USA > New York > Services of the Tenth New York Volunteers (National Zouaves,) in the War of the Rebellion > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31
Gc 973.74 N42cow 1762770
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 00823 5209
SERVICES
OF THE
TENTH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS
( NATIONAL ZOUAVES,)
IN THE
WAR OF THE REBELLION.
BY CHARLES W. COWTAN, -
LATE ADJITANT OF THE REGIMENT AND BREVET CAPTAIN U. S. VOLS.
And once we saw-ah ! day of woe '- The lurid fires of civil war . The blue and gray frocks la'd a-row. And many a name rise like a sta' To shine in splendor evermore. The fiery ficod swept hil and plain, But clear above the batte s roar Rang Slavery's falling cnam. THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH.
NEW YORK : CHARLES H. LUDWIG, PUBLISHER, 10 & 12 READE STREET 1 58 2 .
ـا اقط
SIE.TA
MAIN GATE-FORT MONROE.
1762770
1.
F 8349 .53
Cowtan, Charles W.
Services of the Tenth New York volunteers (National zouaves,) in the war of the rebellion. By Charles W. Cowtan ... New York, C. H. Ludwig, 1882.
1. p. 1., 459, il: p. front., maps (partly fold.) 19}"".
CHELF CARD
CONTENTS .-- pt. I. The two-years regiment .- pt. II. The veteran bat- talion. ·
another copy.
F 8349 .53 1. U. S. - Hist. - Civil war - Regimental histories - N. Y. Inf .- 10th. 2. New York infantry. 10th regt., 1861-1805.
2-14904 186120, 13MMCORY Congress O
£523.5.10th
متى ٥+٠
.
٥٠
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1882, by ( HARLES W. COWTAN,
in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
1034 0
CHARLES H. LUDwia. Printer. 10 Rinde Street, New York.
Commemorate
THE LOYALTY, HEROISM AND DEVOTION OF THE YOUNG MEN WHO ENLISTED IN
THE TENTH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS,
SERVING THEIR COUNTRY HONORABLY IN ITS HOUR OF PERIL,
AND YIELDING THEIR LIVES GLORIOUSLY ON THE FIELD OF BATTLE, IN SOUTHERN PRISON OR IN HOSPITAL, THIS VOLUME IS DEDICATED.
1
: PREFACE.
A book that should be a record of the services of the Tenth New York Volunteers during the Rebellion was proposed some years ago, and the author was chosen historian by both the Officers' Society and the Associ- ation of Veterans. It was not, however, until the latter organization had grown in strength, re-welding the ties of comradeship and binding the survivors together, that the project assumed sufficient importance to justify its fulfillment.
The writer has labored under disadvantages, chief among them being the fact that few official records of the regiment were in possession of ex-members, and he has exerted himself, in the time at his disposal, to obtain from the data he himself possessed, and from other and sometimes remote sources, the information embodied in this volume. The werk bas veritably been a "labor of love," compiled during hours that could be spared from business duties and rometimes under adverse cir- euinstances, and it will probably be found to have a variety of faults.
The volume is divine & into two parts -- the one being descriptive of the first Tao- Years service, and the other
6
THE NATIONAL ZOUAVES.
recording the action of the Three-Years, or Veteran Battalion. These parts are subdivided into periods, each of which, it will be seen, embraces certain cam- paigns or epochs in the service of the regiment.
There were, undoubtedly, incidents not recorded in these pages, where soldiers of the command exhibited personal heroism and distinguished themselves in vari- ous ways. The fact that many of these incidents did not come under the observation of the writer at the time, and the lack of information concerning them, have made it necessary to pass them in unwilling silence. The necessity of confining the work within limited bounds has also compelled him to dwell with brevity upon cases which have been mentioned, some of which deserve more extended notice.
The author is under obligations to several of his com- rades for information and memoranda-among these. Geo. F. Hopper, Walter S. Poor, Geo. F. Tait, Geo. M. Dewey, Putnam Field and Charles H. Ludwig. The assistance of the last-named comrade has proved invalu- able in fitting the work for publication, while a sketch of the original inception of the regiment and its first month's existence, written by Col. Poor, formed the groundwork of much of the matter contained in the first pages of the book. Acknowledgments for valuable favors are due to Hon. Robert T. Lincoln, Secretary of War, and Hon. T. L. James, late Postmaster-General. Swinton's "AArmy of the Potomac ;" Tomes & Smith's
7
PREFACE.
"Great Civil War ;" Greeley's "American Conflict ;" McClellan's "Reports and Campaigns ;" Davenport's "Fifth New York Volunteers," and other works, have been, consulted and extracts made from several. The illustrations were designed and contributed by James E. Taylor, a former member of the regiment.
It would be impossible for the writer to express here his profound respect for the memory of those who stepped to the front with him when the fatal gun at Charleston summoned, and afterwards laid down their brave young lives for their country. If this book may serve to perpetuate the remembrance of their un- selfish zeal and devotion, and lend to their bright re- cords additional lustre, the gratuitous services of the author will not have been in vain.
EXCELSIOR.
CONTENTS.
PAGE
PREFACE,
5
INTRODUCTORY, 11
PART I.
PERIOD I., . 17
THE CALL TO ARMS - PRELIMINARY CAMP LIFE AT SANDY HOOK-BY STEAMER TO VIRGINIA.
PERIOD II., . 32
VOLUNTEER LIFE AT CAMP HAMILTON-GARRISON DUTY IN FORT MONROE.
PERIOD III., 15
NORFOLK-ON THE CHICKAHOMINY-THE " SEVEN DAYS" CONFLICT.
PERIOD IV., 119
THE SECOND BATTLE OF BULL RUN-ANTIETAM -SHEPARDSTOWN FORD-FREDERICKSBURG- MUSTER OFT OF THE TWO. YEARS ORGAN-
=
10
THE NATIONAL ZOUAVES.
PART II.
PAGE
PERIOD I., . 189
A RETROSPECT - CHANCELLORSVILLE - GETTYS- BURG - BRISTOE STATION - MINE RUN -RE- TURN TO LINE DUTY.
PERIOD II., .
235
MORTON'S FORD - REORGANIZATION - THE ARMY CROSSES THE RAPIDAN-THE WILDERNESS- SPOTTSYLVANIA-COLD HARBOR.
PERIOD III.,
293
IN THE TRENCHES BEFORE PETERSBURG-STRAW- BERRY PLAINS-REAM'S STATION-DEEP BOT- TOM-BOYDTON ROAD -- HATCHER'S RUN.
PERIOD IV.,
338
THE LAST STRUGGLE-SURRENDER OF LEE-THE MARCH NORTHWARD-FINAL MUSTER OUT.
APPENDIX, . 367
ROLLS OF THE TWO-YEARS REGIMENT-ROLLS OF THE VETERAN BATTALION-NATIONAL ZOUAVE LODGE, F. & A. M .- THE VETERAN ASSOCIA- TION - AN EX . CAMPAIGNER IN VIRGINIA - CHRONOLOGICAL INDEX.
INTRODUCTORY.
The election of Abraham Lincoln, in 1860, was made the pretext and signal in the South for open defiance of the authority of the Federal Government. Mutterings and even threats of secession had been heard before the election, and were generally treated as the grumblings incidental to an anticipated defeat, especially as a ma- jority of such expressions of discontent came from the State of South Carolina, which was proverbially hot- headed. Now, however, meetings were held in that and other Cotton States, declaring for Southern Indepen- dence, and "minute-men " were being mustered. Start- ling events followed each other rapidly, until, on December 20th following, South Carolina passed "An ordinance to dissolve the union between the State of South Carolina and other States united with her, under the compact entitled the Constitution of the United States of America." This action was soon after fol- lowed by the seizure of the Arsenal and other Go- vernment property at Charleston. Other States seemed likely to follow this example, and patriotic and earnest men at the North saw looming up a war between the seceding States and those still loval to the Union, and
11
12
THE NATIONAL ZOUAVES.
began to devise means to assist the Government in the impending struggle.
On December 30th, 1860, the following notice ap- peared in the New York Herald:
"OUR JOINT PROPERTY HAS BEEN SEIZED UPON. .
"To the Union men of New York, without distinction of party .- All men who are in favor of the Constitution and the Union as it is and in favor of the declaration of Andrew Jackson, that 'the Union must and shall be preserved,' will report themselves, with their real name and place of business, to Box 3,688, New York Post Office, immediately."
To this notice many answers were received, and, as a result, a meeting was called for the purpose of organiz- ing a battalion, to be in readiness to aid the Government in case of need. Nearly one hundred individuals, the majority young men, responded to the call, among whom were Allen Rutherford, Frank J. White, Joseph New- burgh, James C. Jones and Charles II. Ludwig. They met at the Mercer House, corner of Broome and Mercer Streets ; Allen Rutherford being elected chairman, and Frank J. White, secretary. At this meeting Ruther- ford and others, in the belief, perhaps, that the cause would be better served by filling up the ranks of the militia regiments then existing, proposed to form a company to be attached to the Ninth New York State Militia, an organization not then complete. This was strenuously opposed, and a resolution that the officers, when elected, should hold their positions temporarily
13
INTRODUCTORY.
until a battalion should be formed, was finally passed, and the embryo organization was begun, which after- wards crystalized into being as the Tenth Regiment of New York Volunteer Infantry.
The company assumed the name of "Union Volun- teers," and elected Allen Rutherford, captain. At the beginning it was prosperous, and soon had more than two hundred names upon its roll, the author of this volume being of the number; but the shambling and apparently cowardly conduct of President Buchanan's administration dissatisfied many of the members of the organization, causing them to doubt whether a Govern- ment that would not, or dared not defend itself, was worth defending. At the rate affairs were progress- ing it seemed as though the "Southern Confederacy" might become an accomplished fact before Abraham Lincoln could be inaugurated, and it really appeared, from indications at Washington, that an attempt to coerce a seceded State, or preparations for such a pur- pose, would be regarded as a worse form of treason than secession itself. This had its effect on some members of the Union Volunteers, and, with the addi- tional fact that the excitement consequent upon the se- cession of South Carolina had in a measure died away, caused the number of active members to dwindle to small proportions. Rutherford was among those who abandoned the enterprise, and Frank J. White was elected captain in his stead. Many of the original
14
THE NATIONAL ZOUAVES.
men, however, determined to persevere, and, at one of the meetings in February, appointed a committee to devise measures to revive interest in the organization.
At that time the Chicago Zouaves, under the com- mand of the sinee lamented Ellsworth, were well known throughout the Northern States, and the committee hit upon the happy expedient of forming an independent company upon the model of the Zouaves, and made a report in favor of pursuing that course. The report was adopted and the title of "Union Volunteers" changed to " National Zouaves;" Waters W. McChesney, formerly a member of Ellsworth's command, was en- gaged as drill-master, arms and a drill-room secured, and the organization again assumed a prosperous appearance. Captain White resigned his position and the company recognized McChesney as its virtual commander, al- though he was never elected as such. The uniform adopted was neat and attractive, being of the zouave pattern and affording perfect action to the limbs. The additions now made to the company were all young men in the vigor of life, most of them clerks in good posi- tions, some of them members of the bar, and a few were already connected with militia regiments of the city. Drill was had for an hour each morning at the armory, and before April the "National Zouaves " were expert in the manual of arms and in many company manouvres. and bid fair to rival any existing organization in their peculiar drill.
PART I.
THE TWO-YEARS REGIMENT
PERIOD I.
THE CALL TO ARMS-PRELIMINARY CAMP LIFE AT SANDY HOOK-BY STEAMER TO VIRGINIA.
THE Northern States were astounded and shocked by the news which flashed over the electric wires on the 12th of April, 1861, telling that the precipitaney of South Caro- lina had plunged the country into Civil War, and that Fort Sumter was then being bombarded. The so-called secession of that State from the Union, followed by the same action on the part of other Southern States, had been regarded with indifference by many, and the public heart seemed almost insensible to the great peril which threatened to sunder the Republic. It had often been said, here and abroad, that the sons of Revolutionary sires had fallen from their high estate-had forgotten the traditions of their fathers, and that patriotism was extinct-and of late it seemed that this was so, and that the people of the North would submit to anything rather than sacrifice their commercial prosperity. It had been common to hear, from both foreign and domestic cynics and philosophers, that a republic such as ours could not be permanent, because it lacked the abiding loyalty neces- ary to its existence ; and now the patriotie few began to despair of a nation which seemed incompetent to under- stand its dangers and indifferent to the fate which apparently awaited it.
But the news from Sumter awoke unwanted echoes. and touched forgotten chords in the great American heart.
17
2
$
18
THE NATIONAL ZOUAVES.
The loyalty which had been doubted sprang into instant life, and throughout the North expressions of deep de- votion and promises of unlimited aid were borne on the wings of lightning to the Nation's capital. The mighty heart of the people seemed to pulsate with patriotism and love for the government which had been founded and maintained by the blood of our fathers, and the world never witnessed an uprising as mighty, as spon- taneous, and as glorious as that which now occurred.
On April 13th the National Zouaves were summoned to a special meeting, to be held that evening at their armory. Long before the hour appointed, the company room was crowded, and enthusiasm and excitement were at fever-heat. A determination was expressed by those present to retake at all hazards any property taken by force of arms from the United States, and to resist all attempts at dismemberment of the Union. The strength of the Company was greatly increased, and it was decided to raise a battalion or regiment, and to meanwhile offer the services of the Company to the Governor of New York. W. W. MeChesney, James Biddle and Aaron Seely were appointed a committee to proceed to Albany, tender the services of the Company, and obtain authority to increase the organization.
On April 15th the following proclamation was issued by President Lincoln :
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
A PROCLAMATION.
Whereas, the laws of the United States have been for some time pas. and now att. opposi, and the execution thereof obstructed in the States of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Mi- issippi, Louisiana and Texas, by combinations too powerful to be
19
PROCLAMATION OF THE PRESIDENT. 1
suppressed by the ordinary course of judicial proceeding or by the powers vested in the marshals by law ;
Now, therefore, I. Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, by virtue of the power in me vested by the Constitution and the Laws, have thought fit to call forth, and hereby do call forth, the militia of the several States of the Union, to the aggre- gate number of seventy-five thousand, in order to suppress said combinations, and to cause the laws to be duly executed.
The details for this object will be immediately communicated to the State authorities through the War Department.
I appeal to all loyal citizens to favor, facilitate, and aid this ef- fort to mantain the honor, the integrity, and the existence of our National Union, and the perpetuity of popular government, and to redress wrongs already long enough endured.
I deem it proper to say, that the first service assigned to the forces hereby called forth will probably be to repossess the forts, places, and property which have been seized from the Union ; and in every event the utmost care will be observed, consistently with the objects aforesaid, to avoid any devastation, any destruction of, or interference with property, or any disturbance of peaceful citizens in any part of the country.
And I hereby command the persons composing the combina- tions aforesaid to disperse, and retire peaceably to their respective abodes, within twenty days from this date.
Deeming that the present condition of public affairs present an extraordinary occasion, I do hereby, in virtue of the power in me vested by the Constitution, convene both Houses of Congress. Senators and Representatives are, therefore, summoned to assemble at their respective chambers, at twelve o'clock, noon, on Thursday. the fourth day of July next, then and there to consider and deter- mine such measures as, in their wisdom, the public safety and interest may seem to demand.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the seal of the United States to be atlixed.
Done at the City of Washington, this fifteenth day of April. in the year of our Loglone :logsand right hundred and sixty-one. od the Independence of the United Stres the eighty-fifth
By the President :
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State.
20
THE NATIONAL ZOUAVES.
Simultaneously with the above proclamation, calls for troops were made upon the States-the Governor of New York, Edwin D. Morgan, being requested to im- mediately furnish the quota designated for the State of New York, to wit : seventeen regiments. On April 16th, the two bodies of the Legislature, then in session at Albany, passed an Act " To authorize the embodying and equipment of a Volunteer Militia, and to provide for the public defence." This bill provided for the en- rollment of thirty thousand volunteer militia, to serve for two years, and appropriated three million dollars to meet the expense. Governor Morgan issued a procla- mation on the 18th, citing the President's requisition, and calling for seventeen regiments, to consist of 649 officers and 12,631 men-forming an aggregate of 13,20; the rendezvous for the State being designated as New York, Albany and Elmira, with headquarters at Albany. Afterwards (on April 25th) the Governor issued his proclamation for twenty-one other regiments of vohin- teers, which, with the first seventeen, made up the comple- ment of volunteers under the State act providing for 30,000. These first thirty-eight regiments were the ouly troops from New York State mustered for the term of two years.
The authority to recruit a regiment had been mean- while obtained by the committee sent to Albany by the National Zouaves, and the work of enlistment began in earnest. Frank J. White, James Fairman. Joseph New- burgh, George F. Hopper and James Il. Briggs were recruiting at the M reet House, corner of Broome and Mercer Street : Alexander B. Eller, Thomas J. Luther and Gabriel Cunningham opened an office in East 5th Street, near Third Avenue. John W. Marshall, John
21
ORGANIZATION OF THE REGIMENT.
Missing and Thomas Cloudsley were at the corner of Broadway and 23d Street, and Sahnon Winchester was in Brooklyn.
At no time was there any difficulty in, obtaining men; the recruits came singly, or in squads of three or four or more, brothers or friends, all determined to enlist, and if possible to go in the same company or regiment. Each company thus, to a certain extent, represented so many homes and firesides bound together by friendships of years' standing and united in what was, to all of them, a just and holy canse.
On the 19th, the New York Herald stated that a regiment was to be raised, of which Capt. Morgan, of Brooklyn, was to be Colonel : McChesney, Lieut .- Colonel ; R. T. Dodge, Major, and that 150 men had been eulisted on the night previous. On the 20th was a notice of the parade of the Volunteer State Zonaves, at Third Avenne and 58th Street. Of this company A. B. Eller was Captain : Thomas J. Louther, Ist Lieutenant. and Albert Steinway, 24 Lieutenant. It became Com- pany C when the regiment was formed. On the same day, in another column, it was stated that the company of New York Zouaves had tendered their services on the previous week, and that they had been accepted ; also that two companies from Troy, Morgan's State Zouaves of Brooklyn, and the National Zouaves, making five companies in all, were already enrolled. The New York Zonaves had been confounded in the report with the National Zouaves, afterwards Company A. Capt. Mor- gan's State Zonaves subsequently became Company F. and the Troy companies were eventually enrolled in Company B.
The memorable war meeting of New York's citizens
22
THE NATIONAL ZOUAVES.
at Union Square, occurred on the 20th. The throng was so immense that it expanded beyond the limits of a single "monster meeting," and many orators were speak- ing at the same time from as many stands, while the houses in the neighborhood made a bewildering display of red, white and blue bunting and other patriotic decorations. During the day the original company of National Zouaves paraded through the streets adjacent to the Square, under command of Frank J. White, and was greeted everywhere with enthusiasm.
On the 22d was published a notice of a meeting at headquarters at the Mercer House, to transact important business, signed "By order of Lieut .- Col. MeChesney." Each company now had its formation, and was rapidly filling up, and this meeting was called for the purpose of electing company officers. The result of the election was as follows :
COMPANY A. Frank J. White. Captain. Alfred Chamberlain, 1st Lieut. James C. Jones, 2d Lieut.
COMPANY B. James Fairman, Captain. Robt. A. Dimmick, 1st Lieut. Thos. Culhane, 2d Lieut.
COMPANY C. Alex. B. Elder, Captain. Thos. J. Louther, Ist Lieut. Gabriel Cunningham, 2d Lieut. Charles Hill, 2d Lieut.
COMPANY D. John W. Mar-hdl. Captain. The- Cloud leg, Ist Lient J. 11. Miner, 2d Lieut.
COMPANY E. John Missing, Captain. Edgar F. Brown, 1st. Lieut. Daniel Finley, 2d Lient.
COMPANY F. Salmon Winchester, Captain. Rufus Farnsworth, 1st Lient. Thos. D. Mosserop. 2d Lieut.
COMPANY G. Joseph Newburgh. Captain. Frank Stott, 1st Lieut.
COMPANY H. George F. Hopper. Captain. Engene F. Roberts, 1st Licu !. Theodore Il. Roger-, ed Lieut.
23
ORGANIZATION OF THE REGIMENT.
COMPANY I. COMPANY K.
James H. Briggs. Captain.
G. G. Richardson, Captain.
Thos. Wildes, 1st Lieut.
Alex. Greenwood, 1st Lieut.
George M. Dewey, 2d Lieut.
E. A. Wilcox, 2d Lieut.
Subsequently an election for field officers was held, with the following result : W. W. McChesney, Colonel ; Alex. B. Elder, Lieut .- Colonel ; John W. Marshall, Major. Fred M. Patrick was appointed Adjutant; James Biddle, Quartermaster ; J. B. Chapman, Asst. Quartermaster ; Marshall P. Shaw, Commissary ; Aaron Seely, Pay- master ; J. Lovejoy, Asst. Surgeon, and W. B. Matchett, Chaplain. The positions of Asst. Quartermaster, Com- missary and Paymaster were allowable under the State militia laws, but the incumbents were never mustered as such into the service of the United States. Lovejoy re- ceived no commission as Asst. Surgeon, John W. Hunt and Frank W. Doolittle being mustered respectively as Surgeon and Asst. Surgeon-their commissions were dated July 4th, 1861. Upon the election of Capt. Elder as Lieut .- Colonel, Thos. J. Louther was elected Cap- tain of Company C, and W. L. Moneghan Ist Lieu- tenant, in place of Lonther. In like manner, Lient. Cloudsley succeeded Capt. Marshall in Company D; Miner was made Ist Lientenant : and Volney Wright, il Lieutenant.
It would be idle to attempt to give all the incidents attending the raising of the regiment. Few of the officers or men had a proper idea of discipline, and, previous to obtaining uniforms. the dress was as varied as one could meet at a masked ball. There were hat- and caps of all shapes, from the zonave fez to the stately beaver ; coats of many colors and styles, and
1
1
24
THE NATIONAL ZOUAVES.
non-commissioned officers with shoulder-straps, or per- haps with one chevron. Each individual, however, seemed full of enthusiasm and patriotic purpose.
Until the companies were nearly full, and the regi- mental organization completed, no restraint was placed upon the recruits, they being free to come and go as they chose. This freedom, however, was at an end as soon as the officers were elected. The companies at the Mercer House were then moved to Tammany Hall, now the Sun building, and the surviving members of Companies A (the old National Zouaves) and C have both pleasant and ludicrous memories of the great ball-room in this build- ing, in which their first attempts at soldier-life were made. The entire regiment was afterwards quartered at the Arsenal, in White Street. Here the first regimental guard was mounted, and the first regular rations issned under State authority. The quarters were confined and badly ventilated, but the officers did what they could to make the men comfortable. Fun of the heartiest kind was rampant at times, and rough jokes were played upon some of the more quiet soldiers, but with few exceptions everything was taken in good part and the member- rapidly fraternized.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.