65th New York volunteer infantry--1st U.S. Chasseurs

Military Images, Jul/Aug 1999 by McAfee, Michael J

Sometimes you need a scorecard to keep track of the players, even among Civil War regiments. One cannot always tell who is who because some regiments went by more than one name. The 65th New York was one of those regiments that even went by a different number. Most students of the Civil War are familiar with the dual-numbered regiments such as the 14th Brooklyn/84th New York and the 20th N.Y. State Militia/80th New York Volunteers. New York's 65th Regiment also was known as the 1st U.S. Chasseurs, and wore the numeral "1" on its uniform. [Such numbering was not unusual among New York units: some members of the 69th New York wore the "I" as representing the 1 st Regiment, Irish Brigade. Similarly, some uniforms of the Excelsior Brigade show the numbers "1" through "5" for its regiments, even though those regiments actually were numbered in the seventies.] Besides its singular number, the 65th New York also had a distinctive uniform at the beginning of the war which really was a chasseur-style garment.

Despite the fact that the regimcnt's uniform was distinctive, it has attracted little historical interest. The jacket was of the same general style worn by the 73rd and 74th Regiments of the aforementioned Excelsior Brigade. It was described in July of 1861 as "neat, military and allowing for free motion to the soldiers. It is army blue, chasseur jacket, trimmed with light blue braid, cadet gray pantaloons and gray caps." In August, a report mentioned incorrectly that it was "nearly the same as that of the French Chasseurs, looking quite picturesque..." Photographs of men of the regiment indicate that the 1858 "Hardee" uniform hat also was worn. These hats are trimmed with standard infantry insignia, with the numeral "1" for 1st U.S. Chasseurs clearly in evidence. Similarly, portraits of officers show their use of the numeral "1" as well, rather than "65" on their headgear.

In a sense the regiment had a split personality, but it would function well in the trials it was to face in the next four years. The regiment left New York at the end of August for the seat of war, and would spend most of its term in the 6th Corps of the Army of the Potomac. The 65th participated in all the major campaigns of the Eastern Theater. It was present at the Seven Days, Malvern Hill, Antietam, both battles at Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Cedar Creek, and the final agony of Lee's army.

The regiment was raised by John Cochrane during the summer of 1861 at Willett's Point, Long Island. Cochrane was a New York City lawyer and staunch states' rights Democrat, but with the secession of the South he went with the Union. By July of 1862 he was promoted brigadier general and was succeeded in command of the 65th by Alexander Shaler, who had gone to Washington in April of 1861 as major of the 7th Regiment N.Y.S.M. before becoming lieutenant colonel of the 65th. Shaler served in every important battle of the Army of the Potomac until captured at the Wilderness in May of 1864. In 1893 he was awarded the Medal of Honor for bravery at Marye's Heights.

- Promotion to general rank became routine for colonels of the 65th N.Y., as Shaler became a brigadier in May of 1863. The regiment was then commanded by Joseph E. Hamblin, former major of the 5th N.Y., Duryee's Zouaves. Hamblin also served in all the major battles of the army and was seriously wounded at Cedar Creek in 1864. Returning to duty, Hamblin commanded a brigade in the 6th Corps and earned a commission as brigadier in May of 1865. The 65th's final colonel, Henry C. Fisk, was among the flock of brevet brigadier generals created at the end of the war. Thus at war's end each of the 65th's colonels was wearing a star.

In its service the 65th New York lost eighty-four men in combat and an additional thirty-seven died of wounds. Twenty five died as prisoners of war. Whether called the 1st U.S. Chasseurs or the 65th New York Volunteers, this regiment was among the players of that deadly game called war. -- Michael J. McAfee