of the 119th
Taken from Final Report on
the Battlefield of Gettysburg (New York at Gettysburg) by the New York
Monuments Commission for the Battlefields of Gettysburg and Chattanooga. Albany,
NY: J.B. Lyon Company, 1902.
The One hundred and nineteenth Regiment was formed in August,
1862, under the auspices of the committee of citizens of the Fifth Senatorial
District in the city of New York. It left this city under the command of Col.
Elias Peissner, formerly professor of belles lettres at Union College, Schenectady.
This officer commanded it at the battle of Chancellorsville where, notwithstanding
the loss of its gallant colonel and one-third of its entire rank and file, the
regiment retired from the field in good order. After the battle of Chancellorsville
the command devolved on Col. John T. Lockman, by whom it was commanded at Gettysburg.
Here the regiment lost in killed, wounded and missing 140 officers and men,
out of 275 officers and men engaged in the battle. In September, 1863, the Eleventh
and Twelfth Corps were transferred to the Army of the Cumberland, and after
the battles of Wauhatchie and Missionary Ridge, and the relief of Knoxville,
were consolidated and formed into the Twentieth Corps, under General Hooker,
and passed through all the battles under him which have made that corps so famous.
The One hundred and nineteenth belonged to the second division of that corps
(General Geary's), and took a prominent part in the actions of Rocky Face Ridge,
Resaca, Cassville, Dallas, Pine Hill, Kolb's Farm, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree
Creek and capture of Atlanta. It also participated in the March to the Sea,
and in the campaigns of the Carolinas under General Sherman. These actions,
and Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, the relief of Knoxville, capture of Savannah,
etc., were, by general orders inscribed upon its colors. At the successful charge
on the Rebel fort at Resaca, the brave and beloved Lieutenant Colonel Lloyd
was killed, Colonel Lockman then commanding the three regiments making the assault.
Few regiments were more frequently under fire, or employed in more difficult
or important enterprises than, during the term of its services, was the One
hundred and nineteenth New York.
The aggregate number of officers who have served with the regiment is 68.
The number of enlisted men was 941. The following is a summary of the number
of killed, wounded and missing:
Chancellorsville, Va 120;
Gettysburg, Penn 140;
Rocky Face Ridge, Ga 12;
Resaca, Ga 21; Dallas, Ga 11;
Pine Knob, Ga 39;
Kolb's Farm, Ga 5;
Kenesaw Mountain, Ga 3;
Peach Tree Creek, Ga 8;
Atlanta, Ga 3; Total 362.
The regiment was mustered out of service on the 8th day of June, 1865, at which
date it numbered 306 officers and enlisted men.
Back to 119th
Regiment During the Civil War
New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs: Military History
March 19, 2006