Unit History – 32nd New York Infantry

22 07 2022

Cols., Roderick Matheson, Francis E. Pinto; Lieut.-Cols., Francis E. Pinto, George F. Lemon, Charles Hubbs; Majs., George F. Lemon, Charles Hubbs, Russell Myers. The 32d, the First California regiment, composed of three companies from New York city, two from Amsterdam, two from Ithaca, one from Tarrytown, one from Johnstown and one from New York and Tompkins county, was organized at New York city and mustered into the U. S. service for two years on May 31, 1861, at New Dorp, Staten Island. It left the state for Washington on June 29; was quartered there for a week and then encamped near Alexandria, where it was assigned to the 2nd brigade, 5th division, Army of Northeastern Virginia; was engaged at Fairfax Court House, Bull Run, and at Munson’s hill, and spent the winter at Fort Ward in Newton’s brigade of Franklin’s division. In March, 1862, with the 3d brigade, 1st division, 1st corps, Army of the Potomac, the regiment moved to Manassas; returned to Alexandria and embarked for the Peninsula; was engaged at West Point, with a loss of 67 killed, wounded or missing, and soon after was assigned to the 3d brigade, 1st division , 6th corps, with which it engaged in the Seven Days’ battles; then went into camp at Harrison’s landing until Aug. 16, when it returned to Alexandria. The regiment participated in the battles of Crampton’s gap, Antietam and Fredericksburg; went into winter quarters at Belle Plain; participated in the “Mud March,” and on April 28, 1863, broke camp and joined the light brigade of the 6th corps for the Chancellorsville campaign, in which the 32nd lost 43 members killed, wounded or missing. It returned on May 8 to the camp at Belle Plain and on the 25th the three years’ men were transferred to the 121st N. Y. infantry. The two years men were mustered out at New York city on June 9, 1863. The total strength of the regiment up to Jan., 1863, was 1,040 members and it lost during its term of service 45 by death from wounds and 54by death from other causes.

From The Union Army, Vol 2, pp. 71-72