151st Infantry Regiment

Mustered in: October 22, 1862
Mustered out: June 26, 1865

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

August 20, 1862, Col. Franklin Spaulding, succeeded, September 3, 1862, by Col. William Emerson, received authority to recruit this regiment in the then 29th Senatorial District of the State; it was organized at Lockport, and there mustered in the service of the United States for three years October 22, 1862. The men recruited for Col. Franklin Sidway's Buffalo Regiment, under authority, dated September 7, 1863, were merged into this regiment, completing its organization. December 21, 1864, it was consolidated into a battalion of five companies, A to E, the men of Company F being transferred to Companies A, C and E; those of G to Companies A and B; those of H to Company E; of I to D; and of K to A and B.
The companies were recruited principally: A—-Independent Rifles — at Medina; B at Niagara Falls; C at Batavia; D at Albion; E at Rochester; F and I at Lockport; G in the counties of Niagara and Orleans; H in the county of Niagara; and K at Somerset, Newfane, Olcott, Buffalo, Eden, North Collins and Lockport.
The regiment left the State October 23, 1862; it served in the Middle Department, 8th Corps, at and near Baltimore, Md., from October, 1862; in West Virginia, in the 3d Separate Brigade, 8th Corps, from February, 1863; at South Mountain, Md., in June, 1863; in 3d Brigade, 3d Division, 3d Corps, from July 10, 1863; in the 1st Brigade, 3d Division, 3d Corps, from August, 1863; in the 1st Brigade, 3d Division, 6th Corps, from April, 1864; and, under Lieut-Col. Charles Bogardus, it was honorably discharged and mustered out June 26, 1865, near Washington, D. C.
During its service the regiment lost by death, killed in action, 5 officers, 75 enlisted men; of wounds received in action, 26 enlisted men; of disease and other causes, I officer, 99 enlisted men; total, 6 officers, 200 enlisted men; aggregate, 206; of whom 23 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 Fifty-first Infantry.—Col., William Emerson; Lieut.-Cols., Ewen A. Bowen, Thomas M. Fay, Charles .Bogardus; Majs., Thomas M. Fay, James A. Jewell. This regiment, recruited the counties of Niagara and Monroe, was organized/at Lockport, here it was mustered into the U. S. service Oct. 22, 1862, for three years. It received the men recruited for Col. Franklin Sidway's Buffalo regiment, which served to complete its organization. The regiment left the state on the 23d and was stationed at Baltimore until the following February, when it was ordered to West Virg-nia, serving there and at South mountain, Md., until July 10, 1863, when it joined the 3d corps and was assigned to the 3d brigade, 3d (French's) division, in which it was present at the action of Wap-ng heights. In August it was placed in the 1st brigade, same divi->n and corps, and was present, but met with no loss, at McLean's Ford, Catlett's station and Kelly's ford. During the Mine Run cam-ign it was sharply engaged at Locust Grove, losing 60 killed, wounded and missing, and upon returning from this campaign went to winter quarters at Brandy Station. When the 3d corps was discontinued in March, 1864, the 151st was placed in the 1st bride, 3d (Ricketts) division, 6th corps, with which it did its full are in the fighting from the Wilderness to Petersburg, being engaged at the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Totopotomy, Cold Harbor. On July 6, during Early's invasion of Maryland, moved with its division to Baltimore and was heavily engaged at Monocacy, losing 118 killed, wounded and missing. As a part of the Army of the Shenandoah it took part in Sheridan's brilliant campaign in the Valley, fighting at Charlestown, Leetown, Smith-Id, Opequan, Fisher's hill and Cedar creek, with a loss of 38 in the campaign. In December it returned to the Petersburg trenches and was stationed near the Weldon railroad through the winter. on Dec. 21, 1864, its thinned ranks were consolidated into a battal-i of five companies. In April, 1865, it took part in the final assa-ult on the works of Petersburg and the ensuing hot pursuit of Lee's army, fighting its last battle at Sailor's creek. Its loss in the Appomattox campaign was 18 killed and wounded. The regiment was finally mustered out near Washington, D. C, June 26, 1865 under command of Lieut.-Col. Bogardus. It lost during service 5. officers and 101 men killed and mortally wounded; I officer and 99. men died of disease and other causes; total deaths, 206.

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151st Regiment NY Volunteer Infantry | Guidons | Civil War

The NYS Battle Flag Collection includes two silk swallowtail guidons carried by the 151st Regiment New York Volunteer Infantry. Each guidon conforms…

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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

Civil War Research Guide​​​​​​​

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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.

Barnes, Romaine A. Romaine A. Barnes papers, 1838-1865.
Description:    1 folder (4 items) 1 volume (unpaged) ; 22 cm
Abstract:    Diary, 1862-1864, of a Union soldier serving in the 151st Regiment, New York Volunteers. Letters, 1838-1865, written by Romaine A. Barnes to his brother, Eugene L. Barnes, during the United States Army's Rio Grande Expedition, including: letter, 12 August 1865, describing Roma, Texas and its inhabitants; and letter, 24 September 1865, concerning an upcoming visit by General Sheridan and the recent sinking of an Army boat in a nearby river. Includes letter, 18 December 1862, written by "Edmond" to "Cousin Edith" to accompany a piece of the New Hampshire battle flag found during the Battle of Fredericksburg.
Held by the University of South Carolina.

Beaudry, Paul Stephen. The forgotten regiment : history of the 151st New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Cleveland, Ohio: InChem Pub, 1995.

Brooks, William H. BilbyColl 
(Enlisted man's letters, Nov 16,1 862-Jul 4, 1863;Letter from Sgt H.C. Willard informing father of son's death, Dec 4, 1863).
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Crawford, M. J. Reminiscences of a veteran. New York, S.L. Parsons & Co., printers, ?. 492 p. 19 cm. 
Research Center only has the chapter pertaining to his military service, pages 479-492.

Cummins, Simon Burdick. Give God the glory, memoirs of a Civil war soldier. Edited by Melvin Jones. [1979].

Foote, Lemuel Thomas. Lemuel Thomas Foote papers,1856-1937 (bulk 1862-1865). 
Correspondence, military papers, verses, and miscellany relating chiefly to Foote's service, first as lieutenant and then as chaplain, in the 151st New York Infantry. Includes letters to his wife, Emily Whitney Foote, from camps along the Rapidan and Rappahannock Rivers in Virginia and letters from Emily in Warren's Corners and Royalton, Niagara County, N.Y. 
110 items. 1 container. 
Located at the New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections.

Howell, Helena Adelaide. Chronicles of the One hundred fifty-first regiment New York state volunteer infantry, 1862— 1865, contributed by its surviving members. Compiled by Helena Adelaide Howell. [Albion:, A. M. Eddy, printer, 1911]. 
Available online at: www.libraryweb.org/~digitized/books/One_Hundred_Fifty-First_Regiment.pdf

Jewell, James A. James A. Jewell's Civil War papers, 1856-1890.
Description:    (78 items) 6 folders (0.3 linear ft.)
Abstract:    Commissions and other papers relating to his Civil War service and later career. Presented to Buffalo Historical Society on July 4, 1921.
Held by the Buffalo History Museum.

Johnson, Edward A. Civil War Miscellaneous Collection. 
(Enlisted man's letters, Jul 27, 1863-Feb 15, 1865).
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Nye, John A. John A. Nye papers, 1841-1854.
Description:    52 items
Abstract:    Collection of correspondence, business records, military records, and essays assembled by John A. Nye of Unadilla, New York. The personal correspondence includes that sent from Nye's friends Stephen W. Richardson, who had moved to Franklin, New York, to work as a clerk but disliked the town because "they are all such damn Christians" (1853); John H. Adams, who wrote from Pittsburgh that "I am here in the Smoky City among smoke and pretty women but I think I like the latter the best" (1854); and a letter from an acquaintance in Hainesville, Illinois, who wrote "every thing here is new and full of life ... villages spring up in a year that make the natives eyes stick out ... Chicago is the most enterprising place that I ever was in and is bound to be a mighty City" (c.1854). Other personal correspondents include Nye's sisters Mary Nye Case and Fanny Nye. Business correspondence and records include letters to Nye regarding his company Nye & Foster in Unadilla (1852-1853), a contract of property and interests sold to Nye's business partner Talcott M. Foster (1852); correspondence regarding receipts and invoices from Reeves Wilcox and Co. to McClair & McClaughy (1854); and miscellaneous receipts, invoices, and inventories. The military records of the 151st New York Infantry under Captain Caleb Palmer, dating from 1841-1844, include a company roll and instructions for alerting voters of forthcoming elections for military posts. One of the recipients was Thomas Nye, who was probably a relative of John Nye. Also included are the texts of various essays or addresses apparently made by Nye to the Freemasons, on topics such as procrastination, charity, beauty, and hope, as well as an essay explaining "Reasons Why Governor Seymour Should Not Be Elected" (referring to Governor Horatio Seymour of New York). There are also two handwritten copies, made at Unadilla, of proclamations from the United States Congress and House of Representatives creating "The Republic of the West" (west of the Rocky Mountains), "forever released from allegiance to the country east of said division" but "similar to the United States of America in its manner of government" (1855).
Held by the Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens.

Pierce, Reuben W. Reuben W. Pierce correspondence, 1862-1863.
Description:    11 items.
Standard No:    Other: MSS86516; LCCN: mm 2022-86516
Abstract:    Letters from Pierce to his wife, Mary Ann Pierce, written during his service in the American Civil War as a corporal with Company A, 151st New York Infantry Regiment, U.S. Army. Pierce describes his experiences, living conditions, and observations on military life while stationed in Camp Elmira, Elmira, New York in 1862; Lafayette Barracks, Baltimore, Maryland in 1862-1863; and Clarksburg, West Virginia in 1863.
Held by the Manuscript Division, Library of Congress

Reed, I. Richard  (Irving Richard) 100 years ago today : Niagara County in the Civil War as reported in the pages of the Niagara Falls gazette. No. 17 of the Occasional contributions of the Niagara County Historical Society; Variation. Lockport, N.Y. Niagara County Historical Society, : no. 17 1966.

Schank, Dennis. Baptism of fire :the 151st New York Infantry at Mine Run. Lockport, N.Y. : s.n., 1999. [44] p. : ill., maps ; 22 cm.

Sheldon, James, et al. Family papers, 1814-1950 (bulk 1835-1920).
16 boxes. (8.0 linear ft.)
Correspondence, poems, speeches, diaries and legal and financial papers of James Sheldon IV (1821-1887), including court records (docket books, opinions and calendars) for sessions presided over by Sheldon, 1852- 1885, and loose judicial records and notes, 1821-1884. Correspondence and two legal documents of James Sheldon III (1792-1850), 1817-1828. Correspondence, writings, clippings, notes and collected papers of Grace Carew Sheldon, 1863-1920, including clippings of her newspaper columns on Buffalo history and notes on several New York State Civil War volunteer regiments. Correspondence and pattern books of Sara P. Sheldon; Pan- American Exposition Guard records of Theodore B. Sheldon, 1901; three undated remedy and recipe books of Caroline C. McIntosh (later Mrs. Millard Fillmore); poems, letters and clippings of Edward W. Crosby, 1900- 1909; and a photo album compiled in 1950 depicting the Sheldon Homestead at 1094 Main St., Buffalo.
Note(s): Bio/History: James Sheldon IV (1821-1887) was a Buffalo lawyer and judge. His father James Sheldon III (1792-1850) practiced law in Buffalo 1815- 1832. Judge Sheldon and his wife Sarah Carew Sheldon had nine children, including Grace Carew Sheldon, a prominent Buffalo newspaper woman, Sara P. Sheldon, founder of one of Buffalo's earliest kindergartens, and Theodore B. Sheldon, a Buffalo lawyer and military officer.
General Info: Inventory, including biographical notes and box/folder listing,/ available in the repository:/ folder level control. Organization: Organized into eleven series: I. James Sheldon (1821-1887) personal papers, 1837-1886. II. James Sheldon legal records, 1814-1887. III. Court records of Judge James Sheldon, 1823-1885. IV. James Sheldon (1792-1850) papers, 1817-1828. V. Grace Carew Sheldon papers, 1863-1920. VI. Sara P. Sheldon papers, 1879-1934. VII. Theodore B. Sheldon Pan- American Exposition guard records, 1901. VIII. Caroline C. McIntosh recipe and remedy books, n.d. IX. Edward W. Crosby papers, 1900-1909. X. Scrapbooks and albums, 1909, 1950. XI. Scripture notebook, 1836, and Universal Exposition at Paris certificate, 1900./ Series II arranged alphabetically by principal; chronological arrangement elsewhere. Preferred citation: Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society Archives, C64-7, James Sheldon Family Papers.
Located at the Buffalo & Erie County Historical Society Library.

Wall family.  Wall family papers,1857-1881. 
Collection includes a series of letters from Charles William Wall, a sergeant in the 151st Regiment, New York Volunteers, mainly concerning troop movements, camp experiences, and other aspects of his life as a Union Army soldier in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., but also dealing with his employment by a mining and milling company in Colorado (1869); other Civil War letters from William Emerson, Henry Harrington, and Charles McCarthy; letters from Jane Middleton, telling of her work in New York City among indigent women (1864); and an autobiographical sketch (1881) of Andrew Wall, who had emigrated from England in 1833.
0 .3 cubic ft. 
Located at Cornell University.

 

Unit bibliography from the Army Heritage Center

Items in the museum collection are in bold.