112th Infantry Regiment

Nickname: Chautauqua Regiment

Mustered in: September 11, 1862
Mustered out: June 13, 1865.

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

July 21, 1862, Col. A. F. Allen, succeeded, September 3, 1862, by Col. Jeremiah C. Drake, received authority to recruit this regiment in the counties of Chautauqua and Cattaraugus; it was organized at Jamestown and there mustered in the service of the United States for three years September 11, 1862. The men not to be mustered out with the regiment and some of its officers were transferred to the 3d Infantry June 13, 1865.
The companies were recruited principally: A at Ellicott, Carroll, Poland and Gerry; B at Pomfret, Stockton, Charlotte and Gerry; C at Hanover, Villanova, Cherry Creek and Arkwright; D at Harmony, Mina, French Creek, Clymer, Busti and Kiantone; E at Westfield, Ripley, Chautauqua, Sherman and Ellery; F at Ellicott, Harmony and Gerry; G at Dunkirk, Portland and Sheridan; H at Chautauqua; I at Pomfret and Stockton; and K at Hanover, Villanova and Cherry Creek.
The regiment left the State September 12, 1862; served at Suffolk, Va., Department of Virginia, from September 17, 1862; in Foster's Brigade, 1st Division, Department of Virginia, from November, 1862; in the Provisional Brigade, 4th Corps, from January,
1863; at Suffolk, Va., in Foster's Brigade, from February, 1863; in Foster's Brigade, Getty's Division, Department of Virginia, from March, 1863; in same brigade, Corcoran's Division, 7th Corps, from April, 1863; on the Peninsula, Va., in Foster's Brigade, 7th Corps, in June and July, 1863; in Foster's Brigade, 18th Corps, Department of the South, on Folly Island, S. C, from August, 1863; before Fort Wagner, and on Black Island, S. C., from September, 1863; on Folly Island, S. C., in 10th Corps, from October, 1863; at Jacksonville, Fla., 10th Corps, from February, 1864; in 2d Brigade, 3d Division, 10th Corps, Army of the James, from April, 1864; in 2d Brigade, 3d Division, 18th Corps, from May 30, 1864; in 1st Brigade, 2d Division, 10th Corps, from June 15, 1864; in 1st Brigade, 2d Division, 24th Corps, from December, 1864; in Provisional Corps from March, 1865; in 1st Brigade, 2d Division, 10th Corps, from April 2, 1865; and it was honorably discharged and mustered out, under Col. Ephraim A. Ludwick, June 13, 1865, at Raleigh, N. C.
During its service the regiment lost by death, killed in action, 4 officers, 75 enlisted men; of wounds received in action, 5 officers, 44 enlisted men; of disease and other causes, 3 officers, 196 enlisted men; total, 12 officers, 315 enlisted men; aggregate, 327; of whom 22 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. 

One Hundred and Twelfth Infantry.—Cols., Jeremiah C. Drake, John F. Smith, Ephraim A. Ludwick; Lieut.-Cols., Frederick A. Redington, Elial F. Carpenter, John F. Smith, William H. Chad-dock, Ephraim A. Ludwick, Alfred Dunham; Majs., Elial F. Carpenter, John F. Smith, William H. Chaddock, Ephraim A. Ludwick, Joseph S. Matthews. This regiment, known as the Chautauqua regiment, was raised in Chautauqua county—the 32nd senatorial district. The companies rendezvoused at Jamestown, and were mustered into the U. S. service on Sept. 11, 1862, for three years. Col. Drake at the time of his appointment was a captain in the 49th N. Y. infantry, and was a graduate of Rochester university. He had left the pastorate of a Baptist church in West-field, N. Y., to respond to the first call for troops. The regiment left the state Sept. 12, embarking for Fortress Monroe, whence it proceeded to Suffolk, Va. It was engaged at Franklin, Zuni, and Deserted House, having 1 killed, and 1 wounded in the last named action. It shared with credit in the siege of Suffolk in the spring of 1863, where much sickness prevailed and it lost severely by disease. In June, 1863, with Foster's brigade, 7th corps, it participated in the campaign up the Peninsula,—a campaign, trying by reason of the heat and the rapid forced marches. It was ordered to Folly island, N. C, in Aug., 1863; shared in the operations about Charleston harbor, including the siege of Fort Wagner and the bombardments of Fort Sumter. In the latter part of Feb., 1864, it sailed for Florida, encamping at Jacksonville until April 21, when it embarked with its division for Yorktown, Va. Here it was placed in Gen. Butler's Army of the James, and assigned to Drake's (2nd) brigade, Ames' (3d) division, l0th corps, with which it took part in the campaign in May against Richmond, via the James river. On May 6, it disembarked at Bermuda Hundred and was engaged during the month at Port Walthall Junction, and Chester Station, Swift creek, Proctor's creek, Drewry's bluff, and Bermuda Hundred, losing 35 in killed, wounded and missing, the gallant and popular Lieut.-Col. Carpenter being mortally wounded in the engagement at Drewry's bluff on May 16. In the first assault at Cold Harbor it suffered severely, losing 28 killed, 140 wounded and 12 missing. It suffered some loss during the first assaults on Petersburg, and at the mine explosion. At the battle of Fort Harrison it lost 6 killed, 38 wounded and 16 missing, and at the Darbytown road, 7 killed, 28 wounded. In Dec., 1864 it sailed with Ames' division to Fort Fisher, N. C., where in the final assault on the works it lost II killed and 36 wounded, Col. Smith being killed while bravely leading the regiment. Its subsequent active service was at the Cape Fear intrenchments, Fort Anderson, Wilmington, and the final campaign of the Carolinas, in which it was engaged at Cox's bridge, Faisson's and Bennett's house. It was mustered out under Col. Ludwick, June 13, 1865, at Raleigh, N. C. The total enrollment of the regiment during service was 1,481, of whom 9 officers and 119 men were killed and mortally wounded; 3 officers and 196 men died of disease and other causes—total deaths 327. The total number of killed and wounded was 541, and 22 died in Confederate prisons. Col. Fox numbers the 112th among the three hundred fighting regiments.

NYSMM Online Resources

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

Muster Roll

Unit Roster
 

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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.

Allen, Orrin S. and Rockwell, William L.  Dear Frank :the war years, 1862-1865. United States: W.L. Rockwell, 2001. v, 682 p. : ill. ; 28 cm.

Bennett, John E. No word of them : First Battalion, New York Sharpshooters, 1862-1865. Lulu.com, 2007.

Bodnar, Mark. "Brigadier General Selden E. Marvin." Friends of Albany Rural Cemetery. 22 :7 November 2018.

Bently George. George Bentley ALS to Adaline James, October 29, 1862.
Abstract:    1 item, 1 item Some have been sick; "Soon i shall be Sick but i hope not whilse i Am in the war for it is not a very good place for any one to be sick." No place better to sleep in than a hog pen. Ten men from the regiment have already died. Bentley will have his likeness taken and sent. Would like to help pick apples this fall and eat his sister's fried cakes and cheeses. Does not think he will be in any battles as they are encamped for winter. Has all the oysters he could want to eat. Prices of butter, cheese. "tel Gill that if i Should liv to come home Again i Should be to lasy to care the whiskey jug Around for him And his hands i Should want to Set down and drink it all miself." Direct mail in care of E. A. Ludwick, 112th Regiment New York Volunteers. (dlps) jameshenry.1042.304 (accession) M-7087 
Access:      
Held at the University of Michigan Library

Bushee, Charles H. Charles H. Bushee Diary, 1863.
Description:    1 container 0.1 cu. ft.
Abstract:    Bushee's diary is an account of his duties and the movements of Company E, 112th Regiment, New York Infantry, from January to mid-November of 1863. Each entry begins with the phrase "1 day for Uncle Sam" and in the cash accounts in the back of the diary, Bushee refers to his pay as coming from "Uncle Sam." From September of 1862 to June of 1863, the 112th New York Infantry was stationed in central and eastern Virginia. Bushee writes frequently of picket duty and skirmishes around Franklin, Carville [sic] (likely Carrsville), and Norfolk, Virginia. He also provides some details of the siege at Suffolk in April 1863. In July, the regiment began the trip to Charleston, South Carolina. Bushee reports on the shelling at Fort Sumter from his posts around Fort Wagner, Black Island, and Charleston in August. Although he seems he often notes being ordered to and going to the front, he does not detail his actions there. By September, Bushee's increasing illness begins to dominate his diary. The last eight weeks of entries, ending abruptly on November 18th, consists of little more than "feel unwell." Bushee died three weeks later. The latter pages of the diary contain detailed cash accounts of Bushee's purchases, as well as a list of dead and wounded from the company, and dates he served on guard and picket duty.
Original held at The University of Virginia.

Fenton Historical Society (Jamestown, N.Y.) Civil War collection, 1860-1927, 1860-1866 (bulk).
Description:    approximately 65 items
Abstract:    Letters of A.B. Dawley and other soldiers to families and friends in Chautauqua County; correspondence, orders, and other papers of Col. Henry W. Barry of the 10th Kentucky Volunteer Regiment and the U.S. Army; list of conscripts in Town of Ellery, 1863, with exemptions and copperheads noted; and bounty payment receipts from Town of Carroll. Miscellaneous discharge certificates and pension papers of Chautauqua County soldiers and several letters of William H. Lincoln of the 112th Regiment, New York Volunteers.
Held by the Fenton Historical Society.

Cranston, George W. HaerleColl 
(Letters to enlisted man, Jan 26, 1862-Nov 6, 1864)
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Depledge, William. Do just as you think best: the Civil War letters of William Depledge. Jamestown, NY : Fenton Historical Society,1995. 81 p. : maps ; 23 cm.

Fairchilds, Alfred G.  Letters, 1863-1865. 
Group of letters written by Alfred Fairchilds to his friend, Elen [sic] True of Kennedy, New York in regards to his experiences and activities as a drummer with the 112th New York Volunteers during the Civil War. These letters contain details of military life and service, battles and campaigns, and social life in camp. 21 items. 
Located at the New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections.

Hyde, William Lyman. History of the One hundred and twelfth regiment N.Y. volunteers, by Wm. L. Hyde, Chaplain of the Regiment. Fredonia: W. McKinstry & co., 1866.

Hyde, William Lyman. Civil War letters,1864 Aug.-Oct. 
Two letters, from Hyde to his wife, Frances E. Rice Hyde, Chautauqua County, N.Y. Letter (1 Aug. 1864), written from Bermuda Hundred, Va., describing the 112th New York Infantry's activities at the Battle of the Crater at Petersburg, Va., including explosion of forts and Union forces immediate success and then ensuing panic and eventual retreat, difficult march to Bermuda Hundred, treatment of soldiers with sunstroke, and his opinions on the recruitment of black soldiers and regiments; and letter (1 Oct. 1864) written after a battle near Petersburg, Va., describing 112th New York Infantry's activities in the battle, his assistance in treating wounded soldiers, and aiding physicians with amputations. 2 items.
Located in the Pearce Civil War Collection, Navarro College, Corsicana, Texas.

Hyde, William L.  and Jim Quinlan. Armed only with faith: the Civil War correspondence of Chaplain William Lyman Hyde, 112th New York Infantry. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, 2015

James, Henry, et al. Henry James family correspondence, 1855-1865, bulk 1861-1864.
Description:    27 items.
Abstract:    This collection is made up primarily of incoming correspondence to husband and wife Gilbert and Adeline James of Cherry Creek, New York. Their most prolific correspondent was Gilbert's brother Henry James, who sent 18 letters, most written while serving in Company C of the 7th Michigan Cavalry during the Civil War. Henry James wrote to his family about life at Maple Grove, near Saginaw, Michigan; camp life during training at Camp Kellogg, Grand Rapids; experiences fighting at Gettysburg and elsewhere in Pennsylvania; and his posting at Camp Stoneman, Washington, D.C.
Held by the University of Michigan.

[Letter from Curtis, Suffolk, Virginia, to his sister, Nell], 1862
Description:    1 item (4 pages on 1 sheet) ; sheet 20 x 12 cm.
In:    Liljenquist Family collection (Library of Congress) (DLC) 2010650519
Abstract:    Handwritten letter from Union soldier Curtis of Co. D, 112th New York Volunteer Regiment, possibly Private Curtis Crook or Captain Enoch A. Curtis, to his sister about how the food is bad, poor living conditions, and his desire for more stamps.
Held at the Library of Congress

Mead, Charles and  Ness, Nina L.  Charles Mead papers,1856-1867.
Letters, most to his sister, describing and commenting on his regiment's activities and his duties. The letters are from Virginia (Feb.-Aug. 1863), coastal South Carolina and Florida (Oct. 1863-Apr. 1864), and Virginia again (May-Nov. 1864). Also one letter (1856) written while he was a student at the University of Michigan. 0.1 linear ft. 
Located at Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan.

Parker, Bailey. Civil War Miscellaneous Collection
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Pickard, Alonzo C. Papers of Alonzo C. Pickard, 1850-1887. 
Chiefly letters from Pickard to his wife, Rozilla (Flagg) Pickard (b. 1843), relating to his service as sergeant in the 112th New York Infantry and as sergeant and 1st lieutenant in the 1st New York Sharpshooters. Includes letters from camps at Suffolk and Culpeper, Va., 1862-1864; from Washington, D.C., 1864 Sept.-1865 Jan., where he was on court-martial duty; and from Alexandria, Va., 1865 Jan.-June, where he served as judge advocate. Also includes letters written by Mrs. Pickard at Oregon, Chautauqua County, N.Y., and a diary-account book, 1867-1868, kept by her mother, Angeline Flagg, at Stockton, N.Y., and containing information about her father, Madison Flagg (b. 1811). 150 items. 1 container.
Located at the New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections.

Richardson, Newell B. Civil War Miscellaneous Collection 
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Rowland, J. C. To the school children of Barron County, Wisconsin. Wisconsin? : s.n., 1907. 7 p. ; 24 cm.

Ryberg, Donald K. Chautauqua County regiments and soldiers in the Civil War, 1861-1865. Westfield, N.Y. Chautauqua County Historical Society, 1986.

Skinner, Theodore W. Civil War Miscellaneous Collection
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Skinner, Theodore. Letter, 22 August 1864.
4 pages.
Letter, 22 August 1864, from Theodore Skinner of Company E, 112th New York Infantry, at Bermuda Hundred, Virginia, to family in New York discussing picket details, an aborted troop movement, and other aspects of military life during the siege of Petersburg, Virginia.
Accession 45223. Located at the Library of Virginia in Richmond, Virginia.
Thank you to Ed Worman for pointing out this resource.

Washburn, Charles E. Jr. 112th New York Infantry.
Abstract:    Features the 112th New York Infantry, also known as the Chautauqua Regiment, of the Union Army of the American Civil War. Includes a roster of the unit, as well as photographs of members of the regiment. Offers access to other Web resources on the Civil War. Highlights a transcription of a history of the regiment written by the regiment's chaplain, William L. Hyde, in 1866.

Worman, Edward (compiler). 112th New York casualties at Cold Harbor, VA on June 1-8, 1864 : cross-referenced with casualty list from Jamestown (NY)  Journal newspaper, with nature of wounds in [red] and NY Times list of June 7, 1864. Edward A. Wortman, 2017.

 

Unit bibliography from the Army Heritage Center

Items in the museum collection are in bold.