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79th 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.

Note: Most of the regiment had mustered out before the Siege of Petersburg began.  The remaining men were grouped into Companies A and B and this small shell of the former unit served as Provost Guard of the 18th Corps until September 1864, when the addition of several new companies allowed it to resume duty as an active field command in the 9th Corps.  The information in Dyer’s Compendium misses the fact that the unit consisted of only two companies and served as Provost Guard in the 18th Corps for a period of several months early in the Siege.1

Muster In: Organized at New York City and mustered in May 29, 1861.2
Muster Out: Mustered out July 14, 1865.3

Commander(s):
Major Andrew D. Baird
Commander Image

Captain Henry G. Heffron
Commander Image

Captain James Innes
Commander Image

Commander 4
Commander Image

First Offensive Order of Battle: Provost Guard | XVIII Corps | Army of the James | Union Army4,5

Second Offensive Order of Battle: Provost Guard | XVIII Corps | Army of the James | Union Army8,9

Third Offensive Order of Battle: Provost Guard | XVIII Corps | Army of the James | Union Army12,13

  • Commander: Captain Andrew D. Baird (July 31, 1864)14
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: The 79th New York had only two (2) companies at this time.15,16

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle: Unattached | XVIII Corps | Army of the James | Union Army17

  • Commander: Captain Henry G. Heffron (August 31, 1864)18
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | First Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army19

  • Commander:
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: The 79th New York remained in Fort Alexander Hays during the Fifth Offensive and was temporarily attached to Fererro’s command.20

Sixth Offensive Order of Battle: Provost Guard | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army21,22

  • Commander: Captain Andrew D. Baird (October 27-28 and 31, 1864)23,24
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: The 79th New York had two (2) companies at this time.25
  • Note: On what day did the 79th New York become the Provost Guard for the Ninth Corps?  More research is needed.

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle: Provost Guard | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army26

  • Commander: Captain Andrew D. Baird (December 31, 1864)27
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: The 79th New York had four (4) companies at this time.28

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle: Provost Guard | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army29,30

  • Commander:
    • Captain Andrew D. Baird (January 31, 1865)31
    • Captain James Innes (February 28, 1865)32
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: The 79th New York had five (5) companies during the month of January 1865.33,34

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle: Provost Guard | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army35,36

  • Commander: Major Andrew D. Baird (March 31, 1865)37
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Dyer’s/Sifakis’ Compendium Info:
Siege of Petersburg Battles38:

  • Before Petersburg June 16-18.
  • Siege of Petersburg June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865.
  • Mine Explosion, Petersburg, July 30, 1864.
  • Weldon Railroad August 18-21.
  • Poplar Springs Church September 29-October 2.
  • Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher’s Run, October 27-28.
  • Fort Stedman March 25, 1865.
  • Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9.
  • Assault on and fall of Petersburg April 2.
  • Occupation of Petersburg April 3.
  • Pursuit of Lee April 3-9.
  • Surrender of Lee and his army April 9.

Bibliography:

    Siege of Petersburg Documents Which Mention This Unit:

      Sources:

      1. Phisterer, Frederick. New York in the War of the Rebellion, Volume 4, 3rd ed. (Albany: J. B. Lyon Company, 1912), p. 2842 ↩
      2. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
      3. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
      4. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), p. 235 ↩
      5. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 2 (Serial Number 81), p. 555: This organizational chart describes the 2nd New Hampshire and the 79th New York as “Unattached, XVIII Corps”, but it is clear these units were still functioning as the Provost Guard of the XVIII Corps at the end of June 1864. ↩
      6. Volume 13 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 79th New York Entry, Page 118; Summary Statements of Quarterly Returns of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores on Hand in Regular and Volunteer Army Organizations, 1862-1867, 1870-1876. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1281, Roll 7); Records of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, 1797-1969, Record Group 156; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C. ↩
      7. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), p. 235. ↩
      8. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), p. 235 ↩
      9. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 2 (Serial Number 81), p. 555: This organizational chart describes the 2nd New Hampshire and the 79th New York as “Unattached, XVIII Corps”, but it is clear these units were still functioning as the Provost Guard of the XVIII Corps at the end of June 1864. ↩
      10. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 2 (Serial Number 81), p. 555 ↩
      11. Volume 13 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 79th New York Entry, Page 118; Summary Statements of Quarterly Returns of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores on Hand in Regular and Volunteer Army Organizations, 1862-1867, 1870-1876. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1281, Roll 7); Records of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, 1797-1969, Record Group 156; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C. ↩
      12. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), page 265 ↩
      13. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 3 (Serial Number 82), page 741: This source shows them as unattached but operating with the Eighteenth Corps. ↩
      14. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 3 (Serial Number 82, page 741 ↩
      15. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), page 265: This source indicates only one company present, but this seems to be in error.  The other Official Records source below indicates two companies, which is the expected number.  More research is needed to determine if one company was detached for some other duty at some point in July 1864. ↩
      16. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 3 (Serial Number 82), page 741: This source shows them as unattached but operating with the Eighteenth Corps. ↩
      17. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 2 (Serial Number 88), page 622: “Organization of the Army of the Potomac…August 31, 1864” ↩
      18. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 2 (Serial Number 88), page 622: “Organization of the Army of the Potomac…August 31, 1864” ↩
      19. 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. 1301. ↩
      20. 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. 1301. ↩
      21. 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 462: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 1864)” ↩
      22. 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 157: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces…Boydton Plank Road, Va., October 27-28, 1864” ↩
      23. 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 462: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 1864)” ↩
      24. 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 157: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces…Boydton Plank Road, Va., October 27-28, 1864” ↩
      25. 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 462: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 1864)” ↩
      26. 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 1121: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864) ↩
      27. 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 1121: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864) ↩
      28. 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 1121: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864) ↩
      29. 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 331: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865) ↩
      30. 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 744: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865) ↩
      31. 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 331: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865) ↩
      32. 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 744: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865) ↩
      33. 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 331: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865) ↩
      34. 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 744: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865) ↩
      35. 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 573: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865) ↩
      36. 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 588: “Return of casualties in the Union Forces commanded by Lieut. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, March 29-April 9, 1865” ↩
      37. 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 573: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865) ↩
      38. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩

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