 The 59th New York included recruits mainly from the streets of New York City and its environs, from upstate New York, and also a prominent group from north central Ohio.The regiment was mustered in from August 2, 1861, to October 30, 1861, and first commanded by Colonel William L. Tidball.After training in New York, the men of the 59th were assigned to the defense of Washington, D.C., and then, in July 1862, to the Second Corps of the Army of the Potomac.