Rare Id’d Original Civil War Officer’s Pants – Lieut. Henry R. Swan, 8th NYHA

SOLD

These rare, original Civil War officer’s pants accompanied the frock coat, vest and sword of 2nd Lieutenant Henry R. Swan, when purchased by a client of ours. He contacted us and, being unable to display the pants, wanted to know if we wanted to obtain them from him; we did so. The pants are constructed of a fine quality, deep blue, indigo dyed, English broadcloth wool and remain in overall fine condition. Along the front of the pants is an area of scattered insect damage, which could be repaired, if so desired, but does not detract from the appearance of the pants; there is some moth tracking visible along the back calf area of each pant leg, most likely incurred during storage. Swan’s name was hand-inked in his vest, which we photographed, when we obtained the pants. The current owner of Swan’s frock coat, vest and sword has supplied us with some of the pictures included in this listing.  

The pants exhibit all of the following characteristics that determine Civil War officer use: 

• Deep blue, English broadcloth wool  
• Highly curved back profile  
• Size adjustment belts on the back with a period, black japanned adjustment buckle 

• Buckram lined cuffs with two pairs of bone buttons on either side of the cuff interior for a strap for under the boot arch 
• Off white, polished cotton lining (just like the lining that was in Swan’s vest) almost completely hand sewn into position 
• Bone buttons throughout – suspender attachment areas and fly 
• Hand-whipped button holes 
• “Dog Ear” type front pockets 

These are truly a fine pair of rarely encountered, Id’d Civil War officer’s pants, worn by an officer in an artillery unit that saw considerable action at Spottsylvania, Totopotomy, Cold Harbor and the Siege of Petersburg.  

Henry R. Swan
 

Residence was not listed; 21 years old.  Enlisted on 8/12/1862 at Lockport, NY as a 2nd Lieutenant.  On 8/12/1862 he was commissioned into “E” Co. NY 8th Heavy Artillery  He died of disease on 6/14/1864 at Cold Harbor, VA   Promotions: * 1st Lieut 2/22/1864   

SWAN , HENR Y R.—Age, 21 years. Enrolled, August 12, 1862, 

at Lockport, N . Y. ; mustered in as second lieutenant, Oo,; E , 

One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Infantry, August 12, 1862 

(which became the Eighth Artillery, December 19, 1862), to 

serve three years; mustered in as first lieutenant, February 22, 

1864; died of disease, June 14, 1864, near Cold Harbor, Va. ; 

commissioned second lieutenant, September 10,1862, with rank 

from August 12, 1862, original; first lieutenant, February 10, 

1864, with rank from January 25, 1864, original. Swan was the Son of Brigadier General Lansing B. Swan of Rochester, NY. 

8th NY Heavy Artillery
( 3-years ) 

Organized: Lockport, NY on 12/19/62
Mustered Out: 6/5/65 at Munson’s Hill, VA

Officers Killed or Mortally Wounded: 19
Officers Died of Disease, Accidents, etc.: 4
Enlisted Men Killed or Mortally Wounded: 342
Enlisted Men Died of Disease, Accidents, etc.: 298
(Source: Fox, Regimental Losses)  

New York
EIGHTH REGIMENT OF ARTILLERY (HEAVY)
 

      Col. Peter A. Porter received, July 7, 1862, authority to  recruit a regiment in the counties of Genesee, Niagara and  Orleans.  This regiment was, August 28, 1862, designated the 129th Regiment of Infantry.  It was organized at Lockport, and  there mustered in the service of the United States for three  years, August 22, 1862.  It was converted into a regiment of  artillery, and December 19, 1862, designated the 8th Regiment  of Artillery.  Two additional companies were organized at  Lockport in December, 1863, and January, 1864, and mustered in  the United States service for one and three years.       Three companies were recruited in the county of Genesee,  three in the county of Orleans, and four in Niagara county;  Company L at Bennington, Bergen, Lewiston, Pavilion, LeRoy,  Oakfield, Bethany, Pembroke, Alabama, Darien, Alexandria,  Batavia, Rochester, Middleburg and Stafford; and M at Warsaw,  China, Rochester, Sheldon, Lima, Lockport, Avon, Java and  Wethersfield.       The regiment (ten companies) left the State August 23,  1862, and served as heavy artillery and infantry at Baltimore,  Md., and vicinity from August 27, 1862; at Harper’s Ferry, W.  Va., from July 10, 1863; at Baltimore, Md., and vicinity from  August 3, 1863, in the Middle Department, 8th Corps.  Companies  L and M joined in February, 1864, and the regiment served in  Tyler’s Division, 2d Corps, from May 17, 1864; in the 4th  Brigade, 2d Division, 2d Corps, from May 29, 1864; and in the  2d Brigade, 2d Division, 2d Corps, from June 26, 1864.       June 5, 1865, Companies A to K were, under the command of  Lieut.-Col. Joseph W. Holmes, mustered out and honorably  discharged at Munson’s Hill, Va.; the men not discharged with  their respective companies were transferred, those of Companies  G, H, I and K to the 4th N. Y. Volunteer Artillery, and those  of Companies A, B, C, D, E and F, and also Companies L and M,  to the 10th N. Y. Volunteer Infantry, of which the men of  Companies A, D and F formed Company K; those of B, C and E  Company I; Company L became Company H and M Company G. 

8th New York Heavy Artillery 

The 8th New York Heavy Artillery Regiment lost 19 officers and 342 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 4 officers and 298 enlisted men by disease during the Civil War. The regiment is honored by a monument in the National Cemetery on the Cold Harbor battlefield. 

8th Artillery Regiment
Civil War
Albany County Regiment; Seymour Guard. 

History
The following is taken from New York in the War of the Rebellion, 3rd ed. Frederick Phisterer. Albany: J. B. Lyon Company, 1912. 

Mustered in as the 129th regiment of infantry: August 22, 1862
Designated 8th regiment of artillery (heavy): December 19, 1862
Mustered out: June 5, 1865 

Col. Peter A. Porter received, July 7, 1862, authority to recruit a regiment in the counties of Genesee, Niagara and Orleans. This regiment was, August 28, 1862, designated the 129th Regiment of Infantry. It was organized at Lockport, and there mustered in the service of the United States for three years, August 22, 1862. It was converted into a regiment of artillery, and December 19, 1862, designated the 8th Regiment of Artillery. Two additional companies were organized at Lockport in December, 1863, and January, 1864, and mustered in the United States service for one and three years. 

Three companies were recruited in the county of Genesee, three in the county of Orleans, and four in Niagara county; Company L at Bennington, Bergen, Lewiston, Pavilion, LeRoy, Oakfield, Bethany, Pembroke, Alabama, Darien, Alexandria, Batavia, Rochester, Middleburg and Stafford; and M at Warsaw, China, Rochester, Sheldon, Lima, Lockport, Avon, Java and Wethersfield. 

The regiment (ten companies) left the State August 23, 1862, and served as heavy artillery and infantry at Baltimore, Md., and vicinity from August 27, 1862; at Harper’s Ferry, W. Va., from July 10, 1863; at Baltimore, Md,, and vicinity from August 3, 1863, in the Middle Department, 8th Corps. Companies L and M joined in February, 1864, and the regiment served in Tyler’s Division, 2d Corps, from May 17, 1864; in the 4th Brigade, 2d Division, 2d Corps, from May 29, 1864; and in the 2d Brigade, 2d Division, 2d Corps, from June 26, 1864. 

June 5, 1865, Companies A to K were, under the command of Lieut-Col. Joseph W. Holmes, mustered out and honorably discharged at Munson’s Hill, Va.; the men not discharged with their respective companies were transferred, those of Companies G, H, I and K to the 4th N. Y. Volunteer Artillery, and those of Companies A, B, C, D, E and F, and also Companies L and M, to the 10th N. Y. Volunteer Infantry, of which the men of Companies A, D and F formed Company K; those of B, C and E Company I; Company L became Company H and M Company G. 

During its service the regiment lost by death, killed in action, 11 officers, 199 enlisted men; of wounds received in action, 9 officers, 145 enlisted men; of disease and other causes, 4 officers, 302 enlisted men; total, 24 officers, 646 enlisted men; aggregate, 670; of whom I officer and 113 enlisted men died in the hands of the enemy 

8th New York Heavy Artillery 

The 8th New York Heavy Artillery Regiment lost 19 officers and 342 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 4 officers and 298 enlisted men by disease during the Civil War. The regiment is honored by a monument in the National Cemetery on the Cold Harbor battlefield. 

This monument to the Eighth New York Heavy Artillery stands in the Cold Harbor National Cemetery, across the road from where the New Yorkers actually fought on June 3, 1864.