92nd Infantry Regiment

Nickname: Second St. Lawrence County Regiment; New York Excelsior Rifle Legion; Excelsior Rifle Blues; Potsdam Regiment

Mustered in: January 1, 1862
Mustered out: January 7, 1865

The following is taken from New York in the War of the Rebellion, 3rd ed. Frederick Phisterer. Albany: J. B. Lyon Company, 1912. 

The organization of this regiment was authorized September 18, 1861; it was organized at Potsdam, under Col. Jonah Sanford, December 12, 1861, and there mustered in the service of the United States for three years January 1, 1862. The companies were recruited principally in the counties of Franklin and St. Lawrence. December 1, 1864, the men not entitled to be mustered out with the regiment were transferred to the 96th Infantry.
The regiment left the State March 5, 1862; served in Palmer's, 3d, Brigade, Casey's, 3d, Division, 4th Corps, Army of the Potomac, from March, 1862; in 2d Brigade, 2d Division, 4th Corps, Army of the Potomac, from June, 1862; at Camp Hamilton, Va., in 3d Brigade, 2d Division, 4th Corps, from August, 1862; in Wessell's Brigade, 4th Corps, at Suffolk, Va., from November, 1862; in Hunt's, 1st, Brigade, Wessell's, 1st, Division, Department of North Carolina, from December, 1862; in 1st Brigade, 4th Division, 18th Corps, from January, 1863; in Lee's Independent Brigade, Palmer's Division, 18th Corps, from May, 1863; at Fort Anderson, N. C, 18th Corps, in July, 1863; in defenses of New Berne, N. C., in August, 1863; in Palmer's Brigade, Peck's Division, 18th Corps, from January, 1864; in 3d Brigade, 1st Division, 18th Corps, Army of the James, from April, 1864; in 2d Brigade, 1st Division, 18th Corps, from October, 1864; in New York harbor, in November, 1864; back again November 17, 1864. It was honorably discharged and mustered out Jan-uary 7, 1865, at Albany, N. Y.
During its service the regiment lost by death, killed in action, 1 officer, 46 enlisted men; of wounds received in action, 23 enlisted men; of disease and other causes, 2 officers, 130 enlisted men; total, 3 officers, 199 enlisted men; aggregate, 202; of whom 11 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. 

Ninety-second Infantry.—Cols., Jonah Sanford, Lewis C. Hunt, Thomas S. Hall; Lieut.-Cols., LaFayette Bingham, Hiram Anderson, Truman Adams Merriman; Majs., Thomas S. Hall, Truman A. Merriman. The 92nd, the 2nd St. Lawrence county, regiment, recruited in St. Lawrence and Franklin counties, was mustered into the U. S. service at Potsdam, Jan. I, 1862, for three years. It left for Washington, March 5, 1862, was there assigned to Palmer's brigade, Casey's division, 4th corps, and embarked with Gen. Mc-Clellan's forces for the Peninsula. The regiment was present during the siege of Yorktown and the battle of Williamsburg; suffered the loss of 105 killed, wounded or missing at Fair Oaks; shared in the Seven Days' battles, and in August was stationed at Camp Hamilton, Va. In November it was ordered to Suffolk, Va., still with the 4th corps, and in December, moved to New Berne, N. C., and participated in the Goldsboro expedition. Remaining near New Berne as part of the 1st brigade, 4th division, 18th corps, until July, the regiment served for a short time at Fort Anderson, N. C., and returned to New Berne in August, where it performed garrison and other duties until recalled to Virginia in April, 1864. With the same corps the 92nd lost heavily at Cold Harbor and was present during the summer before Petersburg. In Nov., 1864, the command was ordered to New York harbor, but returned to Petersburg on Nov. 17, there to remain until the expiration of its term of service. On Jan. 7, 1865, the 92nd was mustered out at Albany, the veterans and recruits having been previously transferred to the 96th N. Y. infantry. During its term of service the regiment lost 70 by death from wounds and 132 by death from other causes.

NYSMM Online Resources

Battles and Casualties from Phisterer (pdf)
Battles and Casualties from Phisterer (spreadsheet)

Muster Roll

Unit Roster

Civil War Newspaper Clippings
This is also available in PDF format. 
​​​​​​​         Pages 1 - 14

Search the Museum catalog for this unit

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Other Resources

This is meant to be a comprehensive list. If, however, you know of a resource that is not listed below, please send an email to ng.ny.nyarng.list.historians@army.mil with the name of the resource and where it is located. This can include photographs, letters, articles and other non-book materials. Also, if you have any materials in your possession that you would like to donate, the museum is always looking for items specific to New York's military heritage. Thank you.

Babcock, Allen H. 1840-1910. Papers, 1864-1879, bulk 1864-1866.
1 box (21 items). 
Group of manuscript diaries and other papers related to Babcock's military service during the Civil War. The diaries contain brief descriptions of camp life and quartermaster department activities. Other documents include his commission, discharge certificate, muster roll, quartermaster receipts, and military pension certificate. Biographical material on Allen Babcock is also included. 
Located at the New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections.

Benson, O. P. (Orlando) "Diary of a Civil War Veteran: The late O. P. Benson, member of the 92nd Regiment." The Courier and Freeman. December 17, 1924 to April 1, 1925.
Thank you to Noah Andre Trudeau for pointing out this reference.

These articles were downloaded from http://guides.library.upenn.edu/historicalnewspapersonline.

Bowhall, N. D. “The Battle of Kinston, N.C.” New Bern, N.C.: New Bern, 1862-1865. 
1 broadside : ill. ; 31 x 20 cm.
Printed in two columns divided by single line within border of type ornament sections.
Below title cut of eagle with wings spread holding scroll inscribed: E pluribus unum.
Author statement in full: As composed and sung by N.D. Bowhall, the "jolly violinist" of the 92d N.Y. Vols., who took an active part in the above named battle. Written soon after the battle, while in Camp, at Fort Anderson, Newbern, N.C./ To be sung to the tune: Rhinordine. 
Text of song in 12 eight-line stanzas.
In lower margin within border: Price--Single copies. 10 cents ... which any person can obtain by calling on, or addressing, N.D. Bowhall, Co. B, 92d N.Y. Vols., Fort Anderson, Newbern, N.C. 
Located at Brown University.

Clark, William Henry. "'I Never Saw My Beans Or Tent Again'." Civil War Times. 41 :7 February 2003. 6 pages.

Day, Henry H. Recollections of the Civil War. 1913.

Documents.
Miscellaneous documents about the 92nd. Included are a the answers to a survey by the Bureau of Military Statistics, letters, A telegraph message, and a long article which appeared in the Courier and Freeman.
Located in the vertical files at the New York State Military Museum.

Fernandez, Victor M. Cultural awareness training program [Massena, New York] [Hispanic History Project] [1987?]

Foots, Morris Cooper. Narrative of capture, prison life and escape during the War of the rebellion in 1864 [by] Lieutenant Morris C. Foote, Aide-de-camp. n.p., n.d. 37 p.

Hutchinson, Richard G. "Mial R. Pierce." : Clergyman/Soldier." The St. Lawrence County Historical Association Quarterly. XLIV :1 1999. 15-16.

Issard, William. Civil War Miscellaneous Collection 
(Enlisted man's poem, "The Campaign with McClellan, 1862.
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Keller, Helen. Gallantry in the field : Potsdam and the Civil War. Potsdam, N.Y. Potsdam Public Museum, 1997.

Sanford, Jonah. Personal Papers. 1861-1863
Explains camp life, recruitment, military affairs, and consists of a telegram to Governor E.D. Morgan.
Location of collection unknown.

Sutherland, G. H. “Prison song”. [Hermon, N.Y.?: The Author], 1863.
Broadside. illus. 41 x 31 cm.
Note(s): Within ornamental border, printed in four columns divided by single line./ Cut of American eagle at head of text centered within title./ At head of text: Lines written by Dr. Sutherland, a live Yankee, of the 92nd New York Regiment, who was captured by the Rebels, during the Battle of Fair Oaks ... ; also a hit at the habits and customs of the Southern Confederacy./ Imprint date and author's initials suggested by information contained in Jon Hay Library broadside "Shelling of Fort Anderson" by G.H. Sutherland (HB18725)./ First line: 'Twas on the thirty-first of May.
Other Titles: 'Twas on the thirty-first of May.
Located at Brown University.

Sutherland, G. H. The soldier's prayer." [United States] : G.H. Sutherland, 1863
Broadside : ill. ; 32 x 21 cm.
Printed in two columns divided by single line within border of type ornament sections./ At head of title wood-engraving of bearded man in uniform, apparently the author./ Author's statement in full: Written by Dr. Sutherland, a "live Yankee" and a "private" in the "rear rank," of the 92d N.Y.S.V., who was taken prisoner at the battle of "Fair Oaks," and confined as a "prisoner of war," during the summer and part of the autumn of 1862, in "Dixie's sunny land." Written while in camp at "Fort Anderson," near Newbern, N.C./ Poem in ten eight-line stanzas.
Other Titles: First line:; Hear us dear "Father Abraham."
Located at Brown University.

U.S. Army - recruiting and enlistment - Civil War [collection], 1862-1866.
1 box.
Abstract: Contains the following types of materials: correspondence, organizational documents. Contains information pertaining to the following war: Civil War. Contains information pertaining to the following military units: I Army Corps; 92nd New York Infantry Regiment. General description of the collection: U.S. Army recruiting and enlistment - Civil War collection includes items from various sources pertaining to the raising of Union troops. Contains copies of miscellaneous items centering around the enrolling of forces in Genesee County, New York: the appointment of commissioners to assist enrollment, August 23, 1862; two certificates of enlistment and one bounty certificate of soldiers who would eventually be mustered into the 92nd New York Infantry Regiment and perhaps other units; correspondence concerning procedures of enrollment; copies of resolutions by the voters of Stafford and of a law and a voucher of the state of New York dealing with the payment of bounties; copy of War Department, Adjutant General's Office, Circular 86, December 1, 1864, relating to the raising of the I (veteran) Army Corps. Copy of an agreement among ten men, September 3, 1863, creating a joint stock company whose resources were to be paid proportionately to any of them who might subsequently be drafted into U.S. service. Copy of a certificate of exemption granted to Daniel Gara by the Board of Enrollment of the Second District of Maine, February 18, 1865, in virtue of his having furnished a substitute for Federal service.
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Ward, Giles Frederick. Papers, 1862-1865
163 items.
Chiefly letters from Ward to his family, relating to his Civil War experiences. Subjects include generals Innes Newton Palmer and Silas Casey, the units with which Ward served, the Battle of Seven Pines (Fair Oaks), Va., 1862, the yellow fever epidemic and other wartime matters in New Bern, N.C., conscription, and camp life. Correspondents include William Alfred Buckingham and Innes Newton Palmer, describing Ward's death in a shooting accident.
Located at Duke Univeristy.

Worman, Edward (compiler). 92nd NY casualties at Cold Harbor, June 1-12, 1864.
Updated November 2014.

Worman, Edward (compiler). 92nd New York captured at 2nd Fair Oaks, October 27, 1864.

 

Unit bibliography from the Army Heritage Center

Items in the museum collection are in bold.