56th Regiment
New York State Militia
New York National Guard
Civil War

History
The following is taken from New York in the War of the Rebellion, 3rd ed. Frederick Phisterer. Albany: J. B. Lyon Company, 1912.

Mustered in: June 18, 1863
Mustered out: July 24, 1863
Left the State: August 2, 1864
Mustered out: November 6, 1864

Of this regiment, which was located ,in Brooklyn, but is not now in service, a number of men volunteered in October, 1862, for nine months.

June 18, 1863, it was ordered to Harrisburg, Pa., for a service of thirty days; commanded by Col. John Q. Adams, it left the State June 19, 1863, and served in the Third Brigade, 1st Division, Department Susquehanna, and July 24, 1863, it was mustered out of the service of the United States at Brooklyn.

August 2, 1864, it was mustered into the United States service for 100 days and it served, commanded by Col. John Q, Adams, at Elmira, until it was mustered out November 6, 1864.

March 15, 1865, Colonel Adams received authority to recruit his regiment for a service of one year as part of the volunteer forces; the necessity for more troops ceasing to exist shortly after, the organization was not carried out. The men enlisted, about 200, were discharged May 3, 1865, at Hart's Island, New York harbor.

The regiment in its service in 1863 took part in a skirmish near Oyster Point, Pa., June 29, 1863, and it lost in its service in 1864, by death, of disease, two enlisted men.

See here for a brief history of the State Militia / National Guard.

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.

Items in the museum collection are in bold.

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