Editor’s Note: Do you have information on this unit’s role at the Siege of Petersburg? Please contact us using the Contact button in the menu at the top of the screen. We are happy to exchange information with other researchers.
Muster In: Regiment organized at Elmira, N.Y., October 3, 1864. Companies “D,” “E,” “G” and “K” left State under orders to join Army of the Potomac before Petersburg September 18, 1864. Companies “A,” “B,” “C,” “F,” “H” and “I” left State for Petersburg, Va., October 23, 1864. (Co. “K” transferred to 15th New York Engineers and a new Co. “K” assigned December 15, 1864.)1
Muster Out: Mustered out June 1, 1865.2
Commander(s):
Colonel Allen L. Burr
Commander Image
Lieutenant Colonel Joseph G. Townsend
Commander Image
Captain John Slocum
Commander Image
Commander 4
Commander Image
First Offensive Order of Battle:
- Not yet in existence, and so not present at the Siege of Petersburg.3
Second Offensive Order of Battle:
- Not yet in existence, and so not present at the Siege of Petersburg.4
Third Offensive Order of Battle:
- Not yet in existence, and so not present at the Siege of Petersburg.5
Fourth Offensive Order of Battle:
- Not yet in existence, and so not present at the Siege of Petersburg.6
Fifth Offensive Order of Battle:
- Commander:
- Unit Strength:
- Weapons:
- Note: Cos. “D,” “E,” “G” and “K” are listed in Dyer’s Compendium as having arrived at the Siege of Petersburg in late September 1864.7
Sixth Offensive Order of Battle: At City Point, Va.
- Commander:
- Unit Strength:
- Weapons:
- Note: Cos. “D,” “E,” “G” and “K” are listed in Dyer’s Compendium as having arrived at the Siege of Petersburg in late September 1864, and as having been at the Battle of Boydton Plank Road, whereas the regiment is not mentioned in the Official Records “Organization” or “Casualty” records for late October 1864. Companies “A,” “B,” “C,” “F,” “H” and “I” left later in October and were not present for the Battle of Boydton Plank Road. I infer that Companies D, E, G, and K were probably attached to either the 187th New York or the 188th New York for the Battle of Boydton Plank Road, though I don’t have a good source at the present time for this. Two books by Valgene Dunham, one of the 188th New York and one on Gregory’s Brigade as a whole, may shed further light on this issue.8,9,10
Seventh Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | First Division | V Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army11,12
- Commander: Major Joseph G. Townsend (December 31, 1864)13
- Unit Strength:
- Weapons:
- Note: This regiment participated in Warren’s Stony Creek, or “Apple Jack” Raid to Belfield and Hicksford, Virginia from December 7-12, 1864.14
Eighth Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | First Division | V Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army15,16,17
- Commander:
- Unit Strength:
- Weapons:
- Note: This unit is listed in the casualty returns for the Battle of Hatcher’s Run, February 5-7, 1865, implying it was present during the Eighth Offensive and the battle.20
Ninth Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | First Division | V Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army21,22
- Commander: Lieutenant Colonel Joseph G. Townsend (March 31, 1865)23
- Unit Strength:
- Weapons:
Dyer’s/Sifakis’ Compendium Info:
Siege of Petersburg Battles24:
- Siege of Petersburg, Va., October, 1864, to April 2, 1865.
- Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher’s Run, October 27-28, 1864 (Cos. “D,” “E,” “G” and “K”).
- Warren’s Raid on Weldon Railroad December 7-12.
- Dabney’s Mills, Hatcher’s Run, February 5-7, 1865.
- Hatcher’s Run March 25.
- Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9.
- Lewis Farm near Gravelly Run March 29.
- Junction of Quaker and Boydton Roads March 29.
- White Oak Road March 31.
- Five Forks April 1.
- Fall of Petersburg April 2.
- Pursuit of Lee April 3-9.
- Appomattox Court House April 9.
- Surrender of Lee and his army.
Bibliography:
Siege of Petersburg Documents Which Mention This Unit:
- 150 Years Ago Today: Skirmish Near Warwick Swamp: January 11, 1865
- EXCERPT: Skirmish Near Warwick Swamp, January 11, 1865 (History of the 189th NY)
- MOLLUS ME V2: Five Forks by Joshua L. Chamberlain
- OR XLII P1 #14: Report of Brigadier General Henry W. Benham, commanding Eng/AotP and Defenses of City Point, August 1-November 19, 1864
- OR XLVI P1 #82: Report of Lieutenant Colonel Joseph G. Townsend, 189th NY, April 1-5, 1865
Sources:
- A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
- A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
- A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
- A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
- A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
- A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
- A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
- A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
- The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 460: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 1864)” ↩
- The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), page 155: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces…Boydton Plank Road, Va., October 27-28, 1864” ↩
- The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 1117: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864) ↩
- Calkins, Chris. “The Apple Jack Raid: For This Barbarism There Was No Real Excuse.” Blue & Gray Magazine Summer 2005: 18-25 (OOB on page 60). ↩
- The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 1117: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864) ↩
- Calkins, Chris. “The Apple Jack Raid: For This Barbarism There Was No Real Excuse.” Blue & Gray Magazine Summer 2005: 18-25 (OOB on page 60). ↩
- The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 327: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865) ↩
- The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 741: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865) ↩
- The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 96), page 65: “Return of Casualties in the Union forces at Hatcher’s Run (otherwise known as Dabney’s Mill, Armstrong’s Mill, Rowanty Creek, and Vaughan Road)… (February 5-7, 1865)” ↩
- The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 327: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865) ↩
- The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 741: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865) ↩
- The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 96), page 65: “Return of Casualties in the Union forces at Hatcher’s Run (otherwise known as Dabney’s Mill, Armstrong’s Mill, Rowanty Creek, and Vaughan Road)… (February 5-7, 1865)” ↩
- The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 569: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865) ↩
- The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 584: “Return of casualties in the Union Forces commanded by Lieut. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, March 29-April 9, 1865” ↩
- The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 569: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865) ↩
- A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩