Brief Unit History

During the Civil War the unit we portray was involved in serval battles and campaigns in the Gulf Coast area and the Shenandoah Valley. Mustered into Federal service on 10 November 1862 most of the members were recruited from the police and fire departments of the cities of New York and Brooklyn. The 173rd was selected as our unit to portray due to it being one of the common unit, one who did its job and then faded into the history books as well as being a unit that served in the Gulf Coast area.

 Among the battles the unit served in include the siege of Port Hudson, Sabine Crossroads, Pleasant Hill and Monett's Bluff in Louisiana. The unit also served in the Red River Campaign, the expedition to Sabine Pass and Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley Campaign. During its career, the 173rd lost six officers and thirty-eight enlisted men killed or mortally wounded. An additional 2 officers and 129 enlisted men died from disease or other battlefield causes.