The mission of the 6th New York Heavy Artillery changed in the middle of the Civil War. The unit, composed of young men from Westchester, Putnam, and Rockland counties, was originally intended to guard forts, operate artillery, and hold defensive positions. Instead, the war pushed them into front-line infantry combat under constant fire. The history of this local regiment, also known as The Big Six, will be the focus of a talk on Saturday, May 2 at the Lincoln Depot Museum.
The event will take place at 2 p. m. and is part of the First Saturdays at the Museum series, a regular program held at the historic site located at 10 South Water Street. The presentation will be led by historian and author Daniel R. Weinfeld, who has conducted detailed research on this lesser-known regiment. The talk will offer a direct look at the unit’s participation in the American Civil War.
Weinfeld will reconstruct the regiment’s path through some of the most intense campaigns of the Union Army: The Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, and Cedar Creek. However, the focus of Saturday’s program will not only be maps and military strategy, but also the individuals behind the history. Among them is Lieutenant George D. Hyatt, a resident of Peekskill and Putnam Valley. His service provides a more personal perspective on the conflict.
This is precisely what gives the Big Six a strong sense of local identity in the Hudson Valley. The 6th New York Heavy Artillery was composed of neighbors turned soldiers, taken from their everyday lives and sent into war. The purpose of remembering their story is also to honor their memory.
The Big Six event is open to the general public and has an admission fee of 10 dollars. No advance registration is required. For more information about this talk or the museum’s upcoming programming, the public may contact [email protected].
After the May 2 program dedicated to this regiment, the Lincoln Depot Museum will continue its spring schedule with an event on May 16. The program, Meet John Adams, is a historical interpretation focusing on the second President of the United States. Later, on June 20, the museum will present Bite-the-Bullet! Rev. War Medicine, a talk focused on medical practices during the American Revolution. Throughout the season, additional special activities will include the Military Antiques Roadshow, where visitors may bring military objects for expert evaluation.
