commander. General Hooker was now the new commander of the Army of the Potomac. After the defeat at Fredericksburg and the experiences of the mud-march, it was a change well received by the regiment.

With General Crawford wounded at Antietam, Colonel Knipe, of the 46th Pennsylvania, was promoted to command of the brigade. In addition to the 28th new York, the other regiments of the brigade were the 5th Connecticut, 10th Maine, 46th Pennsylvania and the 128th Pennsylvania, a regiment of new recruits.

The history of the 10th Maine makes reference to an event which took place on in March 1863. Having completed a dress parade, the 28th New York and 5th Connecticut started a snowball fight and, assuming it was a free fight, the 128th Pa joined in. However, the two veteran regiments decided to ally against the 128th Pa. As the 128th was commanded by a former officer of the 46th Pa., that regiment came to the assistance of the 128th Pa to the point that most of the brigade was involved in the snowball fight.

Colonel Matthews, of the 128th Pa, believing that the proceedings was being taken too seriously, tried to stop the snowball fight and was promptly showered in snowfalls. When General Knipe was summoned, he to was pelted with snowballs but was able to put a stop to the engagement.

Much of the winter was spent constructing corduroy roads replacing the roads which had been destroyed during the mud march. Aside from that, much time was spent in camp and carrying out regimental, brigade and division reviews.

On March 19th, a review of the entire 12th Corps was carried out in the presence of General Hooker and his staff. A month later, on April 10th, the review was carried out again, this time for President Lincoln.

Four days later, marching orders were received and, with the exception of light marching order, the baggage was removed to Washington for storage. Eight days rations were issued and, on April 24th, the regiment marched on its final campaign before the completion of the terms of enlistment.

Chancellorsville – May 1863.

April 27th saw the regiment very much dispersed with only four companies (D, E, H & G) in line. The remaining six companies were all on detached duty, with companies A and C designated as Provost Guard, under Captain Skeels, who was Division Provost Marshall, and Companies B, F, I and K guarding supply trains, under the command of Major FitzGerald.

The four companies of the regiment marched to Harwood Church and, on April 29th, crossed the Rappahannock River on pontoon bridges at Kelly’s Ford. The following day saw the 1st Brigade fording the ice cold, Rapidan River while pontoon bridges were constructed.

April 30th arrived and the 12th Corps arrived at the hamlet of Chancellorsville. The 28th formed line and bivouacked in place through to the morning of May 1st. During the previous evening, the men felled trees and built a barricade.

The morning arrived and the 1st Brigade was ordered to advance past the Chancellor-house and towards Fredericksburg. General Knipe marched his brigade some distance to the front and formed brigade line in trees when the enemy was encountered.

The four companies of the 28th New York were ordered to advance through the tree line as skirmishers to relieve two companies of the 46th Pa, and to engage the enemy. Taking cover wherever it was available, the 100 men of the 28th New York were deployed as skirmishers for an hour against Confederate infantry and artillery fire which took off tree tops above their head.

General Knipe made enquiries regarding the capture of the artillery battery to their front, but was ordered to disengage and fall back. Despite being under fire for an hour, the losses to the 28th NY was only one man killed, John H Hogle, from Company E who was killed instantly on the field, and six men wounded.

The brigade returned to the breastworks which they had built the previous day and was not called into action again for the rest of the day.

On the morning of May 2nd, 1863, the men of the 28th New York could hear artillery fire from various places around their position and in the early afternoon the 12th Corps was ordered to move to forward and to the left in support of the flank of the 3rd Corps.

Only a short distance into the march, the four companies of the 28th New York were ordered to return to the log breastworks by General Williams. With only a few days to go until the regiment would be discharged, General Williams decided to allow the 28th New York to sit out the fight. However, hindsight will show us that he placed the small detachment in the direct path of the engagement.

For the next few hours, al the men of the 28th New York knew of the battle was the sound of artillery and infantry firing in the distance through the thick trees. The 3rd and 12th Corps was away to the left of their position, while the 11th Corps was a good distance to the front and right on the flank of the army.

However, the relative peacefulness of the situation changed at about 5pm, when from nowhere, the road to the right of the log breastworks was packed with a panic stricken mob fleeing in a state of utter rout. It was the 11th Corps, which had been completely taken by surprise by the flank attack of Confederate General Jackson.

Once again, as had been the case in every engagement of the 28th New York, it was General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson who was to their front.

Lieutenant-Colonel Cook, commanding the 28th, decided to hold the breastworks and positioned his small command on the far right of the position near the road. The next task was to try to halt the fleeing men of the 11th Corps and, with the assistance of many officers from that Corps, managed to halt some of the men. The history of the regiment states that General Carl Schurz was excitedly firing his pistol into the air while crying “Halt!” However, this apparently did little except add more panic to the proceedings.

At the first appearance of the enemy line to their front, the men of the 11th Corps who had stopped again ran leaving the 28th on the breastworks. Despite the huge numbers of men to their front, the regiment held the breastworks and not a man from the 28th fled with the 11th Corps.

With darkness falling, the100 men of the 28th New York held on the breastworks; however, the utter numerical superiority of the Confederate army meant that they were surrounded and overwhelmed. Colonel Cook, realizing the situation was impossible, ordered the men to cease fire and surrender. Some of the men on the left of the position were able to escape before they were captured; however, 76 men were captured and began the march to the rear.

Federal artillery had opened up and shells were falling around the prisoners as they were marched away and once they passed beyond the range of the guns their was a great sense of relief.

The captured men arrived at Richmond on May 9th and while held at Libby Prison they heard of the death of General Jackson during the previous engagement. The men of the 28th had a huge amount of respect for their fallen enemy and many of the men watched the funeral procession from the windows of the second floor of Libby Prison.

Withdrawal from Chancellorsville and the Journey Home – May 1863.

The men who had escaped captured at the log breastworks withdrew and rejoined the brigade in line of battle. However, they were so few that they were ordered to join companies A and G as Provost Guard.

On May 5th, the 12th Corps crossed the Rappahannock River again. They had been the first Corps to cross and were now the last Corps to cross back.

The regiment returned to its old camp near Stafford Court House on May 6th and the following day reported 272 men “Present for duty”.

Six days later, on May 12th, with cries of “First of the Twelfth Corps, and second to none”, the men of the 28th New York left the Division camp and headed home.

Travelling by steamer via Washington and New York City, they arrived at Albany three days later, on May 15th and paraded through the streets of the City and huge numbers of people turned out to give honor to the regiments return.

The regiment remained in Albany for three days, which the men spent visiting the barracks and camps where they had camped and trained two years earlier. The three year enlistees were transferred to the 60th New York, but, given the choice, most of them chose to return to the 12th Corps (now merged with the 11th Corps and renumbered the 20th Corps) to join the 10th Maine Battalion which had formed from that regiments three year enlistments.

A number of the men of the 28th New York continued with this battalion, assigned to General Slocum’s headquarters on the march with Sherman to Atlanta and onto the sea.

On May 19th, the regiment left Albany and arrived at Lockport the following day. They were greeted by thousands of people who had turned out to see the regiments return and a huge parade, procession and festival was held in their honor.

That evening, and with huge celebration, the men of the 28th New York who had been captured at Chancellorsville, having been paroled, arrived at Lockport.

The next day, the men of the regiment were furloughed to return home and, on June 2nd 1863, were officially mustered out of United States service.

Other Service – 1863 to 1865

Although the history of the regiment ends in June 1863, the men who had served within the 28th New York still had the desire to see the Union restored and a large number reenlisted to serve with every branch of service through to the closure of hostilities.

The 2nd New York Mounted Rifles was being recruited in western New York in June 1863 and about 100 men reenlisted in that regiment. By the end of the war a large number of 2nd MY Mounted Rifles officers and NCOs were former members of the 28th New York.

Other men joined the artillery with 15 men deciding to join the 14th New York Light Artillery and several others joining the 33rd NY Battery.

Having marched over 1,200 miles in the previous two years, the Cavalry was a firm favorite for the veterans of the 28th New York looking to reenlist. In addition to the Mounted Rifles, 30 joined the 15th NY Cavalry while a number of others joined the 1st New York Veteran Cavalry.

Four men reenlisted with the 50th New York Engineer regiment and eight others enlisted and served with the US Navy.

During the 2 year enlistment, the 28th New York lost 2 officers and 60 enlisted men to enemy fire and 47 enlisted men to other illnesses. In addition, taking paroles into account, 14 officers and 235 enlisted men were reported as missing during the course of regiment’s existence. Most were taken prisoner by Confederate forces during the battles at Cedar Mountain and Chancellorsville and several men had the dubious honor of being taken prisoner on more than one occasion.

For the 28th, it was the fortune of war that in every engagement which the regiment served they found the soldiers of one of the most gifted Confederate officers, General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, facing them. Yet, despite this fact, the 28th served their enlistment with honor and, despite any odds, did all they were asked in each engagement.