History

The 3rd Infantry Regiment was one of twelve New York State National Guard units federalized for service in the Spanish-American War. The 3rd Regiment was created from a mixture of twelve separate companies drawn from the ranks of 4th Brigade of the New York National Guard. The twelve companies were brought together on May 2nd, 1898 at Camp Black. Upon their arrival at the camp they were grouped into three battalions. The First Battalion consisted of 30t, 43rd, 47th, and 48th Separate Companies, which were re-designated companies L, I, K, and D respectively. The Second Battalion contained the 2nd, 8th, 34th, and 41st Separate Companies, renamed companies M, A, B, and C. Finally the Third Battalion was composed of the 1st, 25th, 29th, and 42nd Separate Companies, which became companies H, G, F, and E. The regiment drew its membership from a number of upstate communities. Companies A and H came from Rochester and companies B, C, D, and E came from Geneva, Syracuse, Oswego, and Niagara Falls respectively. Companies F, G, I, K, L, and M were recruited from Medina, Tonawanda, Olean, Hornellsville, Elmira, and Auburn respectively. The regiment was officially mustered in on May 17th, 1898 and designated the “3rd Regiment Infantry, New York State Vols.”

On May 20th, 1898 the regiment received its orders and was moved to camp Alger in Loring, VA. The regiment was assigned to the First Brigade of the Second Division of the Second Army Corp. along with the 22nd Kansas and the 159th Indiana. The regiment moved around the Northern and Central VA area for several months in an attempt to beat the outbreaks of disease which often occurred in sedentary camp life. The regiment never saw combat, proceeding home after this series of marches and mustering out completely by December 10th, 1898.