The Fourth Alabama Painting by Don Troiani

McCunn's Reserve Brigade

Private W K Bacon, 26th New York Infantry, Company F

Private W K Bacon, 26th New York Infantry, Company F

Twenty-sixth New York Infantry

Mustered in United States service for three months 21 May, 1861. Arrived at Washington, D. C., 22 June, 1861. Not engaged in the First battle of Bull Run. Remustered in United States service for three years 2 August, 1861

COLONEL W H CHRISTIAN
W H Christian was appointed colonel, 26th New York Infantry, on 20 June, 1861, dated 17 May, 1861, and was mustered in United States service for three months at Elmira, Chemung County, New York, by Captain W L Elliott, United States Mounted Rifles, on 21 May, 1861.

LIEUTENANT COLONEL R H RICHARDSON
R H Richardson was appointed lieutenant colonel, 26th New York Infantry, on 20 June, 1861, dated 17 May, 1861, and was mustered in United States service for three months at Elmira, Chemung County, New York, by Captain W L Elliott, United States Mounted Rifles, on 21 May, 1861.

MAJOR G S JENNINGS
Captain G S Jennings, 26th New York Infantry, Company G, was appointed major, 26th New York Infantry, on 20 June, 1861, dated 17 May, 1861, and was mustered in United States service for three months at Elmira, Chemung County, New York, by Captain W L Elliott, United States Mounted Rifles, on 21 May, 1861.

Company A: CAPT. M CoSSELMAN
The company was accepted in state service for two years at Utica, Oneida County, New York, on 1 May, 1861, and was mustered in United States service for three months at Elmira, Chemung County, New York, by Captain W L Elliott, United States Mounted Rifles, on 21 May, 1861.
Company B: CAPT. G A BLACKWELL
The company was accepted in state service for two years at Utica, Oneida County, New York, on 1 May, 1861, and was mustered in United States service for three months at Elmira, Chemung County, New York, by Captain W L Elliott, United States Mounted Rifles, on 21 May, 1861.
Company C: CAPT. J H FAIRBANKS
The company was accepted in state service for two years, under the command of Captain D Smith, Jr., at Utica, Oneida County, New York, on 3 May, 1861, and Captain D Smith, Jr., 26th New York Infantry, Company C, was appointed adjutant and first lieutenant, 26th New York Infantry, on 17 May, 1861. J H Fairbanks was appointed captain, 26th New York Infantry, Company C, on 4 July, 1861, dated 18 May, 1861, and the company was mustered in United States service for three months at Elmira, Chemung County, New York, by Captain W L Elliott, United States Mounted Rifles, on 21 May, 1861. Captain J H Fairbanks, 26th New York Infantry, Company C, resigned on 7 August, 1861.
Company D Union Guards: CAPT. G ARROWSMITH
The company was accepted in state service for two years at Utica, Oneida County, New York, on 7 May, 1861, and was mustered in United States service for three months at Elmira, Chemung County, New York, by Captain W L Elliott, United States Mounted Rifles, on 21 May, 1861.
Company E Utica Grenadiers: CAPT. A BReNDLE
The company was accepted in state service for two years at Utica, Oneida County, New York, on 7 May, 1861, and was mustered in United States service for three months at Elmira, Chemung County, New York, by Captain W L Elliott, United States Mounted Rifles, on 21 May, 1861. Captain A Brendle, 26th New York Infantry, Company E, was discharged on 7 August, 1861.
Company F: CAPT. E F WETMORE
The company was accepted in state service for two years at Utica, Oneida County, New York, on 3 May, 1861, and was mustered in United States service for three months at Elmira, Chemung County, New York, by Captain W L Elliott, United States Mounted Rifles, on 21 May, 1861.
Company G: CAPT. C E JENNINGS
The company was accepted in state service for two years, under the command of Captain G S Jennings, at Rochester, Monroe County, New York, on 2 May, 1861, and was mustered in United States service for three months at Elmira, Chemung County, New York, by Captain W L Elliott, United States Mounted Rifles, on 21 May, 1861. Captain G S Jennings, 26th New York Infantry, Company G, was appointed major, 26th New York Infantry, on 20 June, 1861, dated 17 May, 1861, and First Lieutenant C E Jennings, 26th New York Infantry, Company G, was appointed captain, 26th New York Infantry, Company G, on 4 July, 1861, dated 18 May, 1861.
Company H: CAPT. T DAVIS
The company was accepted in state service for two years at Rochester, Monroe County, New York, on 2 May, 1861, and was mustered in United States service for three months at Elmira, Chemung County, New York, by Captain W L Elliott, United States Mounted Rifles, on 21 May, 1861.
Company I: CAPT. J H PALMER
The company was accepted in state service for two years at Oriskany, Oneida County, New York, on 13 May, 1861, and was mustered in United States service for three months by Captain W L Elliott, United States Mounted Rifles, on 21 May, 1861. Captain J H Palmer, 26th New York Infantry, Company I, resigned on 7 August, 1861.
Company K: CAPT. J B CARYLe
The company was accepted in state service for two years at Candor, Tioga County, New York, on 14 May, 1861, and was mustered in United States service for three months at Elmira, Chemung County, New York, by Captain W L Elliott, United States Mounted Rifles, on 21 May, 1861.

Organisation of 26th New York Infantry at the first battle of Bull Run, 21 July, 1861: Colonel W H Christian, Lieutenant Colonel R H Richardson, Major G S Jennings; Company A, Captain M Cosselman; Company B, Captain G A Blackwell; Company C, Captain J H Fairbanks; Company D, Union Guards, Captain G Arrowsmith; Company E, Utica Grenadiers, Captain A Brendale; Company F, Captain E F Wetmore; Company G, Captain C E Jennings; Company H, Captain T Davis; Company I, Captain J H Palmer; Company K, Captain J B Caryl

Sources

"There are now at this rendezvous ninety companies of volunteers, seventy of which have been formed into regiments and officers elected, viz.: Buffalo regiment, Colonel W. T. Rogers; Syracuse regiment, Colonel E. L. Walrath; Rochester regiment, Colonel J. L. Quimby; Utica regiment, Colonel W. H. Christian; Cayuga regiment, Colonel J. S. Clark; Oswego regiment, Colonel T. Sullivan, and Southern Tier regiment, Colonel H. C. Hoffman."

New York Herald, Morning Edition (New York City, New York County, New York), 17 May, 1861 - The troops at Elmira, 16 May, 1861

"At 8 o'clock this morning the 26th New York Regiment, from Utica, arrived at Bolton Street Station, on the way to Washington."

South (Baltimore City, Maryland), 22 June, 1861 - Passage of troops

"The 26th regiment, Col. Christian, left at 10 o'clock for Washington."

Buffalo Morning Express (Buffalo, Erie County, New York), 22 June, 1861 - Elmira, 21 June

"A train of cars arrived here at noon on Saturday, bringing the twenty-sixth New York regiment, direct from Elmira, where they have been encamped some time. The regiment numbers about 800, and is made up of well developed sinewy men. Their uniform is a dark grey jacket and pants."

"They went into camp north of the city immediately upon their arrival."

National Republican (Washington, D. C.), 24 June, 1861 - Arrival of the New York Twenty-sixth Regiment

"Fort Ellsworth, Alexandria, 25 July, 1861 - The Twenty-sixth New York, Col. Christian, after leaving Washington on Sunday, went as far as Fairfax, when we were turned back to this place. The men are now busy cutting down the trees around the fort, and making all necessary preparations to repel any attack."

Evening Star (Washington, D. C.), 25 July, 1861 - Matters over the river

"Fort Ellsworth, 26 July, 1861 - The 26th New York regiment, Colonel Christian, will move fom this place tonight, some three miles beyond the college, where they will go into camp."

Evening Star (Washington, D. C.), 27 July, 1861 - Affairs over the river

Books/ Manuscripts

Glory was not their companion: The Twenty-sixth New York Volunteer Infantry, by Paul Taylor

Reminiscences and letters of George Arrowsmith of New Jersey late lieutenant-colonel of the One hundred and fifty-seventh regiment, New York State Volunteers, by John S Applegate

Third Annual Assembly of the Bureau of Military Record, State of New York, transmitted to the legislature, Albany, 2 February, 1866: Historical sketches of the first thirty-eight regiments New York Volunteer Infantry, pp194-198

New York in the War of Rebellion, 1861-1865, Volume 3, by Frederick Phisterer

Notes

The 26th New York Infantry was authorised to serve two years, unless sooner discharged, by General Orders Nos.13 and 17, General Headquarters, State of New York, Adjutant General's Office, Albany, Albany County, New York, on 18 and 25 April, 1861, and was organised at Elmira, Chemung County, New York, on 17 May, 1861.

Note: The 26th New York Infantry was authorised by a proclamation calling for 75,000 militia to serve three months on 15 April, 1861, and was accepted in state service for two years at Elmira, Chemung County, New York, by Special Orders No.198, General Headquarters, State of New York, Adjutant General's Office, Albany, Albany County, New York, on 17 May, 1861.

General Orders No.1, Paragraph I, Headquarters, Elmira Depot, New York Volunteers, Elmira, Chemung County, New York, 23 April, 1861: Brigadier General R B Van Valkenburgh, Twentieth Brigade (Bath and Steuben Counties), Seventh Division, New York State Militia, set up Headquarters at No.4 Baldwin Sreet, Elmira, Chemung County, New York, by General Orders No.1, Paragraph I, Headquarters, Elmira Depot, New York Volunteers, Elmira, Chemung County, New York, on 23 April, 1861.

Accepted in state service for two years, Candor, Tioga County; Oriskany & Utica, Oneida County; & Rochester, Monroe County, New York, 1-14 May, 1861: The 26th New York Infantry, Companies A and B, were accepted in state service for two years at Utica, Oneida County, New York, on 1 May, 1861; Companies G and H for two years at Rochester, Monroe County, New York, on 2 May, 1861; Companies C and F for two years at Utica, Oneida County, New York, on 3 May, 1861; Companies D and E for two years at Utica, Oneida County, New York, on 7 May, 1861; Company I for two years at Oriskany, Oneida County, New York, for two years on 13 May, 1861; and Company K for two years at Candor, Tioga County, New York, on 14 May, 1861.

Note: The 26th New York Infantry, Companies A and B, arrived at Elmira, Chemung County, New York, on 3 May, 1861; Companies G and H on 4 May, 1861; Companies C and F on 5 May, 1861; Companies D and E on 8 May, 1861; Company I on 14 May, 1861; and Company K on 16 May, 1861.

Central Baptist Church, on Madison Avenue, Elmira, Chemung County, New York, Companies A & B, 3 May, 1861: Cosselman's company and Blackwell's company were stationed at the Central Baptist Church, on Madison Avenue, Elmira, Chemung County, New York, on 3 May, 1861.

Utica, Oneida County, to Elmira, Chemung County, New York, Companies C & F, 4-5 May, 1861: Smith's company and and Wetmore's company were ordered to proceed by the New York Central Rialroad to Elmira, Chemung County, New York, on 4 May, 1861, and arrived by the Elmira, Jefferson & Canandaigua Railroad on 5 May, 1861.

Elmira, Chemung County, New York, Companies A, C, D, E, F, & G, 16 May, 1861: Cosselman's company (77), Smith's company, the Union Guards (77), the Utica Grenadiers (77), Wetmore's Company (77), and Jennings' Company (77) were assigned to the 26th New York Infantry at Elmira, Chemung County, New York, on 17 May, 1861.

Mustered for three months, Elmira, Chemung County, New York, 21 May, 1861: The 26th New York Infantry was mustered in United States service for three months at Elmira, Chemung County, New York, by Captain W L Elliott, United States Mounted Rifles, on 21 May, 1861.

Note: The 26th New York Infantry was stationed at Barracks No.3/ Post Barracks, on the Chemung River, south of West Water Street, one and a quarter miles west of Elmira, Chemung County, New York, on 29 May and 21 June, 1861.

Elmira to Washington, 21-22 June, 1861

The 26th New York Infantry (772) was ordered to proceed by the Williamsport & Elmira Railroad to Washington, D. C., at 10 AM on 21 June, 1861, and arrived by the Northern Central Railroad at Bolton Station, corner of Bolton and North Howard Streets, Baltimore City, Maryland, via Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, at 8 AM on 22 June, 1861. The regiment arrived by the Washington Branch, Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, at Washington, D. C., via Annapolis Junction, Howard County, Maryland, at 12/1 PM the same day.

Department of Washington, 22 June-21 July, 1861

The 26th New York Infantry arrived at Camp Van Valkenburgh, Meridian Hill, west of Fourteenth Street Road, D. C., on 22 June, 1861.

Note: The 26th New York Infantry was ordered to Harpers Ferry, Jefferson County, Virginia, in the evening on 20 July, 1861, but the order was countermanded and was assigned to McCunn's Brigade, McDowell's Army, under the command of Colonel J H McCunn, 37th New York Infantry, in the evening on 20 July, 1861 (See the 37th New York Infantry).

Disposition of McCunn's Reserve Brigade, McDowell's Army, 21 July, 1861: Colonel J H McCunn, 37th New York Infantry, Headquarters, Camp Mary, on the Eastern Branch of the Potomac/ Anacostia River, on East Capitol Street, half a mile northeast of the Congressional burying ground/ Cemetery, between South E and G Streets and East Eighteenth and Nineteenth Streets, Washington, D. C.; 15th New York Infantry, Colonel J M Murphy, Camp Welch, C Mills' farm, Meridian Hill, west of Fourteenth Street Road, D. C.; 25th New York Infantry, Colonel J E Kerrigan, Camp Mansfield/ Scott, east of the Capitol building grounds, on Pennsylvania Avenue and North/ South Capitol Street, Washington, D. C.; 26th New York Infantry, Colonel W H Christian, Camp Van Valkenburgh, on Meridian Hill, west of Fourteenth Street Road, D. C.; 37th New York Infantry, Lieutenant Colonel J Burke, Camp Mary, on the Eastern Branch of the Potomac/Anacostia River, on East Capitol Street, half a mile northeast of the Congressional burying ground/Cemetery, between South E and G Streets and East Eighteenth and Nineteenth Streets, Washington, D. C.

Note: The 26th New York Infantry was stationed at Camp Van Valkenburgh, Meridian Hill, west of Fourteenth Street Road, D. C., between 22 June and 21 July, 1861.

Department of Northeastern Virginia, 21 July-17 August, 1861

The 26th New York Infantry was ordered to proceed by steamer on the Potomac River at 12 PM on 21 July, 1861, and arrived at Sixth Street Wharf, Alexandria, Alexandria County, Virginia, at 2 PM the same day.

Note: The sick of the 26th New York Infantry were assigned to guard duty at Camp Van Valkenburgh, Meridian Hill, west of Fourteenth Street Road, D. C., on 21 July, 1861 (See the 37th New York Infantry).

Advance to Springfield Station, 21 July, 1861

The 26th New York Infantry was ordered to proceed by the Orange & Alexandria Railroad to Fairfax Station, Fairfax County, Virginia, in the afternoon on 21 July, 1861.

Note: The 26th New York Infantry was stationed at Springfield Station, Fairfax County, Virginia, in the evening on 21 July, 1861.

Springfield Station, Fairfax County, to Alexandria, Alexandria County, Virginia, 21 July, 1861: The 26th New York Infantry was ordered to proceed by the Orange & Alexandria Railroad to Alexandria, Alexandria County, Virginia, in the evening on 21 July, 1861.

200 yards west of Fort Ellsworth, on Shuter's Hill, one mile west of Alexandria, Alexandria County, Virginia, 21 July, 1861: The 26th New York Infantry was ordered 200 yards west of Fort Ellsworth, on Shuter's Hill, one mile west of Alexandria, Alexandria County, Virginia, in the evening on 21 July, 1861.

Note: Private H C Clark, 26th New York Infantry, Company I, deserted at Washington, D. C., on 21 July, 1861.

Rendezvous at the corner of F Street, opposite the Treasury building, on West Fifteenth Street, Washington, D. C., 24 July, 1861: The 15th New York Infantry, the 25th New York Infantry, the 26th New York Infantry, the 37th New York Infantry, the 40th New York Infantry, and the 27th Pennsylvania Infantry were ordered to rendezvous at the corner of F Street, opposite the Treasury building, on West Fifteenth Street, Washington, D. C., at 12 PM on 24 July, 1861.

Note: The 26th New York Infantry was stationed 200 yards west of Fort Ellsworth, on Shuter's Hill, one mile west of Alexandria, Alexandria County, Virginia, between 21 and 26 July, 1861.

200 yards west of Fort Ellsworth, on Shuter's Hill, one mile west of Alexandria, Alexandria County, to three miles northwest of Fairfax/ Protestant Episcopal Theological Seminary, Fairfax County, Virginia, 26 July, 1861: The 26th New York Infantry arrived at Camp Maxwell, three miles northwest of the Fairfax/ Protestant Episcopal Theological Seminary, Fairfax County, Virginia, in the evening 26 July, 1861.

The 15th New York Infantry, the 25th New York Infantry, the 26th New York Infantry, and the 37th New York Infantry were stationed between Powell's/ Bellevue, east of the Leesburg & Alexandria Turnpike, two miles northwest of Alexandria, Alexandria County, and Bailey's Crossroads, Fairfax County, Virginia, on 29 July, 1861.

Camp Maxwell, three miles northwest of the Fairfax/ Protestant Episcopal Theological Seminary, Fairfax County, to a quarter of a mile south of Fort Ellsworth, on Shuter's Hill, one mile west of Alexandria, Alexandria County, Virginia, 15 August, 1861: The 26th New York Infantry was ordered a quarter of a mile south of Fort Ellsworth, on Shuter's Hill, one mile west of Alexandria, Alexandria County, Virginia, on 15 August, 1861.

Remustered, 2 August, 1861: The 26th New York Infantry was mustered in United States service for the unexpired portion of its term of state service on 2 August, 1861.

Mustered out, Utica, Oneida County, New York, 24 & 28 May, 1863: The 26th New York Infantry, Companies H and K, under the command of Colonel R H Richardson, were mustered out at Utica, Oneida County, New York, on 24 May, on 1863, and Companies A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and I on 28 May, 1863. The three years' men of the 26th New York Infantry were assigned to the 83 New York Infantry (formerly the 9th New York State Militia) on 26 May, 1863.

Colonel J H McCunn, 37th New York Infantry, McCunn's Reserve Brigade, McDowell's Army, 20 June, 1861: Colonel J H McCunn, 75th New York Militia, was appointed assistant engineer, 69th New York State Militia, by General Orders No.1, Headquarters, Sixty-ninth Regiment, New York State Militia, New York City, New York County, New York, on 20 April, 1861, and was assigned to the 69th New York Militia between 20 April and 6 May, 1861. Judge J H McCunn was appointed colonel, 37th New York Infantry, on 20 June, 1861, dated 28 May, 1861, and acting brigadier general, United States Volunteers, on 20 July, 1861.

Organisation of Brigadier General S P Heintzelman's brigade, Division of the Potomac, 4 August, 1861: Brigadier General S P Hentzelman, United States Volunteers; 5th Maine Infantry, Colonel M H Dunnell; 16th New York Infantry, Colonel T A Davies; 26th New York Infantry, Colonel W H Christian; 27th New York Infantry, Major J J Bartlett; 2nd United States Artillery, Light Company A, First Lieutenant J C Tidball

Note: The 26th New York Infantry was assigned to Brigadier General S P Heintzelman's brigade, Division of the Potomac, by Special Orders No.10, Headquarters, Division of the Potomac, Washington, D. C., on 4 August, 1861.