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185th New York Infantry

Editor’s Note: Do you have information on this unit’s role at the Siege of Petersburg?  Please contact us using the Contact button in the menu at the top of the screen.  We are happy to exchange information with other researchers.

Muster In: Organized at Syracuse, N.Y., and mustered in September 19, 1864.1
Muster Out: Mustered out at Washington, D.C., May 30, 1865.2

Commander(s):
Colonel Edwin S. Jenney
Commander Image Needed

Colonel Gustavus Sniper
GustavusSniper185thNYv112p57783

Captain Stephen O. Howard
Commander Image

Commander 4
Commander Image

First Offensive Order of Battle:

  • Not yet in existence.1

Second Offensive Order of Battle:

  • Not yet in existence.1

Third Offensive Order of Battle:

  • Not yet in existence.1

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle:

  • Not yet in existence.1

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle:

Unattached | V Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army (September 29-October 3, 1864)8

First Brigade | First Division | V Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army (October 3-15, 1864)9

  • Commander:
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: The 185th New York arrived at City Point, Va. late on September 29, 1864.  It was sent to reinforce Crawford’s reinforced Third Division, Fifth Corps, Army of the Potomac, and formally joined 1/1/V/AotP on October 3, 1864.10

Sixth Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | First Division | V Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army11,12

  • Commander: Colonel Edwin S. Jenney (October 27 and 31, 1864)13,14
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | First Division | V Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army15,16

  • Commander: Lieutenant Colonel Gustavus Sniper (December 31, 1864)17
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: This regiment participated in Warren’s Stony Creek, or “Apple Jack” Raid to Belfield and Hicksford, Virginia from December 7-12, 1864.18

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | First Division | V Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army19,20,21

  • Commander:
    • Colonel Edwin S. Jenney (January 31 & February 6, 1865)22,23
    • Lieutenant Colonel (Colonel) Gustavus Sniper (after Jenney took over brigade command on February 6, 1865, then February 9, 1865 and on)24
    • Captain Stephen O. Howard (February 28, 1865)25
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: This unit is listed in the casualty returns for the Battle of Hatcher’s Run, February 5-7, 1865, implying it was present during the Eighth Offensive and the battle.26

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | First Division | V Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army27,28

  • Commander: Colonel Gustavus Sniper (March 29, 31 & April 1, 1865)29,30,31,32
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Dyer’s/Sifakis’ Compendium Info:
Siege of Petersburg Battles33:

  • Siege of Petersburg, Va., October 1, 1864, to April 2, 1865.
  • Skirmish in Support of Ninth Corps, October 8, 1864.34
  • Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher’s Run, October 27-28, 1864.
  • Warren’s Raid on Weldon Railroad December 7-12.
  • Dabney’s Mills, Hatcher’s Run, February 5-7, 1865.
  • Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9.
  • Lewis Farm, near Gravelly Run, March 29.
  • Junction of Boydton and Quaker Roads March 29.
  • White Oak Road March 31.
  • Five Forks April 1.
  • Pursuit of Lee April 3-9.
  • Appomattox Court House April 9.
  • Surrender of Lee and his army.

Bibliography:

    Siege of Petersburg Documents Which Mention This Unit:

    Sources:

    1. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    2. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    3. Gustavus Sniper image.  MOLLUS-Mass Civil War Photograph Collection, Vol. 112, Page 5778.  United States Army Heritage and Education Center, Carlisle, PA. ↩
    4. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    5. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    6. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    7. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    8. Sommers, Richard J. “Grant’s Fifth Offensive at Petersburg: A Study in Strategy, Tactics, and Generalship.  The Battle of Poplar Spring Church, the First Battle of the Darbytown Road, the Second Battle of the Squirrel Level Road, the Second Battle of the Darbytown Road (Ulysses S. Grant, Virginia).” Doctoral Thesis. Rice University, 1970. Print. p. 1300. ↩
    9. Sommers, Richard J. “Grant’s Fifth Offensive at Petersburg: A Study in Strategy, Tactics, and Generalship.  The Battle of Poplar Spring Church, the First Battle of the Darbytown Road, the Second Battle of the Squirrel Level Road, the Second Battle of the Darbytown Road (Ulysses S. Grant, Virginia).” Doctoral Thesis. Rice University, 1970. Print. p. 1300. ↩
    10. Sommers, Richard J. “Grant’s Fifth Offensive at Petersburg: A Study in Strategy, Tactics, and Generalship.  The Battle of Poplar Spring Church, the First Battle of the Darbytown Road, the Second Battle of the Squirrel Level Road, the Second Battle of the Darbytown Road (Ulysses S. Grant, Virginia).” Doctoral Thesis. Rice University, 1970. Print. p. 1300. ↩
    11. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 460: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 1864)” ↩
    12. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), page 155: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces…Boydton Plank Road, Va., October 27-28, 1864” ↩
    13. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 460: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 1864)” ↩
    14.  “Historical Review of the Town of Lysander.” Baldwinsville Messenger.  October 25, 1945, p. 3, col. 1-7: “The job was not a desirable one, for at the time (on October 27, 1864), there was a sharp skirmish fire, but Brooks with his cool courage, worked with his men until ordered under cover by Colonel Jenney.” ↩
    15. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 1117: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864) ↩
    16. Calkins, Chris. “The Apple Jack Raid: For This Barbarism There Was No Real Excuse.” Blue & Gray Magazine Summer 2005: 18-25 (OOB on page 60). ↩
    17. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 1117: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864) ↩
    18. Calkins, Chris. “The Apple Jack Raid: For This Barbarism There Was No Real Excuse.” Blue & Gray Magazine Summer 2005: 18-25 (OOB on page 60). ↩
    19. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 327: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865) ↩
    20. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 741: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865) ↩
    21. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 96), page 65: “Return of Casualties in the Union forces at Hatcher’s Run (otherwise known as Dabney’s Mill, Armstrong’s Mill, Rowanty Creek, and Vaughan Road)… (February 5-7, 1865)” ↩
    22. “Historical Review of the Town of Lysander.” Baldwinsville Messenger.  November 29, 1945, p. 3, col. 1-2: “Our brigade commander, Col. (Horatio G.) Sickle (sic, Sickel) (of the 198th Pennsylvania), was wounded and carried off the field, Col. (Edwin S.) Jenney (of the 185th New York) then taking command.” ↩
    23. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 327: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865) ↩
    24. “Historical Review of the Town of Lysander.” Baldwinsville Messenger.  November 29, 1945, p. 3, col. 1-2: “(Lieutenant) Col. (Gustavus) Sniper then informed Col. Jenney…” Lieutenant Colonel Sniper was on the field of battle, and so naturally I have presumed Sniper took over command of the 185th New York when Colonel Jenney assumed command of the brigade following Colonel Sickel’s wounding.  It was made official on February 9, 1865: “On the second day after the fight (February 9, 1865), the regiment was called into line and formed in a hollow square.  Prior to this Col. Jenney had tendered and received his resignation.  The command was turned over to Lieut. Col. Sniper he being promoted colonel.” ↩
    25. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 741: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865) ↩
    26. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 96), page 65: “Return of Casualties in the Union forces at Hatcher’s Run (otherwise known as Dabney’s Mill, Armstrong’s Mill, Rowanty Creek, and Vaughan Road)… (February 5-7, 1865)” ↩
    27. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 569: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865) ↩
    28. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 584: “Return of casualties in the Union Forces commanded by Lieut. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, March 29-April 9, 1865” ↩
    29. “Historical Review of the Town of Lysander.” Baldwinsville Messenger.  December 6, 1945, p. 3, col. 3-7: “General Chamberlain, in command of our brigade, rode up to Col. Sniper and exclaimed:  ‘For God’s sake, Colonel, can you save the day with your regiment?'” ↩
    30. Chamberlain, Joshua L. “Five Forks.” War Papers Read Before the Commandery of the State of Maine, Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, Vol. 2, p. 231: “The brunt of this first fell on my stalwart 185th New York, Colonel Sniper…” ↩
    31. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 569: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865) ↩
    32. “Historical Review of the Town of Lysander.” Baldwinsville Messenger.  December 13, 1945, p. 3, col. 2-3: “Shortly after noon, at the intersection, of two roads, we met an officer and his staff, who proved to be Gen. Custer.  He gave orders to Col. Sniper to push forward as rapidly as possible, for they could not hold the position much longer.  Col. Sniper, immediately gave the order to double quick.” ↩
    33. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    34.  “Historical Review of the Town of Lysander.” Baldwinsville Messenger.  October 25, 1945, p. 3, col. 1-7: “An attack was made by the rebels on Saturday, October 8, on our Ninth Corps, and our regiment was ordered in as support.  The enemy was repulsed, and for the following eight days we continued drilling and getting hardened to camp life.” ↩

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