96th Infantry Regiment
Nickname: Macomb's Regiment; Plattsburg Regiment
Mustered in: February 20 to March 7, 1862
Mustered out: February 6, 1866
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. James Fairman, was organized at Plattsburg, and there mustered in the service of the United States for three years February 20 to March 7, 1862. In August, 1862, Company G was merged into Company C. January 27, 1864, Company D was consolidated with Company B. December 1, 1864, the men of the 92d Infantry, not mustered out with their regiment, were assigned to this, and reformed Companies D and G. At the expiration of its term of enlistment, the men entitled thereto were discharged, and the regiment retained in service. June 13 and 29, 1865, the men of the 118th and 184th Infantry, respectively, not mustered out with their regiment, were assigned to this.
The companies were recruited principally: A at Chateaugay; B, C, D, Hand K at Plattsburg and vicinity; E at Fort Edward; F at Chazy and Mooers; G at Ticonderoga; I at Warrensburg.
The regiment left the State March 11, 1862; served in the 1st Brigade, 3d Division, 4th Corps, Army of the Potomac, from March, 1862; in 2d Brigade, same division and corps, from June, 1862; at Camp Hamilton, Va., from August, 1862; in Wessell's Brigade, 4th Corps, at Suffolk, Va., from November, 1862; in Hunt's, 1st, Brigade, Wessell's, 1st, Division, Department of North Carolina, from December, 1862; in 1st Brigade, 4th Division, 18th Corps, from January, 1863; in the District of Albemarle, Department of North Carolina, from May, 1863; in the District of Currituck, Va., from December, 1863; in the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 18th Corps, Army of the James, from April, 1864; in the 2d Brigade, same division and corps, from July 25, 1864; in New York harbor in November, 1864; in 2d Brigade, 3d Division, 24th Corps, Army of the James, from December, 1864; in the 1st Brigade, 3d Division, 24th Corps, from June, 1865; in the Department of Virginia, from August, 1865; and it was honorably discharged and mustered out, under Col. Stephen Moffitt, February 6, 1866, at City Point, Va.
During its service the regiment lost by death, killed in action, 7 officers, 41 enlisted men; of wounds received in action, 3 officers, 19 enlisted men; of disease and other causes, 2 officers, 158 enlisted men; total, 12 officers, 218 enlisted men; aggregate, 230; of whom 36 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.
Ninety-sixth infantry.—Cols., James Fairman, Charles O. Gray, Edgar M. Cullen, Stephen Moffitt; Lieut.-Cols., Charles O. Gray, Addis E. Woodhull, Gerard L. McKenzie, Stephen Moffitt, George W. Hindes; Majs., John E. Kelly, Charles H. Burhaus, Henry I. Pierce, George W. Hindes, Courtland G. Babcock. The 96th, known as the Plattsburg regiment, was recruited mainly at Platts-burg and vicinity, and there mustered into the U. S. service on Feb. 20 and March 7, 1862, for three years. It left for Washington on March 11, was assigned to the 1st brigade, 3d division, 4th corps, and embarked for the Peninsula; was present at the siege of York-town; fought in the battles of Williamsburg, Bottom's bridge and Savage Station; lost heavily at Fair Oaks; participated in the Seven Days' battles, and was stationed at Camp Hamilton, Va., until November, when it was ordered to Suffolk, where it remained for a month. With the 1st brigade, 1st division, it was then ordered to North Carolina and served in the 18th corps at New Berne and vicinity. It also participated in the Goldsboro expedition, Col. Gray being mortally wounded at Kinston. The 18th corps was transferred to the Army of the James in April, 1864, and the 96th formed a part of the 1st brigade, 1st division. During May it was present at Swift creek, Proctor's creek, Drewry's bluff and Bermuda Hundred, and joined the Army of the Potomac at Cold Harbor at the beginning of that battle. It then remained with the forces besieging Richmond until the end of the war, with the exception of the month of Nov., 1864, when it was ordered to New York harbor. Upon the organization of the 24th corps, the 96th became a part of the 3d division, remained in the field as a veteran regiment and received in Dec., 1864, the veterans and recruits of the 92nd N. Y. infantry. The regiment was active at Fort Harrison, with a total loss of 103 killed, wounded or missing; at Fair Oaks, and in the general assault on the Petersburg works, April 2, 1865. On June 13, 1865, the 118th and l84th N. Y. infantry were assigned to the 96th, and the regiment mustered put at City Point, Va., Feb. 6, l866, having been retained in service in the vicinity of Richmond for the performance of various necessary police and garrison du-ties. During its term of service the regiment lost 70 by death from wounds and 160 from other causes, of whom 36 died in prison.
NYSMM Online Resources
Battles and Casualties from Phisterer (pdf)
Battles and Casualties from Phisterer (spreadsheet)