Original Members of the 125th NYVI

The following paragraphs are a brief history of the 125th New York.  The regimental history has been reproduced for those those wanting to purchase a copy of it.  The original regimental history was written by its Chaplain, Ezra Simons.  Other information given for this brief history were obtained from Phister's.  As we build on this page and as the history of the 125th grows as new uncovered information arises and if you have any new info on the men of the 125th that you would like to share, please feel free to contact us so we can put this on the official web page of the 125th New York.

Ezra D. Simons

125th NY Infantry
( 3-years )
Organized: Troy, NY on 8/27/62
Mustered Out: 6/5/65 at Alexandria, VA

Officers Killed or Mortally Wounded: 15
Officers Died of Disease, Accidents, etc.: 1
Enlisted Men Killed or Mortally Wounded: 112
Enlisted Men Died of Disease, Accidents, etc.: 112
(Source: Fox, Regimental Losses)

NEW YORK
ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIFTH INFANTRY
(Three Years)

One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Infantry.-Cols., George L. Willard,
Levin Crandell, Joseph Hyde; Lieut.-Cols., Levin Crandell, Aaron
B. Myer, Joseph Hyde; Majs., James C. Bush, Aaron B. Myer, Samuel
C. Armstrong, Joseph Hyde, Joseph Egolf, Nelson Penfield, William
H. H. Brainard.

This regiment, recruited in the county of Rensselaer, was
organized at Troy, and there mustered into the U. S. service on
Aug. 27-29, 1862, for three years. Two days later it left for
Harper's Ferry, where it was captured on Sept. 15, at the
surrender of that post.

The regiment was immediately paroled and was stationed at a
paroled camp at Chicago, Ill., for two months, when the men were
declared exchanged and returned to Virginia in December. It was
encamped at Centerville during the winter and in the spring of
1863 was attached to Gen. Hays' brigade.

In June, 1863, the brigade joined the 3d division, 2nd corps,
then marching to Gettysburg, Gen. Hays taking command of the
division. At the battle of Gettysburg Col. Willard was killed
while in command of the brigade and the loss of the regiment
amounted to 26 killed, 104 wounded and 9 missing.

It distinguished itself at Bristoe Station in October, both
officers and men fighting with dash and extreme gallantry. Its
loss in this action was 36 killed, wounded and missing. It was
also present at the action of Mitchell's ford, and took part in
the Mine Run campaign, with a loss of 41 men.

Upon the reorganization of the Army of the Potomac in April,
1864, it was transferred to Barlow's (1st) division, to which it
was attached during the remainder of its service. It lost 28 in
killed, wounded and missing at the battle of the Wilderness,
where Lieut.-Col. Myer fell mortally wounded.

At the Po river and Spottsylvania its loss was 10 killed, 74
wounded and 6 missing, while further severe losses were sustained
at the North Anna, Cold Harbor, and the battles around
Petersburg, where its losses aggregated 85 killed, wounded and
missing.

Recrossing the James it fought at Deep Bottom and Strawberry
Plains, and upon returning to the lines around Petersburg it was
engaged in the disaster at Reams' station, losing 9 wounded and
13 captured. It was present at Hatcher's run in December, but
without loss. Its veteran ranks had been sadly decimated by its
hard service and when the final campaign of 1865 opened it could
report only 12 officers and 219 men "present for duty," although
it still carried 547 names on its rolls.

In this campaign the regiment participated in the final assault
on Petersburg and the engagements of Deatonsville road, High
bridge and Farmville, where it fought its last battle. The loss
during the campaign was 32 killed, wounded and missing. The
total enrollment of the regiment during service was 1,248, of
whom 15 officers and 112 enlisted men were killed and mortally
wounded, or 10.1 per cent.; 1 officer and 115 men died of disease
and other causes; 3 officers and 61 men died in Confederate
prisons; 464 officers and men were killed and wounded. It was
mustered out near Alexandria, Va., under Col. Hyde, June 5, 1865,
having gloriously earned its title as a fighting regiment.

Source: The Union Army, Vol. 2, p. 141

NEW YORK
ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIFTH REGIMENT OF INFANTRY.
(Three Years)

Colonel John A. Griswold was authorized, July 28, 1862, to
raise this regiment in Rensselaer county; on his resignation,
Col. George L. Willard succeeded him August 15, 1862; the
regiment was organized at Troy and there mustered in the
service of the United States for three years August 27-29,
1862. The men not entitled to be mustered out with the
regiment were, June 5, 1865, transferred to the 4th Artillery.

The companies were recruited principally: A at Hoosick
Falls; B, D and H at Troy; C at Lansingburg, Troy, Sandlake,
Pittstown and Schaghticoke; E at Sandlake, Stephentown, Nassau
and Hoag's Corner; F at Troy and Poestenkill; G and I at Troy
and New York city, and K at Schaghticoke and Troy.

The regiment left the State August 31, 1862; it served in
the 2d Brigade, from September, 1862, at Harper's Ferry, W.
Va., where it was surrendered; at Camp Douglas, Chicago, Ill.,
from September 27, 1862; in the defenses of Washington, in 1st
Brigade, Casey's Division, and later 22d Corps, from December,
1862; in the 3d Brigade of the same, from January, 1863; in the
3d Brigade, 3d Division, 2d Corps, from June, 1863; in the 3d,
for a time in the Consolidated, Brigade, 1st Division, 2d
Corps, from April, 1864; and, commanded by Col. Joseph Hyde, it
was honorably discharged and mustered out June 5, 1865, near
Alexandria, Va.

Source: Phisterer, p. 3,477

Organized at Troy, N.Y., and mustered in August 29, 1862. Left State for Baltimore, Md., August 31; thence moved to Martinsburg, Va., September 2, 1862. Retreat to Harper's Ferry, W. Va., September 11-12. Attached to Miles' Command, Harper's Ferry, W. Va., September, 1862. Camp Douglas, Chicago, Ill., to December, 1862. 3rd Brigade, Casey's Division, Defences of Washington, D.C., to February, 1863. 3rd Brigade, Abercrombie's Division, 22nd Army Corps, Dept. of Washington, to June, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 3rd, Division, 2nd Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Army Corps, to June, 1864. Consolidated Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Army Corps, to November, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Army Corps, to June, 1865.
SERVICE.--Defense of Harper's Ferry, West Va., September 12-15, 1862. Maryland Heights September 12-13. Bolivar Heights September 14-15. Surrendered September 15. Paroled September 16 and sent to Annapolis, Md., thence to Camp Douglas, Chicago, Ill., and duty there guarding prisoners till November, 1862. Declared exchanged November 22, 1862. Moved to Washington, DC, November 23-25. Camp at Arlington Heights, Va., till December 3, and at Centreville, Va., till June, 1863. Ordered to join Army of the Potomac in the field and Joined 2nd Army Corps June 25, 1863. Gettysburg (Pa.) Campaign June 25-July 24. Battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 2-4. Pursuit of Lee to Manassas Gap, Va., July 5-24. Duty on lines of the Rappahannock.and Rapidan till October. Advance from the Rappahannock to the Rapidan September 13-17. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Auburn and Bristoe October 14. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Duty near Brandy Station till May, 1864. Demonstration on the Rapidan February 6-7. Campaign from the Rapidan to the James May 3-June 15. Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7. Spottsylvania May 8-12. Po River May 10. Spottsylvania Court House May 12-21. Assault on the Salient "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 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865. Jerusalem Plank Road, Weldon Railroad, June 22-23, 1864. Demonstration on north side of the James July 27-29. Deep Bottom July 27-28. Demonstration north side of the James August 13-20. Strawberry Plains, Deep Bottom, August 14-18. Ream's Station August 25. Reconnoissance to Hatcher's Run December 9-10. Dabney's Mills, Hatcher's Run, February 5-7, 1865. Watkins' House March 25. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. On line of Hatcher's and Gravelly Runs March 29-30. White Oak Road March 31. Sutherland Station and fall of Petersburg April 2. Pursuit of Lee April 3-9. Sailor's Creek April 6. High Bridge and Farmville April 7. Appomattox Court House April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army. Moved to Washington, DC, May 2-12. Grand Review May 23. Mustered out at Alexandria, Va.. June 5, 1865. Veterans and Recruits transferred to 4th New York Heavy Artillery.
Regiment lost during service 15 Officers and 112 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 112 Enlisted men by disease. Total 240.