84th New York Infantry (14th Brooklyn)

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.

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."

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

Detail Map #1: Hookers First Corps Sweeps Down the Hagerstown Pike (5-7 am)
Detail Map #2: Hood's Division Retakes Miller's Cornfield (7-8 am)

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 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.

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.