The New York 132nd Infantry Regiment, known as the Hillhouse Light Guards, recruited in New York city, Brooklyn and the state at large, was organized at East New York and was mustered into the U. S. service for three years on Oct. 4, 1862, at Washington, D. C. The regiment left the state Sept. 27, 1862, about 900 strong, and spent nearly its entire term of service in North Carolina, engaged in outpost and garrison duty, part of the time unattached and part of the time attached to the 18th corps. A portion of Co. D was composed of Allegany, Cattaraugus and Tuscarora Indians, the 1st lieutenant and 1st sergeant being full-blooded redskins. The regiment took part in the engagements at Pollocksville, Trenton, Young's cross-roads, New Berne, Blount's creek, Sandy ridge, Batchelder's creek, Southwest creek, Jackson's mill, Gardner's bridge, Foster's mills, Butler's bridge, and in the campaign of the Carolinas at Wise's forks, Snow hill, and Bennett's house. The severest loss sustained by the regiment was at the battle of New Berne in Feb., 1864, when it lost 91 in killed, wounded and missing. During this battle, Cos. D, E and G defended the bridge on the Neuse river against three successive attacks of the enemy, but were finally forced to retire when the enemy was reinforced, after 4 hours of hard fighting. The 132nd is credited with saving New Berne from capture on this occasion. Lieut. Arnold Zenette, the only commissioned officer killed, fell in this action. At the battle of Wise's forks the regiment lost 24 in killed, wounded and missing. It was mustered out under Col. Claassen, June 29, 1865, at Salisbury, N. C, having lost by death during service, 1 officer and 13 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded; 1 officer and 159 enlisted men died of disease and other causes, a total of 174, of whom 71 died in the hands of the enemy.
OFFICERS:
Col., Peter J. Claassen;
Lieut. -Cols., Charles E. Prescott, George H. Hitchcock;
Majs., George H. Hitchcock, John Waller, Jr., John B. Houstain, Thomas B. Green.
ASSIGNMENTS:
Organized at New York City and mustered in at Washington, D.C., October 4, 1862. Left State for Washington September 27, 1862. Attached to Spinola's Brigade, Division at Suffolk, Va., 7th Army Corps, Dept. of Virginia, to January, 1863. 1st Brigade, 5th Division, 18th Army Corps, Dept. of North Carolina, to March, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 5th Division, 18th Army Corps, to July, 1863. Unattached, Defenses of New Berne, N. C., Dept. of Virginia and North Carolina, to January, 1864. Palmer's Brigade, Peck's Division, Dept. of Virginia and North Carolina, to April, 1864. Sub-District New Berne, N. C., District of North Carolina, Dept. of Virginia and North Carolina, to March, 1865. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, District of Beaufort, N. C., Dept. of North Carolina, to March, 1865. 1st Brigade, Division District of Beaufort, N. C., Dept. of North Carolina, to April, 1865. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 23rd Army Corps, Dept. of North Carolina, to June, 1865.
SERVICE:
Moved from Washington, D.C., to Norfolk; thence to Suffolk, Va., October, 1862, and duty there until December, 1862. Ordered to New Berne, N. C., December 17, and duty there until March, 1865. Expedition from New Berne to Trenton, Pollocksville, Young's Cross Roads and Swansborough March 6-10, 1863. Expedition from New Berne for relief of Little Washington April 7-10. Expedition from New Berne toward Kinston April 16-21. Operations about New Berne against Whiting January 18-February 10, 1864. New Berne February 1-4, 1864. Batchelor's Creek February 1. Beech Grove February 1-3. Batchelor's Creek May 26. Scout to Dover and Core Creek June 17-18. Expedition toward Kinston June 20-23. Jackson's Mills, Southwest Creek, June 22. Campaign of the Carolinas March 1-April 26, 1865. Southwest Creek March 7. Battle of Wise's Forks March 8-10. Kinston March 14. Occupation of Goldsboro March 21. Advance on Raleigh April 9-13. Occupation of Raleigh April 14. Bennett's House April 26. Surrender of Johnston and his army. Duty at Salisbury, N. C., until June. Mustered out June 29, 1865. Recruits transferred to 99th New York Infantry.
ROSTERS:
The composite rosters of this unit contains the names of 1699 men.
Company A - New York City, Brooklyn and Newtown, Suffolk County
Company B - New York City, Brooklyn and Staten Island
Company C - New York City
Company D - Brooklyn, Buffalo, Erie County; Lewiston, Niagara County, the reservations of the Allegany, Cattaraugus and Tuscarora Indians
Company E - New York City
Company F - New York City, Brooklyn and Staten Island
Company G - Suspension Bridge, Niagara County; Buffalo, Erie County, New York City and Brooklyn
Company H - New York City; Harlem, New York County; Buffalo,Erie County and Kingston, Ulster County
Company I - New York City, Brooklyn and Staten Island
Company K - New York City, Brooklyn and Staten Island
HISTORICAL NOTES:
