The Washington Grays -
47th New York State Volunteers

Charleston, SC, USA
Federal Infantry Reenactment Unit

Image left- the 47th. marching on the beach of Folly Island, Apr. 1996

Contents

Recent Activities Reenactment Unit Information
Activities, Drills & Meetings are listed in the events schedule
Past Activities of the Unit & Event Reports
History of the Original Unit
E-mail to Unit Commander

The Reenactment Unit of the 47th. N.Y. today

Recent Activities and Events

Reenactment Organization Information

Formed:

22 Oct 1995 by former Charleston members of Co. F 48th New York of Jacksonville, Florida.

Affiliations:

Barton's Brigade, Department of the South and Western Brigade.

Purpose:

The unit is a Non-profit society, organized and operated for the purposes of educating the general public concerning the role and heritage of the Union soldiers who fought and died to preserve the Union during the period 1861 to 1865. This goal shall be accomplished through the organization of ranks of men to participate in ceremonies, memorials, parades, encampments, and Civil War battle reenactments.

The unit will also endeavor to educate its members and the general public concerning the history and way of life of the Civil War era. In order to best accomplish this goal, the unit will attempt to recreate the life experiences of the period to the maximum degree that is reasonable without compromising the health and safety of its members or the general public. These experiences shall include the hardships, the responsibilities, the camaraderie, the language, customs, past-times, foods and clothing of the mid-19th century.

Conduct Standards:

All members must be free of attitudes or actions of racial, religious, or political extremes and must at all time present himself with the highest standards of self control, fair play, and honorable citizenship. Lying, cheating, stealing and inappropriate behavior, including substance abuse will not tolerated.

In addition, it is strongly stated that the purpose of the unit is not to provide a forum for furthering personal causes or to refight the Civil War. Our purpose is to educate the public and honor the men and women who gave of themselves so freely for what they believed in. We believe that Confederate units are our brothers and colleagues in the same cause. Their impressions may be different but we are one in our goal. In addition, every member is expected to exhibit self-sufficiency, self-control and appropriate social behavior.

Sponsors:

The unit is sponsored by the City of Folly Beach SC and the Museum on the Common in Mount Pleasant, SC. Drills and meetings are regularly conducted t the Folly Beach Community Center and at the Museum on the Common, 217 Lucas Street.

Membership:

Regular members must be male, 18 years or older. Student members must be male, 14-18 years old and supervised by a parent. Associate memberships have no age or gender restrictions.

Max Shaw E mail to the 47th. N.Y.

For additional information about the Washington Grays, Email the unit Commander Max Shaw Image right

47th. N.Y. - Original Unit History

1861

 Organized at New York from the 8th New York Militia and mustered in September 14, 1861. Moved to Washington, D. C., thence to Annapolis, Md., September, 1861. Expedition to Port Royal, S. C., October 21-November 7, 1861. Capture of Forts Wagner and Beauregard, Port Royal Harbor, S. C., November 7. Hilton Head, S. C., November 7-8.

1862

 Port Royal Ferry, Coosaw River, January 1, 1862. Reconnaissance to Wright River February 6. Siege operations against Fort Pulaski Ga., February 11-April 11. Bombardment and capture of Fort Pulaski April 10-11. Expedition to James Island, S. C., June 1-28. Action on James Island June 10. Battle of Secessionville June 16. Evacuation of James Island and movement to Hilton Head, S. C., June 28-July 7. Hilton Head, S. C., through December 1862.

1863

 Hilton Head, S. C., till April, 1863. Duty at Ossabaw Island and Folly Island, S. C., till July. Siege operations against Forts Wagner and Gregg, Morris Island, S. C., July 18-September 7. Bombardment of Fort Sumter and Charleston August 17-23. Operations against Charleston and duty on Folly Island, S. C., till December 1863.

1864

 Hilton Head, S. C., till February, 1864. Expedition to Jacksonville, Fla. February 5-7. Occupation of Jacksonville February 7. Expedition into Central Florida February 7-22. Battle of Olustee February 20. Occupation of Palatka March 10. Duty at Jacksonville till April. Moved to Gloucester Point, Va., April 22-28. Port Walthall Junction, Chester Station, Va., May 7. Operations against Fort Darling, Va. May 12-14. Battle of Drury's Bluff , Va., May 14-16. Bermuda Hundred, Va., May 16-28. Moved to White House, thence to Cold Harbor , Va., May 28-June 1. Battles about Cold Harbor June 1-12. Before Petersburg June 15-18. Siege operations against Petersburg and Richmond June 16 to December 7, 1864. Demonstration on north side of the James August 13-20. Strawberry Plains, Deep Bottom, August 14-18. ChaffinOs Farm, New Market Heights, September 28-30. Fair Oaks, Va., October 27-28. Expedition to Fort Fisher, NC., December 7-25.

1865

 2nd Expedition to Fort Fisher, N. C., January 3-15, 1865. Assault and capture of Fort Fisher January 15. Cape Fear entrenchments February 11-12. Sugar Loaf Battery February 11. Fort Anderson February 18-20. Capture of Wilmington February 22. Advance on Kingston and Goldsboro March 6-21. Advance on Raleigh April 9-14. Bennett's House April 26. Surrender of Johnston and his army. Duty at Raleigh and in the Dept. of North Carolina till August. Mustered out August 30, 1865.

Losses

Regiment lost during service 7 Officers and 70 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 160 Enlisted men by disease. Total 237

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