USA > New York > Camp and field life of the Fifth New York volunteer infantry. (Duryee zouaves.) > Part 35
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battle of Cedar Creek," at which battle he was desperately wounded in the thigh. On his return to the Army of the Poto- mac in front of Petersburg, General Hamblin assumed command of a brigade in Wheaton's ( Ist division) of the Sixth Corps, where he participated in the second battle of Hatcher's Run, Va., and finally at Sailor's Creek, commissioned as Brigadier-General of Volunteers, with rank from May 19, 1865. Hamblin was made Brevet Major-General, with rank from April 5, 1865, for " con- spicuous gallantry in Sheridan's great victory of Sailor's Creek," and with that rank was mustered out of the United States service.
The following obituary tribute to General Hamblin appeared in the New York Times, July 5, 1870:
" Major-General Joseph E. Hamblin, a brief announcement of whose death appeared in these columns yesterday, was cne of the most gallant soldiers that fought tor the Union in the late war, and a gentleman whose character was without a blemish. He was born in Massachusetts, in 1828. In April, 1861, he was appointed Adjutant in the famous 5th New York Volunteers- better known as Duryee's Zouaves. [The sketch of his military career is omitted]. He sheathed bis sword at the end of the war, when his country had no further need of his services, and has since resided in this city; and, at the time of his death, which occurred in the forty-third year of his age, he held the responsible position of Superintendent of Agencies for the Com- monwealth Fire Insurance Company. General Hamblin's genial and generous qualities endeared him to a host of friends."
HEADQUARTERS 7TH REGIMENT, - NATIONAL GUARD S. N. Y., NEW YORK, July 4, 1870. S
The Commandant with regret announces to this command the death of Brevet Major-General Joseph E. Hamblin.
General Hamblin was for many years a prominent member of this regiment, and served with great distinction in the army during the recent Rebellion. As a token of respect to his memory, the members of this regiment are requested to act as
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mourners, and will assemble in full uniform (gray pants), at the Armory, on Tuesday, 5th inst., at 1 o'clock P.M.
By order of
COLONEL EMMONS CLARK.
LOUIS FITZGERALD,
Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel and Adjutant.
HEADQUARTERS IST DIVISION, NATIONAL GUARD S. N. Y., NEW YORK, July 4, 1870.
GENERAL ORDERS, NO. 5.
I. It is with the deepest regret that the General commanding announces to the division that Brevet Major-General Joseph E. Hamblin, late Assistant Adjutant-General and Chief of Staff of the Ist division, who served with such well-known distinction in the late war for the Union, died at his residence yesterday, the 3d inst.
II. The following detail is ordered as an escort to his remains : The 9th Regiment Infantry : the troop of Washington Grays, Cavalry ; and the Separate Troop Cavalry, Captain Klein com- manding ; two sections of Battery K, Artillery.
III. The escort will be commanded by Brigadier-General Postley, and will report to him in Madison Avenue, between Twenty-fifth and Twenty-sixth Streets, at 1.30 o'clock P.M. on the 5th inst.
IV. The General commanding feels that this information will be received with the profoundest sorrow by the officers and men of the division, and is assured that all who have known the late General Hamblin, either in his military or social character, will readily accord the last respects due one who has been so well known and so well-beloved. The officers of the division who desire to take part in the ceremonies are invited to attend his funeral, at his late residence, No. 136 Lexington Avenue, in uni- form, and will assemble at the Apollo Rooms, corner of Twenty- eighth Street and Broadway, at 1.30 P.M.
V. The following officers have been requested by the friends of the family to act as pall-bearers, and will meet, in uniform,
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mounted, at the residence of the General commanding, No. 346 West Twenty-eighth Street, at 1.30 o'clock P.M. :
Major-Gen. Alex. Shaler, Brig .- Gen. J. H. Libeneau,
C. K. Graham, G. W. Palmer,
M. T. McMahon, L. Burger,
A. Duryée, Colonel John Fowler, Jr.,
Brig .- Gen. Thomas H. Neill,
Wm. H. Chesebrough.
H. E. Tremain, Lieut .- Colonel Geo. T. Haws.
By order of MAJOR-GENERAL ALEX. SHALER. WM. H. CHESEBROUGH,
Colonel and Assistant Adjutant-General and Chief of Staff.
HEADQUARTERS 9TH REGIMENT INFANTRY, . NATIONAL GUARD S. N. Y., NEW YORK, July 4, 1870.
GENERAL ORDERS, NO. 13.
This regiment having been detailed as funeral escort to the late Brevet Major-General Joseph E. Hamblin, late A. A. G. and Chief of Staff, Ist division N. G. S. N. Y., the several com- panies of this command will assemble at the Armory on Tuesday, July 5, at 12 o'clock M., in full-dress uniform, white cross and body belts (white gloves). Officers will wear the usual badge of mourning.
By command of COLONEL JAMES FISK, JR. EDGAR S. ALLIEN, Adjutant.
The members of Kane Lodge, No. 454, F. and A. M., and the Veterans of the 7th Regiment N. G., under the command of Colonel Marshall Lefferts, were also in attendance at the funeral.
QUARTERMASTER-JOHN HOWARD WELLS.
JOHN HOWARD WELLS was a member of the 7th Regiment N. G. S. N. Y. He was an executive and competent officer, pos- sessed of superior business qualifications. He resigned his com-
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mission February 25, 1862, to accept the appointment of Com- missary, with the rank of Captain in the United States army. He served to the end of the war, and resigned his commission May 19, 1865.
SURGEON-DR. RUFUS H. GILBERT.
DR. GILBERT was promoted to the rank of Major August 3, 1861, and transferred to the regular service, where he continued to the end of the war, the regiment thereby losing the services of a skillful surgeon and an accomplished gentleman. Dr. Gilbert is the well-known projector of the Gilbert Elevated Railroad.
SURGEON'S MATE-B. ELLIS MARTIN.
DR. MARTIN rendered efficient aid in the care of the wounded on the field at Big Bethel, June 10, 1861, and was mentioned in general orders. He resigned his commission February 11, 1862.
CAPTAIN OF COMPANY A-HARMON D. HULL.
HARMON D. HULL was an officer of the 7th Regiment N. G. S. N. Y., commissioned Captain May 9, 1861, in the 5th Regiment, New York Volunteers ; Major, September 7th of the same year ; Lieutenant-Colonel, October 29, 1862. He was a dashing officer, and distinguished himself at the battle of Gaines' Mill, June 27, 1862. He resigned his commission in October, 1862, and subse- quently organized the 165th Regiment, New York Volunteers, of which corps he was commissioned Colonel, and was ordered with his command to the Department of the Mississippi, where he did much active service, but was obliged on account of ill-health to resign the command January 22, 1863, and retire to private life.
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CAPTAIN COMPANY B-ROBERT S. DUMONT.
CAPTAIN DUMONT was a member of the 7th Regiment N. G. S. N. Y., raised the first company for the 5th Regiment, New York Volunteers, and after seeing some active service during the earlier months of the war, was obliged to resign October 1, 1861, on account of ill-health, the effect of a sun-stroke. Subsequently he was appointed Secretary to Rear-Admiral Bell, commanding Pacific Squadron, December 11, 1861, with the rank of Lieuten- ant in the Navy. Was appointed Judge Advocate General of Squadron May 9, 1863. Resigned his commission on account of continual ill-health, March 1, 1864, and died a few years afterward.
CAPTAIN OF COMPANY C-HENRY E. DAVIES, JR.
HENRY E. DAVIES, JR., son of Judge Davies, for many years Chief-Justice of the Court of Appeals, and a nephew of Professor Davies, Instructor of Mathematics at the United States Military Academy, West Point. He was a strict disciplinarian and a brave and dashing officer. He was mustered into the service April 23, 1861, as a Captain in the 5th Regiment, and went with it to Fortress Monroe ; took an active part in several scouting ex- peditions, and in the battle of Big Bethel, where he greatly dis- tinguished himself by his coolness and bravery under fire. Two days after the battle he visited Yorktown under a flag of truce, to look after the wounded, and to obtain the body of Major Win- throp, aide to General Butler, who was killed in the engagement. When the regiment was ordered to Baltimore, Captain Davies went with it, and shared in the arduous duties of building Fort Federal Hill, which work was performed during the hot summer months. He was commissioned Major of the 2d New York Cav- alry (Harris' Light) August 27, 1861, and went to Washington, where the Regiment was being concentrated. Took command of the ist battalion there in camp, and from that time until the close of the war, remained with the Army of th' Potomac. Was commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel 2d New York Cavalry, De- cember 30, 1862 ; Colonel, January 24, 1863 ; appointed and aft-
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erward commissioned as Brigadier-General, United States Vol- unteers, September 16, 1863, and assigned to command of the Ist brigade, 3d division, cavalry corps, Army of Potomac ; April 25, 1864, was assigned to the command of the Ist brigade, 2d division, cavalry corps ; received Brevet of Major-General United States Volunteers October 1, 1864, for gallant and meritorious conduct, and was commissioned Major-General United States Volunteers June 9, 1865, with rank from April 6, 1865, which appointment was confirmed by the Senate. At the close of the war General Davies was assigned to duty in the middle district of the Department of Alabama, where he remained until Decem- ber, 1865, when he resigned his position in the army and re- turned to civil life. General Davies was engaged in nearly all of the battles and raids of the cavalry corps of the Army of the Potomac, in which he was especially distinguished, and was al- ways found at the post of danger, serving in company with such distinguished officers as Custer, Kilpatrick, Buford, Gregg, Mer- ritt, Devin, and others, and was considered to be one of the most able and effective leaders of cavalry in the service. He was par- ticularly distinguished in the severe engagement at B. ndy Station, one of the hardest fought cavalry fights of the war. In one of these engagements, he and a few others were entirely sur- rounded, and they literally hewed their way through the ranks of the enemy, and escaped capture. He also served under Gen- eral Sheridan, by whom he was highly prized. He always promptly and successfully executed the orders of that distinguish- ed soldier, and was with him in the final movements at Five Forks. To enumerate all the battles, raids, and skirmishes in which he was engaged would be equivalent to summarizing the history of the Army of the Potomac, but whoever reads the history of that army, will notice that the name of Major-General Henry E. Davies, Jr., occupies a prominent place.
The following sketch from the New York Evening Post, No- vember 15, 1866, narrates in a condensed form the services of General Davies :
" In making arrangements preparatory to the new army organi- zation, General Grant recently applied to General Sheridan for
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the names of the twelve most distinguished officers who had served under him in the cavalry during the war, it being General Grant's wish to appoint them as field officers in the new organi- zation. General Sheridan immediately wrote to General Davies, saying that he had selected him as one of the twelve, and re- quested him, if willing to accept such appointment, to signify his purpose by letter to General Grant. General Davies, however, had already resigned his commission, and resolved to devote himself to the practice of law, which he abandoned on the break- ing out of the war; and he therefore wrote to General Sheridan gratefully declining the proposed honor.
"The young gentleman to whom this high compliment was paid has a remarkable record. He entered the army in April, 1861, as a Captain in the Duryée Zouaves. His first battle was at Big Bethel, in which he was actively engaged. He was soon after transferred to the Harris Light Cavalry, by order of Presi- dent Lincoln, with the commission of Major. He was thence successively promoted to the office of Lieutenant-Colonel and Colonel, and in the autumn of 1863 he was appointed Brigadier- General. He was subsequently breveted Major-General for his gallantry in the fight at Hatcher's Run, in October, 1864. His greatest single exploit was his attack on a body of- 1,500 Confed- erate troops intrenched at Sailor's Creek. He literally led this attack, in having been the first man to leap the intrenchments, and although his numbers were inferior to the enemy, he captur- ed the entire force, with four pieces of artillery and twelve stand of colors. For this victory he received a Major - General's commission."
General Davies was engaged in more than forty battles, and had no less than fifteen horses shot under him, but by marvelous good fortune he was not once wounded to the extent of drawing blood, a few bruises being the sum total of injuries that he received.
CAPTAIN OF COMPANY D-JAMES L. WAUGH.
JAMES L. WAUGH was a Captain in the 7th Regiment N. G. S. N. Y., and Drill Officer to the Metropolitan Police. He
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brought his company up to an efficient state of discipline and drill in the manual of arms and field tactics. He took an active part in the first campaign of the regiment at Old Point Comfort. Receiving a commission in another regiment as Major, he resigned from the Fifth August 9, 1861.
CAPTAIN OF COMPANY E-HIRAM DURYEA.
HIRAM DURYEA had received a thorough military education before the war, and was also for eight years Adjutant of the 48th Regiment N. G. S. N. Y. (the Oswego regiment). He was com- missioned Captain in the Fifth May 9, 1861 ; Lieutenant-Colonel September 7th ; Colonel October 29, 1862, being the third Colo- nel of the Fifth. He was acting in command of the regiment during the greater part of the Peninsular campaign, Colonel Warren being in command of the brigade. He was a very strict disciplinarian, and in the line of duty was impartial alike to both officers and men, requiring of all in their different spheres a striet attention to their duties. In personal intercourse he was always to be met as the accomplished gentleman. He greatly distin- guished himself during the seven days' retreat, although he was ill and suffering from a malarial disease, contracted by constant exposure at the siege of Yorktown, where he was obliged to be on duty night and day, parts of the regiment being detailed at widely separated points, in different batteries and on working details, incidental to the siege. At the desperate engagement at Gaines' Mill June 27, 1862, he disdained to dismount from his horse during the hottest part of the fight, and stood the fire unflinchingly, keeping close to his men in the several charges that were made, and animating them by his voice and example. His health continuing to fail, and becoming conscious that he could not continue in command of the regiment during a winter cam- paign and do it justice, as well as to prolong his own life, he re- luctantly resigned November 12, 1862, after eighteen months' ar- duous service. The regiment thus lost the services of a skillful, biave, and courageous officer, who, had he been able to remain in the service, would undoubtedly have risen to a high rank.
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He received the brevet of Brigadier-General for his distinguished services in the field.
RESIGNATION OF COLONEL HIRAM DURYEA.
HEADQUARTERS 5TH REGIMENT, N. Y. V., - CAMP NEAR FALMOUTH, VA., December 5, 1862.
At a meeting of the officers of the 5th Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry, held at their camp near Falmouth, Virginia, the following preamble and resolutions were adopted :
WHEREAS, It became necessary for Colonel Hiram Duryea to tender his resignation owing to a protracted sickness, contracted during the arduous campaigns on the Peninsula and in Maryland, be it
Resolved, That while regretting the loss of so valuable an officer we feel that, knowing his inability from physical prostra- tion to do his duty longer to his regiment and country, and his high sense of honor as an officer and a gentleman, have led him to take this step.
Resolved, That in the loss of Colonel Hiram Duryea the country loses the services of a brave, but not rash, a prudent, but fearless officer ; the regiment a true friend and soldier. May his future be as honorable as his past, and may he soon be restored to health to finish the career of his soldier life so credit- ably begun. .
G. K. Warren, Brigadier-General Volunteers, formerly Colonel 5th New York Volunteers.
A. S. Marvin, Jr, Captain and Assistant Adjutant-General. Gordon Winslow, Chaplain 5th N. Y. V.
A. L. Thomas, Captain, A. Q. M.
Cleveland Winslow, Major Commanding 5th N. Y. V.
George Duryea, Captain 5th N. Y. V.
A. Sidney Chase, Lieutenant and Acting Adjutant.
Charles S. Montgomery, Captain Company C.
James McConnell, Captain Company H.
James H. Lounsberry, Captain Company K.
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J. Henry Whitney, Captain Company A. Stephen W. Wheeler, Captain Company F. John S. Raymond, Ist Lieutenant Company E. Thomas R. Martin, Ist Lieutenant Company G. Roderick M. Gedney, Ist Lieutenant Company K. William Hoffman, Ist Lieutenant Company B. George L. Guthrie, Ist Lieutenant Company A. William H. Chambers, Ist Lieutenant Company D. George W. Wannemacher, Ist Lieutenant Company B. Gordon Winslow, Jr., 2d Lieutenant Company F. William H. Uckele, 2d Lieutenant Company H. Albert R. Meldrum, 2d Lieutenant Company I.
CAPTAIN OF CO. F-HENRY A. SWARTWOUT.
HENRY A. SWARTWOUT received his education at a Military Academy in Maryland, where he was for three years command- ant of battalion. He was an able, cool, and reliable officer. Receiving a commission as First Lieutenant in the 17th Infantry, U. S. A., he resigned from the Fifth, August 12, 1861. He sub- sequently rose to the rank of Captain and Brevet Major, August Ist, 1864, and was assigned to the Department of Texas, as Acting Assistant Inspector-General. He died at his post of duty, at Galveston, Texas, October 8, 1867. He was born in Louisiana, in the year 1834.
CAPTAIN OF COMPANY G-ABRAHAM DENIKE.
ABRAHAM DENIKE was a member of the 27th and subse- quently of the 7th Regiment N. G. for thirty years, and was a Captain in the latter. At the time of the breaking out of hostilities between the North and South, he had retired from active business, being possessed of a fortune, accumulated by years spent in industry. He immediately offered his services to his country from purely patriotic motives.
Mrs. Denike was much opposed to his going to the war, and
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intimated to him that his first duty was to his family. He replied that his first duty was to his God; secondly, to his country ; and last, to his family. He received a commission April 20, 1861, as Captain, thus making him the senior line officer in rank, and his Company was assigned to the right of the line. He was a brave and spirited officer, and was respected and beloved by his command, who looked up to him as their father. He was a true soldier under fire, and never faltered on the long marches. Having been outranked in the Majorship by a younger officer, he resigned his com- mission, September 6, 1861. The men of his Company pre- sented him with a sword that cost $too, as a token of their esteem. He was subsequently commissioned as Lieutenant- Colonel, and raised the 153d Regiment New York Volunteers. Colonel Denike is at present a member of the 7th Regiment Veterans.
CAPTAIN OF COMPANY H-JUDSON KILPATRICK.
JUDSON KILPATRICK was born in the Valley of the Clove, Northern New Jersey, in 1838. At the age of seventeen he took such an interest in politics that he was chosen a delegate to the State Convention. He entered the West Point Military Academy June 20, 1856. While there, he whipped a cadet much larger than himself, who, for some trivial cause, had attacked him. The battle lasted three-quarters of an hour, and he suffered severely ; but the event made Kilpatrick very popular. He was chosen to deliver the valedictory of his class, in which he graduated fif- teenth. He immediately received a commission as Captain of Volunteers, and was assigned to the command of Company H, 5th New York Volunteers. He took a very active part in the battle of Big Bethel, in which affair he greatly distinguished himself. He was severely wounded, and did not recover suffi- ciently to take the field again until September. He was now made Lieutenant-Colonel of the Harris Light Cavalry, and pro- moted to First Lieutenant of the First Artillery, regular army. He was made a member of the Examining Board for examining
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cavalry officers of the volunteer service, and Inspector-General of McDowell's division.
In March, 1862, when the army moved on Manassas, his regiment led the advance. When Pope assumed command of the army, Kilpatrick broke up the railroad running from Gor- donsville to Richmond, thus severing Lee's communications. He marched eighty miles in thirty hours, spreading ruin and con- sternation along his path. He was continually making dashes against the enemy, and fighting them at every opportunity. At one time he rode seventy-four miles in twenty-four hours, be- sides having several fights with the Confederates, in which he had several hair-breadth escapes. On another occasion, lie found a paper in the enemy's camp, stating that General Stuart was building a bridge over the North Anna ; so he left a note for him, telling him he need not trouble himself farther about the bridge, as he would give him all he could attend to on the other side. In the disastrous campaign of Pope he did efficient serv- ice, under Bayard, who commanded the whole cavalry force, and was employed chiefly in protecting the Rapidan and cover- ing the retreat of the army.
When Hooker, in command of the army, commenced his move on Chancellorsville, Kilpatrick commanded a brigade of cavalry, and General Stoneman sent him, with about four hundred and fifty men, to burn the railroad and bridges over the Chicka- hominy, five miles from Richmond. He rode rapidly forward, avoiding the large bodies of the enemy, and attacking those whom he was able to cope with, until he had come within two miles of the rebel capital. Here he captured Lieutenant Brown, aide to General Winder, and eleven men, within the fortifications. Then he passed down to Meadow Bridge, on the Chickahominy, which he burned, and ran a train of cars into the river, checked a party of cavalry sent in pursuit of him, burned a train of thirty wagons loaded with bacon, and captured some prisoners. He resumed his march down the Peninsula at one o'clock the next morning, and surprised a force of three hundred of the enemy, capturing two officers and thirty-three men, burned fifty-six Wigons and the depot, containing 20 coo barrels of corn and wheat, quantities of clothing and stores, and crossed the Matta-
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pony, destroying the ferry just in time to escape the Confederate cavalry in pursuit. He destroyed a third wagon-train and depot, and made a forced march of twenty miles, followed by the enemy. He kept on his way, and finally found safety within the Union lines, at Gloucester Point. He had made a march around the Confederate army of nearly two hundred miles in less than five days, having captured and paroled upwards of eight hundred prisoners, with a loss of only one.officer and thirty-seven men.
When Lee,. following up Hooker's defeat at Chancellorsville, commenced his great movement around Washington into Mary- land, the cavalry was again brought into active service. The enemy's cavalry being massed near Beverly Ford, Pleasonton, in command of the Federal cavalry, moved out to make a recon- noissance, and came upon the enemy at Brandy Station, where the severest cavalry fight of the war, thus far, took place. De- termined. charges were made on both sides, hour after hour. Gregg came very near being overborne, when Kilpatrick made one of his gallant charges. He flung out his battle-flag, and with the Harris Light, 10th New York, and Ist Maine, came thundering down-the roth New York in advance. It fell with a shout against the enemy's squadrons, but rebounded from the ulow and swung off. The Harris Light repeated the charge, but was also borne back. Stung into madness at the sight of his own regiment repulsed and shattered, he flung himself at the head of the Ist Maine, still further in the rear, and, moving for- ward on a walk, shouted : " Men of Maine, you must save the day ! Follow me."
Closing up, the regiment marched off behind its leader, who ·circled to the right till he got on the flank of the enemy, when he ordered the bugles to sound the charge, and, coming down on a wild gallop, struck the enemy, forcing back his hitherto steady line. As they swept past the other two shattered regi- ments, Kilpatrick shouted out over the tumult, in his clear, ring- ing tones : "Back, the Harris Light ! Back, the roth New York ! Re-form your squadrons, and charge !"
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