Recruiting began for the
110th regiment in the latter part of July, 1862 in Oswego County.
$55,000 was raised to pay each volunteer $50.00, while the state of New
York at the same time, offered an equal amount. The regiment
was organized at Oswego City, NY, and mustered in August 27, 1862 for three
years. The regiment left camp at eight o'clock on the evening of August
25, 1862 and under escort of the Regulars from the fort, the Oswego Guards,
German Light Guards, Washington Guards, Fremont Guards and Captain McKinlock's
company (already enlisted for the succeeding regiment the 147th) marched
to the depot. Business was suspended and more than 6,000 people assembled
to witness the departure of the soldiers.
The regiment proceeded to Baltimore,
Md., August 29, 1862, via Albany and New York. Attached to the Defenses
of Baltimore, Md., 8th Army Corps, Middle Department, where they remained
in Camp Patterson about two months, to October, 1862. They then embarked
for Fortress Monroe, arriving on November 6th. Here they were assigned
to the Department of the Gulf, for the expedition under command of General
Nathaniel P. Banks. Banks' military career had consisted of losing
to Stonewall Jackson in the Shenandoah Valley and losing to Jackson again
at Cedar Mountain.
Going by water to New Orleans, the
regiment embarked aboard the steamer "Ericsson" for Fortress Monroe, where
they arrived on November 6, 1862. They remained at Ship Island nine days
and then proceeded by steamer to New Orleans and were ordered into camp.
They were in camp a few weeks and then removed to Baton Rouge. Emery's
Brigade, 8th Army Corps, to November, 1862. Emery's Brigade, Louisiana
Expedition, to December, 1862. Sherman's Division, Dept. of the Gulf, to
January, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 19th Army Corps, Dept. of the
Gulf, to February, 1863.
Ten days later, in March 1863,
they were ordered to Port Hudson, where they were present at the first
bombardment of that place by Farragut's fleet. Eight war-vessels
comprised the expedition to Port Hudson; viz, "Hartford." "Richmond,"
"Mississippi," "Monongahela," "Kineo," "Albatross,"
"Sachem," and "Genesse." On the night of the 15th
of April, 1863, all being in readiness, a red light from the flag-ship
signaled the squadron to weigh anchor, and the steamers, followed by the
four gun-boats, steamed along in the night. They had not proceeded
far, when challenged from a rebel battery on the river-bank.
Battery after battery opened its fire. In cooperation with
Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant’s offensive against Vicksburg, Union Maj. Gen.
Nathaniel P. Banks’s army moved against the Confederate stronghold at Port
Hudson on the Mississippi River. On May 27, after their frontal assaults
were repulsed, the Federals settled into a siege which lasted for 48 days.
Banks renewed his assaults on June 14 but the defenders successfully repelled
them. In the assaulting column, four companies of the 110th,
A (Patrick Waters Company), B, E, and I took part, under command
of Major Charles Hamilton. On July 9, 1863, after hearing of the fall of
Vicksburg, the Confederate garrison of Port Hudson surrendered, opening
the Mississippi River to Union navigation from its source to New Orleans.
Estimated Casualties: 12,208 total (US 5,000; CS 7,208).
The 110th were also with Maj.
Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks, as he launched an expedition up Bayou Teche in
western Louisiana aimed at Alexandria. On April 9, two divisions crossed
Berwick Bay from Brashear City to the west side at Berwick. On the 12th,
a third division went up the Atchafalaya River to land in the rear of Franklin
intending to intercept a Rebel retreat from Fort Bisland or turn the enemy's
position. Maj. Gen. Richard Taylor sent Col. Tom Green's regiment to the
front to ascertain the enemy's strength and retard his advance. On the
11th, the Yankees began their advance in earnest. Late on the 12th, Union
troops arrived outside the defenses in battle line. An artillery barrage
ensued from both sides until dark when the Yankees, many of whom were hit
by Rebel cannon fire, fell back and camped for the night. About 9:00 am
on the 13th, the Union forces again advanced on Fort Bisland. Combat did
not begin until after 11:00 am and continued until dusk. In addition to
Rebel forces in the earthworks, the gunboat Diana, now in Confederate hands,
shelled the Yankees. U.S. gunboats joined the fray in late afternoon. The
fighting ceased after this. Later that night, Taylor learned that the Yankee
division that went up the Atchafalaya and landed in his rear was now in
a position to cut off a Confederate retreat. Taylor began evacuating supplies,
men, and weapons, leaving a small force to retard any enemy movement. The
next morning, the Yankees found the fort abandoned. Fort Bisland was the
only fortification that could have impeded this Union offensive, and it
had fallen. Estimated Casualties: Total 684 (US 234; CS 450)
On July 9th 1863 General Gardiner
surrendered his entire command to General Andrews of the Union forces.
At the surrender, the 110th regiment were present.
After the capitulation the 110th
left Port Hudson, encamped at Algiers, a few days, opposite New Orleans
and then embarked aboard transports for Sabine Pass. Afterward they
joined General Bank's Red River expedition to the Trench country which
turned into a miserable failure. Magruder drove him back; the expedition
was abandoned. The regiment returned to camp opposite New Orleans,
and from there they proceeded to Fort Jefferson at the Dry Tortugas,
where they remained on garrison duty, having in charge about 900 prisoners.
Among whom was the celebrated Dr Mudd, of assassination notoriety. 1st
Brigade, 3rd Division, 19th Army Corps, to February, 1864. Key West, Fla.,
District of West Florida, Dept. Gulf, to August, 1865.
In August 1865 the regiment left
for home and was mustered out on the 25th of that month.
SERVICE--Duty at Baltimore,
Md., until November 6, 1862. Moved to Fortress Monroe, Va., November 6,
then sailed for New Orleans, La., December 4, arriving at Carrollton December
26, and duty there until March, 1863. Operations on Bayou Plaquemine February
12-28. Moved to Baton Rouge, La., March 7. Operations against Port Hudson,
La., March 7-27. Moved to Algiers April 3, then to Brashear City April
8. Expedition to Franklin April 11-17. Fort Bisland April 12-13.
Franklin April 14. Expedition from Opelousas to Barre Landing April 21.
Expedition from Barre Landing to Berwick City May 21-26. Franklin and Centreville
May 25. Moved to Port Hudson, La., May 30. Siege of Port Hudson June 3-July
9. Assault on Port Hudson June 14. Surrender of Port Hudson July 9. Duty
at Baton Rouge, Donaldsonville, Brashear City and Berwick until October.
Western Louisiana (Teche) Campaign October 3-November 30. Vermillionville
November 11. Duty at New Iberia until January 7, 1864. Moved to Franklin
January 7, then to Key West, Fla., February, 1864, and garrison duty at
Fort Jefferson until August, 1865. Attack on Fort Myers, Fla., February
20, 1865 (Detachment). Mustered out August 28, 1865.
Regiment lost during service 2 Officers
and 14 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 3 Officers and 191
Enlisted men by disease. Total 210.
110th NYSV
Nickname - Oswego County Regiment
Recruitment Area:
Company A - Volney
Company B - Richland, Albion and
Williamstown
Company C - Orwell, Sandy Creek,
Boylston and Redfield
Company D - Hastings and Schroeppel
Company E - Mexico, New Haven and
Palermo
Company F - Hannibal
Company G - Oswego, Scriba, Amboy
and West Monroe
Company H - Oswego
Company I - Oswego, Schroeppel and
Volney
Company K - Constantia, Parish,
West Monroe and Amboy
Dates of Service:
Mustered in: 8/25/62 at Oswego
Mustered out: 8/28/65 at Albany
Colonels:
Cheney AMES
DeWitt Clinton LITTLEJOHN
Clinton Hezekiah SAGE
Charles HAMILTON
Casualty Totals:
Battle-Related
KILLED
Officers
1
Enlisted
5
WOUNDED DIED
Officers
1
Enlisted
9
WOUNDED RECOVERED
Officers
2
Enlisted 28
MISSING
Officers
0
Enlisted
9
TOTAL
55
Died of disease and other causes
Officers
3
Enlisted 191
As POW
1
TOTAL 195
TOTAL CASUALTIES: 250
More About PATRICK WATERS:
Occupation: laborer
12/02
I read with interest the information by Margaret Madden on the 110th New
York Volunteers. I see her ancestor was in company A. I have an Enfield
rifle musket which carries the inscription of the 110th NYV. The inscription
can be viewed at the following URL.
http://home.att.net/~confederate/enfield2.jpg
The "translation" of the inscription
is; gun number 21, company A, 110th New York Volunteers. It's interesting
to think that her ancestor may have carried this musket. I am working on
an article about this musket and would appreciate it if you could pass
this e-mail on to Margaret as she may find the image of the
inscription interesting and we may
be able to exchange a bit of information.
Thank you, and kind regards,
John
Gross at: <[email protected]>
*Note:
If anyone is interested please visit the website. Great photograph.
