56th Regimental Staff
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Founder of the "Tenth Legion", Charles VanWyck. Photos of his family plot in Milford, PA
Jacob Sharpe
Sharpe, 29, enlisted at Kingston on April 23, 1861, as a second lieutenant. That day, he was commissioned into Co. B, 20th New York Infantry. He was mustered out Aug. 2, 1861, at Kingston. On Sept. 3, 1861, he was commissioned major in the 56th New York Volunteers. He resigned Aug. 5, 1862. On Sept. 17, 1862, he was commissioned lieutenant colonel of the 156th New York Volunteers. He was promoted to colonel of that regiment April 1, 1863. He was wounded Sept. 19, 1864, at Winchester, Va. He was made a brevet brigadier general on March 13, 1865. He was mustered out Oct. 23, 1865, at Augusta, Ga. Sharpe was born July 31, 1834, in Red Hook, Dutchess County, N.Y., and died April 27, 1892, in Detroit, Mich.
Regimental Quartermaster Sgt. Noah D. Smith
Smith, 18, enlisted Sept. 14, 1861, at Callicoon Depot to serve three years. He was mustered in as a private in Co. H on Oct. 3, 1861. He was promoted to regimental quartermaster sergeant Feb. 11, 1863. He reenlisted as a veteran Feb. 24, 1864, and was mustered out with the regiment Oct. 17, 1865, at Charleston, S.C.
1st Lt. and Regimental Quartermaster Jesse F. Shafer
Shafer, 31, enrolled at Newburgh to serve three years and was mustered in as quartermaster sergeant Oct. 1, 1861. He was promoted to second lieutenant, Co. K, on Feb. 27, 1862, and was made first lieutenant and quartermaster Sept. 5, 1862. He was discharged Oct. 15, 1864.
The following three photographs are of Surgeon Solomon Van Etten from the Michael McAfee collection.
Van Etten, 32, enrolled at Newburgh to serve three years and was commissioned as surgeon Sept. 23, 1861. He was mustered out Oct. 7, 1864. His name also is given as Fetterman Van Etten.
1st Lt. Demmon S. Decker
Decker was a sergeant-major until Feb. 9, 1862. He was promoted to second lieutenant of Co. I on Feb. 17, 1862, and to first lieutenant of Co. G on Oct. 3, 1862. (image provided by the U.S. Army Military History Institute)
Surgeon George H. Fossard
Fossard, 25, enrolled at Morris Island, S.C., on Oct. 7, 1864, to serve three years. He was mustered in as surgeon Nov. 5, 1864, and was discharged July 5, 1865. He had been assistant surgeon in the 146th N.Y. Volunteers, and this photo was taken during that time. The Maltese cross he wears on his coat is a badge for the Fifth Corps, to which the 146th N.Y. belonged. (image provided by U.S. Army Military History Institute)
1st Lt. and Adjutant Eli H. Evans
Evans, 25, enrolled at Newburgh July 31, 1861, to serve three years. He was mustered in as adjutant Sept. 1, 1861, and was dishonorably discharged Oct. 1, 1863. He was replaced by Henri B. Loomis, whose photograph appears on Photographs of Original Members, Part 1 page. (image provided by the U.S. Army Military History Institute)
Chaplain Charles B. Shelling
Shelling, 35, enrolled at Newburgh to serve three years and was mustered in as chaplain Sept. 16, 1861. He was commissioned Aug. 7, 1862, discharged Dec. 23, 1862. He was replaced by Col. Van Wyck's brother, George, in the spring of the following year. (image provided by the U.S. Army Military History Institute)
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Commissary Sgt. J.B. Hobday Sr.
Photograph lists him as regimental commissary sergeant, but no record of his service in the 56th can be found.