154th Infantry Regiment

Mustered in: September 24, 1862
Mustered out: June 11, 1865

The following is taken from New York in the War of the Rebellion, 3rd ed. Frederick Phisterer. Albany: J. B. Lyon Company, 1912. 
Colonel Addison G. Rice, succeeded, September 25, 1862, by Col. Patrick H. Jones, received, August 19, 1862, authority to recruit this regiment in the then 32d Senatorial District of the State. It was organized at Jamestown, and there mustered in the service of the United States for three years September 24, 25 and 26, 1862. June 9, 1865, the men not to be mustered out with the regiment were transferred to the. 102d Infantry.
The companies were recruited principally: A at Ellicottsville, Carlton, Cold Spring, Humphrey, Randolph, Great Valley, Carrolton, Little Valley, Conewango, South Valley, Salamanca and Napoli; B at New Albion, Otto, Dayton, Perrysburg, Leon, Mansfield and Persia; C at Portville, Hinsdale, Ischua, Allegany, Humphrey and Olean; D at Machias, Yorkshire, Freedom, Franklinville, Ashford and Lyndon; E at Portland, West-field, Ripley and Chautauqua; F at Charlotte, Arkwright, Gerry, French Creek and Freedom; G at Ashford, Ellicottsville, East Otto, Allegany, Mansfield, Olean, Jamestown and Hillsdale; H at Randolph, Napoli, Salamanca, Little Valley, Great Valley, Jamestown, Carrolton, South Valley, Cold Spring and Farmington; I at Olean, Hinsdale, Salamanca, Allegany, Great Valley, Humphrey, New Albion, Portville, Machias and Yorkshire; and K at Conewango, Perrysburg, Dayton, Persia, Leon and New Albion.
The regiment left the State September 30, 1862; it served in the 1st Brigade, 2d Division, nth Corps, from October, 1862; in the 2d Brigade, 2d Division, 20th Corps, from April, 1864; and, commanded by Col. Lewis D. Warner, it was honorably discharged and mustered out June 11, 1865, near Bladensburg, Md.
During its service the regiment lost by death, killed in action, 1 officer, 54 enlisted men; of wounds received in action, I officer, 30 enlisted men; of disease and other causes, 2 officers, 193 enlisted men; total, 4 officers, 277 enlisted men; aggregate, 281; of whom 1 officer, 90 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 Fifty-fourth Infantry.—Cols., Patrick H. Jones, Lewis D. Warner; Lieut.-Cols., Henry C. Loomis, Daniel B. Allen, Lewis D. Warner, Harrison Cheney; Majs., Samuel G. Love, Jacob H. Ten Eyck, Daniel B. Allen, Lewis D. Warner, Harrison Cheney, Alfred W. Benson This regiment, recruited in the counties of Chautauqua and Cattaraugus, was organized at Jamestown, where it was mustered into the U. S. service on Sept. 24-26, 1862, for three years. Four days later it left the state and was assigned to the 1st brigade, 2nd (Steinwehr's) division, nth corps, which was stationed during the fall of 1862 in Northern Virginia in the vicinity of Centerville. The regiment went into winter quarters with the corps at Stafford, Va., and suffered severely in the disaster which befell the corps at Chancellorsville, losing 32 killed, 81 wounded and 115 captured and missing. The regiment met with another severe loss at Gettysburg, where it was heavily engaged in the battle of the first day, and in the gallant defense of Cemetery hill the second day, losing 6 killed, 21 wounded and 173 missing. It accompanied the army on its return to Virginia and in September was ordered to Tennessee with the nth and 12th corps to reinforce Gen. Rosecrans. In October it was lightly engaged in the midnight battle of Wauhatchie and had 6 men wounded at Missionary ridge. When the 20th corps was formed in April, 1864, the 154.th was assigned to the 2nd brigade, 2nd division (Geary's "White Stars") with which it fought from Chattanooga to Atlanta, and then to the end of the Carolina campaign. At Rocky Face ridge, the first important battle of the Atlanta campaign, the regiment behaved with distinguished gallantry and sustained its heaviest loss —13 killed and 37 wounded. It also lost heavily at Kennesaw mountain, where 36 were killed and wounded. At the conclusion of the campaign through the Carolinas it marched with the 20th corps to Washington and participated in the grand review. Commanded by Col. Warner, it was mustered out at Bladensburgh, Md., June 11, 1865. The regiment lost during service 2 officers and 84 men killed and mortally wounded; 2 officers and 193 men died of disease and other causes, a total of 281 of whom I officer and 90 men died in Confederate prisons.

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154th Regiment NY Volunteer Infantry | Regimental Color | Civil War

On May 30, 1865, near Bladensburg, Maryland, the 154th New York Volunteer Infantry received the Regimental Color seen here from Governor Reuben Fenton…

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.

Ames, Del. WineyColl.
(Enlisted man's letters, Jan 9, 1862-May 1, 1864).
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

"Amos Humiston Story" LeighColl Bk 40: 115 
(Story of Sgt's death & identification)
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Benson, Alfred Washburn. Alfred Washburn Benson: papers 1753-1915.
Located at the Kansas State Historical Society.
Resource submitted by Fr. Marion Charboneau, OSB, who wrote: "The Kansas State Historical Society has a collection of his papers (two boxes total). They consist of letters, speeches, and a couple Civil War diaries.  Regarding the Civil War, the material includes several reminiscences, speeches given to the GAR and at various veterans reunions including the 154th, and accounts of Washburn's wounding and recovery at Gettysburg. He also applied for a pension and the documentation of his old wounds reveals detail about his Civil War experience."

Bond, Marshall O.  Diary, 1862-1863
A personal diary kept by a Civil War soldier with fine details of everday life in camp and battlefield action between opposing Union and Confederate forces at several sites in Virginia. 
1 item. 
Located at the New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections.

Burch, Newell and Imholte, John Quinn. Civil War diary,1862-1865
Mimeographed "The Civil War Diary of Corporal Newell Burch," 154th New York Volunteers with manuscript preparation and historical analysis by John Quinn Imholte, including accounts of army life in Virginia, capture at Gettysburg, and imprisonment at Belle Isle and Andersonville. 
0.1 c.f. (1 folder). 
Located at the Wisconsin Historical Society.

Burch, Newell et al. Newell Burch and family papers,1862-1959
Diaries (1862-1865), military papers, and articles of Newell Burch, covering his Civil War service with the 154th New York Infantry, with information on battles, particularly at Gettysburg (July 1863), camp life, and his imprisonment at Belle Isle (Virginia) and Andersonville (Georgia). Included is a transcript of the diaries by John Q. Imholte and Hal E. McWethy, published in part in Ramsey County History, vol. 1 (Spring 1964). There are also a few family histories and memorabilia, and a biographical sketch of Newell's son, Edward P. Burch, a Minneapolis electrical engineer. 
0.5 cu. ft. (1 box).
Located at the New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections.

Burch, Newell. BrakeColl
(Enlisted man's diary & ledger excerpts & speech on regt at Gettysburg)
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Bryant, Levi D. WineyColl.
(Enlisted man's letters, Oct 4, 1864-May 28, 1865; 1905 obituary).
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Bushnell, Martin D. WineyColl.
(Enlisted man's letters, Jul 1, 1863-Apr 23, 1865).
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Crosby, Alanson. "'Those Three Days of Terrible Carnage' : The Gettysburg Experiences of Lieutenant Alanson Crosby, Co. D., 154th New York Volunteers." Military Collector & Historian. 43 (Spring 1991) 2-9.

Darling, Marcellus Warner. Papers of Marcellus W. Darling,1862-1911.
The papers of Marcellus W. Darling primarily relate to his service in Company K, 154th New York Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War. His letters home and a diary he kept in 1864 describe his experiences. The remainder of the papers consist of genealogical material, a memoir, and a book of quotes by Darling. His regiment took part in the battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Chickamauga and participated in the taking of Atlanta and Charleston.
78 items, (1 box).
Located at the University of Iowa.

Dunkelman, Mark. "Additional Notes on the 154th New York at Gettysburg." Gettysburg: Historical Articles of Lasting Interest. 29 J(uly 2003). 71-85.

Dunkelman, Mark H. Brothers one and all : esprit de corps in a Civil War regiment. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, c2004.

Dunkelman, Mark H. Colonel Lewis D. Warner, an appreciation : written for the observance of Col. L.D. Warner day and the 5th annual reunion of descendants of the 154th New York Volunteers, July 7, 1990, Portville, New York. Portville, N.Y. Portville Historical and Preservation Society, 1990.

Dunkelman, Mark H. Gettysburg's Unknown Soldier: The Life, Death, and Celebrity of Amos Humiston. Westport, CT: Praeger, 1999.

Dunkelman, Mark H. "The Hardtack Regiment: 154th New York Volunteer Infantry."
Online at http://hardtackregiment.com/.

Dunkelman, Mark. "The Hardtack Regiment in the Brickyard Fight." Gettysburg: Historical Articles of Lasting Interest. 8 (January 1993) 17-30.

Dunkelman, Mark. "Key to a Mystery." American History. (June 1997). 
Discusses a photograph recovered from the body of Union soldier Amos Humiston.

Dunkelman, Mark. “With a Trembling Hand and an Aching Heart" : Letters of Notification of Death and Condolence." Soldier Studies, 07 JAN 2009. 
Obtained from www.soldierstudies.org/

Dunkelman, Mark H. "Through White Eyes: The 154th New York volunteers and African Americans in the Civil War." The Journal of Negro History. (Summer, 2000.)

Dunkelman, Mark H.  War's relentless hand :twelve tales of Civil War soldiers. Baton Rouge : Louisiana State University Press,2006. xiii, 288 p. : ill. ; 24 cm.

Dunkelman, Mark H. "'We Were Compelled to Cut Our Way Through Them, and in Doing so Our Losses Were Heavy:' Gettysburg Casualties of the 154th New York Volunteers," The Gettysburg Magazine, Issue Number 18 (January, 1998) 34-55.

Earl, Harvey. WineyColl.
(Enlisted man's letters, Oct 1862-Jun 1863).
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Griswold, John C. WineyColl.
(CAPT's letters, Oct 1, 1862-Jun 1863).
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Griswold, Milton J. WineyColl.
(Enlisted man's letters, Mar 2-Sep 12, 1864).
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Harper, William D. WineyColl. 
(Enlisted man's diary, Sep 1862-Jun 1865).
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Hayward, William H. Whose father was he? Baltimore : W.H. Hayward, Slater, Print, 1863. 1 broadside ; 26 x 15 cm. 
Located at Brown University.

Horton, Dana P. WineyColl.
(Lt's letters, May 11, 1863-Feb 7, 1864).
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Jones, Electus W. and Macomber, James G.  Papers,1860-1863
New York; Chautauqua County; Chautauqua. Civil War letters of Jones and of James G. Macomber, a member of the 154th New York Infantry, describing army life in camps and forts around Washington, D.C.; the army's farewell to General George B. McClellan, 1862; the battle of Fredericksburg; the "Mud March," 1863; and Vicksburg, Miss., after its surrender. 
18 items. 
Located at Duke University.

Longhons, John. WineyColl.
(Enlisted man's letters, Nov 5, 1864-Jun 9, 1865).
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

McKay, Charles W. WineyColl.
(Sgt's memoirs from National Tribune Scrapbook).
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

McKay, Charles W. BrakeColl 
(Pvt's acct of Gettysburg)
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Markham, Philo. Civil War Miscellaneous Collection. 
(Jul 1863-Nov 2, 1864)
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Markham, Philo. WineyColl.
(Cpl's letter, May 30, ?; Sketch of life & army service).
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Mason, George J. WineyColl.
(Sgt's letters, Dec 18, 1864-Mar 30, 1865).
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

McWethy, Hal.  "The diary of a Civil War soldier :"conclude it my duty to enlist & therefore enlisted." Ramsey County history. 1:1 (spring 1964). 6-14.
Located at the Minnestoa Historical Society.

Merrill, Alva C. WineyColl.
(Enlisted man's letters, Aug 14, 1862-Apr 12, 1863).
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Merrill, Barzillai (Enlisted man's letters, Sep 3, 1862-Apr 11, 1863).
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Munger, Henry. WineyColl.
(Enlisted man's letters, Oct 1862-Feb 24, 1864).
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Newcomb, George W. WineyColl.
(Pvt's letters, Mar 16-May 18, 1863).
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Newcomb, G.W. LeighColl Bk 36: 90 
(Enlisted man's letter, Oct 24, 1862; Poem on regt)
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Pool, Simon V. LeighColl Bk 34: 24
(CAPT's ordnance reports, Jun 17, 1865)
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Porter, Isaac N. Civil War Miscellaneous Collection. 
(Mar 11-May 13, 1863)
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Porter, Isaac N. WineyColl.
(Enlisted man's letters, Mar 11 & May 13, 1863).
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Smith, Horace. Diary, 1863-1864
Typed copy of the Civil War diary of Sgt. Horace Smith, Co. D, 154th Regiment New York Volunteers, including entries from the period following the Battle of Gettysburg when he was a prisoner on Belle Isle, near Richmond, Virginia. 
0.1 c.f. (1 folder). 
Located at the Wisconsin Historical Society.

Sweetland, Emory. WineyColl.
(Enlisted man's letters & diary, 1862-65).
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Tupper, Miles. WineyColl.
(Pvt's letters, May 25, 1863-Aug 18, 1864; Obituary).
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Van Aernum, Henry.  The Henry Van Aernum papers,1862-1894
Contains the following types of materials: letters, documents, publication. Contains information pertaining to the following war: Civil War -- Eastern Theater, -- Western Theater. Contains information pertaining to the following military unit and organization: 154th New York Infantry Regiment; 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, XI (11th) Corps. General description of the collection: The Henry Van Aernum papers include officer's letters to family, pension records, and a political publication. The battles of Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg, Chattanooga, and Knoxville are included. 
1 box. 
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Warner, Lewis D. (MAJ's letters, Dec 24, 1863-Jul 22, 1865).
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Winey, Michael J.  The Hardtack Regiment :history of the 154th regiment, New York State volunteer unfantry in the Civil War. S.l. : s.n., 1967. vii, 212 l. : maps, ill. (some col.) ; 29 cm. 
Located at the New York State Historical Association, Library, Cooperstown, New York 13326

Wood, Ira. WineyColl.
(Enlisted man's letters, 1862).
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

 

Items in the museum collection are in bold.