2nd Brigade (Hamblin's), 1st Division, Sixth Corps
Participants in the Breakthrough Battle at Petersburg on April 2, 1865
Fought on or near the present day grounds of Pamplin Historical Park
Organized at Herkimer and mustered in August 13, 1862. Left State for Washington, D.C., September 2, 1862. Attached to 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 6th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac and Army of the Shenandoah, to June, 1865.SERVICE.-- Maryland Campaign September 6 - 22, 1862. Duty at Sharpsburg, Md., until October 30. Movement to Falmouth, Va., October 30-November 19. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12 - 15. At Falmouth until April, 1863. "Mud March," January 20 - 24. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27 - May 6. Operations at Franklin's Crossing April 29-May 2. Battle of Maryes Heights, Fredericksburg, May 3. Salem Heights May 3-4. Banks' Ford May 4. Gettysburg (Pa.) Campaign June 14 - July 24. Battle of Gettysburg July 2 - 4. Pursuit of Lee to Manassas Gap, Va., July 5-24. Duty on line of the Rappahannock and Rapidan until October. Bristoe Campaign October 9 - 22. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7 - 8. Rappahannock Station November 7. Mine Run Campaign November 26 - December 2. Campaign from the Rapidan to the James May 3 - June 15, 1864. Battles of the Wilderness May 5 - 7; Spottsylvania May 8 - 12; Spottsylvania Court House May 12-21. Assault on the Salient, "Bloody Angle," May 12. 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 17 - 18. Siege of Petersburg to July 9. Jerusalem Plank Road June 22 - 23. Moved to Washington, D.C., July 9 - 11. Repulse of Early's attack on Fort Stevens and the Northern Defenses of Washington July 11 - 12. Expedition to Snicker's Gap July 14 - 23. Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley Campaign August 7 - November 28. Near Charleston August 21-22. Battle of Winchester September 19. Fisher's Hill September 22. Mt. Jackson September 23 - 24. Battle of Cedar Creek October 19. Duty in the Shenandoah Valley until December. Moved to Petersburg, Va., December 9 - 12. Siege of Petersburg December 12, 1864, to April 2, 1865. Dabney's Mills, Hatcher's Run, February 5 - 7, 1865. Appomattox Campaign March 28 - April 9. Assault on and fall of Petersburg April 2. Sailor's Creek April 6. Appomattox Court House April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army. At Farmville and Burkesville until April 23. March to Danville April 23 - 27 and duty there until May 24. March to Richmond, thence to Washington, D.C., May 24 - June 3. Corps Review June 8. Mustered out June 25, 1865. Veterans and Recruits transferred to 65th New York Infantry.
Regiment lost during service 14 Officers and 212 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 4 Officers and 117 Enlisted men by disease. Total 347.
Source - A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer
Descendant Ed Behrens and his wife recently visited the National Military Battlefield Park at Gettysburg and discovered that the 121st New York monument was damaged when a tree branch struck the metal base of the soldier figure. Fortunately the statue was not seriously damaged and after a trip to a foundry for repair, should be returned by next summer.
Important Book News
Like Grass before the Scythe: The Life and Death of Sgt. William Remmel, 121st New York Infantry (Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 2007)
Dr. Robert P. Bender
History Instructor (Tenured)
Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell
(575) 624-7208
Upton's Regulars: The 121st New York Infantry in the Civil War
by Salvatore G. Cilella, Jr.
Lawrence, KS: University Press of Kansas, 2009. 1st edition, 592p., illustrations
Soldier's Notes
