May, 1864

On the morning of May 4th the regiment left Culpepper on the ever-memorable Wilderness campaign. They had in charge seventy-two prisoners that had been lodged in jail for various offenses, and were also in charge of the large wagon train of the army. The right wing crossed the Rapidan on the same evening at Gold Mine ford, having marched sixteen miles. The balance of the regiment crossed during the night.

On the morning of the 5th commenced the Wilderness fight, Gen. Wadsworth being killed, and Capt. Gill and Lieut. Mitchell of the Fourteenth (the former acting on the staff of Gen. Wadsworth, and the latter acting on the staff of Brig.-Gen. Rice), were captured by the enemy. At 2.30 on the morning of the 6tyh orders came to the train for every available man to proceed instantly to the front, and at 7 A.M., Col. Fowler reported to Gen. Warren at the Lacy House 383 officers and men for duty. From this time until 5.30 P.M., of the 7th it was continual maneuvering from one position to another, the Fourteenth being assigned to the Second brigade of the Fourth division, and finally took up the line of march for Spottsylvania Court House, arriving at Todd's tavern at 4 o'clock on the morning of Sunday the 8th inst. This was one of the most fatiguing marches of the campaign. The night being intensely dark, and the roads in dreadful condition, it was no small task to guard the prisoners through this night, as some of them were condemned to be shot for desertion ; but at daylight all were present. This march was the first of Grant's celebrated left movements. After a short rest the march was again resumed. Firing was heard on our front, and the dead along the road gave evidence of a severe action having taken place. Gradually the front of battle was neared, and at 10 o'clock A.M., the Fourteenth became engaged at Laurel Hill, near Spottsylvania Court House, occupying a position on the brow of a hill, exposed to a most galling musketry fire. The day was intensely warm, and near the left of the regiment a farm house was set on fire by the enemy's artillery. The loss here was very severe, several officers being wounded. among the rest Lieut. (now Major) Schurig received the wound that resulted in the amputation of his right arm. The loss in killed, wounded and missing in this fight was sixty-five. The regiment was withdrawn at 11 o'clock a short distance to the rear, and were immediately engaged in throwing up breastworks. At 6 o'clock the line of battle was again advanced, and the troops lay on their arms all night. Picket firing being constantly kept up, an alrm occurred during the night, but nothing serious resulted from it. Col. Fowler was at this time in command of the brigade. Men for duty after the fight, 280. Monday, the 9th inst., was occupied with severe skirmishing. Companies I and F, detailed as skirmishers, recovered the bodies of those who were killed on the 8th, which were buried near the battle-field. On this day Gen. Sedgwick, of the Sixth corps, was killed ; the regiment changed position to the right. On the 10th inst., the Fourteenth relieved the One Hundred and Forty-seventh New York in the rifle pits. Heavy cannonading and constant skirmishing from 10 till 12 o'clock. At this hour orders were received that the line would advance. The signal would be a shout from the right, to be taken up by each regiment successively, and advance. The ground was densely wooded, so that little could be seen either on the front, or to the right and left. The Fourteenth occupied a position in the second line of battle, and everything was prepared for the coming contest, when an aid rode down the line, stating that the order was countermanded, and that no advance would be made. The countenances of the men changed to cheerfulness at this announcement, as it was plain to all, that to advance through this wood down a ravine, and up again on the other side, before reaching the enemy's breastworks, was almost certain death ; but their hopes were soon blasted, for another aid rode up with the word that the original programme would be carried out. It was carried out, in a measure ; the advance was made and the retreat followed soon after. In one hour's time the Fourteenth lost in killed and wounded sixty-one officers and men ; Lieut. Rae, of B company, was killed ; Capt. Baldwin, left arm amputated ; Gen. Rice here received his death wound ; Adjt. Vilet also severely wounded.

From this time until the 22d instant it was a continual skirmish, night and day, the army moving gradually to the left. During this interval the brigade was moved from place to place-once to support General Burnside, who was said to have had a severe fight, and was nearly repulsed. The brigade started about dark, and on arrival next morning at the scene of action, owing to the severity of the march, but eighty-seven men of the whole brigade were present for duty. About this date Ewell's corps made an attack on the wagon train, but were handsomely repulsed by some new troops, among whom were the Fourteenth New York heavy artillery. During the whole of this trying period the regiment was also present to reinforce Gen. Hancock's line immediately after the surprise of the enemy by him, resulting in his large capture if prisoners and guns. We lay crouching in the mass of troops that were in front of the enemy's works for about six hours, while both armies were within twenty feet of the parapet, neither daring to approach, until a charge at daylight carried the work for us. Although the time of the Fourteenth had nearly expired, the men stood the brunt of battle nobly. Not a case of desertion occurred, and but little murmuring. Many a brave spirit had winged its flight heavenward, who had in the body counted the days that would elapse ere he would be in the embrace of dear ones at home.

On the 22d of May, 1864,came the welcome order that the Fourteenth should proceed home. Never was an order received with more heartfelt joy. Three long years of service in Virginia with the army of the Potomac, was sufficient to make the thoughts of home appreciated. There was one sad drawback to the general pleasure : the men who were enlisted in July, 1961, and those who joined in 1862, marched with the returning veterans as far as Bowling Breen, supposing they would be discharged with the regiment ; but at this place came a peremptory order for these men-veterans of twenty battles-to return to the front to serve the balance of their three years' enlistment. They were transferred the Fifth New York veteran volunteers, and afterwards distinguished themselves. Six of them were made officers, one of whom lost his life (Lieut. Osborn) at Cold Harbor. The regiment reached Fredericksburg the night of the 22d. never did troops turn out with more alacrity than did the Fourteenth at reveille. Next morning marched from Fredericksburg to Aquia Creek, and arrived just in time to embark for Washington, as the depot was broken up that day. Here the sanitary and christian Commissions served the men with refreshments. The trip to Washington was occupied by the officers and men in renovating their torn clothing and making themselves presentable. Barbers and boot-blacks were in demand, and some of them, on consulting the glass, knew not themselves.

On the afternoon of the 24th the quartermaster's department furnished cattle cars, and the regiment fairly embarked for Brooklyn, expecting to reach there the next morning ; but numerous delays prevented their reaching Jersey City until the evening of the 24th. At Elizabethtown, they were met by a committee of citizens of Brooklyn, and cordially welcomed. At Jersey City they were met by the common council reception committee, the Thirteenth regiment, the Fourteenth regiment veteran association, and an immense crowd of people. After partaking of a splendid collation at Taylor's hotel, the regiment with their escort embarked in one of the Fulton ferryboats for Brooklyn, arriving at ten o'clock, amidst the roar of cannon and shouts of welcome from the multitudes of people assembled since the morning to receive them. Never, perhaps, has Brooklyn seen such a display. The military were out en masse ; the fire department lined the streets with their apparatus, each vieing with the other in the display of fireworks ; his honor Mayor Wood made the welcome address ; the illuminations along the route were numerous. One appropriate inscription hung across the street in these words : "Welcome, brave Fourteenth, out of the Wilderness." At one o'clock the reception was over.

The following is a correct list of officers who returned with the regiment :

The following are the battles in which the regiment were engaged ;

The regiment was mustered out of the United States service June 6th, 1864.