96th Infantry Regiment

Nickname: Macomb's Regiment; Plattsburg Regiment

Mustered in: February 20 to March 7, 1862
Mustered out: February 6, 1866

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. James Fairman, was organized at Plattsburg, and there mustered in the service of the United States for three years February 20 to March 7, 1862. In August, 1862, Company G was merged into Company C. January 27, 1864, Company D was consolidated with Company B. December 1, 1864, the men of the 92d Infantry, not mustered out with their regiment, were assigned to this, and reformed Companies D and G. At the expiration of its term of enlistment, the men entitled thereto were discharged, and the regiment retained in service. June 13 and 29, 1865, the men of the 118th and 184th Infantry, respectively, not mustered out with their regiment, were assigned to this.
The companies were recruited principally: A at Chateaugay; B, C, D, Hand K at Plattsburg and vicinity; E at Fort Edward; F at Chazy and Mooers; G at Ticonderoga; I at Warrensburg.
The regiment left the State March 11, 1862; served in the 1st Brigade, 3d Division, 4th Corps, Army of the Potomac, from March, 1862; in 2d Brigade, same division and corps, from June, 1862; at Camp Hamilton, Va., from August, 1862; in Wessell's Brigade, 4th Corps, at Suffolk, Va., from November, 1862; in Hunt's, 1st, Brigade, Wessell's, 1st, Division, Department of North Carolina, from December, 1862; in 1st Brigade, 4th Division, 18th Corps, from January, 1863; in the District of Albemarle, Department of North Carolina, from May, 1863; in the District of Currituck, Va., from December, 1863; in the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 18th Corps, Army of the James, from April, 1864; in the 2d Brigade, same division and corps, from July 25, 1864; in New York harbor in November, 1864; in 2d Brigade, 3d Division, 24th Corps, Army of the James, from December, 1864; in the 1st Brigade, 3d Division, 24th Corps, from June, 1865; in the Department of Virginia, from August, 1865; and it was honorably discharged and mustered out, under Col. Stephen Moffitt, February 6, 1866, at City Point, Va. 
During its service the regiment lost by death, killed in action, 7 officers, 41 enlisted men; of wounds received in action, 3 officers, 19 enlisted men; of disease and other causes, 2 officers, 158 enlisted men; total, 12 officers, 218 enlisted men; aggregate, 230; of whom 36 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. 

Ninety-sixth infantry.—Cols., James Fairman, Charles O. Gray, Edgar M. Cullen, Stephen Moffitt; Lieut.-Cols., Charles O. Gray, Addis E. Woodhull, Gerard L. McKenzie, Stephen Moffitt, George W. Hindes; Majs., John E. Kelly, Charles H. Burhaus, Henry I. Pierce, George W. Hindes, Courtland G. Babcock. The 96th, known as the Plattsburg regiment, was recruited mainly at Platts-burg and vicinity, and there mustered into the U. S. service on Feb. 20 and March 7, 1862, for three years. It left for Washington on March 11, was assigned to the 1st brigade, 3d division, 4th corps, and embarked for the Peninsula; was present at the siege of York-town; fought in the battles of Williamsburg, Bottom's bridge and Savage Station; lost heavily at Fair Oaks; participated in the Seven Days' battles, and was stationed at Camp Hamilton, Va., until November, when it was ordered to Suffolk, where it remained for a month. With the 1st brigade, 1st division, it was then ordered to North Carolina and served in the 18th corps at New Berne and vicinity. It also participated in the Goldsboro expedition, Col. Gray being mortally wounded at Kinston. The 18th corps was transferred to the Army of the James in April, 1864, and the 96th formed a part of the 1st brigade, 1st division. During May it was present at Swift creek, Proctor's creek, Drewry's bluff and Bermuda Hundred, and joined the Army of the Potomac at Cold Harbor at the beginning of that battle. It then remained with the forces besieging Richmond until the end of the war, with the exception of the month of Nov., 1864, when it was ordered to New York harbor. Upon the organization of the 24th corps, the 96th became a part of the 3d division, remained in the field as a veteran regiment and received in Dec., 1864, the veterans and recruits of the 92nd N. Y. infantry. The regiment was active at Fort Harrison, with a total loss of 103 killed, wounded or missing; at Fair Oaks, and in the general assault on the Petersburg works, April 2, 1865. On June 13, 1865, the 118th and l84th N. Y. infantry were assigned to the 96th, and the regiment mustered put at City Point, Va., Feb. 6, l866, having been retained in service in the vicinity of Richmond for the performance of various necessary police and garrison du-ties. During its term of service the regiment lost 70 by death from wounds and 160 from other causes, of whom 36 died in prison.

NYSMM Online Resources

Battles and Casualties from Phisterer (pdf)
Battles and Casualties from Phisterer (spreadsheet)

Muster Roll

Unit Roster

Newspaper Clippings
 

Search the Museum catalog for this unit

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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.

"A Mother's drum-major." Neighbor’s Home Mail. April 1875. 53.

Babcock, Allen. Papers, 1864-1910 ; bulk 1864-1868.
Description:    1 box (0.25 cubic ft.)
Abstract:    Group of manuscript diaries and other papers related to Allen Babcock's military service during the Civil War. The diaries detail his daily activities and experiences. He mentions frequently where he was stationed, the weather, and letters he received from and sent to family. Other documents include his commission, discharge certificate, muster roll, quartermaster receipts, and military pension certificate. Also includes a biographical sketch and eulogy written by his son Orville Babcock, February 1910.
Held by The Manuscripts and Special Collections, New York State Library.

Babcock, Courtland G. and Charles E. Walbridge. List of quartermaster's stores, 1865 February 12 and May 1.
Description:    2 item
Abstract:    Captain Charles E. Walbridge lists the transfer of a horse, saddle, saddle blanket, bridle. to Captain C.G. Babcock of the 96th New York at Bermuda Hundred, Va. Captain Delaney records their return three monts later at Manchester, Va.
He;d by the Special Collections, University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Davignon, Joseph-François and Jean Lamarre. D'Avignon: physician, patriot and northerner. Montreal: VLB, 2009.
This book is in French, some letter which appear in the book are in English.

Day, Henry H. Recollections of the Civil War. 1913.

Delance, David. HCWRTColl 
(Pvt's letter, Jul 5, 1862)
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Hurd, D. Hamilton  (Duane Hamilton) J.W. Lewis & Co, History of Clinton and Franklin Counties, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers. Philadelphia: J.W. Lewis & Co. 1880.

Issard, William. Civil War Miscellaneous CollectionCWMiscColl 
(Enlisted man's poem, "The Campaign with McClellan, 1862")
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Knutson, Bill. “A Civil War Diary”. The Post Crescent June 1977.
Series of articles referring to the diary of Peter Lang, a Union soldier whom served in the 96th Infantry.

Lowry, Thomas P. "Unceasing and Tyrannical abuse: Col. James Fairman." Curmudgeons, drunkards, and outright fools : courts-martial of Civil War Union colonels. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 2003, 1997. 141-143.

Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. California Commandery. In memoriam : George Whitney Hindes, lieutenant-colonel 96th New York infantry; died ... March 12, 1908.
Description: [3] p. ; 22 cm.
Language: English
Located at the New York Historical Society, New York, NY.

Parsons, Darius M. Captain Parsons diary, 1862.
Abstract: Typescript copy of Capt. Parsons' diary, written while serving in Company B, 96th Regiment, New York Volunteer Army. Early entries, written at Plattsburgh Barracks, New York, give a resume of Parsons' life previous to entering military service, they reveal difficulties encountered as recruiting officer for his regiment, and refer to disease among the soldiers. Later entries, written while aboard the "Louisiana" on the Potomac River, describe his fellow officers, discuss mismanagement of supplies, and complain of favoritism shown to men because of family or political connections.
Preferred citation: Captain Parsons Diary, Mss. 578, Louisiana and Lower Mississippi Valley Collections, LSU Libraries, Baton Rouge, La.

Sexton Family. Civil War Miscellaneous CollectionCWMiscColl 
(Pvt's letters to relatives, Oct 1862-Jan 1865) 
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Watson, Ian Michael. Ian Michael Watson Papers, 1242-1984 (bulk: 1666-1900).
Description: 3 linear ft.
Abstract: Consists of the materials collected and compiled by Ian Watson between 1982 and 1987 while researching the Pasco family and solving the problem of three women with the name of Mary Pease in Salem, Massachusetts, one of which was the second wife of Hugh Pasco. The bulk of the collection concerns Hugh Pasco and his descendants. Material relating to Abel Pasco and his descendants is a separate section of the collection. The source files for the Hugh and Abel Pasco genealogies, located separately under each line, include photocopies and transcriptions of census, probate, court, land, military, church, cemetery and vital records with notes from histories, newspapers and some correspondence. Of particular interest is a transcription of Seymour Pasko's diary, a soldier in the 96th Regiment NY Volunteers.
Located at the New England Historic Genealogical Society.

Watson, Winslow C. The military and civil history of the county of Essex, New York: and a general survey of its physical geography, its mines and minerals, and industrial pursuits, embracing an account of the northern wilderness : and also the military annals of the fortresses of Crown Point and Ticonderoga. [Ithaca, NY] Cornell University Library Digital Collections, [1995].

Waud, Alfred R. General Patricks punishment for gamblers. 1863.
Description: 1 drawing on olive paper : pencil and Chinese white ; 15.0 x 23.4 cm. (sheet)

 

Unit bibliography from the Army Heritage Center

Items in the museum collection are in bold.