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The 111th New York Volunteer Infantry: A Civil War History

 by Martin W. Husk, McFarland

The 111th New York Volunteer Infantry was recruited from Cayuga and Wayne counties and mustered into Federal service in August 1862. Less than a month later, the New Yorkers surrendered with the rest of the garrison at Harpers Ferry. Later paroled and exchanged, the regiment fought at Gettysburg, where 235 of its 390 men were killed or wounded. By the time the unit mustered out in June 1865, 1,780 men had entered its ranks; 220 had died from wounds in battle, and another 178 perished in captivity, from disease or accident.

Martin Husk wrote his history of the 111th from the perspective of the men in the ranks. His bibliography lists a good number of unpublished letters and diaries, as well as two helpful appendices—including a roster— and 22 pages of notes.

 

Originally published in the February 2011 issue of Civil War Times. To subscribe, click here