The 13th New York Infantry was organized at Elmira, New York and mustered in for two years state service on April 25, 1861 and subsequently re-mustered for three months federal service under the command of ColonelIsaac Ferdinand Quinby. The regiment was transferred from state service to United States service for the balance of their term by order of Governor Edwin D. Morgan August 2, 1861. The regiment was attached to Sherman's Brigade, Tyler's Division, McDowell's Army of Northeast Virginia, June to August 1861. Fort Corcoran, Defenses of Washington, to October 1861. Martindale's Brigade, Porter's Division, Army of the Potomac, to March 1862. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, III Corps, Army of the Potomac, to May 1862. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, V Corps, to May 1863. The 13th New York Infantry mustered out of the service on May 14, 1863. Men who had enlisted for three years' service were consolidated into two companies and served duty as Provost Guard, 1st Division, V Corps, April 27 to June 23. These two companies ceased to exist on June 23, 1863 when its members were transferred to the 140th New York Infantry.
Detailed service
Left New York for Washington, D. C., May 30. Camp on Meridian Hill, defenses of Washington, until June 3, 1861, and at Fort Corcoran until July 16. Advance on Manassas, Va., July 16–21. Occupation of Fairfax Court House July 17. Blackburn's Ford July 18. First Battle of Bull Run July 21. Duty in the defenses of Washington until March 1862. Moved to the Virginia Peninsula March 16. Warwick Road April 5. Siege of Yorktown April 5-May 4. Reconnaissance from Yorktown April 11–13. New Bridge May 24. Battle of Hanover Court House May 27. Operations about Hanover Court House May 27–29. Seven Days before Richmond June 25-July 1. Mechanicsville June 26. Gaines's Mill June 27. White Oak Swamp and Turkey Bend June 30. Malvern Hill July 1. At Harrison's Landing until August 16. Retreat from the Peninsula and movement to Centreville August 16–28. Pope's Campaign in northern Virginia August 28-September 2. Second Battle of Bull Run August 30. Maryland Campaign September 6–22. Battle of Antietam September 16–17. Shepherdstown September 19. At Sharpsburg, Md., to October 30. Movement to Falmouth, Va., October 30-November 19. Battle of Fredericksburg December 12–15. Expedition to Richards' and Ellis' Fords December 29–30. "Mud March" January 20–24, 1863. At Falmouth until April 26. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Battle of Chancellorsville May 1–5.
Casualties
The regiment lost a total of 100 men during service; 4 officers and 67 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 29 enlisted men died of disease.