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Federal Regiment

78th New York Infantry

"Cameron Highlanders"
Mustered in on 4/1862
Disbanded/Mustered out: 7/12/1864

 

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

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*
ACorpDeMott, Andrew JacksonAWOL   09/08     We have some details for this person
APvtFarragan, James WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
APvtHennessy, John WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
APvtLaManna, Frank         We have some details for this person
ASgtLay, Abner ChaunceyWIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
ACorpOtis, Henry KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
ACorpSmith, George AWOL   09/13     We have some details for this person
BCaptStagg, Jr., Henry Rutgers        We have some details for this person
CPvtBaker, Harris MWIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
CSgtCaney, Charles KIA   09/17     We have a picture for this person We have some details for this person
CSgtDaily, Michael         We have some details for this person
CPvtMcKene, John AWOL   09/17     We have some details for this person
DPvtAllen, Daniel I.KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
DPvtBoughton, George N.POW   09/17     We have some details for this person
DPvtCummings, Samuel KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
DPvtFuller, Andrew WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
DPvtHannon, Mortley KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
DLtPeterson, Pierson B.MWIA   09/17     We have a picture for this person We have some details for this person
EPvtShlaerder, Mathias KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
FPvtBarrett, Robert H.KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
GPvtClough, James C.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
GPvtWilson, Edward WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
HPvtBrown, William H.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
HSgtGrenan, Thomas R.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
HLtRandall, Henry R.        We have some details for this person
HCorpWilliams, Edson G.KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
ICaptMitchell, Peter M.T.KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
KPvtHoward, William G.POW   09/06     We have some details for this person
KPvtVan Sickler, Seymour Died (d)   09/10     We have some details for this person
F&SLColAustin, Jonathan         We have some details for this person
F&SSgtStaples, James Winfield        We have some details for this person

 

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