124th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment

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Monument to the 124th in downtown Goshen

The 124th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment, commonly known as the Orange Blossoms, was a volunteer regiment from Orange County, New York, during the American Civil War. Formed in Goshen on September 5, 1862, by Col. Augustus van Horne Ellis, the regiment was made up of volunteers from the surrounding towns and a core of veterans from the 71st National Guard.

1 Organization
2 Campaigns
3 Legacy
4 References

[edit] Organization

Volunteers were recruited by town and the 11 companies of the regiment were organized by region:

A Company: Newburgh, Cornwall, Chester, and Goshen
B Company: Goshen, Warwick, Florida, and Newburgh
C Company: Goshen, Cornwall, Newburgh, Monroe, and New Windsor
D Company: Warwick and Goshen
E Company: Goshen, Crawford, Otisville, Wallkill, Newburgh, Bullville, New Windsor, Mount Hope, and Port Jervis
F Company: Port Jervis and Deerpark, New York
G Company: Washingtonville, Blooming Grove, New Windsor, Monroe, Newburgh, Craigville, and Chester
H Company: Montgomery, Walden, and Goshen
I Company: Newburgh and New Windsor
K Company: Wallkill, Middletown, and Newburgh

[edit] Campaigns

The Orange Blossoms' first major engagement was at the Battle of Fredericksburg, in December 1862. Thomas Bradley, an Orange Blossom, won the Medal of Honor for his courage at the Battle of Chancellorsville in 1863. Colonel Ellis was killed at the Battle of Gettysburg, at Houck's Ridge. Three other officers and 31 enlisted men from the regiment also died during the battle.

The Orange Blossoms also took part in the Overland Campaign, taking losses in the Battle of the Wilderness, the Battle of Cold Harbor, and the Spotsylvania Court House. In June 1864 they were at the Siege of Petersburg. In 1865 they fought in the Appomattox Campaign, and were present during the Confederate surrender at the Battle of Appomattox Courthouse.

[edit] Legacy

The 124th has two monuments at Gettysburg; one on the site where Colonel Ellis fell, and one at the unit's location during the defense of Pickett's Charge.

"The Orange Blossom Monument" stands on a pedestal in the middle of Main Street in Goshen.

Stephen Crane is known to have interviewed veterans of 124th while researching his book The Red Badge of Courage, commonly held to depict a fictionalized version of the Battle of Chancellorsville, and is thought to have based some experiences in the book on their testimony.