65th Infantry Regiment

Nickname: United States Chasseurs; First Grenadier Regiment

Mustered in: July to August 1861
Mustered out: July 17, 1865

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 was raised by Col. John Cochrane, under authority from the War Department, dated June 11, 1861; organized at Camp Tompkins, Willett's Point, L. 1., and there mustered in the service of the United States for three years in July and August, 1861. At the expiration of its term of service, the regiment was retained in service, but, September 1, 1864, consolidated into a battalion of four companies, C, F, G and H; the men entitled thereto were honorably discharged September 12, 1864, in New York City. September 1, 1864, the members of the 67th Infantry, not mustered out with their regiment, were transferred to this as Companies A, B, D and E. In March, 1865, Companies I and K were reformed of recruits. June 24, 1865, the men of the 12lst Infantry not discharged with their regiment, were transferred to this.
The companies were recruited principally: A, C, G and I in New York City; B in Maine, Rhode Island and the Hudson river counties; D in New York city and Troy; E in New York City, Connecticut and Rhode Island; F and H in New York City and Rhode Island, and K in New York City and Ohio.
The regiment left the State August 27, 1861; served in the 3d Provisional, Baker's, Brigade, from September, 1861; in Graham's Brigade, Buell's,. later Keyes', Division, Army of the Potomac, from September 19, 1861; in Graham's, 2d, Brigade, Couch's, 1st, Division, 4th Corps, Army of the Potomac, from March 13, 1862; in 3d Brigade, 1st Division, 4th Corps, Army of the Potomac, from September, 1862; in 3d Brigade, 3d Division, 6th Corps, Army of the Potomac, from September 26, 1862; in 1st Brigade, 3d Division, 6th Corps, Army of the Potomac, from December, 1862; on Johnson's Island, Lake Erie, Ohio, from January, 1864; in 4th Brigade, 1st Division, 6th Corps, Army of the Potomac, from March, 1864; in 2d Brigade, 1st Division, 6th Corps, from July 6, 1864; and it was honorably discharged and mustered out, commanded by Col. Henry C. Fisk, July 17, 1865, at Halls Hill, Va.
During its service the regiment lost by death, killed in action, 4 officers, 80 enlisted men; of wounds received in action, 1 officer, 36 enlisted men; of disease and other causes, 2 officers, 88 enlisted men; total, 7 officers, 204 enlisted men; aggregate, 211; of whom 25 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. 

Sixty-fifth Infantry.—Cols., John Cochrane, Alexander Shaler, Joseph E. Hamblin, Henry C. Fiske; Lieut.-Cols., Alexander Sha-ler, Joseph E. Hamblin, Henry J. Healy, Thomas H. Higginboth-am, Henry C. Fiske, David I. Miln; Majs., Henry J. Healey, Thomas H. Higginbotham, David I. Miln, Edmund K. Russell. The 65th, known as the U. S. Chausseurs, composed of members from Eastern New York and a number from Connecticut, Rhode Island and Maine, was mustered into the U. S. service at Willett's Point, L. I., in July and Aug., 1861, for three years. It left the state for Washington on Aug. 27, was assigned to the 3d provisional brigade until Sept. 19, when it became a part of Graham's brigade, Buell's division, and in March, 1862, joined the advance to the Peninsula as a part of the 2nd brigade, 1st division, 4th corps. It was present at the siege of Yorktown and active during the Seven Days' battles, with a loss of 68 in killed, wounded and missing. At Antietam it was again engaged, but did not occupy an exposed position, and during the month of Sept., 1862, the division was transferred to the 6th corps, in which it became the 3d division. The 65th served in the 3d brigade until December and was then assigned to the 1st brigade. At Fredericksburg the regiment was present, but not closely engaged, and the winter was passed in that vicinity. In the Chancellorsville campaign the 65th shared in the charge which captured Marye's heights. After returning for a brief period to its old camp it proceeded to Gettysburg, where it was held in support, then moved southward with the army, shared in the Mine Run campaign and went into winter quarters with the 6th corps. In Jan., 1864, the regiment was sent to Johnson's island in charge of prisoners, and upon its return to the Army of the Potomac was attached to the 4th brigade of its old division. A sufficiently large number of the men reenlisted to secure the continuance in the field of the 65th as a veteran organization and it fought through the Wilderness campaign with brilliancy, losing during the first week 154 members killed, wounded or missing, many of whom fell in the assault on the angle at Spottsylvania. At Cold Harbor and Petersburg the regiment was active and when the 6th corps was sent to Washington to repel Gen. Early, the 65th was assigned to the 2nd brigade of the same division with which it had previously served. It embarked for Washington July 10, 1864, encountered Early at Fort Stevens and pursued him through the Shenandoah Valley, fighting at Charlestown, the Opequan, Fisher's hill, and Cedar creek. In the last named action the regiment took a prominent part and suffered the loss of 90 in killed, wounded and missing. It returned to Petersburg in December; was engaged at Hatcher's run in Feb., 1865, at Fort Stedman, and the final assault on April 2. In Sept., 1864, the original members not reenlisted were mustered out and the veterans and recruits consolidated into a battalion of four companies, which received the addition of four companies of the 67th N. Y., and in March, 1865, two companies of new recruits. The regiment was mustered out at Washington, July 17, 1865, having lost during its term of service 121 by death from wounds and 90 from other causes.

65thInfMarker2003.0064.jpg

65th Regiment NY Volunteer Infantry | Flank Markers | Civil War

The New York State Battle Flag Collection includes two flank markers carried by the 65th Regiment NY Volunteer Infantry. The regiment mustered into…

65thInfFlankMarker2007.0016.jpg

65th Regiment NY Volunteer Infantry | Flank Markers | Civil War

These two blue silk flank markers with green discs are believed to have been carried by the 65th Regiment NY Volunteer Infantry, also known as the…

65thInfRegColor2007.0174.jpg

65th Regiment NY Volunteer Infantry | Regimental Color | Civil War

The 65th Regiment NY Volunteer Infantry received this blue silk regimental color from the City of New York. The flag's obverse features the Arms of…

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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.

Brogan, John P.; Graham, Martin, ed. "He Gave his all for his friends: A Hero's Death." : [John P. Brogan in the 1864 Shenandoah Valley Campaign]." Civil War Times Illustrated. March 1984. 20-22.

Cochrane, John. Speech of Colonel Cochrane, delivered to his regiment First United States chasseurs, November 13, 1861. [Washington, D. C.: 1861].

Crockett, LeRoy & Charles Crockett. Civil War Miscellaneous Collection 
(Enlisted mens' letters, Apr 22, 1861-Aug 25, 1863)
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Descriptive and clothing books of the 65th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment (“1st U.S. Chasseurs”), 1862-1864
Description: .2 cu. ft. (2 volumes)
Abstract: This series consists of two bound volumes relating to the Civil War service of Company H of the 65th Regiment New York State Volunteers: a "Description Book," and a "Company Clothing Book." In addition, the series contains 12 unbound pages that represent a summary account of clothing issues to the various companies of the regiment, and 3 unbound pages that represent a "List of Quarter Master Stores received from the United States by Lieut. Warren R. Hedden, AQM." The description book provides physical descriptions and enlistment data, and the clothing book documents distribution date(s) and money value of clothing distributed to the men of Company H. However, data is provided for very few members of the company and the data is, more often than not, incomplete.
Located at the New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections.

Hamblin, Deborah. Brevet Major-General Joseph Eldridge Hamblin, 1861-1865. Boston: 1902.

Historic Blenheim and the Civil War Interpretive Center. Identified Union soldier signatures on the Blenheim Attic and House Walls.
Name: WELTE, Joseph S., Pvt., Co. C.
For more information please visit their web site.

Martin, Michael; Jepersen, Hal. "2-101st Cavalry (NY)."Brotherhood that binds the brave : contemporary units of the army national guard and regular ... army derived from units that fought at Gettysburg. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Dorrance Pub Co. 2015. 81.

McAfee, Michael. "65th New York Volunteer Infantry - 1st U.S. Chasseurs." Military Images Magazine (Jul/Aug 1999) 39.

United States Army. 65th New York Infantry, Co. H. Regiment Account Book (1862-1864) 
Description: 2 v.
Abstract: This series consists of two bound volumes relating to the Civil War service of Company H of the 65th Regiment New York State Volunteers: a "Description Book," and a "Company Clothing Book." In addition, the series contains 12 unbound pages that represent a summary account of clothing issues to the various companies of the regiment, and 3 unbound pages that represent a "List of Quarter Master Stores received from the United States by Lieut. Warren R. Hedden, AQM."
The description book provides physical descriptions and enlistment data, and the clothing book documents distribution date(s) and money value of clothing distributed to the men of Company H. However, data is provided for very few members of the company and the data is, more often than not, incomplete. 
Located at the New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections.

 

Unit bibliograhy from the Army Heritage CenterUnit bibliograhy from the Army Heritage Center

Items in the museum collection are in bold.