Photographs of original members, Company "C"
Capt. James Gowdy, Co. C
Gowdy, 22, enrolled Nov. 1, 1861, at Liberty to serve three years, and was mustered in as a sergeant in Co. C on Nov. 16, 1861. He reenlisted as a veteran Feb. 20, 1864, and was promoted to sergeant-major Jan. 1, 1865. He was made captain of Co. C on May 15, 1865, and resigned June 28, 1865. (image provided by the U.S. Army Military History Institute)
1st Lt. Henry M. Connelly, Co. C
Connelly enrolled at Montgomery to serve three years and was mustered in as second lieutenant Aug. 16, 1861. He was promoted to first lieutenant Feb. 7, 1862, and was discharged for disability Oct. 3, 1862. (image provided by the U.S. Army Military History Institute)
1st Lt. Henry A. Still, Co. C & E
Still enrolled at Montgomery to serve three years and was mustered in as first lieutenant of Co. C on Sept. 17, 1861. He transferred to Co. E (no date given) and was discharged Aug. 26, 1862. (from the Michael McAfee collection)
James H. Boyd, Co. C
Boyd, 22, enlisted Oct. 26, 1861, at Newburgh to serve three years and was mustered in as a private Nov. 2, 1861. He was promoted to corporal (no date given) and reenlisted as a veteran Feb. 20, 1864. He was promoted to sergeant Oct. 20, 1864, and to first sergeant May 20, 1865. The records indicate he deserted June 23, 1865, at Summerville, S.C.
Pvt. Adolphus Knox, Co. C
Knox, 18, enlisted at Greenfield to serve three years and was mustered in as a private Aug. 16, 1861. He died of fever June 23, 1862, at White House, Va.
Clement B. Newkirk, Cos. C and E
Newkirk, age 18, enrolled at Wurtsboro, N.Y., as a private Aug. 16, 1861; promoted to corporal Feb. 20, 1862; to sergeant Sept. 14, 1863; reenlisted as a veteran Feb. 20, 1864; wounded Dec. 19, 1864, at Battle of Deveaux Neck, S.C.; commissioned second lieutenant in Co. E, May 16, 1865; mustered out with company, Oct. 17, 1865, at Charleston, S.C. Carte-de-visite photograph taken by R.B. Cooper of National Gallery, Monticello, N.Y.
Gabriel Smith, Co. C
Smith, 32, enlisted at Montgomery to serve three years and was mustered in as a private Aug. 16, 1861. He was discharged for disability Nov. 15, 1863, at New York City. This photograph is perhaps the best-known image of a 56th N.Y. member, and appears in many books on Civil War uniforms.
(from the Michael McAfee collection)
Charles Teed, Co. C
Teed, 18, enlisted at Craigsville to serve three years, and was mustered in as a private Aug. 16, 1861. He reenlisted as a veteran Feb. 20, 1865, and died of disease Sept. 3, 1865, at Laurens, S.C. Though the photograph gives his rank as sergeant, no such promotion is mentioned in the regimental history. Note the shiny oilcloth rain cover that protects his kepi. (from the Michael McAfee collection)
Pvt. Theodore Terwilleger, Co. C
Terwilleger, 22, enlisted Aug. 14, 1861, at Crawford to serve three years and was mustered in as a private Aug. 16, 1861. He was mustered out Sept. 8, 1864.