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Federal Regiment

4th New York Infantry

"First Scott Life Guard"
Organized: New York City, NY; mustered in 5/2/1861
Disbanded/Mustered out: New York Ciity, NY 5/25/1863

 

Commanding Officer on the Antietam Campaign:
  LCol. John D. MacGregor

 

This Regiment's Chain of Command:
  Army - Army of the Potomac
  Corps - Second Army Corps
  Division - 3rd Division, 2nd Corps
  Brigade - 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 2nd Corps


Unit history

The Fourth was one of the first units organized at the outset of the Civil War. Most of the men were recruited in New York City proper, except for Company E, from Brooklyn. The 4th were nicknamed the First Scott Life Guard in honor of hero-General Winfield Scott, and began their Federal service in early May 1861 for a term of two years.

The regiment was on rear-echelon duty at Newport News (Va - June and July 1861), around Baltimore (Md - to June 1862), and at Suffolk (Va - to September) before seeing their first action on the Maryland Campaign.

On the Antietam Campaign

The Fourth was at the left front of the Brigade as they first struck the strong Confederate position in the Sunken Road about 9am on 17 September.

Statistics

Initial Strength: 540; Killed in Action (KIA): 44; Wounded (WIA): 142; Missing in Action (MIA): 1;
Losses, % of Initial Strength: 34.6%

Maps Showing this Unit

Battlefield Tablets for this Unit

Tablet #35: Second Army Corps - 15 Sep, 7 AM to 15 Sep, 8 PM
Tablet #115: Second Army Corps - 15 Sep, 9 AM to 17 Sep, 7 AM
Tablet #40: French's Division, Second Army Corps - 17 Sep, 8 AM to 17 Sep, 2 PM
Tablet #121: Army of the Potomac - 17 Sep, 8 AM to 17 Sep, 6 PM
Tablet #43: Weber's Brigade, French's Division - 17 Sep, 9 AM to 17 Sep, 12 PM
Tablet #116, cont: Second Army Corps - 17 Sep, 9 AM to 17 Sep, 12 PM

After the Antietam Campaign

They were in combat again at Fredericksburg in December, and were present, though not engaged, at Chancellorsville in May 1863.

The troops mustered out and were honorably discharged May 25, 1863 at New York City at the end of their agreed-upon term of service.

References & Notes

Fundamental unit history from Phisterer.1 His service from the Adjutant General. His gravesite is on Findagrave.

We have 75 individuals in the AotW database who were on the Maryland Campaign with this unit:

 

Co. Rank Name Casualty? Details*
ASgtBiering, Adolph KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
APvtByrne, John KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
APvtCochran, John KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
APvtCulver, Frederick WIA   09/17
APvtMcCall, Thomas MWIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
APvtMcManus, William KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
BPvtBoyle, Edward WIA   09/17
BPvtBuckham, Henry KIA   09/17
BCorpBurtch, Nathaniel B.WIA   09/17
BCorpByrne, John WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
BPvtCarroll, Michael WIA   09/17
BPvtCarroll, Owen WIA   09/17
BCaptDowns, John S.KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
BPvtJones, Charles KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
BPvtMcDonald, John KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
BPvtNorris, William L.KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
BSgtPinkham, Henry KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
BPvtWren, Peter KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
CPvtBarr, Charles WIA   09/17
CLtChapman, Henry K.MWIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
CPvtHoward, John MWIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
CPvtKidder, Ellis UsherDied (d)   09/22     We have some details for this person
CPvtMcCormic, Patrick MWIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
CPvtMeehan, Thomas MWIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
CPvtPrice, James KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
CCorpWolfe, Henry KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
DPvtBarzer, John WIA   09/17
DPvtBecker, Nicholas MWIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
DPvtDeede, Louis MWIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
DPvtDiehl, Philip KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
DPvtFischer, Louis KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
DPvtFrederick, George KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
DPvtHausman, Frederick KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
DPvtHoch, William MWIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
DCaptKruger, Charles WilliamWIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
DPvtLeas, Peter KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
DPvtWilburt, John KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
EPvtBaker, Timothy WIA   09/17
EPvtFarrell, Kiernans KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
EPvtFurlong, Patrick MWIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
EPvtHickey, Thomas KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
EPvtMcKnight, William KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
EPvtMingo, Murry MWIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
EPvtTerry, Benjamin F.MWIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
FPvtBarker, William WIA   09/17
FPvtFites, Samuel MWIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
FPvtHerman, Frederick KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
GCorpAgenton, Robert KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
GPvtBecker, Charles WIA   09/17
GSgtCarpenter, Van Buren KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
GPvtFrancis, Joseph KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
GPvtHines, Michael KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
GCorpHoward, John T.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
GPvtHoye, Patrick MWIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
GPvtStewart, James KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
GPvtWhales, William H.MWIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
GPvtWillman, Michael KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
GPvtWolf, Charles KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
IPvtBartlett, Gordon KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
IPvtBlumenshien, John MWIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
ICorpFlagg, Elliot JeromeKIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
IPvtHunt, James KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
IPvtMcConnell, Patrick MWIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
IPvtRiley, Patrick KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
IPvtRuddin, Phillip KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
KPvtBoyd, Harrison D.WIA   09/17
KPvtDougherty, Peter MWIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
KPvtHughes, John KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
KPvtHughes, Patrick WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
KPvtLeake, Samuel MIA (n)   09/17     We have some details for this person
KPvtMcCabe, James WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
KPvtSharrock, James S.KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
KPvtSmith, Joshua KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
KCorpWillette, Samel T.MWIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
F&SLColMacGregor, John Dunn        We have a picture for this person We have some details for this person

 

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Notes

1   Phisterer, Frederick, New York in the War of the Rebellion, 6 volumes, Albany: J. B. Lyon Company, 1909-12, Vol. 2, pg. 1738  [AotW citation 824]