11th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment

11th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment
Frank Leslie · Public domain · source
Unit name	11th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment
Caption	Flag of New York, 1778–1901
Dates	1861–1864
Country	United States
Allegiance	Union
Branch	United States Army
Type	Infantry
Nickname	"First Fire Zouaves"
Battles	First Battle of Bull Run, Peninsula Campaign, Battle of Gaines's Mill, Second Battle of Bull Run, Battle of Fredericksburg, Battle of Chancellorsville
Commander1	Elmer E. Ellsworth
Commander1 label	First Colonel
Commander2	Noah L. Farnham
Commander2 label	Notable Colonel

11th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment was a Union Army infantry regiment raised in New York City at the outbreak of the American Civil War. Known as the "First Fire Zouaves" for its initial recruitment from the city's volunteer firefighter companies, the unit was famed for its distinctive Zouave uniform and its association with its first commander, the charismatic Elmer E. Ellsworth. The regiment served with the Army of the Potomac in several major early-war Eastern Theater campaigns before its members were mustered out in 1864.

History

The regiment was formed in April 1861 in direct response to President Abraham Lincoln's call for volunteers following the Battle of Fort Sumter. Its creation was spearheaded by the nationally known drillmaster and Lincoln confidant, Elmer E. Ellsworth, who had previously led the United States Zouave Cadets. The unit's early notoriety was cemented when Ellsworth was killed in Alexandria, Virginia in May 1861 after removing a Confederate flag from the Marshall House inn, becoming one of the first prominent Union officers to die in the war. Command then passed to Lieutenant Colonel Noah L. Farnham, who led the regiment at the First Battle of Bull Run, where it suffered significant casualties.

Organization and service

Organized at Fort Hamilton in New York Harbor, the regiment was mustered into federal service for a two-year term on May 7, 1861. As part of the Army of the Potomac, it was initially assigned to Irvin McDowell's command. After its brutal introduction to combat at Bull Run, the regiment served in the Peninsula Campaign under George B. McClellan, fighting at engagements like the Battle of Gaines's Mill. It also saw action at the Second Battle of Bull Run, the Battle of Fredericksburg, and the Battle of Chancellorsville. The original two-year enlistments expired in 1863, and though a smaller veteran battalion continued until June 1864, the regiment was not reorganized for the remainder of the war.

Uniform and equipment

The regiment was famous for its elaborate and non-regulation Zouave uniform, modeled on French North African colonial troops. This distinctive attire typically included a short, dark blue jacket with red trim, a red sash, very baggy red trousers, and a tasselled fez or chechia cap. The uniform was intended to reflect the unit's fiery esprit de corps and its origins among the competitive fire companies. In the field, this flashy dress proved impractical and was often replaced with standard Union Army issue blue uniforms as the war progressed.

Notable members

Several individuals associated with the regiment gained lasting fame. Its founder, Elmer E. Ellsworth, became a national martyr; his body lay in state at the White House. Noah L. Farnham, who succeeded Ellsworth, was mortally wounded from the strains of command after Bull Run. Private John K. Bucklyn was awarded the Medal of Honor for gallantry at the Battle of Chancellorsville. The regiment also included figures like James C. Burke, who later served as a U.S. Representative from Wisconsin.

Legacy and memorials

The 11th New York is remembered as one of the most colorful and publicized volunteer units of the early Civil War, symbolizing the initial passionate but naive mobilization of the North. A monument to the regiment and Colonel Ellsworth stands on the Bull Run battlefield within the Manassas National Battlefield Park. Ellsworth's death was widely mourned, commemorated in popular songs, prints, and Currier and Ives lithographs, making his name and his Zouaves iconic images of early war patriotism.

Category:New York (state) Civil War regiments Category:1861 establishments in New York (state)