The National tribune., 1903-06-11
A FIGHTING NEW YORK REGIMENT.
Record Of the 18th N. T., Green's Brigade
Geary's Division, Twelfth Corps.

Dorgan, Chicago, Ill, In The National
Tribune of Feb. 26, will try and write
sketch Of a regiment that stood first
among those that the old Empire State
sent to help stem the tide of rebellion
the 18th N. Y, Of Greene's Brigade,
Geary's Division, Slocum's Twelfth
Corps, Army of the Potomac.
This regiment was raised at-large
throughout the State, three companies
from New York City, the balance of the
regiment from the Western part Of the
State. except Co. *, which came from
Michigan.
The regiment was mustered into the
service of the United States and left the
city of New York April %, 1862, and pro-
ceeded directly to Washington. The field
officers were: Col. Daniel Ullman, Lieut.
Col. John Austin, Maj. Henry Blanchard.
Under command of Col. Austin the regi-
ment was ordered to Harper's Ferry, Va,
to reinforce Gen. N. L. Banks, who was
on the retreat down the Shenandoah Val
ley, closely pursued by Stonewall Jackson.
In June it was assigned to Gel. Geo. S.
Greene's Brigade, Augur's Division, Of
Gen. Banks's command, and, with these
organizations, fought at Cedar Mountain
and Second Bull Run. After Gen. Pope's
defeat at Bull Run, Gen. Geo. b. McClel-
Ian again assumed command and the Army
Banks's command was designated the
Twelfth Corps and was placed under the
command OF Gen. Joseph X. Mansfield an
old and experienced officer, who was killed
at the head of his corps at Antietam.
Gen. Augur, the Division commander,
was wounded at Cedar Mountain, and
Gen. Greene succeeded to the command of
the division and Col. Goodrich, of the Goth
N. Y, was placed in command of the
brio Io 81. Al cS.l.
fought at Antietam. Col. Goodrich was
killed and Lieut-Col. Austin assumed
command of the brigade and Capt. Henry
Stagg of the regiment. This division held
an advanced position in the woods at the
bunker Church for two hours, exposed to
a terrific fire of musketry and artillery,
and under these trying circumstances the
18th maintained perfect coOlness and dis
cipline, standing their ground bravely.
After Antietam the regiment, in COM
pany with the remainder of the Twelfth
Corps, guarded Harper's Ferry and the
fords of the Potomac River during the
Summer. In December the corps moved
to Brooks's Station, Va, where it passed
the Winter in drilling and preparing for
the approaching Spring campaign.
The regiment took an active part in the
battle of Charlottesville, where. under
command of Capt. Randall, the 18th lost
131 officers and men, and fully sustained
its reputation as fighting regiment. Dur
ing the Spring of 1868 a number of
changes occurred among the field officers
of the regiment. Col. Austin resigned and
Maj. Blanchard, who succeeded to the
command, resigned April IL. Maj. Henry
Stagg resigned in May. On May 80, 1863,
Herbert Won Hammerstein was commits
stoned Colonel of the 18th
y. Y, and at once assumed command of
the regiment, and the name Of Won Ham
mersteiI will ever be coupled with the
18th n. Y. in record of bravery and de-
votiOn to country unsurpassed.
On June IL, 1863, the corps broke camp
at Stafford Court House and commenced
that long march northward that ended ON
Culp's Hill, Gettysburg.
On June 30 the regiment bivouacked at
Littlestown, Pa, and on that date, the
day before the opening Of the great battle
at Gettysburg, the regiment reported pres
ent for duty eight officers and 100 men.
With this number the regiment marched
on the field of Gettysburg on the after
noon of July l and reached Rock Creek,
after n forced march from Iittlestown,
just as the First and Eleventh Corps We're
retreating through the town to take posi-
tiOn on Cemetery Hill.
Geary's Division, Of which Greene's
Brigade was part, encamped for the
night at the base of Little Round Top. A
few of the troops camped on that eminence
early on the next morning. Geary's Di-
vision marched to point on the extreme
right, known as Culp's Hill. and there
Joined the other division, Williams's, of
the Twelfth Corps, and at once COM
menced throwing up breastwOrks and pre-
pairing a defensive position. Greene's
Brigade held the left Of the Twelfth
Corps line and Joined Wadsworth's Divi-
sion, of the First Corps, on the left. The
corps was not molested in their work until
about o'clock in the afternoon, when
suddenly there opened a heavy artillery
fire upon our forces from Confederate
guns posted on Benner's Hill, an eminence
opposite Clup's Hill. During this artillery
fire, which was answered on our part by
Battery X, 9Th U. S., and Knap's Bat
terry, the 18th rendered valuable assistance
in carrying ammunition from the caissOns
to the guns. After some time the COnfed-
crate guns were silenced and Col. Ham
merstein was ordered to advance in front
Of the works and support our skirmishers,
who were falling back before the advance
of Gen. Edward Johnson's Division, of
Ewell's Corps. Sulenly contesting the
ground, the 18th slowly fell back and
gained the brigade behind the works. In
the meantime the whole Twelfth Corps.
except Greene's Brigade, had been ordered
to the assistance of Gen. Sickles, on our
left, who was sorely pressed by Long
streets heavy attack on that part of the
field.
AS the flashes from the rifles Of the
18th lit up the rocky defiles of Rock Creek,
as they fell back before the Overwhelming
Confederate force, Gen. Greene prepared
for the shock, and until 9:30 p. m. the
wave Of battle ragged around Culp's Hill.
At this hour Johnson withdrew to await
daylight. During the night the Twelfth
Corps returned to this position, and at 4
a. m., July 3, the Confederates fercely
assailed the whole corps line, and until II
a. m. the 18th stood in vortex of shot
and shell, when, at that hour, the enemy
desisted and retired, repulsed with heavy
loss. and Culp's Hill and our right was
safe; and the 18th and their comrades of
Greene's Brigade saved our works and
protected the heavy trains of ammunition.
baggage and reserve artillery that lay in
their rear along the valley Of Rock Creek
and prevented the Confederates from
taking our lines on the left.
On Culp's Hill will be found to-day
monument marking the ground occupied
by the 18th and 102d N. Y. On the top is
a figure of soldier on his knees, with rifle
pointed in the direction of the woods
through which Johnson's veterans came to
the assault.
The regiment Joined in the pursuit Of
Lees army from Gettysburg, recrossed the
Potomac and returned to Virginia.
In September the Eleventh and Twelfth
Corps We're ordered to the relief of Rose