78th Infantry Regiment

Nickname: Seventy-Eighth Highlanders; Lochiel Cameron Highlanders; First Regiment, Eagle Brigade

Mustered in: October 1, 1861 to April 12, 1862.
Consolidated with 102nd regiment of infantry: July 2,1864.

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 was organized in New York City April 26, 1862, by the consolidation of the men enlisted by Col. Samuel McK. Elliott since April, 1862, for the Lochiel Cameron Highlanders, the original 78th Regiment, and of those enlisted by Gen. Gustavus A. Scroggs for his, or part of the, 4th Regiment, Eagle Brigade, with the men enlisted by Col. Daniel Ullman for the 1st Regiment, Eagle Brigade, with the latter as Colonel. It was mustered in the service of the United States for three years between October 1, 1861, and April 12, 1862. 
The companies were recruited principally: A, B and C in New York City; D in Utica; E in Buffalo; F at Bath; G at China; H at Rochester; I at Suspension Bridge, and K in Michigan.
The regiment left the State April 29, 1862; served at Washington, D. C.; at Harper's Ferry, W. Va., from May 25, 1862; in 2d Brigade, Sigel's Division, Department Shenandoah, from June 16, 1862; in 3d Brigade, 2d Division, 2d Corps, Army of Virginia, from June 26, 1862; in same brigade and division, 12th Corps, from September 12, 1862; in same brigade and division, 20th Corps, Army of the Cumberland, from April 20, 1864; and it was transferred, under Col. Herbert Hammerstein, July 12, 1864, to the 102d Infantry.
During its service the regiment lost by death, killed in action, 2 officers, 39 enlisted men; of wounds received in action, 1 officer, 16 enlisted men; of disease and other causes, 1 officer, 75: enlisted men; total, 4 officers, 130 enlisted men; aggregate, 134; of whom 4 enlisted men died in the hands of the enemy.

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-eighth Infantry.—Cols., Daniel Ullman, Herbert Ham-merstein; Lieut.-Cols., Jonathan Austin, Henry C. Blanchard, Henry R. Stagg, Herbert Hammerstein, William Chalmers; Majs., Henry C. Blanchard, Henry R. Stagg, William H. Randall. The 78th, known as the 78th Highlanders, was composed principally of members from New York city, Utica, Buffalo, Bath, China, Rochester and Suspension Bridge, with one company from Michigan. It was mustered into the U. S. service at New York city, Oct. I, 1861, to April 12, 1862, for a three years' term, and left for Washington on April 29. The regiment encamped for a short time at Washington and on May 25, was ordered to Harper's Ferry, where it was assigned to the 2nd brigade, Sigel's division, Department of the Shenandoah and on June 26 it became a part of the 3d brigade, 2nd division, 2nd corps, Army of Virginia. The command was first closely engaged at Cedar mountain, where it lost 22 killed, wounded or missing. At Antietam the loss was 34, and the regiment moved from there to Hillsboro and Ripon, Va., and went into winter quarters with the 12th corps, to which it had been assigned on Sept. 12, with the same brigade and division as before. At Chancellorsville in May, 1863, the 12th corps bore an important part and the 78th suffered severely—131 in killed, wounded and missing. In June the regiment moved to Gettysburg, where it was closely engaged in the battle and upon the arrival of the army in Virginia, was ordered to join the forces in Tennessee. It arrived at Bridgeport, Ala., Oct. 1; was in action at Wauhatchie, Tenn.; shared in the ensuing engagements in the vicinity of Chattanooga, and passed the winter in that locality. In May, 1864, with the same brigade and division, 20th corps, the regiment moved with Gen. Sherman on the advance toward Atlanta, being engaged at Mill Creek gap, Resaca, Dallas, and in the battles about Kennesaw mountain. On July 12, 1864, owing to depleted ranks the 78th was transferred to the 102nd N. Y. infantry, with which it completed its term of enlistment. During its service the regiment lost 58 by death from wounds and 75 from other causes.

NYSMM Online Resources

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

Muster Roll

Unit Roster

Newspaper Clippings

Historical Sketch

Monument at Gettysburg
 

Search the Museum catalog for this unit

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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.

 

Fennell, Charles C. The attack and defense of Culp's Hill : Greene's Brigade at the battle of Gettysburg, July 1-3, 1863. 1992.

Fox, William F. New York (State). Monuments Commission for the Battlefields of Gettysburg and Chattanooga. Greene and his New York troops at Gettysburg : In memoriam: George Sears Greene, brevet major-general, United States volunteers, 1801-1899. Albany: J. B. Lyon company, state printers, 1909.

Fuller, Winfield Scott and Eldred P. Gray. Record book, 1861-1869.
Description: 1 item.
Abstract: Chiefly record book (1861-1869) of two surgeons with the 78th N.Y. Infantry, Fuller and Eldred P. Gray, providing information about the infantry's sick and wounded, and medical supplies. Also served as a letter book with entries indicating the regiment was located in New York and Virginia (1862) and in Alabama (1864), and as an account book for Fuller's medical practice in Perrinton and Fairport, Monroe Co., N.Y., 1867-1869.
Note(s): Bio/History: Physician from Monroe Co., N.Y. Surgeon, 78th N.Y. Infantry, 1863-1864.
Located at Duke University.

Fuller, Albert Gilman. Albert G. Fuller reminiscences,
Description:    1 item
Abstract:    This collection consists of Clarice A. Bouton's transcriptions of the Civil War reminiscences of her grandfather, Albert G. Fuller. Fuller, a native of Reading, Michigan, served in the 78th New York Infantry Regiment, Company K, and participated in actions including the Battle of Chancellorsville, the Battle of Gettysburg, and Sherman's March to the Sea.
Held by the University of Michigan.

Greene, Albert Rowland. "From Bridgeport to Ringold by way of Look out mountain, by Albert R. Greene, late First Lieutenant Seventy-eighth New York." Personal Narratives of Events in the War of the Rebellion: Being Papers Read Before the Rhode Island Soldiers and Sailors Historical Society. Volume 6. (Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States-Rhode Isalnd, MOLLUS-R.I.) Providence: Published by the Society 1889-1890, 269-312.

Howe, Thomas H. Adventures of an escaped Union soldier from Andersonville prison in 1864. San Francisco, H. S. Crocker & co.1886.
Available online at:
http://www.archive.org/details/adventuresofesca00howe

McArthur, Sullivan F. Family correspondence, 1861-1867.
Description: 1 box (ca. 200 items) (0.5 linear ft.)
Abstract: Bulk consists of letters to family members from Sullivan F. McArthur.
Note(s): Bio/History: Enlisted 9 Nov. 1861 at Bowmansville to serve three years. Fought with Co. E, 78th N.Y. Infantry, was captured at Chancellorsville and, after being paroled, transferred to Co. K., 102nd N.Y. Infantry.
General Info: Organization: Organized into two series: I. Letters from Sullivan F. McArthur, 1861-1865. II. Family letters, 1862-1867.
Located at the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society Archives, A64-38, Sullivan F. McArthur Family Correspondence.

Murray, R.L. (ed.) New Yorkers in the Civil War v. 4. Wolcott, NY: Benedum Books, 2004.

Murray, R. L. "A perfect storm of lead" : George Sears Greene and his New York Brigade in defense of Culp's Hill. Wolcott, N.Y. Benedum Books, c2000.

New York (State). Monuments Commission for the Battlefields of Gettysburg and Chattanooga. In memoriam: George Sears Greene, brevet major-general, United States volunteers, 1801-1899. Albany: J. B. Lyon company, state printers, 1909.

Seeley, Napoleon Bonapart. Stories of the Civil war in prose and poem, [n. p., c1905].
Available online at:
http://www.archive.org/details/storiesofcivilwa00seel

Slocum, Henry W. New York (State). Monuments Commission for the Battlefields of Gettysburg and Chattanooga. "Reunion of Greene's New York Brigade, Gettysburg, PA., July 3, 1893." Final report on the battlefield of Gettysburg Albany: J.B. Lyon Co., printers, 1902. 258-263.

Smith family. Rawson Smith family papers, 1850-1892.
Description:    0.1 cubic ft. (4 folders)
Abstract:    The Smith family papers consist mostly of Alfred Smith's letters to his parents, Rawson and Abigail Rawson, while he was in the Army, and correspondence exchanged by family members in Michigan and New York in the years following the Civil War. The collection also includes various documents including insurance policies, deeds, mortgages, and a lottery advertisement (1868). Subjects of particular interest from Alfred's correspondence include conditions in the Union hospital at Albany, New York (July 12, 1862); Smith's transfer from the Army of the Potomac in Virginia to the Army of the Cumberland in Tennessee (October 8, 1863); the Battle of Marietta, Georgia (July 13, 1864); and a scheme by "copperheads" to set up a Northwestern Confederacy (August 4, 1864). Alfred Smith also set forth his opinion on the necessity of abolishing slavery and disagreed with General McClellan's plan to allow the South back into the Union on the same footing as before the war (October 24, 1864). After the war, Alfred spent some time in Lansing, Michigan. His letters include a description of the new capitol building plans (March 10, 1872), and an account of his visit to the state legislature when Zachariah Chandler was elected to succeed U.S. Senator Isaac P. Christiancy (February 15, 1879).
Held by Michigan State University 

United States. Army. New York Infantry Regiment. Greene's Brigade. 30th anniversary, 1863-1893, souvenir of the reunion, July 1st to 3rd, 1893, of Greene's Brigade : 3rd Brigade, 2nd Div., 12th Corps, the 60th, 78th, 102nd, 137th, and 149th N.Y. Vols. : who, alone at Culp's Hill, in the 2nd day's battle saved the right at Gettysburg. Syracuse, N.Y. Published for the comrades of the renowned defenders by the Acme Pub. Bureau, 1893.

Walworth, Benjamin. Benjamin Walworth papers, 1816-1869.
Description:    21 items
Abstract:    Appointments of Walworth as surgeon mate of the 78th Regiment of New York Infantry, 1816; as judge, Chautauqua County, New York, 1828 and 1834; as Examiner in Chancery for Chautauqua County, 1831, 1837, and 1844; as Health Officer, Fredonia, New York, 1869; and as delegate to the New York State Democratic Convention, 1853 and 1863; also letters connected with his public positions, and other papers.
Held by Historical Documents Inventory | New York State Archives

"Welcome to their old chief." : Major Gen. Greene's Brigade Gathered at Culp's Hill." New York Times. July 3, 1893.

Whittier, Edward, "The Left Attack (Ewell's), Gettysburg." by Brevet Captain Edward N. Whittier, U.S.V. Fifth Maine Battery. A Paper Prepared and Read before the Massachusetts Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, (MOLLUS) February 10, 1891.

 

Items in the museum collection are in bold.