17th New York Veteran Volunteer Infantry Regiment
"Veteran Zouaves" | "Red Headed Woodpecker", June 1863 to July 1865
History of the 17th N.Y. Veteran Volunteers
The above is an outline history of the Seventeenth (17th) New York Veteran Volunteer Infantry Regiment from the beginnings of the regiments existence as individual veteran regiments, consolidation, and its organization and existence as the 17th New York Veteran Volunteers from June of 1863 to July of 1865. Anyone wishing to submit additional information (photos, documents, artifacts, etc..) regarding the regiment please contact the Webmaster.
The 17th New York Veteran Volunteer Infantry Regiment was organized in late 1863 by the consolidation of the 9th (Hawkins Zouaves), 11th (Ellsworth’s Zouaves), 17th (Westchester Chasseurs) & 38th New York Infantry Regiments, and the “Union Sharpshooters.” They left the state in October of 1863, and were composed almost wholly of veteran volunteers. They were ordered to the Department of the Southwest; and joined the army under Major General William T. Sherman, and served under him until it left the field.
The movements of the regiment in the department of the southwest may be briefly stated. On December 21st, 1863, under Gen. A.J. Smith, it made the Tennessee campaign after Forrest, losing, principally by very severe frosts, about 200 men, and joining Sherman at Vicksburg on January 24th, 1864. It then took part in the Meriden Campaign, leaving Vicksburg on the February 2nd, and marching over 460 miles. In April it moved to Decatur, Alabama, where for thirty-three days it had skirmishes, with the Confederate forces of General Roddy, and subsequently attacked him at Pond Spring, Courtland, etc., and routed his forces and captured the whole of his camp. At Atlanta they were in the trenches, and at Jonesboro charged and fought the men of Cleburne’s Division, who boasted never to have been defeated, but who were then broken, routed, and had their works taken from them. Here Colonel Grower was killed, and over one hundred of the men left on the field. From Atlanta they took part in the pursuit of General Hood in the rear of the army, marching over 600 miles. Returning to Atlanta they started the next morning without preparation on the famous March to the Sea. In the Carolina’s Campaign they engaged the enemy at Averysboro, where Lieutenant Colonel James Lake was wounded and Captain W.G. Barnett was killed. Its last engagement was at Bentonville, where it held off several enemy attacks despite being surrounded.
After the surrender of General Johnston, the regiment marched to Washington, and took part in the Grand Review, and was soon thereafter mustered out of service. Brigadier General William Vandever said of the regiment, “In all the essential qualities which distinguish the heroic citizen soldier, the Seventeenth New York has been excelled by none." While General Jefferson C. Davis wrote, that “its soldierly conduct, attention to duty, and invariably gallant conduct in action, has reflected credit upon itself and the corps.”
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| Sketch of aHawkins Zouaves | Original Recruiting Poster17th Veteran Volunteers | Unknown Sergeant17th N.Y.V.V. Regiment |
Regimental Roster
| The following is the regimental roster of the Seventeenth (17th) New York Veteran Volunteer Infantry Regiment from June of 1863 to July of 1865. The rosters are sorted by company’s with each page containing not only the roster of the company but its history from its organization. There is also a listing for the “Regimental Index” which contains a complete roster of the regiment sorted by name. |
Quotes about the Regiment
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“This Regiment was composed of Wilson’s old Zouaves and roughs from New York City and they were a rough set . . . but yet there was not a better fighting regiment in the whole division than the 17th New York.” Lucius Barber, 15th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment.
"In all the essential qualities which distinguish the heroic citizen soldier, the Seventeenth New York has been excelled by none. Representatives as you are of the great city of New York, your association with the men of the northwest, composing the balance of the brigade, has been of the most pleasing and genial kind.” Brigadier General William Vandever, commander of the 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 14th Army Corps, June of 1865.
"The General will always remember with pride, its gallant bravery in the charge at Jonesboro, and in the battles of Averysboro and Bentonville.” Brigadier General James D. Morgan, commander of the 2nd Division, 14th Army Corps, June of 1865.
"Its soldierly conduct, attention to duty, and invariably gallant conduct in action, has reflected credit upon itself and the corps.” Major General Jefferson C. Davis, Commander of the 14th Army Corps, June of 1865.
“Few Regiments sent from our State, if any, experienced as much severe service as the Seventeenth New York Veteran Volunteers. Leaving New York 900 strong, upon their return march up Broadway, in June, 1865, they numbered less than 200.” “The New York Times” February 14th, 1873. |
Regimental Resources & Bibliography
Published Materials
- “Annual Report of the Adjutant-General of the State of New York, for the year 1899.” James B. Lyon, State Printers, Albany, New York, 1900.
- “The Hawkins Zouaves: Their Battles and Marches.” J.H.E. Whitney, New York, May 1866.
- “Lights and Shadows of Army Life, From Bull Run to Bentonville.” William B. Westervelt, Burd Street Press, Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, C.R. 1886.
- “New York in the War of the Rebellion, 1861 to 1865.” Frederick Phisterer, Weed, Parsons, & Company, Albany, New York, 1890.
- “The Ninth Regiment New York Volunteers (Hawkins Zouaves) Being a History of the Regiment and Veteran Association from 1860 to 1900.” Matthew J. Graham, 1900.
- “Official Army Register of the Volunteer force of the United States Army for the years 1861, ’62, ’63, ’64, ’65.” Adjutant Generals Office, United States Army, 1865 to 1867.- “The Honors of the Empire State in the War of the Rebellion.” Thomas S. Townsend, New York City, New York, 1889.
- Pages 388 to 407, Volume VI, “A Record of the Commissioned Officers, Non Commissioned Officers and Privates, of the Regiments which were organized in the State of New York, and called into the service of the United States to Assist in Suppressing the Rebellion caused by the secession of some of the Southern States from the Union, A.D. 1861, as taken from the Muster-In Rolls on File in the Adjutant Generals Office, S.N.Y.” Weed, Parsons, and Company, Printers, Albany, New York, 1866.
- Volume II, “The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the loyal States, 1861-1865. Records of the Regiments in the Union Army, Cyclopedia of Battles, Memoirs of Commanders and Soldiers.” Federal Publishing Company, Madison, Wisconsin, 1908.
Papers
- George A.C. Barnett Papers. William L. Clements Library, The University of Michigan
- Charles William Glaser Papers, 1861-1891. Duke University, North Carolina
- James B. Horner Papers, 1861-1915. The New York Historical Society, New York City, New York
- Reminiscences of Captain Hiram Wilde. 23 pages, Collection Call No. 14001, New York State Library.
- Service Records, New York State Archives, Cultural Education Center, Room 3043, Albany, New York, 12230.
Websites
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