109th Infantry Regiment

Nickname: Binghamton Regiment; Railway Brigade

Mustered in: August 27, 1862
Mustered out: June 4, 1865

The following is taken from New York in the War of the Rebellion, 3rd ed. Frederick Phisterer. Albany: J. B. Lyon Company, 1912.
July 22, 1862, Col. Benj. F. Tracy received authority to recruit this regiment in the counties of Broome, Tioga and Tompkins; it was organized at Binghamton, and there mustered in the service of the United States for three years August 27, 1862. The men not to be discharged with the regiment were, June 3, 1865, transferred to the 51st Infantry.
The companies were recruited principally: A at Newfield, Caroline and Danby; B at Candor, Richford, Newark, Berkshire, Owego and Caroline; C at Owego and Candor; D at Binghamton; E at Binghamton, Chenango and Sanford; F at Dryden and Groton; G at Trumansburg, Enfield, Lansing, Jacksonville and Ulysses; H at Owego and Binghamton; I at Smithsboro, Tioga Center, Waverly and Spencer; and K at Nichols, Candor and Owego.
The regiment left the State August 30, 1862; served at Annapolis Junction, Md., and in Middle Department, 8th Corps, from September, 1862; in the defenses of Washington and 22d Corps, from October, 1862, as Railroad Guard; in the 1st Brigade, 3d Division, 9th Corps, from March, 1864; in the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 9th Corps, Army of the Potomac, from August, 1864; and it was honorably discharged and mustered out, under Maj. Zelotus G. Gordon, June 4, 1865, at the Delaney House, D. C.
During its service the regiment lost by death, killed in action, 4 officers, 109 enlisted men; of wounds received in action, 1 officer, 51 enlisted men; of disease and other causes, 164 enlisted men; total, 5 officers, 324 enlisted men; aggregate, 329; of whom 42 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 Ninth Infantry.—Cols., Benjamin F. Tracy, Isaac S. Catlin; Lieut.-Cols., Isaac S. Catlin, Philo B. Stilson; Majs., Philo B. Stilson, George W. Dunn, Zelotus G. Gordon. This regiment was organized at Binghamton, where it was mustered into the U. S. service Aug. 28, 1862, for three years. The companies were recruited in the counties of Tomkins, Tioga and Broome—the 24th senatorial district. The regiment gained a splendid reputation for hard fighting, discipline and efficiency, and is ranked by Col. Fox among the three hundred fighting regiments of the war. He says: "The regiment left Binghamton promptly, proceeding to Annapolis Junction, Md., where it was placed on guard duty along the line of railroad to Washington, a few of the companies being stationed at Laurel, Md. It remained there the rest of the year and during all of 1863. In the spring of 1864, the regiment was or-•dered to join the 9th corps, then assembling at Annapolis, and it accordingly took the field in the ranks of that battle-tried command. It was assigned to Hartranft's (1st) brigade, Willcox's (3d) division,—afterwards Harriman's brigade of Willcox's (1st) divi-•sion. Col. Tracy resigned May 20, 1864, and Col. Catlin, a gallant and meritorious officer, succeeded to the command. The corps left Annapolis, April 23, 1864, and crossing the Rapidan on May 5th, the 109th was engaged the next day at the Wilderness, in its first battle, where it lost 11 killed, 64 wounded, and I missing. In the charge of the 9th corps at Spottsylvania, the regiment lost 25 killed, 86 wounded, and 29 missing; in the assault on Petersburg, June 17, 1864, 26 killed, 81 wounded, and 20 missing; at the mine explosion, July 30, 1864, 11 killed, 24 wounded, and 18 missing; and at the Weldon railroad, Aug. 19, 1864, 7 killed, 12 wounded, and I missing. The regiment was under fire at the battle on the Boyd-ton road, Oct. 27, 1.864, with a slight loss in wounded and missing, tut none killed. It suffered severely while in the trenches before Petersburg, where for several weeks it lost men daily, either killed or wounded. During its eleven months in. the field the hard fighting cost the regiment 614 men in killed and wounded, aside from the missing or prisoners." Its loss by death during service was 5 officers and 160 men; by disease and other causes, 164 men—total deaths, 329. The percentage of killed, 165 to the total enrollment, 1.353. was 12.1. It was mustered out of service June 4, 1865, at Delaney house, D. C.

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.

Ashley, Jesse Albert. Letters (1862-1865)
Group of letters written mostly at the regimental headquarters near Annapolis, Maryland, which contain comments on various administrative activities. 7 items. 
Located at the New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections.

Brown, Peter Ogden. "Collectors Field Book : The diary and messkit of Sergeant Fred A. Ogden, 109th New York Volunteers." Military Collector & Historian. 32 :4 Winter 1980. 174-175.

Coburn, James Parley. The James Parley Coburn papers, 1862-1891
Contains the following types of materials: diaries, correspondence. Contains information pertaining to the following war and time periods: Civil War -- Northern Interior, Civil War -- Eastern Theater. Contains information pertaining to the following military units and organizations: 141st Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, II Corps. General description of the collection: The James Parley Coburn papers include 1862-1863 diaries of enlisted man, January-August 1862 diary entries cover civilian life in Warren, Pennsylvania, battle of Fredericksburg, commissary service, insight from rear of field Army, July 24, 1864 letter from Private Fred Coburn, 109th New York Infantry Regiment, November 30, 1864 letter from Enoch Coburn, U.S. Christian Command, 1891 reunion notice, letters home, August 1862 - June 1865. 1 box. 
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

De Bell, William H. Letter (April 6, 1863).
Letter written at camp near Laurel, Maryland regarding the hardships he and his fellow soldiers experienced when coping with winter cold and snow. 
Located at the New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections.

[Due note for sutler S. Rightmyre and 25 cent note], 1862 
2 items.
Abstract: Sutler Civil War due bill payable to sutler S. Rightmyre of the 109th New York Regiment, unissued, to be used by soldiers in need of money with the sum to be deducted by the sutler from the soldier's pay at a later date. Also included is a 25 cent note, dated Dec. 1, 1862, for use at James C. Knox's store in Oneida, New York.
Located at the New York Historical Society, New York, NY.

English, Charles L. NorwichCWRTColl
(Hist of unit, 1986)
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Griggs, B. B. (Bruce B.). B.B. Griggs papers,1859-1865
Chiefly correspondence, 1859-1865, to his sister, Emily M. Griggs, re Civil War, army experiences with the 109th N.Y. Infantry Regiment, possible teaching position for her in Roanoke County, Va.; 1859 fair week in Columbia, S.C.; selling and installing lightning rods, and supervising railroad work gangs in Tennessee and Georgia. Letter, 10 Nov. 1859, Columbia, S.C., to E.M. Griggs, re social activities in Columbia, S.C.; letter, Mar. 1860, to E.M. Griggs, re possible enlistment in the Texas Rangers or travel to Mexico; letter, 28 Sept. 1862, to friends at home, re camp life with the 109th N.Y. Infantry Regiment; letter, 19 May 1863, re the Battle of Fredricksburg, Va. 24 items. 
Located at the University of South Carolina.

Lester, Charles & Haviland. Civil War Miscellaneous Collection
(Enlisted man's letter, Sep 30, 1862)
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Morton, George W. SpAmWarColl-CWColl
(Roster)
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Norwood, Charles. Letter, 11 February 1865 : Camp of the 109th N.Y. Vols. near Petersburg, Va. 4 pages.

Oakley, Solomon. Papers (1850-1960)
These papers include official correspondence and reports generated by activities of the quartermaster department. Finding aid available. boxes (2 cu. ft.)
Located at the New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections.

Ogden, Robert Morris. Robert Morris Ogden papers, 1889-1959.
Description: 11.5 c.f.
NOTE: This collection is supposed to have a diary written by Sgt. Fred A. Ogden.
Abstract: Correspondence pertaining to Ogden's work as a psychologist, author, and educator and to his membership in various scientific societies. Includes personal and family correspondence; financial records; notes, essays, drafts, reviews, reprints, and printed material on psychology, aesthetics, and philosophy; Cornelliana and student notebooks; photographs; a few small puzzles; accounts of the Mrs. John S. Dorsey estate; and photographs and drawings used in THE PSYCHOLOGY OF ART. Also, correspondence and essays concerning Andrew Dickson White, his diaries, and the early history of Cornell; and a Civil War mess kit.
Finding aid at: http://resolver.library.cornell.edu/cgi-bin/EADresolver?id=RMA00476
Located at Cornell University.

Osborn, Franklin E. Letters (1862-1864)
Letters sent to Osborn's family regarding his experiences of military life along with news about fellow soldiers in Company B. 13 items 
Located at the New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections.

Tidds, John. WineyColl 
(Enlisted man's letters, Apr 27-Oct 13, 1864)
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Williams, James M. Papers 1862-1865
Contains forty-four letters written from March 1862 to May 1865 by Private James M. Williams of the 109th New York Volunteer Infantry to Ruth L. Bradley of Franklin, Delaware County, New York. The letters contain Williams' comments concerning his duties, his tent mates, the weather, personal health, morale and military operations in Virginia during the last year of the American Civil War. Includes poetry by Private Williams and an envelope of flag fragments from a barracks flag that flew over the regiments camp. Amc archives. 46 items. 0.25 cu. ft.
Located at Auburn University.

 

Items in the museum collection are in bold.