147th Infantry Regiment

Nickname: Oswego Regiment

Mustered in: September 22, 1862
Mustered out: June 7, 1865

The following is taken from New York in the War of the Rebellion, 3rd ed. Frederick Phisterer. Albany: J. B. Lyon Company, 1912. 
Colonel Andrew S. Warner received authority, August 25, 1862, to recruit a regiment in the then 21st Senatorial District of the State; it was organized at Oswego, and there mustered in the service of the United States for three years September 22 and 23, 1862. January 25, 1865, it received by transfer the veterans and recruits of the 76th Infantry not mustered out with their regiment. June 5, 1865, the men not to be mustered out with the regiment were transferred to the 91st Infantry.
The companies were recruited principally: A, B and I at Oswego; C at Richland, Albion and Williamstown; D at Fulton, Granby and Volney; E at Sandy Creek, Redfield, Boyleston and Orwell; F at Mexico, Palermo and New Haven; G at Oswego and Scriba; H at Constantia, Parish, Amboy and West Monroe, and K at Oswego, Scriba and Fulton.
The regiment left the State September 25, 1862; it served in the 2d Brigade, defenses of Washington, north of the Potomac, from September, 1862; in the Provisional Brigade, Provost Guard, Army of the Potomac, from December, 1862; in the 3d Brigade, 1st Division, 1st Corps, from January, 1863; in the 2d Brigade, 1st Division, 1st Corps, from March, 1863; in the 2d Brigade, 4th Division, 5th Corps, from March, 1864; in the 3d Brigade, 2d Division, 5th Corps, from August, 1864; in the 3d Brigade, 3d Division, 5th Corps, from September, 1864; and, under Col. Francis C. Miller, it was honorably discharged and mustered out June 7, 1865, near Washington, D. C.
During its service the regiment lost by death, killed in action, 5 officers, 107 enlisted men; of wounds received in action, 4 officers, 52 enlisted men; of disease and other causes, 2 officers, 177 enlisted men; total, 11 officers, 336 enlisted men; aggregate, 347; of whom 71 enlisted men died in the hands of the enemy.

The following is taken from The Union army: a history of military affairs in the loyal states, 1861-65 -- records of the regiments in the Union army -- cyclopedia of battles -- memoirs of commanders and soldiers. Madison, WI: Federal Pub. Co., 1908. volume II. 
One Hundred and Forty-seventh infantry.—Cols., Andrew S. Warner, John G. Butler, Francis C. Miller; Lieut.-Cols., John G. Butler, Francis C. Miller, George Harney, James Coey; Majs., Francis C. Miller, George Harney, Dudley Farling, Alex. R. Penfield, James Coey. This was an Oswego county regiment, organized at Oswego and there mustered into the U. S. service on Sept. 23, 1862. It received by transfer on Jan. 25, 1865, the remnant of the 76th N. Y. The regiment left the state on Sept. 25, 1862, and after serving for a time in the defenses of Washington, north of the Potomac and in the provisional brigade, provost guard, Army of the Potomac, it was placed in the 1st division, 1st corps. It was under fire for the first time at Fitzhugh's crossing below Fredericksburg, one of the preliminary movements of the Chancellorsville campaign, losing a few men killed and wounded. It was in reserve at Chancellorsville and sustained no losses. In the 2nd (Cutler's) brigade, 1st (Wadsworth's) division 1st corps, and commanded by Lieut.-Col. Miller, it marched on the field of Gettysburg. "The brigade— Cutler's—was the first infantry to arrive on that field and to it fell the honor of opening that famous battle, the first volley coming from the rifles of the 56th Pa. When Cutler's troops were forced back, the order to retire failed to reach the 147th, as Col. Miller fell wounded and senseless just as he received it, and so the gallant band, under Maj. Harney, continued to hold its ground. A temporary success near by enabled the regiment to retire in good order; but not all, for of the 380 who entered that fight, 76 were killed or mortally wounded, 146 were wounded, and 79 were missing; total, 301." (Fox's, Regimental Losses in the Civil War.) The regiment took part in the Mine Run campaign—the last campaign of the 1st corps—sustaining a few casualties, and then went into winter quarters at Brandy Station. In March, 1864, when the 1st corps was broken up, it was assigned to the 3d brigade, 4th (Wadsworth's) division, 5th (Warren's) corps, and was actively engaged in all the battles of the corps during Grant's bloody campaign of 1864-65. While in the 5th corps it took part in the battle of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna river, Totopotomy, Cold Harbor, first assault on Petersburg, siege of Petersburg, Weldon railroad, Poplar Spring Church, Boydton road, Hatcher's run, White Oak ridge, Five Forks and Appomattox. The total casualties of the regiment from the opening of the campaign in May, 1864, until Lee's surrender, amounted to 477 killed, wounded and missing. It was mustered out near Washington, D. C, June 7, 1865, under. Col. Miller. The total enrollment of the regiment during service was 2,102, of whom 581 were killed or wounded; 9 officers and 159 men were killed or mortally wounded; 2 officers and 177 men died of disease and other causes; total deaths, 11 officers and 336 men.

147thInfGuidon1995.2065.jpg

147th Regiment NY Volunteer Infantry | Guidons | Civil War

The NYS Battle Flag Collection includes two silk swallowtail guidons carried by the 147th Regiment New York Volunteer Infantry. Each guidon conforms…

Other Resources

This is meant to be a comprehensive list. If, however, you know of a resource that is not listed below, please send an email to ng.ny.nyarng.list.historians@army.mil with the name of the resource and where it is located. This can include photographs, letters, articles and other non-book materials. Also, if you have any materials in your possession that you would like to donate, the museum is always looking for items specific to New York's military heritage. Thank you.

Beyer, Walter F. "Valorous Deeds at Hatcher's Run." Deeds of valor : how America's Civil War heroes won the Congressional Medal of Honor. Stamford, CT: Longmeadow Press, 1992, 1903. 482-484.

Bristol, Lansing. The Civil War diary and letters of Lieutenant Lansing Bristol, 147th New York volunteers. Fulton, NY: Friends of History in Fulton, N.Y., Inc. 2004.

Case, Nathan B.  Civil War letters,1862-1863
Transcriptions of letters written by Nathan Case, who served with the 147th New York Infantry during the Civil War, sent to his sister and brother Henry. The letters incorporate common Civil War themes and show the life of an infantry private. Topics include seeing Abraham Lincoln during a review, health problems, number of soldiers in the hospital, need for stamps and paper, lack of supplies, high cost of items like boots, mud, home front patriotism, and Republican politics. Also discussed is furlogh, deserters, lack of pay, news from home, and Case's experience crossing the Rappahannock. An interesting discussion of soldiers' morality and drinking habits is found in Case's letter to his sister. 
0.1 linear ft. (1 folder). 
Located at the Wisconsin Veterans Museum Research Center.

Case, Samuel F. Correspondence,1861-1865
Personal and financial correspondence of Case and his wife. Most of the letters came to Case as president and cashier of the Citizen's National Bank of Fulton; however, they reflect many of the events of the Civil War and contain information on the 110th, 147th, and 184th New York regiments. 
29 items. 
Located at Duke University.

Churchill, John Charles, 1821-1905. "Oswego County in the War of the Rebellion." Landmarks of Oswego county, New York. Salem, MA: Higginson Book Co. 1994, 1895.

Coey, James. "Cutler’s Brigade: The 147th N.Y.’s Magnificent Fight on the First Day of Gettysburg.National Tribune, June 15, 1910, Page 7 columns 1 & 2.

Conklin, C. F. "Elmina Keeler Spencer : Matron, 147th New York." Gettysburg: Historical Articles of Lasting Interest. :Eight January 1993. 121-126.

Cooke, Sidney Granger. The first day of Gettysburg, a paper prepared and read before the Kansas commandery of the Military order of the loyal legion of the United States (read November 4, 1897).

Cooke, Thornton. "A Bible Goes Home." The Atlantic Monthly. 167 1941. 366-368.

"The Cost." Civil War Times Illustrated. (Feb 2000): p. 80 
Double amputee, Alfred Stratton, Co. G.

"Death of Colonel Miller." Oswego Daily Times Saturday, August 17, 1878.

Ebert, Thomas J. 147th New York Volunteer Infantry: An Oswego Regiment. The author, 2011.
A Talk Presented by Thomas J. Ebert to the Oswego County Historical Society Town of Scriba Historical Society Oswego Town Historical Society Friends of Fort Ontario, August 17, 2011.

Ebert, Thomas J. 147th New York volunteer Infantry, September 22, 1862 - June 7, 1865, The Oswego Regiment : A Documentary History, Volume I. [CA]: the author, 2009.

Ebert, Thomas J. 147th New York volunteer Infantry, September 22, 1862 - June 7, 1865, The Oswego Regiment : A Documentary History, Volume II. [CA]: the author, 2010.

Ebert, Thomas J. 147th New York volunteer Infantry, September 22, 1862 - June 7, 1865, The Oswego Regiment : A Documentary History, Volume III: Regimental Roster. [CA]: the author, 2010.

Ebert, Thomas J. Major James Coey (1841-1918), Medal of Honor Recipient, 147th NY.

Hendrix, Dorothy Kincheloe. A leaf from army life: the background and experiences of a Civil War soldier. S.l : s.n., 1995. 170 p. : ill., maps, facsims., geneal. ; 28 cm.

Huguenin, George. Diary. Syracuse, N.Y.: Jan. 7th 1889.
The author writes out more fully of his diary kept during the War of 1861-65.
Available online at: http://hugueninfamily.wordpress.com/

Krumwiede, John F. "For the 147th New York Infantry, the 'field of its greatest loss' was on Gettysburg's McPherson's Ridge." America's Civil War (Jul 2001): pp. 24, 26, 27, & 81-83.

Hoffman, John W. "General Hofmann on the Action of the 147th New York at the Opening of the Battle.National Tribune, June 5, 1884.

Hubbard, J. N. "Cutler’s Brigade Led.National Tribune, September 1, 1910, Page 7 column 4.

Johnson, Crisfield. ... History of Oswego County, New York. : With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers. Philadelphia: L.H. Everts & co, 1877, 1991.

Kowalis, Jeffrey J. Died at Gettysburg! : "no prouder epitaph need any man covet" : illustrated biographies of the Union casualties at Gettysburg. Hightstown, NJ: Longstreet House, 1998.

Lee, Edward. Prison, camp and pulpit, the life of a city missionary in the slums. Oswego: R.J. Oliphant, printer, 1889.

Lyman, Henry H. "BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG: Opened by Cutler’s Brigade, and Not by Any Single Regiment.National Tribune, August 25, 1887.

Lyman, Henry H. "Historical Sketch." Final Report on the Battlefield of Gettysburg (New York at Gettysburg) by the New York Monuments Commission for the Battlefields of Gettysburg and Chattanooga. Albany, NY: J.B. Lyon Company, 1902.

Mace, Guilford D. Civil War Miscellaneous Collection. 
(Sgt's letter, Jan 28, 1863).
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

McLean, James L. Cutler's Brigade at Gettysburg. Baltimore, Md. Butternut and Blue, 1987.

Murray, R. L. First on the field : Cortland's 76th and Oswego's 147th New York State Volunteer Regiments at Gettysburg. Wolcott, NY: Benedum Books, c1998.

Murray, RL, ed. New Yorkers in the Civil War vol. 6. Wolcott, N.Y. Benedum Books, 2006.

Parsons, David K. Bugles echo across the valley : Oswego County, N.Y. and the Civil War. Sandy Creek, N.Y. Write to Print, c1994.

Pierce, J. V. "Dedication of Monument : 147th Regiment Infantry. New York (State)." Monuments Commission for the Battlefields of Gettysburg and Chattanooga. Final report on the battlefield of Gettysburg.

Prezio, Joseph A. The runs, rheumatism and the rebellion :William Sullivan and the American Civil War, 2nd. Lieutenant, Co. "I", 147th Infantry Regiment, New York State Volunteers, Oswego, New York. Buffalo, NY : [s.n.],1992. 33, [5] leaves : ill., maps, ports. ; 28 cm. 
Located at the State University of New York at Oswego.

Schenck Family, (Martin and Edward Schenck). 147th New York Infantry, Co. D. Papers (1856-1873).
4 boxes.These papers include letters of Martin B. Schenck and Edward C. Schenck, both of whom served in the147th New York Infantry during the Civil War. Martin's letters discuss his position as a commissary clerk in an army hospital. Meanwhile, Edward wrote about having spent most of his time on garrison duty in Washington, D. C. These letters also contain information about fellow soldiers from Fulton, New York and vicinity.
Located at the New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections.

Six colored views : Camps of New York regiments during the Civil War.
[6] leaves of plates : chiefly col. ill. ; 27 x 37 cm.
Contents: Fort Ethan Allen, Garrisoned by the 4th N.Y. Heavy Artillery. Col. D. Doubleday, Commdg. -- Camp Pomroy, 111th Regiment, New York. Col. J. Segoine, Commdg.-- Camp Chase, 147th Regt. N.Y.S.V. Col. A.S. Warner, Commdg. -- Fort Pennsylvania, Head Quarters of the 113th Regt. N.Y.S.V. Col. O.L. Morricee, Commdg. -- Camp Seward, 170th N.Y.V. 2d Regiment, Corcoran's Legion, Col. Peter McDermott, Lieut. Col. J.P. McIvor -- Camp Hathaway, 141st Regt. N.Y.S.V.S.G. Hathaway, Col. Commanding.
Located at the Massachusetts Historical Society.

Slosek, Anthony M. Oswego County, New York, in the Civil War. Oswego, N.Y. Oswego County Civil War Centennial Committee, 1964.

Smith, A. P. (Abram P.) History of the Seventy-sixth regiment New York volunteers : what it endured and accomplished; containing descriptions of its twenty-five battles; its marches; its camp and bivouac scenes; with biographical sketches of fifty-three officers and a complete record of the enlisted men. Cortland, N.Y: Truair, Smith and Miles, printers, Syracuse, 1867.
In December,1864,the 76th Regiment was mustered out, its veterans and recruits being transferred to the 147th New York infantry.
Available online at: http://www.archive.org/details/historyofseventy00smit

Snyder, Charles M. "Oswego County's Response to the Civil War." New York History. 42 (January 1961). 71-92.

Snyder, Charles McCool. Oswego County, New York, in the Civil War. Oswego, NY: Oswego County Historical Society, 1962 1962.

Tibbals, Albert H. LeighColl Bk 10: 13 
(Enlisted man's letter, Jun 4, 1862).
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Warner, Andrew. Correspondence (1861-1864)
14 items.
A group of letters related to Warner's involvement with the Union Defense Committee of New York, an organization that assisted soldiers being transported from New York to the front lines of battle. 
Located at the New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections.

Whiting, Harriet A. Harriet Whiting letters,1854-1902
The collection contains correspondence from various family members in the states of New York and Wisconsin from 1854 to 1902. The letters from her husband and nephew, both of whom served in the Civil War for Oswego County infantry regiments, represent the attitudes and tragedies caused by the conflict. The collection also includes letters describing farm life in Wisconsin during the middle and late 19th century. 
1 box ; 27 x 40 x 13 cm.
Located at the State University of New York at Oswego.

Whittier, Edward, "The Left Attack (Ewell's), Gettysburg." by Brevet Captain Edward N. Whittier, U.S.V. Fifth Maine Battery. A Paper Prepared and Read before the Massachusetts Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, (MOLLUS) February 10, 1891.

Wiltse family. John M. Wiltse letters,1865
The collection contains copies and transcripts of letters written to John M. Wiltse from January to March of 1865. The majority of the letters were produced by family members and friends from Palermo, New York. The content of the letters focus mainly upon family health matters and local events in Oswego County. 
1 folder 34 pages. 
Located at the State University of New York at Oswego.

Wybourn, W.A. BrakeColl 
(Undated news article relating how Sgt saved regimental colors).
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

 

Items in the museum collection are in bold.