The regiment was recruited principally in New York City, turned over to the State in September, 1861, and received its numerical volunteer designation December 7, 1861.

The regiment was quartered near the United States Capitol until July 3, 1861, when it crossed into Virginia and engaged at Bull Run, with a loss of 60 in killed, wounded and missing.

It participated in the siege of Yorktown; the battle of Fair Oaks; the Seven Days fighting; was next active in the Maryland campaign and suffered severe losses at Antietam in the advance of Sedgwick's division, upon the Dunker Church.

Camp was broken for the Wilderness campaign late in April, 1864, and the regiment was in action constantly until after the first assault on Petersburg, where it lost 1 man killed, 9 wounded and 111 missing.

On June 25, 1864, the term of service expired and the original members not reenlisted were mustered out, the remainder of the regiment being consolidated into a battalion of five companies.