Arming the Empire State: Arms Issues to New York Infantry Regiments in 1861

    During the Civil War, the state of New York provided more than 400,000 men to the Union army, the highest number of soldiers of any state, and as can be imagined, the task of arming those hundreds of thousands of volunteers was a very difficult one. At the outbreak of hostilities, the state militia numbered 19,000 men but the state possessed only about 8,000 long arms nearly all of which were utilized to arm the eleven militia regiments which left the state in the earliest days of the war. The state dispatched an agent to England on April 24^th to purchase 25,000 Enfield pattern rifle muskets but upon his arrival, he found those weapons hard to find as Confederate agents had already been busy buying up the stock. Eventually, he was able to secure 19,000 Enfields at a cost of $335,000; these weapons arrived in bits and pieces over the next several months and were issued out soon after their arrival to newly formed regiments. 

A perusal of the adjutant general’s report for the state of New York issued in early January 1862 provides the following list of how the Empire State’s infantry regiments were armed during the first year of the war. Just to be clear, this list describes what the regiments were armed with as they left the state of New York- once they arrived at the front, many of these regiments would re-armed over the course of the next 12-18 months with superior weapons. The vast majority of these regiments (but not all) went into service with the Army of the Potomac or served in the Shenandoah Valley under Generals Banks or Fremont. Several entries are blank or are listed as “armed by the U.S.” but of the 85 regiments whose arms issues are known, 15 of them also received more than one type of arm, with the most common being a situation where the flank companies were issued rifles while the balance of the regiment received smoothbore muskets.

Out of those 85 regiments whose arms issues are listed, 56 of or two-thirds of the total, received .69 caliber Model 1842 Springfield smoothbore muskets (it is possible that some of these had been rifled during the 1850s). The second most common arm was the Pattern 1853 Enfield rifle musket which was issued to 13 regiments, or 15% of the total. This leaves 15 regiments which received quite a plethora of different arms. Nine regiments received older model U.S. model muskets (1822s, 1835s, and 1840s, with 1840s by far the most common); these weapons were originally flintlocks and it is unknown how many of these older guns had been converted to percussion prior to issue. Two regiments received the well-regarded Remington-contract Model 1841 Mississippi rifle muskets, while three regiments received French rifled muskets (caliber and precise make unknown).

The final four regiments each received a unique arm: the storied 7^th New York Militia was armed with .58 caliber U.S. Model 1855 Springfield rifle muskets, the 39th New York (the Garibaldi Guard) received Harper’s Ferry rifles with saber bayonets, the 89^th New York received Prussian muskets (caliber and make unknown), and the 88^th New York of General Francis Meagher’s Irish brigade received .54 caliber Austrian-made Lorenz rifle muskets. Its not clear how long the 88^th carried Lorenz rifle muskets as by March 1862, one veteran noted that “the regiment was armed with buck and ball muskets for General Meagher had a theory that most of our fighting would be at very close quarters. So it was, but sometimes our short-range weapons were a disadvantage.” That leads me to think that the regiment was re-armed with .69 caliber Model 1842 smoothbores after they joined the Army of the Potomac.

The report is laid out in two sections- the top section lists the weapons followed by the regiments which used them; the bottom section is the New York report verbatim laid out in order of regimental number and date when the regiment left the state. 

 

This unidentified corporal of Co. E of the 22nd New York poses with his knapsack, Enfield P56 rifle musket, and sword bayonet. The 780 men of the regiment originally left the state in 1861 armed with .69 caliber Model 1842 smoothbore muskets. 

.69 caliber U.S. Model 1822 Springfield smoothbore musket

Regiments: 50^th, 86^th

 

.69 caliber U.S. Model 1835 Springfield smoothbore musket

Regiment: 47^th

 

.69 caliber U.S. Model 1840 Springfield smoothbore musket

Regiments: 6^th, 13^th, 19^th, 46^th, 65^th, 82^nd

 

.58 caliber U.S. Model 1841 Mississippi-Remington rifle musket

Regiment: 28^th, 45^th

 

Unidentified private of the 44th New York

.69 caliber U.S. Model 1842 Springfield smoothbore musket

Militia: 5^th, 8^th, 12^th, 13^th, 25^th, 28^th, 69^th, 71^st

Regiments: 1^st, 2^nd, 4^th, 5^th, 7^th, 8^th, 9^th, 10^th, 12^th, 14^th, 15^th, 16^th, 17^th, 20^th, 21^st, 22^nd, 23^rd, 24^th, 25^th, 26^th, 27^th, 29^th, 30^th, 31^st, 32^nd, 33^rd, 34^th, 35^th, 36^th, 37^th, 38^th, 40^th, 41^st, 43^rd, 44^th, 49^th, 51^st, 52^nd, 54^th, 55^th, 60^th, 63^rd, 64^th, 68^th, 69^th, 75^th, 80^th, 82^nd

 

.58 caliber U.S. Model 1855 Springfield rifle musket

Militia: 7^th

 

.577 caliber British P53 Enfield rifle musket

Regiments: 3^rd, 18^th, 48^th, 56^th, 57^th, 58^th, 61^st, 62^nd, 64^th, 77^th, 79th, 85^th, 90^th, 91^st 

 

Harper’s Ferry rifles (described a Minie rifles with saber bayonets)

Regiment: 39^th

 

Prussian muskets

Regiment: 89^th

 

French rifled muskets

Regiments: 66^th, 73^rd, 87^th

 

.54 caliber Austrian Model 1854 Lorenz rifle musket

Regiment: 88^th (“In March 1862, the regiment was armed with buck and ball muskets for General Meagher had a theory that most of our fighting would be at very close quarters. So it was, but sometimes our short-range weapons were a disadvantage.”)

State of New York cartridge box plate

 Militia Regiments (90-days’ service)

Regt. #        Colonel                 Date of Departure  How armed           Strength

5^th N.Y.       C. Schwarzwalder  April 27, 1861        1842 Muskets        600

6^th N.Y.       Jos. C. Pinckney     April 21, 1861                                     550

7^th N.Y.       Marshall Lefferts    April 19, 1861        1855 Springfields   1050

8^th N.Y.       George Lyons        April 23, 1861        1842 Muskets        900

12^th N.Y.      Daniel Butterfield  April 21, 1861        1842 Muskets        900

13^th N.Y.      Abel Smith            April 23, 1861        1842 Muskets        486

20^th N.Y.      George W. Pratt     May 7, 1861                                        785

25^th N.Y.      Michael Bryan        April 23, 1861        1842 Muskets        500

28^th N.Y.      Michael Bennett     April 30, 1861        1842 Muskets        563

69^th N.Y.      Michael Corcoran   April 29, 1861        1842 Muskets        1050

71^st N.Y.      A.S. Vosburgh       April 21, 1861        1842 Muskets        950

 

This unidentified soldier of the elite 7th New York Militia poses in his elaborate militia uniform complete with a shako. The regiment left the state in April 1861 armed with Model 1855 Springfield rifle muskets as well as sandwiches from Delmonicos and velvet-covered camp stools upon which to sit and eat them. The sandwiches and camp stools didn't last long in the service. 

Regiments sent to front up to July 30^th 1861:

Regt. #        Colonel                 Date of Departure  How armed           Strength

1^st N.Y.        Wm. H. Allen                                     1842 Muskets        846

2^nd N.Y.       Jos B. Carr             May 19, 1861         1842 Muskets        791

3^rd N.Y.       Fred Townsend     June 3, 1861           Enfield Rifles         780

4^th N.Y.       A.W. Taylor                                        1842 Muskets        780

5^th N.Y.       Abram Duryee                                    1842 Muskets        842

6^th N.Y.       William Wilson      June 12, 1861         1840 Muskets        780

7^th N.Y.       John E. Bendix                                   1842 Muskets        783

8^th N.Y.       Louis Blenker        June 3, 1861           1842 Muskets        804

9^th N.Y.       Rush C. Hawkins   June 5, 1861           1842 Muskets        786

10^th N.Y.      W.W. McChesney  June 5, 1861           1842 Muskets        713

11^th N.Y.      Elmer Ellsworth    May 1, 1861                                        1079

12^th N.Y.      Ezra L. Walrath     May 29, 1861         1842 Muskets        778

13^th N.Y.      I.F Quinby            May 29, 1861         1840 Muskets        780

14^th N.Y.      James McQuade     June 17, 1861         1842 Muskets        780

15^th N.Y.      J. McL. Murphy     June 29, 1861         1842 Muskets        777

16^th N.Y.      Thos. A. Davies     June 25, 1861         1842 Muskets        776

17^th N.Y.      H.S. Lansing          June 21, 1861         1842 Muskets        803

18^th N.Y.      Wm. A. Jackson     June 18, 1861         Enfield Rifles         781

19^th N.Y.      John S. Clark          June 7, 1861           1840 Muskets        739

20^th N.Y.      Max Weber            June 19, 1861         1842 Muskets        800

21^st N.Y.      Wm. F. Rogers       June 18, 1861         1842 Muskets        777

22^nd N.Y.     Walter Phelps, Jr.    June 28, 1861         1842 Muskets        780

23^rd N.Y.      H.C. Hoffman       July 5, 1861            1842 Muskets        784

24^th N.Y.      Timothy Sullivan    July 2, 1861            1842 Muskets        780

25^th N.Y.      James E. Kerrigan  July 3, 1861            1842 Muskets        777

26^th N.Y.      Wm. H. Christian   June 20, 1861         1842 Muskets        772

27^th N.Y.      Henry W. Slocum   July 9, 1861            1842 Muskets        861

28^th N.Y.      D. Donnelly          June 24, 1861         Remington Rifles   782

29^th N.Y.      A. von Steinwehr   June 24, 1861         1842 Muskets        778

This group of soldiers from Co. E of the 29th New York Volunteer Infantry poses in this camp scene dating from 1862 when the regiment was serving in the Mountain Department under General John Fremont. A German regiment, the 29th served under Colonel Adolph von Steinwehr who later led a division of the 11th Army Corps during the Battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. The 29th mustered out of service June 20, 1863 being a two-year regiment. 

30^th N.Y.      Edward Frisby       June 27, 1861         1842 Muskets        782

31^st N.Y.      C.E. Pratt              June 27, 1861         1842 Muskets        774

32^nd N.Y.     R. Matheson          June 28, 1861         1842 Muskets        767

33^rd N.Y.      R.F. Taylor            July 8, 1861            1842 Muskets        895

34^th N.Y.      Wm. Ladue            July 2, 1861            1842 Muskets        783

35^th N.Y.      Wm. C. Brown       July 10, 1861          1842 Muskets        688

36^th N.Y.      C.H. Innes             July 12, 1861          1842 Muskets        780

37^th N.Y.      J.H. McCunn         June 22, 1861         1842 Muskets        803

38^th N.Y.      J.H.H. Ward          June 23, 1861         1842 Muskets        782

39^th N.Y.      F. D’Utassy           June 27, 1861         Harper’s Ferry Rif.  939

40^th N.Y.      E.J. Riley               July 4, 1861            1842 Muskets        1039

41^st N.Y.      L. von Gilsa           June 26, 1861         1842 Muskets and

                                                                             2 cos. With rifles    1041

42^nd N.Y.     Milton Cogswell     June 30, 1861                                      1048

79^th N.Y.      I.I. Stevens            June 4, 1861                Enfields             791

82^nd N.Y.     G.W.B. Tompkins  May -, 1861            1840 & 2 Muskets  1040

83^rd N.Y.      John W. Stiles        May 27, 1861                                      800

84^th N.Y.      Alfred M. Wood                                                              859

 

 

Private George E. Williams, Co. B, 5th New York (Duryee's Zouaves) poses with a Sharps rifle. Williams was promoted to corporal in January 1862 then to sergeant in July 1863 before being wounded and captured in the Wilderness while in the 146th New York. Duryee's Zouaves left New York in 1861 armed with .69 caliber Model 1842s but later traded them for this superior arm. The regiment is perhaps best remembered for its colorful garb and heavy casualties sustained on the second day of Second Bull Run. 

Regiments sent to the front between July 30^th 1861 and January 1, 1862:

Regt. #        Colonel                 Date of Departure  How armed           Strength

43^rd N.Y.      Francis L. Vinton   Sept. 19, 1861        1842 Muskets        834

44^th N.Y.      S.W. Stryker           October 21, 1861   Springfield Rifles    977

45^th N.Y.      G. von Amsberg    October 9, 1861     Remington Rifles   993

46^th N.Y.      Rudolph Rosa        Sept. 16, 1861        1840 Muskets and

                                                                             2 cos. With rifles    887

47^th N.Y.      Henry Moore         Sept. 16, 1861        1835 Muskets        700

48^th N.Y.      Jas. H. Perry           Sept. 17, 1861        Enfield rifles          889

49^th N.Y.      D.D. Bidwell          Sept. 21, 1861        1842 Muskets        826

50^th N.Y.      Chas. B. Stuart       Sept. 21, 1861        1822 Muskets        873

51^st N.Y.      Edward Ferrero     Nov. 10, 1861        1842 Muskets        882

52^nd N.Y.     Paul Frank             Nov. 11, 1861        1842 Muskets and

                                                                             2 cos. With rifles    744

53^rd N.Y.      L.J. D’Epineuil       Nov. 16, 1861                                     945

54^th N.Y.      E.Z. Kozlay           Nov. 10, 1861        1842 Muskets and

                                                                             2 cos. With rifles    860

55^th N.Y.      R. De Trobriand    Sept. 1, 1861          1842 Muskets and

                                                                             2 cos. With rifles    470

56^th N.Y.      C.H. Van Wyck      Nov. 7, 1861          Enfield Rifles         1143

57^th N.Y.      Samuel K. Zook     Nov. 12, 1861        Enfield Rifles         840

58^th N.Y.      W. Kryzanowski    Nov. 7, 1861          Enfield Rifles         822

59^th N.Y.      Wm. L. Tidball       Nov. 30, 1861                                     867

60^th N.Y.      Wm. B. Hayward   Nov. 4, 1861          1842 Muskets and

                                                                             2 cos. With rifles    902

61^st N.Y.      Spencer W. Cone   Nov. 10, 1861        Enfield Rifles         831

62^nd N.Y.     J. L. Riker                                           Enfield Rifles         988

63^rd N.Y.      R.C. Enright          Nov. 29, 1861        1842 Muskets        817

64^th N.Y.      Thomas J. Parker   Dec. 10, 1861         Enfield rifles and

                                                                             1842 Muskets        830

65^th N.Y.      John Cochrane       Oct. 10, 1861         1840 Muskets and

                                                                             2 cos. With rifles    857

66^th N.Y.      Jos. C. Pinckney     Nov. 16, 1861        French rifled musk. 775

67^th N.Y.      Julius Adams          October -, 1861                                  844

68^th N.Y.      Robert J. Betge      August -, 1861       Springfield Rifles    732

69^th N.Y.      Robert Nugent      Nov. 18, 1861        1842 Muskets and

                                                                   2 cos. With Enfield rifles  788

The 80th New York, the old 20th New York State Militia, left the state with the flank companies armed with rifle and the line companies armed with Model 1842s. This image of six soldiers dates from 1862 when it was part of General Irvin McDowell's First Army Corps. The regiment suffered 279 casualties at Second Bull Run in August 1862 and 170 out of 287 engaged at Gettysburg the following year. 

70^th N.Y.      Daniel E. Sickles    August -, 1861       Armed by U.S.       844

71^st N.Y.      Geo. B. Hall           August -, 1861       Armed by U.S.       844

72^nd N.Y.     Nelson Taylor        August -, 1861       Armed by U.S.       985

73^rd N.Y.      W.R. Brewster       September 1861     French rifles           856

74^th N.Y.      C.K. Graham         September 1861     Armed by U.S.       844

75^th N.Y.      John A. Dodge      Nov. 30, 1861        1842 Muskets        854

77^th N.Y.      Jas B. McKean       Nov. 27, 1861        Enfield Rifles         866

80^th N.Y.      Geo. W. Pratt        October 24, 1861   1842 Muskets and

                                                                             2 cos. With rifles    837

85^th N.Y.      U.L. Davis             December 3, 1861  Enfield rifles and

                                                                             Foreign muskets    944

86^th N.Y.      B.P. Bailey             Nov. 23, 1861        Smoothbores         944

87^th N.Y.      Stephen A. Dodge December 2, 1861  French rifled musk. 789

88^th N.Y.      Henry M. Baker     December 16, 1861 Austrian rifles         731

89^th N.Y.      H.S. Fairchild         December 6, 1861  Prussian muskets   873

90^th N.Y.      Jos. S. Morgan       December 16, 1861 Enfield Rifles         856

91^st N.Y.      Jacob van Zandt    December 20, 1861 Enfield Rifles         914

 

Private Henry F. Lincoln of Co. B of the 47th New York Volunteer Infantry stands proudly with his knapsack, canteen, cartridge box, and rifle musket. 

 

Source:

“The Army of New York,” Buffalo Commercial Advertiser (New York), January 17, 1862, pg. 2