1st New York Engineers CDV

This is an image supposedly of Engineer Benedick of the 1st New York Engineers. Benedick enlisted in October of 1861 and would survive the War to be mustered out in October of 1864. While most might believe that there were only engineer outfits in the Regular Army, there were in fact volunteer engineer outfits as well. This was accomplished much due to the efforts of Edward Wellman Serrell. Serrell, a Civil Engineer and later commander of the 1st NY Engineers, saw the need for the Union Army to bolster its ranks with soldiers of construction backgrounds. These men would be paid higher wages than their infantry counterparts and would do good service during siege operations throughout the War. In this image you can clearly see on Benedick’s forage cap the castle insignia denoting his status as an Engineer of the Union Army. The Corps Castle emblem is still used by the U.S. Army’s Corps of Engineers today.