USA > New York > Dutchess County > Address delivered Wednesday, 28th November, 1866 : in Feller's Hall, Madalin, township of Red Hook, Duchess Co., N.Y. > Part 13
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Throughout this march strict discipline was ob- served in the 150th. Attendance to the hourly roll calls on the march was a capital measure and kept up the discipline. On the 17th of January, 1865. the Union
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army left Savannah. No line of battle opposed the 150th in the once arrogant but now well-whipped Palmetto State. Moving on homeward the boys had made but ashort journey in North Carolina when they met the enemy at Averysboro, N. C. They lost largely in this fight, among them onr esteemed brother officer, Lieutenant DAVID B. SLAIGHT, of La Grange, killed leading his company in the last battle of the war. Goldsborough was reached on the 24th of March. and Raleigh on the 12th of April. 1864. On the 30th of April the 150th left the capital of North Carolina. and by the way of Richmond. on the 20th of May, 1865, defiled through Washington.
Thus has been presented a brief outline of the history of the 150th Regiment. Brief, indeed, but glorious, much more glorious, however, had time and space permitted full justice to a subject so worthy of attention. Incidents of personal heroism were. abun- dant in the course of the regiment's varied career. but we shall relate but one. HENRY L. STONE of New- York City (originally belonging to the 145th N. Y. V., whence he was assigned to the 150th in January 1864), was struck with a piece of a shell while making breastworks in front of Pine Knob, Georgia. The ragged piece of the missile tore out his bowels. The lacerated fragments were gathered together. and his comrades laid him down a short distance to the rear to die. He said. " Major, will you call the Colonel ?" Major SMITH did so. Said he, "Colonel, have I been a good soldier?" .. Yes." was KETCHAM's reply, " Henry, you have done your duty." Poor, dying STONE answered. "I am glad to hear you say that. Colonel. My work is done. Tell my mother how I did my duty. Call around me my comrades of Con- pany A.",They came. "Boys." said the dying patriot, " My work is done. Stand by that old flag! I gave my life for it! I am glad to do it! Boys stand by that old flag!" He died shortly afterwards.
There were, as near as can be learned. about 135 deaths in the 'regiment from wonnds and sickness. There were 1.200 on the rolls (all told, recruits and original members). and 501 came home with Major, now Brevet Brigadier-General SMIri. It has been said that there was not a better regiment in the service. It. ' did its whole duty. No stain was attached to its char- acter. It was never compelled to retire an inch be- fore a foe Its colors always advanced. Its com- manders might well be proud to have been members of it. It was favored as a regiment, wrote Brevet Brigadier General SMITH. in not being under drunken. inefficient. or reckless officers. The first care of Colonel KETCHAM was to save his men, and every
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officer was on hand to do his whole duty. Twelve officers of the Regiment were absent detached from the Regiment op staff duty, at the time the war closed. It became the remark that the 150th had more officers detailed on staff duty than any other regiment in the brigade.
NOTE 9 TO PAGE 45, LINE 25-" NEGRO " (TROOPS.)
Brevet Major-General J. WATTS DE PEYSTER (S. N. Y.) thinks that he can show that he was the first to suggest the idea of raising Colored Regiments to assist in suppressing the " Slaveholders' Rebellion." -at all events the first who published such a propo- sition in a newspaper. In an article "PHYSICAL STRENGTH (of the North and South ) COMPARED"-onle of a series on similar subjects-which appeared in the Poughkeepsie Eagle and neighboring prints in the winter of 1859-1860, when different far-sighted men looked upon a contest as unavoidable and near- at- hand in consequence of the arrogant menace con- tinued usurpations and unprincipled doetr nes and action of the South. the following paragraph occurs : ' Again, in case that the South (Private MSS : Opinions, Records and Notices. Vol. 1. No. 25, page 45.) should undertake to compel the North into respecting the Federal compact as understood by her own men, enough ( Free-soil) citizen soldiers . ould be mobilized and sent into the field-without the Free States feeling the drain-to meet at least one-half of her disposable force ; all that the South could ad- vance, as she would need the other half to meet the enemy (a terrible one) within her own borders. More- over, the Southern climate is hardly more destructive to Northern visitants than it is to its own children. No regiment withered away under the effect of hard- ship and privations in the Mexican war so fast as did the truly gallant South Carolina contingent. Nor would it be foreign to this consideration to refer to the ease with which regiments of acclimated mired races could be organized under Northern officers, in case that the industrial requirements of the North should indicate that her white males were more valuable as operatives in the ranks of peaceful productiveness than as combatants in the armies of destruction.
To sum up this portion of the subject, it would be well for the South to remember that three servile wars shook the Roman Republic, a republic of soldiers, to its foundation : and that St. Domingo swallowed up one of the finest and strongest armies which France ever sent from her shores, and acquired its inde- pendence despite the efforts of one of the most war- like empires and mighty warriors by which the world has ever been accursed.
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Finally, Governor Wisk's threat of pursuing with an army, invaders of the sacred soil of Virginia, into those neighboring Northern States, in which they might take refuge, and of invading the non-slave- holding States and even Canada, at the head of a hundred thousand of the chivalry of Virginia, for the extirpation of Abolitionists, calls to mind an anecdote related by an aged, but highly influential, Christian gentleman occupying a prominent position in one of our Northern cities, whom sickness compelled to visit the Virginia Springs. This was some years ago, when the South was not quite so violent as it is now, yet violent enough in all conscience. One day, while here, a young man, of good family, remarked that if the anti-slavery men of New-York did not take care, an army of twenty or thirty thousand high-spirited citizens of his State (Virginia) would pay them a visit some morning and punish them at hon.e. To which the New- Yorker quietly replied that if such a number came to New York and behaved themselves peaceably, they would, no doubt, be kindly received and hospitably treated, but that if they came there riotously disposed, there were plenty of roughs in the streets who would doubtless give them a reception in every way appropriate to their high anticipations.
Subsequently, in an Annual Address, delivered Oc- tober 20, 1863. before the VERMONT STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, in the Hall of Representatives, Capitol. Montpelier, entitled " Secession in Switzerland and the United States Compared:" General DE PEYSTER remarked (page 10, pamphlet) in connection with the comparative non-productiveness of the drafts:
"Through the ill-judged interference of rich com- munities or associations, the administration is not drawing the expected reinforcements from the draft just concluded. That so many citizens are unwilling to fight out, with their own arms. the great battle of freedom, but are willing to contide it to another race, and bireling hands, is unworthy of a free people. and teenag with mischief, if no remedy is at hand and applicable.
"I particularly allude to the organization of a dis- proportion te number of blacks. Their undue aug- mentation is pregnant with evil. if not restricted within reasonable limits. Not that I am opposed to negro reginients. Far from it, since I believe I was the first, in print, to suggest their organization. But I am opposed to a negro army outnumbering that composed of whites. Carthage. Venice. Holland relied upon mercenaries to maintain their policy withi . extend their area without, and fight even for their independence. Rome's mobilized militia burned Car-
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thage ; the native armies of France seized Venice and handed her over to Austria as a prev : and Holland dictated to by Prussia and England-(the latter as false to the United Provinces as she has proved to the United States.) stooped her free neck to the yoke of royalty ; stooped it to be abased a second time and plundered in 18:30-'1-despite their own solemn guaran- tees, by England and France, just, as England and France would like to dismember. plunder and humi- liate us. The rough edge of the work may be taken. off by our black auxiliaries, but the finishing touches must be put on by ourselves, by our white brethren."
CAPTAIN AUGUSTUS BARKER. NOTE 10 TO PAGE 71.
The incidents in connection with his death are as follows: On the 16th of September. 1863. bis regi- ment the Fifth New York Volunteer Cavalry, had moved from Hartwood Church and crossed to the southern side of the Rappahannock. Captain Barker was left behind in charge of the troops, picketing the river, and on the 17th. while on the march to rejoin his regiment, as he was riding with a single man some distance in front of the column, he was fired upon by Guerrillas concealed in the adjoining wood. Two balls took effect, one in the right side, and the other in the left breast, cach inflicting a mortal wound He was immediately carried to the house of Mr. HARRIS FREEMAN, near Mount Holly Church, about one mile from Kelly's Ford. From this gentleman and his family the dying soldier received the most tender at- tentions. Everything in their power was done to alleviate his sufferings, but without avail ; he sur- vived his wounds only twelve hours, dying at half- past one on the morning of September 18th. Sergeant MCMULLEN, of his company, remained with him until he expired, and then saw him buried just in the rear of FREEMAN's house. The grave was marked, and the body subsequently disinterred and brought back to New York.
The funeral of Captain AUGUSTUS BARKER took place from St. Peter's Church, Albany, at 3 P. M., Saturday afternoon, and was largely attended. The funeral cortege consisted of a detachment of the Twenty- fifth Regiment, the City Volunteers, Captain MARSHAL. preceded by SHREIBER's Band. The remains of the gallant officer were deposited in the Cemetery. Octo- ber 10, 1863.
Captain AUGUSTUS BARKER was with Brigadier- General E. H. STOUGHTON when he was betrayed at
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Fairfax by that modern Delilah, Miss ANTONIA J. FORD, Honorary (?) Aide. de-Camp to the famous Rebel cavalry general. J. E. B. STUART, into the hands of the famous guerrilla. Captain JOHN S. MOSBY. It would appear from contemporary accounts that young BARKER was the only one of the captured party who behaved with any energy upon this occasion. He made desperate efforts to escape, and only surrendered when it was no longer a question of escape, but of life or death.
Captain BARKER was born on the 24th of April, 1842. and was a student at Harvard University, Cam- bridge. Mass. when he left to join the Army. His first commission as Second Lieutenant of the Fifth New York Volunteer Cavalry is dated Albany, Octo- ber 31. 1861. 'On the 3d of May, 1862. he was pro- moted to a First Lieutenantcy. and on the 24th of October of the same year. he was commissioned Cap- tain.
Capta n BAPKER was the youngest son of Wy. H. BARKER. Esq .. o. Tivoli. Red Hook, and a grandson of the late WILLIAM JAMES, of Albany. N. Y. He was beloved by his comrades, as by all who knew him. for the maniiness of his character. and the generosity of his disposition His promotion w's the just reward of his good conduct and honorable service. His valor and patriotism had been tried in many battles and by the more dreadful horrors of Richmond prisons. He survived all this to perish in the flower of his youth, br the bands of Rebel assassins.
The following are specimens of the epistolary talent of this brave young officer, which evince so much ability that, considering the circumstances under which they were written. they are well worthy a place, in connection with his obituary notice, in this address:
IN BIVOUAC. FIFTH NEW YORK CAVALRY, BOONSBORO, Md .. July 7, 1863. 1. Wm. H. Barker Esq .. Tiroli :
MY DEAR FATHER :- An hour ago we arrived here, completely fatigued and worn out, having been in the saddle two weeks, and two days without food for men or Lorses, and with not more th .n 4 hours rest out of the 48. I am now sitting upon a bundle of wheat, writing upon my knee. in haste, as the mail leaves in an hour, and. after this day, the Lord only knows when and where we may halt again. No longer are we un- der General STAHL's command as he was relieved at the same time as HOOKER. But General KILPAT- RICK is our leader now, and we are as proud to be led. un by him, as (he told us in an address after the battle of Gettysburg). he is " proud to command us." No longer does the cavalry roam about the country, a
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small, timid, hesitating band, but it now comprises three Grand Division .- Major-Generals GREGG. Br- FORD and KILPATRICK-so well organized and con- centrated as to be irresistible when manœuvred as it has been since the Northern invasion. It would be utterly impossible for me here to give you any idea of our late doings. but as soon as the communications are established with the North. watch for KILPATRICK'S reports and the correspondence from thi- command. Within three miles of Frederick City. General STAHL turned his command over, and after a grand review of 4.500 cavalry and 6 pieces of artillery by General PLEASONTON (our chief) we were sent off on our mis- sion, which thus far has been a too laborious one to last much longer. Out of the last seven days we have been engaged six in desperate fighting. and that, too, against infantry, which, though we have accom- plished onr allotted task, we did it at the sacrifice of some of our noblest officers and men-our own regi- ment to-day ( by report ) mnstering 150 fighting men, out of 350 who started out with u- two weeks ago: 1 officer killed, 2 wounded and 6 missing-just think. of it. It would seem silly to tell you of any hair- breadth escapes on my own part. but, father. I assure yon, never since my enlistment in this war, before. have I sat calmly upon my horse and resolved to fight and die honorably ; while others falli g thick and fast by my side. only convinced me that life was of very little value. Yesterday we arrived at Hagerstown. and there awaited the Rebel Army in full retreat, anxious to save themselves by crossing the Potomac. A mighty duty it was, a cruel fate that imposed it upon us, for cavalry to oppose infantry, artillery and cavalry who were fighting for life itself. After holding them in check for three hours, we were compelled to yield gradually, the only time thus far, as their forces, coming up rapidly, outnumbered ns 5 to 1, at the least. A sad and stubborn withdrawal was ours Not to
speak of other regiments which lost equally, ours lost
that day 100 killed, wounded and missing. In my own company two sergeants had horses knocked from under them by shell-one wounded, and how many of the missing ones are wounded remains to be seen ; but I only had three men after the fight-iny own horse shot, and a bullet through my blanket, which was rolled behind my saddle, and a round shot striking so near me as to spatter the dirt upon me I have to be thankful that I was spared when so many
fell. At the battle of Gettysburg we fought all day,
and, by keeping a whole division of the Rebels in check, decided the day in our favor ; then swinigng around to the extreme left we cut our way through the enemy, capturing his wagon train, 300 wagons and
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1,500 prisoners of war, and gaining his rear, inflicted a paralyzing blow upon him, as to cause him to think again before his third attempt at invasion will be un - dertaken, etc., etc. I would write much more, but cannot. Your affectionate son,
[Signed]
A. B
IN BIVOUAC, PURCELLVILLE, Va., July 18, 1863. ]
MY DEAR FATHER :- Since the inauguration of the Pennsylvania and . Maryland campaign. now four weeks ago, the cavalry have been so entirely engaged, and so constantly employed as to render letter writing next to an impossibility. though I have managed to write you once or twice. Did you ever receive any of them? Contrary to its usual custom thus far. this division has halted for a day, from actual necessity, to rest and feed both our horses and men. Either to- night or to-morrow morning we will probably start after the enemy, as we are already close upon his heels, annoying him, capturing his stragglers and wagon trains. STUART is very cautious how he meets us now. We have high hopes and feel proud of our commanders, though they are killing us off at a fearful rate. Our force of cavalry is well concentrated and works in perfect unison. What do you think of our recent victories ? From what I have seen myself, I should judge LEE retires to Richmond, or perhaps more correctly, to his own soil, with, at the least es- timate, 35,000 men less than when he invaded the North. I sincerely believe he is a badly whipped man, and a vigorous pursuit will go wonderfully. to close the work so gallantly achieved by the Western forces. Our whole Army is in fine spirits, and MEADE is pushing on well. LEE gave us the slip at Hagers- town ; but from all information and actual observa- tion, we thought he was preparing for a las . desper ate and final struggle ; for, from the Observatory on the Cemetery Hill, at Hagerstown, I saw, myself. these rebels distinctly working, like beavers, on the intrenchments. I even saw plainly the headquarters of. General LONGSTREET through the powerful glasses of the ' Signal Corps." MEADE was about to attack. when the news came that LEE was hurriedly crossing ; and on dashed PLEASONTON, coming up with the rear brigade at Falling Waters, capturing nearly the whole of it. It was a desperate thing for the cavalry, without infantry support, to charge infantry behind redoubts, yet the order was given ; it was done, the charge was repulsed ; it was repeated and successful, but then no one who witnessed that scene, even JOE HOOKER, could say they never saw a dead cavalry- man, for their bodies strewed the ground. I could
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write pages on the scenes, incidents and almost daily desperate fighting of the past four weeks ; but it is useless now, as much more is to be accomplished. man who would not fight in a country, where, in pass- ing through the towns and villages, the females. youth and aged, assemble to greet your arrival with basket- of f. od, pitchers of water and wine, and shower all kinds of kindnesses upon you-is no man. Thus for the first time our men realized the difference between fighting on your own soil and that of the enemy,. where everything is gall and bitterness before you. Here I must close, with best love to you and all. I would like to hear from you, as it is some time now since I have. In my last letter I spoke to you about sending me some money, as "pay day " was passed last day of June, and no "pay rolls" have gone in as yet, and cannot be sent in until we become settled in camp somewhere, where they can be made out. And when that time will come. no one now can fortell. It is impossible for an officer to live without some money, as " Uncle Sam" does not provide him with rations, and he must feed himself, besides the incon- venience. In the best of spirits and health, I remain, Your affectionate son,
[Signed]
AUG. BARKER ..
VALEDICTORY.
N. B. I had much more information collect- ed, rather of interest, however, to individuals than to the public; but time did not permit for collation. and other reasons prevented its publication. There are many facts connected with the great civil war, which, while they are of vital interest to the proper comprehension of it, cannot, as yet, be given to the public without effecting individuals, as there are so many persons interested in deceiving the public and keeping them deceived. Several of the works on the Rebellion seem to have been artfully prepared with the view to prejudice public opinion ; others again have been spiced, if not animated, by personal ana- mosity ; " envy, hatred, and all uncharitableness ; " others again Hre mere " Words, words, words !" and pictures strung together. "Sooner or later all will be made manifest " and then the American nation will learn how much it owes to its subordinate officers and private soldiers, and how comparatively little to its generals and political leaders. The Southern Leaders brought on the Rebellion, the Northern PEOLPE crushed it, restored affairs and saved the country.
.
·
DE PEYSTER'S 123 ADDRESS.
ADDENDA.
Major J. WATTS DE PEYSTER, Junior, BREVET COLONEL, U. S. V. Additional Note to pages 14t, 14, 23-'4, 52, &c.
Washington, D. C., Febr. 24th, 1867. (See N. Y. Daily Tribune, Feby. 28th, '67.) . To be COLONEL by BREVET-to date from March 13th, 1865-Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel J. WATTS DE PEYSTER, Junior, late Major of the Ist N. Y. Art .. for gallant conduct at the battle of Chancellorville, Va ; " as Chief of Artillery, HowE's Division. SEDGEWICK's Corps, at Marye's Heights, May 3d. and Salem Heights, May 4th, 1863.
"I am not aware," said Brig .- Gen : Brevet Major- Gen: ALEXANDER SHALER, commanding Ist Div. N. Y. S. Nat. Gd , Jany. 28th p. M., 1867. (at house 59. late 63 E. 21st St., N. Y. City, of Brevet Major-General J. WATTS DE PEYSTER. Senior, N. Y. S. Nat Gd., ) " of the name of the officer who commanded HowE's Division Artillery; but all I can say is, that he did his duty well, and covered the retreat of the 6th (Sedgewick's) Corps in the most admirable manner. Had not HowE been the obstinate (as to hard fight- ing) and superior (as to ability) officer he ever proved himself to be. the 6th Army Corps would have " gone in" under the rebel pressure at the United States Ford. HowE fought his division with distinguished ability and tenacity, and. the combined action of his infantry and of his Chief of Artillery." (this chief was Major J. WATTS DE PEYSTER. Junior. Ist. N. Y. Vol. Light- BAILEY, sometimes, by mistake, styled MORGAN-Art : although Gen. SHALER was not aware of the name of the officer until informed of it subsequent to his re- marks,) " deserves the highest praise for the admira- ble manner in which they discharged their responsible duties. The HowE Div : Art : was handled with great gallantry and effect, and in conjunction with its (HOWE's) infantry supports. they, together. had a marked effect in preserving the 6th Corps, and in enabling it to make a.successful retrograde in the face of a victorious" (as to the general result ) .enemy. HowE's guns were distinctly beard on our ( SHALER's Brig., NEWTON'S Div .. ) left on the afternoon of the 4th (May: 1863), covering the retreat. The Rebels got in our rear, retook the Marve Heights, and came near cutting off the Federal retreat. Had we had a less resolute man than HOWE " (to cover the retreat ), it would have been . all up'. with the 6th Corps. This was common talk in camp.
On the 22d Feby. '67. Brev. Maj .- Gen. DE PEYSTER, N. Y., addressed a letter to Brev. Maj-Gen. A. P. HOWE. U. S. A., in regard to bis son. Major DE PEYS-
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TER, his (HOWE's) Chief of Artillery, April-May, 1863, and the following is the reply of that tenacions, able and distinguished leader :
WASHINGTON, D. C., March 14th, 1867. MY DEAR SIR:
Your favor of the 22d ult. I have just received.
I well remember your son, Col. DE PEYSTER. of the New York Artillery, who was assigned to my Division of the 5th Corps, as Chief of Artillery, in the spring of 1863. At the time the Colonel joined the Division I found that he was suffering from impaired health. but so earnest was his purpose and so determined was his resolution to take part in the active service about to commence, that he seemed entirely to disregard the condition of his health. Being an artillery officer myself, I endeavored to relieve him from as much of the duty of chief of artillery as circumstances would allow, hoping that he might be enabled to somewhat recruit his strength before active operations com- menced, and be able to meet the requirements of his office, which events then indicated would soon be required of his position in no small measure. From the spirit and zeal with which he entered into all and every duty of his office I met with little or no success in my attempt to improve his strength by sparing his exertions, before the operations began on the 3d of May, 1863.
On the 3d May the attack upon and carrying of Maryes Heights was successfully executed, and in that engagement the artillery of the 2d Division per- formed a most important part.
By a reference to the reports of that action it will be seen that the credit of the operations belong mainly to the 2d Division, and I do not consider it as unmerited when I say, that the artillery of the Division, of which Col. DE PEYSTER was chief, covered itself with glory on that occassion.
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