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Civil War Period Fireman’s Belt Id’d to Charles H. Prentice Co. H 89^th NY Infantry – This belt is a superior example of the mid-19^th century fireman’s belt, often used by men of the period as their regular, pants belt. The belt is constructed of a heavy, coarsely woven wool, dyed to a bright red and cream-white color. At one end of the belt is a deep red, Moroccan leather pad, sewn to the end of the belt; beneath this end, on the belt’s interior,  is a brown, heavy leather, adjustment strap, also sewn to the belt. On the opposite end, is a second cap-pad of bright red, Moroccan leather, sewn to the belt’s end. Just behind this pad is a black, japanned, iron roller buckle, attached to a short, leather strap, sewn to the exterior of the belt. Inked in dark, black ink, in large letters on the interior of the belt is the name “Charles H. Prentice”. Prentice enlisted in Co. H of the 89^th New York Infantry in September, 1861 and remained with the regiment until August, 1865; nearing the end of his service, Prentice was promoted to the rank of Corporal. During Prentice’s active service in the 89^th NY, he would participate in the following engagements: the Battles of South Mills, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Cold Harbor, the Sieges of Suffolk and Petersburg, Chaffins Farm, the Appomattox Campaign and the Battle of Appomattox Courthouse. The belt remains in overall excellent condition; it does exhibit some minor stress pulls, but the fabric and leather are in strong condition; the colors remain vibrant. These period belts are not commonly found today.

Measurements: L – 39.5”; W – 3.25”

Charles H. Prentice

Charles H. Prentice

BIRTH

22 Aug 1839

DEATH

13 Nov 1885 (aged 46)

BURIAL

Chenango Valley Cemetery

Binghamton, Broome County, New York, US

89th NY Infantry
( 3-years )

NEW YORK
EIGHTY-NINTH INFANTRY
(Three Years)

89th Infantry Regiment (Veteran)

Nickname: Dickinson Guard

Mustered in: December 4, 1861
Mustered out: August 3, 1865

THE FOLLOWING IS TAKEN FROM NEW YORK IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION, 3RD ED. FREDERICK PHISTERER. ALBANY: J. B. LYON COMPANY, 1912.

The Hon. J. S. Dickinson received authority, August 29, 1861, to recruit a regiment of infantry; this regiment was organized, under Col. Harrison S. Fairchild and Lieut-Col. J. C. Robie, at Elmira November 26, 1861, and there mustered in the service of the United States for three years December 4, 5 and 6, 1861. At the expiration of its term of enlistment those entitled thereto were mustered out, and the regiment retained in service.
The companies were recruited principally: A at Havana; B and H at Binghamton; C at Mount Morris; D at Rochester; E at Norwich and Oxford; F at Whitney’s Point; G at Windsor; I at Delhi; and K at Corbettsville.
The regiment left the State December 6, 1861; served in the Provisional Brigade, Casey’s Division, Army of the Potomac, from December, 1861; with General Burnside’s Expeditionary Corps in North Carolina from January, 1862; in 4th Brigade, at Roanoke, N. C., from May, 1862; in 1st Brigade, 3d Division, 9th Corps, from July, 1862; in Suffolk, Department of Virginia, from April, 1863; in Alford’s Brigade, Getty’s Division, 7th Corps, Department of Virginia, from May, 1863; in same brigade, 2d Division, 18th Corps, in North Carolina, from July, 1863.; in same brigade, Vogdes’ Division, 10th Corps, on Folly and Little Folly Islands, S. C., from October, 1863; in 1st Brigade, 2d Division, 10th Corps, Army of the James, from April, 1864; in the 1st Brigade, 2d Division, 18th Corps, from May 30, 1864; in the 3d Brigade, 2d Division, 18th Corps, from: June 24, 1864; in the 4th Brigade, 1st Division, 24th Corps, from December, 1864; in the 3d Brigade, 1st Division, 24th Corps, from May, 1865; in the 2d Brigade, 1st Division, 24th Corps, from June, 1865; and it was honorably discharged and mustered out, August 3, 1865, commanded by Capt. Henry H. Epps, at Richmond, Va.
During its service the regiment lost by death, killed in action, 4 officers, 49 enlisted men; of wounds received in action, 2 officers, 52 enlisted men; of disease and other causes, 1 officer, 158 enlisted men; total, 7 officers, 259 enlisted men; aggregate, 266; of whom 13 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.

Eighty-ninth Infantry.—Col., Harrison S. Fairchild; Lieut.-Cpls., Jacob C. Robie, Nathan Coryell, Theophilus L. England, Wellington M. Lewis, Henry C. Roome; Majs., Daniel T. Everts, Wellington M. Lewis, Henry C. Roome, Frank ; W. Tremain, Jeremiah Remington. The 89th, called the Dickinson Guard, and composed of companies from Havana, Binghamton, Mount Morris, Rochester, Norwich, Oxford, Whitney’s Point, Delhi and Corbettsville, was mustered into the U. S. service at Elmira, Dec. 4 to 6, 1861, for three years. It left the state for Washington, Dec. 6, was stationed for a few weeks in the defenses of the capital in the provisional brigade, Casey’s division, and in Jan., 1862, became a part of Burnside’s expeditionary corps, with which it embarked for Roanoke, N. C. In July, 1862, the regiment returned from Roanoke and with the 1st brigade, 3d division, 9th corps, participated in the Maryland campaign. It was active at South Mountain, and at Antietam lost 103 in killed, wounded and missing. It participated in the battle of Fredericksburg, went into winter quarters near Fal-mouth, and in April, 1863, was transferred to the Department of Virginia at Suffolk, where it was attached in May, to Alford’s brigade, Getty’s division, 7th corps. It was active during the siege of Suffolk and remained in that vicinity until July, when it was transferred to the 18th corps, proceeded to North Carolina, where it was assigned to the l0th corps and stationed at Folly Island, S. C. The regiment was present at the siege of Fort Wagner and the following operations in Charleston harbor and returned to Virginia early in 1864. A large number of the men reenlisted and the veteran regiment became a part of the l0th corps, which was present . during May, 1864, at Swift creek, Proctor’s creek, Drewry’s Bluff and Bermuda Hundred. At the end of that month the 89th was assigned to the 1st brigade, 2nd division, 18th corps and served in that corps until December. It lost heavily in the opening assault on Petersburg, where Lieut.-Col. England was killed, and also lost 139 in killed, wounded and missing at Fair Oaks in October. In December, the command was transferred to the 2nd division, 24th corps, with which it remained until the end of the war, sharing in the final assault on Petersburg and the pursuit of Lee’s army to Appomattox. Maj. Tremain was mortally wounded April 2, 1865, in the assault on Petersburg. The 89th was mustered put at Richmond, Aug. 3, 1865, having lost during its term of service, 107 by death from wounds and 159 from other causes.

89th New York Infantry Regiment

The 86th New York Infantry Regiment (“Dickinson Guard”) was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

Service

The 89th New York Infantry was organized at Elmira, New York beginning August 29, 1861 and mustered in for a three-year enlistment on December 4, 1861 under the command of Colonel Harrison S. Fairchild.

The regiment was attached to Provisional Brigade, Casey’s Division, Army of the Potomac, to December 1861. Williams’ Brigade, Burnside’s North Carolina Expeditionary Corps, to April 1862. 4th Brigade, Department of North Carolina, to July 1862. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, IX Corps, Army of the Potomac, to April 1863. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, VII Corps, Department of Virginia, to July 1863. Alvord’s Brigade, Vodges’ Division, Folly Island, South Carolina, X Corps, Department of the South, to January 1864. 2nd Brigade, Folly Island, South Carolina, Northern District, Department of the South, to February 1864. 2nd Brigade, Gordon’s Division, Northern District, Department of the South, to April 1864. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, X Corps, Army of the James, Department of Virginia and North Carolina, to May 1864. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, XVIII Corps, to June 1864. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, XVIII Corps, to December 1864. 4th Brigade, 1st Division, XXIV Corps, to May 1865. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, XXIV Corps, to June 1865. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, XXIV Corps, to August 1865.

The 89th New York Infantry mustered out of service on August 3, 1865.

Detailed service

Left New York for Washington, D.C., December 6, 1861. Duty in the defenses of Washington, D.C., until January 1862. Expedition to Hatteras Inlet, N.C., January 6–13, and duty there until March 2. Moved to Roanoke Island, N.C., March 2, and duty there until June 18. Battle of South Mills April 19. Expedition to New Bern June 18-July 2. Moved to Newport News, Va., July 4–6, then to Aquia Creek and Fredericksburg, Va., August 2–7, and duty there until August 30. Moved to Brooks’ Station, then to Washington, D.C., August 31-September 5. Maryland Campaign September 6–22. Battle of South Mountain September 14. Battle of Antietam September 16–17. Duty in Pleasant Valley until October 27. Movement to Falmouth, Va., October 27-November 19. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12–15. “Mud March” January 20–24, 1863. Moved to Newport News, Va., February 9, then to Norfolk and Suffolk March 14. Siege of Suffolk April 12-May 4. Battery Huger, Hill’s Point, April 18–19. Near Suffolk April 19. Providence Church Road May 3. Reconnaissance across the Nansemond May 4. Dix’s Peninsula Campaign June 24-July 7. Expedition from White House to South Anna River July 1–7. Ordered to Folly Island, S.C., July. Siege operations against Forts Wagner and Gregg, Morris Island, S.C., and against Fort Sumter and Charleston August 14-September 7. Bombardment of Fort Sumter August 17–23. Capture of Forts Wagner and Gregg September 7. Operations against Charleston and duty on Morris and Folly Islands, S.C., until April 1864. Moved to Gloucester Point, Va., April 1864. Butler’s operations on the south side of the James River and against Petersburg and Richmond May 4–28. Occupation of Bermuda Hundred and City Point May 5. Port Walthall May 7. Swift Creek or Arrowfield Church May 9–10. Operations against Fort Darling May 12–16. Battle of Drury’s Bluff May 14–16. Bermuda Hundred May 16–27. Move to White House, then to Cold Harbor May 27–31. Battles about Cold Harbor June 1–12. Before Petersburg June 15–18. Siege operations against Petersburg and Richmond June 16, 1864 to April 2, 1865. Mine Explosion, Petersburg, July 30, 1864 (reserve). Duty in trenches before Petersburg and on the Bermuda front until September 27. Battle of Chaffin’s Farm, New Market Heights, September 28–30. Battle of Fair Oaks October 27–28. Duty in trenches before Richmond on north side of the James River until March 1865. Moved to Hatcher’s Run March 27–28. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. Assault and capture of Forts Gregg and Baldwin and fall of Petersburg April 2. Rice’s Station April 6. Appomattox Court House April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army. Duty in the Department of Virginia until August.

Casualties

The regiment lost a total of 254 men during service; 6 officers and 89 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 159 enlisted men died of disease.

Commanders

• Colonel Harrison S. Fairchild
• Lieutenant ColonelTheophilus England – commanded during the Siege of Suffolk
• MajorEdward Jardine – commanded at the Battle of Antietam
• Major Frank W. Tremain – commanded during the Appomattox Campaign; killed in action at the Third Battle of Petersburg
• CaptainWilliam Dobie – commanded during the Appomattox Campaign after Maj Tremain was killed in action

Notable members

• SergeantGeorge McKee, Company D – Medal of Honor recipient for action at the Third Battle of Petersburg