Draw the Sword

Bemis Heights Regiment

Location: Power’s Hill

Order of Battle: 6th Corps, 2nd Division, 3rd Brigade

Number Engaged: 424; no loss

Commander: Lt. Col. Winsor B. French (1832-1910)

Raised: counties of Essex, Fulton, and Saratoga

Monument Specifications: Sarcophagus monument with sloped cap stands on a two-coursed base. The Greek cross Corps insignia in on the front above the die. A round relief of the State Seal is affixed to the front, just above the base. It indicates the position held by the 77th New York Infantry on July 3, 1863 when supporting artillery batteries on the hill.

Dedication Date: Oct. 16, 1889.

Sculptor/Artist/Company: Thomas and Miller, fabricator.

Other Monuments and Memorials: None.

Regimental History ~ Dyer’s Compendium of the War of the Rebellion:

Organized at Saratoga, N.Y., and mustered in November 22, 1861. Left State for Washington, D.C., November 28, 1861. Attached to 3rd Brigade, Casey’s Division, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 4th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to May, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 6th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, and Army of the Shenandoah, to June, 1865.

SERVICE.–Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D.C., until March, 1862. Advance on Manassas, Va., March 10. Ordered to the Virginia Peninsula March 22. Near Lee’s Mills April 5. Siege of Yorktown April 5-May 4. Lee’s Mills April 16. Battle of Williamsburg May 5. Mechanicsville May 23-24 and June 24. Seven days before Richmond June 25-July 1. Garnett’s Farm June 27. Garnett’s and Golding’s Farms June 28. Savage Station June 29. White Oak Swamp and Glendale June 30. Malvern Hill July 1. At Harrison’s Landing until August 16. Movement to Fortress Monroe, thence to Centreville, August 16-28. In works at Centreville August 28-31. Assist in checking Pope’s rout at Bull Run August 30, and cover retreat to Fairfax Court House September 1. Maryland Campaign September 6-22. Crampton’s Pass, South Mountain, September 14. Battle of Antietam September 16-17. Duty in Maryland until October 29. Movement to Falmouth, Va., October 29-November 19. Union November 2-3. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12-15. At Falmouth until April 27, 1863. “Mud March” January 20-24. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Operations about Franklin’s Crossing April 29-May 2. Battle of Maryes Heights, Fredericksburg, May 3. Salem Heights May 3-4. Banks’ Ford May 4. Deep Run Ravine June 5-13. Battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 2-4. Pursuit of Lee July 5-24. Duty on line of the Rappahannock until October. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Rappahannock Station November 7. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Duty near Brandy Station until May, 1864. Demonstration on the Rapidan February 6-7. Campaign from the Rapidan to the James River May 3-June 15. Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7; Spottsylvania May 8-12: Spottsylvania Court House May 12-21. Assault on the Salient or “Bloody Angle” May 12. North Anna River May 23-26. On line of the Pamunkey May 26-28. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Cold Harbor June 1-12. Before Petersburg June 17-18. Siege of Petersburg June 17 to July 9. Jerusalem Plank Road, Weldon Railroad, June 22-23. Moved to Washington, D.C., July 9-11. Repulse of Early’s attack on Fort Stevens and the northern defenses of Washington July 11-12. Sheridan’s Shenandoah Valley Campaign August 7-November 28. Gilbert’s Ford, Opequan Creek, September 13. Battle of Winchester September 19. Fisher’s Hill September 22. Battle of Cedar Creek October 19. Duty in the Shenandoah Valley until December. Moved to Washington, D.C., thence to Petersburg, Va., December 13-16. Siege of Petersburg December 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865. Fort Fisher, Petersburg, March 25, 1865. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. Assault on and fall of Petersburg April 2. Sailor’s Creek April 6. Appomattox Court House April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army. March to Danville April 23-27, and duty there until May 24. March to Richmond, Va., thence to Washington, D.C., May 24-June 3. Corps Review June 8. Mustered out June 27, 1865. Regiment lost during service 9 Officers and 87 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 Officers and 175 Enlisted men by disease. Total 273.