Commanding Officers on the Antietam Campaign:
LCol. Jonathan Austin
Capt. Henry R. Stagg, Jr.
This Regiment's Chain of Command:
Army - Army of the Potomac
Corps - Twelfth Army Corps
Division - 2nd Division, 12th Corps
Brigade - 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 12th Corps
Unit history
"After its organization, the regiment left New York on April 29, 1862, and proceeded to Washington. After encamping there for about three weeks it was ordered to Harper's Ferry, Va., where it arrived May 26th, in company with other troops which were hurried to that point on account of Jackson's pursuit. In June, the Seventy-eighth was assigned to Greene's Brigade of Auger's Division, Banks Corps, in which command it was present at the battles of Cedar Mountain and Second Bull Run."
(from Peck)
Their commander, Colonel Daniel Ullmann, was captured at Cedar Mountain (9 August 1862), and spent the next 2 months at Libby Prison, Richmond.
The designation of Banks's Corps was changed to XII Corps, Army of the Potomac, with General Mansfield taking command from Banks. General Augur was wounded at Cedar Mountain, and General Greene was placed in command of the division.
On the Antietam Campaign
"Lieut. Col. Jonathan Austin commanded the Seventy-eighth at the battle of Antietam, the regiment going into action with 12 officers and 209 men. Colonel Goodrich, of the Sixtieth New York, who was in command of the brigade, was killed early in the fight, and the command devolved on Lieutenant Colonel Austin. Capt. Henry R. Stagg took charge of the regiment. Entering the action early in the morning Greene's Division was actively engaged until noon or after, having pushed its way into the woods behind the Dunker Church, where it held the most advanced position on the entire Union line, and held it for two hours or more. The Seventy-eighth fought with conspicuous gallantry, executing every movement as steadily as if on battalion drill. Capt. Peter M. Mitchell was killed, and Lieut. Peirson B. Peterson fell mortally wounded. The official report mentions "the daring and courage of Lieutenant Colonel Austin," and "the valuable services of Lieutenant McGregor of the Seventy-eighth New York, the latter having charge of the skirmishers."
(from Peck)
Statistics
Initial Strength: 221; Killed in Action (KIA): 9; Wounded (WIA): 19; Missing in Action (MIA): 6;
Losses, % of Initial Strength: 15.4%
Maps Showing this Unit
Detail Map #3: Mansfield's Twelfth Corps Attacks into Miller's Cornfield (7-9 am)
Detail Map #5: Sedgwick is Flanked in the West Woods (9-10am)
Battlefield Tablets for this Unit
Tablet #120: Army of the Potomac - 17 Sep, 5 AM to 17 Sep, 12 PM
Tablet #114: Goodrich's Brigade, Greene's Division - 17 Sep, 6 AM to 17 Sep, 10 AM
Tablet #27: Twelfth Army Corps - 17 Sep, 6 AM to 17 Sep, 12 PM
Tablet #20: Goodrich's Brigade, Greene's Division - 17 Sep, 6 AM to 17 Sep, 9 AM
Tablet #113: Goodrich's Brigade, Greene's Division - 17 Sep, 6 AM to 17 Sep, 9 AM
After the Antietam Campaign
At the end of its period of service, the 78th was consolidated with 102nd Regiment New York Infantry 12 July 1864.
More on the Web
See also a site on the 78th New York from Shaun Grenan.
References & Notes
Material above quoted from: Peck, Bvt. Capt. John W., 78th Regiment Infantry Historical Sketch, found online at Jay Avery's 78th NY site.
We have 31 individuals in the AotW database who were on the Maryland Campaign with this unit:
Co. | Rank | Name | Casualty? | Details* |
---|---|---|---|---|
A | Corp | DeMott, Andrew Jackson | AWOL 09/08 | |
A | Pvt | Farragan, James | WIA 09/17 | |
A | Pvt | Hennessy, John | WIA 09/17 | |
A | Pvt | LaManna, Frank | ||
A | Sgt | Lay, Abner Chauncey | WIA 09/17 | |
A | Corp | Otis, Henry | KIA 09/17 | |
A | Corp | Smith, George | AWOL 09/13 | |
B | Capt | Stagg, Jr., Henry Rutgers | ||
C | Pvt | Baker, Harris | MWIA 09/17 | |
C | Sgt | Caney, Charles | KIA 09/17 | |
C | Sgt | Daily, Michael | ||
C | Pvt | McKene, John | AWOL 09/17 | |
D | Pvt | Allen, Daniel I. | KIA 09/17 | |
D | Pvt | Boughton, George N. | POW 09/17 | |
D | Pvt | Cummings, Samuel | KIA 09/17 | |
D | Pvt | Fuller, Andrew | WIA 09/17 | |
D | Pvt | Hannon, Mortley | KIA 09/17 | |
D | Lt | Peterson, Pierson B. | MWIA 09/17 | |
E | Pvt | Shlaerder, Mathias | KIA 09/17 | |
F | Pvt | Barrett, Robert H. | KIA 09/17 | |
G | Pvt | Clough, James C. | WIA 09/17 | |
G | Pvt | Wilson, Edward | WIA 09/17 | |
H | Pvt | Brown, William H. | WIA 09/17 | |
H | Sgt | Grenan, Thomas R. | WIA 09/17 | |
H | Lt | Randall, Henry R. | ||
H | Corp | Williams, Edson G. | KIA 09/17 | |
I | Capt | Mitchell, Peter M.T. | KIA 09/17 | |
K | Pvt | Howard, William G. | POW 09/06 | |
K | Pvt | Van Sickler, Seymour | Died (d) 09/10 | |
F&S | LCol | Austin, Jonathan | ||
F&S | Sgt | Staples, James Winfield |
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