22nd New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment - History

History

The regiment was formed with 800 men in 1861 and was placed in a brigade along with the 24th New York, 30th New York, 84th New York (14th Brooklyn) (also known as the 14th New York State Militia), and for a number of months, the 2nd United States Sharpshooters (a battalion under the respected Colonel Henry A.V. Post). The brigade was the First Brigade in the First Corps of the Army of the Potomac, and Colonel Walter Phelps and the regiments of the brigade referred to themselves as the Iron Brigade of the East and served with the Division's more famous Fourth Brigade which would earn the title "Iron Brigade of the West" in September 1862 during Battle of South Mountain in the Maryland Campaign.

Colonel Walter Phelps was chosen as the original commander of the regiment, and after his promotion to brigade commander, Major John McKie became regimental commander. The regiment suffered its first fatality when passing through Baltimore, when a man was killed by friendly fire during confusion among a mob. It would go on to serve in the Army of the Potomac's I Corps and III Corps, and fight at the battles of Second Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville.

The regiment was mustered out of service on June 19, 1863, and those men who had signed three year enlistments were transferred to the 76th New York and 93rd New York.