USA > New York > A brief history of the Twenty-Eighth Regiment New York State Volunteers, First Brigade, First Division, Twelfth Corps, Army of the Potomac, from the author's diary and official reports. With the muster-roll of the regiment, and many pictures, articles and letters > Part 18
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Yours, A. A. FOX, Co. D.
OMAHA, NEB., May 18, IS96.
COMRADES OF THE TWENTY-EIGHTH :
I am again reminded of the return of our annual gathering, by the invitation to "roll-call " from our worthy secretary, and how I wish I could be with you next Friday, but I am again doomed to be disappointed. I am too far away, and times are too hard. I am waiting anxiously to see the publication that will contain so many of your faces and reports from you all.
Wishing you a pleasant meeting and trusting we may meet some time -- it may be in the great here- after - I am your comrade and brother,
WM. W. EASTMAN, Co. D.
1114 HANCOCK ST., BROOKLYN, N. Y., May IS, IS96.
DEAR COMRADE :
As I expected, and as I believe it will continue on to the end, I shall not be able to meet my old comrades of the Twenty-eighth at their next annual reunion, on the 22d inst. I anticipate great pleasure
107
LETTERS FROM ABSENT COMRADES.
in looking through the "picture gallery " that I hope you will succeed in being able to give us in the history of the regiment, and I hope to be able by a careful scrutiny to recall the features of old companions in arms that I have not seen for thirty odd years. I hope you may have a large and joy- ous gathering and a good time generally, and I would like through you to give theni all a kindly greeting and best wishes for their health, happiness and prosperity. Very truly yours,
G. A. BAKER, Co. D.
ALBION, MICH., April 27, 1896.
DEAR COMRADES :
I do not think I shall be able to come to the re- union of the old Twenty-eighth, but will be there in spirit. When the secretary lived in Albion we used to go and get a dish of ice cream and have a good smoke and talk.over old times on the day the boys were together. Now there is no one here, but we always have an extra dinner on that day. If I was there I could " swap lies" with the boys, but put- ting it down on paper is another thing I wonder if the boys of C and D remember the Saturday night in '62 that we went out to Hall Town ? I think it was to try and catch some rebel officers. We were gone all night, but got nothing but some honey.
I wish to be remembered to all the comrades present.
Yours in F., C. and L., O. G. HUBBARD, Company D.
NORTHVILLE, May 2, 1896.
DEAR COMRADES :
Another year has fled, and with it all hopes of meeting . my old contrades this year, but still the hope clings to me that I will see you all next year. The ranks are getting thin, comrades, soon there will be none to respond, either by letter or person ; but as one by one they step in the great beyond to answer to roll call, may those left grasp each other's hand, with a loyalty firmer and truer than before.
Comrades, when you are meeting those by whose side you stood when the bullets were falling like hail, remember there is one in Northville, who deeply regrets not being able to be present with you.
Yours in F. C. L., LOREN HAYNER, Company D.
PLATTE CENTER, May 1, 1896.
COMRADES OF THE TWENTY-EIGHTH :
Once more I acknowledge the invitation to our annual reunion, and have to say that it will be im- possible for me to be with you. I would like to meet the comrades again, but my health is poor, so that I cannot travel far. and shall have to be con- tent to read the letters and look at the pictured faces of the comrades.
Eighteen hundred and ninety-six finds our ranks growing smaller, as we receive the notice often that some comrade has passed over to the summer land Accept my best wishes, and if we are not permitted to meet again here, may we all meet on the eternal camping ground on high, and hear the welcome words : well done, faithful soldier, enter into rest. Yours in F., C. and L ..
JOHN KEELER, Company D.
ELYSIAN, MINN., May 19, IS96.
DEAR COMRADES :
I often wish I could be with you all on such a day as this will be to you. *
* * As you are all well aware, the next national assembling of all old soldiers will take place at St. Paul, Minn., next September. Now, you all come to this great gath- ering of heroes. And here I wish to say, a room will be provided for a reunion of the Twenty-eighth New York, and the boys who have remained among the scenes of their early life can again meet with those who, after the War, came to the then wild wilderness and helped to make it the seat of a mighty Northwestern Empire, yet.welded by a band of blood to the great east and south. Come out and see what the west is.
Should any of the Twenty-eighth New York boys come I wish they would write me in advance so I can have arrangements made by which we will all be sure to meet each other.
Ever yours in friendship and comradeship, WALLACE M. STERLING. VICTORIA, ILL., May 4, IS96. Dear Old Comrades :
I had made all the arrangements last summer to attend this reunion of the Old Twenty eighth, but a circumstance has happened that causes me to give up the great pleasure, said circum- stance being a little daughter," who, six weeks ago to day drove in the pickets, charged the camp, and captured the entire outfit, and is now in supreme command.
Just think of it, a war-scarred (and often scared). grizzled, bald-headed, old veteran, of 52 years, who has withstood the shock of thousands (when he couldn't get away), to be utterly routed, and finally captured by a little nine pound girl, yea, verily, I am undone, but I stand the captivity remarkably well. Have been married over twelve years, and this is my first circumstance. My wife has always managed to have bread on hand, and I have skirm- ished around and furnished water, and now I will have to skirmish for milk and baby carriages and nursing bottles. Such is life.
I have never attended a reunion, and should like to be with you very much, and next year, if pos- sible, I shall be on hand. I look forward with pleasure to the perusal of our Twenty-eighth his- tory. I think that a grand thing, and hope every surviving member of the old regiment will get one.
I often think of our first march toward the enemy, from Hagerstown to Williamsport, that hot, Sunday afternoon, our hearts swelled with patriot- ism, and our knapsacks with boiled shirts. combs, brushes, etc., and that night, and next morning how many of such things were traded off for those hardshell Maryland pies, and how we expected to clean out the rebs in a short time, little realizing the long and bloody struggle which it proved to be, but thanks to the God of battles and our righteous cause, we won at last, but at what a cost of lives, of bright and noble men. on both sides! Think how many fell in our one regiment, from our loved colonel down, and many regiments lost more than we did.
Hoping you will have a goodly number, and knowing you will have a glorious time, for it will be a glorious tinie, if only to meet and greet each other, aside from all the - other enjoyments at- tendant.
IOS
TWENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT N. Y. S. VOLUNTEERS.
Hoping we may all live to join in many more . reunions, I remain yours fraternally,
C. A. SAYRE, Company E.
NUNDA, N. Y., May 20, 1596. COMRADES :
Your notice of reunion received. I should like to be present on the occasion but find it impossible to do so. I hope you will have a good attendance and that the comrades will all enjoy themselves and live to enjoy many more reunions of the old regi- ment. Give my respects to all visiting comrades, and my regrets at not being able to be present. I would like to ask all comrades of the Twenty- eighth, who served in the Tenth Maine Battalion, to send their address to Major John M. Gould, First, Tenth, and Twenty - ninth Maine Regi- mental Association, Portland, Me.
Very respectfully yours in F., C. and L.,
WM. H. BRADY, Company F.
NEW YORK, May 16, 1896. DEAR COMRADES :
It pains me to be obliged every year to send regrets instead of giving my presence at the annual reunion of the Twenty-eighth, for I well know what I miss, having been present on two such occasions.
The meeting with old comrades in Rochester, N. Y., in 1877, and again in Staunton, Va., 1884, has been, and always will be, a pleasant memory, and I sincerely hope it may again be my privilege to be with the few survivors at some future re- union. Yours in F., C. and L.,
C. H. LISCOM, Company F.
KANSAS CITY, MO., April 26, 1896. DEAR COMRADES :
Once more our reunion is at hand, and as it is impossible to meet with you, I send you greeting. It would give me great pleasure to meet you all once more. But as it will be impossible this year, I hope you all will have a happy time, and remember, we will all be thinking of you. Hoping to be able to attend some future reunion, I am, as ever, one of the old Twenty eighth.
Respectfully yours.
PORTER HOWARD, Company F.
GRANT, NEB., May 9, 1896.
DEAR COMRADES :
As our secretary suggests that we write a little history in our letters of regret, I suppose we will have to obey orders, as we did thirty-four years ago the latter part of this month, when the Twenty- eighth broke camp about five miles west of Stras- burg, Va., and started toward Winchester and the Potomac. for the purpose of saving our scalps, as well as sundry wagons that had been left in our care, from the clutches of the noted Stonewall Jackson, whom report said was then well on the road to Win- chester by another route. We moved along rapidly till we had crossed Cedar Creek, when we found that some of his men had got in ahead and attacked our train. We unslung knapsacks and moved to the front, and soon came to where a good many of our wagons were packed in a field close by the road. We halted a few minutes, and right there I had my first and last experience of seeing negroes whipped. Our mule drivers at that time
were negroes, and at the first alarm they had cut loose their mules and skipped, but soon after we halted they began to return. The wagonmaster was standing on horseback by the roadside with a big mule whip, when one of the drivers came along on his mules he would dash out, and riding along- side, belabour them severely over the head and shoulders. They did not seem to mind it. but ducked their heads, whipped up their mules and got out of the way as quick as possible. The rebs were gone and we moved on through Middletown, and about 2 o'clock had reached the vicinity of Newtown, when we were faced about and marched back some four or five miles to where the rebs and our rear were having a dispute about the right of way. The rebs had a battery in position, and so had we, and the shells were flying quite lively. I remember well the first shell that came near us. Every man in the regiment from the colonei down, ducked their heads. Our company (G) was at once ordered out as skirmishers. We were marched out to the rear, and the right of our battery then de- ployed and moved about 400 yards to the front, bringing us between our guns and those of the enemy immediately in our front. I remember well noticing Captain Hardie as he was in front of the skirmish line in the advance. After being under two fires for about an hour we were ordered back The old captain formed us in company and marched us by the flank across the rear of our battery, the rebel shell dropping around at the rate of three or four a minute, but for some reason they did not ex- plode. I remember one coming so close that Jack Welch made a jump and fell, the shell striking not more than ten feet away. I started to pick it up out of curiosity, when there came another and lit right by it. I made up my mind that I did not want one, and we soon got out of range, and, it getting late, we started again for Winchester. When we were a mile or two away we could look back and see the rifles of our rear guard flash in the dark as the rebs would crowd up too closely. I was detailed with Sergeant Gaskill and a few more to scout along the right of the pike, some 400 yards from our main column. I did not think it real pleasant to go across lots in the dark in a strange country. We had not gone more than a half mile when we heard someone say. halt, who comes there ? It proved to be some of Company I, who were cut on the same business. We went on together. In crossing a creek cn a small log I fell off and got quite a wetting. We finally got to Winchester about 12 o'clock, tired and hungry, found the regi- ment and laid down without any supper. If I had the space I might tell how we fought and run the next day. How the long-legged fellows in front went so fast that I could not keep up. How I, with a good many more, took the railroad to Ilar- per's Ferry. When we arrived about sundown we were all used up. How the Eighth New York Cavalry treated us like brothers. Ilow by canal boat and walking we finally joined the regiment at Williamsport, Md., where we were warmly wel- comed by them. Yours truly,
W. W. HUNT, Company G.
ADALASKA, MICH., May 3, IS96.
COMRADES :
With much pleasure [ answer your letter, but sorry to say I can't be with you at the reunion. I have been sick nearly three months in the winter,
109
LETTERS FROM ABSENT COMRADES
and am now laid up with a bone broken in one of my ankles. I had intended to meet with you this spring, but you see I can't do as I should like to. Tell my comrades when the roll is called I will answer to my name fit for duty, nothing would do me more good than to meet with you. Please tell Company G to plant a flower on the grave of Capt. flardie for me. Give my love to all of the regiment. I will try and be with you next year if Lam alive. Good-by.
WARREN II. CREGO, Company G.
1
FORT BENNETT, S. D., May 11, 1896.
COMRADES OF THE TWENTY-EIGHTH :
I had hoped to attend the reunion this year, but as on other occasions, the fates seem against me. Mrs. Lounsbury has recently lost her eyesight by cataracts, and we are in hopes, through surgical operation, to get her sight restored, and [ want to say that such a result is the only thing which would give me more real joy than meeting you, dear com- rades, in your reunion and in memory going over the old "camp, tramp and jayhawk " times. Yes, as I write I can almost hear our band strike up the old tune they used when we broke camp. "Ain't you mighty glad you're getting out the wilderness " and how we all joined the song when we broke camp for home ?
I met Comrade W. W. Eastman out here and he told of Byron Anderson. Eastman has his old fife he carried through the service. "By" was a drummer, of the old Twenty-eighth Regiment. I would be glad to get a list of the survivors, with their residence. And now, comrades, let us each strive to smooth the path of our comrades as they descend the plain toward the final muster, and may the Twenty-eighth reunions long continue, is the wish of your friend and comrade.
My pet name in the company was " Yankee."
HERBERT LOUNSBURY, Company H.
NYACK, N. Y., April 30, 1896.
DEAR SECRETARY :
I have just received the invitation to be present at the thirty-fifth annual reunion. I am very sorry I will not be able to attend this year, as business calls me to other parts, and the distance will be too far to come. I send greetings to all the boys, and on the 22d day of May I will think of the boys of the Twenty-eighth and the good times they are having at Albion, with but one regret, that I shall not be with you this year, but will try to be with you the next reunion - 1897.
I send the following sketch, that I trust will be of interest to the boys.
In IS61, when the news came that Fort Sumter was fired on and our flag insulted, I was with a company of players in Philadelphia, Pa Our manager, John E. MeDonough, stood on the stage with the dispatch in his hand. Never have I heard before or since such an appeal for the Union as I did on that night. He bade the women and child- ren go home and the men stay. It did not take us long to turn the theater into a drill room. With swords of Lear. and muskets of Richard the 3d, and spears of all descriptions, we drilled from 9 P. M. to 12. 30 .1. M., when in a body we marched to Broad and Prince streets, the P., W. & B. R. R. depot, to take train for Washington. We made coffee at the cooper-shop, which afterwards became
'known from Maine to California. We took cars for Baltimore about 3 45. When we arrived there we were attacked by a mob. We had nothing with which to defend ourselves, It was a free fight all around. I was hit in the head with a blunt missile, and it stunned me. I wandered about in a half- dazed condition until I saw the Twenty-eighth N. Y. Vols. coming through when I joined them, as I wanted revenge, and the ball did not open any too quick for me. I enlisted in Company I on the 2Sth of June in the city of Washington, D. C. I followed the ups and downs of the regiment until it was mustered out. I was wounded at Cedar Mountain August 9, 1862, in the leg. Captain Bush bound up my leg. He was not in command of his company at the time. He had a club of wood instead of a sword, and was in the thickest of the fight. It was he that saved me from be- ing taken prisoner, and I never can forget brave Captain Bush. I was also wounded at a skirmish at Winchester, Va., with a spent ball, in the arm. Was not mustered out with the regiment, but was left in Albany, to be sent back to serve out my full time. * *
I have never forgotten the boys of the Twenty- eighth.
I remain, your comrade, JOSEPII H. KAMP, Company I.
NEW ORLEANS, LA , May 19, IS96. DEAR SIR:
My husband, II. H. Paige, is ill and not able to write, but he wishes nie to say that he is very sorry to learn of the death of Captain IIardie. We are all traveling the same way. Ile hopes that you may have a pleasant reunion, and regrets that he is not able to meet with you once again.
I regret much not being able to send his picture, but he is not well enough to sit for one.
Yours sincerely, MRS. HELEN M. PAIGE.
RICHMOND, IND., May 22, 1896.
SECRETARY REUNION TWENTY-EIGHTH NEW YORK REGIMENT, Albion, N. Y.
I am with you in heart and spirit and the same loyalty as of yore. My love to the boys.
S. S. MARVIN, Company K.
CRIPPLE CREEK, COLO., May 16, 1896. DEAR COMRADES OF THE TWENTY - EIGHTH REGIMENT, Albion, N. Y.
I sincerely regret that I cannot be with you the 22d to revive the memories of our glorious regi- ment, but here in the mountains of Colorado I will observe the day and be with you in spirit.
With kindest regards to all, I remain most truly J. N. PHILLIPS, yours,
Company K. WASSINGTON, S. D., May 1, IS96.
COMRADES OF THE TWENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT, ALBION, N. Y.
Again our worthy secretary has notified me to attend the thirty-fifth anniversary of the old Twenty- eighth. Ilow I regret that I cannot be present, but my heart is with you. I will decorate my house with flags on the 22d. I sincerely hope you will have a good attendance and have a regular love feast. I hope I may mcet some of you in St. Paul at the national encampment. I shall be there, if alive.
.
IIO
TWENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT N. Y. S. VOLUNTEERS.
Comrade Eastman, of Company D, visited me last July, and we had a regular good old visit with fife and drum accompaniment. Your reunion this year will have a solemnity connected with it, which you, no doubt, will feel in the loss of Captain Har- die. Our ranks are getting thin from year to year. I wish I could grasp the hands of those that still re- main. Accept my best wishes is the prayer of your old comrade and brother.
B. C. ANDERSON, Company K.
ST. JOHNS, MICH., April 27, 1896.
DEAR COMRADES :
Please say to those present, and to those who, like me, are not present, but would like to be, that nothing in the whole world would give me so much pleasure as to meet with them. It has been my dearest hope as each anniversary has come that perhaps I might be able to attend the next re- union. But each year comes and goes and the pos- sibility seems farther away than ever. Though absent in person, in spirit and in all well wishing and kindly feeling I am with them, with my whole heart.
My thoughts have been on the return trip from Richmond. How well I remember that ride on the transports from Aikens Landing to Washington, after being paroled from a five weeks' sojourn on Belle Isle. It was a glorious night, bright moon- light, and not a breath of wind -- all was as calm and lovely as though the demon War was not raging in all its fury a few miles away.
I wonder how many who were on that boat are now living and remember the panic that occurred during the night. The upper cabin was full of men, sleeping on the floor, on tables, in chairs, wherever they could sit or lie down; I was sick and unable to sleep, and saw or heard what caused the excitement. Suddenly a man gave a screech in a dream. This awoke others, who being startled. began excitedly asking, What is the mat- ter? What is the matter? This in turn woke others, and, presently, some one raised the cry of "fire !" and then pandemonium reigned for a time. Three or four hundred men yelling and screaming. Fire ! fire ! Help ! help ! The boat is sinking ! and all imaginable calls. The men wildly gesti- culating and hurrying about. There was danger that some might jump overboard, so panic-stricken were a large number
I, having been awake, knew the causelessness of the fright, and as soon as I could make myself heard and, with the help of some cool-headed men, could explain that a man dreaming has caused the alarm, quiet was restored, the whole excitement G. W. Maybe, lasting but a few minutes. It was my intention to tell of our arrival in Washington, and being marched the whole length of the city, and what a J. D. Woods, forlorn crowd we were, almost naked, our hair long R. W. Bell, . and uncombed, black with dirt, scrawny, wild-eyed, and hideous with suffering, truly we were a pitiable J. H. Smith, crowd ! After marching us through the city, we were taken to Annapolis, Md., and I could write pages of experiences while there but this is getting too Lot Parshall, long. After a week in Annapolis we were renioved to Parole Camp, at Alexandria. Of our experience while there, of our attempts to obtain clothing and ' G. E. McEndree,
blankets and so on, I will not write. But it would be incomplete if I did not tell of our rejoining the regiment, which we did some time in November. What there was left, a mere handful, was encamped on Maryland Heights. Some companies were without a commissioned officer, Company K being commanded by H. A. Jamison, Orderly Sergeant. After a month in the hospital I resumed duty, and from that time until the regiment came home I took my rations with the others.
With respect, NEHEMIAH PECKTIL.
The following comrades send greetings and regrets that they cannot be with us, and hope all present will have an enjoyable time. Space will not allow us to publish their letters in full.
COMPANY A.
W. H. Merville,
Centerview, O.
E. A. Eaton,
Portis, Kans.
John F. Taylor,
Youngstown, N. Y.
D. R. Whitcher,
Lockport, N. Y.
Frank Church,
Matfield Green, Kans.
COMPANY C.
Captain W. P. Warren, . Saginaw, Mich.
William H. Adriance, Paw Paw, Mich.
WV. T. Gillingham,
Solon, O.
S. P. Hayes, .
Adalaska, Mich.
Frank Haner,
Pullman, Ill.
George H. Hunt, Kalamazoo, Mich.
Joel Davison, Smith's Crossing, Mich.
A. M. Graham,
Lockport, N. Y.
COMPANY D.
William Canham,
Bellwood, Neb.
Daniel Stockwell, Adrian, Mich.
William McDonald, Saltvale, N. Y.
COMPANY E.
Henry S. Gulick, Newark, N. J.
Hiram M. Moore, San Luis, Abispo.
COMPANY F.
Riley Thayer, Alabama, N. Y.
Captain W. W. Rowley, Saginaw, Mich.
COMPANY G.
L. D. C. Gaskill, Fraser, Col.
Charles Ferdun,
Allegan, Mich.
COMPANY H.
N. B. Bradley,
. Ithaca, Mich ..
S. H. Beach, Jersey City, N. J.
Oliver J. Moffett, Fairmount, Neb.
Michael Wasim, New York City.
Levi Kimball, Wakefield, Neb.
Narrowsburg, N. Y.
COMPANY I.
Lockport, N. Y.
Cleveland, O.
COMPANY K.
Aurora, Ill.
BAND.
Atlanta, Ga.
5TH VA. Cumberland, O.
-
III
REUNIONS OF THE ASSOCIATION.
A LIST OF THE REUNIONS AND OFFICERS
OF THE Twenty-eighth Regiment New York Volunteers.
VETERAN ASSOCIATION.
DATE.
PLACE.
PRESIDENT.
VICE-PRESIDENT.
SECRETARY.
May 22, 1861.
1862.
1863.
1861.
1865.
Medina.
Col. E. F. Brown.
1866.
IS67.
IS63.
Canandaigua.
C. L. Skeels.
Major T. FitzGerald. C. L. Skeels. Capt. W. P. Warren
..
IS71.
1872.
Lockport.
Capt. W. H. H. Mapes.
J. Byron Lovell. Sergt L. B Swift. Capt. B. Flagler.
IS75.
Albion.
Capt. D. Hardie.
J. Byron Lovell.
IS-6.
Lockport.
Capt. W. W. Bush.
J. Byron Lovell.
IS77.
Rochester.
J. Byron Lovell.
18-S.
Dayton, Ohio.
Capt. B. Flagler.
C. W. Boyce. Capt. D. Hardie.
J. B. Lovell.
1831.
Major J. R. Mitchell.
Lieut. L. R. Bailey.
ISS2
J. Byron Lovell.
ISS3.
Niagara Falls.
Capt. W. W. Bush. Capt. B. Flagler.
J. Byron Lovell.
ISS4.
Staunton, Va.
Capt. D. Hardie.
J. Byron Lovell. J. B. Lovell.
ISS6.
Lockport.
Lieut. F. N. Wicker. 1
J. Byron Lovell.
IS87.
Albion. Medina.
Capt. D. Hardie. John Bacon.
J. Byron Lovell.
1889.
Niagara Falls.
Capt. B. Flagler.
J. Byron Lovell.
IS90.
Lockport
Corp. J. W. Little.
Lieut. N. O. Allen.
IS91.
Niagara falls.
Capt. B. Flagler. Ziba Roberts.
Lieut. J. J. Sullivan. John Bacon. Corp. J. W. Little. Lyman Field.
C. W. Boyce.
. .
IS94.
Lockport.
Capt. B. Flagler.
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