127th Infantry Regiment

Nickname: National Volunteers; Monitors

Mustered in: September 8, 1862
Mustered out: June 30, 1865

The following is taken from New York in the War of the Rebellion, 3rd ed. Frederick Phisterer. Albany: J. B. Lyon Company, 1912. 
Colonel William Gurney received authority, July 10, 1862, to raise this regiment in New York city; it was organized on Staten Island, and there mustered in the service of the United States for three years September 8, 1862. June 30, 1865, the men not to be mustered out with the regiment were transferred to the 54th Infantry.
The companies were recruited principally: A, B, C and F in New York city; D in New York city, Brooklyn, Huntington, Southampton and Greenport; E in Huntington, Amity-ville and Babylon; G in New York city, Riverhead, Sag Harbor and Greenport; H in Greenport, Southold, Mattituck and Orient; I in Brooklyn and Huntington; and K in Greenport, Sag Harbor, Riverhead, Southampton and Bridgehampton.
The regiment left the State September 10, 1862; it served in the defenses of Washington and in the 3d Brigade, Abercrombie's Division, 22d Corps, from September, 1862; in 3d, Hughston's, Brigade, Gurney's Division, Department of Virginia, from April, 1863; in 1st Brigade, 2d Division, 4th Corps, from May, 1863; in the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 11th Corps, from July 14, 1863; in the 1st Brigade, Gordon's Division, 10th Corps, from August, 1863; on Folly and Morris Islands, S. C., and in the District of Beaufort, from October, 1864; in the 1st, Potter's Brigade, Coast Division, Department of the South, from November, 1864; at Charleston, S. C., from March, 1865; and, commanded by Colonel Gurney, it was honorably discharged and mustered out June. 30, 1865, at Charleston, S. C.
During its service the regiment lost by death, killed in action, 23 enlisted men; of wounds received in action, 14 enlisted men; of disease and other causes, 1 officer, 94 enlisted men; total, I officer, 131 enlisted men; aggregate, 132; of whom 7 enlisted men died in the hands of the enemy.

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. 
One Hundred and Twenty-seventh Infantry.—Col., William Gurney; Lieut.-Cols., Stewart L. Woodford, Edward H. Little; Majs., Edward H. Little, Frank K. Smith. This regiment, known as the National Volunteers or Monitors, was principally recruited on Long Island and in New York city, where it was mustered into the U. S. service for three years, Sept. 8, 1862, and left two days later for Washington. It served during the siege of Suffolk in the spring of 1863 in Hughston's (3d) brigade, Gurney's division, and in June was engaged in minor affairs at Diascund bridge and at Nine-mile Ordinary, Va. In August it was ordered to South Carolina, where it participated in the various operations about Charleston harbor in 1863, including the siege of Fort Wagner and the bombardment of Fort Sumter, attached to the 1st brigade, Gordon's division, 10th corps. It was present during the actions at Bull's island in March, 1864, and at Fort Johnson in July, sustaining its first severe loss at the battle of Honey Hill, S. C., in November, its casualties in this action amounting to 7 killed, 49 wounded and 15 missing. It was then serving in Potter's (1st) brigade, Hatch's division, and was again warmly engaged at Deveaux neck in December, losing 14 killed, 67 wounded, and 3 missing. Shortly after the evacuation of Charleston, the regiment was detailed by order of Gen. Sherman for permanent city garrison, on account of its good reputation for discipline, Col. Gurney being appointed post commander. It was there mustered out on June 30, 1865. The regiment left for the war about 1,000 strong, and returned home with 25 officers and 530 men. It lost by death during service 35 men killed in action; I officer and 94 men died of disease and other causes, a total of 130.

127thInfReg.jpg

127th Regiment NY Volunteer Infantry | Regimental Color | Civil War

This blue silk regimental color carried by the 127th New York Volunteers features a painted Arms of the City of New York on both the obverse and…

127thInfReg2.jpg

127th Regiment NY Volunteer Infantry | Regimental Color | Civil War

This blue silk regimental features a painted Arms of the United States complete with regimental identification painted on the lower ribbon. Nearly 50%…

Other Resources

This is meant to be a comprehensive list. If, however, you know of a resource that is not listed below, please send an email to ng.ny.nyarng.list.historians@army.mil with the name of the resource and where it is located. This can include photographs, letters, articles and other non-book materials. Also, if you have any materials in your possession that you would like to donate, the museum is always looking for items specific to New York's military heritage. Thank you.

A roster of survivors with addresses. Introductory text signed: C. H. Wessells, Secretary. 
Listed in Dornbusch; however, it is not know if this resource exists.

Abercrombie, John J. "Fragment from the Army of the Potomac" (read October 12,1893). MOLLUS-Ill III 141-53.

Abercrombie, John Joseph. Address of J. J. Abercrombie, President Western society of the Army of the Potomac, at its annual meeting, February, 1906. [Chicago: Libby & Sherwood print, co., 1906].

Abercrombie, John Joseph. Battle of Honey Hill, S.C., by Capt. John J. Abercrombie, Number 15. Chicago: Samuel Harris & co., 1911. 
Listed in Dornbusch; however, it is not know if this resource exists.

Anderson, Henry A.C. WmHowardColl 
(Enlisted medical clerk's diary, Jan 2-Nov 23, 1863).
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Bennett, Jonathan A. Civil War Miscellaneous Collection 
(Newspaper article, "Looking Them Over," chronicles excerpts 1862-63 letters of enlisted men Bennett & W.H. Camp).
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Brady, Mathew B. Civil war collection,1861-1978
Town of Brookhaven Volunteer enlistment papers, list of recruits, exemption forms, recruiting agent's receipts and certificates, 1861-1864; muster rolls for 5th and 6th regiment of Corcoran's Irish Legion, 1862; Civil War recollections, articles, and military documents of John G. Homan, 1863-1978; photocopies of correspondence and resolutions, 1861-1863; articles and membership list of 127th Regiment, Company C, New York Volunteer Infantry, 1862; photograph of 2nd Regiment, Connecticut Heavy Artillery and survivors of Company A, 3rd New York Volunteers; copy of muster out roll of Lt. George Collins, Company H; and copies of Mathew Brady photographs, 1865-1910. 
1 cubic ft. 
Located at the Suffolk County Historical Society, Helen Raynor Hannah Library - Archives, Riverhead, NY.

Brown, Giles J. Account book,1864-1908
Account book, 1864-1867 and 1891-1908, including records of the requisition of food supplies, 1864-1865, for Federal troops stationed at Beaufort, S.C. Volume also includes Brown's personal accounts, 1865-1867 and 1891-1908; and "Tithe Fund" accounts, 1865-1867; appended to the volume is a list of "Names of the men in camp of the 127th N.Y. Vols. Beaufort S.C. drawing rations from Reg[imen]t[a]l Commissary." 
1 v. 
Located at the University of South Carolina.

Coggeshall, George H. L. 127th New York Infantry, Co. I.Letters (1861-1862)
3 items.
These letters indicate that Coggeshall was strongly pro-Union and advocated swift military action against the states that seceded. 
Located at the New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections.

Edwards, Charles N. Civil War Miscellaneous Collection 
(Enlisted man's reminiscences, 1916).
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Eldridge, James William, 1841-1909, collector. Collection of James William Eldridge, 1797-1902 (bulk 1861-1865).
Approx. 15,000 pieces. 82 boxes.
Eldridge's collection of letters, manuscripts, documents, printed military forms, autographs, ephemera, and approximately 4000 portraits and contemporary photographs. The collection documents military history of the Civil War, from both the Union and Confederate sides; concentrating on commanding officers, military and naval operations and administration, the armed forces of South Carolina and Virginia, and the everyday life of the common soldiers (including prisons and medical care). Also included are materials on civilian administration and politics during the war years, concentrating on governors, mayors, and congressmen. The bulk of the collection deals with the Civil War, although there is some material on the ante-bellum and post-war politics and military history, including the raid on Harpers Ferry and the post-war navy.
Located at the The Huntington Library.

Eldridge, Charles William and Brady, Matthew B. Record book,1859-1895
Record of blankets collected by Charles Eldridge in October 1861 from citizens of Woodbury, Conn., in response to an urgent call by the Quartermaster General of the United States. 
Located at the Connecticut Historical Society.

Howard, William F.  The William F. Howard papers, 1855-1895
Contains the following types of materials: correspondence, clippings, diary / journal, speech. Contains information pertaining to the following war: Civil War. Contains information pertaining to the following military units: 127th New York Infantry; 1st Tennessee Heavy Artillery; Forrest Cavalry; 44th New York Infantry Regiment. General description of the collection: The William F. Howard papers include Civil War and late 19th century typed transcripts of letters and diaries plus clippings from various people. Includes diary of A.C. Anderson (1863); transcript of letter from General Braxton Bragg to General Samuel Cooper and General Marcus J. Wright (1882); typescript of letter to General Dabney Maury from Nathan B. Forrest; letter of George B . Walcott; speech of E.B. Washburne (1860) and letters from Julia Dent Grant. 1 box.
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Howland, William. Patriots, come forward! 
"The undersigned, by the advice and encouragement of numerous friends, is enrolling a company of young men of good moral character, and such as prefer such companionship, to serve for "three years or the war," to be known as the "Monitors." The company is now rapidly filling up under the auspices of several of the most prominent and energetic of our citizens, and bids fair to equal in the character of its men, and facilities for seeing service, any company yet enrolled. The members pledge themselves to avoid, so far as possible, the prominent sources of immorality and discord unsually connected with camp life, and when they become soldiers not to forget their obligations as gentlemen. The bounties, public and private, equal those offered by any other organization. Recruits mustered in at once, and go into quarters in one of the most beautiful locations on Staten Island. ... New York, N.Y. : s.n.,1862. 
Broadside, 1 sheet ([1] p.) ; 19 x 13 cm. 
Located at the Library Company of Philadelphia.

Huntting, J. G.  The boys are marching home :song and chorus. New York : Horace Waters, 1865. 
Sheet Music, 1 score (5 p.) ; 35 cm.
Located at the University of Alabama.

Knapp, Peter J. and Knapp, Anne H.  Now let us never from duty shrink :the Civil War through the eyes of the brothers Cornelius, Union soldiers : an exhibition, March-May 2005.Hartford : Watkinson Library, Trinity College, 2005. [8] p. : ill. ; 28 cm.

Lott, Roy E. "Huntington Civil war Co. E." Long Island forum XXII (Amityville 1959) 153-5.

McGrath, Franklin. The history of the 127th New York volunteers "Monitors" in the War for the preservation of the Union, September 8th, 1862, June 30th, 1865. Material collected and arranged by Franklin McGrath, Co. A. [n. p., 1898?].

Mulvihill, William. The clamdiggers: the story of Company K, 127th New York State Volunteer Regiment in the Civil War. Sag Harbor, NY:1990’s. 18, [9], [1] leaves : ill., maps ; 28 cm.

New York Infantry. 127th Regt. (1862-1865) Veteran association of the survivors of the 127th regiment. N.Y. vols. ; organized at Riverhead, L.I., October 3d, 1889. S.l.,1890. 40 p. ; 13 cm. 
Located at the New York Historical Society, New York, NY.

Oysterponds Historical Society (Orient, N.Y.). Civil War collection,1860-1907, 1860-1866 (bulk)
Letters from John H. Young, Pvt. Co. H, 127th Reg., New York States Volunteers (N.Y.S.V.), 1863-1865; power of attorney Geo. E. Latham to father, 1864; 11 letters from soldiers to Elias Latham, Orient, about death of son, 1865; will of Jacob Wetzel, 1862; letter Treasury Department to Elizabeth, widow of Pvt. Jacob Wetzel, 1864; letters from John Moore and Edmund Townsend, 1862-1863; 20 letters from Pvt. Henry Young to cousin Elizabeth Young, 1863-1864; discharge of surgeon Richard Allen, 139th Reg. N.Y.S.V., 1865; typed extract from diary of Col. Wm. Wilson Stephenson, 165 Reg., N.Y.S.V., 1863; list of Orient men in 127th and 165th Regiments and the 6th N.Y. Cavalry, 1861-1865; list of men recruited by W. W. Stephenson; furlough, appointment and discharge papers of Elbert Tabor and marriage certificate to Harriet A. Terry, 1860-1866; promotion certificate of Cornelius J. Moore, 1863; pension certificate of C. J. Moore, 1907; savings sheets, enlistment, and furlough sheets of Co. I, 57th Regiment, 1862-1864. 3 cubic ft. 
Located at the Oysterponds Historical Society, George R. Latham Research Room, P.O. Box 70, Orient, N.Y.

Palmer, William Pendleton, 1861-1927, collector. Civil War miscellany, 1832-1910, bulk 1860-1866.
3.8 linear ft.
Letters, telegrams, commissions, discharge papers, general and special orders, circulars, broadsides, maps, drawings, naval papers, and scrapbooks, relating to Union and Confederate armed forces and veteran's organizations and Confederate medical services; and newspaper clippings accumulated by Governor Reynolds of Missouri on politics and the Civil War, a scrapbook including speeches of Mayor Richardson of Cambridge, Mass., registers of 3 Confederate ships, and papers relating to several military units and battles.
Located at the Western Reserve Historical Society.

Port Jefferson Historical Society. Civil War collection, 1862-1915.
.2 cubic ft.
Letters, pension records and other military documents of Civil War veterans, including a letter of S.H. Mahaffy and T.A. Mahaffy to "Cousin Nette" describing the second inauguration of Lincoln, 1865. Letters (photocopies) from William H. Platt and his brother Jesse K. Platt, to their father on Long Island, while serving in the 5th, 127th and 146th regiments, New York Volunteers, (Zouave regiments), describe battles, marches, camp life and William's capture by Confederate forces, imprisonment, and eventual release in a prisoner exchange. Also discharge and pension papers, estate papers and miscellaneous documents of William Platt; and Civil War era paper currency.
Located at the Port Jefferson Historical Society, Mather House Museum, 115 Prospect Street, Port Jefferson, N.Y. 11777.

Prince family.  Papers, 1761-1975
Family correspondence, diaries, wills and probate records, estate papers, scrapbooks, essays, poetry, playbills, programs, bills of sale, insurance policies, mortgages, store leases, income tax returns, receipts, Civil War military and veteran's papers, and other family papers; together with travelling salesman's records, general store financial records, register (1896-1916) of Miamogue Hotel, South Jamesport, N.Y., constitution and minutes (1849-1861) of Society of St. John the Baptist, a Catholic charitable organization in Charleston, S.C., records relating to various Southold businesses and organizations, and photos (over 900 items), including tintypes, daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, cartes de visite, cabinet cards, and albums, including photos (ca. 1895-1910) of amateur photographer Charles DeWitt Hedges, of Orange, N.J., of family, friends, Civil War sites in 1914, Southold landmarks and activities, and other subjects. Persons represented include Orrin E. Prince (b. 1816), his wife, Maria (Wells) Prince (b. 1816), their children, Harriet D. Prince (b. 1843), Orrin A. Prince (b. 1849), M. Louise Prince (b. 1849), and especially Henry Wells Prince (1839-1925), store clerk, Civil war soldier serving with 127th New York Infantry Regiment, travelling salesman, general store merchant, bank officer, and civic leader, his wife, Jennie Packer (Wells) Prince (b. 1844), and his daughters, Anna Wilbur Prince (b. 1870), a student at State Normal College, Albany, and Edith Wells Prince (b. 1882), as well as Augustus Griffin (1767-1866), of Oysterponds, N.Y., Edward and Sarah (Wilbur) Doane, American missionaries in Micronesia, Minnie (Davenport) Hoover, and Rev. James Wells (b. 1815), Civil War chaplain. 10 linear ft.

Prince, Henry W., 1839-1925. Civil war letters & diary of Henry W. Prince, 1862-1865. 1979.

Sammis, Cornelius M. WmHowardColl 
(Enlisted man's diary, Jan 1-Dec 31, 1864;  Letter, Dec 31, 1864; Discharge & pension papers and roster of NCOs & enlisted men).
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Sherrill family. Papers, 1741-1967.
1 cubic ft.
Abstract: Civil War documents of David S. Sherrill of East Hampton (127th Regiment of the New York State Volunteers and 16th Regiment of the National Guard), 1862-1866; 30 letters of Julia Parsons to John Saxton Sherrill, 1865-1871; deeds, 1741-1825; correspondence, 1871-1883; genealogical notes and biographical sketches, 1871-1915; receipts for tuition at the Quogue school, n.d.; clippings and articles, 1940-1956; addresses by Colonel Fred G. Sherrill about civic, D.A.R., and Republican issues, 1944-1963; essay by F.G. Sherrill on statesmanship, 1967. Other Sherrills included are Abraham, Adela Parsons, David, Joanna, Hiram, Lewis, Robert, Recompense, Seth, and Stephen.
Located at the East Hampton Free Library. Long Island Collection, East Hampton, N.Y.

Smith, Eileen, collector. Local history files, ca. 1960-1980.
ca. 5 cubic ft.
Transcripts of deeds and wills; church, Bible and cemetery records; clippings, historical writings and other material about the history of Long Island, with emphasis on Suffolk county, particularly the town of Babylon. Topics include airplanes, climate, the Great South Bay, lakes, creeks, mills, racing, railroads, trolleys, trees, Walt Whitman, whaling, and the 127th Regiment, New York Volunteers, a Civil War unit from the town of Huntington, L.I.
Located at the Sagtikos Manor Historical Society, George L. Weeks Library for Long Island History, 26 Mowbray Place, Bay Shore, N.Y. 11795.

Southold Free Library. Civil War collection, 1861-1945, 1861-1883 (bulk).
.8 cubic ft.
Photograph and roll of Co. H, 127th Regiment, Southold Volunteers, 1862; annual reunion clippings, memorabilia, reunion cards, and clippings, 1863-1945; minute book of the Southold Ladies Relief Union, 1861-1957; clippings and articles about Colonel Stewart L. Woodford, 1865; roster of the Edward Huntting Post No. 353, G.A.R., Greenport, N.Y., 1883; manuscript by Eloise Corwin, 1863; broadside manuscript poems, 1862-1865; diary of Edward F. Huntting, Co. H, 127 Regiment and his obituary, 1862-1864; letters from soldiers to family members, 1862-1865; sermon preached in memory of Lieut. E. P. Huntting by Epher Whitaker, 1864.
Located at the Southold Free Library, Southold, NY.

Squires, Charles E. Sam's war : a narrative based on the Civil War letters of Samuel Miller Ranger, Co. D, 127th New York Volunteers. [East Hampton, N.Y.] : C.E. Squires, 1998.

Suffolk County Historical Society. Civil war collection, 1861-1978.
1 cubic ft.
Town of Brookhaven Volunteer enlistment papers, list of recruits, exemption forms, recruiting agent's receipts and certificates, 1861-1864; muster rolls for 5th and 6th regiment of Corcoran's Irish Legion, 1862; Civil War recollections, articles, and military documents of John G. Homan, 1863-1978; photocopies of correspondence and resolutions, 1861-1863; articles and membership list of 127th Regiment, Company C, New York Volunteer Infantry, 1862; photograph of 2nd Regiment, Connecticut Heavy Artillery and survivors of Company A, 3rd New York Volunteers; copy of muster out roll of Lt. George Collins, Company H; and copies of Mathew Brady photographs, 1865-1910.
Located at the Suffolk County Historical Society, Helen Raynor Hannah Library - Archives, Riverhead, NY.

Suffolk County Historical Society. Military records, 1765-1918.
.2 cubic ft.
Appointment of Adam Smith as Surgeon's Mate, Albany, 1756; manuscript roster of soldiers stationed at Sag Harbor in the War of 1812; Mexican War volunteer list, 1846; roster, 127th New York Volunteers, 1862-1908, 1908; record book for Town of Riverhead, 1862; photographs, military appointments, discharge papers, and draft cards, 1836-1917; and honor roll, Riverhead, 1917-1918.
Located at the Suffolk County Historical Society, Helen Raynor Hannah Library - Archives, Riverhead, NY.

Veteran association of the survivors of the 127th regiment N.Y. vols. organized at Riverhead, L. I.,, October 3d, 1889 [1890] On cover: 127th regiment New York volunteers, Sept. 8th, 1862-June 30th, 1865. Reunion, June 30th, 1890.

Village of Babylon Historical & Preservation Society (Babylon, N.Y.) Local organizations records, 1911-1968.
.5 cubic vt.
Minute book and correspondence of the reunions of the 127th Regiment (Monitors), New York Volunteers, 1911-1922; minute book of the Babylon Jr.-Sr. High School Parent-Teachers Association, 1962-1968; scrapbook of the Babylon Parent-Teachers Association, 1927-1935; looseleaf book with typed "Minutes of the Board of Deacons-First Baptist Church of Babylon," 1937-1940; two checkbooks and stubs for estate of Emma Travis, 1929-1933; one checkbook and stubs for estate of Jonathan Travis, 1929-1931.
Located at the Village of Babylon Historical & Preservation Society, Babylon, NY.

Willis, Samuel B. Voices from the dead, a sermon preached March 26, 1865, in the Citadell square Baptist church, Charleston, S.C., before the 127th regiment, N.Y. vols. by Samuel B. Willis, Chaplain of the Regiment. New York: Thomas Daniels & Son, 1865.

Woodford, Stewart Lyndon. "The story of Fort Sumter, an address delivered by General Stewart L. Woodford." MOLLUS-NY I 258-84.

Young men of New York! To you. :This war cannot last a year longer. We can end it before that time if men will come forward. If we do not end it, it will end us. Which shall it be? Look at some home truths. New York, N.Y. : s.n.,1864. 
Broadside, 1 sheet ([1] p.) ; 44 x 13 cm. 
Located at the New York Historical Society, New York, NY.

 

 

Items in the museum collection are in bold.