USA > New York > Brief history of Company B, 27th regiment N.Y. volunteers; its organization and the part it took in the war > Part 1
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M.L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01082 5062
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A BRIEF HISTORY
-OF-
COMPANY B,
27th Regiment N. Y. Volunteers.
ITS ORGANIZATION AND THE PART IT TOOK IN THE WAR.
BY D. E. BUELL.
LYONS. N. Y. Printed at the Office of The Republican. 1874.
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F 8349 5459
Buell, D E.
A brief history of Company B. 27th regiment N. Y. volunteers. Its organiza- tion and the part it took in the war ... Lyons, N. Y., 1874. 0.
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1755043
IHELF CARD
358451
NL 28-1501
a
History of Company B.
In May, 1861, Company B, 27th Regiment N. Y. S. Vol., was organ- ized in Lyons, and left for Elmira; where it arrived, and took quar- ters in a Baptist Church, until the Government could find other ac- commodations. (That just suited the boys.) The Company was composed of officers as follows: Captain-A. D. ADAMS; First Lieut. -HENRY R. WHITE; Second Lieut. - WILLIAM HI. SWAN; Orderly Sergeant-M. W. GOODRICH; Second Sergt .- ROBERT E. HOLMES Third Sergt .- CROSBY HOPKINS; Fourth Sergt .- CHAS. SHERMAN; Fifth Sergt. W.M. C. BELDEN; Corporals -- First, W.M. ROOKER; Sec- ond, JOHN D. MCVICAR; Third, JAMES SNEDARER; Fourth, GEO. M. BELDEN; Fifth, JOSEPH SEAVEY; Sixth, JAS. C. BOURNE; Seventh, WILLIAM SHATTUCK; Eighth, A. VAN AMBURG. After staying at Elmira for two or three weeks, and drilling every day, meanwhile boar ling at a hotel-which none of the boys disliked,) the Regiment was at last filled to its quota of men. and was organized into a Regi- ment by Gen. VAN VALKENBURGH, with the following Field Officers: Colonel-HENRY W. SLOCUM; Lient. Col. - JOSEPH J. CHAMBERS; Major-Jos. J. BARTLETT. Special orders confirmed this election, accepted the Regiment, and numbered it. Company I, was mustered into the service of the United States, July 9th. The remaining Com- panies, Field and Staff Officers, July 10th. The muster, however, was for two years, from May 21st, 1861.
While at Elmira, Private D. of our Company, one of our best boys, happened to get in a little too much lager, ( which was the case with a great many others,) and was bound to have a good time. Col. T., of the 33d Regiment, passing to the city from camp, came upon Private D, and seeing him a little out of the way, ordered him arrested and confined in the guard-house of the 53d. Meantime Company B got hold of the matter, and word was sent Col. T. for his release, but no definite answer was returned. The boys, however, were bound to have him out at any cost. The officers talked to the men, and they were quieted for a time; but at about nine o'clock in the evening the
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HISTORY OF COMPANY B.
war broke loose, the long roll beat to fall in, the boys sliding out of their bunks one over the other, and in a short space of time a line of battle was formed by the whole Regiment. Muskets were loaded, revolvers and bowie-knives flashed in the moonlight, and stones and clubs were brought together; but after a great deal of threatening and blowing, the pris mer was released-when he came to his Com- pany on a run, and the whole Regiment commenced to cheer and hurrah for our side. " How are you, Gib ?- how did you get away?" Col. Stocuy came forward and talked to the men; but being satisfied, they retired to their quarters for the night.
As the Regiment is completed and its Companies filled, I will give a detail of the Companies, and where from, before proceeding any further:
Company A, White Plains-Capt. J. J. CHAMBERS.
Company B, Lyons-Capt. A. D. ADAMS.
Company C, Binghamton-Capt. Jos. J. BARTLETT.
Company D, Binghamton-Capt. HIRAM C. ROGERS.
Company E, Rochester-Capt. GEO. G. WANZER.
Company F, Binghamton-Capt. PETER JAY.
Company G, Lima-Capt. JAS. PERRINS.
Company HI, Mount Morris-Capt. C. E. MARTIN.
Company I, Perry-Capt. C. G. GARDNER.
Company K, Albion-Capt. H. L. ACHILLES, JR.
The Regiment was supplied with arms, &c., and left the State on the 10th of July, 1861, for Washington ein. Harrisburgh and Balti- more. On its arrival in Washington the Regiment was quartered in barracks on Franklin Square, where the boys remained for a few days ouly. A movement against the enemy was then under discussion, and the officers sought an interview with the War Department, with a view to having the Regiment assigned to the field. This request was granted, and on the 17th day of July it took up its line of march from Washington, as part of the First Brigade, (Col. PORTER,) and Second Division, (Gen. HUNTER. ) It reached Anandale on the evening of the 17th, and Fairfax Court House on the 18th, where a line of battle was formed, and the Reby. driven from their rifle-pits. On the 27th it reached the town, and pulled down an old Secesh. flag that was floating on one of the riffe-pits. The Regiment bivouacked here for the night, the men, being hungry and tired after the day's march, took their muskets and went out after some fresh meat. Some of the boys succeeded in bringing in a fine steer; and some came in with tur- keys, some with chickens, some with honey, bams, sugar, &c. A large
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HISTORY OF COMPANY B.
fire was kindled, and the boys resolved they would have a "square- meal "-and so they did, that night.
At an early hour next morning the Regiment was on the move. It reached Centreville in due time ; after leaving which place it reached the Nine Mile Woods, where Company B was ordered out to deploy as skirmishers-and they did well, it being their first trial. For mine miles the Company scoured the woods. Every few minutes the bugle would sound to rally. The day was one of the hottest I ever remem- ber. When the sun sank out of sight, and the whippowill com- menced his evening song, the Regiment halted for the night; and so ends the day.
On Sunday morning July 21st, 1861, the booming of cannon was heard in the distance. As our brave boys marched along through field and woods on that memorable Bull Run day, the water in their canteens gave out before reaching the field of action. Espying two porkers in a puddle of water near the roadside, they were summarily driven out; and the boys commenced to drink hastily of the vile fluid to queuch their thirst. The water was stagnant, and made the boys vomit alnost immediately. Some of them went here and some there, with canteens to be filled. As the 27th was going into action, the opposing force attempted to deceive it by displaying the Old Flag. Col. Stocey was distrustful, and directed Adjutant JENKINS to acertain whether they were friends or enemies. With a haverlock on the point of his sword as a flag of truce, the Adjutant rode toward the commanding officer to make the necessary inquiry; but before he reached him, the Stars and Stripes were displaced by the South Caro- lina banner. The line of battle was formed, and a fire opened on the 27th, which was promptly and vigorously returned. The Adjutant, thus unexpectedly placed between two fires, had a miraculous escape. The attempted deception so exasperated the Regiment that the inen fought like herves, and utterly routed their tricky foes,
Our next encounter was with the 27th Virginia, which fell back in confusion. We then inet the 8th Georgia, which fell back until rein - forced, when the Regiment was in turn repulsed, and took refuge un- der a hill. It was soon after ordered to charge a battery stationed on a knoll, and the boys moved to the work under a heavy fire, which soon told with fearful effect upon the ranks of the Regiment. Col. SLOCUM was wounded; the color-guard was reduced from nine to two; and the movement was abandoned. Company B was then ordered to charge upon an old log house which stood near by, containing a num- ber of the enemy's sharp-shooters. Before reaching the house the
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HISTORY OF COMPANY B.
Rebs. was seen getting to the rear as fast as they could, but the boys sent a volley of balls after them and made them "climb" still faster. Reaching the house, the door was instantly burst in, and before us stood one of the largest bloodhounds I ever saw-with bloodshot eyes and hungry jaws. He turned to attack his Yankee foes. One of the boy's gave him a bayonet thrust. He leaped forward and broke the chain that held him, and away he went toward the enemy-between two fires. Whether the dog ever reached his master, no one knows.
The Company fell back and joined its Regiment; and .Col. SocUM being wounded, Major BARTLETT succeeded to the command. Major B. kept the Regiment well in hand; and as it formed in line of battle for the last time, I think it was joined by the 14th (Brooklyn,) comunand- ed by Col. WooD. Other Regiments joined on, but the Rebel forces coming upon and overwhelming us, our forces fell back to the rear, where the confusion attending the retreat broke it up, as was the case with other Regiments actively engaged in the battle. Portions of the Regiment reached Fort Corcoran about nine o'clock on the 22d, and at noon it was partially reorganized and marched to Camp Anderson, Franklin's Square.
The Regiment remained in Washington until some time in Septem- ber, when it was assigned to Gen. Stocey's Brigade with the 16th N. Y. of Gen. FRANKLIN's Division, moved to the site of Fort Lyon, where it went into Camp, and was engaged in the construction of this Fort during the fall of 1861. As the boys were a little unused to this phase of soldier-life, they pitched their tents, and as a general thing (as " green ", ones would naturally do) did not dig around them to let the water run off in case of rain. Alas! a rain-storm set in, and it being just at night, the boys divested themselves of their clothing, took the wood that belonged to the cooks of the Company, and made a raft on which they floated around in their tent all that night. As the day dawned, the first thing done was to fix the tent more com- fortably; and there was no more getting drowned out afterward.
The Regiment spent the winter in Camp Franklin. Fort Lyon was built by SroceM's Brigade in the fall of 1861: and later in that fall the Regiment moved its camp to a site near Fairfax Seminary, to- ward the southeast-its former quarters near Hunting Creek having proved unhealthy-the new location was named Camp Franklin. Ilere the Regiment spent the winter of 1851-2, during which time the boys were occupied in building Fort Lyon, doing picket duty, and chopping wood from the Heights where now stands the Fort. The Regiment was very comfortably situated in winter quarters here. It
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HISTORY OF COMPANY B.
was during this time that the 27th was assigned to the Second Bri- gade (Gen. H. W. SLocuM's) of Gen. FRANKLIN's Division. This Brigade was composed of the 27th and 16th N. Y., the 5th Maine and the 95th Pennsylvania; and was not subsequently changed dur- ing the period of service of the 27th, except by the addition of the 121st N. Y., early in September, 1862. The position of the Brigade in the Army of the Potomac, however, was changed under the or -. ganization of March 13th, 1842. It was the Second Brigade, SLO- cuM's First Division, FRANKLIN's First Corps, in May following: it was the Second Brigade, First Division, FRANKLIN's Sixth Corps; and in last relation it remained until it left the field, at which time Gen. BROOKS was ia command of the Division, Gen. BARTLETT of the Brigade, and Gen. SEDGWICK of the Corps. This explanation will enable the reader to trace the movements of the Regiment.
The boys will long remember the picket-duty that was assigned them on the Little River turnpike road during the winter of 1861-2. It was there in one of those old buildings, that I remember a little in- cident which happened while on picket. The night was intensely cold, and a large fire was built in the old-fashioned fire place. The Corporals had posted their sentinels, and the hour being near mid- night, when Corporal Mc. came to examine the pickets. While go- ing the rounds he imagined, he saw a Reb .; and as the moon came out from beneath a cloud the supposed Reb. was seen distinctly. He im- mediately called the guard's attention. The order was given to come in-" Advance with the countersign!" but no answer. It was repeat- ed again and again. Then Private D's musket went to his shoulder, with true and steady arm and "bang" it went. Then followed con- .fusion. Capt. WHITE says, coolly-"Fall in lively, men, fall in!" Reader, if you had been there you'd thought Company B " fell in live- ly." In about ten seconds from the time the alarm was given, a line was formed ready for battle, and advancing toward the supposed Reb .- which proved to be an old stump! The boys laughed heartily at the mistake and went back to their respective quarters; no more "Rebs." appeared that night. The boys had a good joke on Corporal Mc. for the next three months to come.
As the guard was released, one night the fire in the old fireplace was almost out and the men asleep. The guards came in; and it be- ing cold, they brought rails from a fence near by, and filled the fire- place full. The fire commenced to roar, and give out heat; and lighting up the room, awoke the boys from a deep slumber. Then came the cry -- " Fire! fire! fire !- and such "climbing out" you nev.
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HISTORY OF COMPANY B.
er see. The mistake was soon discovered by Sergts. GOODRICH and BELDEN, and the men went to their bunks for the night again. Everything passed off quietly during the remainder of the time on picket.
Y
As the Company was released from duty, it went back to its old quarters in Camp Franklin. It was there that Private Tox II. com- menced business as a washerwoman-which was well done, and a great accommodation to the Company and also to the Regiment. Tox was a good fellow and a good soldier, but the boys did everlast. ingly steal his beef, and then borrow his own spider to cook it before he could discover the mistake. It was here, in camp, that the boys of Company B on one occasion blew the Captain's stove to pieces-at any rate, fifty rounds of cartridges were inserted into the pipe that stuck out of the tent, after dark. At an early hour next morning a brisk fire was kindled by little JOE SAMPSON, (or "Three Foot," as the boys called him.) when "bang!" came the explosion, and away went the stove-but no one hurt. The boys had a hearty laugh over it, and were not found out either-but Private L., who had a grudge against the Captain, and was bound to retaliate, was mainly responsi- ble for this trick. Nearly every day cartridges were thrown down the chimneys, and old pants and coats were tucked in to smoke cach other ont; and thus the time sped away-the boys drilling, doing guard duty in camp, and having fun.
We shall long remember the snowballing battle we had in Camp Franklin. Col. BARTLETT thought the boys were aching for a fight, and ordered the Regiment to fall in without arms. The snow was about three inches deep, and just soft enough to pack well. The Regiment was divided into five Companies on a side, and soon the snowballs were flying like grape and canister. The bugle would sound to retreat and to rally. After two hours snowballing, the Companies retired to their tents, some with vore heads and bloody noses. It was an every day occurrence to see a tight; and as the Regiment had a Sutter he issued tickets-" Fighting 27th " At length marching orders came. The men had their knapsack- already packed. The bugle sounded. The orderlies called their Companies together, and everything being in readiness, the Regiment was on the move toward Fairfax Court House, but did not get there in time to take a part in the fight. After staying at Fairfax over night, the Regiment fell back to its old quarters. Here it remained a short time only, as orders came to be ready at a moment's notice. At last they came. The Regiment marched to Alexandria, and went aboard the
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HISTORY OF COMPANY B.
steamer Spulling. Company B was placed in the midship; and as the steamer struck salt water, the boys became sea sick. After one or two days. however, they were all right. As the steamer got into Chesapeake Bay, some of the boys in the Company went into the water bathing. At last the steamer arrived at Shipping Point, Vir- ginia, when the Regiment Livouacked in a small grove, at the mouth of the York River. While staying here the boys feasted on oysters, of which there were plenty. After staying here about ten days they embarked for West Point, where they landed on the 6th of June. The 25th was the first Regiment that reached the shore. Immediate- ly orders were given to fall into line, as the enemy's cavalry were seen a short distance off. The Regiment advanced, and was on picket dur- ing the remainder of the day and night. At intervals the Rebs. kept up picket tireing. Two or three were killed out of the Regiment dur- ing the night. As day dawned, our forces advanced and drove the Robs, from their position after a hard day's fight.
After the battle, the Regiment took up its line of march for York- town, where it remained until the battle of Williamsburgh. At the conclusion of the action the Regiment marched three miles up the York River, where it remained one day; thence toward Cumberland, three miles, where it remained two days. Here FRANKLIN's (6th, Corps, was organized: and from this point the movement was in the following order: STONEMAN in advance, FRANKLIN'S Corps in sup- port and PORTER'S Corps in reserve. The Regiment crossed the Chickahominy about the 20th of June, at about 3 p. M., went into action about 5 P. M. on the extreme right of PORTER's Corps, drove the enemy from his position by a bayonet charge, and captured a large number of prisoners. It held its position until dark, when, after expending all its ammunition, it was ordered to retire. It was here, in the battle of Gaines' Mills, that Company B lost heavily, lose- irg some of its best members-21 in all, killed, wounded and miss- ing. Poor BILLY MCELWAIN, EDWARD ALLEE, JOSEPH SEAVY-AS long as there is a history, so long will their names be remembered at home by their loved ones. The battle being fought, our forces re- tired from the field, Captain W. badly wounded. The Regiment re- crossed the river and went into camp. All that night and until early morning the wounded kept coming in. Private KNOBLOCK, I think, was wounded in three or four different places, as was also the case with others. A ball passed so close to Tir BEI.DEN's head as to graze his scalp. Early next morning the bridge over the river was blown up; then commeneed the retreat of the Army of the Potomac.
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HISTORY OF COMPANY B.
I must not omit about the Regiment, and also the Brigade, being at Mechanicsville and doing picket-duty at the time the battle of Fair Oaks was fought. The boys will all remember a little incident that happened there. The 27th was ordered to "fall in with arms" as marching orders, and marched down the road toward a bridge leading across the Chickahominy in front of the enemy's cannons. On, on, the brave boys marched, never flinching-when the order was given, " By the right about!" which the men did as if going on dress-parade. The object was to draw the enemy's fire, as our artil- lery was waiting for the purpose of shelling the enemy out of his en- trenchments, where he had batteries masked; but the fire was not opened until evening when our artillery silenced them, and as night fell upon us the cannonading ceased for the day.
As the army fell back after the battle of Gaines' Mills, the Division marched about five miles, keeping on the highlands which skirted the Chickahominy, in order to protect the right of the army. It halt- ed about two miles from Savage Station, and after remaining in line of battle a few moments, fell back to the station. After remaining two hours in the woods around the station, the Brigade marched two miles to the rear, where the men helped themselves to new clothing from a quantity of quartermaster's stores that were left from want of transportation. At the station a train of cars was standing; and as the enemy was advancing up the railroad track, a full head of steam was put on by the engineer, and let go. Away sped the train, on its errand of death; and away flew the Johnnies in every direc- tion. All that night our boys marched along, keeping up good cheer. The boys of Company B stuck together like wax. Man after man from different Companies and Regiments would say " I am tired out-I can go no farther!"-and would drop down by the roadside with fatigue, and fall asleep only to wake up and find themselves prisoners in the hands of the enemy.
On the 30th of June the Regiment reached Charles City Cross- Roads, where the enemy attacked us. In this engagement the Regi- ment supported the Ist Massachusetts, and also Hexamer's Batteries. It was here that we had one of the hardest artillery nights of the cam- paign. All that long night the boys marched, and I think at daylight reached Malvern Hill; but the Regiment took no part in the battle. The Division having moved on and established a line of piekets near the James River, the next day's march brought us near Harrison's Landing. Before reaching the Landing, the Regiment was sent out as skirmishers. At the battle of Malvern Hill it was sent early into
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the action, to the right of the army, to prevent a flank movement by the enemy; and during the entire seven day's fight it was under fire every day.
As the Regiment reached Harrison's Landing it encamped in the centre of a large wheat-field. The men being tired and worn out from the marching they had done during the previous seven days and nights, lay down to rest; and next morning there was not a spear of wheat to be seen, the mud being about four inches deep on the level. At an early hour the next morning the Regiment fell in, marched about two miles and established its camp at a point where the gun- boats protected cithier flank, the Regiment being about half a mile from the James River. Here the whole army halted for rest and to recruit its strength. The Regiment here did picket-duty and labored on fortifications until the 16th of August. Here we were during those hot days in summer, without water fit to drink, the men dying a few yards off in the Piney Woods of what some called the camp fever and some typhoid. The men would drink commissary whisky until they were half drunk, or swallow quinine till their heads buzzed around like a top; and what could antifogmatics do while we ab- sorbed the terrible poison with every respiration? The living rotted faster than the dead; the dead multiplied like white mice. Men's minds, too, festered with their bodies. Stragglers loafed to the rear, and encamped in pairs and squads on their own hook. Officers saw them but took no note, or only cursed fecbly or pretended to do something. The once jolly mess-tables at Elmira, that used to ring with jests and laughter, and glow with wit and good humor, was ex. changed for continuation of low, peevish growls, resounding through the camp. A poisoned army lying in camp has about as much morale as you may find in a sheep fold, especially here on the Peninsula.
One evening at about ten o'clock the enemy's battery opened on us from the opposite side of the river. The men fell into line of battle for another contest with the foc. We had not long to wait before our gun-boats came down and opened a heavy fire on the Rebs. with those " rotten shot," as the " Johnnies " called them- which put them to flight, the enemy doing no damage beyond killing a few mules. The next day a reconnoissance party was sent out, which burned some old buildings opposite Harrison's Landing and found some of the enemy's dead. There was no more artillery firing from the ene - my after that, as those 500-pound shells did not sound exactly sweet in their cars.
It was here the men did picket-duty near the Rebel lines. Some of the boys went to a Rebel dance in disguise, and took part in it. I re-
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HISTORY OF COMPANY B.
member a little incident that happened here one day, which I will relate as nearly as possible. One of the "Johnnies" swam the river and came into our lines. One of our boys asked him where he was going. "Wal," said Johnnie, "Gen'l LEE made a speech the other day, and told us to strike for our altars and our fires, and as my fire is in Tennessee. I'm going to strike across lots for it." Another Reb. called out to one of our men across the river while on picket -- "Yank, oh Yank, is Little MAC your commander yet?" " What do you want to know for." asked our boy. "Oh, nothing," says John- nie, "Only I think he must command us too; for whenever you get marching orders we get them too-with the difference that we go in advance." One of the boys asked a Rebel Major when he thought the war would end. " Wal," says he," I think it'll end this fall." " Why so?" "Wal, you won't have any one to fight by that time if you keep on as you have done since May."
The Regiment remained at Harrison's Landing until about the 16th of August, when one fine morning orders came to pack knapsacks and be ready at a moment's notice to march. The men began to wonder where they were going. Some would say one place and some another. One of the boys asked the Orderly, " Where are we going any how?" Orderly says-" On an expedition." "Where too, I wonder?" "I don't know!" Then the boys commenced to laugh and cheer, when one of them said-" I'm mighty glad to get out of this mud, anyhor-aren't you, boys!" "Where do you suppose we are going?" everyone asked everybody else; and as they were disputing, orders came to fall in without knapsacks, and in a few minutes the camp was broken up and on its line of march. When we came to Charles City Court House-by the way, the boys say there are "Court Houses" enough there to till a hundred-acre lot-we halted for rest a few moments; then going on we crossed the Chickahominy at Barnett's Ford on a pontoon bridge, marched through Williams- burgh and Yorktown, and arrived at Newport News, where we halt- ed again for rest. I think there was not a man in the Regiment but went in swimming; and it was a sight to see them! The men were glad enough to get where they could find some good water to drink, as well as wash in. Here lay the old Rebel gun-boat Merrimuc, sunk nearly out of sight in the mud and water, where it had its encounter with the "little Yankee cheese-box on a raft." the Monitor.
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