"NEW" COMPANY E, 44TH N. Y. VOL.
By Capt. A. N. Husted.
Volunteers for the Union Army in the summer of 1862 consisted, largely, of high-grade young men
from our schools and colleges who had not, previously, felt that they had been "called," but, the
Union defeat in the "Peninsula Campaign" and the urgent necessity for more men to sustain the
Union flag, now impelled them to drop their books and shoulder their muskets for the National
Service. It was at this period that the "Normal School" Company enlisted. The Normal boys
formed a strong nucleus but it was necessary to invite others- of similar character so far as
practicable- to fill up the Company. The Company owed its inspiration and, also its organization,
to Rodney G. Kimball and Albert N. Husted who, at that time, were Professors in the State Normal
School (now State Normal College) at Albany. Wm. Kidd of Albany also rendered valuable
assistance.Capt. Kimball commanded the Company at the battle of Fredericksburg, December, 1862, and until February 4, 1863, when he left the regiment on "Sick Leave;" he was honorably discharged on "Surgeon's Certificate of Disability" April i6, 1863; he was Professor of Applied Mathematics in the Brooklyn Polytechnic Institution from July, 1869, until his decease April 25, 1900.
Lieut. Husted participated in all the engagements of the Army of the Potomac from October, 1862, to October, 1864, and was slightly wounded at the battle of Chancellorsville; he was promoted Captain, with rank from September 20, 1863, and honorably discharged October 14, 1864. He still survives, in excellent health; since July, 1869, he has been Professor of Mathematics in the State Normal College at Albany.
Lieut. Kidd served with the Company at the battle of Fredericksburg, and was honorably discharged January 28, 1863, to accept the appointment of Military Secretary to Gov. Seymour; he has retired from business and resides at Saratoga Springs, N. Y.
The Company was "enlisted" at Albany, but nearly all its members were from other places, as shown in the "Roster."
As an organization the Company participated in all the battles in which the regiment was engaged and all the battles in which the 44th Battalion was engaged.
Of the one hundred men, originally enlisted, seventeen died of wounds received in battle; eight died of disease contracted in the service; twenty received wounds which did not prove fatal; seven were commissioned as officers in U. S. Colored troops, five of them as Captains; seven received commissions in New York Volunteer regiments; twelve were discharged because of physical disability; nine were transferred to the Invalid Corps and three to the Signal Corps. Only one "deserted," and he before the Company left Albany.
When the term of the regiment expired, August, 1864, the enlisted men, then remaining on the rolls of the Company, were transferred to the 140th N. Y. Volunteers.