140th Regiment, New York Infantry

United States     U.S. Military      New York      New York Military      New York in the Civil War      140th Regiment, New York Infantry

Brief History
The 140th regiment was organized at Rochester, Monroe County and mustered in September 13, 1862 under Captain Hiram Smith. It was known as the "Monroe County Regiment" or the "Rochester Race Horses". The regiment marched to Washington, D. C., May 1-12, 1865 and mustered out June 3, 1865 under Colonel W.S. Grantsyne, near Alexandria, Virginia. Veterans and Recruits were transferred to the 5th New York Veteran Infantry.

For more information on the history of this unit, see:


 * The Civil War Archive section, 140th Regiment Infantry "Monroe County Regiment" "Rochester Race Horses", (accessed 17 August 2012).

The New York State Military Museumwebsite has a unit history project page for the 140th Infantry Regiment.

The Civil War in the Eastwebsite gives a timeline for the involvement of 140th New York Infantry Regiment in the war.

Companies in this Regiment with the Counties of Origin
Men often enlisted in a company recruited in the counties where they lived though not always. After many battles,companies might be combined because so many men were killed or wounded. However if you are unsure which company your ancestor was in, try the company recruited in his county first.

See the Regiment Roster, for listing of individuals, their company and their involvement.

Company A - principally recruited from Brockport, Monroe County

Company B - principally recruited from Rochester, Monroe County

Company C - principally recruited from Rochester, Monroe County

Company D - principally recruited from Rochester, Brighton, Gates, Penfield and West Webster, all of Monroe County

Company E - principally recruited from Rochester, Monroe County

Company F - principally recruited from Rochester, Monroe County

Company G - principally recruited from Rochester and Churchville of Monroe County

Company H - principally recruited from Rochester, Brockport and Fairport, all of Monroe County

Company I - principally recruited from Chili, Greece, Penfield, Rochester, Ogden, Henrietta and Parma, all of Monroe County.

Company K - principally recruited from Rochester, Monroe County

Source Material

 * Beginning United States Civil War Research gives steps for finding information about a Civil War soldier. It covers the major records that should be used. Additional records are described in ‘New York in the Civil War’ and ‘United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865’ (see below).


 * National Park Service, The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, is searchable by soldier's name and state. It contains basic facts about soldiers on both sides of the Civil War, a list of regiments, descriptions of significant battles, sources of the information, and suggestions for where to find additional information.


 * New York in the Civil War describes many Confederate and Union sources, specifically for New York, and how to find them.. These include compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.


 * United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865 describes and explains United States and Confederate States records, rather than state records, and how to find them. These include veterans’ censuses, compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.


 * Bennett, Brian A. Sons of old Monroe, a regimental history of Patrick O'Rorke's 140th New York Volunteer Infantry, Dayton, Ohio: Morningside House, 1992. FHL book 974.7 M2ben


 * Cribben, Henry and J. Clayton Youker. The Military Memoirs of Captain Henry Cribben of the 140th New York Volunteers,Bethesda, Maryland: University Publications of America,1992 (originally published: [S.l.: s.n.], 1911). FHL fiche 6083834 (2 fiche)


 * Farley, Porter. The 140th New York Volunteers at Gettysburg: 1863-1889,;Bethesda, Maryland: University Publications of America,1992 (originally published:Rochester? N. Y.: s.n., 1889?). FHL fiche 6118868 and The 140th New York Volunteers: Wilderness, May 5th, 1864,; Bethesda, Maryland: University Publications of America,1992 (originally published:Rochester? N. Y.: s.n., 189-?).  FHL fiche 6083835


 * Frederick Henry Dyer, A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, (Des Moines, Iowa: Dyer Publishing Co., 1908), as cited at Civil War Soldiers; Sailors System (database on-line)


 * Phisterer,Frederick. New York in the War of the Rebellion, 1861 to 1865. (Albany, New York : J.B. Lyon, 1912). Google Books, other libraries with this book, FHL book 974.7 M2p, FHL film 1486494-1486496


 * The Union Army : a History of Military Affairs in the Loyal States, 1861-65, Records of the Regiments in the Union Army, Cyclopedia of Battles, Memoirs of Commanders and Soldiers, Reprint of original published: Madison, WI.: Federal Pub. Co., 1908. Other libraries with this book, FHL book 973 M2ua


 * A website dedicated the the 140th NY Infantry Regiment gives some interesting background information.


 * This website gives details about the monument to the 140th New York Infantry Regiment.