A German regiment in the Civil War: The 45th New York State Volunteer Infantry "5th German Rifles"

Military Images, Mar/Apr 2000 by Halpin, William J

Due to the number of men killed, wounded and taken prisoner during the fight in the town, it is difficult to accurately determine the 45th's losses for the battle. The regimental historian for the Gettysburg monument dedication ceremony estimated losses at thirty killed and 100 wounded or captured. Frederick Phisterer in New York in the War of the Rebellion puts the loss at eleven killed and seven mortally wounded, plus twenty-eight nonfatal wounds. An additional 178 are listed as missing -- those killed or car)tured in the retreat.

The regiment suffered only one additional battle death after Gettysburg. The 45th N.Y., as part of the new 20th Corps, was engaged or present in the battles of Lookout Mountain, Chattanooga, Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain and in East Tennessee. It relieved the 31st Wisconsin as provost guard at Nashville, remaining at that task until consolidated with the 58th New York in June 1865.

During its period in service, the 45th had 48 enlisted men and five officers killed in battle or dead of wounds, and another 246 officers and men missing. Disease cost the regiment 99 men; an additional 22 men died of disease in Confederate prisons.

The available records for the 45th's initial uniform and equipment issue are unfortunately rather sketchy. From the records of the New York State Adjutant General, it would appear that the 45th was originally issued blue frock coats and sky blue trousers. In 1862, the regiment was issued the New York State shell jacket and a "black felt hat" of unknown type, Regimental records for early May 1863 show "caps." which were probably the standard forage cap or "bummer." Images of unit members wearing caps show the XI Corps crescent frequently worn, but with the points up like the horn of a bull.

In April of 1861, New York contracted for the production of 33,000 sets of "SNY" (State of New York) plates for belts and cartridge boxes. Given the unit's muster in date, it was probably issued the SNY plates; cartes de visite of 45ers show some with the SNY plate. It is unknown whether the cartridge box was the M1841 rifleman's box, or the 1855 pattern, but supplies of the older box were probably limited, if available at all, so the latter style is most possible. In the manner of riflemen, it was likely belt mounted on the back of the waist belt, not on a shoulder strap.

Trousers were sky blue, and the footwear was the 1851 Jefferson boot. No information is available on the type of cap box. The sword bayonet was attached to the waist belt by a leather frog. No description exists of the officers' uniforms, but cartes show that they did not differ from the typical commissioned dress of the time.

During the course of the war the 45th's uniforms probably changed to resemble the standard Union issue. As losses due to hard service took a toll on the original issue items, the troops undoubtedly became equipped with whatever the quartermaster had on hand at the time. The jaunty shell jackets eventually gave way to sack coats and that, combined with the three band 1853 Enfield issue, made them took like any other veteran volunteer infantry regiment in the Federal service by 1864.