The 164th New York Infantry, a Zouave unit, was organized at New York City, New York, in September and October 1862. It was reorganized at Newport News, Virginia, and mustered in November 19, 1862, under the command of Colonel John Eugene McMahon. It was one of the four regiments forming the brigade of Irish soldiers known as the Corcoran Legion.
The regiment was attached to District of Newport News, Virginia, Department of Virginia, to December 1862. Corcoran's Brigade, Division of Suffolk, VII Corps, Department of Virginia, to April 1863. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, VII Corps, to July 1863. Corcoran's Brigade, King's Division, XXII Corps, Department of Washington, to November 1863. 1st Brigade, Corcoran's Division, XXII Corps, to December 1863. 2nd Brigade, Tyler's Division, XXII Corps, to May 1864. 4th Brigade, 2nd Division, II Corps, Army of the Potomac, to June 1864. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, II Corps, to July 1865.
The 164th New York Infantry mustered out of service July 15, 1865.
Detailed service
Left New York for Newport News, Virginia, November 6, 1862. Duty at Newport News, Va., until December 1862, and at Suffolk, Virginia, until May 1863. Action at Deserted House, Va., January 30, 1863. Siege of Suffolk April 12-May 4. Edenton Road April 15 and 24. Providence Church Road, Nansemond River, May 3. Siege of Suffolk raised May 4. Blackwater May 12 and June 17. Dix's Peninsula Campaign June 24-July 7. Moved to Washington, D.C., July 12. Provost duty in the defenses of that city, and at Alexandria, Va., and guard duty on the Orange & Alexandria Railroad until May 1864. Ordered to join the Army of the Potomac in the field May 1864. Rapidan Campaign May 17 to June 15. Spotsylvania Court House, Va., May 17–21. 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 16–18. Siege of Petersburg June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865. Jerusalem Plank Road, Weldon Railroad, June 22–23, 1864. Demonstration on north side of James River July 27–29. Deep Bottom July 27–28. Demonstration north of James River August 13–20. Strawberry Plains, Deep Bottom, August 14–18. Ream's Station August 25. Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher's Run, October 27–28. Dabney's Mills, Hatcher's Run, February 5–7, 1865. Watkins' House March 25. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. Boydton Road March 30–31. Crow's House March 31. Fall of Petersburg April 2. Pursuit of Lee April 3–9. Sailor's Creek April 6. High Bridge, Farmville, April 7. Appomattox Court House April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army. At Burkesville until May 2. March to Washington, D.C., May 2–12. Grand Review of the Armies May 23. Duty at Washington until July.
Casualties
The regiment lost a total of 245 men during service; 10 officers and 106 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 3 officers and 126 enlisted men died of disease. 26% of the men who served would die during the regiment's time of service.
Commanders
Colonel John Eugene McMahon – died March 3, 1863, at Buffalo, New York, due to disease
Colonel James Power McMahon – killed in action at Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864
Colonel William DeLacy
Major John Beattie - commanded the regiment at the First Battle of Deep Bottom
Captain Timothy J. Burke - commanded the regiment during the Appomattox Campaign
Dyer, Frederick H. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion (Des Moines, IA: Dyer Pub. Co.), 1908.
Attribution
This article contains text from a text now in the public domain: Dyer, Frederick H. (1908). A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion. Des Moines, IA: Dyer Publishing Co.
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