19th Infantry Regiment
Civil War

History

Mustered in: May 22, 1861
Designated 3rd regiment of light artillery: December 11,1861

The following is taken from New York in the War of the Rebellion, 3rd ed. Frederick Phisterer. Albany: J. B. Lyon Company, 1912.
This regiment was accepted by the State and organized as a regiment of infantry for two years' service; it served as infantry until December 11, 1861, when it was converted into a regiment of artillery and designated the 3d Regiment, Light Artillery, under which title its records and service are given.

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.
Nineteenth Infantry.—Cols., John S. Clarke, James H. Ledlie; Lieut.-Cols., Clarence A, Seward, James H. Ledlie, Charles H. Stewart; Majs., James H. Ledlie, Charles H. Stewart, Henry M.. Stone. The 19th, known as the Cayuga county regiment, contained nine companies from that county and one from Seneca, and was mustered into the U. S. service at Albany for a term of three months, May 22, 1861. It left on June 5 for Washington and passed the following month at Kalorama heights; was then ordered to Martinsburg, W. Va.; was attached to Gen. Sandford's brigade on July 12 and ordered to Harper's Ferry; on Aug. 20, it was stationed at Hyattstown, Md., and in the marches and countermarches of these two months several sharp skirmishes with the enemy took place, in which the troops acquitted themselves creditably. In August, the term of enlistment expired and special orders were issued providing for the remuster of the men for the remainder of the two years' period. These orders were received with open dissatisfaction and by refusal of obedience on the part of 206 members, 23 of the greatest offenders being sent to the Dry Tortugas and the others placed under arrest until they were ready to be remustered. The 23 were finally released on condition that they serve the remainder of the two years in the 2nd N. Y. infantry. From Sept. 6 to 25, 1861, the regiment was in camp near Darnestown; was then ordered to Muddy branch and assigned to Gen. Williams' brigade, with which it moved to Hancock, Md., in December, and remained there.until Feb. 17, 1862. At this time four new companies, recruited in New York city, Rome, Syracuse and Tompkins county, were added to the regiment and it was converted into a regiment of light artillery, officially designated as the 3d light artillery.

Historical Sketch from the 3rd Annual Report of the Bureau of Military Statistics

Civil War Newspaper Clippings

Further Reading
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 int-historians@ng.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.

Caulkins, charles A. Camp sketches of life in the old Nineteenth, by Charlie Caulkins. Auburn: 1862.

Hall, Henry and James Hall. Cayuga in the Field. A Record of the 19th N.Y. Volunteers, all the batteries of the 3d New York Artillery, and 75th New York Volunteers, comprising an account of their organization, camp life, marches, battles, lsses, toils and triumphs in the war for the Union, with complete rolls of their members. Auburn, NY: Truair Smith, 1873.

Johnson, Raymond. "13th, 19th and 24th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiments, Contract Uniforms, 1861." Military Collector & Historian. 40 :1 (Spring 1988) 23-24.

Items in the museum collection are in bold.

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