9th New York Heavy Artillery Regiment

9th New York Heavy Artillery

9th New York Heavy Artillery Battle Flag
Active September 6, 1862 – July 6, 1865
Country United States
Allegiance Union
Branch Artillery
Type Heavy Artillery
Part of XXII Corps
and VI Corps
Nickname(s) Second Auburn Regiment and Second Wayne and Cayuga Regiment
Colors Red and gold
Engagements

Overland Campaign
Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1864
Siege of Petersburg

Appomattox Campaign
Commanders
Regimental Commander Colonel James W. Snyder
(November 28, 1864 – July 6, 1865)
Regimental Commander Colonel Edward P. Taft
(May 21, 1864 – September 15, 1864)
Regimental Commander Colonel William H. Seward Jr.
(May 21, 1864 – September 15, 1864)
Regimental Commander Colonel Joseph Welling
(August 22, 1862 – May 20, 1864)
Battery M in 1865

The 9th New York Heavy Artillery Regiment was a regiment in the American Civil War.

History

The regiment was originally mustered in on September 8, 1862, as the 138th New York Infantry Regiment, was quickly taken to Washington D.C. to be used in the defenses of the nation's capitol. On December 19, 1862, it was redesignated as the 9th New York Heavy Artillery Regiment. On February 5, 1863, an additional Company M was created within the regiment with the transfer of the 22d N.Y. Volunteer Battery. Company L was organized in Albany between November 4 and December 9, 1863.[1]

Amongst the regimental commanders, William H. Seward Jr. stands out as he is the son of then Secretary of State William H. Seward.

The Regiment was divided into three battalions. After the formation of the regiment, its duties were the protection of the capitol.

In May 1864, General Ulysses S. Grant took command of the Union Army, embarking on an aggressive campaign against the south. His strategy took most of the troops defending the capitol, including the 9th New York Heavy Artillery, to increase troop numbers. Two battalions of the 9th joined with the VI Corps and the Army of the Potomac, while one remained behind to guard the capitol.

Grant's orders to these defenders of the capitol was to shed their relative security of earthen forts and cannon. They would now be Heavy Artillery in name only, donning rifles and assuming the duties as infantrymen.

The first offensive action was seen on June 1, 1864, at the Battle of Cold Harbor. Casualties ran high in the Heavy Artillery regiments. The 10th New York Heavy Artillery Regiment was nearly wiped out on its first sight of combat. The 9th casualties numbered 157, killed and wounded in action.

Timeline

Defense of Washington D.C. (September 1862 – May 1864)

May 18, 1864: Joined the Army of the Potomac

Overland Campaign (May through June 1864)

  • May 26–28: On line of the Pamunky River
  • June 1–3: Bethesda Church

Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1864 (August 7 – November 28)

Siege of Petersburg (December 1864-April 1865)[10]

Appomattox Campaign (March 28-April 9)

Regiment losses

Regiment losses included 10 Officers and 204 Enlisted men killed or mortally wounded. 247 Enlisted men died by disease. The total deaths were 461 Total, not including wounded casualties.

Post War

After the war, the soldiers of the Regiment not eligible for discharge from service were transferred to the 2nd New York Volunteer Artillery Regiment. They formed four companies, I, K, L and M.[12]

Further reading

Books

Websites

References

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