72nd New York Volunteer Battle History
1861:
The 72nd New York Volunteer Infantry was organized under authority of the War Department at Camp Scott, at Staten Island, N Y., as 3rd Regiment, Sickles' Brigade.
· Expedition to Lower Maryland September 15 - October 2, 1861
· Budd's Ferry, Maryland - October 23, 1861.
1862:
· Advance on Manassas, Va., March 10, 1862.
· Expedition from Dumfries to Fredericksburg, Va., and capture of stores March 18.
· Potomac River, Night of March 19, 1862. Capt. Robert T. Johnson, with 50 men of Co. I, crossed the Potomac into Virginia.
· Potomac River, Night of March 20, 1862. Capt. Darwin Willard with 100 men of Companies A and B, crossed the Potomac and engaged the enemy at Boyd's Hole, Virginia.
· Potomac River, Night of April 2, 1862. Lieutenant Colonel Israel Moses, with a detachment of 250 men of the regiment, with similar detachments from the other regiments of the brigade, crossed the Potomac and advanced to Stafford Court House, Virginia.
· Reconnaissance from Liverpool Point to Stafford Court House and action at Stafford Court House April 4.
· Ordered to the Peninsula April, 1862.
· Siege of Yorktown April 10-May 4.
· Battle of Williamsburg May 5.
Losses at Williamsburg:
Killed 61
Mortally Wounded 23
Wounded 67
Missing 44
Total loss 195
· Battle of Seven Pines or Fair Oaks May 31-June 1.
· Seven Pines, Virginia, June 12, 1862.
· Seven days before Richmond June 25-July 1:
· The Orchards or Oak Groves, Virginia, June 25, 1862.
· Fair Oaks, Virginia, June 27, 1862
· Peach Orchard, Savage Station, Virginia, June 29, 1862.
· White Oak Swamp and Glendale, Virginia, June 30, 1862.
· Malvern Hill, Virginia, July 1, 1862.
Losses for the Seven Days Battle:
Killed 16
Mortally Wounded 6
Wounded 61
Missing 4
Total loss 87
· Second Malvern Hill, Virginia, August 5, 1862.
· At Harrison's Landing till August 16.
· Movement to Fortress Monroe, thence to Centerville, August 16-26.
· Pope's Campaign in Northern Virginia August 26-September 2.
· Night of August 26 - Kettle Run, Virginia.
· August 27 - Bristoe Station, Virginia.
· August 29 - Groveton, Virginia.
· August 30 - Second Bull Run, Virginia.
· September 2 - Chantilly, Virginia.
Losses for Pope's Campaign:
Killed 5
Mortally Wounded 2
Wounded 23
Missing 7
Total loss 37
· Duty in the Defenses of Washington till November.
· At Fairfax Station till November 25.
· Operations on the Orange & Alexandria Railroad November 10-12.
· Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12-15.
1863:
· At Falmouth till April 27.
· "Mud March" January 20-24.
· Operations at Rappahannock Bridge and Grove Church February 5-7.
· Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6.
· Battle of Chancellorsville May 1-5.
· May 2, 1863 - Chancellorsville, Virginia.
· May 3, 1863 - Chancellorsville, Virginia.
Losses for the Chancellorsville campaign:
Killed 15
Mortally Wounded 3
Wounded 28
Missing 55
Total loss 101
· Gettysburg (Pa.) Campaign Jun 11-July 24.
· Peach Orchard, Gettysburg, Pa. - July 2, 1863.
· Cemetery Ridge, Gettysburg, Pa. - July 3, 1863
Losses for the Gettysburg Campaign:
Killed 7
Mortally Wounded 7
Wounded 72
Missing 28
Total loss 114
· Pursuit of Lee to Manassas Gap July 5-24.
· Wapping Heights, Va., July 23.
· Duty on line of the Rappahannock till 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, Locust Grove, Virginia November 27.
Losses for Locust Grove:
Killed 4
Mortally Wounded 1
Wounded 15
Missing 0
Total loss 20
· Mine Run, Virginia November 29, 1863.
1864:
· Duty near Brandy Station till May, 1864.
· Demonstration on the Rapidan February 6-7.
· Campaign from the Rapidan to the James River May 3-June 15.
· Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7.
· Morning of May 6, 1864 - Wilderness, Virginia.
· Afternoon of May 6, 1864 - Brock Road, Wilderness, Virginia.
Losses for the Wilderness Campaign:
Killed 2
Mortally Wounded 2
Wounded 14
Missing 3
Total loss 21
· Spotsylvania Campaign - May 8-12.
· May 9, 1864 - Todd's Tavern, Virginia.
· Morning of May 10, 1864 - Spotsylvania, Virginia.
· Afternoon of May 10, 1864 - Spotsylvania, Virginia.
· May 12, 1864 - Spotsylvania C. H., Virginia.
Losses for the Spotsylvania Campaign:
Killed 4
Mortally Wounded 3
Wounded 27
Missing 6
Total loss 40
· Spotsylvania Court House May 12-21.
· May 12, 1864 - Assault on the Salient or "Bloody Angle".
· May 18, 1864 - Landron House, Virginia.
· May 19, 1864 - Anderson's Farm, Virginia.
· May 19, 1864 - Harris Farm, or Fredericksburg Road, Virginia.
· May 23, 1864 - North Anna River, Virginia.
Losses for North Anna:
Killed 1
Mortally Wounded 0
Wounded 9
Missing 0
Total loss 10
· Taylor's Bridge, Virginia May 24.
· On line of the Pamunkey May 26-28.
· Totopotomoy May 28-31.
· Cold Harbor June 1-12.
· June 3, 1864 - Cold Harbor, Virginia.
· June 4, 1864 - Cold Harbor, Virginia.
· Siege of Petersburg, Virginia June 16-21, 1864.
· June 17, 1864 - Harrison's Creek, Virginia.
· June 18, 1864 - Norfolk Railroad, Virginia.
· June 21, 1864 - Weldon Railroad, Virginia.
Losses for the Petersburg Campaign:
Killed 3
Mortally Wounded 1
Wounded 10
Missing 0
Total loss
14
Eight Companies mustered out June 21, 1864
(Cos. A, B, D, E, F, I, and K).
Companies C, G and H attached to 120th Regiment New York Infantry.
· July 27, 1864 - Deep Bottom, Virginia.
· August 14, 1864 - Strawberry Plains, Virginia.
· Night of September 9, 1864 - Fort Hell near Petersburg, Virginia.
· October 2, 1864 - Poplar Springs Church, Virginia.
· October 27, 1864 - Boydton Plank Road, Virginia.
Company C mustered out July 20, 1864.
Company G mustered out July 2, 1864.
Company H mustered out October 31, 1864.
Veterans and Recruits were transferred to 120th Regiment New York Infantry.
Total Losses for the Regiment for Three Years of Service:
Killed 120
Mortally Wounded 54
Wounded and Recovered 354
Died of disease 86
Died in Prison 10
Missing 138
Total Losses 762
Estimated Total Enrollment for the Third Excelsior: 1250
Percentage Killed and Mortally Wounded 13.9%
Percentage Total Loss 60.8%