(833) | 45th New York Infantry | Union Army |
Cols., George Von Amsberg, Adolphus Dobke; Lieut.-Cols., Edward C. Wratislaw, Adolphus Dobke, Charles Koch, Joseph Sprangenburgh; Majs., Charles Sempsey, Adolphus Dobke, Charles Koch, Gustavus Korn. The 45th, the 5th German Rifles, recruited in New York-city, was composed mainly of Germans and was mustered into the U. S. service at New York city Sept. 9, 1861, for a three years' term. A month was passed in camp at Jones' wood and Oct. 9, the regiment left for Washington, where it was assigned to the 1st brigade, 5th division and encamped at Hunter's Chapel, Va., for the winter. In April, 1862, the 45th was transferred to the Mountain Department under Gen. Fremont and arrived at Winchester on April 19, remaining there until May I. It participated in the battle of Cross Keys and then retired to Middletown, where many of the men were on the sick list, owing to the constant, severe marches with insufficient food to which the troops had been subjected. Attached to the 1st brigade, 1st division, 1st corps, Army of Virginia, the regiment was ordered to Sperryville, Madison Court House, Gordonsville, Cuylersville, Cedar mountain and White Sulphur springs, took part in the second battle of Bull Run, and then encamped at Lewinsville from Sept. 3 to 21. It was next stationed until Nov. 3 at Centerville, where the brigade and division became a part of the nth corps, Army of the Potomac, and were successively posted at Thoroughfare gap, Aldie and Chantilly. On Dec. 11, as part of Gen. Sigel's reserves, the 45th arrived at Falmouth and after the battle of Fredericks-burg was withdrawn to Stafford Court House, where winter quar-ters were established. In the Chancellorsville movement in May, 1863, the 45th was closely engaged with a loss of 76 in killed, wounded and missing, and in June it was assigned to the 1st bri-gade, 3d division, nth corps and marched to Gettysburg, where it participated in the three days' battle with the loss of 224 in killed, wounded and missing. Gathering together its scattered ranks the regiment moved west and in October participated in the battle of Wauhatchie, Tenn. It then moved to Chattanooga, shared in the Rossville campaign, and was present at Missionary ridge in November. At the opening of the Atlanta campaign in the spring of 1864, the 45th was assigned to the 3d brigade, 1st division, 20th corps, with which it served until July, being in action at Resaca, Dallas and Kennesaw mountain. In July it was attached to the Department of the Cumberland at Nashville and remained there until the close of the war. The original members not reenlisted were mustered out on Oct. 8, 1864, but the command was retained as a veteran regiment until June 30, 1865, when it was consolidated with the 58th N. Y. and with it mustered out at Nashville Oct. 1, 1865. During the term of service the regiment lost 53 by death from wounds and 108 by death from other causes.