The History Time-Line
of the
85th New York Veteran Volunteers
The 85th New York Volunteers organized at Elmira, New York on November 9, 1861. The regiment was made up of about 900 men from the counties of Allegany (6-10), Cattaraugus (2-10), Seneca and Ontario (2-10).
| Company C | Company D | Company E | Company F | Company H | Company I | Company K & G |
|---|
Time Line of the 85th NY Volunteers
| Nov 9 | The 85th NY is organzied at Elmira, NY |
| Dec 3-5 | The 85th NY moves from its rendezvous at Elmira and heads to Washington, DC; they camp at Bladensburgh |
| Dec 19 | Camp was moved to Meridian Hill |
| Mar 28 | Commanded to move to and camp in the vicinity of Alexandria, VA |
| Mar 31 | The 85th moves down the Potomac River |
| Apr 1 | The 85th lands at Fortress Monroe and camps 6 miles from the fortress on the road to Newport News |
| May 29-30 | Battle of Fair Oaks; 72 men of the 85th were killed or wounded; all baggage, even shelter tents fell into enemy hands |
| June 26-27 | Battle at Gaines Mills; the 85th is ordered to move across the White Oak Swamp and hold the roads |
| July 1 | Battle at Malvern Hill; 85th is one of thre regiments of the rear-guard |
| July-Aug | The 85th is engaged in intrenching and drills |
| Aug 24 | 85th is camped 1 mile from Frotress Monroe |
| Aug 28 | Camp is made at Newport News |
| Oct 6 | Camp is made at Suffolk, Va. |
| Dec 4 | Orders received to move out as part of Wessel's Brigade in the direction of North Carolina |
| Dec 7 | They join up with Major-General J.G. Foster's army and march toards Kingston and Goldsborough |
| Dec 12 | Battle at Kingston; the 85th loses 4 men |
| Dec 17 | Battle at Goldsborough |
| Dec 21 | The 85th reaches New Berlin and remained camped there until early spring |
| Apr 8 | The 85th with 13 other regiments receive orders to relieve Gen. Foster who is besieged at Little Washington; they meet with opposition and retreat back to Newbern |
| Apr 11 | The 85th again march to the aid of Gen. Foster, this time without opposition |
| Apr 25 | The 85th returns to Newbern by steamer and then embarks for Plymouth, NC |
| Apr 26 | The 85th arrives at Plymouth and remain camped there until the spring of 1864 |
| Summer | Company I of the 85th is sent on detached duty at Roanoke Island |
| Dec | Copmny A of the 85th is sent to Roanoke Island to relieve Company I |
| Jan | Many men of the 85th re-enlist as Veterans |
| Apr 17-20 | Battle at Plymouth, NC; 9 companies of the 85th are taken prisoner. |
| Apr 21-30 | Prisoners begin their march through Goldsborough, Wilimington, Charleston, Macon and Andersonville where the officers and enlisted men are separated. |
| May | Officers of the 85th were reshipped for Macon, Georgia and after some months to Savannah; then to Charleston and finally to Columbia, SC |
| Aug | Company A received a veteran furlough and sent home to recruit |
| Oct | Company A returns to Roanoke Island with full ranks |
| Oct 30 | Lieutenant Cushing sinks the rebel ironclad Albemarle and the 85th participate in driving the Confederate forces from Plymouth, NC |
| Feb | Many officers were paroled and returned to the North |
| March | The 85th was ordered to Newbern in support of General Sherman's army |
| Mar 7 | The 85th leaves Newbern by rail |
| Mar 8-10 | The Confederates are encountered at Wise's Forks and the 85th are directed to find the enemy's positon and join the force under Col. Upham; the 85th are engaged in in a battle of less then 20 minutes, 30 men of the 85th are killed or wounded |
| Mar 20-21 | The 85th advance on and enter Goldsborough unopposed |
| Apr-June | The 85th is ordered to Mosely Hall |
| June 6 | The 85th returns to Newbern |
| July 5 | The 85th arrives in Elmira, New York |
| July 15 | The men of the 85th are mustered out of service |
Sources: History of Allegany County, NY, 1806-1879, F.W. Beers & Company.
Allegany Co., New York GenWeb
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