Second Brigade, Third Division
Colonel J H H Ward, commanding the 38th New York Infantry
Thirty-eighth New York Infantry
Mustered in United States service for three years on 8 June, 1861, and arrived at Washington D. C. on 21 June, 1861
COLONEL J H H WARD
LIEUTENANT COLONEL A FARNSWORTH
MAJOR J D POTTER
- Company A: CAPT. D E GAVITT
- Company B: CAPT. E MCGRATH
- Company C: CAPT. R F ALLISON
- Company D: CAPT. J F HARROLD
- Company E: CAPT. O A TILDEN
- Company F: CAPT. H MCQUADE
- Company G: CAPT. G F BRITTON
- Company H: CAPT. W H BAIRD
- Company I: CAPT. C S DEWITT
- Company K: CAPT. S C DWYER
Sources
New York in the War of Rebellion, 1861–1865, Volume 3, by Frederick Phisterer
Notes
The 38th New York Infantry was organised at New York city on 19 April, 1861, and was mustered in United States service for two years on 3 and 8 June, 1861. The regiment was ordered to proceed to Washington D. C. on 20 June, 1861, and arrived via Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and Baltimore, Maryland, on 21 June, 1861. The 38th New York Infantry encamped at Meridian Hill, Washington D. C., and was ordered across the Potomac River on 7 July, 1861. The regiment encamped near Alexandria, Virginia, and after the battle of first Bull Run was ordered to retreat to Centreville, Virginia. The 38th New York Infantry arrived at Centreville, Virginia, at 9 PM on 21 July, 1861, and was ordered to return to Alexandria, Virginia, between 11 and 12 AM the same day.
The 38th New York Infantry was consolidated into as Companies, A, B, C, D, E, and F, on 21 December, 1862, and the 55th New York Infantry, Companies G, H, I, and K, were assigned to the 38th New York Infantry on 22 December, 1862. The three years men were transferred to the 40th New York Infantry, Companies A, E, and H, on 3 June, 1863, and the 38th New York Infantry was mustered out at New York Ccity on 22 June, 1863 (See the 40th New York Infantry).
O B Willcox organised the the 1st Michigan Infantry at Fort Wayne, Detroit, Michigan, and was appointed colonel in May 1861. Colonel B Willcox was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers on 21 July, 1861.
The Military District of the Potomac was established on 25 July, 1861 by consolidating the Military District of Washington and the Department of Northeastern Virginia and redesignated the Department of the Potomac on 15 August, 1861. The 38th New York Infantry was assigned to Colonel J Sedgwick's brigade, Army of the Potomac, on 12 August, 1861.
Report
OFFICIAL REPORT NO.47: Series I, Volume 2 (S# 2) – Chapter IX, pp. 410–411
Colonel J H Ward, Thirty-eighth New York Infantry
OFFICIAL REPORT NO.49: Series I, Volume 2 (S# 2) – Chapter IX, pp. 413–416
Lieutenant Colonel A Farnsworth, Thirty-eighth New York Infantry
Orders of Battle
The above painting, 'New York's Bravest', is by Don Troiani, modern America's finest historial artist.