ON HOLD

Civil War Id’d Union Infantry Colonel Rank Straps – Col. Clinton D. MacDougall 111^th NY Infantry – These rank straps are superior examples of fine, war period shoulder rank insignia; this pair was worn by Col. Clinton Dugald MacDougall who served initially in the 75^th NY Infantry, then served, for the majority of his service during the war, in the 111^th NY Infantry. MacDougall enlisted as an officer in the 75^th NY participating in minor engagements with that regiment in Florida; he would be discharged from the 75^th, for promotion to the rank of Lt. Colonel, then mustering into the 111^th NY Infantry, in August, 1862. MacDougall would remain in the 111^th for the rest of his wartime service, participating in numerous engagements including the capture of his regiment at Harpers Ferry in late 1862 (shortly thereafter the unit was paroled); the Battle of Gettysburg, where MacDougall, now a full Colonel, was wounded on July 3, 1863. The regiment would later serve in the Mine Run Campaign, the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Petersburg and Appomattox. In February 1865, MacDougall was brevetted to the rank of Brig. General. After the war, MacDougall would serve in the U.S. Congress from 1873 to 1877, during which time he introduced a bill to award Harriet Tubman a sum of $2000. MacDougall traveled to France in the 1880s and remained in Paris, until his death in 1914.

These shoulder straps remain in excellent condition; the deep blue velvet field in the center of the straps is in fine shape, as are the silver, bullion eagles that rest atop the velvet fields. The velvet fields and eagles are surrounded by triple, gold bullion wire, which also remains in superb condition. Inked on the back of one of the straps are two numbers, one over the other – “2793/63” – it appears that the larger number is a maker’s or purveyor’s stock number, while the “63” represents 1863, the year that MacDougall was promoted to the rank of Colonel. Each strap is backed with a sheet of thin, white paper. We obtained these straps from the descendants of a longtime, highly knowledgeable collector who had placed them in a somewhat modern box which is labeled: “Col of STAFF MacDougall”.

 Clinton Dugald MacDougall

Residence Auburn, NY; 24 years old.
Enlisted on 9/16/1861 at Auburn, NY as a Captain.

On 10/3/1861, he was commissioned into “A” Co. New York 75th Infantry.
He was discharged for promotion on 8/15/1862

On 8/16/1862, he was commissioned into Field & Staff New York 111th Infantry.
He was Mustered Out on 6/4/1865 at Alexandria, VA

Promotions:

• Brig-General 2/25/1865 by Brevet
• Lt Colonel 8/15/1862 (As of 111th NY Inf)
• Colonel 1/3/1863

Born 9/14/1839 in Kintyre, Scotland

Member of GAR Post # 45 (Seward-Crocker) in Auburn, NY

Died 5/24/1914 in Paris, France

After the war, he lived in Auburn, NY

75th NY Infantry

NEW YORK SEVENTY-FIFTH INFANTRY (Three Years) Seventy-fifth Infantry.-Cols., John A. Dodge, Robert B. Merritt, Robert P. York; Lieut.-Cols., Robert P. York, William M. Hosmer, Robert B. Merritt, Willoughby Babcock; Majs. Willoughby Babcock, Lewis E. Carpenter, Benjamin F. Thurber, William M. Hosmer, Charles H. Cox. The 75th, known as the Auburn regiment, was composed mainly of members from Cayuga and Seneca counties, and was mustered into the service of the United States at Auburn, for a three years’ term, Nov. 26, 1861. It embarked for the south on Dec. 6, was stationed at Santa Rosa island and Fort Pickens, Fla., during its first winter in the service, and formed part of the garrison of Pensacola during the summer of 1862. While here Co. K joined the regiment, which was ordered to New Orleans in September. It was assigned to Weitzel’s reserve brigade, which had a brisk fight at Georgia landing. Upon the organization of the 19th corps in Jan., 1863, the regiment became a part of the 2nd brigade, 1st division and moved to Bayou Teche, La. It lost 17 in an engagement at Fort Bisland in April, and in the assaults on Port Hudson, May 27 and June 14 it lost 107 in killed, wounded and missing, the 1st division bearing the brunt of the fight. After the surrender of Port Hudson, July 9, the troops performed garrison duty. From August to September, the regiment served with the reserve brigade of the 1st division; in September it was assigned to the 3d brigade of the same division; in October it was mounted and attached to the 3d cavalry brigade, and during the winter a sufficiently large number of the men reenlisted to secure the continuance of the 75th as a veteran regiment. While the reenlisted men were on furlough, the remainder of the regiment served with the 14th N. Y. cavalry and rejoined the regiment June 28, 1864. At Sabine Pass, the regiment lost 85 killed, wounded or missing and during Nov., 1863, it was stationed near New Iberia and Camp Lewis, La. In March, 1864, the command entered upon the Red River campaign and in July it was ordered to New Orleans. After the regiment was reunited, in June, 1864, it served until the middle of July with the 1st brigade, 2nd division, 19th corps, and then embarked for Virginia, where it became a part of the Army of the James and joined in the pursuit of Gen. Early in the Shenandoah Valley. It was engaged at Halltown, the Opequan, where the loss was 73 killed, wounded and missing, at Fisher’s hill and Cedar creek, where it also suffered severely. The original members not reenlisted were mustered out at Auburn, N. Y., Dec. 6, 1864, and the veterans and recruits consolidated into a battalion of five companies, which was ordered early in Jan., 1865, to Savannah, Ga., and assigned to the 1st brigade, 1st division, 10th corps. The regiment served at Savannah until August, and in April, received the veterans and recruits of the 31st independent company N. Y. infantry. It was mustered out at Savannah, Aug. 3, 1865, having lost 106 by death from wounds, and 109 from other causes.

75th Regiment, New York Infantry

Overview:

Organized at Auburn, N. Y., and mustered in November 26, 1861. Left State for Florida December 6, 1861, arriving at Santa Rosa Island, Fla., December 15. Duty there and at Fort Pickens, Fla., till May, 1862. Attached to District of Santa Rosa Island, Dept. of Florida, to February, 1862. District of Santa Rosa Island, Fla., Dept. of the Gulf, to March, 1862. Western District or Florida, Dept. of the South, to August, 1862. Pensacola, Fla., Division of West Florida, Dept. of the Gulf, to September, 1862. Weitzel’s Reserve Brigade, Dept. of the Gulf, to January, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 19th Army Corps, Dept. of the Gulf, to July, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 19th Army Corps, to October, 1863. Unassigned, Cavalry Division, Dept. of the Gulf, to December, 1863. 1st Brigade, Cavalry Division, Dept. of the Gulf, to June, 1864. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 19th Army Corps, to July, 1864. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 19th Army Corps, Army of the Shenandoah, Middle Military Division, to January, 1865. 1st Brigade, Grover’s Division, District of Savannah, Ga., Dept. of the South, to March, 1865. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 10th Army Corps, to May, 1865. District of Savannah, Ga., Dept. of the South, to August, 1865.

Service:

Bombardment of Forts McRae and Barrancas, Pensacola Harbor, Fla., January 1, 1862. Occupation of Pensacola, Fla., May 10, and duty there till August. Fair Oaks, Fla., May 28. Moved to New Orleans, La., August, arriving there August 9. Duty at Carrollton till October. Operations in District of LaFourche October 24-November 6. Occupation of Donaldsonville October 25. Action at Georgia Landing, near Labadieville, and at Thibodeauxville October 28. Duty in the District of LaFourche till February, 1863. Expedition to Bayou Teche January 12-15. Bayou Teche January 13. Steamer “Cotton” January 14. Operations against Port Hudson March 7-27. Duty at Brashear City till April. Operations in Western Louisiana April 9-May 14. Expedition from Brashear City to Opelousas April 11-20. Fort Bisland April 12-13. Jeanerette, Irish Bend, April 14. Bayou Vermillion April 17. Opelousas April 20. Expedition to Alexandria and Simsport May 5-18. Boyce’s Bridge, Cotile Bayou, May 14 (Detachment). Siege of Port Hudson May 25-July 9. Assaults on Port Hudson May 27 and June 14. Surrender of Port Hudson July 9. Donaldsonville, Bayou LaFourche, July 12-13. At Baton Rouge August 1-September 3. Sabine Pass Expedition September 4-11. Sabine Pass September 8. Moved from Algiers to Brashear City September 17. Regiment changed to Mounted Infantry October. Western Louisiana Campaign October 3-November 30. Vermillion Bayou October 9-10. Near New Iberia November 19. Camp Pratt November 20. Camp Lewis December 3. Regiment veteranize January 1, 1864. Veterans on furlough January to April, then at Washington, D. C., 22nd Army Corps, as Infantry, April 2 to May 20; then moved to Dept. of the Gulf and rejoin Regiment June 28. Non-Veterans attached to 14th New York Cavalry till June 28, 1864, participating in the Red River Campaign March 10-May 22. Advance from Franklin to Alexandria March 14-26. Bayou Rapides March 20. Henderson’s Hill March 21. Monett’s Ferry and Cloutiersville March 29-30. Natchitoches March 31. Crump’s Hill April 2. Wilson’s Farm April 7. Bayou de Paul, Carroll’s Mill, April 8. Pleasant Hill April 9. Natchitoches April 20. About Cloutiersville April 21-22. Monett’s Ferry, Cane River Crossing, April 23. Above Alexandria April 28. Hudnot’s Plantation May 1. Alexandria May 4-5. Retreat to Morganza May 13.20. Choctaw Bayou May 13-14. Avoyelle’s Prairie May 15. Mansura May 16. Yellow Bayou May 17-18. Sailed for Fortress Monroe, Va., July 13. Before Richmond July 21-30. Deep Bottom July 27-29. Moved to Washington, D. C., July 31. Sheridan’s Shenandoah Valley Campaign August 7-November 28. Halltown August 23-24. Berryville September 3-4. Battle of Winchester September 19. Fisher’s Hill September 22. Battle of Cedar Creek October 19. Duty in the Shenandoah Valley till January, 1865. Ordered to Savannah, Ga., January 11, 1865, and provost duty there till August. Mustered out August 23, 1865.

Organized: Auburn, NY on 8/20/1862

Mustered out: 6/4/1865

NEW YORK ONE HUNDRED AND ELEVENTH INFANTRY (Three Years) One Hundred and Eleventh Infantry.-Cols. Jesse Segoine, C. Dugald McDougall, Lewis W. Husk; Lieut.-Cols., Clinton D. McDougall, Seneca B. Smith, Isaac M. Lusk, Aaron P. Seeley, Lewis W. Husk, Sidney Mead; Majs., Seneca B. Smith, Isaac M. Lusk, James H. Hinman, Lewis W. Husk, Joseph W. Corning, Sidney Mead, Reuben J. Meyers. No regiment sent out by the state saw harder service than the gallant 111th. It was organized at Auburn from companies recruited in the counties of Cayuga and Wayne,-the Twenty-fifth senatorial district-and was mustered into the U. S. service, Aug. 20, 1862. It left the city the following day for Harper’s Ferry, where it had the misfortune to be surrendered with that ill-fated garrison the following month. The men were paroled at Camp Douglas, Chicago, and in Dec., 1862, were declared exchanged and went into winter quarters at Centerville, Va. Later the regiment was assigned to the 3d (Alex. Hays’) brigade, Casey’s division, 22nd corps, where it remained until June, 1863. Col. Fox, in his account of the three hundred fighting regiments, speaking of the 111th, says: “On June 25, 1863, the brigade joined the 2nd corps which was then marching by on its way to Gettysburg. The regiment left two companies on guard at Accotink bridge; with the remaining eight companies, numbering 390 men, it was engaged at Gettysburg on the second day of the battle, in the brilliant and successful charge of Willard’s brigade, losing 58 killed, 177 wounded, and 14 missing; total, 249. The regiment did some more good fighting at the Wilderness, where it lost 42 killed, 119 wounded, and 17 missing; total, 178-over half of its effective strength. Its casualties in the fighting around Spottsylvania amounted to 22 killed, 37 wounded, and 13 missing. From Gettysburg until the end, the regiment fought under Hancock in the 2nd corps, participating in every battle of that command. While on the Gettysburg campaign, and subsequently at Bristoe Station, Mine Run and Morton’s ford, the regiment was attached to the 3d brigade, 3d division (Alex. Hayes’). Just before the Wilderness campaign it was placed in Frank’s (3d) brigade, Barlow’s (1st) division. This brigade was composed entirely of New York troops, the 39th, 111th, 125th, and 126th, to which were added in April, 1864, the 52nd and 57th, and later on, the 7th N. Y.; all crack fighting regiments.” The regiment lost 81 killed and wounded during the final Appomattox campaign. It was mustered out near Alexandria, Va., June 3, 1865. The regiment bore an honorable part in 22 great battles. Its total enrollment during service was 1,780, of whom 10 officers and 210 men were killed and mortally wounded; its total of 220 killed and died of wounds is only exceeded by four other N. Y. regiments-the 69th, 40th, 48th and 121st-and is only exceeded by 24 other regiments in the Union armies. It lost 2 officers and 177 men by disease and other causes-total deaths, 404-of whom 2 officers and 74 men died in Confederate prisons. Source: The Union Army, Vol. 2, p. 130 ****************************************************************************** NEW YORK ONE HUNDRED AND ELEVENTH REGIMENT OF INFANTRY. (Three Years) July 19, 1862, Gen. Jesse Segoine, as Colonel, received authority to recruit this regiment in the counties of Cayuga and Wayne; it was organized at Auburn and there mustered in the service of the United States for three years August 20, 1862. The men not to be mustered out with the regiment were transferred, June 4, 1865, to the 4th Artillery. The companies were recruited principally: A at Marion, Palmyra, Ontario and Walworth; B at Clyde and Savannah; C at Auburn, Palmyra, Rose Valley, Victory, Montezuma, Summer Hill and Sterling; D at Lyons, Sodus, Galen and Williamson; E at Arcadia, Sodus, Williamson, Marion and Palmyra; F at Port Byron, Auburn and Weedsport; G at Auburn and Genoa; H at Auburn, Cato, Ira, Conquest and Sterling; I at Moravia, Venice, Locke, Ledyard, Niles, Sempronius and Scipio; and K at Union Springs, Springport, Genoa, Aurora, Moravia, Scipio and Ledyard. The regiment left the State August 21, 1862; served in the Middle Department, 8th Corps, from August 24, 1862; at Harper’s Ferry, W. Va., where it was surrendered, in September, 1862; at Camp Douglas, Chicago, Ill., from September 28, 1862; in the defenses of Washington, in the 3d Brigade, Casey’s Division, 22d Corps, from December, 1862; in the 3d Brigade, 3d Division, 2d Corps, Army of the Potomac, from June, 1863; in the 3d, and for a time in the Consolidated, Brigade, 1st Division, 2d Corps, Army of the Potomac, from March, 1864; and it was honorably discharged and mustered out, under Lieut.-Col. Lewis W. Husk, June 4, 1865, near Alexandria, Va.

111th New York Infantry Regiment

111th New York Infantry Regiment
Active	August 20, 1862, to June 4, 1865
Country	United States
Allegiance	Union
Branch	Infantry
Part of	II Corps, Army of the Potomac
Campaigns	Gettysburg Campaign Bristoe Campaign Mine Run Campaign Overland Campaign Appomattox Campaign
Commanders
Aug 20, 1862 to   Jan 3, 1863	Colonel Jesse Segoine
Jan 3, 1863 to   Jun 3, 1865	Colonel Clinton D. MacDougall
Jul 3, 1863	Lieutenant Colonel Isaac M. Lusk
Jul 3, 1863	Captain Aaron P. Seeley

 

New York U.S. Volunteer Infantry Regiments 1861-1865

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111th New York Infantry Regiment Guidon

The monument to the 111th New York Volunteers at Gettysburg

The 111th New York Infantry Regiment was organized at Auburn, New York, to answer the call by Abraham Lincoln for 300,000 more troops to fight in the American Civil War. Over the next three years, this regiment lost the fifth greatest number of men among all New York regiments.

History

Jesse Segoine was authorized on July 18, 1862, to begin recruiting a regiment of men within the Cayuga and Wayne Counties, New York. As Segoine was able to raise the men, he received a commission of Colonel and commander of this, the 111th New York Infantry Regiment. The regiment was raised in almost a month’s time, and mustered into service in Auburn, New York, on August 20, 1862.

Regimental organization

Company A – Principally recruited from Wayne County.

Company B – Principally recruited from Wayne County.

Company C – Principally recruited from Wayne County.

Company D – Principally recruited from Wayne County.

Company E – Principally recruited from Wayne County.

Company F – Principally recruited from Cayuga County

Company G – Principally recruited from Cayuga County.

Company H – Principally recruited from Cayuga County.

Company I – Principally recruited from Cayuga County.

Company K – Principally recruited from Cayuga County.^[2]

Army organization – Time line

Date	Battle or Event
July 18, 1862	Organized at Auburn, N.Y.
August 20, 1862	Mustered in under Colonel Jesse Segoine, Lieutenant Colonel Clinton McDougall, and Major Senaca B. Smith
August 21, 1862	Left State for Harper’s Ferry. Attached to Miles’ Command, Harper’s Ferry.
September 12–15, 1862	Defense of Harper’s Ferry
September 15, 1862	Regiment was surrendered with garrison
September 16, 1862	Paroled and sent to Annapolis, Maryland, then to Camp Douglas, Chicago, Illinois
November 23, 1862	Exchanged; duty at Camp Douglas guarding prisoners
December, 1862	Ordered to Washington, D.C., and duty in the defenses of that city and at Centreville, Va. assigned to Wadsworth’s Command, Military District of Washington
February, 1863	Attached to 3rd Brigade, Casey’s Division, 22nd Army Corps, Department of Washington
April, 1863	Attached to 3rd Brigade, Abercrombie’s Division, 22nd Army Corps
June 25, 1863	Ordered to join Army of the Potomac in the field. Assigned to 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 2nd Army Corps, Army of the Potomac

Gettysburg Campaign – June 25 – July 24, 1863

Two companies were left on guard at Accotink bridge, the remaining eight, numbering 390 men, joined the Second Corps on the march to Gettysburg.

July 2–4, 1863	Battle of Gettysburg
	The regiment was commanded by Colonel Clinton D. MacDougall until he was wounded on July 3. Lieutenant Colonel Isaac M. Lusk took command until he, too was wounded, when Caption Aaron P. Seeley took over the regiment.
	From the monument: “Arrived early morning July 2nd 1863, position near Ziegler’s Grove. Went to relief of 3rd Corps in afternoon; took this position that evening and held it to close of battle. Number engaged (8 companies) 390 Casualties Killed 58, wounded 177, missing 14, total 249”
July 5–24, 1863	Pursuit of Lee to Manassas Gap, Va.
August, 1863	Duty on line of the Rappahannock and Rapidan
September 13–17, 1863	Advance from the Rappahannock to the Rapidan
October 3, 1863	Lewinsville

Bristoe Campaign – October 9–22, 1863

October 14, 1863	Auburn and Bristoe
October 15, 1863	Blackburn’s and Mitchell’s Fords
November 7–8, 1863	Advance to line of the Rappahannock

Mine Run Campaign – November 26 – December 2, 1863

December, 1863	At and near Stevensburg, Va.
February 6–7, 1864	Demonstration on the Rapidan; Morton’s Ford
March, 1864	Attached to 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Army Corps

Campaign from the Rapidan to the James – May 3 – June 15, 1864

May 5–7, 1864	Battle of the Wilderness
	The regiment lost 42 killed, 119 wounded and 17 missing, over half its strength.
May 8–12, 1864	Spottsylvania
	The regiment lost 22 killed, 37 wounded, and 13 missing
May 10, 1864	Po River
May 12–21, 1864	Spottsylvania Court House
May 12, 1864	Assault on the Salient, or “Bloody Angle”
May 23–26, 1864	North Anna River
May 26–28, 1864	On line of the Pamunkey
May 28–31, 1864	Totopotomoy
June 1–12, 1864	Cold Harbor
June 16–18, 1864	Before Petersburg
June 16, 1864	Siege of Petersburg begins.
	Attached to Consolidated Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Army Corps.
June 22–23, 1864	Jerusalem Plank Road, Weldon Railroad
July 27–29, 1864	Demonstration north of the James
July 27–28, 1864	Deep Bottom
August 13–20, 1864	Demonstration north of the James
August 14–18, 1864	Strawberry Plains, Deep Bottom
August 25, 1864	Ream’s Station
November, 1864	Attached to 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Army Corps
December 9–10, 1864	Reconnaissance to Hatcher’s Run
February 5–7. 1865	Dabney’s Mills, Hatcher’s Run
March 25. 1865	Watkins’ House

Appomattox Campaign – March 28 – April 9. 1865

The regiment lost 81 casualties in the last campaign of the war

March 29–30. 1865	On line of Hatcher’s and Gravelly Runs
March 31. 1865	Hatcher’s Run or Boydton Road and White Oak Road
April 2. 1865	Sutherland Station and fall of Petersburg
April 3–9	Pursuit of Lee
April 6. 1865	Sailor’s Creek
April 7. 1865	High Bridge and Farmville
April 9. 1865	Appomattox Court House. Surrender of Lee and his army.
April 1865	At Burkesville
May 2–12. 1865	Moved to Washington, D.C.
May 23. 1865	Grand Review
June 3. 1865	Mustered out under Lieutenant Colonel Lewis W. Husk. Veterans and recruits transferred to 4th New York Heavy Artillery.

Regiment losses

Over the 111th Regiment’s time in service, total enrollment was 1,780 soldiers. Ten officers and 210 men were killed and mortally wounded in battle. The total of 220 men who were killed and died of wounds is only exceeded by four other New York regiments — the 69th, 40th, 48th and 121st. In the entire Union Army, that number is only exceeded by 24 other regiments. Disease and other causes took another 2 officers and 177 enlisted men. This raises the total sacrificed to reunite this nation to 404. Two officers and 74 men died while in the confinement of Confederate prisons.

Clinton D. MacDougall

Clinton D. MacDougall
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York
In office March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1877
Preceded by	William H. Lamport
Succeeded by	John H. Camp
Constituency	25th district (1873–75) 26th district (1875–77)
Personal details
Born	Clinton Dugald MacDougall June 14, 1839 Glasgow, Scotland, U.K.
Died	May 24, 1914 (aged 74) Paris, France
Resting place	Arlington National Cemetery
Political party	Republican

Clinton Dugald MacDougall (June 14, 1839 – May 24, 1914) was a United States representative from New York.

Life and career

Born near Glasgow, Scotland, he immigrated to Canada in 1842 with his parents, who later settled in Auburn, New York. He pursued an academic course, studied law, and engaged in banking from 1856 to 1869. He was commissioned captain in the 75th New York Volunteer Infantry on September 16, 1861; lieutenant colonel of the 111th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment, August 20, 1862; colonel January 3, 1863; and brevet brigadier general of Volunteers February 25, 1865. He was honorably mustered out on June 4, 1865. In 1869 he was appointed postmaster of Auburn.

MacDougall was elected as a Republican to the Forty-third and Forty-fourth Congresses, holding office from March 4, 1873 to March 3, 1877. He represented New York’s 25th congressional district and New York’s 26th congressional district. Along with Gerry W. Hazelton of Wisconsin, he introduced a bill (H.R. 2711/3786) providing that Harriet Tubman be paid “the sum of $2,000 for services rendered by her to the Union Army as scout, nurse, and spy”. It was defeated. He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1876. He served as United States Marshal of the northern judicial district of New York from 1877 to 1885 and from 1901 to 1910. He died in Paris, France in 1914; interment was in Arlington National Cemetery.

111th New York Infantry – Gettysburg Monument

3rd Brigade, 3rd Division 2nd Corps.

From the front of the monument:

111th New York Infantry.

3rd Brigade, 3rd Division 2nd Corps.

From the rear:

111th New York Infantry.
Arrived early morning July 2nd 1863, position near
Ziegler’s Grove. Went to relief of 3rd Corps in afternoon;
took this position that evening and held it to close of battle.
Number engaged (8 companies) 390

Casualties
Killed 58, wounded 177, missing 14, total 249
Recruited in Cayuga and Wayne Counties.
Mustered in at Auburn August 20, 1862.
Engagements — Bolivar Heights and all battles of 2nd
Corps from Gettysburg to Appomattox.
Total enrollment — 75 officers — 1730 men
Losses — killed and died — 12 officers, 394 men
Wounded — 26 officers, 531 men
Total 863
Mustered out June 5, 1865.

The 111th New York is featured on two wayside markers at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park: We Began Firing at Will and From Skirmish Line to Burial Ground.

About the Gettysburg monument to the 111th New York Infantry

The monument is a 6′ 9″ tall brass statue of a soldier set on a granite base, with an overall height of 14′. It was sculpted by Caspar Buberl, and is of an infantryman advancing, rifle cocked and ready. The monument stands on the site where three color bearers and two officers fell during Pickett’s Charge. The monument was dedicated on June 26, 1891 by the State of New York.

The 111th New York Infantry at Gettysburg

The 111th New York was commanded at the Battle of Gettysburg by Colonel Clinton D. MacDougall, a banker from Auburn originally from Scotland. He was wounded on July 3rd, and Lieutenant Colonel Isaac M. Lusk took command until he, too was wounded. Captain Aaron P. Seeley then took over the regiment.

The 111th, along with its sister regiments in the brigade, had been branded as the “Harpers Ferry cowards” for their surrender – through no fault of their own – as part of the garrison of Harper’s Ferry during the Antietam campaign in 1862. Paroled but forced to spend a miserable winter in a Union prisoner of war camp in Chicago until exchanged, the brigade was looking for a chance to clear their name – and got their wish at Gettysburg.

No. 129. — Report of Col. Clinton D. MacDougall, 111th New York Infantry.

CAMP NEAR ELK RUN, VA.,
August 26, 1863.

COLONEL:

After recovering from wounds received at Gettysburg, July 3, and my return to my regiment, upon assuming command of this brigade I found, upon looking over the official report and other papers pertaining to the battle, a circular from Major-General Hancock, of which I insert a copy. I have every reason to suppose the general referred to my regiment, as will appear from my statement following the circular.

CIRCULAR
PHILADELPHIA, PA.,
July 7, 1863.

Major-General Hancock desires to know the designation of a certain regiment, and the name of its commander, belonging to the First, Second, or Twelfth Corps, which, at the instance of General Hancock, charged a rebel regiment which had passed through our lines on Thursday evening, 2d instant. The conduct of this regiment and its commander were so marked in this as in the subsequent advance in line of battle, that General Hancock desires properly to notice the subject.

By order of Major-General Hancock:

1. G. MITCHELL,
   Aide-Camp, and Assistant Adjutant-General.

On Thursday evening, July 2, when the Third Brigade, Third Division, Second Corps, marched down from the left of Cemetery Hill to re-enforce the Third Corps (as I was afterward informed), the brigade commander ordered me to remain at the left in reserve about 200 yards in the rear, when General Hancock came riding up shortly, and ordered me with my regiment to the right in great haste, to charge the rebel advance, which had broken through our lines on the right of the Third Brigade, and had advanced between 20 and 30 rods beyond our lines, and was in the act of turning the right flank of our brigade. The rebels were driven back by me beyond our brigade line and almost into the mouth of their own batteries, which they had advanced upon us. I held that position under a murderous fire until I was ordered by our brigade commander to fall back and take a new position, throwing a heavy line of skirmishers forward when my line rested. The rebels dirt not advance after that to engage the skirmishers that night.

So severe was the fire to which we were subjected, that my loss in that charge was 185 men killed and wounded in less than twenty minutes, out of about 390 taken into the fight.

I wish to make this statement, as I was absent at the time General Hancock’s circular was received at brigade headquarters, and have had no chance until now to make my statement of the affair. If my regiment is the one entitled to the credit of the act referred to by General Hancock, I am desirous they should have it. My losses that day were more than double any regiment in the brigade.

I have taken the liberty of inclosing a copy of this to General Hancock at his residence.Very respectfully, yours,

1. D. MacDOUGALL,
   Col. 111th Regt. N.Y. Vols., 3d Brig., 3d Div., 2d A. C.

Lieut. Col. FRANCIS A. WALKER,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

—, –, 1863.

LIEUTENANT:

I have the honor to report to the commandant of the brigade that the One hundred and eleventh New York Volunteers marched at 3 a.m. to the heights south of Gettysburg with the brigade on the morning of July 2, and lay in rear of the One hundred and twenty-sixth and One hundred and twenty-fifth New York Volunteers, with the battalion of the Thirty-ninth New York Volunteers in our rear. We lay in this position until about 5 p.m., most of the afternoon under a furious shelling from the enemy.

About 5 p.m., by order of Colonel Willard, One hundred and twenty-fifth New York Volunteers, commanding brigade, the regiment fell in with the rest of the brigade and moved by the left flank about half a mile to the left; then, by order of the same officer, moved a short distance to the right, and formed a line of battle with the brigade, the One hundred and eleventh holding the right.

During the movement to the right, we were under a heavy fire of shell and canister from the batteries of the enemy, commingled with the bullets of a triumphant horde of rebels who had forced their way up to the position previously held by others of our Union forces, who had been compelled to give way before their attack, with the loss of four of our cannon.

At the command, the regiment with the brigade–not a man in the whole line faltering or hesitating for an instant–hurled themselves upon the advancing foe. The rebel ranks were broken through, and, as they hurriedly retreated, volley after volley was poured into them by our still advancing regiment. The ground over which the first of the charge was made was a sort of swale, covered with rocks, thickly interspersed with bushes, scrub oaks, and trees. Beyond was open ground, ascending toward the west. As we emerged upon the open ground, we were met by a terrible storm of grape and canister. Without an instant’s hesitation the regiment still advanced until they had driven the enemy from the possession of the four cannon previously captured by the rebels. The Thirty-ninth New York Volunteers afterward brought in those guns. In obedience to the order of Colonel Willard, the regiment then came to the right-about, and at quick time, the rebel fire of shell and canister continuing, moved back to the position it held before charging. Skirmishers were thrown out to the front, and, after about half an hour, the regiment moved back to its original position.

Some idea of the fire under which the regiment passed during the charge may be formed from the fact that the right company (A) lost 33 men killed and wounded; the next two companies to the left lost 27, killed and wounded. We lost Lieut. A. W. Proseus, of Company E, during this charge, a gallant officer, who was leading his company forward.

The next morning (July 3) the regiment fell in at 3 a.m., the enemy having commenced a furious shelling upon our position at that time, which fire died away at about 9 a.m. The quiet which then succeeded was unbroken until about 1 p.m., when there was opened upon our position a cannonading and shelling unparalleled, it is believed, in warfare. During the hottest of this fire the regiment formed and marched by the right flank up to the crest of the hill, and formed a line of battle in rear of the Twelfth New Jersey, who were lying under the shelter of a low stone wall. We here lay down upon the ground, the shot and shell filling the air above our heads and often striking among us.

We lost a number of men during this shelling, among them Lieut. John H. Drake, of Company F, an officer loved and lamented by the whole regiment.

After this infernal shelling had lasted for about two hours, we rose to our feet to meet the assault of the enemy, who were seen advancing in three heavy compact lines, preceded by a cloud of skirmishers. Not a man flinched, but every brow was knit and lip compressed with stern determination to win or die, and win they did. The number of dead and wounded in front of our position after the battle was over and the rebel mass had been hurled back showed the accuracy of our fire.

Over 400 prisoners were counted by one of our officers as taken by the regiment. A number of stand of colors were also captured, but it is impossible to state the number.

I may add that during the whole of both these days of battle the One hundred and eleventh had skirmishers in front of their position continually.

Owing to the loss and absence of commissioned officers and of the non-commissioned officers having the regimental and company rolls in their charge, it is impossible to give a correct statement of our loss. From the best information I can obtain, we took into the action about 400 men, rank and file. Our loss in killed is 57, and wounded and missing 171.

In the killed are included First Lieut. John H. Drake, Company F; Second Lieutenant Granger, Company D; First Lieutenant Proseus, Company E, and Sergt. Maj. Irving P. Jaques. Among the seriously wounded are Col. C. D. MacDougall; Acting Adjutant Capron; Captain Holmes, Company D, Captain Mead, Company I, and Captain Smith, Company K.

Lieutenant-Colonel Lusk was thrown from his horse and seriously injured during the first part of July 3, thus leaving no field officer with the regiment.

I am, respectfully, your obedient servant,

1. P. SEELEY,
   Capt., Comdg. One hundred and eleventh New York Vols.

Lieutenant SHELDON,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

from Official Records, Series 1, Volume 27, Part 1