The Metropolitan Guards of New York were 5 volunteer regiments recruited by the Metropolitan Police force of New York City in 1862.Below is a excerpt from the History section of the 162nd New York written in 1867
"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."
The brigade consisted of the 131st,133rd,162nd,173rd and the 174th New York Infantries.Below is a brief history of those units as well as links to websites for the units
131st New York Volunteer Infantry
1st Metropolitan Guard
(Three Years)
One Hundred and Thirty-first Infantry.-Cols., Charles S. Turnbull, Nicholas W. Day; Lieut.-Cols., Charles C. Nott, Nicholas W. Day, W. M. Rexford; Majs., Nicholas W. Day, W. M. Rexford, Aug. C. Tate, Albert Stearns.
This regiment, known as the 1st regiment, Metropolitan Guard, was recruited in New York city under the auspices of the Metropolitan police, and was mustered into the U. S. service for three years on Sept. 6, 1862. The 7th N. Y. militia furnished a large number of its officers.
It left the state on Sept. 14, proceeded to Annapolis, Md., and shortly after sailed for Louisiana as part of the Banks expedition. On its arrival at New Orleans it was assigned to the 1st brigade, Grover's division, Department of the Gulf, and after the formation of the 19th corps, to the 1st brigade, 4th (Grover's) division, of that corps.
It sustained its first loss-3 wounded-in April, 1863, at Irish bend and was engaged without loss at Vermillion bayou on the 17th. The following month the investment of Port Hudson was completed and the 131st participated most honorably throughout the siege of that stronghold, in which its losses aggregated 21 killed, 88 wounded and 10 missing, most of its losses being sustained in the assaults of May 27 and June 14.
After the surrender of Port Hudson it was engaged for several months in post and garrison duty, and in various expeditions and reconnaissances. It lost 55 men killed, wounded and missing at Bayou La Fourche, and was again engaged at Vermillion bayou in October, and at Carrion Crow bayou, but meeting with no loss.
In the summer of 1864 it left the Department of the Gulf and joined Gen. Butler's Army of the James at Bermuda Hundred. Shortly after it joined the Army of the Shenandoah under Gen. Sheridan and participated in his brilliant campaign in the Valley.
In Grover's division, 19th corps, it lost heavily at the battle of the Opequan, where its casualties amounted to 10 killed and 64 wounded. It was only slightly engaged at Fisher's hill, but at Cedar creek it again suffered severely, losing 33 killed and wounded. It subsequently went to North Carolina, where it was attached to the 10th corps, and in May, 1865, it was ordered to Augusta, Ga.The following month it moved to Savannah, Ga., and was there mustered out, under Col. Day, July 26, 1865. The regiment traveled over 10,000 miles by land and water and returned to the state with only 240 out of 1,000 men with which it entered the service. It lost by death 2 officers and 82 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded; 3 officers and 107 enlisted men died of disease and other causes; total deaths, 194.
Source: The Union Army, Vol. 2, p. 144
ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-FIRST REGIMENT OF INFANTRY.
First Regiment, Metropolitan Guard.
(Three Years)
Colonel Charles S. Turnbull received, July 12, 1862, authority to raise this regiment in New York city as one of the Metropolitan Brigade; it was organized in New York city, and there mustered in the service of the United States for three years September 6, 1862.
The companies were recruited under the auspices of the metropolitan police, in New York city; but a portion of Company K came from Smithtown.
The regiment left the State September 14, 1862; it served in the Middle Department, 8th Corps, at Annapolis, Md., from September 20, 1862; at New Orleans and Baton Rouge, La., from November, 1862; in the 1st Brigade, Grover's Division, Department of the Gulf, from December, 1862; in 1st Brigade, 4th Division, 19th Corps, from March, 1863; in the 2d Brigade, 2d Division, 19th Corps, from March, 1864; in the defenses of New Orleans, from May, 1864; in the 3d Brigade, 2d Division, 19th Corps, from June, 1864; with the 10th Corps, Army of the James, from July 21-31, 1864; with the Army of the Shenandoah, from October, 1864; in the 3d Brigade, 1st Division, 10th Corps, from April 2, 1865; and, commanded by Col. Nicholas W. Day, it was honorably discharged and mustered out July 26, 1865, at Savannah, Ga.
Source: Phisterer, p. 3,532
133rd New York Volunteer Infantry
2nd Metropolitan Guard
(Three Years)
One Hundred and Thirty-third Infantry.-Cols., Leonard D. H. Currie; Lieut.-Cols., James A. P. Hopkins, Anthony J. Allaire; Majs. Abraham S. Relay, John H. Allcott, Anthony J. Allaire, George Washburn.
The 133d, the 2nd "Metropolitan Guard," was recruited principally in New York city under the auspices of the Metropolitan police of New York and was organized on Staten island, where it was mustered into the U. S. service for three years on Sept. 24, 1862.It left for Washington on Oct. 8, 1862, and a few weeks later sailed for New Orleans as a part of Banks' expedition. It was assigned to the 2nd brigade, 3d (Emory's) division, 19th corps, and was first under fire at Fort Bisland in April, 1863, when it sustained a loss of 25 killed and wounded.
It was engaged without loss at Opelousas and Alexandria; took an honorable and conspicuous part in the siege of Port Hudson, in which it suffered a total loss of 23 killed, 90 wounded and 2 missing, its chief losses occurring in the assaults of May 27 and June 14. After the surrender of Port Hudson, the ensuing 9 months were chiefly spent in post and garrison duty, and in some reconnaissances and expeditions into the enemy's country.
It fought at Vermillion and Carrion Crow bayous in Oct., 1863, after which it served in the defenses of New Orleans until March 15, 1864, when it joined the 1st brigade, 2nd (Grover's) division, 19th corps, and started on Banks' Red River campaign, enduring much fatigue and hardship, but sustaining no further losses in battle. It rendered efficient service in building the dam on Red river, which enabled the fleet of ironclads to pass the rapids in May.
In July, 1864, it embarked at New Orleans for Washington with the 1st and 2nd divisions of the corps, and participated without loss in the actions at Fort Stevens and Snicker's ferry, Va. It was attached to the 3d brigade, 1st division, Army of the Shenandoah early in the spring of 1865, and after April served in the defenses of Washington, where it was mustered out on June 6, under command of Col. Currie.
The regiment lost during service, 2 officers and 43 men killed and mortally wounded; 1 officer and 78 men died of disease and other causes; total deaths, 3 officers and 121 men.
Source: The Union Army, Vol. 2, p. 146
ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-THIRD REGIMENT OF INFANTRY.
Second Metropolitan Guard.
(Three Years)
Colonel Leonard D. H. Currie received authority to raise this regiment as one of the Metropolitan Brigade; it was organized on Staten Island and there mustered in the service of the United States for three years September 24, 1862. May 31, 1865, the men not to be mustered out with the regiment were transferred to the 90th Infantry.The companies were recruited under the auspices of the metropolitan police of New York city, principally: A, C, D and E in New York city; B, F, H and K in New York city and Brooklyn, and G and I in Brooklyn.
The regiment left the State October 8, 1862; it served at and near Washington from October, 1862; at New Orleans and Baton Rouge, La., from December, 1862; in 2d Brigade, 3d Division, Department of the Gulf, from January, 1863; in 2d Brigade, 3d Division, 19th Corps, from March, 1863; in the defenses of New Orleans, from October, 1863; in the 3d Brigade, 3d Division, 19th Corps, from February, 1864; in the 1st Brigade, 2d Division, 19th Corps, from April, 1864; in the 3d Brigade, 1st Division, 19th Corps, from June, 1864; in the 3d Brigade, 1st Division, Army of Shenandoah, from March, 1865; in the defenses of Washington, from April, 1865, and, under Colonel Currie, it was honorably discharged and mustered out, June 6, 1865, at Washington, D. C.
Source: Phisterer, p. 3,554
162nd New York Volunteer Infantry
3rd Metropolitan Guard
(Three Years)
One Hundred and Sixty-second Infantry.-Cols. Lewis Benedict, Justus W. Blanchard; Lieut.-Cols., Justus W. Blanchard, James M. Vanderburgh; Majs., James M. Bogart, Robert W. Leonard, George W. Keating, F. W. Coleman, John W. Babcock, William P. Huxford.
The 162nd the "Third Metropolitan Guard," was a New York city regiment, recruited under the auspices of the Metropolitan police. To complete its organization, the men enlisted for Cos. D and K, 53rd N. Y. 2nd organization, were assigned to it as Co. F.
In 1863 a new Co. H was recruited to take the place of the old company transferred and in Feb., 1864, the 174th N. Y. was consolidated with the 162nd. The regiment was organized at Riker's island, N. Y. harbor, and there mustered into the U. S. service from Aug. 22 to Oct. 18, 1862, for three years.
It left the state on Oct. 24, proceeded to Washington, whence it was ordered to Hampton Roads in November, and the following month embarked for New Orleans. It served for several weeks at New Orleans, Carrollton and Donaldsonville, La., during which period it was twice engaged at Plaquemine with small loss.
As a part of Emory's (3d) division, 19th corps, it shared in the operations leading up to the investment of Port Hudson, taking part in the skirmish on the Clinton plank road, and being present at Fort Bisland, but without loss. A detachment of Co. I, under Lieut. Neville, was in the skirmish in April at Bayou Courtableau.
In the 1st brigade, 2nd (Sherman's) division, 19th corps, it was actively engaged during the siege of Port Hudson, losing heavily in the general assaults of May 27 and June 14, its loss in killed and wounded aggregating 59, among the former being Maj. Bogart. It was on detached service at Springfield landing in June and July, losing 10 killed and wounded in a skirmish on July 2.
It was then assigned to the 1st brigade, 3d division, 19th corps, and was twice engaged at Vermilion bayou in the fall of 1863. In March, 1864, attached to the 3d brigade, 1st (Emory's) division, 19th corps, it started on Banks' Red River campaign, taking part in the battles of Sabine crossroads, Pleasant Hill, Cane river crossing and Mansura.
The regiment suffered severely at Pleasant Hill, where it lost 106 killed wounded and missing. Col. Benedict, commanding the brigade was killed here while bravely leading a charge. The loss at Cane river crossing was 37 killed, wounded and missing.In July the regiment returned to Virginia with the divisions of Emory and Grover and while before Richmond, lost 49 killed, wounded and missing. It accompanied Dwight's division of the Army of the Shenandoah to Washington in April, 1865, and a few weeks later sailed with it to Savannah, Ga., where the regiment was mustered out, commanded by Col. Blanchard, Oct. 12, 1865.
Its loss by death during service was 8 officers and 62 men killed and mortally wounded; 3 officers and 151 men died of disease and other causes, a total of 224.
Source: The Union Army, Vol. 2, p. 165
New York
173rd New York Volunteer Infantry
4th Metropolitan Guard
(Three Years)
One Hundred and Seventy-third Infantry.-Cols., Charles B. Morton, Lewis M. Peck; Lieut.-Cols., Lewis M. Peck, William N. Green, Jr., Mellen T. Holbrook; Majs., A. Power Galloway, George W. Rogers.
This regiment, known as the 4th Metropolitan Guard, and 4th National Guard, was recruited in the cities of New York and Brooklyn by the police departments of those cities, as one of the Metropolitan brigade. It was organized at Riker's island and there mustered into the U. S. service for three years on Nov. 10, 1862.
On leaving the state, Dec. 9, the regiment sailed for Louisiana, where it was assigned to the 2nd brigade of Emory's (3d) division, 19th corps. It came under fire for the first time at Fort Bisland, losing 7 killed and wounded, and a detachment under Capt. Conrady skirmished at Breaux bridge, Bayou Teche.The regiment took an active part in the siege of Port Hudson, where its total loss was 92 killed and wounded. Among the mortally wounded in the second assault on June 14, was Maj. Galloway. It was engaged at Carrion Crow bayou in Nov., 1863, and the following spring, in the 3d brigade of Emory's division, 19th corps, it took part in Banks' Red River campaign, being engaged in the fights at Sabine cross-roads, Pleasant Hill and Mansura, its loss in the first two battles being 232 killed, wounded and missing.
Lieut.-Col. Green was killed at Pleasant Hill. Though the regiment was not again engaged in battle after the close of this campaign, it continued in active service. In July, 1864, it accompanied the 1st and 2nd divisions to Virginia and became a part of Sheridan's Army in the Shenandoah.
It was on detached service with Currie's brigade at Harper's Ferry during the battle of Winchester, and at the time of the battle of Cedar creek was guarding wagon trains and was not engaged in the fight. The regiment remained with Dwight's (1st) division in the valley until April, 1865, and then moved to Washington for a number of weeks.
The war was now over, and after taking part in the grand review it was ordered to Savannah and was there mustered out under Col. Peck, Oct. 18, 1865. The regiment lost during service in killed and mortally wounded, 6 officers and 45 enlisted men; died of disease and other causes, 2 officers and 126 enlisted men, a total of 179.
Source: The Union Army, Vol. 2, p. 171
ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-THIRD REGIMENT OF INFANTRY.
Fourth Metropolitan Guard; Fourth National Guard.
(Three Years)
September 22, 1862, Col. Charles B. Morton received authority to recruit this regiment as one of the Metropolitan Brigade; it was organized at Riker's Island, and there mustered in the service of the United States for three years November 10, 1862.
The companies were recruited under the auspices of the police departments of the cities of New York and Brooklyn, principally in those cities; Company B was, however, originally intended for the 87th Infantry, which was discontinued September 6, 1862.
The regiment left the State December 9, 1862; it served in the 2d Brigade, Emory's Division, Department of the Gulf, from December, 1862; in the 2d Brigade, 3d Division, 19th Corps, from April, 1863; in the 1st Brigade, 3d Division, 19th Corps, from July, 1863; in the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 19th Corps, from February, 1864; in the 3d Brigade, 1st Division, 19th Corps, from March, 1864; in the Army of the Shenandoah, from March, 1865; in the defenses of Washington, from April, 1865; in the Department of the South and of Georgia, from June and July, 1865, respectively; and, commanded by Col. Lewis M. Peck, it was honorably discharged and mustered out October 18, 1865, at Savannah, Ga.
Source: Phisterer, p. 3,966
174th New York Volunteer Infantry
5th Metropolitan Guard
One Hundred and Seventy-fourth Infantry.-Cols., Theodore W. Parmelee, Benjamin F. Gott; Lieut.-Cols., Benjamin F. Gott, James M. Vanderburgh; Maj., Stephen D. Beekman.
The 174th, or the 5th National Guard, was recruited in New York city under the auspices of the Metropolitan police; it was organized at Riker's island, and there mustered into the U. S. service for three years on Nov. 13, 1862. The regiment left the state on Dec. 7, sailing for Louisiana, where it was assigned to the 2nd brigade of Emory's division.
During the preliminary operations against Port Hudson, in the 3d brigade, Augur's division, 19th corps, it skirmished on the Clinton plank road, was engaged at Plains store, and then took part in the long siege of Port Hudson, during which it sustained a loss of 14 in killed, wounded and missing.
After the fall of Port Hudson it was severely engaged at Cox's plantation, under command of Maj. George Keating, losing 18 killed, 29 wounded and 7 missing, the heaviest loss sustained by any regiment in the action. The remainder of the year was spent by the regiment in post and garrison duty at Baton Rouge, and on Feb. 8, 1864, it was consolidated with the 162nd N. Y. (q. v.) During its independent existence it lost by death, 1 officer and 22 men killed and mortally wounded; 1 officer and 59 men from disease and other causes-total deaths, 83.
Source: The Union Army, Vol. 2, p. 171
ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-FOURTH REGIMENT OF INFANTRY.
Fifth Regiment, Metropolitan Guard; Fifth National Guard.
October 3, 1862, Col. Theodore W. Parmele received authority to recruit this regiment for the Metropolitan Brigade; it was recruited under the auspices of the metropolitan police of New York city, principally in that city; organized at Riker Island, and there mustered in the service of the United States for three years; Company A, October 15; B and G, October 17; C, October 18; D, October 20; I, October 22; F, November 5; E and K, November 6; H, November 10; headquarters, November 13, 1862.
The regiment left the State December 7, 1862; it served in the 2d Brigade, Emory's Division, Department of the Gulf, from December, 1862; in the 3d Brigade, 1st Division, 19th Corps, from March, 1863; in the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 19th Corps, from August, 1863; at Baton Rouge, La., from September, 1863; and, under Col. Benjamin F. Gott it was consolidated with the 162d Infantry company with corresponding company, February 17, 1864.
Source: Phisterer, p. 3,978
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