New York during the Civil War by Katherine Beebe

Contribution

katherinebeebe — 2024-01-03 15:47:13 UTC

On April 15, 1861, President Lincoln issued a proclamation calling for 75,000 men across the Union states. Being so highly populated, New York provided about 13,180 militia men. Over the course of the war, New York provided more and more militia regiments whenever needed, but they lost more and more men overtime.

Military groups

katherinebeebe — 2024-01-03 15:49:15 UTC

The 121st Infantry Regiment (also known as the “Otsego and Herkimer Regiment'') was a regiment from New York with volunteers for the war. It was made up of over 450 men. Its first significant action was at Salem Church, in Virginia, where almost half of their men were killed, wounded, or missing. They made another major action during the Battle of Rappahannock Station. They also fought in the battles of Wilderness and Spotsylvania. They were successively engaged at North Anna, Totopotomy, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, and the Weldon railroad.

Involvement

katherinebeebe — 2024-01-03 15:53:50 UTC

It was quite involved, providing tons of militiamen to fight in the war. New York citizens also had strong opinions on the war, with fights and riots breaking out in New York City. During these riots, which went on for 5 days, buildings were burned, citizens were killed, and a sense of unease fell over the city. The riots started from a new law, where male citizens aged 20-35, and unmarried men 35-45 years of age, were subject to military duty.

William Henry Seward

katherinebeebe — 2024-01-04 15:33:14 UTC

William Henry Seward was a native New Yorker. He practiced law at auburn before going into politics. He served as the Governor of New York from January 1839 to January 1843. He was one of the first and most active political opponents of slavery. Seward gave a speech at Rochester, New York where he said “an irrepressible conflict between opposing and enduring forces, and it means that the United States must and will, sooner or later, become either a slave-holding nation or entirely a free-labor nation.” Lincoln elected him as secretary of state.

The Battle of Rappahannock Station

katherinebeebe — 2024-01-05 15:26:34 UTC

On November 7, 1863, Union General Meade launched a two-pronged attack against Confederate General Lee's lines in the Battle of Rappahannock Station. The Union was successful, resulting in a Union victory and forcing Lee to retreat below the Rapidan River. The Union had 419 casualties while the Confederates had 1,674.

The Battle of Cold Harbor

katherinebeebe — 2024-01-05 15:35:32 UTC

As Union forces advanced toward Richmond in the spring of 1864, General Lee’s Confederate army repulsed and outmaneuvered General Grant’s troops at Cold Harbor in a devastating two-week action that cost more than 17,000 lives. On June 7, Lee and Grant agreed to a two-hour truce to allow the Federals a chance to retrieve their wounded. Few were found alive of the thousands who fell under the summer sun during the past five days.

Major General Daniel E. Sickles

katherinebeebe — 2024-01-05 15:53:17 UTC

Major General Daniel E. Sickles was born in New York City. He studied law at New York University and was elected to the state assembly after graduating. He was a democrat representative in the US Congress. The war was like a second chance for Sickles. He raised four regiments and soon was appointed brigadier general for volunteers in September of 1861. He continued to lead troops into battle, and by December of 1862, Sickles had been ranked as a major general.