Unit History – 12th New York Infantry

Cols., Ezra L. Walrath, George W. Snyder, Henry A. Weeks, Benjamin A. Willis; Lieut.-Cols., James L. Graham, Robert M. Richardson, Augustus J. Root, William A. Olmstead; Majs., John Lewis, Henry A. Barnum, Augustus J. Root, Henry W. Ryder. The 12th, the “Onondaga regiment,” six companies of which were recruited at Syracuse, and the others at Liverpool, Homer, Batavia and Canastota, was mustered into the U. S. service for a three months’ term at Elmira, May 13, 1861. It left for Washington on the 29th and upon its arrival encamped upon Capitol hill until July 10, when it was assigned to the 4th brigade 1st division of the Army of Northeastern Virginia. It was first under fire at Blackburn’s ford with a loss of 34 men. It was in reserve at Bull Run, then returned to Washington, encamped at Arlington heights and was transferred to Wadsworth’s brigade, McDowell’s division. The 12th having been mustered into the state service for a two years’ term was mustered into the U. S. service Aug. 13, 1861, for the remainder of the two years in spite of protest. In Jan., 1862, it was reorganized and made a battalion of five companies, which was stationed near Washington at Forts Ramsay, Tillinghast, Craig and Buffalo until March 21, having been joined early in February by five companies of the reorganized 12th militia. With Butterfield’s brigade, Porter’s division, 3d corps, the completed regiment moved via Fortress Monroe to Hampton and Yorktown; was active in the siege of Yorktown; in May was assigned to the 3d brigade, 1st division, 5th corps, with which it fought through the Seven Days’ battles; was in Gen. Pope’s campaign in Virginia; lost 143 men at the second Bull Run in killed, wounded and missing; was in reserve at South mountain and Antietam; fought at Fredericksburg in December, and then went into camp at Falmouth. The original members not reënlisted were mustered out at Elmira May 17, 1863. The three years men were formed into two companies which were transferred on June 2, 1864, to the 5th N. Y. veteran infantry. From May, 1864, the battalion of two companies served as provost guard with the 5th corps and was present through the Wilderness campaign. The total loss of the 12th was 69 deaths from wounds and 68 from other causes.

From The Union Army, Vol. 2, pp. 56-57

12th New York Infantry roster

Unit History – 13th New York Infantry

Cols., Isaac F. Quimby, John Pickell, Elisha G. Marshall; Lieut.- Cols., Carl Stephan, Francis A. Schoeffel; Majs., Oliver L. Terry, Francis A. Schoeffel, George Hyland, Jr. The 13th, the “Rochester regiment,” composed of eight companies from Rochester, one from Dansville and one from Brockport, was mustered into the U. S. service at Elmira for a term of three months. It left Elmira on May 29, 1861, for Washington with the 12th, and camped on Meridian hill until June 3, when it was ordered to Fort Corcoran, where it was employed in construction work until the opening of the Manassas movement. It then became a part of the 3d brigade, 1st division, Army of Northeastern Virginia; was engaged at Blackburn’s ford, and was active at Bull Run, losing 58 members. In August, under special orders, the regiment was mustered into the U. S. service for the remainder of the two years’ term for which it had been accepted for state service. As in the case of the 12th the order was received with dissatisfaction, so openly expressed that some members of the 13th were sentenced to the Dry Tortugas for discipline, but afterward returned to the regiment. From Oct. 1 to March 10, 1862, the 13th performed guard and picket duty along the Potomac near Georgetown and was then assigned to Martindale’s brigade, Porter’s division, 3d corps, with which it participated in the Peninsular campaign. It had its share of the arduous duties in the siege of Yorktown, the tiresome marches on the Peninsula; and lost heavily in the Seven Days’ battles. In May, 1862, it was assigned to the 1st brigade, 1st division, 5th corps, and after the Peninsular campaign and a brief rest at Harrison’s Landing moved to join Gen. Pope. In the second battle of Bull Run the regiment was closely engaged and out of 240 in action, suffered a loss of 45 killed and many wounded and missing. Withdrawing to Washington, the regiment proceeded from there to the front; was held in reserve at Antietam and went into camp at Sharpsburg, after a sharp encounter with the enemy at Shepherdstown. It reached the vicinity of Fredericksburg on Nov 19 and lost heavily in the battle there the following month. Returning to its former camp, the 13th participated in the “Mud March ” and thereafter remained in winter quarters until the end of April, 1863, when the term of enlistment expired. The original two years men were mustered out at Rochester, May 14, 1863, and the three years’ men and recruits were consolidated into two companies which were attached to the 140th N. Y. The total strength of the regiment was 1,300 men; its loss by death from wounds was 85 and from disease, accident or imprisonment 44.

From The Union Army, Vol. 2, p. 57

13th New York Infantry roster