Brevetted Major Bernard Smith, Company C, NY 44th and Company A NY 169th Infantry / Sold
Brevetted Major Bernard Smith, Company C, NY 44th and Company A NY 169th Infantry / Sold
Bernard M. Smith:
Residence was not listed; 22 years old.
Enlisted on 9/24/1861 at Albany, NY as a Private.
On 10/5/1861 he mustered into "C" Co. NY 44th Infantry
He was discharged for promotion on 9/22/1862
On 9/22/1862 he was commissioned into NY 169th Infantry
(date and method of discharge not given)
He was listed as:
* Wounded 5/27/1862 Hanover Court House, VA
Promotions:
* Capt 9/22/1862 (As of N.Y. 169th Inf.)
Bernard N. Smith
Residence was not listed; 23 years old.
Enlisted on 8/21/1862 at Troy, NY as a 2nd Lieutenant.
On 8/25/1862 he was commissioned into "A" Co. NY 169th Infantry
He was Mustered Out on 7/19/1865 at Raleigh, NC
Promotions:
* 1st Lieut 12/4/1862
* Capt 5/10/1864
Intra Regimental Company Transfers:
* 12/4/1862 from company A to company B
NEW YORK FORTY-FOURTH INFANTRY (Three Years)
Forty-fourth Infantry.-Cols., Stephen W. Stryker, James C. Rice, Freeman Conner; Lieut.-Cols., James C. Rice, Edward P. Chapin, Freeman Conner, Edward B. Knox; Majs., Stephen W. Stryker, James McKown, Edward P. Chapin, Freeman Conner, Edward B. Knox, Campbell Allen.
The 44th regiment, known as Ellsworth's Avengers, was organized at Albany under the auspices of the Ellsworth association of the State of New York, which planned to raise a memorial regiment to be composed of one man from each town and ward, unmarried, not over 30 years of age or under 5 feet, 8 inches in height, and of military experience.
This plan was adhered to as far as possible and two companies from Albany county, two from Erie county, one from Herkimer county, and a large number of scattered squads reported at Albany in response to the request. These companies were mustered into the service of the United States at Albany in Aug. and Sept., 1861, for three years and two new companies from Albany were mustered in Oct. 21, 1862.
The regiment, numbering 1,061 men, left Albany on Oct. 21, 1861, for Washington and upon its arrival there was assigned to the 3d brigade, 1st division, later with the 5th corps. Camp was established on Oct. 28, at Hall's hill, Va., and the winter was passed there with routine duties.
On March 10, 1862, the regiment led the advance to Centerville, but soon returned to Fairfax and proceeded thence to Yorktown, arriving on April 1. From May 5 to 19, the 44th garrisoned Fort Magruder; then moved to Gaines' mill; was engaged at Hanover Court House, with the loss of 86 killed, wounded and missing; participated in the Seven Days' battles with a total loss of 56 at Gaines' mill and 99 at Malvern Hill, out of 225 engaged in the last named battle.
Returning to Alexandria, the regiment moved by way of Fortress Monroe to Manassas, and in the battle of Aug. 30 lost 71 killed, wounded or missing. It was in reserve at Antietam; was active at Shepherdstown, and Fredericksburg; shared in the hardships of Burnside's "Mud March," and returned to winter quarters at Stoneman's switch, near Falmouth.
Camp was broken on April 27, 1863, for the Chancellorsville campaign, the 44th being in the lead during the general movement of the army and sharing in the fighting, after which it returned for a short rest to the camp at Stoneman's switch. In June, the veterans of the 14th and 25th N. Y. were added to the 44th.
At Gettysburg, the regiment was posted on the left of the line and joined in the defense of Little Round Top, where it met with its greatest loss-111 killed, wounded and missing. After spending some weeks in camp at Emmitsburg, the command was present at the battle of Bristoe Station, active at Rappahannock Station and in the Mine Run campaign, and went into winter quarters at Brandy Station.
In Dec., 1863, a large number of the men reenlisted and rejoined the regiment in camp after their veteran furlough. May, 1864, was the month of the memorable Wilderness campaign, in which the regiment served faithfully, suffering most severely at the Wilderness and at Bethesda Church.
By this time the regiment had become greatly reduced in numbers by hard service and the loss in this campaign, while not so large in numbers as in previous battles, was even greater in proportion to the number of men engaged. The regiment was active in the first assault on Petersburg in June 1864, at the Weldon railroad, and at Poplar Spring Church.
On Oct. 11, 1864, the 44th was mustered out at Albany and the veterans and recruits were consolidated into a battalion, of which 266 men were transferred to the 140th and 183 to the 146th N. Y. The total strength of the regiment was 1,585, of whom 188 died during the term of service from wounds received in action, and 147 died from accident, imprisonment or disease.
The total loss in killed, wounded and missing was 730. The men chosen for this command were of the flower of the state and displayed their heroism on many a desperately contested field, where they won laurels for themselves and for their state. Col. Fox numbers the 44th among the "three hundred fighting regiments."
NEW YORK FORTY-FOURTH REGIMENT OF INFANTRY. Ellsworth Avengers; People's Ellsworth Regiment. (Three Years)
This regiment, Col. Stephen W. Stryker, was recruitedunder the auspices of the Ellsworth Association of the State of New York. The original plan was to obtain from every ward and town of the State one man; this plan was not adhered to, but later more than one enlistment was allowed to each, and the counties of Albany and Erie furnished each two companies, and Herkimer county one company. The men reported individually at Albany, where the regiment was organized under orders from the State dated October 15, 1861. The companies were mustered in the service of the United States for three years, A, B, C, D and E August 30; F and G September 6; H and I September 15, and K September 24, 1861. September 20, 1862, Companies C and E were merged into the others, and replaced by new companies, recruited at Albany, October 21, 1862. New Company E was also known as the Normal School Company. In June, 1863, the three years' men of the ~4th and 25th Infantries joined the regiment by transfer. September 23, 1864, the men not entitled to be mustered out with the regiment were formed into a battalion, and October 11, 1864, this battalion was transferred to the 140th Infantry (266 enlisted men), and the 146th Infantry (183 enlisted men).
The regiment left the State October 21, 1861; served in the 3d Brigade, 1st Division, Army of the Potomac, from October 26, 1861; in the 3d Brigade, 1st Division, 3d Corps, Army of the Potomac, from March, 1862; in the 3d Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Corps, Army of the Potomac, from May, 1862, and it was honorably discharged and mustered out, under Col. Freeman Conner, October 11, 1864, at Albany.
NEW YORK ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-NINTH INFANTRY (Three Years)
One Hundred and Sixty-ninth Infantry.-Cols., Clarence Buell, John McConihe, Alonzo Alden; Lieut.-Cols., John McConihe, Alonzo Alden, James A. Colvin; Majs., Alonzo Alden, James A. Colvin, Joseph H. Allen.
The 169th, known as the Troy regiment, was recruited in the counties of Rensselaer and Washington and organized at Troy and Staten island. Cos. A to E were mustered into the U. S. service at Troy, Sept. 25, 1862, and the remaining companies at New Dorp, Staten island, Oct. 6, the term of enlistment being three years.
The 169th left the state Oct. 9, 1862, for Washington. It achieved honorable distinction in the field, and is numbered by Col. Fox among the three hundred fighting regiments. He says: "The regiment was actively engaged in the defense of Suffolk, Va., where it served in Foster's brigade, Corcoran's division.
In the following summer it participated in the operations about Charleston harbor and in May, 1864, it moved with the Army of the James to Bermuda Hundred. The regiment disembarked there with Butler's army and hard fighting, with its consequent heavy losses, immediately ensued.
At Cold Harbor it fought in Martindale's division, Col. McConihe being killed in that battle. The 169th held a perilous position in the trenches before Petersburg, losing men there, killed or wounded, almost every day. While there, on the evening of June 30, 1864, the brigade (Barton's) was ordered to charge the enemy's lines, so that, under cover of their fire, Curtis' brigade could throw up an advanced rifle-pit; but the regiment while going into position was prematurely discovered by the enemy and thereby drew upon themselves a severe fire, which not only frustrated the plan, but cost the regiment many lives."
The regiment was one of those selected for the expedition against Fort Fisher, being then in Bell's (3d) brigade, Ames' division, 10th corps, and took part in the desperate but victorious assault on that stronghold. A large proportion of its losses there, however occurred at the explosion of the magazine, after the fort had been captured.
After the fall of Fort Fisher, the regiment accompanied the 10th corps in its advance on Wilmington. The following is a list of the engagements in which the 169th took part: siege of Suffolk, Fort Wagner, S. C., Port Walthall Junction, Chester Station, Bermuda Hundred, Cold Harbor, around Petersburg, Dutch gap, Chaffin's farm, Va., and Fort Fisher, N. C.
It was present at Edenton road, Carrsville, Blackwater, Zuni, Nansemond, South Anna, Drewry's bluff, Darbytown road and Wilmington. On the conclusion of the war it remained as a garrison at Raleigh, N. C., which city it had entered with the advance of Sherman's army, and was here mustered out on July 19, 1865, under command of Col. Alden.
The regiment was fortunate in the personnel of its officers and in the ranks was some of the best blood sent forth by the Empire State. In all its numerous fights the regiment never faltered, both officers and men behaving in the most praiseworthy and gallant manner.
The total enrollment of the regiment (not including the men transferred from the 142nd N. Y., on June 7, 1865, after the war had ended) was 1,467, of whom 10 officers and 147 men-or 10.7 percent.- were killed and mortally wounded; 3 officers and 125 men died of disease and other causes; total deaths, 285. The total number killed and wounded was 618.
New York ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-NINTH REGIMENT OF INFANTRY.
Troy Regiment. (Three Years)
September 24, 1862, Col. Clarence Buel received authority to raise this regiment in the then 12th Senatorial District of the State; it was organized at Staten Island, and mustered in the service of the United States for three years, Companies A to E at Troy, September 25, 1862; the remaining companies at New Dorp, Staten Island, October 6, 1862. June 7, 1865, it received by transfer the men of the 142d Infantry not mustered out with their regiment.
The companies were recruited principally: A at Nassau, Troy, Schodack and Poestenkill; B, G, H and I at Troy; C at Troy, Brunswick, Hoosick, Pittstown, Easton and Poestenkill; D at Sandy Hill, Kingsbury and Fort Edward; E at Fort Edward; F at Whitehall, Lisbon and Fort Ann; and K at Lansingburg and Troy. Company I was also known as the Nail Factory Company.
The regiment left the State October 9, 1862; it served in the Provisional Brigade, Abercrombie's Division, defenses of Washington, from October, 1862; in the Military District of Washington, D. C., 22d Corps, from March, 1863; in the 2d, Foster's, Brigade, 1st, Corcoran's, Division, 7th Corps, at Suffolk, Va., from April 17, 1863; on the Peninsula, Va., in June and July, 1863; in the Department of the South, 18th Corps, from August, 1863; on Folly Island, S. C., and in Foster's and Drake's Brigades, Vodges' Division, 10th Corps, from October, 1863; in the District of Florida, from February, 1864; in the 2d Brigade, 3d Division, 10th Corps, from April, 1864; in the 2d Brigade, 3d Division, 18th Corps, from May 30, 1864; in the 3d Brigade, 2d Division, 10th Corps, from June 15, 1864; in the same Brigade of 24th Corps, from December, 1864; of the Provisional Corps, from March, 1865; of the 10th Corps, from April 2, 1865; and, commanded by Col. Alonzo Alden, it was honorably discharged and mustered out July 19, 1865, at Raleigh, N. C.
Report of Lieut. Col. John McConihe, One hundred and sixty ninth New York Infantry.
FOLLY ISLAND, S. C., August 18, 1863.
CAPT.: In accordance with the within instructions--which instructions were returned to you, as per order received last evening - delivered to me by you, I most respectfully beg leave to report that I proceeded up the beach with the troops, consisting of Foster's brigade, with 100 men from Col. Alford's brigade, as soon as they were landed on Morris Island, and made the necessary dispositions of them, in conformity with the said instructions.
Nothing worthy of note occurred during the night. With an occasional shot during the night and day from Forts Gregg and Sumter, and quite a heavy fire of shot and shell from Wagner, commencing at 3.15 a. m. and lasting until daylight, the hours rolled on.
The enemy's sharpshooters were quite annoying during the day, and it seemed impossible to drive them from their shelter. A force of sharpshooters--I believe there are but 2 within our trenches--would undoubtedly accomplish much toward silencing the enemy's sharpshooters.
During the forenoon, several teams entered and left Fort Wagner by way of the beach, unmolested by us, as our guns could not effectively be brought to bear upon them.
A large force of the enemy's troops could be plainly distinguished laboring on the south side, and about 200 yards from Battery Johnson. They seemed to be engaged in building a new and connecting earthwork with Battery Johnson.
Our casualties were 1 man--an artillerist--killed, he being shot through the head, while on duty, and 2 wounded by the rebel sharpshooters; 2 men received slight injuries from the enemy's shells, and 1 cannoneer had his right arm badly burned by the premature discharge of one of the Wiard guns. I was duly relieved, and returned with my command to Folly Island last night. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JOHN MCCONIHE, Lieut.-Col., and Field Officer of the Trenches.
Capt. A. TERRY, Assistant Adjutant-Gen.
Report of Lieut. Col. James A. Colvin, One hundred and sixty-ninth New York Infantry, of operations January 15.
HDQRS. 169TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS, Fort Fisher, N. C., January 17, 1865.
The undersigned haste honor to report that upon the opening of the engagement of 15th instant Col. Alonzo Alden was in command of the regiment, but on reaching the enemy's works assumed command of the brigade, Col. Bell being wounded. The undersigned then took command of the regiment.
It would seem almost invidious to make any special mention of officers and men, when all did their duty with unparalleled gallantry and zeal. The undersigned can bear testimony that every officer led his men, and the men vied with each other to obtain the front. Col. Alonzo Alden was distinguished for his accustomed coolness and bravery. Maj. J. H. Allen was shot through the arm and leg, but persisted in remaining with the command. Capts. Daniel Ferguson, James H. Dunn, Charles D. Merrell, J. H. Warren, and E. W. Church were distinguished for their coolness and gallantry.
Lieuts. J. H. Straight, wounded, Michael Ryan, killed, Michael Russell, wounded, all in command of companies, were the right men in the right placed. After the death of Lieut. Ryan, Lieut. J. B. Foote assumed command of his company and led it gallantly. Lieut. Eugene Van Santvoord also deserves mention. Lieut. E. R. Mosher was hit by a spent ball on the 13th instant. He went into action on the 15th, being obliged to use a cane; he hopped into the fight, leading his men. Other officers distinguished themselves; indeed, all deserve mention.
The undersigned has mentioned such as came particularly under his notice. Accompanying will be found a list* of the enlisted men who distinguished themselves; also a full report of losses in action.+
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JAMES A. COLVIN, Lieut.-Col., Cmdg. 169th New York Volunteers.
Capt. GEORGE W. HUCKINS, Acting Assistant Adjutant-Gen.
Inventory Number: CDV 238 / SOLD