27th Infantry Regiment
Civil War
Union Regiment

History

Mustered in: May 21, 1861
Mustered out: May 31, 1863

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, Col. Henry W. Slocum, was accepted by the State May 21, 1861; organized at Elmira, and there mustered in the service of the United States for two years July 9th and 10th, to date from May 21, 1861. Its three years' men were, in May, 1863, transferred to the 121st Infantry.
The companies were recruited. A at White Plains; B at Lyons, of members of the 54th State Militia, C, D and F at Binghamton; E at Rochester; G at Lima; H at Mt. Morris; I at Angelica; and K at Albion; the men were principally from the counties of Allegany, Broome, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans and Wayne.
The regiment left the State July 10, 1861; served at Washington, D. C, from July 12, 1861; in 1st Brigade 2d Division Army of Northeastern Virginia from July 16, 1861; in Heintzelman's Brigade, Division of Potomac, from August 4, 1861; in Slocum's Brigade, Franklin's Division, Army of the Potomac, from October 15, 1861; in 2d, the same, Brigade, 1st Division, 1st Corps, Army of the Potomac, from March 13, 1862; in 2d Brigade, 1st Division, 6th Corps, Army of the Potomac, from May, 1862; and was honorably discharged and mustered out, commanded by Col. Alexander D. Adams, May 31, 1863, at Elmira.
During its service the regiment lost by death, killed in action, 1 officer, 61 enlisted men; of wounds received in action, 1 officer, 11 enlisted men; of disease and other causes, 2 officers, 72 enlisted men; total, 4 officers, 144 enlisted men; aggregate, 146; of whom 7 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.
Twenty-seventh Infantry.—Cols., Henry W. Slocum, Joseph J. Bartlett, Alexander D. Adams; Lieut-Cols., Joseph J. Chambers, Alexander Duncan Adams, Joseph H. Bodine; Majs., Joseph J. Bartlett, Curtiss C. Gardiner, Joseph H. Bodine, George G. Wan-zer. The 27th, the "Union Regiment," was composed of three companies from Broome county, one company from each of the following counties: Westchester, Wayne, Monroe, Wyoming and Orleans, and two companies from Livingston. It was mustered into the U. S. service for a two years' term at Elmira on July 9 and 10, 1861, to date from May 21, and left the state for Washington on July 10. It was quartered at Franklin Square until July 17 and on that day advanced toward Manassas, assigned to the 1st brigade, 2nd division, and received its baptism of fire in the battle of Bull Run, where 130 members were killed, wounded or missing, Col, Slocum being among the wounded. The command was withdrawn to Washington after the battle and again Occupied its old camp at Franklin Square until late in September, when it was ordered to Fort Lyon and there attached to Slocum's brigade, Franklin's division. On March 13, 1862, it became a part of the 2nd brigade, 1st division, 1st corps, Army of the Potomac, and in May the division was assigned to the 6th corps. The regiment left camp for the Peninsula in April, participated in the battle of West Point, the siege of Yorktown and the Seven Days' battles, suffering heavy losses at Games' mill and Malvern hill. It was more fortunate at the second Bull Run, where it was present but not closely engaged. The regiment then participated in the battles of South mountain, Antietam and Fredericksburg, established winter quarters at Belle Plain, shared the discomforts of the "Mud March," lost 19 members killed, wounded or missing in the Chancellorsville campaign in May, 1863, and soon after returned to New York. It was mustered out at Elmira May 31, 1863, having lost during its term of service 74 members by death from wounds and 74 by accident, im-prisonment or disease.

Battles and Casualties Table from Phisterer

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

Civil War Newspaper Clippings
This is also available in PDF format. However, these are large files.
      Pages 1 - 12
      Pages 13 - 24
      Pages 25 - 36

Company H, 27th New York Volunteers Infantry National Color

Unit Roster

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 ng.ny.nyarng.list.historians@mail.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.

Bielewicz, Dennis P. Heroes in the attic : the untold story of two Civil War soldiers. Dennis P. Bielewicz, 2012.

Booth, Cyrus Monroe. Letter, 12 January 1862.
4 pages.
Letter, 12 January 1862, from Cyrus Monroe Booth of Company E, 27th New York Regiment, to his sister Emma informing her that he is sending her a picture of him, and describing the return to the regiment of 35 men captured at the first battle of Manassas (Bull Run). He details the reception for them and sketches how banners and wreaths were hung to celebrate their return.
Accession 38417. Located at the Library of Virginia in Richmond, Virginia.
Thank you to Ed Worman for pointing out this resource.

Cook, George A. Diary of George A Cook, 1862.
Original at the New York State Military Museum, 2001.0042.
A scan of the original is here.
A transcription is here.
Thank you to Helen Kyle for transcribing this diary.

Fairchild, Charles Bryant. History of the 27th regiment N.Y. vols., being a record of its more than two years of service in the War for the Union, from May 21st, 1861, to May 31st, 1863. With a complete roster and short sketches of Commanding officers. Also, a record of experience and suffering of some of the comrades in Libby and other Rebel prisons. Compiled by C. B. Fairchild, of Company "D." Published under the direction of the following committee: Gen. H. W. Slocum [and] Capt. C. A. Wells. Binghamton, Carl & Matthews, printers [1888].
Available online at: www.archive.org/details/historyof27threg00fair

Hall, Henry Seymour. "Experience in the Peninsular and Antietam campaigns, January 3, 1894." MOLLUS-Kan160-84.

Hall, Henry Seymour. "Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, April 4, 1894. MOLLUS-Kan 185-205.

Hall, Henry Seymour. "Personal experience in organizing volunteer soldiers in April, 1861, and participating with them in the first battle of Bull run, July 21, 1861." A paper prepared and read before the Kansas commandery of the M.O.L.L.U.S., May 4th, 1892. [On cover: War paper.]

Hall, Henry Seymour. "Personal experience under Generals Bumside and Hooker, in the battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, December 11, 12, 13 and 14, 1862, and May 1, 2, 3 and 4, 1863." A paper read [April 4, 1889] before the Kansas commandery of the Military order of the loyal legion of the United States. [On cover: War paper.]

Hall, Henry Seymour. "Personal experience under General McClellan, after Bull run, including the Peninsular and Antietam campaigns, from July 27, 1861, to November 10, 1862." A paper prepared and read before the Kansas commandery of the M.O.L.L.U.S., January 3, 1894. [On cover: War paper.]

Hall, Henry Seymour. "A volunteer at the first Bull run, May 4, 1892." MOLLUS-Kan 143-59.

Kilmer, George Langdon. "The Army of the Potomac at Harrison's landing." Battles and Leaders II 427-8.

Merrell, William Howard. Five months in Rebeldom; or, notes from the diary of a Bull run prisoner, at Richmond, by Corporal W. H. Merrell, Color guard, Co. E, 27th regiment, N.Y.S.V. Rochester: Adams & Dabney, 1862.

300 men wanted! To fill up the "gallant 27th" reg. N.Y. volunteers . . . Capt. Charles A. Wells, 27th reg. N.Y. vols., recruiting officer. Binghamton, 1862. broadside, 42 x 30cm.

Buell, Dexter E. A brief history of Company B, 27th regiment N.Y. volunteers, its organization and the part it took in the war. Printed at the Office of the Republican. Lyons: 1874.

Items in the museum collection are in bold.

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