site logo
Federal flag

Federal Regiment

44th New York Infantry

"Ellsworth Avengers; People's Ellsworth Regiment"
Organized: Albany, NY; mustered in Aug-Sep 1861
Disbanded/Mustered out: Albany, NY October 11, 1864

 

Commanding Officer on the Antietam Campaign:
  Maj. Freeman Conner

 

This Regiment's Chain of Command:
  Army - Army of the Potomac
  Corps - Fifth Army Corps
  Division - 1st Division, 5th Corps
  Brigade - 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Corps


Unit history

"The 44th regiment, known as Ellsworth's Avengers, was organized at Albany under the auspices of the Ellsworth association of the State of New York, which planned to raise a memorial regiment to be composed of one man from each town and ward, unmarried, not over 30 years of age or under 5 feet, 8 inches in height, and of military experience. This plan was adhered to as far as possible and two companies from Albany county, two from Erie county, one from Herkimer county, and a large number of scattered squads reported at Albany in response to the request. These companies were mustered into the service of the United States at Albany in Aug. and Sept., 1861, for three years..."
- The Union army: a history of military affairs in the loyal states, 1861-65 (1908)

"Of its first officers, the following had belonged before the war to the famous Chicago. Cadets, part of whom had served with Colonel Ellsworth in the New York Fire Zouave Regiment; Adjt. Edward B. Knox, Captains Larrabee, Conner, and Danks, and Lieut. Harry Kelly. These officers were attracted to the regiment by the fact that it was raised in honor of Ellsworth. Their knowledge and experience were of great value in organizing and disciplining the regiment, and they proved themselves to be excellent officers."
- New York at Gettysburg (1912)

On the Antietam Campaign

In reserve at Antietam as part of Morell's Division; 2 men slightly wounded at action at Shepherdstown (Boteler's Ford) on September 20th.

Battlefield Tablets for this Unit

Tablet #33: Fifth Army Corps - 15 Sep, 2 PM to 16 Sep, 12 PM
Tablet #18: Morell's Division, Fifth Army Corps - 16 Sep, 12 PM to 17 Sep, 8 AM
Tablet #26: Morell's Division, Fifth Army Corps - 17 Sep, 8 AM to 17 Sep, 2 PM

More on the Web

See more in an exhibit from the NY State Military Museum, source of the quotes above. Eugene Arus Nash's 1910 History is also online.

We have 6 individuals in the AotW database who were on the Maryland Campaign with this unit:

 

Co. Rank Name Casualty? Details*
D PvtParslow, John AWOL   10/02     We have some details for this person
D PvtWilson, Albert C.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
E PvtBragg, William WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
KPvtBrand, David J.MWIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
F&SLColConner, Freeman         We have a picture for this person We have some details for this person
F&SMusLa Grange, Isaac         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