LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the return
of the 123rd Regiment New York Volunteer Infantry to Salem, New York,
and the rest of Washington County on July 1, 1865

WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Legislative Body to commemorate those
events of historical significance which add strength, vigor and inspira-
tion to the cultural diversity and quality of life in the communities of
the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to commemorate the
150th Anniversary of the return of the 123rd Regiment New York Volunteer
Infantry to Salem, New York, and the rest of Washington County on July
1, 1865, shortly after the end of the Civil War; and
WHEREAS, The 123rd Regiment Civil War Commemorative Committee, spon-
sored by the Town of Salem, New York, is planning a series of events to
take place throughout 2015, in commemoration of this auspicious occa-
sion; and
WHEREAS, The 123rd Regiment New York Volunteer Infantry (NYVI), organ-
ized in Salem, was known as the Washington County regiment, and volun-
teers from the towns were organized into 10 companies; and
WHEREAS, On April 12, 1861, when the rebel guns fired on Fort Sumter,
Salem men and others from southern Washington County were quick to
enlist in the Twenty-second Infantry, fighting at the second Battle of
Bull Run and other early battles; and
WHEREAS, Colonel Solomon Russell of Salem mustered the Second Cavalry
in Salem on September 7, 1861; when this cavalry company retired unex-
pectedly in 1862, its members re-enlisted with other regiments, and
Colonel Russell joined his nephew, Lieutenant David Allen Russell, to
serve with General Phillip Sheridan in the 6th Corps; and
WHEREAS, The 123rd Regiment NYVI came into being in 1862, when Presi-
dent Lincoln called for more recruits; Salem and the rest of Washington
County responded, and by September 5, 1862, a group of prominent citi-
zens had recruited a county regiment with Salem's Colonel Archibald
McDougall as its leader; and
WHEREAS, The 123rd Regiment was housed in barracks at Salem's Camp
Washington on the Vail Street village grounds until boarding the train
at the site of Delaware and Hudson Railroad depot on September 5; the
950 man strong Regiment, as it boarded the special troop train for Wash-
ington, was cheered on by thousands of well-wishers; and
WHEREAS, The regiment was made up of volunteers from the towns of
Greenwich, Co, A; Kingsbury, Co. B; Whitehall, Co. C; Fort Ann, Putnam
and Dresden, Co. D; Hartford and Hebron, Co. E; Argyle, Co. F; White
Creek and Jackson, Co. G; Salem, Co. H; Cambridge and Easton, Co. I;
Granville and Hampton, Co. K; and
WHEREAS, The 123rd Regiment NYVI was first assigned to the 2nd
Brigade, 1st Division, 12th Corps, Army of the Potomac and later to the
1st Brigade, 1st Division, 20th Corps, Army of the Cumberland; the
engagements in which the 123rd Regiment took part as listed on the 123rd
Regiment monument at Gettysburg are Chancellorsville, Kulp's Farm,
Gettysburg, Chattahoochie River, Rasaca, Dallas, Atlanta, New Hope
Church, Monthieth's Swamp, Lost Mountain, Cassville, Kennesaw Mountain,
Savanna, Pine Hill, Peach Tree Creek, Bentonsville, Averysborough,
Moccasin Swamp, and Raleigh; and
WHEREAS, The 123rd Regiment returned home with two officers and 40
enlisted men killed in action; of wounds received in action, four offi-
cers and 28 enlisted men; of disease and other causes, 95 enlisted men;
totaling 169; six officers and 163 enlisted men; and

WHEREAS, In 1869, a large Standing Soldier Civil War statue, sculpted
by Martin Milmore, was dedicated in memory of all volunteers who fought
in the Civil War; the statue, found in Salem's Evergreen Cemetery, memo-
rializes the Civil War veterans, including the bodies of Colonel Archi-
bald McDougall, Regiment Commander who on June 23, 1864, died from
wounds at the Battle of Dallas, and Breveted General David Allen
Russell, 6th Corps, who died on September 19, 1864, in action at
Winchester; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to commend the
efforts of those organizations and individuals which seek to bring
recognition to historical events within the State of New York, and in
doing so, help to ensure that the complete history of our State and
Nation is preserved and shared with present generations of citizens; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is pleased to have this opportunity to
express its highest admiration for the 123rd Regiment Civil War Commemo-
rative Committee, which has worked to bring proper attention to an event
and time which merits recognition in the grand panorama of the history
of our State and Nation; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the return of the 123rd Regiment
New York Volunteer Infantry to Salem, New York, and the rest of Washing-
ton County on July 1, 1865; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the 123rd Regiment Civil War Commemorative Committee.