146th new york zouves (1 Viewer)

[AIDMAN]

Hi all you ACW Buffs out there. I have recently ordered all 4 sets of the excellent 146th New York Zouves from Collectors Showcase. I am planning to feature them in a future Diorama of the Battle of Petersburg. In the Dio the 146th will be attacking the extensive Confederate Earthworks complete with Artillery positions. My question is would this be Historically correct?? I have done my homework and i am sure that the 146th fought at Petersburg but i dont know where they were or what they achieved. Did they fight alone or mixed in with other Union Regiments? Obviously a Diorama cannot be correct in every aspect ie. Time/Scale. but i always like an element of truth in what i try to create..Any advice/tips would be greatly appreciated!!.Thanks

Steve

 

[Scott]

There's good info out their for the battles the 146th was involved in. Pick an action where the unit had the distinctive uniform. The Wilderness would be a good example. The Petersburg Mine attack of July 30, 1864 might not be because of scale.

http://ny146.tripod.com/history.html

The regiment was engaged in the following battles, which by order of the War Department they were entitled to inscribe upon their flag: 1, Fredericks-; 2, Chancellorsville; 3, Gettysburg; 4, Rappahannock Station; 5, Bristoe Station; 6, Mine Run; 7, Williamsport; 8, Wapping Heights; 9, Wilderness; 10, Spotsylvania Court House; 11, Laurel Hill; 12, North Anna; 13, Totopoto-moy; 14, Cold Harbor; 15, Petersburg; 16, Weldon Railroad; 17, Chappell House; 18, Hatcher's Run; 19, Poplar Springs Church; 20, Hicksford; 21, White Oak Road; 22, Five Forks; 23, Appomattox.

This is a New York State site.

http://dmna.state.ny.us/historic/reghist/civil/infantry/146thInf/146thInfMain.htm

 

[Scott]

This reproduction uniform maker has some more information on the unit.


http://www.cjdaley.com/146thNYSV.htm

 

[AIDMAN]

Hello Scott Thanks for taking the time to answer my question and for the Links, Love the one from the Uniform maker!!. You probabaly are right in saying the scale would be a problem for Petersburg (Although i hope eventually to have a 120cm x 62cm space to build in) maybe the Wilderness would be e better idea, but the idea of creating just a small section of the collosal defences that surrounded Petersburg is very tempting!!!. I just love those Confederate Earthworks with Trenches_Logs_Gabions and Chevaux de Frise, but I will certainly look up your tips
before i start Digging!!!!!.....Thanks again.

Regards Steve

 

[jazzeum]

I had come up with the links mentioned by Scott but hadn't posted them because they didn't really seem to answer your questions Steve as to your proposed dio, what the 146th achieved and were they mixed with other Union regiments (other than the other Zouave regiments like the 44th of Ellsworth, a great friend of Lincoln's).

Perhaps UK Reb has the answer.

Brad

 

[AIDMAN]

I had come up with the links mentioned by Scott but hadn't posted them because they didn't really seem to answer your questions Steve as to your proposed dio, what the 146th achieved and were they mixed with other Union regiments (other than the other Zouave regiments like the 44th of Ellsworth, a great friend of Lincoln's).

Perhaps UK Reb has the answer.

Brad

Thanks for your reply Brad...Looks like its gonna be tougher than i expected to put a credible Diorama together!!.

Regards Steve

 

[Scott]

I had come up with the links mentioned by Scott but hadn't posted them because they didn't really seem to answer your questions Steve as to your proposed dio, what the 146th achieved and were they mixed with other Union regiments (other than the other Zouave regiments like the 44th of Ellsworth, a great friend of Lincoln's).

Perhaps UK Reb has the answer.

Brad

Brad, One link http://ny146.tripod.com/history.html has the 140th and 146th New York Regiments together at the Wilderness as portrayed in a modern painting work by Keith Rocco. Steve could have his unit next to another regiment that was part of the brigade of the Fifth Corps such as the 140th NY, 155th PA, or 91st PA. It would be safe to look at the order of battle for Petersburg to see where the 146th would approach the Confederate line.

The Crater was mostly a Ninth Corp action in the area of the exploded Mine.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crater_Union_order_of_battle

Wikipedia has a list of units and actions involved in the Petersburg Siege including the Fifth Corps and the brigade that the 146th belonged to.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Petersburg

 

[Warrior]

Steve,
Your diorama sounds like a fun project regarding Petersburg and the role the 146th played in that battle.

Scott is on to something regarding the Wilderness; you could go a great diorama on their famous charge along with the 140th across Saunders Field, they stormed Confederate entrenchments that ran along a treeline towards the lip of the field, I've been there several times, you can still see parts of the Confederate trenches.

The 140th went in first, the 146th attacked to try to assist in the taking of the Confederate positions, but they were flanked and met with disaster, both regiments suffered over 50% casualties.

Good luck with whichever battle you decide to recreate, please keep us posted as to your progress here on the forum..............

 

[UKReb]

Steve,

Your idea of a dio scenario being based on historical accuracy is a tough one to answer. The Second Battle of Petersburg-better known as the siege involved a major Union attack involving elements of four Federal Corps (II, V, VI & IX) launched against Beauregard's Confederate line on 18th June 1864. The 146th NY were part of First Brigade Second Division V Corps- II Corps led the assault and quickly cut through the eastern section of the "Dimmock Line" but only because Beauregard had abandoned his first defense line and formed more formidable defenses further to the rear- by this time Lee had arrived to direct operations in person. The attack on this newly formed line was described by one Federal officer as "a burning, crashing, seething, hissing hell". In their attempt to capture Petersburg that day the Federals suffered over 10,000 casualties and both sides then settled into building extensive entrenchments and fortifications. The following day Grant sent a communique to Halleck which read "Please order Colonel Abbot's siege train forward" I read into that that Grant knew he had missed his chance and was in for a long siege as per Vicksburg.

Now back to your question-considering the horrific Union casualties on the 18th if you search the casualties lists for the 146th NY they only suffered 1 dead and two wounded which begs the question was the regiment fully involved in the assault? Once again I read that as doubtful. Over the next nine months as Grant attempted to extend his lines further west of Petersburg they were indeed involved in many of the fights/skirmishes such as The Weldon Railroad, Peebles Farm etc but even there their casualties were very very light. As an aside legend has it that the very last Union casualty of the Appomattox campaign and the war in the eastern theatre was a 146th zouave.

In conclusion I'm with George and Scott in accurately aligning the CS figures with Saunders Field at the Wilderness where they did suffer terrible casualties (and a good amount of those was from friendly fire) as they charged across that open field to support the 140thNY . Before they got half way across Confederate volleys gutted their ranks. Yet another real Union mess that should never have been ordered.

But whatever you choose to depict Steve I'm sure will be a stunner and look forward to seeing a few pictures of it here on the forum.

Bob

 

[Scott]

"....But whatever you choose to depict Steve I'm sure will be a stunner and look forward to seeing a few pictures of it here on the forum....."

I'm with Bob on that. The 146th's "Turco" uniform stands out among the Zouave style.