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For those
of you who are interested in a short description of the
service of the 95th, I have provided that information
below. This data was compiled from a variety of sources
and in no way explains in total the significant efforts
the soldiers of the 95th New York rendered for their country.
As my research has yielded exciting unpublished information
concerning the engagements, marches and internal strife’s
of the soldiers and officers of the 95th, I don’t want
to use this medium to expose their story. With your help,
the complete unbiased history of the regiment will be
published within the next 2 years.
The
95th was mustered into service in March of 1862 and saw
their first service under General Wadsworth in the defenses
of Washington. They were then moved to Acquia Creek (on
the Potomac River) where they were involved, under General
McDowell, in the reconstruction of the wharves and building
a railroad to Frederickburg. Following these early encampments,
the 95th was placed in the 3rd Corps, Army of Virginia,
under General Doubleday, under whose leadership they faced
their first skirmishes and major engagements. With General
Pope placed in total command of the Army of Virginia,
the men of 95th fought in the engagements leading up to Second
Bull Run, followed by the battles of South Mountain, Antietam,
and Fredericksburg. There were a few minor skirmishes in
addition to the major battles, and by January of 1863
the 95th was removed to Belle Plain for winter camp.
As 1863 brought on better weather, the
95th saw minor action at Chancellorville and then were
significantly engaged in the 3 day battle at Gettysburg.
As part of the 1st Corps, under General Reynolds, the
95th was heavily engaged during the first day as part
of Cutler’s Brigade, and earned praise in their endeavors
during the charge of the famous railroad cut. This specific
engagement has yielded much controversy with some soldiers,
in their declining years, attempted to puff up their regiments
involvement in the charge at the cut, and in doing so, diminished
the involvement of other units. The history of the 95th
will yield the complete story of that horrific battle
and there shall be no further question of significant
participation of all the units involved in that charge.
After the defeat of the Confederate Army at Gettysburg,
the 95th followed in the pursuit of Lee’s Army and following
the Mine Run Campaign, spent the winter of 1863-1864 encamped
in Culpeper, Viginia. Much effort was expended during
the winter to reenlist the veteran soldiers of the 95th
and many raw recruits were drafted into service with the 95th.
Winter
camp was followed by the involvement of the 95th, under
Generals Wadsworth, Rice, and of course Grant, in the
infamous and horrific battles of Grant’s Overland Campaign,
including the bloody battle of The Wilderness, Spotsylvania
Court House, North Anna, Cold Harbor, and ultimately the
siege of Petersburg.
As
the war raged on, the 95th was greatly diminished both in
leadership and soldiers but recruiting continued and the
95th was able to see service through the winter of 1864-65
and saw the war to the end, through the last engagements
of the war, including Weldon Railroad, Hatchers Run, and
the Appomattox Campaign.
The
losses of this noble regiment are not totally compiled,
but the numbers to date yield a total muster over the
4 years of 1729 men. Of that total, 50 men were actually
killed in action, 211 died from non battle related injuries
and sicknesses, 76 wounded in action soldiers died of
their wounds, and there were an additional 408 soldiers
wounded but recovered from their wounds. A number somewhat
misleading was the desertions that totaled 545, of which
119 were returned to the regiment. There is some confusion
with the numbers as some returned deserters also became
wounded or killed in action casualties. The total captured
in action numbers are more complicated but yield a number
in excess of 450 soldiers. Some men were captured more
than once and some were wounded as many as 3 times. These correct
numbers yield a casualty percentage > 65%. This is quite
significant as the regiment easily qualified to be included
in Foxes Fighting 300 Regiments. They didn’t earn
that glorious distinction.This was a true fighting regiment
and they saw action in many of the fiercest battles of
the war. At muster out, there were only some 70 soldiers
marching in New York City from the total 1749 enlistees.
Their
story is not that different from other Northern regiments,
but the unyielding amount of existing data has been a
major frustration for my research efforts. Unlike many
Civil War regiments, the 95th veterans did not have any
known regimental reunions and no surviving officer ever
wrote about the participation of the 95th in the war,
with the exception of a small article in the National
Tribune from the later 1870’s. So it is only through
the discovery of new letters and unpublished accounts
of the fighting men and officers, will the total story
be able to be told. I desperately need your assistance.
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