71st New York Infantry

Regimental History and Service Record

"2nd Excelsior"

• Organized under authority of the War Department at Camp Scott, Staten Island, N.Y., as 2nd Regiment, Sickles' Brigade, June, 1861
• Left State for Washington, D.C., July 23, 1861
• Attached to Sickles' Brigade, Division of the Potomac, to October, 1861
• Attached to Department of Northeastern Virginia / 2nd Division (Hunter) / 2nd Brigade (Burnside), Brigaded with:
  • 2nd New Hampshire Infantry
  • 1st Rhode Island Infantry
  • 2nd Rhode Island Infantry
  • 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery Battery
• Sickles' Brigade, Hooker's Division, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1862
• 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 3rd Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1864
• 2nd Brigade, 4th Division, 2nd Army Corps, to May, 1864
• 4th Brigade, 3rd Division, 2nd Army Corps, to July, 1864.

SERVICE.--Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D. C., until March, 1862. Expedition to Lower Maryland September 15-October 2, 1861. Expedition to Matthias Point November 9. Advance on Manassas, Va., March 10, 1862. Expedition from Dumfries to Fredericksburg, Va., and capture of stores March 18. Reconnaissance from Liverpool Point to Stafford Court House and action at Stafford Court House April 4.

• Ordered to the Peninsula, Va., April.
• April ?-September 2, 1862 - The Peninsula Campaign
  • April 10-May 4, 1862 - Siege of Yorktown, Virginia
  • May 5, 1862 - Battle of Williamsburg, Virginia
  • May 31-June 1, 1862 - Battle of Seven Pines, Virginia
  • June 25-July 1, 1862 - The Seven Days Battles before Richmond, Virginia
    • June 25, 1862 - Engagement at Oak Grove, Virginia
    • June 29, 1862 - Engagement at Savage's Station, Virginia
    • June 29, 1862 - Battle of the Peach Orchard, Virginia
    • June 30, 1862 - Engagement at White Oak Swamp, Virginia
    • June 30, 1862 - Engagement at Glendale, Virginia
    • July 1, 1862 - Engagement at Malvern Hill, Virginia

Malvern Hill August 5. At Harrison's Landing until August 16. Movement to Fortress Monroe, thence to Centreville August 16-26. Pope's Campaign in Northern Virginia August 26-September 2. Action at Bristoe Station or Kettle Run August 27. Battles of Groveton August 29; Bull Run August 30. Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D.C., until November. At Fairfax Station to November 25. Operations on the Orange & Alexandria Railroad November 10-12. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12-15. At Falmouth until April 27, 1863. "Mud March" January 20-24. Operations at Rappahannock Bridge and Grove Church February 5-7.

• April 27-May 6, 1863 - The Chancellorsville Campaign
  • May 1-5, 1863 - Battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia
• June 11-August 1, 1863 - The Gettysburg Campaign
  • July 1-3, 1863 - Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Pursuit of Lee to Manassas Gap, Va., July 5-24. Wapping Heights July 23. Duty on line of the Rappahannock until October. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Kelly's Ford November 7. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Payne's Farm November 27. Duty near Brandy Station, Va., until May, 1864.

• Demonstration on the Rapidan February 6-7.
• May 4-June 12, 1864 - The Overland Campaign
  • May 5-7, 1864 - Battle of the Wilderness, Virginia
  • May 8-21, 1864 - Battles of Spotsylvania Court House, Virginia
    • May 10, 1864 - Combat at Po River, Virginia
    • May 12, 1864 - Assault on the Salient at Spotsylvania Court House, Virginia
    • May 19, 1864 - Engagement at Harris Farm, Virginia
  • May 22-26, 1864 - Operations on Line of the North Anna River, Virginia
  • May 26-28, 1864 - Operations on Line of the Pamunkey River, Virginia
  • May 28-31, 1864 - Operations on Line of the Totopotomoy River, Virginia
  • June 1-12, 1864 - Battles of Cold Harbor, Virginia

Before Petersburg June 16-18. Siege of Petersburg June 16-July 7. Jerusalem Plank Road, Weldon Railroad, June 22-23. Veterans and Recruits transferred to 120th Regiment, New York Infantry, July 7.

• July 30, 1864 - Regiment mustered out at New York City at expiration of term

Regimental Roster

This feature is not yet available. Check back soon for updates!

Regiment Statistical Information

• Regiment lost during service 5 Officers and 83 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 Officers and 73 Enlisted men by disease. Total 163.

Legacy

This feature is not yet available. Check back soon for updates!

Sources

• Dyer, Frederick H. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion. The Dyer Publishing Company (Des Moine, 1908). (Pages 271, 827, 897, 898, 901, 902, 903, 904, 905, 916, 932, 933, 934, 936, 937, 938, 940, 941, 1432)