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The 1st Regiment New York Volunteers was the embodied wisdom and foresight possessed by Edward Wellman Serrell a prominent New York Civil Engineer and veteran of the War with Mexico. In 1860, he saw war clouds gathering and perceived the need by the Army of a specialized Regiment that would be able to operate in the battlefield, under fire, in direct support of line infantry and artillery. To be sure, the US Army had a Corp. of Engineers, but they made up a very small percentage of the fewer than 15,00 men and officers that made up the standing army. The US Engineering Officers were composed, for the most part, of Topographical Engineering Officers and were ill prepared to support field troops.
By mid 1861 war was inevitable. Both North and South were omitted to their political philosophies and would not, or in reality could not be turned away from it. Serrell doubled his efforts, using all of the influence he could muster in Albany and in the National Capital, to obtain authorization to raise his “regiment” of engineers. By October of ‘61 he was appointed a Lieutenant Colonel of Volunteers and had his authority to begin recruiting. By December it was now Colonel Serrell who was being pushed to complete the mustering-in of as many Companies as possible. Four Companies were recruited from neighboring New Jersey as well. When completed, the 1st Regiment New York Volunteers, was a large regiment, having a total of twelve Companies (A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,K,L&M).
In late December of 1861, with most of the Companies mustered, the Regiment was sent to Washington and then on to Fortress Monroe in Hampton Roads. There they were assembled with the forces under General T.S. Sherman that were to sail with the expedition under the command of Admiral DuPont, for Port Royal Sound, South Carolina.
The Regiment completed its organization in early 1862 and became the 10th Corps Engineers in the Department of the South. The Regiment was employed throughout the east coast from South Carolina to Florida. They were on Tybee Island building the National Batteries before Fort Pulaski and manned the guns of one of the covering batteries up the Savanna River. They were at Fernandina as part of the forces that reoccupied Fort Clinch which they subsequently set about completing. They saw action along the Saint Johns, Coosawachee and the Edisto Rivers. Places such as Hilton Head, Folly and Morris Islands and Battery Chatfield (the Swamp Angel) to mention just a few, fill the record book of the Regiment’s activities.
In the spring of 1864, the majority of the regiment, eight Companies, were detached from the Department of the South and brought north to become part of the Arm of the James when Gen. Gilmore was order to move to the 10th Corps. Four Companies (A, D, G, & I) were left in the Department of the South where they finished out the war. The eight Companies (B, C, E, F, H, K, L & M) that came north dropped a good portion of their “baggage” (frock coats, tentage etc.) at Fortress Monroe and then proceeded directly, with the Army of the James to Bermuda Hundred. There, as the Engineer Corps of the Army of the James, they were placed in charge of the construction of the Bermuda Hundred Line, laid countless miles of corduroy roads, operated the Engineer Depot, three saw mills, the dredge in the Dutch Gap Canal and the machine shop and forge that kept it running. When General Grant proposed the movement of the Army of the Potomac to the south side of the James after Second Cold Harbor, it was the 1st New York Volunteers that built the abutments and roads that connected the pontoon bridge assembled by the Engineers of the Army of the Potomac (15th & 50th N.Y. Engineers) with City Point.
Later, in September of 1864, with Grant and the Army of the Potomac at Petersburg, the Army of the James was thrown against the outer defenses of Richmond and the 1st New York Volunteers went with them. The Confederate line was broken north of the James River at Fort Harrison and it was the 1st New York Volunteers that set the new line from Fort Brady to Fort Harrison and over to Deep Bottom. Captain John L Suess (Co. B) was placed in charge of turning Fort Harrison around providing for the safety of the troops that would be manning it. His works still stand today at the Fort Harrison/Fort Burnham Unit of the Richmond National Battlefield Park.
With the fall of Petersburg and the subsequent abandonment of Richmond, the combined Armies of the James and Potomac pursued Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia westward. By this time the 1st, 15th and 50th New York Engineers had all been formed into the Engineer Brigade. Four Companies were detailed to enter the burning Capital of the Confederacy to down the self inflicted conflagration that was visited on the city in its final hours. At least one of the Companies so employed was from the 1st New York Volunteers. Meanwhile to the west the remainder of the regiment was shoring up bridges and repairing roadways, building field works and batteries in support of the on rushing Union Armies. The last mention of the regiment in combat comes at Farmville on the eve of the day before the surrender at Appomattox Court House, were they were employed building batteries for field artillery.
The 1st Regiment New York Volunteers was mustered out of service, along with the 15th and 50th Engineers, on July 15th, 1865, after having gone the distance from the first assault on the Confederacy to the death blow dealt at Appomattox.
In 1976 the present organization that bears the name of the 1st New York Volunteers formed from the living history program at Fort Clinch State Park, Fernandina Beach, Florida. Three of the principle organizers are still with the reconstructed regiment, Rob James, John Poe and Brian Smith. All had been in the program at Fort Clinch since its inception and were involved in its development. The reconstructed regiment is organized as a 501{c}3 tax-exempt education organization since incorporating May 5, 1992. The Regiment has the goals to broaden its scope of activity and allow the members to explore areas of interest beyond the scope of the Fort Clinch program. A continuing effort to provide programs to the public schools, civic groups, libraries and the parks was undertaken. Public awareness of disappearing and endangered historic sites provided a focus for the groups civic activism. Not the least of the groups activities, was a greater participation in reenactments and living history events throughout the south and southeast. Coincidentally, because of the reconstructed regiment’s growing reputation for historic authenticity and the unique skills associated with fielding a Company of Engineers, it has been sought out on a number of occasions by motion picture production companies for major made-for-television films.
The reconstructed 1st New York Volunteers presents impressions on the field and in the camps of the Regimental Staff, Company Grade Officers, Medical Officers, Hospital Stewards and Nurses, Musicians, the Rank and File Artificers and men of the Companies, as well as the Laundresses and civilian wives and ladies. In the field the Engineers portray the varied activities performed by the original 1st New York Volunteers. As often as not they come on the field bearing shovels, axes and picks with their muskets slung. Ranges are triangulated for the artillery, maps and records of movements during the battle are sketched out and made up for reports to the Command Staff. If materials can be found on the field or it is appropriate for the event, breastworks and rifle pits are undertaken. However if the line becomes threaten, or the works in progress should come “under fire”, the Engineers will defend their own and hold if they can until the Infantry can fill the breach.
Away from the field, regular meetings, planning and work sessions as well as social gatherings for picnics and dinners, keep the members in touch with each other and provide for family participation over a wide range of projects and interests. The majority of the baggage, implements and camp gear used and the research used to support the impression by the Companies has been acquired in this way. This sharing of knowledge and skills is the most important aspect of the organization as it is felt that this is the key to an ever improving depiction in the field.
The reconstructed 1st New York Volunteer is able to look back, with justifiable pride, on a long distinguished list of accomplishments over the past nineteen years. At the same time it is ever seeking out those types of opportunities that offer continued growth into the future. The establishment of Company B in the eastern Virginia area and Company C in Central Florida are just such an opportunity and all those who are interested in helping to accomplish this are welcomed, indeed most heartily encourage to join in the effort.
Florida is rich with the history of the 1st New York Volunteers and opportunities abound to participate on or just walk over the very same ground that felt the tread of their boots or was shaped by their efforts. What a wonderful and exhilarating experience this can be, to bring to light the accomplishments of this highly honored Regiment and to recreate their image at living history events and reenactments. They were the first of their type and the reconstructed 1st New York Volunteers endeavors to be the best that we can make it.
For more details and information concerning membership in the reconstructed 1st
New York Volunteers, please contact:
Company A
Vernon Catron
101 Morning View Dr
Temple, GA 30179
Telephone (770) 459-5111
Company C
Brian Smith
1447 Carrington Avenue
Winter Springs, Fl. 32708-6133
Telephone: (407) 365-4813
Headquarters Company
John Poe
1203 N 17th St.
Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250-2869
Telephone (904)249-0109
Date of last update: 04/21/09
