USA > New York > Steuben County > A history of Steuben County, New York, and its people, Vol. I > Part 52
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morning of the 4th it was observed that the vedettes of the enemy had disappeared from the front. That night a heavy rain set in, and on the morning of the 5th the regiment assisted in burying the dead. The regiment moved forward on the 6th with the army, in pursuit of the enemy, and reached Mechaniestown on the 7th. It passed through Frederick City on the 8th, and on the 9th changed direction and moved down the Hagerstown Road, through Middle- town, and over South Mountain. The regiment reached Millport on the 10th, and on the 11th rested for the night near Roxbury Mill, in line of battle. On the 14th it was heard that the enemy had erossed the Potomac with all its transportation and stores. On the 17th the regiment crossed the Potomac at Harper's Ferry and passed the night at Hillsborough. Upperville was reached on the 20th. General French was in command of the Third Corps at that time. Manassas Gap was reached on the 22nd, and on the 23rd the regi- ment moved up the gap. The enemy was encountered near Front Royal, and, after severe fighting, they were obliged to retreat to the other side of the mountain. On the 24th the regiment retraced their steps through the Gap, and on the 26th it reached Warrentown, which ended the campaign of Gettysburg. At Warrentown Colonel Higgins again took command, and Major Lansing was ordered to Elmira, New York, with two officers and six sergeants, on recruiting service. On July 31, 1863, the brigade moved to Sulphur Springs and pitehed camp, doing picket duty and drilling until September 15th. On the 16th the regiment crossed the Rappahannock at Freed- man's Ford, and on the 17th camped near Culpeper. The whole division was in line on October 8th and was soon on its way back to Centreville, reaching that place on the 14th. On the 19th they moved southward again. On the 30th they camped at Bealton Sta- tion and remained there until November 7th. On that day the Third Corps moved to Kelly's Ford, on the Rappahannock, in full sight of the enemy, and, under a galling fire, obtained full possession of the ford, capturing a large number of prisoners. On the 8th they ad- vaueed as far as Brandy Station, crossed the Rapidan on the 26th at Jacob's Ford and on the 27th encountered the enemy about six o'clock A. M. About sundown the Eighty-sixth and the One Hun- dred and Twenty-fourth New York were called upon, as the Seven- teenth Maine had just been driven in. The two regiments sprang forward, quickly occupied, the place vacated by the Seventeenth Maine and checked the enemy, although their batteries rained a shower of shell upon them and the infantry endeavored to drive them baek. The loss of the Eighty-sixth was heavy, four being killed and thirty-two wounded, Colonel Higgins among the latter. That night the enemy retired from the field. On the 29th the Eighty-sixth ad- vaneed as far as Mine Run, where the enemy was found heavily en- trenched. The picket line crossed the run during the night, but the assault which was ordered was countermanded. They were again ordered to retrace their steps, which was done, crossing the Rapidan at Culpeper Mine Ford, being pressed hard by the rebel cavalry. The army moved to near Brandy Station and went into winter quar- ters, where Lieutenant Colonel Lansing and party again joined the regiment. The loss of the Eighty-sixth up to this time had been very severe; there was hardly a company that had its original offi- cers and some of them none. Company A had none; Company B,
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one; Company C, none; Company D, one; Company E, two, one of whom was detached; Company F, one; Company G, one; Company H, none ; Company I, one; Company K, none. It was the same in the field-and-staff. B. L. Higgins, now colonel, was badly wounded and in the hospital. He was mustered out of the service. J. H. Lansing was lieutenant colonel; M. B. Stafford, major (formerly a lieutenant of Company F) ; James Cherry, formerly a sergeant in Company K, was adjutant ; D. F. Brown was quartermaster ; Com- pany A was commanded by Captain Jerry Ryan, promoted from the ranks; Company B, by Lieutenant Booth, promoted from the ranks; Company C, by Captain Robert Barton, promoted from sergeant; Company D, by Lieutenant N. H. Vincent, promoted from sergeant ; Company E, by Lientenant George A. Packer, original; Company F, by Captain H. C. Harrower, original; Company G, by Captain N. S. Baker, promoted from lieutenant ; Company H, by Lieutenant Stone, promoted from private; Company I, by Captain Foster P. Wood, promoted from second lieutenant; Company K, by Captain John Finney, promoted from the ranks. The companies averaged from ten to forty non-commissioned officers and privates, the whole regiment numbering less than three hundred for duty, although many more were carried on the rolls, such as sick and wounded in hospitals, and those on detached service. In December, 1863, an or- der was issued from Washington, that if those soldiers who had en- listed for three years and whose term of service had about expired would re-enlist for the war as veteran volunteers they would receive their bounty and be permitted to return to their homes in a body with a furlough of thirty days. Nearly all (245) of the non-com- missioned officers and privates of the Eighty-sixth re-enlisted and returned to Elmira, New York, where they were furloughed for thirty days. At the end of their furlongh they joined their brigade at Brandy Station. While at Elmira Captain L. Todd, of Corning, who had served two years in the Twenty-third New York Volun- teers, was commissioned as captain in the Eighty-sixth, assigned to duty with Company B and returned with the regiment to the field.
HEAVIEST LOSS OF THE EIGHTY-SIXTH.
The regiment remained at Brandy Station until May 4, 1864, doing the usnal picket duty, drilling and making an occasional demonstration towards the enemy. On the first and second days of May, 1864, the regiment was inspected, and on the 4th six days' rations and fifty rounds of ammunition were issued to each man and General George G. Meade's address read to them. At this time the regiment numbered three hundred rank and file, some having returned from the hospitals. At eleven o'clock P. M. the army moved towards the Rapidan, the Second Corps crossing on pontoons at Ely's Ford and bivouacking near the old battlefield of Chancel- lorsville. The regiment moved at 5:00 A. M. on the 5th. Ward's brigade reached Todd's Tavern about nine A. M., when they counter- marched towards the Wilderness Tavern. The battle had commenced and the Eighty-sixth was soon in the hottest of it, from two o'clock P. M. until darkness put a stop to further manoeuvers. The firing, both from artillery and musket, was terrible. The woods were so thick that it was impossible to see the rebel lines. About eight o'clock P. M. both armies ceased firing and lay down to take a few hours' rest. The Eighty-sixth suffered no loss in killed, but several were
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wounded. At five o'clock the next morning the army was again in motion, pushing the enemy slowly ; but it was hot work, and a num- ber of the Eighty-sixth were killed or wounded. The enemy con- tinned to give ground until about eleven o'clock A. M., when they turned, nearly overwhelmed the entire corps and sent it flying back to the rear. This was a fearful time. The men were so demoralized that it was utterly impossible for the officers to rally them until they had reached the rifle pits that had been constructed during the morning. The corps was re-formed behind these works and rested, cooking coffee and eating for the first time that day. About three o'clock the enemy again advanced. The Eighty-sixth was in the front line of works and were obliged to retire with the rest to the second line. The enemy took possession of the first line, but they were soon forced to fall back, leaving their dead and wounded be- hind them. The Second Corps returned to the first line and re- mained there all that night and part of the next day. About day- light on the 8th the Eighty-sixth got their hardtack and coffee and about eight A. M. moved to Todd's Tavern and there formed in line of battle through the woods. They were attacked by the rebels, but repulsed them without trouble. On the 9th the regiment moved to and crossed the Po river, meeting with but little resistance. On the 10th they recrossed the Po, after a hard day's work. Ward's brigade was massed in a column of regiments four paces apart at the base of a thickly wooded hill, with the Eighty-sixth on the right. Troops were going into position on the right and left of the brigade. After the formation orders came to the regimental commanders of the brigade that they should see personally that every man's gun was uncapped and bayonets fixed in their command, and that, at given signal, they should advance double-quick, with a yell. There were five regiments in the brigade, and the formation was as follows: Eighty-sixth, New York; Third, Maine; One Hundred and Twenty- fourth, New York; Ninety-ninth, Pennsylvania, and Fortieth, New York. The formation was so close that the field officers were obliged to take position on the flanks of their commands. At the given signal the brigade started at a rapid pace. The pieket line of the enemy was soon reached, they giving warning of the approach. Presently the regiment came to the opening, and such a sight! In front, a massive line of works, while between that and the column the ground was strewn with timber. The cry was "Forward," and the Eighty- sixth, moving in a perfect hail of shot and shell, reached the works. They had nothing but the bayonet and were unable to remain long, as their support could not reach them. The order for retreat was given, and those that remained went to the wood for cover as quickly as possible. The Eighty-sixth went into the charge more than two hundred strong. They left in and around the works of the enemy one hundred and sixteen men, besides several officers, and at roll- call the next morning but eighty-four answered to their names. This was the heaviest loss that the regiment ever sustained. They now numbered less than a company for duty, and when paraded the com- panics numbered some two rank and file, with possibly one officer.
The regiment returned to their position in the lines, remaining there until late in the afternoon of the 11th, when the Second Corps was moved to the right of the rebel lines, to a place known as Brown House. The strictest silence was ordered. Arrived there about two
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o'clock A. M. and formed in two lines, the Eighty-sixth being in the first ; the command was allowed to rest without breaking their forma- tion. About five o'clock A. M. the order to advance was given in a low tone. The line sprung forward and moved as quickly as the na- ture of the ground would admit. They soon encountered the rehel pickets, who fired and fled, and were pursued so closely that many of them were captured before they could reach the works. The storm- ing party went over tlie works, capturing General Johnson and near- ly his whole division, with all their artillery. The rebels made sev- eral attempts to retake the works, hut failed with heavy loss. The fighting here was terrible all the 12th and part of the 13th, and the casualties were large. The Eighty-sixth suffered severely. At this point General Ward was relieved from the command of the brigade and General Eagan, of the Fortieth New York, as senior colonel, assumed command. On the 14th Birney's entire division was with- drawn a short distance to the rear and commenced throwing up a new line of earthworks. This movement was observed by the enemy. who sent forward a small force to occupy the abandoned works, when the Eighty-sixth and One Hundred and Twenty-fourth New York were directed to advance and drive them out. Hastily forming, they dashed forward, under command of Colonel Lansing, and speed- ily drove out the enemy and recaptured the works. At this place, on the 18th, a shell from the rebels struck among the Eighty-sixth, injuring four of its number, among them Captain Todd, of Com- pany B, who was supposed to be mortally wounded, and sent to the rear, but who recovered and rejoined his company, serving until the final muster out.
Early on the 19th Eagan's brigade moved about a mile to the rear and there rested until about five o'clock P. M. This was the first rest allowed the Eighty-sixth since the opening of the campaign, they having been under fire constantly. About this time heavy firing was heard in the direction of the Fredericksburg road, and shortly a mounted orderly dashed up to brigade headquarters, and the next monient the assembly was sounded. Leaving tents standing and knapsacks strewn about, the brigade started double quick for the scene of action. It proved to be an attack of Ewell on our wagon train and a heavy fight on the part of Tyler to protect the same. Tyler's troops were exhausted, and when Eagan's brigade reached the scene they moved quickly over Tyler's troops and. dashed after the flying enemy, whom they followed until darkness put an end to the chase. The brigade then retraced their steps, bringing with them a large number of prisoners, bivouacked for the night near where they struck the enemy and at daylight of the 20th returned to the place they had left the day before. On the 22nd they moved forward, crossing the Mattapony, and rested for the night; on the 23rd reached the North Anna, near the Chesterfield bridge; here found the enemy strongly entrenched. At the bridge they had two redoubts heavily manned. The order for an assault was given at five P. M. The Eighty-sixth and One Hundred and Twenty-fourth New York, to the left of the road leading to the bridge, were but a few moments crossing the flats, leaving many of their number dead or wounded along the route. Just before reaching the works the enemy became satisfied that they could not hold them and hurried their guns over the bridge and hastily fled, leaving quite a number of
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HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY
prisoners in our hands. The next morning crossed the bridge under a heavy fire. After crossing the Eighty-sixth was deployed as skir- mishers and advanced, driving the rebel skirmishers for about a mile. Colonel Lansing was badly wounded in the left forearm by a sharpshooter and left the field, Major Stafford, of the Eighty-sixth, assuming command. That night the regiments were withdrawn and recrossed to the north side of the river. On the 28th they crossed the Pamunkey at Nelson's Ford and erected a line of works near the river; after which they attacked the enemy and drove them into their main lines. The picket lines were but a few rods apart and kept up a deadly fire. More dreaded than all were the sharpshooters, who kept picking off officers and men, and, although no general engage- inent took place, many were added to the death roll. On the night of June 1st the Second Corps started for Cold Harbor, and in the assault on that place the Eighty-sixth were in reserve. After opera- tions were suspended they were set to work with the pick and shovel, and continued at this work most of the time until the 12th, when they moved; on the morning of the 14th reached Wilcox's Landing and were transferred by steamboat to the south side of the James river. On the morning of the 15th the advance towards Petersburg was resumed. On the 16th Eagan's brigade made an assault, but were unsuccessful. Colonel Eagan, commanding the brigade, was severely wounded, and Colonel Medill, of the One Hundred and Forty-first Pennsylvania, took command. On the 18th a general assault was ordered, but for some reason deferred till later in the day, when the assault was made, but the troops were repulsed with considerable loss. That night was spent in throwing up works with- in short range of the enemy. The brigade was relieved on the 20th, and on the 21st moved to and took position on the left of the Jeru- salem Plank Road. On the 22nd the regiment had a skirmish with the rebels. The Eighty-sixth had an addition to their numbers here, the veterans of the Seventieth New York Volunteers, one hundred and thirty in all, were transferred to the Eighty-sixth, which now numbered about two hundred and forty for duty. From this time until the 26th of July the regiment was kept busy building rifle pits and moving from one part of the works to the other, almost constant- ly under fire. On July 26th Hancock's command was ordered to proceed to Deep Bottom, as a diversion in favor of the Burnside mine explosion, and returned to the lines near Petersburg on the night of the 28th. The mine explosion took place on the night of the 29th, or the morning of the 30th, and ended in failure, with heavy loss. An official report of this brigade from May 4th to July 31st, 1864, reports the killed, wounded and missing at one hun- dred and twenty-six officers and two thousand five hundred and forty- three men. About August 1st Colonel Lansing returned and took command, and on the night of the 12th Hancock's Corps moved to City Point, bivouacked for the night, and on the 13th embarked and remained on steamboats until midnight, when at a signal they steamed up the James river, reaching Deep Bottom about four o'clock A. M., and disembarked. The Eighty-sixth was ordered to the front as skirmishers and remained on the line during the engagement, which was severe. On the 18th Hancock's command was again on the way towards Petersburg, reaching there on the 19th. The Eighty- sixth was placed in the front line of works, to the right of the Jeru-
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salem Plank Road, and remained there and in Forts Michael and Scott for about two weeks, constantly under fire, when the regiment moved to Fort Sedgwick, on the plank road running into Petersburg. and at a point where the lines were but a short distance apart. The pieket lines at one point in front of the works was only fifteen paces from the Confederate lines, and the Rebel fort outpost, Fort Ma- hone, was about twelve hundred yards distant. The fort consisted of very large enelosed works, containing the Eighty-sixth and Ser- enty-third New York and the Ninety-ninth Pennsylvania, two bat- teries of guns and twelve mortars. The scene here at times was ter- rifie ; no one dared to remain within their bombproofs, as they would not resist a shell ; the firing was liable to be opened at any moment, generally oceurring about twice in twenty-four hours, often lasting two or three hours at a time, and sometimes calling the men out two or three times during the night. From one to ten men were killed daily. On the last of September the regiment was relieved and moved to the extreme left of the line, where they were set to work eutting roads through a strip of woods and building a redoubt, returning after an absence of three days to their old quarters. The regiment remained there until the 24th, when it moved with the eorps, reach- ing the Weldon road on the evening of the 26th. On the morning of the 27th it crossed Hateher's Run and soon struek the enemy. The Seventy-third, Eighty-sixth and One Hundred and Twenty-fourth New York were advanced as skirmishers about half a mile, remain- ing there all day, covering the front and flank of the brigade. The skirmish line was formed in a dense wood, excepting to the right, where the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth New York was posted. The enemy had a battery posted opposite this point, and after a furious cannonade they advaneed for a charge, but were repulsed by the skirmish line, assisted by the Second United States Sharpshoot- ers. The movement on the part of the Union forces having failed to accomplish the purpose intended, the order to retire was given, and about ten o'clock P. M. the brigade was marched back to the Vaughan road and there bivouacked for the night. The march was resumed at noon the next day, and that evening the regimeut was again at its old quarters. The loss on the skirmish line that day was three officers and thirty men. The regiment remained at Fort Sedgwick until November 29th. On the 13th of November Colonel Lansing was discharged, on his own application, and Major Staf- ford was mustered in as lieutenant colonel commanding. On the afternoon of the 29th orders werc received to pack up and be in readi- ness to move. About sundown a division of the Ninth Corps came marehing up to relieve the troops in the front line. The rebels, see- ing the movement, opened a furious eannonade, during which Lieu- tenant Colonel Stafford was mortally wounded, dying within a few hours. This was a serious loss to the regiment, as he was a good soldier and a gallant offieer. In the evening the regiment was with- drawn, now in command of Major Nathan A. Vineent, formerly a private of Company D; on the 30th marched about six miles, and shortly after started on what is known as the Weldon raid. Return- ing to near Petersburg, the regiment went into winter quarters and remained there until February 4, 1865, doing the usual picket duty, and making thorough preparations for the spring campaign. On that day orders were received to prepare to mareh; on the 5th
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marched to and encountered the enemy at Hatcher's Run. The brigade forded the run in line of battle, pushing the Rebel pickets about a mile, but were brought to a halt by the enemy, posted be- hind their main line of works. They were immediately set to work building works for their protection. On the 6th the brigade was relieved by a portion of the Fifth Corps. On the 9th the regiment was moved about one mile to the right and assigned a position in the new line ; remained here until the final advance, March 28, 1865, participating in all the engagements until the surrender of General Lec, April 9, 1865, at Appomattox Court House. After the sur- render the regiment started homeward bound; at Burkesville Junc- tion, on the 14th, heard of the assassination of President Lincoln ; moved through Richmond and Fredericksburg, reaching Washington about the middle of May and camping near Fairfax Seminary ; par- ticipated in the Grand Review in Washington city. After the Grand Review the regiment prepared for the trip home and the final muster out, which occurred at Elmira, New York, July 4, 1865.
Among the officers and men of the Eighty-sixth regiment wlio went from Hornellsville none was more deservedly popular or reached a higher place in the estimation of his superior officers than Dr. John S. Jamison, who enlisted as its surgeon, and it is not out of place at this time to give a short sketch of his life. Dr. Jamison was born in the town of Canisteo, Steuben county, July 25, 1822. He received his early education in the common school in Canisteo, at the Clyde Academy and the academy at Nunda. His health fail- ing while at the latter school, he was compelled to give up his much- coveted idea of a graduating course at Union College, and for one year was a teacher in a common school and some three years an in- structor in penmanship. By this means he paid not only his way in school, but in his subsequent medical studies. In 1847 he be- gan the study of medicine with Dr. D. D. Davis, of Canisteo; at- tended lectures at Buffalo Medical College and Michigan University, and was graduated M. D. from the latter institution in April, 1852. He at once began the practice of medicine in Canisteo, but after one year came to Hornellsville, where he resided until his death. On May 4, 1861, Dr. Jamison entered the service of the army as assistant surgeon at the rendezvous at Elmira and was subsequently placed in charge as examining surgeon of the volunteer forces organizing and quartering in that place. In the fall of the same year he ac- companied the Eighty-sixth Regiment, New York Volunteers, to Washington, as surgeon of the regiment, with commission dated October 12, 1861, remaining there until his regiment was called into active service at the battle of Second Bull Run, where he was a vol- untary prisoner in the Rebel lines for eleven days, during which time he established a field hospital for the enemy. He was released under a flag of truce. Dr. Jamison remained with his regiment during his term of service of three years, being often detached as division surgeon, spending nearly two years of his term of service as such. For his skill and medical ability, by special orders of S. Williams, assistant adjutant general, and by command of Major General Meade, he was appointed on the Board of Examiners for the purpose of examining medical officers of the army. For these services he was complimented very highly by the medical director. Dr. Jami- son, by virtue of an order of Major General Hancock, of April 2,
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1864, was promoted to surgeon-in-chief of the division, was made a member of the medical board for the purpose of examining all leaves of absence or transfer to the Veteran Reserve Corps, by rea- son of physical disability. In the summer of 1862, while his regi- ment was doing provost guard duty for the District of Columbia, Dr. Jamison saw the necessity for a hospital for the colored people who had escaped from the Rebel lines and were coming to Washing- ton in large numbers, destitute of food and suitable clothing and without shelter, while many of them were ill. Dr. Jamison, noting a long block of empty buildings in front of the capitol, called "Duff Green Row," conceived the plan for using the building for a ren- dezvous and hospital for the colored people. He suggested the plan to General Wadsworth, who, assisted by Vice President Hamlin, se- cured the building, and General Wadsworth ordered Dr. Jamison to put it in a sanitary condition, which he did, and soon had the hos- pital department in effective operation. This was the first "Con- traband Hospital" in the United States and was visited by repre- sentatives of many foreign papers, who commented very favorably on the undertaking. The above work was done by Dr. Jamison in addition to his duties as detailed brigade surgeon. Upon the expira- tion of his term of service Dr. Jamison returned to Hornellsville and resumed his practice of medicine. In 1873 he was appointed United States pension examiner at Hornellsville, a position he held at the time of his death. In 1880 he was elected a delegate by the New York State Medical Association to the International Medical Congress at Berlin, but on account of a dangerous illness he was unable to attend. He received a beautiful bronze medal to com- memorate this circumstance. On May 26, 1845, he married Lavinia, daughter of Abijah Newman, of Schuyler county, New York. Mrs. Jamison died October 22, 1887. One son, Newman C. Jamison, was born to them, but he died several years ago. Dr. Jamison was a vestryman of Christ Episcopal church at the time of his death, a position he had held for over twenty-five years. He was a cultured gentleman, noted for his fine taste in arts and a devoted lover of nature. His industry is evidenced by his cabinets of geology, min- eralogy and paleontology, collected, analyzed and classified while carrying on his large practice of medicine. Dr. Jamison died at his home in Center street January 22, 1910, following a stroke some days previous.
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