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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 00824 2098
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012
http://archive.org/details/historyofonehund00weyg
HISTORY
OF THE
12 4 ch One Hundred and Twenty-Fourth Regiment,
N. Y. S. V.
BY
CHARLES H. WEYGANT
NEWBURGH. N. Y. : JOURNAL PRINTING HOUSE. 1877.
1
1755017
F Weygant. Charles H 1839-1909.
.578
8349 History of the One hundred and twenty-fourth regi- ment, N. Y. S. V. By Charles H. Weygant. Newburgh, Journal printing house, 1877.
2 p. I., vi, [7]-460 p. front. (port. ) fold. tab. 241cm.
SHELF CARD
Subject entries : 1. U. S .- Hist .- Civil war-Regimental histories-N. Y. inf .- 124th. 2. New York infantry. 124th reg't, 1862-1865.
2-14974
Library of Congress, no.
E523.5.124th.
a
-
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1877, by CHARLES H. WEYGANT,
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington.
11928 X C
TO THE
MEMORY
OF THE
GALLANT SOLDIERS
OF THE
4th REGIMENT, N. Y. S. VOLUNTEERS,
WHO DIED
IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY,
THIS VOLUME
IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED.
·
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I. ORGANIZATION-COMPOSITION.
The South rejoicing and the North alarmed, 11 .- The President calls for 300,000 more men-Governor Morgan appoints a Military Committee for Orange and Sullivan, 12 .- Captain A. Van Horne Ellis recommended for Colonel of Regiment to be raised in Orange County, 13 .- Colonel E. declares that the Country needs and he wants fighting men, 14 .- Military Committee increased-Efforts to deter men from enlisting, 15 .- Organization completed and regiment ready for the field, 16 .- Field and Staff, 17 .- Drum corps, 18 .- Companies " A." 19 .- " F," 20 .- " D," 21 .- " I." 22 .- "C," 23 .- " H." 24 .-- " E." 25 .- ". K." 26 .- "G." 27 .- " B." 28 .- Non-commissioned staff, wagoners. and sutler, 29.
CHAPTER II.
A'l' GOSHEN-TRIP TO WASHINGTON-SOLDIER LIFE AT MINERS' HILL.
Under marching orders-Presentation of Colors, 30 .- Mustered into U. S. Service, 31 .- From Goshen to Park Barracks, New York City. 32 .- Armed with Austrian rifles-At Philadelphia and Baltimore. 33. -At Washington-Encamp on Arlington Heights, 34 .- Camp Ellis-Attached to Piatt's Brigade of Whipple's Division, 35 .- Our Generals and the regiments of our brigade-At Miners' Hill, 36 .- Picket duty-Camp Cromwell, 37 .- Personal experience as Brigade Officer of the Day, 38 .- A rainy night in camp, 39 .- Colonel Ellis; his true character as a soldier, 40-42.
CHAPTER III. FROM MINERS' HILL TO FALMOUTH.
Our last drill at Miners' Hill, 43 .- Strike tents, 44 .- Ordered to join the main army, 45 .- At Knoxville, 46 .- Incorporated with the Army of the Potomac-Camping ou the farm of a crusty " sesesh," 47 .- At Burkettsville-Captain Travis shooting wild turkeys, 48 .- South Mountain battle ground-Trad- ing a $50 mess chest for a pair of chickens, 49 .- Cross the Potomac at Berlin, 50 .- At Lovettsville -
and Hillsborough, 51 .- Prepare for a fight that does not take place-At Bloomfield, Upperville, and Piedmont. 52 .- A foreed march to Manassas Gap-A night of terrible suffering. 53 .- Ou the summit of a peak of the Blue Ridge, 51 .- Our first skirmish-Sleeping under a blanket of snow-At Orleans. 55 .- Baruside releaves MeClellan-Foraging-At Waterloo-A skirmish on the pieket line, 56 .- At Warrenton aud Libertyville-Captain Clark shoots a man of First New York Volunteers, 57 .- At Hartwood Church -Sleeping in the mud. 58 .- Encamp near Falmouth - Reviewed by General Hooker, 59 .- At General Piatt's Headquarters, 60.
ii.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER IV.
AT FREDERICKSBURG.
Fatal delay of Burnside's army, 61 .- Move to Stafford Heights-Brave bridge builders, 62 .- The boni- bardment of Fredericksburg, 63 .- Under fire, 64 .- Our contrabands demoralized-Jim Sailor's duck- ing, 65 .- Jack Smith fails to keep his solemn promises-Regiment crosses the river, 66 .- Prepare for a charge-General Piatt falls into a ditch-Return to the river, 67 .- Recross the bridge and return to camping grounds at Falmouth, 68.
CHAPTER V. SOMETHING MORE ABOUT FREDERICKSBURG.
The two grand armies, 69. - The opening of the battle-Companies E and F supporting a battery, 60 .-- Disposing of Confederate sharpshooters-Three of our number wounded-Hail Columbia. 71 .- Covering the retreat, 22 .- Private Lancaster does "a little tall swimming "-A hundred men on the sick list-Ten of them die within a week. 73 .- Jack Smith returns to duty, 74 .- " I runn'd away cause I didn't dar stay, and you staid cause you didn't dar rum'd away "-Sunday evening, 75 .- A funeral procession. 76 .- The sergeant's prayer. fr.
CHAPTER VI.
FOUR MONTHS AT FALMOUTH.
New Years night on the picket line. 78 .- A grand review-Our new rifles, 79 .- What the old binnder busses did for us-Preparing for another advance, 80 -In the rain and sleet-Stnek fast in the mud, 81 .- "Come over with your big guns"-Jack Smith in trouble, 82 .- A miscalculation-General Hooker in command, 83 .- Change camp-A visit from the paymaster-Better rations, 84 .- A brush on the picket line, 85 .- Preparing for a grand inspection and review. 86 .- Reviewed by President Lincoln-Mnles demoralized, 87 .- The regiment complimented. 88.
CHAPTER VIL
CHANCELLORSVILLE.
Reviewed by General Hooker and Secretary Seward-Break camp-March to Bell Plains, 89 .- Support- ing Sedgwick-General Hooker's order announcing the enemy's probable flight or certain destruc- tion, 90 .- From Bell Plains on the left to the U. S. Ford on the right, 91 .- List of our losses since . entering the service-Absent without leave. 92. 93 .- Absent sick and on furlough-With the supply train-In the ambulance and pioneer corps, 94 .- Present for duty, 95-102 .- Hooker outgenerals Lee. 101 .-- Lee's advance repulsed-" Our giant has become a pigmy," 102 .-- Hooker's serions mistake. 103. -- Charge and countercharge at night, 104 .- Hooker on the defensive, 105 .- Lee feeling the Union front while Stonewall Jackson hastens to the left -- Sickles attacks Jackson's passing column. 106 .- The 124th to the rescue-Falling back-The Eleventh corps routed, 107 .- Sickles and Pleasanton check the enemy's advance and retake a portion of the ground lost by the Eleventh corps, 108 .- A reconnaissance at night-Among the dead and dying, 109 .- The enemy preparing to advance, 110. -A strange horseman-Advance of Ward's brigade, 111 .- Was the strange horseman Stonewall Jackson ? 112 .- Sickles ordered to fall back. 113 .- Companies " A" and " F" left behind-The Con- federate advance-One hundred facing ten thousand, 114 .- The battle opens-Caught between the lines, 115 .- " Forward, my tulips"-" Let the little girls of old Orange hear a good report of this day's work," 116 .- In the thickest of the fray-No one shows the white feather, 117 .- The contest deopens -- The ground strewn with our dead and wounded, 118 .- Falling back-" For shame, I'll stay and fight it out alone," 119 .- A counter charge, 120. -- " The battle virtually at an end "-Fall of General Whipple, 121 .- Building riffe-pits Return to Falmouth. 122 .- A general account of the battle, 123-127 .- List of casualties, 107-199,-Colonel Ellis' report of the battle, 130-132.
iii.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VIII.
AFTER CHANCELLORSVILLE-BEVERLY'S FORD.
Half our log huts roofless -- On picket, 133 .- Captain Murray alive, 134 .- Letter from Hon. C. H. Win- field, 135, 136 .- Colonel Ellis' reply, 137 .- Under marching orders, 138 .- On the march, 139 .- Counter- march and countermarch, 140 .- Spottsville or Cropp's Tavern. 141 .- A surprise. 112 .- " The only husband I've got "-At Bealton, 143 .- Those unlaced shoes-Cross the Rappahannock. 144 .- Scenes in the rear of contending battle lines, 145 .- " Them ere little hissin divils "-General Ames-" Hold them at all hazards, " 146 .- Military usage-Lieutenant Houston wounded -- My proper place, 147 .- Confederates reconnoitering-" Steadily and rapidly forward they came," 148. - " Give thra hoots for the bully old Divil "-An ahnost hand to hand encounter, 149 .- " Give them the steel. my honey's "- . Our killed and wounded-Confederate dead left on the field, 150 .- Extract from a letter written by Sergeant Hazen, 151 .- Death of Private Miles Vance-List of casualties, 152, 153.
CHAPTER IX.
FROM THE RAPPAHANNOCK TO EMMITTSBURG.
Lee's army, 154 .-- Hooker's army, 155 .- Concerning the battle of Beverly's Ford, 156-159 .- The 124th attached to Ward's brigade of Birney's division-Our new brigadier, 160 .- General D. B. Birney- Ellis resumes immediate connand of regiment, 161 .- Hurrying toward Washington-At Brentsville, Bristow Station, Manassas Junction, and Manassas Plains-The 15th Vermont. 162 .- At Centreville and Gum Springs-Marching through mud and rain in total darkness, 163 .- " Squat, my bull-frogs " -- Borrowing fire-wood, 164. - On picket -That goose, 165 .- Cheap meat-Cross the Potomac at Edwards' Ferry, 166. - Lieutenant Milner Brown, 167 .- Passing through Frederick. 168 .- From Frederick to Emmittsburg. 169.
CHAPTER X. . GETTYSBURG.
Losses by sunstroke and disease-Hooker relieved and Meade in command, 170 .- " The next battle is on the free soul of Old Pennsylvania, and Lee is whipped. no matter who commands ns "-On a forced march for Gettysburg, 171 .- On the field-In position. 172 .- Awaiting the coming shock. 173 .- The Sixth corps arrives -- The Confederates advance, 174. - Battle line of the 124th (opposite page 174)- The opening battle-crash, 175 .- Oar bloody charge-The death of Major Cromwell, 176 .- Lieutenant- Colonel Cummins wounded-Colonel Ellis killed-The enemy repulsed, 177 .- Change of commanders from corps down to companies. 178 .- The ground strewn with our dead and dying-Corporal James Scott, 179 .- The brigade withdrawn. 180 .- Praise from General Ward-Extracts from reports of Generals Lee and Meade, 181 .- The Third corps hospital, 182 .- The battle reopened. 183 .- Charge of Pickett's division-40,000 killed or wounded. 184 .- The field after the battle, 185 .- List of killed and wounded, 156 .- Statement of Corporal James Scott, 187 .- Statement of Noah Kimbark, 188. 189 .- Sergeant Thomas Taft's account of his trip to " Dixie " and back, 190-194.
CHAPTER XI.
FOLLOWING LEE BACK TO THE RAPPAHANNOCK-WAPPING HEIGHTS.
Sedgwick moves after Lec, 195 .-- The Third corps follows the Sixth-At Mechanicstown-Pass through Frederick-Meet the Seventh New York Militia, 196 .- Now and then-From Frederick to Millpoint. 197 .- Lientenant H. P. Ramsdell's report of his experience with the bodies of Ellis and Cromwell, 198, 199 .- Preparing for battle. 200 .-- The enemy across the Potomac, " bag and baggage "-Cooking over fires kindled by the enemy, 201 .- The kind of men in the quartermaster's department, 202 .- Quartermaster Travis tells of a grand charge he personally led against Jeff Stewart's cavalry, 203. 204 .- Pass over Antietam battlefield-Cross the Potomac at Harper's Ferry-At Hillsborough. 205 .- Near the scene of our first skirmish. 906 .- " Let my old brigade take the lead." 307 .- " Hohenlinden" --. Driving the Confederate skirmishers. 208 .-- Chaplain Barbour of the Sharpshooters trees a Confed- crate, 209 .- " Move forward and clear that hill or I will send the 86th and 124th through your ranks to do it for you. " 210 .- Charge of Spinola and the Excelsior brigade, 211 .- Prepare for a general battle which does not take place-Casualties. 212 .- Picket duty on the Rappahannock. 213.
iv.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XIN.
ÅT SULPHUR SPRINGS AND CULPEPPER-CENTREVILLE CAMPAIGN.
Losses from death and discharge. 214 .-- Captain Silliman and others sent home on recruiting service. 215. -Lieutenant Colonel Cummins returns to duty-At Sulphur Springs, 216 .- Move forward to Cul- pepper. 217 .- A deserter drummed out of camp. 218 .- A pillow that I could not rest on, 219 .- A " bran new " brigadier, 220 .- Trouble on the picket line, 221 .- Mat. Crawley and the mules, 222, 223. -Chaplain Bradner's account of our march from Culpepper to Centreville, 224-226 .- At Fairfax Station-A visit from General Sickles-Lee begins a retrograde movement, 227 .- Encamp near Cot- lett's Station -- Fooling the doctors, 228 .-- A most uncomfortable night, 229 .- Near Bealton, 230.
CHAPTER XIII.
KELLY'S FORD-LOCUST GROVE-MINE RUN.
Greeley's comments on Centreville campaign, 231 .- From Bealton to Rappahannock River-Supporting a battery. 232 .- Battle of Kelly's Ford. 233 .- Storming Confederate works at Rappahannock Station- Regiment at Kellysville. 234 .- From Kellysville to Brandy Station-Building winter quarters, 235 .-- Another advance ordered. 236 .- Battle of Loenst Grove. 237. 238 .- Fighting in the woods after dark. 239 .- List of casualties sustained at Locust Grove. 240 .- Facing the enemy at Mine Run. 241. 242 .- Advancing against the enemy's works. 243 .- The order to assault countermanded-Poor Charley McGregor. 244 .- March back to Brandy Station. 245 .- List of casualties, 246.
CHAPTER XIV.
FIVE MONTHS AT BRANDY STATION AND CULPEPPER.
In camp, 247 .- Lieutenant Charles Stewart's diary for December, 248, 249 .- Strength of Regiment December 30. 1863-Sergeant Thomas Taft's diary for January and part of February. 1864. 250 .- Our new flag. 252 .- General Butler tries to capture Richmond, 253 .- Wading through the mud. 254 .- Picketing at the Thomas House. 255 .- JJennie of the Picket Line-Yon are not the person. 256 .- Col- onel " Shiloh " -- That horrid Colonel Lakeman, 257 .-- The Misses Payne -- Kilpatrick starts on a grand raid. 258 .- Meet the 14th Brooklyn at Culpepper-James City. 259 .- Sleeping in the water-Return .to Culpepper. 260 .-- Grant made Lientenant General-His headquarters to be with the Army of the Potomac in the Field-Capt. JJackson and others start home on recruiting service, 261 .- Transferred to the Third Brigade-What the officers of the 124th think about it, 262 .- What Generals Birney and Ward think about the 14th. 263 .-- Retransferred to Ward's Brigade-Camp Life. 264 .- Move Camp -Sunday services, 265 .-- Preparing for Spring Campaign, 266 -- Gains and Losses, 267-269.
CHAPTER XV.
ON TO RICHMOND-IN THE WILDERNESS.
The Army Reorganized-The " Old Third " becomes a part of the Second Corps-General Meade's Ad- dress, 270 .-- Chancellorsville Battle-field. 271-272 .- The Wilderness, 273 .- Generals Grant and Lee, 274 .- " Make-up and strength of the opposing armies. 225-276 .- The Army of the Potomac Across the Rapidan-Meade's " Order of March. " 277 .-- The Brock Road -- Meade's Army in motion. 278 .-- Opening of the Battle of the Wilderness. 279 .- Wadsworth's Division routed-Regiments compos- ing Ward's Brigade, 280 .- Changes in 124th and just who are present for duty. 281-285 .- Advance of Hancock's column-The contest reopened. 286 .- General Mott calls for help-Our Division to the rescue, 257 .-- 12.000 men lay dead and dying in the dismal woods-The 124th takes 32 prisoners. 288,-In the midst of the Wilderness. 289 .- " Attack along the whole line at five o'clock "-Lee not yet ready-The 124th add to the list of their prisoners captured from the foe. 290 .- Colonel Cum- .. mins seriously wounded. 201 .-- Longstreet's Advance against the Union left flank. 202 .- Hancock's Veterans routed. 233 .- The Fall of Longstreet. 294 .- " Ship Ahoy, Land Ahead." 295 .- Hancock's line reformed-Lee assumes immediate command of his assaulting column. 296 .- The Union breast- works on fire. 237 .- The Confederate- repulsed with terrible slaughter, 298 .-- The two days' battle at an end. 203 .- Each ready to receive battle, but neither minded to attack, 300 .-- List of our killed and wounded. 301. 302.
T.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XVI.
ON THROUGH THE WILDERNESS-AT SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE.
Grant resolves to push on through the WTHerr 4. 203 .. " This Biti . chip from out West don't know when he is whipped, " 304. - At Todd's Tavera Pirkets drivea in. 35. - Fighting on the banks of Po River. 306 .- A woman on the battle-feld, 507. - Skirmishing on the heights about Spotsylvania Court House, 308 .- General Sedgwick killed --: formidable position- Forming for a grand assault, 300 .- " This is sheer ma less " -- The adv.dice. 310 .-- The repulse. 31 !.-- Hancock ordered to assanlt the enemy's right centre. 312 .-- Marching by jerks. 313 .- Greeley's story of the charge. 314 .- Coppee's acconnt, 315 .- What Lossing says. 316 .- Svinton's comments on the battle, 317 .- Hancock's weary troops in position. 318 .- -- A foggy morning, 219 . - " Take your re fiment over the works this time, or die in the attempt "-Forward. 320 .- A bolfing recraft. 321 .--- Over the works -A hand-to-hand encounter, 322 .- Capture of Johnston's Division and the Old Stonewall Brigade, 323 .- In front of the enemy's second line, 324 .- Forced back to main line -- The 14th given position in the angle of death-They turn captured guns on the enemy. 325 .- Carried to the rear hy Confederate prisoners, 326-325 .- Scenes at a half-way hospital-The flag of fire 11st Pennsylvania Volunteers, 329 .- Chaplain Joe Twitchell and Chaplain Acker -- Our wounded officers. 339-932 .. - Capture of the battle-flag of the 17th Louisiana by Archibald Freeman, 333 .-- Wierd srone at the weld hospitals, 334 .-- On the road to Fredericksburg with the wounded, 335 .- - Meeting Colonel Cummins, 336 .- t Georgetown-The regi- ment reduced to 120 effective men. 337 .-. \ charge by the 80th and 12Ath-Skirmishing. 338 .- List of casualties, 339.
CHAPTER XVII. FROM SPOTTSYLVANIA TO PETERSBURG.
An unsuccessful assanlt-Preparing for another genere! movement, 30 .. - Fighting Ewell on the banks of the Ny, 341 .- From Spottsylvania to Milford Station-A reconnoisance under Colonel Eagan. 342 .- Storming the enemy's works at Chesterfield bridge. 313. 31 .- Skirmishing on the southern shore of North Anna-Confronting the enemy at Tollopottomy Cresk. 345 .--- Death of Captain Crist. $16 .- On short rations-Lieatenant Stewart and six men captured by the enemy-Fighting at Coll Harbor, 347, 348 .- A change of base-Fighting in front of Petersburgh, 812 .- Death of Captain Jackson, 350 .- Going into camip. 331 .-- List of casualties of regiment from May 18th to June 22d. 852.
CHAPTER XVTIT.
IN FRONT OF PETERSBURG . STRAWBERRY PLAINS -- DEEP BOTTOM.
From Newburgh to City Point. 353,-From City Point to the front. 351-356 .- All that were left for dnty of the Orange Blossoms. 357 .- The mapath of July, 353. -- New commanders of brigade and division-Ordered to Deep Bottom, 359 .-- Fighting on Strawberry Plains-Return to Petersburg lines. 360 .- The mine explosion, 351 .- At City Point. 302 .- Sailing up the James River on transports, 363. -Skirmishing at Deep Bottom-Captain Mages loses a leg. 831 .- Nail kegs from our gunboats. 365. -A lively time on the skirmish line. 366. --- List of casualties, 507.
CHAPTER XIX.
IN FRONT OF PETERSBURG-BATTLE OF BOYDTON ROAD.
From Deep Bottom to Petersburg lines, 368 -Vader the-Riding under difficulties, 369 .- Unhorsed- Why I did not sell my mare, 370 .- An interesting letter, 371, 379 .- Watching shells fall into Peters- burg, 373 .- Promotions - R-tarn of convalescents .- A midnight assault on the enemy's pickets. 374. - Gallant conduct of Private George G. King- A burial scene, 3.5 .- The paymaster's visit-concern- ing a body of recruits who did not reach the 194tb. 376. 377 .- Fighting on the Weldon railroad, 328. -Death of Lieutenant Birdsall. 379 .-- Hancock ordered to seize the Southside railroad. 389 .-- Cross- ing Hatcher's Run. 881. - Driving in enemay's pickets- Our battle line. 382. - Battle of Boydton Roads. 383 .- The 124th engaged, 35%-In the wrong ambulance, 385. - Wandering in the woods-A she devil. 356 .-- Halt-That new hat, 357 .-- In the Unios: lines -- Chaplain Darry Hopkins, 388, -- Moving back to camp, 389 .- In the hospital-Something more about the battle. 390 .- List of casualties, 391.
.
..
vi.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XX.
REINFORCED-WELDON RAID-JIN WINTER QUARTERS.
Arrival of reinforcements-Recovering the body of Captain Finnegan, 392 .- A batch of commissions. 393 .- Names of our recruits, 394, 395 .- Changing camp-On court martial, 396 .- What became of 122,870 romids of ammunition, 397 .- " What was up, " 398 .- An account of the Weldon raid by L. T. Shultz, 399-402 .- Secretary of War awards Medal of Honor to Archibald Freeman-Ladies of Orange County send Sleeping Caps to every member of Regiment-A Note from F. A. Reevs, 403 .- January, 1865-Preparing for Spring Campaign, 404 .- Advance across Hatcher's Run, 405 .- Soldier Life in midwinter, 406 .- Lists of gains and losses, 407, 408.
CHAPTER XXI.
FIGHTING AT MIDNIGHT-FALL OF PETERSBURG AND RICHMOND.
Waiting for Orders. 409 .- Strength of Regiment March 24th. 1865-List of Officers present for duty, 410. -Opening of Spring Campaign-Fort Steadman captured by Confederates and recaptured by Union- ists. 411 .- Driving in Enemy's Skirmishers, 412 .- Regiment sent to reinforce troops engaged-At- tacked by a body of Confederates, 414 .- Capture of Colonel D. S. Troy of 59th Alabama, a battle fag, and a large minnber of prisoners, 115. 116 .- Caring for wounded Confederate prisoners- Conversation with Col. Troy, 417 .- Grant's army moves against enemy's main lines about Peters- burg, 418 .- Lee's counter movements, 419 .- Sheridan repulsed at Five Forks-124th Engaged- Lieutenant King wounded. 420 .- Sheridan victorious at Five Forks. 421 .- Bombarding the enemy's Works-A midnight assanlt, 422 .- Captain Cannick killed and a considerable number wounded- Letter from Captain Carmick's mother, 423 .- Result of midnight assault. 424 .- The grand assault, 125 .- The fall of Richmond, 427-129 .- Lee's flight from Petersburg-List of casualties, 430.
CHAPTER XXII. THE PURSUIT-OUR LAST ENGAGEMENT-LEE SURRENDERS.
Confederates concentrate at Chesterfield Court House and retreat westward-A misunderstood order, 431. -The pursuit-On a foraging expedition, 432-434 .- Overtake enemy's rear guard at Sailors' Creek, 435 .- 124th to the front-General Mott wounded. 436 .- A running fight with enemy's rear guard, 437 .- The battle of Sailors' Creek. 438 .- List of casualties, 439 .- The reason why we halted for a few hours, 440 .- Sheridan extinguishes Lee's last hopes of escape, 441 .- The surrender, 412.
CHAPTER XXIII.
HOMEWARD BOUND-GRAND RECEPTION AT NEWBURGH-MUSTERED OUT.
Meade's army moves back to Burksville Junction, 444 .- The army learns of the assassination of Presi- dent Lincoln, 445 .- Return to our old camping grounds near Miner's Hill-The grand review, 446 .- Return to Orange County-Our reception at Newburgh-Judge Taylor's speech-Mustered ont, 447-452.
HISTORY
OF THE
124TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
INTRODUCTION.
D URING the month of June, 1865, the writer had the honor of conducting from the field and disbanding at Washington's Head-quarters in Newburgh, a little band of battle-scarred vet- erans, the remnant of as brave and noble a regiment as the late war produced.
When the mighty work, to assist in which they had, nearly three years before entered the service of their country, had finally been accomplished ; after the Great Rebellion had been crushed out, and the vile institution of slavery out of which it had grown had been effectually destroyed ; and the anxiously-looked-for word came out from the National Capital, near which they were encamped, to these sons of Orange County, that their reunited country had no further need of their services-t long, glad shout went up from every throat, so loud and strong it seemed to shake the very ground on which they stood.
And then there came an almost universal wish-which grew daily stronger as the intervening time went slowly by-to be mustered out at Newburgh, where the bulk of Washington's Con- tinental army had been disbanded-on the very hill-side where - the honored ancestors of not a few of them had, nearly a century before, after the successful ending of their seven years' struggle for the independence of their country, assembled to listen to the reading of the Farewell Address of their loved chief.
8
HISTORY OF THE ILITH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
And when at length the time for their final separation had arrived, and they stood drawn up in column for the last time as an organized body of Union soldiers, on ground made sacred by - the foot-prints of the Father of their Country and of so many of that noble band of patriots who fought so long and hard to establish the glorious Union, for the preservation of which they had sacri- ficed, suffered, and accomplished so much-listening, with the vast multitude which had assembled to do them honor, to a most patri- otic speech of welcome filled with words of general praise-a man in the ranks was heard to whisper, " That's good, that's good ; but I wish he could tell to some of these weeping ones who have been following us all along the line of march through the city-wistfully scanning our faces as if searching for some one they must know can't be with us-how nobly their loved ones fought, and just when and where they fell, and how they died."
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