The 108th New York Infantry was organized at Camp Fitz John Porter in Rochester, New York, and mustered in for three years service on August 18, 1862, under the command of Colonel Oliver Hazard Palmer.

The regiment was attached to Whipple's Command, Defenses of Washington, D.C., to September 1862.

2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, II Corps, Army of the Potomac, to March 1864.

Veterans and recruits were transferred to the 59th New York Infantry.

(Regiment lost 196 killed and wounded in its first battle.)

Duty at Harpers Ferry, Va., September 22 to October 30.

Advance up Loudoun Valley and movement to Falmouth, Va., October 30 – November 17.

Pursuit of Lee to Manassas Gap, Va., July 5–24.

Duty along Orange & Alexandria Railroad until September 12.

Strawberry Plains, Deep Bottom, August 14–18.

Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher's Run, October 27–28.

Dabney's Mills, Hatcher's Run, February 5–7, 1865.

Boydton and White Oak Roads March 29–31.