The history of 162nd New York Volunteer Infantry

The history of 162nd New York Volunteer Infantry

The 162nd Regiment was the third of those organized under the auspices of the Police  Commissioners of the City of New York.

In addition to the U.S. Bounty of $100, and $3 hand money, the State and the City and County of New York, each offered a bounty of $50 per man; Which was paid until Sept 6th, when the State bounty was withdrawn. It is not known that any bounties were paid by private persons.

The Police Department signalized its loyalty and patriotism by resolving itself into an instrumentality for recruiting, and adopted a policy by which every member of its force became, practically, a recruiting agent, and every station house a recruiting office; and all without charge to the General Government. Besides,  the Department was as liberal in contributing its money as its services to this patriotic purpose.

Recruiting was embarrassed by the interference of those pests of the service, recruiting brokers, whose sole aim was to defraud the recruit of the bounty to which he was entitled; and by the incompetence or corruption of the examining surgeons, who did not scruple to pass invalids, the subjects of loathsome diseases, and unable to march a mile. The Regimental Surgeon, Dr William B.Eager Jr, discharged numbers who had been passed by the U.S. Examining Surgeons. Under the regulations of the War Department, Regimental Surgeons had no part in the examination of recruits

Recruiting for this Regiment commenced August 26, 1862 - the term of enlistment being 3 years.

On the 16th Sept. Col. Lewis Benedict, of Albany,  formerly Lt.-Col. of the 73d N.Y. Vols.(2d Fire Zouaves), arrived, with Maj. James H. Bogart,(formerly Adj't of the 43d N.Y. Vols.), and assumed command of the forces on Rikers Island. Lt.-Col Justus W.Blanchard, formerly Capt. 3d N.Y.Vols., reported Sept. 21st, and succeeded Col. Benedict in command,whose presence was required in the City.

Oct. 14th Lieut. R.B.Smith, 11th U.S. Infantry, mustered in companies B and C; and on the 18th he mustered in the remaining Companies and their officers, except F, late K, 53d N.Y.V. ,which had been mustered in Aug.22d, by Capt T.P. Mott, 19th U.S. Infantry. Number of non-commissioned officers and men, 795; absentees,150. Total, 945.

Oct. 24th, the War Department ordered the 162nd to the field. It was presented with a stand of Colors by the Corporation of New York. The history of these Colors may be found in the Appendix.

About 5 P.M. one-half of the 162d embarked in a small steamboat for Port Monmouth, N.J., and at 11 P.M. the remainder followed. In landing, one man fell into the water, and drowned before any aid could reach him. Between Port Monmouth and Philadelphia the train parted, in consequence of the breaking of a coupling, detaching three cars, which, by some means, became so damaged that it was necessary to transfer their contents to other cars and abandon the injured ones. At Philadelphia, where it arrived at daybreak of 25th, the 162d enjoyed the hospitalities, now famous, of the Soldiers' Relief Committee of that city; and upon reaching Baltimore, at 11 P.M. of the same day, where it bivouacked in the market-place, the Relief Committee of that city also kindly provided it with refreshments. Owing to various detentions, the 162d did not reach Washington until the evening of the 26th, when it arrived in the midst of a furious storm of rain, and found shelter in the Soldiers' Retreat.

Oct. 28th, the 162d marched through Washington, and , crossing the Long Bridge, proceeded to Camp Seward, about four miles from the city, where it pitched its tents and resumed drilling. On the 30th, it was ordered to the Chain Bridge, some 7 miles above Camp Seward, to report to Brig-Gen. Abercrombie, commanding the Provisional Division, and join the 133d N.Y. (2nd Metropolitan).

Nov. 4th the 162d, together with the 133d N.Y.V., were ordered to Alexandria,Va., 14 miles below, to report to Brig-Gen. John E. Slough, and to hold themselves in readiness to embark on transports at a moment's notice, these regiments having been detailed for service in the Bank's Expedition.

On the morning of Nov. 10th, Lieut-Col. Blanchard, in command of the six right companies, A,C,D,F,H,I embarked on an old propeller, called the "George's Creek," which had been imposed upon the Government, Col. Benedict and the remaining four companies were detained at Alexandria until the 16th, when they embarked upon a diminutive propeller, called the "City of Bath," constructed originally to ply between Boston and Bangor, Lieut-Col. Blanchard and the six companies arrived in Hampton Roads on the 12th, Col. Benedict and the four companies on the 17th, and lay there waiting further orders for some days. About three- quarters of the fleet belonging to the Banks Expedition were assembled in the Roads. The 162d reported to Brig.-Gen. Wm.H. Emory, commanding the forces afloat. During the time of this detention the Regiment disembarked and drilled daily. Finally, at 8 P.M. Dec.3d, the gunboat Augusta, convoy of this division of the fleet, fired a signal gun, and the fleet got under way, The destination of the expedition remained a secret until the mouth of the Mississippi was reached.

When the fleet weighed anchor the sky was overcast, a gusty wind had sprung up, causing a short chopping sea that rapidly destroyed the comfort of the landsmen on getting outside, Off Cape Hatteras, the wind freshened to a gale. The "City of Bath" lay on her beam-end for some hours, after which the gale abated, though a heavy sea continued, On the night of Dec. 5th, 2d Lieut. James De P. Wilkes of Co, H, nephew of Com. Wilkes, was lost overboard, He left the cabin to go on deck, and was never seen again.