USA > New York > Steuben County > A history of Steuben County, New York, and its people, Vol. I > Part 50
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York city and later of San Francisco, was empowered to raise a regiment in New York state, to be known as the Seventh Regiment of New York volunteers, for service on the Pacific coast, and to col- onize our new conquest there. The regiment was to contain ten companies of one hundred men each, rank and file. Steuben county was designated as the recruiting ground for one company.
William E. Shannon, of Bath, at once volunteered to raise Com- pany A, and in a very brief space of time had enlisted the full com- plement. The company left Bath, August 1, 1846, for the city of New York, where the company was to rendezvous. On its arrival it was accepted and mustered into service as Company I, and went into camp on Governor's Island. The company remained in camp several weeks, but on September 26th embarked on the ship "Susan Drew" for their destination. After a prosperous voyage of nearly six months, with brief calls at Rio and Valparaiso, the ship came to anchor in the beautiful bay of San Francisco. On April 1, 1847, the company, with others, was taken aboard the United States ship "Lexington" and landed at Monterey on April 29th, where it re- mained for some ten months. They were afterwards ordered to San Diegó, and took passage on a coasting vessel for San Pedro. Com- pany I remained at this place until mustered out of service on Sep- tember 25, 1848.
Captain Shannon died of cholera at Sacramento, California. Following the Mexican war the militia of Steuben county had nothing to do until the breaking of the Civil war.
THE CANACADEA RIFLES.
The Canacadea Rifles, also known as the Hornellsville Guards, was organized early in the year 1857. The company mustered about fifty men and was the first military company to be organized in Hornellsville after the War of 1812. The company was attached to the Sixtieth Regiment of State Militia, and was composed for the most part of men who were members of Rescue Hose Company No. 1. The officers of the company at the time of its organization were: Captain, James Kniskern ; first lieutenant, James A. Wilkey ; second lieutenant, N. M. Crane. The state of New York furnished the arms for the organization, but the members provided their own uni- forms. The company held weekly drills in the old Canisteo Hall and in a short time reached a high degree of proficiency. During the summer of 1858 the local organization, in company with the other companies that composed the Sixtieth Regiment, encamped for general training on the site now occupied by the Sixth Ward school house. The company was very prominent socially, and on January 8, 1857, gave its first annual ball in the Osborne House. The men who were on the committees for this ball were among the most promi- nent of this section. The committees were as follows: Honorary committee: Colonel R. B. Van Valkenburgh, Colonel L. C. Whitney and Captain John Stocum, of Bath; Colonel P. C. Ward, Colonel L. E. Bowen and Captain C. M. Belknap, of Hornellsville; Major W. Smith and Lieutenant H. Goff, of Howard; Captain F. Chapee and Captain M. Stafford, of Corning; Captain W. H. Drew and James Barton, of Buffalo. The general committee was composed of the following: J. T. Wilbur, J. R. Sheldon, C. W. Graham, A. S. Charles, John Woolsey, John Barton, George H. Kellinger, A. D.
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Thompson, F. M. McDowell, Morris Smith, Alexander Jones, J. M. Wisewell, W. L. Cleveland, Robert E. Reynolds, W. N. Craw, E. N. Wheeler, George S. Swift, George W. McDowell, Homer Holliday, A. Trumbull, S. M. Alley, J. Twohey, T. P. Badger and E. G. Durfey. The rooms managers were as follows: Lieutenant N. M. Crane, Rns- sell Pardee, Henry Switzer, A. M. Plimpton, M. E. Brown and C. E. W. Baldwin. The organization continued in a prosperous con- dition until the breaking out of the Civil war, when the enlist- ment of ninety per cent of its members on the first call for troops by President Lincoln caused the disbandment of this well-known and efficient military organization.
A large number of the members of the Canacadea Rifles obtained commissions under President Lincoln, and received promotion for bravery and distinguished service. The organization pointed with pride to the fact that its members enlisted in Company G, Twenty- Third New York, the first regiment to be organized in the Twenty- seventh congressional district, the regiment being mnstered into the service of the United States on July 6, 1861, at Elmira, New York. The only surviving member of the old Canacadea Rifles, so far as can be learned, is Anson Prentiss, of Hornell, New York. Mr. Prentiss was born in the town of Tyrone on February 12, 1839. He removed with his parents to Hornellsville when he was eleven years of age, and has since resided in that city. He received a common-school education, being a student at the old school house formerly used as a block house, which was located near the tracks of the Erie railroad, at a point where the freight house now stands. He entered the em- ployment of the Erie when eighteen years of age, but on the breaking out of the Civil war he resigned his position to enlist in Company G, Twenty-Third New York Volunteer Infantry. He served two years and was discharged. He attempted to re-enlist, but was rejected on account of physical disability. He thereupon resumed work for the Erie, and remained with that company for a period of forty-five years. On November 29, 1877, while a conductor on the Susque- hanna division of the Erie, Mr. Prentiss had his right foot caught in the frog of a switch at Corning, and was run over by a train, suf- fering the loss of his right leg. In 1865 he was married to Susan (. McGill, a well-known young lady of Hornellsville. Two children resulted from the union-Albert A. Prentiss, who resides in Buffalo, and Mrs. J. B. Kinne, of Hornell. Although over seventy-two years of age, Mr. Prentiss is hale and hearty, and bids fair to live many vears.
COMPANIES C AND D, SIXTIETH REGIMENT.
Companies (' and D, of the old Sixtieth Regiment, State Militia, commanded by Colonel Baldwin, were located in Corning, New York, and were quartered in the old stone arsenal in West First street, which was used as a storehouse for artillery. Company C, which mustered about fifty men, entered the service of the state of New York in 1856. Captain Luzern Todd, of Corning, was in command, and N. T. Colby, also of that city, was the first lieutenant. At the time of their muster into the service of the state Company C was quartered in the old Concert Hall in Market street, but later was assigned to quarters in the arsenal. Company D, Sixtieth Regiment, known as the "Irish Brigade," was organized at the same time as
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Company C, and was commanded by Captain Fitzpatrick. This com- pany also mustered about fifty men, and was assigned quarters in the arsenal. Both of these companies reached a high state of effi- ciency under the capable instruction of their officers. One company of the old Sixtieth Regiment was located at Canaseraga, Allegany county, and was conceded to be the best-drilled company in the regi- ment. One company was also raised in Dansville, Livingston coun- ty, and attached to the Sixtieth Regiment. Pursuant to orders from headquarters, the companies of the Sixtieth Regiment assem- bled in Hornellsville in July, 1858, for a tour of field service. The camp of the regiment was pitched on the site now occupied by the Sixth Ward school house, which was stated to be an ideal place on which to quarter a large body of troops for instruction. On the following year the regiment assembled on the Howard Flats, near the village of Howard, for instruction in field service. The regi- ment had reached a high state of efficiency in 1860, and was con- sidered one of the best commands in the state. With the breaking out of the Civil war and the first call for volunteers, the old Six- tieth Regiment was disorganized, for in every city and village in which a company of the regiment was quartered, fully ninety per cent of the members of that company enlisted at the first call of the president for troops. In Corning both companies C and D had to be disbanded, owing to the fact that the members were among the first to enlist in the Union army. In Hornellsville forty-five out of the fifty men that formed the "Canacadea Rifles," as that company of the Sixticth Regiment was called, enlisted at the first call. It was the same in Canaseraga and Dansville ; men with mili- tary training were the first to enlist in the Union cause. Thus the old Sixtieth Regiment, New York State Militia, passed into history with the knowledge that its members had done their full duty, and done it well. In 1873 the old State Arsenal on the hill in Corning, which had served as quarters for Companies C and D of the Six- tieth Regiment was purchased by the bishop of the diocese and con- verted into a convent for the use of the Sisters in charge of the parochial school connected with St. Mary's parish.
Of the men who were members of the old Sixtieth Regiment none reached greater prominence that did Henry G. Tuttle, of Corn- ing, a member of Company C, Sixtieth Regiment. Mr. Tuttle was born in the town of East Otto, Cattaraugus county, New York, in 1833. He resided in that county until nineteen years of age, when he went to Nunda, Livingston county, and learned the trade of a cabinetmaker. In the fall of 1856 he removed to Corning, where he became foreman of the extensive furniture establishment of W. F. Townley & Company. In 185? he purchased a half interest in the business, and in the same year married Miss C. A. Townley, a sis- ter of the proprietor. Selling his interests in the business, he re- turned to Nunda, and in September, 1861, raised a company of volunteers and was elected captain of Company A, One Hundred and Fourth Regiment, New York Volunteers. This regiment was assigned to duty in General Duryea's brigade, and was engaged in most of the battles of the Army of the Potomac. Captain Tuttle was severely wounded in the battle of Antietanı, and also at the battle of Gettysburg. In September, 1862, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel for bravery in the battle of Antietam. At
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the close of the war he was brevetted colonel of the regiment for long and meritorious service, and remained in the service until October, 1866. In 1868 he was elected superintendent of the poor of Steuben county, serving three years. In 1869 Colonel Tuttle organized the first G. A. R. post in Corning, and was elected its commander. Col- onel Tuttle is a competent and thoroughly practical architect, and a member of the Western New York Chapter of the American Insti- tute of Architects. He is a member of various societies, among which is Painted Post Lodge, No. 11?, F. and A. M., Red Men, Knights of Honor, A. O. U. W., and Knights and Ladies of Honor.
IN THE CIVIL WAR.
In response to President Lincoln's first call for volunteers, Steu- ben county, acting promptly with Chemung county, sent forth in June, 1861, the Twenty-Third New York Infantry (Southern Tier Rifles), which was the first regiment mustered into the service from the Seventh congressional district. Early in the same summer Cap- tain John Stocum, of Bath, raised and commanded a company, which was organized at Battery (' of the First New York Light Ar- tillery, and mustered into the service at Elmira. The Thirty-Fourth New York Infantry, containing two companies from Steuben county, was mustered at Elmira, June 5, 1861. The Eighty-Sixth New York Volunteers, known as the "Steuben Rangers," was organized and sent to the front in 1861. The Fiftieth Engineers, mustered Sep- tember 18, 1861, was partly made up of Steuben county men, as was the One Hundred and Fourth New York Infantry, mustered during the winter of 1861-2. Then came the One Hundred and Seventh New York Infantry, chiefly a Steuben county regiment, mustered in August, 1862 ; the One Hundred and Forty-First Infan- try, mustered during the same month ; the One Hundred and Sixty- First Regiment, sent forward in October, 1862; the One Hundred and Seventy-Ninth Infantry, which was made up partially from Steuben county, mustered from July, 1863, to August, 1864; the One Hundred and Eighty-eighth and the One Hundred and Eighty- ninth Infantry, mustered in October, 1864.
Thus it will be seen that from the beginning to the end of that memorable struggle of four years' duration for the national exist- ence, Steuben county was constantly furnishing men for the serv- ice. The men of old Steuben made glorious records in the prin- cipal campaigns and battles of the war, participated in the last great conflict of the rebellion when its power was finally broken in front of Richmond in 1865, and rejoiced in the surrender of Lee and Johnston and the final triumph of the Union cause. At this time it would not he out of place to give a short history of the regiments, and parts of regiments, that were recruited from Steuben county, for at no time during the war did men from any part of the Union show more courage and valor than the sons of Steuben.
TWENTY-THIRD NEW YORK INFANTRY.
The Twenty-Third Regiment, New York State Volunteers, was organized at Elmira, and was mustered into the service of the United States on July 6, 1861, being the first regiment to be mustered into service from the Twenty-seventh congressional district. The regi- ment was officered as follows: Colonel, Henry C. Hoffman; lieu-
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tenant colonel, Nirom M. Crane ; major, William M. Gregg, adjutant, William W. Hayt; quartermaster, Myron H. Manderville; surgeon, Seymour Churchill; assistant surgeon, William A. Madill; chaplain, Ezra F. Crane; sergeant major, Archibald N. Devoe; quartermaster sergeant, Hiram Smith; drum major, Miles Terrill; fife major, Julius C. Smead. The companies of the regiment were officered as follows: Company A-Captain, Theodore G. Schlick; first lieu- tenant, Cornelius F. Mowers; second lieutenant, George E. Biles. The call for volunteers for this company was at Bath, April 15, 1861 ; thirty men enlisted that day. Company B-Captain, Marshall M. Loydon ; first lieutenant, Lemuel K. Bradley; second lieutenant, William Cole. Company C-Captain, Samuel Barstow; first lieu- tenant, Moses Van Benschoten; second lieutenant, Charles O. Dur- land. Company D-Captain, Luzern Todd ; first lieutenant, Newton T. Colby ; second lieutenant, William H. Jones. Company E-Cap- tain, George H. Powers; first lieutenant, John H. Pierce; second lieutenant, Hugh J. Baldwin. Company F-Captain, William W. Dingleday ; first lieutenant, Melville C. Wilkinson; second lieuten- ant, Samuel N. Benedict. Company G-Captain, Frank B. Doty ; first lieutenant, Ira Cone; second lieutenant, John Prentiss. Com- pany H-Captain, M. C. Clark ; first lieutenant, A. D. Water ; second lieutenant, B. B. Andrews. Company I-Captain, James D. Chap- man ; first lieutenant, A. O. Durland; second lieutenant, Samuel W. Cass. Company K-Captain, Nathaniel B. Fowler ; first lieutenant, Florence Sullivan ; second lieutenant, Rodney W. Steel.
Soon after its muster into service the regiment left Elmira, and upon arriving at Washington encamped on Meridian Hill, two miles north of the city. It was reviewed by President Lincoln and Secre- tary Seward on July 17th, and presented with a fine stand of colors by the ladies of Elmira. The banner was presented by General A. S. Divan and was received by Colonel Hoffman, who responded in a brief address, in which he thanked the ladies for the beautiful testi- monial of their kindness and confidence. The regiment crossed the Potomac into Virginia and encamped at Fort Runyon on July 23rd. On the 5th of August they moved to Arlington Heights, and on the 7th established a picket line along the road from Hunter's Chapel to the house of a Mr. Pearl, near Ball's Cross Roads. While in camp at Arlington the regiment was brigaded with the Twenty-First and Thirty-Fifth New York Volunteers, under command of General James S. Wadsworth. The regiment remained here until September 28th, when a general advance of the army was ordered, and it moved to Upton's Hill, only to find the place evacuated, and, what from a distance seemed to be formidable cannon, proved to be stove-pipe mounted on wheels. The men went into winter quarters on Upton's Hill at a locality named "Upton's Dale" by the men of the Twenty- third. December, January and February were passed by the regi- ment in drills, reviews and picket duty. On March 10th orders were given for an advance. As the army moved forward, the regi- ment- shared in the general chagrin in finding that the enemy had folded their tents and stolen away. On March 14th the command of the brigade was transferred from General Wadsworth to Colonel Rogers, of the Twenty-First Regiment. On March 15th, the regi- ment started for Alexandria, for the purpose of shipping on trans- ports. The roads were almost impassable, owing to the heavy rains
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that had recently fallen, and after struggling one day in the mud the regiment returned to its old camp, where it remained for two days, when it moved one mile farther on and encamped at Bailey's Cross Roads. The command remained in this camp until April 4th, during which time General Patrick was placed at the head of the brigade. Thence the Twenty-Third proceeded to Fairfax, to Manas- sas and to Bristo. The regiment bivouacked at the foot of Fred- ericksburg Heights on the evening of April 19th,. from which point the city was subsequently bombarded. The city was evacuated by the enemy on May 1st, and on the 7th General Patrick, having been appointed military governor of the city, detailed the Twenty-Third as guard and patrol. This regiment raised, for the first time, the Union banner in this rebel town. The regiment remained in the city for two weeks, when a general advance was made, and after a series of fatiguing marches it returned to Fredericksburg, reaeh- ing Elk Run on June 9th. On the 27th of June the regiment en- camped at "Camp Rufus King," on the Belle Plaine road, about three miles from the Rappahannock river. While eneamped at this spot two interesting ceremonies took place, that of the presentation of a sword to Colonel Hoffman by the non-commissioned officers of his command, and one to Lieutenant Colonel Crane by the privates of the regiment. A few days lated the officers of the line presented Major William M. Gregg with a handsome sword. On July 24th the regiment started on the most extraordinary reconnoissance of the campaign. Marching orders were received on August 10th, the regiment moved towards Culpepper, and arrived at the foot of Cedar Mountain on August 16th, remaining two days on the battlefield. The wagon trains were sent to the rear on August 18th, and the regiment was ordered to be in readiness to march at a moment's notice. They proceeded to Rappahannock Station, and were actively engaged in that battle, fought August 21st and 22nd.
In his official report of this battle Colonel Crane says: "This was the first time that my regiment had been under fire of artillery. I was highly pleased with the conduct of the men. They were cool and prompt to obey orders. Both men and officers behaved like veterans ; not a man flinehed from his duty." The battle opened on the morning of the 23rd with a heavy artillery fire, and lasted several hours. During the forenoon of this day the regiment started for Warrentown, and when arriving within one mile of the town bivouacked on the Sulphur Springs road. The regiment participated in the battle of White Sulphur Springs, which was a spirited fight. Next came the march to Gainesville, one of the hardest marches of the campaign, in consequence of the scarcity of water and the op- pressive heat. The regiment halted for breakfast when within six miles of the town. After the meal had been eaten and all the extra ammunition destroyed, the command pressed forward, and during the afternoon the advance division was fired upon, but it was not until after the sun had begun to sink below the western horizon that the first shot of the battle of Gainesville was fired. In this engage- ment the Twenty-Third Regiment, although on the field, was not en- tirely engaged. The battle lasted but one hour and ten minutes, dur- ing which time Gibbon's brigade lost eight hundred men. General Patrick's brigade, to which the Twenty-Third was attached, held the field until the wounded were eared for, and at three o'clock a. m.,
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started for Manassas Plains, which was reached during the following forenoon, the men almost exhausted from want of sleep, food and water. The regiment had scarcely stacked their arms for a rest when Sykes' brigade of regulars passed en route to the Bull Run bat- tlefield, and General Patrick rode rapidly up and gave the order, "Prepare to march." The brigade was soon formed in line and General Patrick addressed them as follows: "My men, we return to the battleground of last night. You fight in good company. You follow the regulars. They're my old companions in arms. You fight well: I've no fault to find. Keep well closed up and be prompt to obey orders. Colonel Rogers, lead off by the right flank." The regi- ment took part in the battle that afternoon.
On the following morning opened what has gone down in history as the Second Battle of Bull Run, one of the deadliest contests of the Rebellion. The Twenty-Third Regiment, then numbering only two hundred and twenty-five in line, went into this battle with Colonel Crane, of Hornellsville, in command. The following description of "the battle is taken from Colonel Crane's official report: "This morning (August 30th), after giving time to get coffee, the brigade changed position two or three times to different parts of the field. No enemy in force was discovered, notwithstanding our batteries kept throwing shells into the woods to draw them out, or bring forth a response, but all continued silent. About two p. m., our division was placed under command of Fitz-John Porter, and with his corps ordered to advance. We advanced, King's division having the right and forming four lines of battle. My regiment was the third line of the division, which was now commanded by General Hatch, Gen- eral King having been relieved for the affair at Gainesville on the 28th. We now moved forward to a thick wood. Here the skir- mishers commenced firing, and soon the advance lines opened with a terrific volley of musketry. We pushed on. Soon the bullets flew around us as thick as hail. Now commenced in earnest the final battle of Bull Run. The enemy's artillery opened on us with shot and shell, and this, with their musketry, made a storm of their fire. Our artillery in the rear of the woods could give us no support. Thus the battle raged for about one and one-half hours, until our front lines were broken, and the dead and wounded lay in heaps. The enemy lay behind a railway embankment, and so well protected that our men charged in vain upon them, sometimes upon the ditch, where they fought hand to hand. Sykes' brigade of regulars on our left was forced back, our two front lines were decimated and broken, and our (Patrick's) brigade badly cut to pieces. Colonel Pratt, of the Twentieth New York State Militia, was killed, and the regiment scattered and demoralized. The Twenty-First was used up, and the left wing of the Thirty-Fifth decimated. These had all left the field and fallen back. I had heard no order to retire and remained in the woods some little time, my regiment being almost alone. I finally gave the order to retire, and did so in as perfect order as on battalion drill. In this action I lost a number of men and officers wounded, but only a few killed. On emerging from the woods I met General Patrick, and saw at once that the battle was going against us, as the enemy had turned our left and the fighting was terrific on that part of the field. Our brigade was gotten together (what was left), we took a position in the rear of a battery, and the
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men were ordered to lie down. As we moved over the field the enemy continued to throw shot and shell at us, but none of my regi- ment was hurt. As we came out on the pike, General McDowell rode up and ordered us toward Centreville. We continued the march and soon learned that the army was on the retreat to Washington. We arrived at Centreville about ten p. m., worn out and exhausted. We lay down upon the ground so completely tired that we did not mind the rain that commenced to fall, but slept soundly till morn- ing, wet to the skin. The following day was one of the deepest de- jection to the Army of the Potomac. The army was in full retreat, surging back upon Washington, followed by the victorious arms of the Confederacy within thirty miles of the capital, and confidence in the Union generals gone. It was about nine a. m. when we received the news that General MeClellan was again in command of the Army of the Potomac. The effect was wonderful and thrilling. For miles along the lines of that battle-shattered and disheartened army cheer upon cheer rent the air, and the sound swelled and rolled along like a wave. Officers spring into their saddles with a bound, soldiers grasped their muskets with eagerness and sprang to their places in the ranks, and, at the order forward, all moved as if invigorated with new life. The regiment marched on to Fairfax, where it remained over night, and on the following morning proceeded on in the direc- tion of Centreville, finally meeting the balance of the brigade and countermarched. About this time we learned that the enemy was about to make an attack at a point near Chantilly. Our brigade was moved in that direction, and the Thirty-Fifth, Twenty-First and Twenty-Third were placed in the old rebel rifle pit to protect the right of our line of battle. About sundown the enemy attacked our left, and the battle lasted until about nine p. m. The firing of musketry and artillery was incessant, and this, with the terrific thun- der and lightning, rendered the scene grand and terrific. The enemy were repulsed with considerable loss. We remained here until the following afternoon, when we were ordered to march to Upton's Hill. We set out immediately and reached the place about midnight."
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