Presentation U.S. Model 1850 Staff and Field Officer's Sword Major John Higgins 143rd New York Infantry Regiment / ON-HOLD

Presentation U.S. Model 1850 Staff and Field Officer's Sword Major John Higgins 143rd New York Infantry Regiment - Inventory Number: SWO 277 / ON-HOLD

Higgins was commissioned as a Captain commanding Co. D, 143rd New York Infantry in September 1862. He served with his Regiment at Suffolk, Va. (1863), Dix's Peninsula Campaign (1863), Wauhatchie (1863), Missionary Ridge (1863), Resasca (1864), Dallas, Ga. (1864), Kenesaw Mountain (1864), Lost Mountain (1864), Atlanta (1864), Savannah (1864), and Averyboro (1865). Higgins was promoted Major in January of 1864. His leg was badly fractured by a musket ball at the battle of Averysboro, March 16th, 1865. He was mustered out of the Regiment and applied for a pension in 1869.

John Higgins

Residence was not listed; 27 years old.

Enlisted on 7/26/1862 at Itaca, NY as a Captain.

On 10/8/1862 he was commissioned into "D" Co. NY 143rd Infantry

He was discharged for wounds on 5/16/1865

He was listed as:

* Wounded (date and place not stated)

Promotions:

* Major 1/8/1864

Intra Regimental Company Transfers:

* 1/9/1864 from company D to Field & Staff

NEW YORK ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-THIRD INFANTRY (Three Years)

One Hundred and Forty-third Infantry.-Cols., David P. DeWitt, Horace Boughton; Lieut.-Cols., Horace Boughton, Joseph B. Taft, Hezekiah Watkins; Majs., Joseph B. Taft, Hezekiah Watkins, John Higgins, Edward H. Pinney.

This regiment, recruited in the counties of Sullivan and Tompkins, was organized at Monticello, and there mustered into the U. S. service for a three years' term on Oct. 8, 1862.  Col. DeWitt was formerly in command of the 3d Maryland regiment.  The 143d left the state on Oct. 14, proceeded to Washington and remained on duty in the defenses of the capital until April, 1863, when it was ordered to the Department of Virginia.

Here it participated in the defense of Suffolk, in the 3d (Hughston's) brigade, Gurney's division, and then took part in the operations against Richmond with Gordon's division.  After the battle of Gettysburg it was transferred to the Army of the Potomac, and placed in the 1st brigade, 3d (Schurz's) division, 11th corps.

It accompanied the 11th and 12th corps to Tennessee in September, joined Grant's army at Chattanooga and the following month took part in the midnight battle at Wauhatchie, Tenn., losing 6 killed and wounded.  Lieut.-Col. Taft was killed in the action at Missionary ridge in November, after which the regiment was ordered to the relief of Knoxville, a most trying and arduous campaign.

When the new 20th corps was formed in April, 1864, the 143d was assigned to 3d brigade (Robinson's), 1st division (Williams') of that corps, and fought under Sherman in all the battles and campaigns in which the 20th corps was engaged from Chattanooga to Raleigh.

During this period of almost a year the regiment sustained casualties amounting to 176 killed, wounded and missing, its heaviest losses being incurred at Kennesaw mountain, where 76 were killed, wounded and missing, and at Peachtree creek, where the loss was 48 killed and wounded.

Lieut. Edward Carrington, a splendid soldier, was killed March 6, 1865, at Natural Bridge, Fla., while serving on the staff of Gen. Newton.  After Johnston's surrender the regiment marched to Washington, where it took part in the grand review, and was there mustered out on July 20, 1865.

It returned home under command of Col. Boughton, who was soon after commissioned brigadier-general.  The loss of the regiment during service was 5 officers and 38 men killed and mortally wounded; 1 officer and 177 men died of disease and other causes; 9 men were killed in a railroad accident March 20, 1863; total deaths, 221.

Inventory Number: SWO 277 / ON-HOLD