The 164th New York Infantry Regiment was an

infantry Infantry, or infantryman are a type of soldier who specialize in ground combat, typically fighting dismounted. Historically the term was used to describe foot soldiers, i.e. those who march and fight on foot. In modern usage, the term broadl ...

regiment A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, military service, service, or administrative corps, specialisation. In Middle Ages, Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of l ...

in the Union Army during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

Service

The 164th New York Infantry, a Zouave unit, was organized at

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...

, in September and October 1862. It was reorganized at

Newport News Newport News () is an independent city in southeastern Virginia, United States. At the 2020 census, the population was 186,247. Located in the Hampton Roads region, it is the fifth-most populous city in Virginia and 140th-most populous city i ...

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...

, and mustered in November 19, 1862, under the command of

Colonel Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...

John Eugene McMahon. It was one of the four regiments forming the brigade of Irish soldiers known as the ''Corcoran Legion''. The regiment was attached to District of Newport News, Virginia,

Department of Virginia The Department of Virginia and North Carolina was a United States Military department encompassing Union-occupied territory in the Confederate States during the Civil War. In 1863, it was formed by the merging of two previously existing departm ...

, to December 1862. Corcoran's Brigade, Division of Suffolk,

VII Corps 7th Corps, Seventh Corps, or VII Corps may refer to: * VII Corps (Grande Armée), a corps of the Imperial French army during the Napoleonic Wars * VII Corps (German Empire), a unit of the Imperial German Army prior to and during World War I * VII ...

, Department of Virginia, to April 1863. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, VII Corps, to July 1863. Corcoran's Brigade, King's Division, XXII Corps,

Department of Washington Department of Washington, was a department of the Union Army constituted on April 9, 1861. It consisted of the District of Columbia to its original boundaries, and the State of Maryland as far as Bladensburg. It was merged into the Military ...

, to November 1863. 1st Brigade, Corcoran's Division, XXII Corps, to December 1863. 2nd Brigade, Tyler's Division, XXII Corps, to May 1864. 4th Brigade, 2nd Division,

II Corps 2nd Corps, Second Corps, or II Corps may refer to: France * 2nd Army Corps (France) * II Cavalry Corps (Grande Armée), a cavalry unit of the Imperial French Army during the Napoleonic Wars * II Corps (Grande Armée), a unit of the Imperial French ...

Army of the Potomac The Army of the Potomac was the primary field army of the Union army in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. It was created in July 1861 shortly after the First Battle of Bull Run and was disbanded in June 1865 following the Battle of ...

, to June 1864. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, II Corps, to July 1865. The 164th New York Infantry mustered out of service July 15, 1865.

Detailed service

* Left New York for

Newport News, Virginia Newport News () is an Independent city (United States), independent city in southeastern Virginia, United States. At the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 186,247. Located in the Hampton Roads region, it is the List of c ...

, November 6, 1862. * Duty at Newport News, Va., until December 1862, and at

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, until May 1863. ** Action at Deserted House, Va., January 30, 1863. * Siege of Suffolk April 12-May 4. ** Edenton Road April 15 and 24. ** Providence Church Road, Nansemond River, May 3. ** Siege of Suffolk raised May 4. * Blackwater May 12 and June 17. * Dix's Peninsula Campaign June 24-July 7. * Moved to Washington, D.C., July 12. Provost duty in the defenses of that city, and at Alexandria, Va., and guard duty on the Orange & Alexandria Railroad until May 1864. * Ordered to join the Army of the Potomac in the field May 1864. * Rapidan Campaign May 17 to June 15. ** Spotsylvania Court House, Va., May 17–21. ** North Anna River May 23–26. ** On line of the Pamunkey May 26–28. ** Totopotomoy May 28–31. ** Cold Harbor June 1–12. * Before Petersburg June 16–18. ** Siege of Petersburg June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865. * Jerusalem Plank Road, Weldon Railroad, June 22–23, 1864. * Demonstration on north side of James River July 27–29. Deep Bottom July 27–28. * Demonstration north of James River August 13–20. ** Strawberry Plains, Deep Bottom, August 14–18. * Ream's Station August 25. * Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher's Run, October 27–28. * Dabney's Mills, Hatcher's Run, February 5–7, 1865. * Watkins' House March 25. * Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. ** Boydton Road March 30–31. ** Crow's House March 31. ** Fall of Petersburg April 2. ** Pursuit of Lee April 3–9. *** Sailor's Creek April 6. *** High Bridge, Farmville, April 7. *** Appomattox Court House April 9. * Surrender of Lee and his army. At Burkesville until May 2. * March to Washington, D.C., May 2–12. *

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May 23. * Duty at Washington until July.

Casualties

The regiment lost a total of 245 men during service; 10 officers and 106 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 3 officers and 126 enlisted men died of disease. 26% of the men who served would die during the regiment's time of service.

Commanders

* Colonel John Eugene McMahon – died March 3, 1863, at

Buffalo, New York Buffalo is a Administrative divisions of New York (state), city in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York and county seat of Erie County, New York, Erie County. It lies in Western New York at the eastern end of Lake Erie, at the head of ...

, due to disease * Colonel James Power McMahon – killed in action at Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864 * Colonel William DeLacy *

Major Major most commonly refers to: * Major (rank), a military rank * Academic major, an academic discipline to which an undergraduate student formally commits * People named Major, including given names, surnames, nicknames * Major and minor in musi ...

John Beattie - commanded the regiment at the First Battle of Deep Bottom *

Captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...

Timothy J. Burke - commanded the regiment during the Appomattox Campaign

Notable members

* Sergeant

John Brosnan John Raymond Brosnan (7 October 1947 – 11 April 2005) was an Australian writer of fantasy and science fiction, as well as non-fiction. He was born in Perth, Western Australia, and died in South Harrow, London London is the Capita ...

, Company E -

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces, military decoration and is awarded to recognize American United States Army, soldiers, United States Navy, sailors, Un ...

recipient for action at the

Second Battle of Petersburg The Second Battle of Petersburg, also known as the assault on Petersburg, was fought June 15–18, 1864, at the beginning of the Richmond–Petersburg Campaign (popularly known as the Siege of Petersburg). Union forces under Lieutenant General U ...

* 1st Sergeant Patrick H. Doody, Company E - Medal of Honor recipient for action at the Battle of Cold Harbor, June 7, 1864

References