Moncreiffe

According to some sources the progenitor of the Moncreiffes was of Anglo-Norman lineage, one Mortimer who assumed the name of Moncreiffe after obtaining the lands of that name in the parish of Dunbarney, Perthshire. However, Sir Iain Moncreiffe of that Ilk, the distinguished historian, disputes this and claims that the Moncreiffes are descended in the direct male line from a son Niall of nine Hostages, High King of Ireland who was living in AD 400. The family name is taken from Monadh Croibhe - Moncreiffe Hill which lies on a peninsula between the Rivers Tay and Earn in Perthshire. In 1586 William of that Ilk, 11th chief of the Moncreiffes entered into a treaty with Clan Murray, for their mutual defence. This bond was established further by the two families frequent intermarrying over the centuries. The last five lairds of Moncreiffe were officers of the Atholl Highlanders, the Duke of Atholl's (chief of Clan Murray) private army. Sir Thomas Moncreiffe was a clerk of the Exchequer and Treasury during the reigns of Charles II, James VII & II and William and Mary, and inherited the family estate. Sir Iain Moncreiffe of that Ilk also inherited his title and lands from a kinsman and was Albany Herald at the court of the Lord Lyon. In 1946 he married the only child of the 22nd Earl of Erroll who consequently had become a countess in her own right and who passed her title and estates to the Moncreiffe family.

This article contributed by Phyllis Csazar

TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, THIS IS WHAT MY GREAT GRANDFATHER WILLIAM MONCRIEF'S WAR RECORD FORM STATES. 

CORPORAL, COMPANY "F", 12TH REGIMENT INFANTRY, NJ VOLUNTEERS
ENLISTED:  AUGUST 5TH, 1862, DISCHARGED: JUNE 4TH 1865, PROMOTED TO CORPORAL:   FEBRUARY 6TH, 1865

WILLIAM MONCRIEF

THE 12TH REGIMENT WAS ORGANIZED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF AN ACT OF CONGRESS APPROVED JULY 22, 1861, AND UNDER A CALL ISSUED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, DATED WASHINGTON D.C., JULY 7, 1862 FOR 300,000 ADDITIONAL VOLUNTEERS TO SERVE FOR THE THREE YEARS OR DURING THE WAR.  THIS REGIMENT WAS ONE OF THE FIVE REGIMENTS REQUIRED AS THE QUOTA OF THIS STATE UNDER THIS CALL AND AS SET FORTH IN A TELEGRAM RECEIVED FROM THE WAR DEPARTMENT DATED JULY 8, 1862.  THE RAISING OF THE REGIMENT WAS COMMENCED IMMEDIATELY AND WAS COMPLETED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF GENERAL ORDERS NO. 75, WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, WASHINGTON, D.C. DATED JULY 8, 1862. 

THE REGIMENT WAS FULLY ORGANIZED, EQUIPPED AND OFFICERED BY THE 4TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 1862, AT WHICH TIME IT WAS MASTERED INTO THE SERVICE OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THREE YEARS AT CAMP STOCKTON NEAR WOODBURY, NEW JERSEY, BY CAPTAIN WILLIAM B. ROYALL, 5TH CAVALRY, UNITED STATED ARMY, HAVING A FULL COMPLEMENT OF MEN - OFFICERS 39; NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND PRIVATES 953 - TOTAL 992.  IT LEFT THE STATE SEPTEMBER 7, 1862, ENROUTE FOR WASHINGTON, BUT ON ARRIVAL AT BALTIMORE, MD AND BY REASON OF A THREATENED INVASION OF PENNSYLVANIA AND MARYLAND BY THE ENEMY, AN ORDER WAS ISSUED ASSIGNING THE REGIMENT FOR DUTY UNDER GENERAL WOOD, COMMANDING THE DISTRICT, WHO ORDERED IT TO PROCEED IMMEDIATELY TO ELLIOTT'S MILLS MD.  AT THIS POINT THE REGIMENT REMAINED ABOUT THREE MONTHS IN THE PERFORMANCE OF PROVOST, PICKET AND ESCORT DUTY, GUARDING BRIDGES AND THE RAILROAD.  ON THE 10TH OF DECEMBER, 1862, IN COMPLIANCE WITH ORDERS FROM WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D.C., DATED DECEMBER 6, 1862, THE REGIMENT PROCEEDED TO WASHINGTON AND REPORTED THE FOLLOWING DAY AND ON THE 13TH PROCEEDED TO JOIN THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC WHERE IT ARRIVED ON THE 20TH AND AT ONCE ENTERED UPON ACTIVE DUTY.   AT DIFFERENT TIMES DURING THE YEARS 1863, 1864 AND 1865, THE STRENGTH OF THE REGIMENT WAS INCREASED BY THE JOINING DRAFT FROM DRAFT RENDEZVOUS, TRENTON NEW JERSEY BY A LARGE NUMBER OF RECURITS, SUBSTITUES AND DRAFTED MEN.  ON THE 5TH DAY OF JUNE, 1865 THE OFFICERS AND ENLISTED MEN OF THE 11TH REGIMENT NOT ENTITLED TO DISCHARGE UNDER EXISTING ORDERS JOINED THE REGIMENT BY TRANSFER.  THE REGIMENT CONTINUED ITS ORGANIZATION AND REMAINED IN ACTIVE SERVICE UNTIL CLOSE OF THE WAR, AND THOSE COMING UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF GENERAL ORDERS NO. 26, HEADQUARTERS ARMY  OF THE POTOMAC, DATED MAY 17, 1865, WERE MUSTERED OUT AT CAMP NEAR MUNSON'S HILL VA.  JUNE 4, 1865, BY HARVEY Y. RUSSELL, CAPTAIN 10TH REGIMENT INFANTRY, NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS, ASSISTANT COMMISSARY OF MUSTER, 2ND DIVISION, 2ND ARMY CORPS.  THE REMAINDER WERE MUSTERED OUT OF SERVICE NEAR WASHINGTON, D.C., JULY 15, 1865, BY TIMOTHY W. KELLY, CAPTAIN 164TH REGIMENT INFANTRY, NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS, ASSISTANT COMMISSARY OF MUSTERS, 2ND DIVITION, PROVISIONAL CORPS. ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, IN COMPLIANCE WITH ORDERS FROM WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, WASHINGTON, D.C.

THE REGIMENT WAS FIRST ATTACHED TO THE 2ND BRIGADE, 3RD DIVISION, 2ND CORPS. THEN TO THE 3RD BRIGADE AND 2ND DIVISION, 2ND CORPS AND AT THE CLOSE OF THE WAR WAS ATTACHED TO WHAT WAS KNOWN AS THE PROVISIONAL CORPS, ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.

THE REGIMENT TOOK PART IN THE FOLLOWING ENGAGEMENTS:  CHANCELLORVILLE, VA. MAY 3RD AND 4TH 1863, GETTYSBURG, PA JULY 2ND AND 3RD 1863, FALLING WATERS, MD JULY 13, 1863, AUBURN MILLS, VA OCTOBER 14TH 1863, BRISTOW STATION, VA, OCTOBER 14TH 1863, BLACKBURN'S FORD, VA.  OCTOBER 15TH 1863, ROBINSON'S TAVERN, VA NOV. 27TH 1863, MINE RUN, VA. NOVEMBER 21ST, 29TH AND 30TH, 1863, MORTON'S FORD, VA, FEBRUARY 6TH 1864, WILDERNESS, VA, MAY 5TH TO 7TH,1864, SPOTTSYLVANIA, VA, MAY 8TH TO 11TH, 1864, SPOTTSYLVANIA C.H. VA, MAY 12TH TO 18TH 1864, NORTH & SOUTH ANNA RIVER, VA. MAY 24TH TO 26TH 1864, TOLOPOTOMY, VA, MAY 30TH TO 31TH 1864, COLD
HARBOR, VA, JUNE 2ND TO 12TH 1864, BEFORE PETERSBURG VA, JUNE 16TH TO 23RD 1864, DEEP BOTTOM VA, JULY 25TH TO 29TH 1864, MINE EXPLOSION, VA, JULY 30TH 1864, NORTH BANK OF JAMES RIVER, VA. AUGUST 14TH TO 18TH 1864, REAM'S STATION, VA. AUGUST 25TH, 1864, FORT SEDWICK, VA SEPTEMBER 10TH, 1864, HATCHER'S RUN, VA. OCTOBER 27TH, 1864, BOYDTON PLANK ROAD, VA. OCTOBER 27TH, 1864, HATCHER'S RUN, VA. FEBRUARY 6TH TO 8TH 1865, DABNEY'S MILLS, VA. FEBRUARY 28TH, 1865, HATCHER'S RUN, VA. MARCH 25TH, 1865, BOYDTON PLANK ROAD, VA. APRIL 1ST, 1865, CAPTURE OF PETERSBURG, VA. APRIL 2ND, 1865 SAILOR'S CREEK, VA. APRIL 6TH, 1865, HIGH BRIDGE, VA APRIL 7TH 1865, FARMVILLE, VA. APRIL 7TH 1865,   LEE'S SURRENDER (APPOMATTOX, VA.) APRIL 9TH 1865.