- Joined
- Jan 7, 2013
- Location
- Long Island, NY
Officers of the 14th Brooklyn:
Immigrants, we get the job done.Civil War uniform artists love them and illustrate them often. Note the poor Irish-American soldier is retreating in the wrong direction. Not a bad illustration by Darby Erd from the book The United Stats Infantry by Gregory J.W. Urwin.
View attachment 162649
That is a very handsome Uniform.View attachment 158898
The jacket of Sgt. Alexander Barnie of the 14th Brooklyn. I took the photo at the New York State Military Museum at Saratoga.
View attachment 158897
14th Brooklyn by Keith Rocco.
The 14th Brooklyn is one of the most easily recognized regiments of the Civil War because of their distinctive uniform, which they wore throughout the conflict. They were not a Zouave unit, as many mistakenly believe. Instead their uniform was patterned on the French Chasseurs a Pied uniform.
The 14th was a militia company that was headquartered at Henry and Cranberry Streets. in Brooklyn Heights, in the heart of Abolitionist Brooklyn. Here are the raw facts about the regiment:
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.
Eighty-fourth Infantry.—Cols., Alfred M. Wood, Edward B. Fowler; Lieut.-Cols., Edward B. Fowler, William H. DeBevoice, Robert B. Jourdan; Majs., James Jourdan, William H. DeBevoice, Charles F. Baldwin, Robert B. Jourdan, Henry T. Head. The 84th (the 14th militia), recruited in Brooklyn, left the state for Washington, May 18, 1861; was there joined by Cos. K and I in July, and between May and August was mustered into the U. S. service for three years. The regiment served in the vicinity of Washington until the battle of Bull Run, in which it fought gallantly in Porter's brigade, with a total loss of 142 killed, wounded or missing. It then served near Ball's crossroads and Upton's hill, Va., and in March, 1862, was assigned to the 1st brigade, King's division, 1st corps, with which it served in northern Virginia, while the campaign on the Peninsula was carried on under Gen. McClellan. Active in the fighting which culminated in the battle of the second Bull Run, the regiment lost. 129 men. It was engaged at South mountain, Antietam and Fredericks-burg with the 1st brigade, 1st division, 1st corps, to which it was attached on Sept. 12, 1862. After passing the winter in camp near Falmouth, the regiment was active at Chancellorsville in May, 1863, and was prominently engaged in the battle of Gettysburg, where it received the highest official praise for its gallantry in action. It served during this battle with the 2nd brigade, 1st division, 1st corps, and suffered a total loss of 217. It then moved southward with the Army of the Potomac, shared in the Mine Run movement, wintered near Culpeper and at the opening of the Wilderness campaign, was assigned to the 2nd brigade, 4th division, 5th corps. On May 21 the term of service expired. It was mustered out at New York city, June 14, 1864, when the veterans and recruits were transferred to the 5th N. Y. veteran infantry. The total enrollment of the regiment was 1,305, of whom 153 died from wounds and 74 from other causes. Few regiments could boast such a distinguished reputation as the 84th, which served with unfailing bravery through the most severe tests of courage.
It was great seeing that up in Saratoga. Here is a little about the man who wore it, from the regimental history's roster:That is a very handsome Uniform.
There is a very good historical novel called To Play for a Kingdom, by Thomas Dyja. A squad of the 14th Brooklyn play baseball with a squad of Confederates at intervals during the Overland Campaign.
I know that the members of CivilWarTalk will be visiting the Railroad Cut where these actions took place on September 30. I hope you will remember the brave Brooklynites who fought there.
Have to check it out.I very much enjoyed that book & have since read it twice. Very compelling characters & a good story line!
Evidently, Thomas Dyja did his homework, for this totally matches his novel's account of the 14th Brooklyn's movements and actions on that day.
Gee, someone should put that on a T-shirt.Immigrants, we get the job done.
I don't believe it was all Jayhawkers, but just Charles Jennison's men. @Patrick H can correct me if I'm wrong. You know I'm a loyal Free Stater, but Jennison's Red Legs were one nasty bunch.I don't know for sure, but Kansas Jayhawkers were called Red Legs.