Fortieth Regiment – Infantry – Volunteers.

The Fortieth Regiment was organized under the provisions of an Act of Congress, approved July 22, 1861, and an Act of Congress, approved July 4, 1864, as set forth in General Orders No. 224, dated War Department, Adjutant General’s Office, Washington, D. C., July 6, 1864, and under instructions from the Governor, dated Office of the Adjutant General, Trenton, N. J., October 4, 1864. The organization of the Regiment was to be effected under the provisions of General Orders No. 243, dated War Department, Adjutant General’s Office, Washington, D. C., August 9, 1864. The Headquarters of the Regiment was established at Draft Rendezvous, (Camp Perrine,) Trenton, N. J. Under the authority thus issued, the organization of the Regiment was commenced, the term of enlistment to be for one, two or three years. In compliance with a telegram dated War Department, Adjutant General’s Office, Washington, D. C., October 12, 1864, the Regiment was to be organized by successive companies; no new company to be commenced until the one preceding it was completed and mustered. In accordance therewith, the command was completed and was mustered into the service of the United States by Washington I. Newton, Major Second Cavalry, United States Army, commanding Draft Rendezvous, Trenton, N. J., and was forwarded to the field by companies, immediately after being mustered in. Company A was mustered in October 24, 1864, and left the State October 24, 1864; Company B, mustered in in two detachments December 24, 1864, and January 12, 1865, left the State respectively December 24, 1864, and January 12, 1865; Company C, mustered in January 21, 1865, left the State January 21, 1865; Company D, mustered in January 27, 1865, left the State January 31, 1865; Company E, mustered in February 2, 1865, left the State February 6, 1865; Company F, mustered in February 9, 1865, left the State February 10, 1865; Company G, mustered in February 16, 1865, left the State February 17, 1865; Company H, mustered in February 22, 1865, left the State February 24, 1865; Company I, mustered in March 2, 1865, left the State March 4, 1865; Company K, mustered in March 10, 1865, left the State March 12, 1865. Each company on its arrival in the field was attached to the Fourth Regiment, and so remained until six companies had reported for duty, when the command was organized and assumed a regimental organization, the strength of the command being – Officers, 37; Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates, 984. Total, 1,021. It was then assigned to the Sixth Army Corps. The Regiment continued its organization and remained in active service until the close of the war, when it was mustered out of service at Hall’s Hill. Va., July 13, 1865, by A. M. Tyler, Brevet Major and Assistant Commissary of Musters, First Division, Provisional Corps, Army of the Potomac, in compliance with orders from War Department, Adjutant General’s Office, Washington, D. C., dated July 7, 1865.

The Regiment was first attached to the First Brigade, First Division, Sixth Army Corps, and at the close of the war was assigned to what was known as the Provisional Corps. Army of the Potomac.

The Regiment took part in the following engagements: Hatcher’s Run, Va., Feb. 5, ’65; Fort Steedman, Va., March 25, ’65; Capture of Petersburg, Va., April 2, ’65; Sailor’s Creek, Va., April 6, ’65; Farmville, Va., April 7, ’65; Lee’s Surrender, (Appomattox, Va.,) April 9, ’65.

Field and Staff, Fortieth Regiment.

Non-Commissioned Staff.

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