132nd Infantry Regiment

Nickname: Second Regiment, Empire, Spinola's, Brigade; Hillhouse Light Infantry

Mustered in: October 4,1862
Mustered out: June 29, 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 23, 1862, Col. Peter J. Claassen received authority to raise this regiment, which was finally organized at East New York by consolidating with it the Thurlow Weed Guards, Col. William B. Olmsted, recruiting, as part of the Spinola Brigade, and nearly all the men recruited for the 53d N. Y. Volunteers, second organization; it was mustered in the service of the United States for three years October 4, 1862, at Washington, D. C.; June 15, 1865, the men not to be mustered out with the regiment were transferred to the 99th Infantry.
The companies were recruited principally: A at New York city, Brooklyn and Newtown; B, F, I and K at New York city, Brooklyn and Staten Island; C and E at New York city; D at Brooklyn, Buffalo, Lewiston and the reservations of the Allegany, Cattaraugus and Tuscarora Indians; G at Suspension Bridge, Buffalo, New York city and Brooklyn; and H at New York city, Harlem, Buffalo and Kingston.
The regiment left the State September 27, 1862; it served at and near Washington from September, 1862; at Norfolk, then Suffolk, Va., from October, 1862; in the 1st, Spinola, Brigade, 5th Division, 18th Corps, from December, 1862; in the 2d Brigade, 5th Division, 18th Corps, from March, 1863; unattached, on outpost duty, near New Berne, N. C., from May, 1863; in Palmer's Brigade, Peck's Division, 18th Corps, from January, 1864; in Department of Virginia and North Carolina, from April, 1864; in the Provisional Corps, North Carolina, from March I, 1865; in the 1st Brigade, 2d Division, 23d Corps, from April 2, 1865; at Salisbury, N. C., from May, 1865; and, commanded by Colonel Claassen, it was honorably discharged and mustered out, June 29, 1865, at Salisbury, N. C.
During its service the regiment lost by death, killed in action, I officer, 6 enlisted men ; of wounds received in action, 7 enlisted men; of disease and other causes, I officer, 159 enlisted men; total, 2 officers, 172 enlisted men; aggregate, 174; of whom 71 enlisted men died in the hands of the enemy, and 28 through the accidental explosion of torpedoes at Bachellor's Creek, N. C., May 26, 1864.

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 Thirty-second Infantry.—Col., Peter J. Claas-sen; Lieut.-Cols., Charles E. Prescott, George H. Hitchcock; Majs., George H. Hitchcock, John Waller, Jr., John B. Houstain, Thomas B. Green. This regiment, known as the Hillhouse Light Guards, recruited in New York city, Brooklyn and the state at large, was organized at East New York and was mustered into the U. S. service for three years on Oct. 4, 1862, at Washington, D. C. The regiment left the state Sept. 27, 1862, about 900 strong, and spent nearly its entire term of service in North Carolina, engaged in outpost and garrison duty, part of the time unattached and part of the time attached to the 18th corps. A portion of Co. D was composed of Allegany, Cattaraugus and Tuscarora Indians, the 1st lieutenant and 1st sergeant being full-blooded redskins. The regiment took part in the engagements at Pollocksville, Trenton, Young's cross-roads, New Berne, Blount's creek, Sandy ridge, Batchelder's creek, Southwest creek, Jackson's mill, Gardner's bridge, Foster's mills, Butler's bridge, and in the campaign of the Carolinas at Wise's forks, Snow hill, and Bennett's house. The severest loss sustained by the regiment was at the battle of New Berne in Feb., 1864, when it lost 91 in killed, wounded and missing. During this battle, Cos. D, E and G defended the bridge on the Neuse river against three successive attacks of the enemy, but were finally forced to retire when the enemy was reinforced, after 4 hours of hard fighting. The 132nd is credited with saving New Berne from capture on this occasion. Lieut. Arnold Zenette, the only commissioned officer killed, fell in this action. At the battle of Wise's forks the regiment lost 24 in killed, wounded and missing. It was mustered out under Col. Claassen, June 29, 1865, at Salisbury, N. C., having lost by death during service, I officer and 13 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded; I officer and 159 enlisted men died of disease and other causes, a total of 174, of whom 71 died in the hands of the enemy.

132ndInfRegColor2007.0171.jpg

132nd Regiment NY Volunteer Infantry | Regimental Color | Civil War

The 132nd Regiment NY Volunteer Infantry received this blue silk regimental color from the City of New York. The flag's obverse features the Arms of…

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132ndInfMarker2001.0046.jpg

132nd Regiment NY Volunteer Infantry | Flank Markers | Civil War

The NYS Battle Flag Collection includes a pair of wool flank markers carried by the 132nd Regiment NY Volunteer Infantry. Both flags are in the US…

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132ndInfMarker1995.3757.jpg

132nd Regiment NY Volunteer Infantry | Flank Markers | Civil War

These blue silk flank markers carried by the 132nd Regiment feature painted inscriptions in gold, shadowed in red, along the top and bottom. Also,…

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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.

Avery, William B. New York (State). Bureau of Military Statistics. "Captain WM. B. Avery, 132nd Regiment, N.Y.S.V.." 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. 389-437.

Chalmers, Morris W. Civil War Miscellaneous Collection 
(Enlisted man's letters, Jun 25, 1861-May 30, 1865).
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Coggeshall, George H. L. 127th New York Infantry, Co. I.Letters (1861-1862). 
These letters indicate that Coggeshall was strongly pro-Union and advocated swift military action against the states that seceded. 
3 items.
Located at the New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections.

Cross, John C. and Crookes, John E. The Hillhouse Infantry: Written for J.E. Crookes, 132 Regt. N.Y.V. New York : J. Wrigley, publisher, of songs, ballad's [sic], and toy books, valentines, &c. No. 27 Chatham Street. New York, 1864. 1 sheet ([1] p.) : ill. ; 24 x 15 cm.

Haring, Abram P.  Abram P. Haring papers,1862-1903 (bulk 1862-1865). 
Papers, 1862-1903 (bulk 1862-1865), relating to Haring's service in the 132nd New York Volunteers. Most of them are returns of supplies and ordnance, but there are other miscellaneous official papers, including a commission and a note of sick leave. There are also a notebook in which he wrote messages after he had been wounded in the jaw, and a narrative dated 1903, describing the actions at New Bern (N.C.) for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor. 
0.25 linear feet (1 box). 
Located at the New York Historical Society, New York, NY.

Hauptmann, Laurence M. "War Eagle of the Tuscaroras...Lieutenant Cornelius C. Cusick." Civil War. (Sep/Oct 1992): pp. 16-17 & 27-30. 

Hauptmann, Laurence M. "Army Logic: The Tuscarora Company in the Civil Wark." American Indian. 17:3 (Fall 2016).

Hooker, William Howard and George H. Hitchcock. William Howard Hooker collection: George H. Hitchcock papers, 1861-1878, 1892.
Description:    0.216 cubic feet (177 items)
Abstract:    Correspondence is militarily oriented generally pertains to disciplinary matters, summonses to courts martial, troop movements towards Goldsboro and back, and requests for passes or parole. Special orders primarily concern disciplinary actions with some treatment of duty details in North Carolina. Included are orders for the 132nd Regiment's regulation activities. General orders concern resolutions, rations, dress codes, assignments, summonses, and rank announcements. Other materials include telegrams originating New Bern and Bachelor's Creek, as well as circulars originating from headquarters in Virginia, North Carolina, and Washington, D.C.A scrapbook contains article clippings, drawings, obituaries, and receipts. Clippings concern General Spinola and his brigade; the Battle at Bachelor's Creek (near New Bern, N.C.); news reports regarding the NIAGARA, SACRAMENTO, and STONEWALL; and the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Also contains a picture of General George Custer, color newspaper drawing of the Battle at Baker's Creek (also known as Champion Hill), pencil drawings of Bachelor's Creek battle and outpost, article about a gun powder explosion at a train station with a list of killed and wounded in the 132nd Regiment, and notices about enforcement of excise law.
Held at East Carolina University.

Jemison, Chauncey C. Letter (August 5, 1862).
1 item.
Letter sent to Issac Newton Parker concerning Iroquois Indian participation in the U.S. Army. Jemison advocates organizing a company comprised exclusively of Iroquois to avoid prejudices that individual Indians had encountered in regular companies.
Located at the New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections.

Nagle, Roy W., 1897-1974, (collector) and Issac Newton Parker. Goldome-Roy Nagle collection, 1794-1974 (bulk 1810-1936).
219 boxes. (109.5 linear ft.)
Court records, mortgage discharges, inquisition papers, and other legal records pertaining to lawsuits and criminal proceedings in Erie County; military records and correspondence, 1855-1898, including Civil War letters of I. Newton Parker to his wife, 1855-1864; and correspondence, notes, clippings and personal papers of Roy W. Nagle, ca. 1927-1974. Photographs, slides and vertical file materials transferred to the library.
Bio/History: Nagle was a reporter and critic for the Buffalo Courier, a realtor, general manager of Buffalo Broadcasting Co. and WBEN, and editor of a community paper, The Kensington Topics; best known as an authoritative local historian who saved and collected manuscripts from local government agencies and individuals, and presented numerous lectures and slide shows on the history of Western New York.
General Info: Organization: Organized into ca. 80 subject groupings, including: I. Railroads. II. Waterfront. III. Banks. IV. City of Buffalo. V. Life in Buffalo. VI. Old legal papers. VII. Canals. VIII. Great Lakes. IX. Trials. X. Grover CLeveland. XI. Pan-American Exposition litigations. XII. Newspaper litigations. XIII. Mayors. XIV. Police Court. XV. Towns of Erie County. XVI. Theaters. XVII. Churches. XVIII. Civil War. XIX. Military regiments. XX. Indians. XXI. Medical and dental professions. XXII. Hotels. XXIII. Miscellaneous./ Chronological arrangement within groups./ Preferred citation: Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society Archives, C77-4, Goldome-Roy Nagle Collection./ Inventory, including alphabetical subject index,/ available in the repository:/ series level control.
Located at the Buffalo & Erie County Historical Society Library.

Parker, Isaac Newton, and Laurence M. Hauptman. A Seneca Indian in the Union Army : The Civil War Letters of Sergeant Isaac Newton Parker, 1861-1865. Shippensburg, PA: Burd Street Press, 1995.

Port Jefferson Historical Society.  Family papers, S, 1807-1969. 
Papers of or about individuals from the Port Jefferson area or conected with Port Jefferson history, including members of the Sanford, Satterly, Saxton, Stephens, Spinney and Smith families. Satterly family papers include military papers of Luther Satterly and Henry Hawkins, 132nd Regiment, New York State Infantry, 1830-1835; shipping papers, including receipts for towing, harbor fees, boarding permits, wharfage, caulking, shipbuilding, and coal and freight, involving Captains Isaac Robbins, Joseph Brewster, Josiah G. Macy, and Samuel C. Roe, and various sloops and schooners, 1833-1879; accounts of the schooner James M. Holmes, 1859; and bills of sale for sloops Decatur, Polly, Ontario, Favorite and Jason, involving Joel Furman, Charles Tooker, Samuel Elliot, Selah Hulse, Jedediah Hartt, Daniel Robbins, James Tuttle, Isaac Brewster and others, 1807-1827. Saxton family papers include a deed for land in the town of Brookhaven, 1811, Zophar M. Miller to William Saxton; genealogical notes and clippings on the Saxton, Darling and Rogers families; wills ot Thomas H. Saxton, 1909, and George S. Saxton, 1910, and a Civil War letter, unidentified. Also, Civil War letters and orders of David Stephens, ensign in the US Navy, 1862-1865; papers and recommendations for David Stephens as captain of various private yachts and vessels, 1885-1899; genealogical notes on the Stephens and Randall families, 1969; letter of recommendation from Roswell Eldridge for Roy W. Spinney, mate on steam yacht Kentoh, 1921; business letters and receipts of George H. Smith from stove and furnace manufacturers, 1979-1884; and military record of Elmer P. Smith, 1918. 
.2 cubic ft. 
Located at the Port Jefferson Historical Society.

Ryan, Patrick. Diary of Patrick Ryan,1863-1865. 
1 volume (176 pages). 
Located at the New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections.

Smith, Orland, et al. Military officer correspondence, 1846-1901.
Description:    13 items
Abstract:    Correspondence before, during, and after the Civil War from: Orland Smith to Horatio C. King and Henry Van Ness Boynton; Francis B. Spinola to Horatio Seymour; William Sprague to J.W. Weidenmeyer; Thaddeus H. Stanton to Horatio C. King; John C. Starkweather to Captain Mathias; George M. Sternberg to Horatio C. King; Aaron F. Stevens; Jonathan D. Stevenson to Robert E. Temple; James D. Strawbridge to Henry Storm; William S. Stryker to Horatio C. King; George Suckley to Charles H. Hood; and David G. Swaim.
Held at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.

State of New York. Second annual report of the State Historian of the State of New York : transmitted to the Legislature, February 22, 1897. Albany ; New York: Wynkoop Hallenbeck Crawford Co. 1897.

Stothers, David. Stothers, David papers,1862-1865. 
Order books; quartermasters' reports; clothing issue record; enlistment, punishment, and discharge orders; and correspondence from K Company, 132nd New York Infantry, kept by its commander, Captain David Stothers.
0.4 cubic ft. 
Located at the Staten Island Historical Society, 441 Clarke Avenue, Staten Island, New York 10306.

Worman, Ed. 132nd New York casualties at Bachelors Creek, North Carolina on February 1, 1864. 2016. 14 pages.

 

Unit bibliography from the Army Heritage Center

Items in the museum collection are in bold.