4th New York Infantry Regiment explained

Unit Name:	4th New York Infantry Regiment
Dates:	May 2, 1861, to May 25, 1863
Country:	United States
Allegiance:	Union
Branch:	Infantry
Size:	780, 792, 780
Nickname:	First Scott's Life Guard
Equipment:	Model 1842 Springfield Muskets (.69 caliber, smooth), Springfield Model 1855, Springfield Model 1861 (.58 caliber)
Battles:	Battle of Antietam Battle of Fredericksburg Battle of Chancellorsville
Commander1:	Alfred W. Taylor
Commander1 Label:	Colonel
Commander2:	John D. MacGregor;
Commander2 Label:	Colonel
Identification Symbol Label:	VII Corps (3rd Division) badge
Identification Symbol 2 Label:	II Corps (3rd Division) badge

The 4th New York Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It is also known as the 1st Scott's Life Guard.

Organization

The 4th New York organized in the city of New York, under the auspices of the "Veteran Scott Life Guard," an association incorporated by the Legislature, Friday, March 26, 1861, and composed of persons who had served in the Mexican–American War. Eight companies were mustered into the State service by Maj. Robert Taylor, Monday, April 22, 1861, on which day Edward McK. Hudson was elected Colonel; John D. MacGregor, Lieut. Colonel, and Alfred W. Taylor, Major, whose election was confirmed by the State Board on April 25. On Thursday, May 9, the companies recruited for it were formed by the State Board into a regiment, and numbered. Six companies (C, D, E, F, H and K), were mustered into the United States service for a two years' term on May 2, two companies (A and G), on May 7, and two companies (B and I), on May 9.

On the 13th of May, Col. Hudson having declined command of the regiment, Alfred W. Taylor was elected Colonel, and William Jameson, Major, in place of Taylor promoted to Lieut. Colonel. On Wednesday, May 8, 742 United States percussion muskets, pattern 1848, calibre 69, were issued to the regiment by Commissary General Welch.

To assist in the organization of the Regiment the Union Defense Committee of New York city expended $3,987.16. The total expenditure by the State, on, behalf of the regiment, exclusive of subsistence and quarters, up to August 15, 1861, was $43,897,81. At the end of their term of service, the regiment returned to New York city, where they were honorably discharged May 25, 1863.

The original companies were recruited principally:

A — New York city by Joseph Henriques
B - New York city by Samuel S. May
C - New York city by James Mooneye
D - New York city by Charles W. Kruger
E — Brooklyn by William B. Parison
F - New York city by John H. Camp
G - New York city by John B. Brahams
H - New York city by William Jameson
I - New York city by John B. Houstain
K - New York city by And. J. Constantine

Service

On Monday, June 3, 1861, it left New York and on Friday, June 3, arrived at Newport News. It was quartered there until July 26, when it was sent to Baltimore, MD. The 4th remained there until Saturday, August 31. On that day, it was sent to Havre de Grace, MD, at the mouth of the Susquehanna River and the head of Chesapeake Bay. It remained there until March 26, 1862 serving as security between there and Baltimore for the vital Philadelphia and Baltimore section of the Pennsylvania Railroad supply line. It was next sent to garrison Fort McHenry, Baltimore, where it remained until Friday, June 6.

Leaving Fort McHenry, the 4th went to Suffolk where it was attached to VII Corps. It spent the summer in garrison at Suffolk where it had a change of command with Col. McGregor relieving Col. Taylor. On September 6, it was sent to Washington. DC. Leaving there on September 11, it moved up the Potomac and joined the Army of the Potomac's 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division of II Corps. The 4th fought in its first battle at Antietam on September 17. It suffered heavy losses of 2 officers and 42 enlisted men killed, 12 enlisted men mortally wounded, 6 officers and 124 wounded, and 1 missing for an aggregate of 187.

After Antietam, the 4th was part of the force sent to reoccupy Harper's Ferry on Monday, September 22 as the Rebels had withdrawn to the Rappahannock. It remained in the garrison there for five and a half weeks until October 30, when it marched down to Falmouth with the army arriving opposite Fredericksburg on November 17.

From December 12–15, 1862, it was heavily engaged at the Battle of Fredericksburg. In that battle on December 13, it suffered 6 enlisted men killed, 7 enlisted men mortally wounded, 6 officers (including the Colonel) and 49 enlisted men wounded, and 6 missing for an aggregate of 74. After the battle, the regiment recrossed the Rappahannock and went into winter quarters at Falmouth, VA.

In January 1863, the 4th took part in the ineffective "Mud March" and returned to its winter quarters. It remained there until the army began maneuvering in April in the Chancellorsville Campaign.

In the campaign, Col. McGregor, as the senior regimental commander, assumed command of the brigade delegating the regiment to Lieut. Col. William Jameson. The 4th and its brigade narrowly escaped capture on May 1, on the Plank Road leading to Fredericksburg. Unknowingly moving toward an overwhelming Rebel force, Gen. Hooker recalled it back to Federal lines before contact. Upon return to the main body of the army, the 4th was detailed to special duty guarding the II Corps hospital. As a result, it suffered no losses in the defeat.

By mid-May, the 4th detached from the 3rd brigade and returned to New York city where it mustered out in City Hall Park on May 25, 1863.

Affiliations, battle honors, detailed service, and casualties

Organizational affiliation

Attached to:

Attached to Newport News, VA, Department of Virginia, to July 1861.
Dix's Command, Baltimore, MD, to June 1862.
Mansfield's Division, Newport News, VA, Department of Virginia, to July 1862.
Weber's Brigade, Division at Suffolk, [VII Corps], Dept. of Virginia, to September, 1862.
3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, II Corps, to May, 1863.

List of battles

The official list of battles in which the regiment bore a part:

Detailed service

1861

Departed New York May 18
Duty at Newport News, Va., June 7 to July 25, 1861.
Moved to Baltimore, Md., July 25, and rail security duty there and at Havre de Grace till June 5, 1862.

1862

Moved to Suffolk, VA, June 5, and duty there till September 6
Ordered to join Army of the Potomac September 8.
Maryland Campaign
Battle of Antietam September 16–17
Moved to Harper's Ferry, September 22, and duty there till October 30.
Reconnaissance to Charlestown October 16–17
Advance up Loudoun Valley and movement to Falmouth, Va., October 30-November 17
Battle of Fredericksburg December 12–15.

1863

"Mud March" January 20–24, 1863
At Falmouth till April 27
Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6
Battle of Chancellorsville May 1–5
Mustered out New York city, May 25, 1863

Total strength and casualties

During its service it lost by death, killed in action, 2 officers, 48 enlisted men; of wounds received in action, 19 enlisted men; of disease and other causes, 1 officer, 23 enlisted men; total, 3 officers, 90 enlisted men; aggregate, 93

Commanders

Colonel Alfred W. Taylor - May 15, 1861 - July 7, 1862
Colonel John Dunn MacGregor - July 7, 1862 - May 25, 1863

Armament

The 4th New York were issued the Model 1842 Springfield Muskets .69 caliber, smoothbore when accepted by the state on Wednesday, April 25, 1861. At some time prior to the Fredericksburg campaign, the regiment exchanged their 1842 Springfield smoothbores fora mix of Springfield Model 1855/1861 National Armory (NA) and contract rifle-muskets.The regiment reported the following surveys:

Fredericksburg

A — 35 Springfield Rifled Muskets, model 1855, 1861, NA and contract, (.58 Cal.)
B — 23 Springfield Rifled Muskets, model 1855, 1861, NA and contract, (.58 Cal.)
C — 33 Springfield Rifled Muskets, model 1855, 1861, NA and contract, (.58 Cal.)
D — 25 Springfield Rifled Muskets, model 1855, 1861, NA and contract, (.58 Cal.)
E — 30 Springfield Rifled Muskets, model 1855, 1861, NA and contract, (.58 Cal.)
F — 41 Springfield Rifled Muskets, model 1855, 1861, NA and contract, (.58 Cal.)
G — 41 Springfield Rifled Muskets, model 1855, 1861, NA and contract, (.58 Cal.)
H — 29 Springfield Rifled Muskets, model 1855, 1861, NA and contract, (.58 Cal.)
I — 40 Springfield Rifled Muskets, model 1855, 1861, NA and contract, (.58 Cal.)
K — 45 Springfield Rifled Muskets, model 1855, 1861, NA and contract, (.58 Cal.)

Chancellorsville

A — 42 Springfield Rifled Muskets, model 1855, 1861, NA and contract, (.58 Cal.)
B — 30 Springfield Rifled Muskets, model 1855, 1861, NA and contract, (.58 Cal.)
C — 37 Springfield Rifled Muskets, model 1855, 1861, NA and contract, (.58 Cal.)
D — 35 Springfield Rifled Muskets, model 1855, 1861, NA and contract, (.58 Cal.)
E — 36 Springfield Rifled Muskets, model 1855, 1861, NA and contract, (.58 Cal.)
F — 58 Springfield Rifled Muskets, model 1855, 1861, NA and contract, (.58 Cal.)
G — 42 Springfield Rifled Muskets, model 1855, 1861, NA and contract, (.58 Cal.)
H — 32 Springfield Rifled Muskets, model 1855, 1861, NA and contract, (.58 Cal.)
I — 40 Springfield Rifled Muskets, model 1855, 1861, NA and contract, (.58 Cal.)
K — 45 Springfield Rifled Muskets, model 1855, 1861, NA and contract, (.58 Cal.)

Shoulder Arms

Uniform

The men of the regiment were issued the dark blue New York state eight button jackets with shoulder straps trimmed in light blue. They also were issued the state dark blue trousers. As their service continued, the standard sky blue trousers were worn when the original trousers wore out.

References

Sources

Book: Dyer, Frederick Henry . Frederick H. Dyer . A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion . Dyer Pub. Co. . . 1908 . 8697590 . 09005239 . en . PDF . August 8, 2015 . 29, 42, 187, 279, 293, 330, 331, 339, 1406 . B01BUFJ76Q. registration.
Book: Federal Publishing Company. Military Affairs and Regimental Histories of New York, Maryland, West Virginia, And Ohio. Federal Publishing Company. The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal States, 1861–65 – Records of the Regiments in the Union army – Cyclopedia of battles – Memoirs of Commanders and Soldiers.. II. 1908 . Madison, WI. 1086145633 . PDF . 51 .
Book: Hillhouse . Thomas . Thomas Hillhouse (American politician) . Adjutant General's Report, 1861 . New York (State). Adjutant General's Office . Annual Reports of the Adjutant General of the State of New York . January 15, 1862 . Albany, NY . 1–735 . en . 2020-04-10 . registration . sn94095328 . 1040003486 .
Book: Hillhouse . Thomas . Thomas Hillhouse (American politician) . Adjutant General's Report, 1862 . New York (State). Adjutant General's Office . Annual Reports of the Adjutant General of the State of New York . January 27, 1863 . Albany, NY . 1–735 . en . 2020-04-10 . registration . sn94095328 . 1039942785 .
Web site: Mink . Eric J. . Armament in the Army of the Potomac at Fredericksburg . Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania NMP Staff . Mysteries & Conundrums . November 30, 2008 . . November 14, 2020 .
Web site: Mink . Eric J. . Armament in the Army of the Potomac During the Chancellorsville Campaign . Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania NMP Staff . Mysteries & Conundrums . May 2018 . . November 14, 2020 .
Book: Phisterer, Frederick . Frederick Phisterer . Tenth Regiment of Cavalry - Seventh Regiment of Infantry . J. B. Lyon Company, State Printers . New York in the War of Rebellion, 1861-1865 . 2 . 4th . 1912 . Albany, NY . 1719–1750 . en . 2023-04-17 . registration . 14013311 . 1359922 . PDF.
Book: Sprague . John T. . Adjutant General's Report, 1863 . I . New York (State). Adjutant General's Office . Annual Reports of the Adjutant General of the State of New York . February 1, 1864 . Albany, NY . 1–672 . en . registration . sn94095328 . 1039942785 . .
Book: Sprague . John T. . Adjutant General's Report, 1863 . II . New York (State). Adjutant General's Office . Annual Reports of the Adjutant General of the State of New York . February 1, 1864 . Albany, NY . 1–672 . en . 2020-04-10 . registration . sn94095328 . 1039942785 . .
Book: . Operations in Northern Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. January 26 – June 3, 1863 – Reports . U.S. Government Printing Office . Washington, DC . 1889 . The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies . XXV-XXXVII-I . 857196196 . 2027/coo.31924077730244 . .
Web site: Springfield Armory National Historic Site. NPS.gov. National Park Service (US Govt). 13 September 2010 . .
Web site: 4th Infantry Regiment: New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center . New York State Military Museum . April 5, 2020 . . August 20, 2023.
Web site: 4th New York Infantry Regiment's Civil War Historical Sketch . New York State Military Museum . April 5, 2020 . . August 20, 2023.
Web site: 4th New York Infantry Regiment's Civil War Newspaper Clippings . New York State Military Museum . April 5, 2020 . . August 20, 2023.
Web site: Smith . Edward . Union State Uniforms - Sack Coats . Mine Creek Battlefield . August 6, 2023 . August 9, 2023.
. 9 November 2012 . Northern Weapons Manufacturing during the Civil War; keynote address of the 2012 Smithsonian Institution’s Technology and the Civil War symposium . C-SPAN . C-SPAN . .