83rd New York Infantry Regiment

The 83rd New York Infantry Regiment, the "Ninth Militia," "Ninth Infantry National Guard," or "City Guard", was an infantry regiment of the Union Army during the American Civil War.

83rd New York Infantry Regiment
Active	June 8, 1861, to June 23, 1864
Country	United States
Allegiance	Union
Branch	Infantry
Nickname(s)	City Guard
Engagements	Battle of Cedar Mountain Northern Virginia Campaign Battle of South Mountain Battle of Antietam Battle of Fredericksburg Battle of Chancellorsville Battle of Gettysburg Mine Run Campaign Battle of the Wilderness Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse Battle of North Anna Battle of Totopotomoy Creek Battle of Cold Harbor
Insignia
2nd Division, V Corps
2nd Division, I Corps

Monument to the 83rd New York Volunteer Infantry at Gettysburg

Service

The 9th New York State Militia was not called up, but organized in New York City as a regiment of volunteers under Col. Michael M. van Beuren. The regiment left the state in May, 1861 under the leadership of Col. John W. Stiles and served at Washington, DC, mustering in to federal service there in June; in several different commands until August; in the Army of the Potomac from October; in 5th Corps, from March, 1862; in 3d Corps, Army of Virginia, from June; and in 1st Corps, Army of Potomac, from September. In May 1863, the three years' men of the 26th Infantry were transferred in. The regiment served again in 5th Corps, Army of Potomac, from March, 1864, and was honorably discharged and mustered out at New York City in June, 1864; men not entitled to be mustered out were transferred to the 97th Infantry.

The 83rd served along the Potomac River in Maryland and at Harper's Ferry. In the spring of 1862 the regiment was stationed near Warrenton, Virginia and along the Rappahannock River; it participated in General John Pope's Virginia campaign, losing 75 men at the Battle of Second Bull Run. At South Mountain and Antietam, Confederate forces heavily engaged the 83rd, costing 114 at Antietam. The regiment lost even more at Fredericksburg—125 killed, wounded or missing—among whom was the severely wounded Colonel Hendrickson. The regiment spent the winter of 1862-3 at Falmouth, Virginia, and was not threatened during Chancellorsville, but played an important part at Gettysburg in the capture of Iverson's North Carolina brigade. Coming south, the regiment was stationed at Hagerstown, Maryland, and Liberty, Virginia; the 83rd camped near Brandy Station, Virginia, in the early winter of 1863-4. It served during the Wilderness campaign, where Colonel Moesch was killed and 128 men were reported killed, wounded or missing. The 83d was named as one of the "three hundred fighting regiments."

Total strength and casualties

The total enrollment of the regiment was 1,413 members; during its service the regiment lost by death; killed in action, 8 officers, 103 enlisted men; of wounds received in action, 1 officer, 52 enlisted men; of disease and other causes, 2 officers, 89 enlisted men; total, 11 officers, 244 enlisted men; aggregate, 255; of whom 16 enlisted men died in the hands of the enemy.

Commanders

• Colonel John W. Stiles
• Colonel John Hendrickson
• Colonel Joseph A. Moesch
• Lieutenant Colonel William Chalmers

See also

• List of New York Civil War regiments

References

• Hussey, George A. and Todd, William (1889). History of the Ninth Regiment N.Y.S.M. 83rd N.Y. Volunteers. New York, NY: Oglivie, 57 Rose St.(reprinted by The Cornell University Library Digital Collections)
• The Civil War Archive

External links

• New York State Military Museum Unit History Project New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center - Civil War - 83rd Infantry Regiment History, photographs, table of battles and casualties, and historical sketch for the 83rd New York Infantry Regiment.
• NPS UNION NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS 83rd Regiment, New York Infantry
• Antietam on the Web 83rd New York Infantry (9th Militia)
• Monument to the 83rd New York Infantry Regiment at Gettysburg