188th Infantry Regiment

Mustered in: October 4-22, 1864
Mustered out: July 1, 1865

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

Colonel James R. Chamberlain, succeeded by Col. John McMahon, received authority, September 14, 1864 to recruit this regiment, with headquarters at Rochester, where it was organized and mustered in the service of the United States for one year, October 4, 5, 7, 10 and 22, 1864; except Company A, originally Company C, 183d Infantry, which was mustered in at Elmira September 24, 1864.

The companies were recruited principally: A at Villenova, Alfcgany, Madison, Yorkshire, Freedom and Mansfield; B at Rochester, Avon, Phelps, Victor, Italy, Penn Yan, Naples and Geneseo; C at Italy, Jerusalem, Rochester, Milo, Avon, Middlesex and Spring-water; D at Springwater, York, Sparta, Avon, Potter, Portage, North Dansville, Geneseo, Leicester and Mt. Morris; E at Livonia, Potter, Portage, Richmond, Avon, Farmington, Jerusalem, Springwater, Seneca, York and Leicester; F at Rochester, Corning, Canandaigua, Hornby and Tuscarora; G at Springwater, Avon, Gorham, Mt. Morris, Canandaigua, Sparta, Middlesex, Leicester, Italy and Harrington; H at Rochester, Sparta, Avon, Dansville and Springwater; I at Avon, Nunda, Rochester, Dansville, Livonia, Groveland, Conesus, Mt. Morris, Phelps and York; and K at Rochester, North Dansville, Conesus, Groveland, Torry, Milo, Avon and Middlesex.

Seven companies of the regiment, Maj. Christopher C. Davison, left the State October 13, 1864; the other three companies joined later in 1864; the regiment served in the 2d Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Corps, and was mustered out and honorably discharged under Col. John McMahon, Company A, June 1, 1865; all others July 1, 1865, near Washington, D. C.

During its service the regiment lost by death, killed in action, 23 enlisted men; of wounds received in action, 1 officer, 13 enlisted men; of disease and other causes, 53 enlisted men; total, 1 officer, 89 enlisted men; aggregate, 90; of whom 1 enlisted man died in the hands of the enemy.

NYSMM Online Resources

Muster Roll

Unit Roster

Battles and Casualties -Table from Phisterer (PDF format)

Battles and Casualties -Table from Phisterer (MS Excel format)
 

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.

Brown, Ira. Letter, 27 March 1865.
2 pages. In part, photocopies.
Letter, 27 March 1865, from Ira Brown (b. 1846), 188th New York Volunteer Infantry, in camp after the Battle of Fort Stedman, at Petersburg, Virginia, to his wife in Almond, New York. Contains descriptions of the Battle of Fort Stedman. Also includes a typed transcript compiled by an undetermined source.
Accession 40893. Located at the Library of Virginia in Richmond, Virginia.
Thank you to Ed Worman for pointing out this resource.

Carpenter, Henry B. Letters (1864-1865). 
2 items. Collection Call Number: 20333. These are photocopies of original letters sent to Carpenter's wife regarding the siege of Petersburg, Virginia. The experiences and conditions of trench warfare are vividly described. 
Located at the New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections.

 

Items the museum holds are in bold.