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107th Infantry Regiment
Civil War
Campbell Guards

History

Mustered in: August 13,1862
Mustered out: June 5,1865

The following is taken from New York in the War of the Rebellion, 3rd ed. Frederick Phisterer. Albany: J. B. Lyon Company, 1912.
July 18, 1862, Gen. Robert B. Van Valkenburgh was authorized, as Colonel, to recruit this regiment in the counties of Chemung, Schuyler and Steuben; it was organized at Elmira, and there mustered in the service of the United States for three years August 13, 1862. On December 9, 1863, Companies B, C, I and K of the 145th Infantry were transferred to the regiment. The men not entitled to be mustered out with the regiment were, June 5, 1865, transferred to the 60th Infantry.
The companies were recruited principally: A, B, C, D and E at Elmira; F at Addison, Cameron and Campbell; G at Elmira, Bath and Hammondsport; H at Havana and Elmira; I at Corning, Wayland and West Union; and K at Hornellsville, Howard, Elmira and Canisteo.
The regiment left the State August 13, 1862; served in Whipple's Division, Defenses of Washington, D. C., from August, 1862; in 3d Brigade, 1st Division, 12th Corps, Army of the Potomac, from September 12, 1862; in 2d Brigade, same division and corps, from August, 1863; in same brigade and division, 20th Corps, Army of the Cumberland, from April, 1864; and it was honorably discharged and mustered out, under Col. Nirom M. Crane, June 5, 1865, near Washington, D. C.
During its service the regiment lost by death, killed in action, 2 officers, 50 enlisted men; of wounds received in action, 2 officers, 36 enlisted men; of disease and other causes, 131 enlisted men; total, 4 officers, 217 enlisted men; aggregate, 221; of whom 3 enlisted men died in the hands of the enemy.

The following is taken from The Union army: a history of military affairs in the loyal states, 1861-65 -- records of the regiments in the Union army -- cyclopedia of battles -- memoirs of commanders and soldiers. Madison, WI: Federal Pub. Co., 1908. volume II.
One Hundred and Seventh Infantry.—Cols., Robert B. Van Val-kenburgh, Alexander S. Diven, Nirom M. Crane; Lieut.-Cols., Alexander S. Diven, Gabriel L. Smith, Newton T. Colby, William F. Fox, Lathrop Baldwin, Allen S. Sill; Majs., Gabriel L. Smith, Newton T. Colby, William F. Fox, Lathrop Baldwin, Allen S. Sill, Charles J. Fox. This regiment, known as the Campbell Guards, was recruited in the counties of Chemung, Schuyler and Steuben, rendezvoused at Elmira, and was there mustered into the U. S. service for three years, Aug. 13, 1862. It was a fine regiment, noted for its efficiency and discipline, the first regiment from the North organized under the second call, and the first to arrive at Washington, in acknowledgment of which it received a banner from the state and a personal visit from the president. It was raised by two patriotic Members' of the legislature, Robert: B. Van Valkenburg, and Alexander S. Diven, who became colonel and lieutenant-colonel, respectively. It left the state on Aug. 13, 1862; was stationed in the defenses of Washington for a month; was then assigned to the 1st division (Williams), 12th corps (Mansfield), and fought its first battle at Antietam, where it was heavily engaged, losing 63 in killed, wounded and missing. The veteran Gen. Mansfield fell, mortally wounded at Antietam, and Gen. Henry W. Slocum succeeded to the command of the corps. The regiment was again heavily engaged at the disastrous battle of Chancellorsville, where the brunt of the fighting fell on the 3d and 12th corps, and lost in this action 83 killed, wounded and missing, among the killed being Capt. Nathaniel E. Rutter. The regiment was only slightly en-gaged at Gettysburg, and after the battle joined with its corps in pursuit of Lee into Virginia, engaging without loss at Jones' cross-roads and near Williamsport, Md. In September it was ordered with the corps to Tennessee to reinforce Rosecrans, and was stationed along the railroad from Murfreesboro to Bridgeport. In April, 1864, the 12th corps was changed to the 20th, but Williams' division retained its red star. On Dec. 9, 1863, four cos. of the 145th were transferred to the 107th, and in May the regiment moved on the Atlanta campaign. It fought at Resaca, Cassville, and Dallas, and lost 26 killed and 141 wounded at New Hope Church. From June 9 to July 2 it was engaged about Kennesaw mountain; fought at Peachtree creek and took part in the siege of Atlanta; moved in November on Sherman's march to the sea; then took part in the final campaign of the. Carolinas, being engaged at Rock-ingham, Fayetteville, Averasborp (where it lost 46 killed, wounded and missing), Bentonville, .Raleigh and Bennett's house. It was mustered out near Washington, D. C., under Col. Crane, June 5, 1865, having lost during its term of service 4 officers and 87 enlisted men, killed and died of wounds; 131 enlisted men died of disease, accidents, in prison, etc., total deaths, 222.

Battles and Casualties Table from Phisterer

Monument at Gettysburg

Historical Sketch

Civil War Newspaper Clippings

Unit Roster

Further Reading

Beal, Caleb H.  Papers, 1861-1865.
Ninety-five letters of Caleb Hadley Beal detailing his Civil War service with the New York Infantry Regiment, 14th Volunteers and the 107th Volunteers and the 35th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment. Letters describe routine of camp life, movement, morale, and discipline of troops, and the battles of First and Second Bull Run, Antietam, Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, South Mountain, and the Siege of Petersburg.
Located at the Massachusetts Historical Society.

Brandt, Nat. Mr. Tubbs' Civil War. Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press, 1996.

Brockway, Andrew. Letters, 1862-1864.
A group of letters written by Andrew Brockway to his siblings in which he discussed his soldiering activities and experiences. Like many Civil War letters he described camp life and the routine of drill and training exercises. Also, the fear of what the future beheld was well conveyed as death often appeared imminent from disease or battle. In addition, there are some interesting comments about Copperheads, who he believed were responsible for the low morale and desertions among Union soldiers. This record group also includes a letter from John N. Bonney of the same regiment regarding the death of Andrew Brockway in battle.
Located at the New York State Archives.

Chisholm, Daniel and Connie Reuning Lafley. The Diary of Charles J. Marble, 107th New York Volunteer Infantry Company F : March 1864 to May 1865. [80] p.
Located at the State Library of Pennsylvania.

Colby, Newton T. and William E. Hughes (ed.). The Civil War Papers of Lt. Colonel Newton T. Colby, New York Infantry. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company, 2003.

Hill, John D. Civil War Miscellaneous Collection
(Enlisted man's letters, Jul 3, 1862-Jan 28, 1864)
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Hoar, Victor M. "Sketches of Elmira's 107th infantry regiment." Chemung historical journal. 5:3 (March, 1960) 67-81.

Lockwood, Dunning K. HCWRTColl
(Enlisted man's diary, Feb 12-Dec 14, 1864)
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Marble, Charles J. Civil War Miscellaneous Collection
(Cpl's diary, Mar 6, 1864-May 27, 1865; Biog info)
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Tomlinson, Gerald. The 107th New York Regiment at Antietam. Lake Hopatcong, N.J. : Home Run Press, 2001. 20 p. : ill., map.

Tuttle, Russell M., 1840-1908. The Civil War journal of Lt. Russell M. Tuttle, New York Volunteer Infantry. Jefferson, N.C. McFarland & Co., 2006.

Weller, Edwin. A Civil War courtship, the letters of Edwin Weller from Antietam to Atlanta. Edited by William Walton. Garden City, NY: Doubleday & co., 1980.

Young, John M. The John M. Young collection, 1862-1863.
Collection consists of 41 letters written on 44 sheets of paper, along with 14 envelopes, and 3 other documents. The letters range in date from May 1, 1862 to July 28, 1863. The unassociated envelopes and miscellaneous documents are undated. 58 items.
Located at the State University of New York at Binghamton.

 

New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs: Military History
Last modified: January 8, 2009
URL: http://www.dmna.state.ny.us/historic/reghist/civil/infantry/107thInf/107thInfMain.htm

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