The historian, Theodore Ayrault Dodge, joined it as regimental adjutant in November 1862, and wrote: "There are Germans who don't understand English, Frenchmen ditto, Swedes and Spaniards who don't understand anything, and Italians who are worse than all the rest together.

"[6][ii] The 119th was part of Hooker's command (XI and XII Corps) that transferred from the Army of the Potomac westward to reinforce the Army of the Cumberland around Chattanooga, Tennessee.

[7][iii] They then became the part of the Army of the Tennessee and remained with it until the end of the war.

The 119th New York Infantry mustered out of service June 8, 1865 near Bladensburg, Maryland.

The regiment was attached to the following brigades:[1] The official list of battles in which the regiment bore a part:[9] The regiment lost a total of 166 men during service; six officers and 66 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, two officers and 92 enlisted men died of disease.