The Bemis Heights Regiment- the 77th New York Volunteers in the Civil War with Chris Carola Event Recap
The 77th New York Volunteers: Saratoga’s Civil War Heroes
Event Recap – September 19, 2024
Presented by Historian & Journalist Chris Carola
Saratoga Springs History Museum
On September 19, 2024, the Saratoga Springs History Museum welcomed guests for a powerful and richly detailed program: “The Bemis Heights Regiment: The 77th New York Volunteers in the Civil War”, presented by renowned journalist and local historian Chris Carola.
A Mechanicville native, longtime Associated Press reporter, author, and current Communications Director at AARP, Chris brought unmatched insight, clarity, and reverence to the story of Saratoga County’s most celebrated Civil War regiment. His extensive research — combined with his signature storytelling — transported attendees from Saratoga’s peaceful streets to the battlefields that shaped the nation.
A Regiment Born from Saratoga’s Revolutionary Past
Chris began by explaining how the 77th became known as the Bemis Heights Regiment, a name deeply tied to local identity.
When the regiment’s officers petitioned the governor for the unique number “77”, they did so to honor the Battles of Saratoga in 1777, the turning point of the American Revolution. Their request was granted — making the regiment one of the few in the Union Army to receive a number by special designation.
Composed of men from across the region — Saratoga Springs, Stillwater, Mechanicsville, Edinburg, Gloversville, Johnstown, and beyond — the 77th mustered into service in November 1861. What followed was nearly four years of relentless marching, brutal combat, and unwavering service.
From Saratoga County to the Nation’s Bloodiest Battlefields
The 77th New York fought in some of the Civil War’s most significant and devastating engagements. Through photographs, military records, personal letters, and survivor accounts, Chris walked the audience through their journey:
🗡 Yorktown (1862)
The regiment’s introduction to the hardships of war during the Peninsula Campaign.
🗡 The Seven Days Battles
Early losses began to mount through illness and scattered engagements.
🗡 Antietam (1862)
The bloodiest single day in American history — over 20,000 casualties.
The 77th suffered 11 killed and 21 wounded.
Chris shared haunting images by Civil War photographers Alexander Gardner and Timothy O’Sullivan, whose battlefield photos shocked the nation.
🗡 Fredericksburg (1862)
Described by Chris as one of the war’s most tragic assaults.
Local hero Captain Luther Wheeler of Saratoga Springs was mortally wounded.
His funeral in Greenridge Cemetery drew thousands — nearly the entire population of Saratoga at the time.
🗡 Gettysburg (1863)
The regiment arrived on the second day and was assigned to protect an artillery battery.
Though they suffered no casualties, Chris reminded attendees that “safe” did not exist on Civil War fields — artillery fire could strike from over a mile away.
🗡 The Overland Campaign (1864)
Some of the most horrific fighting of the war:
The Wilderness — dense woods, friendly fire, and forest fires that burned wounded men alive.
Spotsylvania Courthouse — staggering casualties, the 77th heavily engaged.
Cold Harbor — repeated assaults against fortified Confederate lines.
🗡 Defense of Washington & the Shenandoah Valley
In 1864 the 77th rushed to stop Confederate forces threatening Washington, D.C.
Later, at Cedar Creek, they helped halt a major Confederate advance, standing firm where other regiments broke — an action Chris described as one of their finest hours.
🗡 Petersburg and the War’s Final Days (1864–65)
The regiment endured trench warfare eerily similar to what would later define World War I.
Finally, the 77th marched in pursuit of Lee’s retreating army, witnessing the war’s closing chapter.
Witness to History: Appomattox, April 9, 1865
The 77th was present during the final campaign leading to Robert E. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox.
Chris shared the famous story of Wilmer McLean — whose farm hosted the first major battle at Bull Run, and whose new home, miles away in Appomattox, became the location of the war’s conclusion. “The war began in my front yard and ended in my front parlor,” McLean famously said.
Coming Home & Keeping Memory Alive
When the 77th returned home, only about 250 of the original 1,500 men remained.
They joined the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) — the Civil War veterans’ organization that would later inspire the American Legion and VFW — and remained deeply connected through annual reunions.
Chris shared pamphlets, song sheets, and photographs from these gatherings, offering a touching glimpse into the camaraderie that endured long after the cannons went silent.
The regiment is memorialized today through:
The Civil War soldier statue in Congress Park, erected in 1875
The “Defense of the Flag” monument in Greenridge Cemetery
Dozens of graves of 77th veterans throughout Saratoga County
Battle-damaged regimental flags preserved at the New York State Military Museum — the largest battle flag collection in the world
The Human Cost
Chris closed with a sobering reminder:
Nearly 750,000 soldiers died in the Civil War — far more than once believed.
New York suffered the most casualties of any Union state.
For the men of the 77th, the war meant disease, exposure, hunger, and exhaustion just as much as bullets. Many never returned. Many who did lived with lifelong wounds. Their sacrifice shaped not only the nation, but the history of Saratoga Springs itself.
A Gripping Night of History
Chris Carola’s presentation blended scholarship, storytelling, and heartfelt respect for the men who left Saratoga County to fight for the Union. Through his work, the legacy of the Bemis Heights Regiment endures — not as distant names on stone, but as real people who marched, fought, suffered, and persevered.
The Saratoga Springs History Museum extends its gratitude to Chris for his exceptional research and powerful presentation, and to all who attended this memorable evening.