75th Infantry Regiment

Nickname: Auburn Regiment; Cayuga County Regiment

Mustered in: November 26, 1861
Mustered out: August 23, 1865

The following is taken from New York in the War of the Rebellion, 3rd ed. Frederick Phisterer. Albany: J. B. Lyon Company, 1912. 

This regiment, Col. John A. Dodge, was organized at Auburn, received its numerical designation November 14, 1861; and was mustered in the service of the United States (nine companies), at Auburn, for three years, November 26, 1861. The men were recruited principally in the counties of Cayuga and Seneca. Company K joined the regiment June 24, 1862, having left the State June 13, 1862. In April, 1864, a new Company K was again organized to take the place of the one consolidated with the other companies April 10, 1864. The men entitled to be discharged at the expiration of the term of service were, November 19, 1864, ordered to Auburn, and there honorably discharged December 7, 1864; the regiment was continued in service, but consolidated, November 19, 1864, into a battalion of five companies, A, B, C, D and E; the men of Company H being transferred to Company A; those of I to Company B; of K to Company C; of G to Company D; and those of F to Company E. In April, 1865, the 31st Independent Company of Infantry joined the battalion as its Company F.
| The regiment (nine companies) left the State December 6, 1861; served at Santa Rosa Island and Fort Pickens, Fla., from December, 1861; at Pensacola, Fla., from May, 1862; at New Orleans, La., Department of the Gulf, from September, 1862; in Weitzel's Reserve Brigade, Department of the Gulf, from October, 1862; in 2d Brigade, 1st Division, 19th Corps, from January, 1863; in Reserve Brigade, 1st Division, 19th Corps, from August, 1863; in 3d Brigade, 1st Division, 19th Corps, from September, 1863; was mounted and joined the 3d Cavalry Brigade in October, 1863; on veteran furlough in January and February, 1864, the non-veterans, about 90 men, serving with Companies K and L, I4th Cavalry, and rejoining the regiment June 28, 1864; the veteran regiment left for Washington, D. C., 22d Corps, as infantry, April 2, 1864; for Department of the Gulf, May 20, 1864; served in the 1st Brigade, 2d Division, 19th Corps, from June 4, 1864; with the Army of the James, from 21st to 31st of July, 1864; in the Shenandoah valley from August, 1864; left for Savannah, Ga., January II, 1865; served in the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 10th Corps, from February, 1865; in the 3d Brigade, 1st Division, Department of Georgia, from March, 1865; and it was honorably discharged and mustered out, under Col. Robert P. York, August 31, 1865, at Savannah, Ga.
During its service the regiment lost by death, killed in action, 3 officers, 50 enlisted men; of wounds received in action, 1 officer, 42 enlisted men; of disease and other causes, 109 enlisted men; total, 4 officers, 201 enlisted men; aggregate, 205; of whom 10 enlisted men died in the hands of the enemy; and it, or portions of it.

The following is taken from The Union army: a history of military affairs in the loyal states, 1861-65 -- records of the regiments in the Union army -- cyclopedia of battles -- memoirs of commanders and soldiers. Madison, WI: Federal Pub. Co., 1908. volume II. 

Seventy-fifth Infantry.—Cols., John A. Dodge, Robert B. Mer-ritt, Robert P. York; Lieut.-Cols., Robert P. York, William M. Hosmer, Robert B. Merritt, Willoughby Babcock; Majs. Willoughby Babcock, Lewis E. Carpenter, Benjamin F. Thurber, William M. Hosmer, Charles H. Cox. The 75th, known as the Auburn regiment, was composed mainly of members from Cayuga and Seneca counties, and was mustered into the service of the United States at Auburn, for a three years' term, Nov. 26, 1861. It embarked for the south on Dec. 6; was stationed at Santa Rosa island and Fort Pickens, Fla., during its first winter in the service, and formed part of the garrison of Pensacola during the summer of 1862. While here Co. K joined the regiment, which was ordered to New Orleans in September. It was assigned to Weitzel's reserve brigade, which had a brisk fight at Georgia landing. Upon the organization of the 19th corps in Jan., 1863, the regiment became a part of the 2nd brigade, 1st division and moved to Bayou Teche, La. It lost 17 in an engagement at Fort Bisland in April, and in the assaults on Port Hudson, May 27 and June 14 it lost 107 in killed, wounded and miss-.ing, the 1st division bearing the brunt of the fight. After the surrender of Port Hudson, July 9, the troops performed garrison duty. From August to September, the regiment served with the reserve brigade of the 1st division; in September it was assigned to the 3d brigade of the same division; in October it was mounted and attached to the 3d cavalry brigade, and during the winter a sufficiently large number of the men reenlisted to secure the continuance of the 75th as a veteran regiment. While the reenlisted men were on furlough, the remainder of the regiment served with the 14th N. Y. cavalry and rejoined the regiment June 28, 1864. At Sabine Pass, the regiment lost 85 killed, wounded or missing and during Nov., 1863, it was stationed near New Iberia and Camp Lewis, La. In March, 1864, the command entered upon the Red River campaign and in July it was ordered to New Orleans. After the regiment was reunited, in June, 1864, it served until the middle of July with the 1st brigade, 2nd division, 19th corps, and then embarked for Virginia, where it became a part of the Army of the James and joined in the pursuit of Gen. Early in the Shenandoah Valley. It was engaged at Halltown, the Opequan, where the loss was 73 killed, wounded and missing, at Fisher's hill and Cedar creek, where it also suffered severely. The original members not reenlisted were mustered out at Auburn, N. Y., Dec. 6, 1864, and the veterans and recruits consolidated into a battalion of five companies, which was ordered early in Jan., 1865, to Savannah, Ga., and assigned to the 1st brigade, 1st division, 10th corps. The regiment served at Savannah until August, and in April, received the veterans and recruits of the 31st independent company N. Y. infantry. It was mustered out at Savannah, Aug. 3, 1865, having lost 106 by death from wounds, and 109 from other causes.

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75th Regiment NY Volunteer Infantry | National Color | Civil War

On November 21, 1861, the 75th Regiment New York Volunteers, or “Auburn Regiment” after the regiment’s home city of Auburn, New York, received a stand…

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NYSMM Online Resources

Battles and Casualties from Phisterer (pdf)
Battles and Casualties from Phisterer (spreadsheet)

Muster Roll

Unit Roster

Newspaper Clippings

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Other Resources

This is meant to be a comprehensive list. If, however, you know of a resource that is not listed below, please send an email to ng.ny.nyarng.list.historians@army.mil with the name of the resource and where it is located. This can include photographs, letters, articles and other non-book materials. Also, if you have any materials in your possession that you would like to donate, the museum is always looking for items specific to New York's military heritage. Thank you.

Annibal, George. Poetical sketch of the service rendered by the 75th New York Vet. Vol's, 1861 to 1865. Auburn, N.Y. : Cossum & Cuykendall, paper manufacturers, 1900s.

Babcock, Willoughby. Selections from the letters and diaries of Brevet-Brigadier General Willoughby Babcock of the Seventy-fifth New York volunteers, a study of camp life in the Union armies during the Civil war, by Willoughby M. Babcock, Jr. [Albany]: University of the State of New York, 1922. (Division of archives and history War of the rebellion series bulletin no 2.).

Beauregard, G. T. Robert P. York Collection of P. G. T. Beauregard Papers, 1860-1865.
1 linear feet (2 manuscript boxes)
Held by Columbia University

Case, Austin. Austin Case Letters.
Group of approximately 60 letters.
Will be donated by Harlow Case to Syracuse University.

Civil War Collection,1861-1980, 1861-1865 (bulk).
Description: 0.7 cubic ft. (ca.)
Abstract: Reports and letters of Capt. Joseph L. Thomas, stationed in military district of Arkansas, 1863-1864; material on Civil War Centennial and activities of 1st New York Dragoons (Reactivated); cartes-de-visite of Civil War generals and private soldiers; reminiscences of service at Pensacola Bay and elsewhere by Rev. J.N. Brown, chaplain with 111th New York Volunteers, also manuscript regimental roster; Civil War songbooks; papers and photo of Capt. Homer O. Stafford of 75th New York Volunteers, a Negro regiment, also subscription by his men for gift to him when he retired in 1864; diary of Sylvester H. Simpson, Company D, 4th New York Heavy Artillery, 1862; pension papers of Alonzo B. Shephard; letters of Abner and Charles Supplee and others; photo album of East Bloomfield soldiers.
Located at the Victor Historical Society/Valentown Museum, 403 Valentown Square, Fishers, New York 14453

Coppernoll, Ferdinando H. Ferdinando H. Coppernoll diaries, 1863-1918.
Description: 14 items
Abstract: The collection consists mainly of eight diaries of Ferdinando Coppernoll from 1863-1918. The diaries cover his service in the Civil War (1863-1865) and, after the war, life in New York (1884-1918). The diaries rarely discuss the war itself, but deal more with his day-to-day activities while on campaign mainly in Louisiana and Texas.
Note(s): Cataloged as part of the Georgia Archives and Manuscripts Automated Access Project: A Special Collections Gateway Program of the University Center in Georgia./ Collection number: MS305./ Bio/History: Ferdinando H. Coppernoll, Union Civil War soldier, fought in Company B, 75th Regiment of the New York Volunteers.
General Info: Organization: Arranged in chronological order./ Preferred citation: Ferdinando H. Coppernoll diaries. 
Located at the Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, University of Georgia Libraries.

Cossum, Frederic. Partial history of the 75th N.Y. Veteran's Vol's, in the War of the Rebellion,vol. 5th. Auburn, N.Y., Knapp, Peck & Thomson, 1892.
Located at the University of Rochester and Hamilton College.

"Experience of Serg’t Barnes, Co.B, 75th N Y V." Neighbor’s Home Mail, (1879) 135.

Gero, Anthony, & Sturcke, Roger. "75th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment (2d Auburn Regiment), 1861-1865." Military Collector & Historian 56:1 (Spring 2004) 62-63.

Hall, Henry and James Hall. Cayuga in the Field. A Record of the 19th N.Y. Volunteers, all the batteries of the 3d New York Artillery, and 75th New York Volunteers, comprising an account of their organization, camp life, marches, battles, lsses, toils and triumphs in the war for the Union, with complete rolls of their members. Auburn, NY: Truair Smith, 1873.

Hastings, Hugh,; 1856-1916. New York (State). State Historian. Third annual report of the State Historian of the State of New York, 1897 : Transmitted to the Legislature March 14, 1898. New York: Wynkoop, Hallenbeck, Crawford Co. 1898. 

Hopping, Francis A. New York (State). Bureau of Military Statistics. "Francis A. Hopping. Havana, Schuyler Co., N.Y., Nov. 2d, 1864." Fifth Annual Report of the Bureau of Military Statistics, with Appendices : 5th Annual Report of the Bureau of Military Statistics, with Appendices. Albany, NY: C. Van Benthuysen & Sons' Steam Printing House, 1868. 285-286.

Hoxie, William S. Letter, 1865 May 16.
Description: 1 item (3 p.)
Abstract: Letter written by Hoxie from headquarters in Savannah, Georgia to his sister Jennie (May 16, 1865). Serving with the 75th N.Y., he writes of the capture of Jefferson Davis and the "great glee here in Savannah" as a result.
Note(s): Bio/History: Second Lieutenant in the 75th New York Infantry Regiment.
General Info: Access: open to qualified researchers at The New-York Historical Society.

Hunting, Frank M. Civil War Miscellaneous Collection 
(Enlisted man's diary, Oct 7, 1864-Jun 2, 1865)
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Keller, John. LeighColl
(Enlisted man's letter, Sep 30, 1864)
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Mathews, John D. John Mathews Civil War diary,
Description:    1 item, 72 pages (1 folder) (0.2 linear ft.)
Abstract:    One Civil War diary kept by John D. Mathews, Co. F Vet. Vol. N.Y., from March 26, 1864 to March 19, 1865, 72 p. Enclosure: Receipt of registered letter August 4, 1875 of J.D. Mathews addressed to George W. Mathews.
Held by The Buffalo History Museum

McArthur, Henry S. "A Yank at Sabine Pass." Civil War Times Illustrated (Dec 1973): pp. 38-43.

McArthur, Henry S. CWTIColl
(Enlisted man's biog, 1835-1905; memoirs, 1863-64)
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA. 

Miller, James Griffin. James G. Miller documents, 1863-1864.
Description:    4 items.
Abstract:    This collection is comprised of documents related to the Civil War conscription of James Griffin Miller, a resident of Clay, New York.
Held by the The William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan

Mortin, Donald E.  Following the drum : the story of the 75th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment in the US Civil War told in their own words. Auburn, NY : Dramatic Improvements Pub., 2006

"Penned by Rebel leaders." New York Times. 17 June 1883.

Pettiner, Joseph. "A New Yorker at Antietam." Civil War Times Illustrated. 19 :8 December, 1980. 29.

Raus, Edmund J., 1945. Where duty called them : the story of the Samuel Babcock family of Homer, New York in the Civil War . Daleville, VA: Schroeder Publications, c2001.

Remington, Albert O. 1861-1862. Letters.
Description: 1 folder
Abstract: Letters from Remington describing his trip from Auburn, N.Y., to Pensacola, Fla., life at Fork Pickens, and conditions in Pensacola after the Confederate evacuation.
Note(s): Photocopy of originals at Tulane University./ Bio/History: Soldier with the 75th Regiment, Company H, New York State Volunteers.
General Info: Occupation: Soldiers/ United States./ Soldiers/ New York (State)
Located at the University of West Florida, Special Collections Dept. (Pensacola, Fla.)

Root, William H. "The experiences of a Federal soldier in Louisiana in 1863. Introduction by Walter Prichard." Louisiana historical quarterly XIX (1936) 635-67.

Root family. Root family papers.
Description:    .9 cubic feet.
Abstract:    Civil War letters and daily journals of William Harrison Root, a lieutenant in Company B, 75th Regiment, New York Volunteers. Also a notebook of Root's, clippings, and his account book of Company B, 1861. Also, letters and reminiscences, between Helen Isabel Root and her parents. Additional material includes account books, clippings, correspondence and transcripts, pamphlets, genealogical charts, deeds and other legal documents, and photographs of the Shepard and Osborn families. Civil War letters and daily journals of William Harrison Root, a lieutenant in Company B, 75th Regiment, New York Volunteers. The letters between Root, his parents, sister and brothers document daily life in camp, battles and the administration of the army, including his capture and subsequent imprisionment at Camp Grace, Texas in 1863. Also a notebook of Root's, clippings, and his account book of Company B, 1861. Also, letters, and typescripts of selected letters and reminiscences, between Helen Isabel Root (Cornell University Class of 1896) and her parents. Helen I. Root, the daughter of William Root was a missionary in Ceylon and India and this correspondence documents her daily life as a missionary and records information about the cultures in which she lived. She was also editor of "The Missionary Tidings" a publication of the Women's Missionary Society Free Methodist Church. Additional material includes account books, clippings, correspondence and transcripts, pamphlets, genealogical charts, deeds and other legal documents, and photographs of the Shepard and Osborn families. Material concerns areas of Fort Byron, Cayuga County; Virgil, Cortland County; and Spencer, Tioga County, New York.
Held by Cornell University

Simmons, Albert W. [Letter from Saddler Albert Walker Simmons of Co. H, 75th New York Infantry Regiment to his wife, Margaret]
Year:    1863
Description:    1 item ; sheet 21 x 26 cm.
Held by the Library of Congress

Simmons, Albert W.  Albert W. Simmons Papers, 1878-1902.
Description:    1 folder (SC)
Abstract:    Letters and documents pertaining to Albert W. Simmons, resident of Auburn, NY, and his attempts (later his widow's attempts) to get a pension for his military service.
Held by Syracuse University

Smith, John Henry. GladstoneColl 
(Enlisted man's letters, Mar 12, 1862 & Jan 24, 1864)
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Sprague, James H. Reminiscence.
Description: 0.1 c.f.
Abstract: "The Civil War Reminiscences of James H. Sprague," a 33-page typewritten transcript of a photocopied ms. (also included) describing the experiences of Sprague, a farmer from Delaware, N.Y., in Co. F., 75th Regiment New York Infantry, which helped hold Fort Pickens in Pensacola, Fla. and was part of the "Weitzel Brigade" in Louisiana. Sprague was taken prisoner by Confederate forces at Cedar Creek, Va., jailed at Salisbury, N.C., and discharged at Savannah in 1865. The ungrammatical account also describes some experiences of his brother Bowles, who was part of the Ambulance Corps in the same company. File includes a photocopied page describing him from his company's "Descriptive Book."
Located at: the Wisconsin Historical Society Archives.

Yawyer, Peter M. Peter M. Yawyer letter, 1863 Jan. 10.
Description: 1 item.
Abstract: Letter from Peter Yawyer, stationed at Camp Stevens near Thibodeaux, La., comments on Confederate guerilla activities, civilian morale, the general attitude of freed African Americans, and the effectiveness of African American troops. He also remarks on the effects of war on the sugarcane harvest.
Note(s): This manuscript group includes materials originally accessioned as Mss. 2735./ Bio/History: Peter M. Yawyer was a Union soldier serving in the 75th Regiment of the New York Volunteers during the Civil War.
Located at LSU.

 

Items in the museum collection are in bold.