The 14th New Hampshire Infantry Regiment was an
infantry regiment that participated in the
American Civil War. It was the last three-year regiment raised in
New Hampshire,[1] serving from September 24, 1862, to July 8, 1865.
Carroll Davidson Wright was one of its regimental leaders.
History
On September 24, 1862, the regiment was organized and mustered in
Concord, New Hampshire. It was filled mostly with residents of the four western counties. Cheshire County furnished four companies, while Sullivan, Grafton, Coos, Carroll, Merrimack and Hillsborough Counties furnished one Company each.[2]
In October 1862, the 14th NH arrived in
Washington, D.C., where it camped on East
Capitol Hill before establishing winter quarters at
Poolesville, Maryland. From November 1862 to April 1863, the 14th NH served
picket duty along the upper
Potomac River. In April 1863, the regiment moved its quarters to Camp Adirondack, in northeast Washington D.C. From April 1863 to the end of the year, the 14th NH performed guard duty at
Old Capitol Prison, transporting prisoners and deserters, and at the Navy Yard Bridge (Benning's Bridge). In early 1864, the 14th NH briefly performed picket duty in the
Shenandoah Valley.
The regiment returned to New Hampshire to vote in the spring elections which were heavily contested. On March 16, 1864, the 14th N.H. departed for
Louisiana to participate in the
Red River Campaign, but arrived after it had ended. The regiment served at
Camp Parapet,
Carrollton, and Jefferson City until June 1864, when they returned to Virginia. The 14th served at
Fortress Monroe and
Berryville in Virginia until the end of July 1864. From August to December 1864, the regiment was part of
General Sheridan's
Army of the Shenandoah, and participated in the
Third Battle of Winchester, on September 19, 1864, with heavy losses at the
Battle of Fisher's Hill on September 22, 1864, and the
Battle of Cedar Creek on October 19, 1864. Sergeant Major J. Henry Jenks, from
Keene, New Hampshire, was the last man from this unit to fall in battle on October 19, 1864, in the Battle of Cedar Creek. At the conclusion of the Civil War, the 14th NH was stationed near
Augusta and
Savannah, Georgia. On July 8, 1865, the 14th New Hampshire Volunteer Regiment was mustered out in Savannah.
Affiliations, battle honors, detailed service, and casualties
Moved to Washington, D. c., thence to Savannah, GA
January 3-20 and Provost duty there till May 6.
March to Augusta, Ga., May 6-14.
Return to Savannah June and mustered out July 8, 1865
Casualties and total strength
The regiment lost a total of 232 men during its service; 8 officers and 63 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded, 4 officers and 151 enlisted men by disease.[5]