site logo
Federal flag

Federal Regiment

84th New York Infantry (14th Brooklyn)

"The Brooklyn Chasseurs"
Organized: Brooklyn, NY; mustered in May 23, 1861
Disbanded/Mustered out: Brooklyn, NY 6/6/1864

 

Commanding Officer on the Antietam Campaign:
  Maj. William H. deBevoise

 

This Regiment's Chain of Command:
  Army - Army of the Potomac
  Corps - First Army Corps
  Division - 1st Division, 1st Corps
  Brigade - 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 1st Corps


Unit history

Also known as the Fourteenth Militia; Brooklyn Phalanx; and Chasseurs a Pied, the Fourteenth Brooklyn was officially formed July 5, 1847 as Fourteenth Regiment, N.Y.S.M. (New York State Militia) when the New York State Legislature consolidated the individual militia companies into regiments. At this time, the Fourteenth was a social club composed of men of venerable lineage.

The regiment gathered on weekends and evenings for recreation and to demonstrate their readiness to serve in time of need. The men used the armory in Brooklyn (corner of Henry & Cranberry Streets) as their headquarters.

In 1860, the Fourteenth was impressed by the uniforms of Colonel Ellsworth's Chicago Zouaves. As a result, the Board of Officers decided to adopt their own variation of the French Chasseur uniform. This distinctive uniform was used throughout the regiment's three-year enlistment in the Civil War (May 1861- May 1864). Officially, the regiment was mustered into service by General Irwin McDowell on May 23, 1861 and was assigned the designation of 84th NY Infantry. The Brooklyn Chasseurs, (as they were also known), had a fine courageous fighting record. They served in most of the major campaigns in the eastern theater. These include: First & Second Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg,Wilderness,and Spottsylvania.

On the Antietam Campaign

Colonel Rufus R. Dawes of the Iron Brigade's Sixth Wisconsin Volunteers would later write [about the Regiment at Antietam] in his book "Service with the Sixth Wisconsin Volunteers" (published in 1890):

"The Fourteenth Brooklyn Regiment, red legged zouaves, came into our line closing the awful gaps. Now is the pinch. Men and officers of New York and Wisconsin are fused into a common mass, in the frantic struggle to shoot fast. Everybody tears cartridges, loads, passes guns, or shoots."

Statistics

Initial Strength: not known; Killed in Action (KIA): 19; Wounded (WIA): 28; Missing in Action (MIA): 8;

Maps Showing this Unit

Battlefield Tablets for this Unit

Tablet #1: First Army Corps - 16 Sep, 2 PM to 16 Sep, 6 PM
Tablet #13: Doubleday's Division, First Army Corps - 16 Sep, 2 PM to 16 Sep, 8 PM
Tablet #120: Army of the Potomac - 17 Sep, 5 AM to 17 Sep, 12 PM
Tablet #2: Doubleday's Division, First Army Corps - 17 Sep, 5 AM to 17 Sep, 9 AM
Tablet #3: Doubleday's Division, First Army Corps - 17 Sep, 5 AM to 17 Sep, 9 AM
Tablet #32: Phelps' Brigade, Doubleday's Division - 17 Sep, 5 AM to 17 Sep, 9 AM

After the Antietam Campaign

After distingushed service in all major campaigns in the East, and completing their three year enlistment, the Brooklyn Chasseurs were mustered out of service. They arrived home, in Brooklyn, to the cheers of crowds at Fulton Ferry on May 25th 1864.

References & Notes

See the basics about the 84th at the NY State Museum, and an enthusiastic reenactor site on the 14th Brooklyn - source for this basic history.

We have 33 individuals in the AotW database who were on the Maryland Campaign with this unit:

 

Co. Rank Name Casualty? Details*
APvtBurnett, Levi FrankWIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
APvtRose, Samuel R.KIA   09/14
A PvtSpaulding, William AWOL   09/16     We have some details for this person
APvtVan Brunt, Henry KIA   09/17
BPvtAbbott, Thomas WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
BPvtCunningham, John WIA   09/14
BPvtMadden, William WIA   09/14
BPvtPorter, George AWOL   09/23
CCaptMyers, David MWIA   09/17     We have a picture for this person We have some details for this person
CPvtPearson, Alanson MWIA   09/14
CPvtThomas, Jonathan M.MWIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
DPvtCoddington, William EMWIA   09/14
DPvtSmith, William AWOL   09/16
EPvtAckerman, William MWIA   09/17
EPvtCadwell, Robert KIA   09/17
EPvtCurry, James E.MWIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
EPvtCurry, John E.WIA   09/14
EPvtReynolds, Hobby WIA   09/17
FPvtConnolly, Michael WIA   09/14
FPvtDaly, Michael KIA   09/17
FPvtMussehl, Charles KIA   09/14
FPvtTucker, Francis MWIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
GPvtDrew, John T.MWIA   09/17
GPvtElwood, Leroy AWOL   09/16
GPvtKaufman, Adam    
GPvtMiller, William KIA   09/14
GPvtNestor, Patrick KIA   09/17
HPvtBryson, Joseph D.KIA   09/14
HPvtBurnton, Thomas WIA   09/17
HPvtKelsey, William HenryMWIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
HPvtRandolph, Albert H.WIA   09/17
IPvtHickman, George W.MWIA   09/17
F&SMajdeBevoise, William H        We have a picture for this person We have some details for this person

 

* If there's a symbol in the Details column ...

We have a picture for this person - We have a picture for this person
We have further details for this person - We have details beyond name and rank
Click on their last name to see more