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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 00823 5084
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HISTORY
of the
121ST NEW YORK STATE INFANTRY
By ISAAC O. BEST
1921 PUBLISHED BY LIEUT. JAS. H. SMITH 3543 Cottage Grove Ave., CHICAGO, ILL.
Price by mail, prepaid, $1.15
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FOREWORD
TN compiling a History of the 121st Regiment of New York Volunteers, the writer feels handi- capped by two facts: He is not an original mem- ber of the regiment, but was transferred from the 16th N. Y. in the spring of 1863; and after his transfer, he did not serve in the regiment, having previously been detailed for clerical duty in the office of the Adjutant General of the Brigade. Consequently he never had that close personal relation with the members of the regiment that would give to his writing the intimate character of a fellow soldier.
On the other hand, however, his position gave him the advantage of a close observer; for all the orders from the higher authorities and all the re- ports of the brigade and regimental commanders passed under his hand, and he was able to esti- mate more fully the character of the services rendered, and the estimation in which those serv- ices were held by the superior officers.
The several sources from which this history is compiled are: the records of the regiment, the reports of regimental and brigade commanders, the diaries of several members of the regiment, and several books already published covering the same events. Of these the diary of Colonel Clinton Beckwith, notes by Lieut. J. H. Smith, the chapters in the History of Otsego County, prepared by Colonel J. W. Cronkite, the letters of Chaplain John R. Adams and the diary of Lieutenant Wood- cock have been especially useful. Col. Beckwith's diary is as it professes to be, the "story of his own
army experiences, and of his comrades and of the regiment from the enlisted man's viewpoint." That he has given permission to quote ad libitum from it is very gratifying to the compiler, as it will certainly be also to the readers of the history. Col. Cronkite's history of the regiment in the History of Otsego County is a condensed sketch of the most important facts connected with the serv- ices and exploits of the regiment; but as it may be be protected by copyright the facts and not the words, are freely used.
The compiler bespeaks for his work the same kindly regard that has been shown him by the Regimental Association, in welcoming him to its membership, and honoring him with this privilege of writing its history.
The task assigned to Lieut. Jas. H. Smith of collecting photographs of the officers of the regi- ment, and of having half-tone reproductions made of such as could be secured, for use in this volume, he has found a very difficult undertaking. It will be remembered by our surviving comrades that photography during our service was just emerg- ing from the daguerreotype, and the tintype, into photographic prints on paper, and that practically all photos made in those days were of the "Carte De Visete" size (21/8x35/s inches). Hence the necessity for the diminished size of most of our illustrations.
It was found to be impossible to secure any con- siderable number of photos of the line officers (captains and lieutenants) hence we concluded to omit all such, and confine our efforts to securing for illustrations only those who served as com- manders of our Corps, Division, Brigade and Regiment, and the regimental field officers, and some of the latter we are also obliged to omit, as we were unsuccessful in every effort to secure the
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necessary photos. We wish, however, to thank all those who by loaning to us such photographs as they have, have thereby made our illustrations as complete as we could have hoped for at the pres- ent day.
The red cross which appears on the cover of this book was adopted in 1863 as the emblem of the 1st Division of the 6th Army Corps. It therefore antedates by many years the Red Cross Society, as well as its use as a hospital emblem.
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INTRODUCTION
A S each individual of a family is distinguished from the rest by peculiar characteristics, and each family in a community differs from every other family, so nations and races are dis- tinguishable in like manner, the regiments, brigades and corps of an army acquire peculiari- ties by which they can be distinguished from all others. These peculiarities depend upon and are developed by several conditions. The character of the men composing the organization, the cir- cumstances under which it was organized, the ability and efficiency of the leaders, all combine to produce an esprit de corps which is capable of indefinite variety. In this respect the 121st was especially fortunate. Its original members were young men of fine personal character, the con- panies were recruited from neighboring town- ships, it was officered by the men who had conducted the recruiting, and was assigned to a brigade, division, and corps that had no superiors in the army.
The Sixth Corps was commanded by Major General John Sedgwick, the First Division by Brigadier General H. W. Slocum, and the Second Brigade by Brigadier General J. J. Bartlett. Under these officers the brigade had acquired an efficiency and reputation that immediately affected favor- ably the newly assigned regiment. They were all officers of marked military ability, who thought little of mere display, and much of soldierly effi- ciency, whose effort was not to make themselves conspicuous, but to make the troops under them
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capable of the best service under every exigency of war.
But the officer, to whom the regiment was most indebted for the development of its brilliant indi- viduality, was undoubtedly Colonel Emory Upton. He came to it soon after its entry into active serv- ice, a recent graduate of West Point, with a fine reputation, attained by efficient service during the previous campaign as an artillery officer. Eagerly efficient, strict, yet just in discipline, wise in ad- ministration, cool and fearless in danger, he was able to win and hold the respect and admiration of the men under him, and to mold them into the model fighting regiment that they became. To the present day, every surviver of the regiment is proud to have served under the command of General Emory Upton.
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MAJOR GENERAL EMORY UPTON, Who served as Colonel of the 121st N. Y. Volunteers from October 23, 1862, to July 4, 1864.
COLONEL EGBERT OLCOTT, Commander of the 121st N. Y. Infantry from July 4, 1864, to the end of the war.
JAMES W. CRONKITE, Major and Brevet Lieutenant Colonel, 121st N. Y. Infantry.
CHAPTER I THE ORGANIZATION OF THE 121ST NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS
W THEN on July 2, 1862, President Lincoln issued the call for 300,000 men, the war for the Union had reached such proportions, and the military situation was so critical, that the patriotic enthusi- asm that had characterized the organization of the volunteer army in 1861 no longer availed to pro- cure the troops necessary to fill the quota required from the State, and a systematic and earnest effort was necessary. This effort developed in two direc- tions: first, to fill up the older regiments with recruits; and second, to organize new regiments, one in each Senatorial District. Under the latter plan the 121st was recruited in the 20th Senatorial District comprising the two counties of Herkimer and Otsego. To supervise the organization of the regiment, Governor Morgan appointed the Hon. Richard Franchot, and also a committee from the two counties which should appoint County Com- mittees to prosecute the work in the several town- ships. The Senatorial Committee consisted of the following named persons : R. Ethridge, Wn. Gates, Ezra Graves, Amos H. Prescott, L. L. Lowell, H. H. Pomeroy, Thomas Richardson and Volney Owen, County Judge.
It has not been possible to find the names of the County Committees, but under their direction patriotic meetings were held in the several town- ships, and recruiting officers appointed for the separate companies.
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Headquarters were established at Herkimer, and the enlistment was pushed so energetically that by the middle of August a full regiment was assured, and the recruiting officers were ordered to report at headquarters with their men.
The townships from which the several com- panies were recruited were as follows:
Company A. Manheim, Little Falls, Salisbury and Dunbar.
Company B. Winfield, Plainfield, Litchfield, Ger- man Flats, Columbia and Stark.
Company C. Fairfield, Russia, Herkimer and Newport.
Company D. Frankfort, Warren, Manheim, Schuyler, Columbia and Salisbury.
Company E. Middlefield, Milford, Cherry Valley, Hartwick, Springfield, Otego and Roseboom.
Company F. Edminston, Exeter, Unadilla, Otego and Maryland.
Company G. Cherry Valley, Roseboom, Decatur, Middlefield, Westford, Worcester and Herkimer. Company H. Little Falls, Richfield, Salisbury and Otego.
Company I. Milford, Laurens, Morris, Worcester, Pittsfield, Hartwick and German Flats.
Company K. Laurens, New Lisbon, Oneonta, Burlington, Otego, Butternuts, Pittsfield and Plainfield.
A camp for the regiment was selected across the Mohawk River from Herkimer on German Flats, and named Camp Schuyler.
The contract for this camp-site reads as follows:
HEADQUARTERS CAMP SCHUYLER
August 29, 1862.
This agreement, made this 25th day of July, A. D. 1862, between Albert Story, on behalf of the State of New York, as Quartermaster, and Henry J.
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Schuyler, witnesseth that the said Schuyler has leased for the season certain grounds, being a por- tion of his farm in the township of German Flats, for the purpose of allowing the same to be used as a military camp.
The State has the authority and power to have as much land as is necessary and as they desire to occupy, and to put such fixtures on the ground as may be necessary; and they are to pay for the said land at the rate of $10.00 per acre. The State is to fix the fences that may be necessarily removed, and put them back as they were, or pay for the same being done. The State has the right to re- move the fixtures after this lease has expired.
H. J. SCHUYLER. ALBERT STORY,
Quartermaster 121st N. Y.
In presence of AMOS H. PRESCOTT.
There is nothing on record about the physical characteristics or structural features of this camp to suggest beauty or interest, and the stay of the 121st in it was so short after their muster in, that nothing worth remembering by the men seems to have occurred there.
By a partial agreement among themselves the company offices were to be apportioned according to the number each had enlisted; and this agree- ment was so closely adhered to, that there was little dissatisfaction when the order of the Gover- nor was received, completing the organization of the Regiment.
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GENERAL HEADQUARTERS, STATE OF NEW YORK ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE
Albany, August 21, 1862.
Special Order No. 463
The several companies of volunteers enlisted in the 20th Senatorial District of this State, in con- formity with General Order No. 52 from this department, having been duly organized, said companies are hereby formed into a regiment, to be known and designated as the 121st Regiment of New York State Volunteers.
The following persons are hereby appointed field staff and company officers, and will be con- missioned when the complete muster rolls of the regiment thus organized shall have been filed in the office of the Adjutant General of the State. Colonel: Richard Franchot; Lieut. Colonel: C. H. Clark; Major: Egbert Olcott; Surgeon: Wm. Bassett; 1st Assistant Surgeon: N. S. B. Valen- tine; 2d Assistant Surgeon : David M. Holt; Chap- lain: J. R. Sage; Adjutant: Alonzo Ferguson; Quartermaster: Albert Story.
Company A. Captain, H. M. Galpin; 1st Lieut., Jonathan Burrill; 2d Lieut., George W. Davis.
Company B. Captain, Irvin Holcomb; 1st Lieut.,
H. C. Keith; 2d Lieut., George A. May.
Company C. Captain, C. A. Moon; 1st. Lieut., Thomas S. Arnold; 2d Lieut., Angus Cameron. Company D. Captain, John D. Fish; 1st Lieut., D.
M. Kenyon; 2d Lieut., Charles E. Staring.
Company E. Captain, Douglas Campbell; 1st Lieut., Theodore Sternburg; 2d Lieut., Harrison Van Horn.
Company F. Captain, Nelson O. Wendell; 1st Lieut., Byron T. Peck; 2d Lieut., Frank G. Bolles.
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Company G. Captain, Edwin Park; 1st Lieut., Charles T. Ferguson; 2d Lieut., J. D. Clyde. Company H. Captain, John Ramsey; 1st Lieut., W. F. Doubleday; 2d Lieut., Marcus R. Casler. Company I. Captain, John S. Kidder; 1st Lieut., John D. P. Douw; 2d Lieut., Delavan Bates. Company K. Captain, Sacket M. Olin; 1st Lieut., Andrew E. Mather.
By order of the Commander in Chief (Signed) JNO. HILLHOUSE, Adjutant General.
The regiment was mustered into service under the above named officers, and for a week occupied Camp Schuyler, numbering 30 officers and 946 en- listed men. Besides these there had been enlisted 117 men who on August 20th were discharged by the Surgeon's certificate for disability.
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CHAPTER II
THE defeat of Mcclellan before Richmond, and his retreat to Harrison's Landing so uncovered Washington to an advance of the Confederate army, that it became necessary to rush additional forces to the defense of the capital of the nation, and only a week was allowed for equipment and drill of the 121st at Camp Schuyler. On August 30th the regiment left camp under orders to pro- ceed to Washington. The journey was made by railroad to Albany, by boat to New York, and by railroad through Philadelphia and Baltimore to Washington. The events of this journey are graphically told by members of the regiment. Colonel Beckwith's is the most explicit, and before quoting from his diary of this and future events, a sketch of his previous army experiences is almost a necessity. At the age of fifteen he went to Albany and enlisted in the 91st N. Y. Infantry, and with them went to Florida where he was unable to en- dure the climate, and was discharged for disability. Returning to his home in Utica, he so recovered his health that he determined to re-enlist, and after visiting several recruiting stations decided to enter the 121st. He was made a corporal in Company B. He has entitled the story of his war experiences, "Three Years with the Colors of a Fighting Regi- ment in the Army of the Potomac, by a Private Soldier." Passing over the very interesting ac- count of his previous experiences I quote from his journal, beginning at the departure from Camp Schuyler. "My life in camp at Camp Schuyler was thoroughly enjoyed by me and I never pass it now
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without recollections of a pleasant nature surging to my memory. After we had been uniformed and equipped, we were sent to New York and Wash- ington, without special incident-feeding at the old cooper shop in Philadelphia, and getting a tough meal at Washington. We were marched with full ranks, one thousand strong, in review past the great martyred Lincoln, and received his kindly commendation and warm approbation; and on, out to the fort in the chain of defenses of Wash- ington, called after him, Fort Lincoln, in the vicinity of Hyattsville, Md., and near the famous duelling ground of slavery days." (The Colonel was evidently not a participant in the melon-patch episode just outside of Philadelphia, while the train was waiting on a siding for other trains to pass. Colonel Cronkite says that the tedium of the wait was relieved by a raid on a neighboring melon patch in which more than half of the regi- ment participated; and that, led by an officer, they returned to the train laden with a melon each.) The regiment in box cars arrived in Washington on Sept. 3d, in the morning and arrived at Hyatts- ville in the afternoon. Major Olcott, having been sent ahead to get instructions, was asked by the commanding officer whether the regiment was from the country and had good choppers in it. The major answered that it was from an agricul- tural and dairy section, and did not contain many axemen. There the matter ended. This journey from Camp Schuyler to Washington, made so quietly and orderly, so soon after the muster of the regiment, demonstrates the remarkable character of the officers and the men composing it. They were not adventurers, not mere enthusiasts, but sober, earnest American citizens, who realized the need of their services, and were patriotic enough to give their best to the country they loved. Their
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good conduct was not the result of discipline and drill, but of the essential virtues of their character. It was prophetic of the admirable service it was destined to render, when perfected by months of well directed instruction in the tactics and practice of war.
To resume Col. Beckwith's narrative, "Here for a little time we busied ourselves with the duties of soldiers in camp, and becoming familiar with com- pany and battalion movements, when all of a sud- den we were astonished by news that Mcclellan had fallen back from Harrison's Landing, Pope was falling back from Culpeper Court House, Jackson was on Pope's flank, and Lee was par- tially between Pope and Mcclellan, and Washing- ton. Everything was magnified in the most out- rageous manner."
What really had happened was serious enough. McClellan's army was concentrated at Harrison's Landing, discouraged by defeat, the defeat of its commander, not of its constituency, destitute of equipment and supplies on account of the capture and destruction of artillery and trains. Pope, with the forces able to be gathered for the purpose, was not able to resist the attack of the victorious Con- federate army, in the series of engagements that constituted the second battle of Bull Run; and flushed with this further triumph, Lee was leading his forces forward in an attempt to capture Wash- ington. They were already in Maryland, concen- trating in the vicinity of Frederick City. It was necessary to interpose a sufficient force between the advancing enemy and Washington to prevent its capture, and defeat the enemy. In this effort, little time was given to the newly enlisted regi- ments for instruction and drill. They were hurriedly assigned to organizations already in the field. The 121st was ordered to report to the Fifth
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Corps, then located in Virginia, south of Wash- ington. When on the march to cross the Potomac, it was met by General Slocum, who was a friend of Col. Franchot, and by his influence the regiment was reassigned to the Sixth Corps. It was by this unexpected meeting of two old friends that in going to the front the 121st was "put into one of the choicest brigades of the army; and we were marched out by way of the Tenallyville road, to, and through Rockville, and by Darnstown and Sugar Loaf Mountain, and joined the brigade com- manded by Gen. Joseph J. Bartlett, with which we remained till the war ended." (B.)
By all accounts this march to the front was un- necessarily severe. On the first day it was con- tinued until late in the evening, and the men were too weary even to eat, and as they had left their knapsacks behind and had not yet been supplied with shelter tents, the night was spent most miser- ably, and in many cases the health of the men was so shattered that they never recovered from the effects of their excessive fatigue and exposure. Many subsequent marches were longer and more difficult, but they were made under experienced commanders, with the men more inured to exer- cise, and with facilities to better take care of themselves.
The ambition of Col. Franchot to report at the front as soon as possible, led him to resume the march at 2 A. M. the next morning, thus giving the men only three hours for rest and sleep. Many who had not been able to keep up on the previous day, were deprived of even that scant period of rest.
Col. Beckwith continues, "We, in our inexperi- ence, clung to our knapsacks, blankets, overcoats, rubber blankets, and all the trinkets and 'what- nots' we had brought from home, and these made
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such heavy loads that they wore many a poor chap out; and by nightfall he was many miles in the rear, hurrying to catch up as best he could, gen- erally with poor success. The weather was very warm, and the dirt roads, cut deep with the artil- lery, ammunition, supply and baggage trains, were shoe deep with powdered clay, and dust of a dark red color, and it would completely envelop a column of troops marching on each side of the roads, which were occupied by the cavalry and artillery portion of the army, because the infantry could go anywhere. So, loaded too heavily, and unused to the work, the men would pluckily keep up until overcome by heat, or choked with thirst, smothered by dust, discouraged and exhausted, they would throw themselves down, and many a fine fellow perished in this way.
"In those days our ranks were full, our uniforms bright, our faces clean and untanned. We had, and wore, the sweetness of home. War, its suf- fering, misery, wounds, sickness and horrors were uncared for, because untouched."
These were the days when the endurance of our men was tested to the limit. We had no tents and had to secure shelter nights such as the country afforded, a night camp in the woods being the best; a rail shed with brush or straw roof when pro- curable, next; then again rolled up in our over- coats and rubber blankets, with our knapsacks for a pillow, we could get a good night's rest. Two days out from Camp Lincoln, the regiment over- took the corps and took its place in the Second Brigade. According to Col. Beckwith the reception it received was not altogether pleasant. He says, "Another source of annoyance and hardship was the constant shouting and ridicule we received from the old regiments. We were called 'Paid Hirelings,' 'Two Hundred Dollar Men,' 'Sons of
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Mars'; told we would get soft bread farther on if we did not like hardtack; asked if we liked army life, and a lot of stuff too foolish to speak of ; but to us it was excessively annoying. Our men were an extraordinary body of troops and felt keenly this ridicule, but they bore it patiently, except now and then some hot blood would hit out and resent the insult. Such outbreaks were quickly quieted."
Soon, however, a sincere friendship sprang up, between the 121st and the 5th Maine, which deepened and ripened as the months went by and was continued for years after the war closed by the visits of delegates from each regiment to the annual reunions of the other.
This attachment cannot better be described than it was by Lieut. Philip R. Woodcock at one of these reunions. He said, "Comrades, it is with sincere pleasure I arise to respond to this toast, 'The 5th Maine.' However poorly I may do it I shall always feel that I have been honored by my comrades in selecting me for this pleasant duty.
"There has been a close fraternal feeling, amounting to a strong tie, existing between the 5th Maine and the 121st New York since we were brigaded together in September, 1862. It was cemented in the mingled blood of the two regi- ments as we went side by side, usually on the front line, as we passed through the successive campaigns of the war. The history of one is the history of the other, except that the 5th Maine commenced several months earlier, making a grand beginning, while the 121st continued on helping make history for the brigade, with an equally grand ending; both returning to private life with the highest achievements of honor, which was most pathetically shown by the thinned ranks of both returned regiments.
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"This strong affection-and I may go farther and as Major Strout expressed it to-day-love, has con- tinued increasing as the years go on, and is even stronger to-day than ever, made so by the presence of the representatives with us to-day. It seems to me a great privilege to exchange greetings with them after over forty years since our separation. Our ranks are still more depleted and we can not muster in numbers by fifty per cent what we could on our return.
"We are growing old. Time is showing its mark, · and our bodies are getting more or less infirm, and year by year, with increasing rapidity, our comrades are dropping out and can not answer the roll call at our annual meetings. Sad as this fact is, there is an amazing amount of vigor and vitality left in us yet, and our patriotism runs as high as ever.
"We are glad to learn and hear something of our comrades of the 5th Maine to-day. Their representative assures us that we are not forgotten. Conditions with them are about the same as with us. At their annual reunions they speak of us, as we do of them to-night. How well we remem- ber the old days, and how pleasant to recall the many thrilling incidents which connected us so closely! With our two regiments on the front line facing the enemy, led by the gallant Colonels Upton and Edwards, we had that feeling that the Japs must have had when facing the Russians in the present Eastern war, 'that we can whip everything before us,' and we generally did it, too.
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