** ** 84th New York Infantry (14th Militia)
Posted to the Project on 24 Apr 08
The 84th New York was also known as the 14th Brooklyn or the 14th militia. It was recruited from Kings County and mustered in during May and August 1861. (The militia unit itself traced back to 1844.) Sometimes also called the Brooklyn Chasseurs, the regiment numbered 356 at Gettysburg under the command of Col. Edward B. Fowler (1828-1896), a bookkeeper from Brooklyn.
The monument to the 84th is topped by an 8′ tall soldier in the position “handle cartridge.” It is made of Westerly granite. It depicts a soldier in chasseur garb; the chaussers were the light infantry of the French army. The kepi of the 84th was red, while the coat was blue and trimmed with red piping. The men also wore white gaiters. At Manassas, the Confederates nicknamed the 84th New York “The Red Legged Devils.”
Lieutenant Henry W. Mitchell posed as the model for the statue at Gettysburg. Mitchell was wounded on July 1. The regimental monument was dedicated on October 19, 1887. The sculptor was R.D. Barr and it cost $3,510.00. It is located off Reynolds Avenue near the Railroad Cut.
There are also markers to this unit along Stone Avenue and on Slocum Avenue (Culp’s Hill).
84th New York (14th Brooklyn)
1st Corps, 1st Division, 2nd Brigade
Engaged: 356; 13 killed, 105 wounded, 99 missing
Monument: Reynolds Avenue
Monument Specifications: A soldier representing a member of the 14th Brooklyn infantry is depicted loading his musket. The sculpture stands atop a square granite base adorned with the bronze seal of Brooklyn. Funds for the $3,500 monument were raised by the citizens of Brooklyn. Westerly granite with bronze medallions.
Dedication Date: Oct. 19, 1887.
Sculptor/Artist/Company: Barr, R. D., sculptor.
Other Monuments & Markers: This regiment has two markers at Gettysburg.
1) Stone Avenue, McPherson Ridge. Erected in 1893 by State of New York. The text is as follows:
Here, in the forenoon, July 1st. 1863, the Regiment opened fire on A.P. Hill’s Corps; afterwards charged successfully on Davis’ Brigade at the railroad to the right and rear of this position, as indicated by a monument there; later had a running fight through Gettysburg to Culp’s Hill, where at night, July 2nd, repulsed the advance of Johnson’s Division of Ewell’s Corps; then moved to the right to reinforce the 12th. Corps, as recorded on tablet in boulder to the right of the hill. It lost in the battle 13 killed, 105 wounded and 99 missing.
2) North Slocum Avenue, Culp’s Hill. Erected in 1890 by State of New York. Plaque located on boulder. Reads as follows:
Here at about 9 p.m. July 2nd, 1863, the Regiment while moving from its position to the left of this to reinforce Greene’s Brigade, unexpectedly encountered the advance of Johnson’s Division of Ewell’s Corps, which had crossed the abandoned works and was advancing toward the Baltimore Pike. By opening fire on them the Regiment caused them to halt until the 12th Corps returned and drove them back.
At daylight July 3rd, the Regiment rejoined the Brigade but soon afterwards moved again to the right to reinforce the 12th. Corps and fought in the trenches and lay in reserve until the repulse of the enemy.
In the first day’s battle this Regiment was heavily engaged with the 1st. Corps at the Railroad beyond the Seminary as indicated by a monument there.
It lost in the battle 13 killed, 105 wounded and 99 missing.
Regimental History ~ Dyer’s Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
Tendered services to Government and left Brooklyn for Washington, D.C., May 18, 1861. Mustered into United States service at Washington May 25, 1861. Attached to Mansfield’s Command, Defenses of Washington, to June, 1861. Porter’s Brigade, Hunter’s Division, McDowell’s Army of Northeast Virginia, to August, 1861. Keyes’ Brigade, Division of the Potomac, to October, 1861. Keyes’ Brigade, McDowell’s Division, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1862. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 1st Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to April, 1862. 1st Brigade, King’s Division, Dept. of the Rappahannock, to June, 1862. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 3rd Corps, Pope’s Army of Virginia, to September, 1862. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 1st Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to June, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 1st Army Corps, to March, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 4th Division, 5th Army Corps, to June, 1864.
SERVICE.–Camp at Meridian Hill, Defenses of Washington, D.C., until July 2, 1861. Advance into Virginia and occupation of Arlington Heights May 23-24. Camp near Arlington House July 2-16. Advance on Manassas, Va., July 16-21. Battle of Bull Run July 21. Duty at Arlington Heights until September 28. Advance on Munson’s and Hall’s Hills September 28. At Upton’s Hill until March, 1862. Skirmish, Fall’s Church Road, near Fairfax Court House, November 18, 1861. Advance on Manassas, Va., March 10-15, 1862. McDowell’s advance on Falmouth, Va., April 4-19. Camp at Falmouth until May 25. McDowell’s advance on Richmond, Va., May 25-29. Operations against Jackson May 29-June 21. Duty at Falmouth until August 5. Expedition to Po River July 23-25 (Cos. “B” and “E”). Mt. Carmel Church July 23. Reconnaissance to Spottsylvania Court House August 5-8. March to Cedar Mountain March 10-11. Pope’s Campaign in Northern Virginia August 16-September 2. Fords of the Rappahannock August 20-23. Battles of Gainesville August 28; Groveton August 29; Bull Run August 30; Chantilly September 2. Maryland Campaign September 6-22. Battles of South Mountain September 14; Antietam September 16-17. At Sharpsburg, Md., until October 20. March to Falmouth, Va., October 26-November 22. At Brooks’ Station November 22-December 8. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12-15. At Falmouth and Belle Plain until April 27, 1863. “Mud March” January 20-24. Expedition to Port Conway April 22-24. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Operations at Pollock’s Mill Creek April 29-May 2. Fitzhugh’s Crossing April 29-30. Battle of Chancellorsville May 2-5. Gettysburg (Pa.) Campaign June 11-July 24. Battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 1-3. Pursuit of Lee to Manassas Gap, Va., July 5-24. At Manassas Junction until August 1. At Rappahannock Station until August 14. Duty on line of the Rappahannock until October. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Provost duty at Culpeper, Va., December 28, 1863, to May 4, 1864. Demonstration on the Rapid February 6-7. Rapidan Campaign May 4-22. Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7; Laurel Hill May 8; Spottsylvania May 8-12; Spottsylvania Court House May 12-21. Assault on the Salient May 12. Left front May 22 and arrived at Brooklyn May 24. Veterans and Recruits attached to 12th New York Battalion May 21, then transferred to 5th New York Veteran Infantry June 2, 1864. Regiment mustered out June 14 to date June 6, 1864. Regiment lost during service 8 Officers and 154 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 69 Enlisted men by disease. Total 231.
April 24th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
Minor detail: the correct spelling is “chasseur”.
If you ever get interested in naval history, there was a US privateer schooner of that name, Thomas Boyle commanding, that operated in the Irish sea and English Channel with notable success during the War of 1812.
April 25th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
Thanks. =) I can’t spell. I’d blame chemo brain, but I never could spell.