USA > New York > Cayuga in the field : a record of the 19th N. Y. Volunteers, all the batteries of the 3d New York Artillery, and 75th New York Volunteers > Part 3
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32
19TH NEW-YORK INFANTRY.
On the 23d of April, the Military Board at Albany advertised for proposals for 12,000 uniforms. In response, Mr. F. L. Griswold, an honorable and esteemed merchant of Auburn, proposed to furnish those required by the Cayuga regiment, in furtherance of the plan for equipping and training that command at Auburn. He sent a sample suit of his make, the cloth being purposely better even than the State required. State Treasurer Dorsheimer raised the quibble that the color of the jacket varied a shade from regulation blue, and also objected that the suits could not be made in time in Auburn. A contract was refused Mr. Griswold. The whole 12,000 suits were awarded to be contracted for by Brooks Bro's of New York city. The senior Brooks assured the State, positively, that he could furnish the whole number of regular army blue cloth within the specified time. A few days after the contract was signed, he cooly notified the Military Board that his firm could not comply therewith unless permitted to use cloth other than agreed upon. Inter- views and consultations followed. At last, so urgent were the ยท necessities of the hour, the contractors carried their point and were authorized to substitute "gray cadet mixed satinet" for army blue for 7,500 uniforms. These were promptly furnished, most of them being sent to Elmira.
How thoroughly "mixed " the goods were, the Cayuga volun- teers can testify. Stripes of dark gray ran through them, with streaks of butternut intermingled. Patches of green, spots of brown, and splashes of other colors, dotted their surface, and no less than eighteen different hues were counted in them by an inquiring volunteer. Shabby in color, uncomfortable from the gritty dust in them, flabby in texture, they were also ungainly in cut. Few were able to get a suit that fitted them. Nearly all of them were too large. Two men could button around them one overcoat. Many men could button up their folded over- coats in their pants.
These outrageous uniforms were issued to the 12th, 13th and 26th regiments also. They had a most depressing effect on all. Men, wanting furloughs to go home to bid farewell to dear ones, before marching to the seat of war, were ashamed to show them- selves and went to the front without seeing the friends they so longingly desired to.
The affair created great excitement in Auburn. A public meeting was held to secure redress. Wm. C. Beardsley, Theo. M. Pomeroy and C. L. Underwood were sent by it to Albany to demand proper uniforms for our brave men. On the 3d of June, they telegraphed Col. Clark :-
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THE COLORS PRESENTED.
' "The Military Board promises the regiment new uniforms. Hold on."
The regiment could not "hold on," however. As Col. Clark remarked : "The Cayuga boys were bound to go if they went in their shirts." They could not wait, and great mischief was done before the promised uniforms ever reached them. .
The regiment received flags, whereon to inscribe its victories in the field, on Tuesday, the 4th of June, by presentation from the ladies of Auburn. The National color was made in Auburn ; the State color, a blue silk, decorated with the State coat of arms and the name of the regiment, was made to order in New York,-both being paid for by subscriptions obtained by Mrs. C. H. Merriman and Mrs. Fanny Barker. It is interesting to note, so little did we as a people know about war then, that the material first provided for a National banner was cut by Capt. Kennedy who spoilt it. Dr. Dimon was the only one that could be found that knew the proportions of the banner. The one given the regiment was cut by him. At 10 A. M., June 4th, the 19th formed a hollow-square in the Barrack yard. A platform in the center held Col. Clark and the officers of the regiment, C. C. Dwight, B. F. Hall, D. P. Wallis, Wm. C. Beardsley, Gen. H. R. White of Utica, Gen. Van Valkenburg, E. B. Morgan, Mrs. Wm. H. Seward, Jr., Mrs. Geo. Underwood, Mrs. Theo. Dimon, Mrs. B. F. Hall, Mrs. John Bostwick, Mrs. Sam'l Titus, Mrs. Henry Morgan and others. Mr. Hall presented the National, and Mr. Dwight the Regimental colors. Col. Clark responded and consigned the flags to the color guard amid the deafening cheers of the regiment. Many a silent oath was registered among those brave men at that moment to die ere those silken ensigns should ever be dishonored in the presence of the armed enemies of our country.
Next day the regiment drew muskets, old flint locks, model of 1840, altered and supplied with percussion locks. Also "A" tents, knapsacks, canteens and camp equipage.
On the 30th of May, Col. Clark applied to the War Depart- ment for marching orders. Promptly came the following, May 31 :-
"To the Commandant at Elmira, N. Y. :-
Col. Clark's regiment and one other regiment ready to march will proceed immediately to Harrisburg.
SIMON CAMERON,
Secretary of War."
C
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19TH NEW-YORK INFANTRY.
This order was modified, June Ist, by the following :-
" Col. John S. Clark, 19th Regt., Elmira :-
Your letter of the 27th to Gen. Mansfield is shown to me. I desire your regiment to come to this city via Harrisburg and Baltimore, as soon as it is ready.
WINFIELD SCOTT."
Gen. Patterson, who was then collecting an army at Cham- bersburg, Pa., had applied to the War Department to have the Seward Regiment sent to him. Hence the first order above. At Col. Clark's request, the Lieutenant General of the Army ordered him to Washington.
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DEPARTURE FOR THE ARMY.
-
-
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1764764
II.
ON KALORAMA HEIGHTS.
Departure for the Army-Gen. Patterson's Telegrams-Gen. Scott's Counter-order -Gloomy Reception in Baltimore-Washington-In Camp of Instruction at Kalorama-Camp Routine-New Muskets-The Shoddy Uniforms Wearing Out-Review of New York Troops-Ordered to Join Patterson.
The Cayuga volunteers left Elmira for Washington, Thursday, the 6th of June, 739 strong. A special train of twenty-one freight cars, drawn by two engines, was furnished them for transportation. Into four cars was loaded the baggage and camp equipage, which was bulky and weighed over 25,000 lbs. The regiment stowed itself away, on rough board seats, in the other cars. At II A. M., the train moved off with shriek of whistle and clang of bell, running as a special. Thousands of citizens and several companies of soldiers, gathered at the depot and at Barracks No. One, gave hearty hurrahs at parting.
At Williamsport, Pa., which we reached at 2 P. M., patriotic citizens had spread a substantial dinner for the refreshment of the hungry men. On halting, the cars were emptied in a mo- ment. Speeches of welcome were made and the volunteers re- ceived an invitation to fall on and make a dinner, which they did. Hunger staying ham, biscuits, cheese and sandwiches of dainty preparation burdened long tables in profusion, and pretty maidens brought to all generous cups of the good cheer a soldier loves, rich, pure coffee. Cakes, pies, and fragrant Ha- vana cigars also proved abundant. After a huge repast, the lads in gray grew surfeited and, with pockets crammed, they
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19TH NEW-YORK INFANTRY.
climbed back to their board benches, to resume the journey, smoke their cigars and bless with heartfelt unction the kindly ladies of Williamsport.
The whole ride through Pennsylvania was exceedingly grati- fying to the feelings of the volunteers. Attentions were lavished upon them at every station. Crowds gathered everywhere to cheer them, while ploughmen in the fields and farmers on the cross roads paused to swing their hats as the train flew by. In the evening, bonfires blazed in their honor in the villages. These things and the enchanting scenery of the region through which the railroad ran made a deep impression on the minds of the volunteers, and their patriotism and enthusiasm in the cause of their country were deepened by it, and their rough jolting and shaking up in the freight cars it made them forget.
The train thundered into Harrisburgh about midnight. Here a dispatch was handed to Col. Clark, reading as follows :
"CHAMBERSBURGH, June 6, 1861.
To the officer commanding the troops from Elmira, N. Y.
By command of Lieut .- Gen. Scott, you have been placed under my orders. Proceed at once to Chambersburgh.
R. PATTERSON, Major-General, Commanding Department Pennsylvania."
Col. Clark hesitated to obey this order. He had other plans. Detaining the train, he telegraphed both to Gen. Patterson and Gen. Scott for further information. Gen. Scott answered quickly :
"Col. John S. Clark, 19th N. Y. Infantry :
WINFIELD SCOTT." Come to Washington.
Gen. Patterson replied :-
" Col. John S. Clark :
Gen. Patterson was ordered to turn the first Elmira regiment to this place. Has received no countermanding orders. If you have been ordered to Washington, since you were first ordered here, go there.
FITZ JOHN PORTER, A. A. G.
CHAMBERSBURG, June 6th, 1861."
A council of officers assembled to consider the matter. It was decided to go to Washington. After a two hours' delay, the complication being solved, the train was ordered on and sped out of Harrisburgh for Baltimore. Patterson remembered Clark's reluctance on this occasion to join him. It was afterwards a source of trouble.
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GLOOMY RECEPTION IN BALTIMORE.
Glimpses of the destruction of war became visible at daylight. Blackened ruins of noble bridges encountered the eye, betoken- ing the presence of bands of armed rebels. Soldiers with can- non now guarded the crossings at every stream. To witness these things, the volunteers crowded car doors and windows. From a passing train, word came that the regiment's first baptism of fire was probably near at hand. Baltimore, the northern out- post of rebellion, was in a state of riotous disquietude. The city lay under the guns of Fort McHenry, on Federal Hill, where in 1814, floated the first original "Star Spangled Banner," con- cerning which the song was written. Yet, danger existed that an attack might be made on the regiment in marching through, just as, on April 19th, there had been on the 6th Massachusetts. The tidings were received with joy. Though rather deficient in such matters as street firing and battalion drill, the Cayuga boys felt their souls burn with valor and they ardently longed for an attack. They only wanted the proper provocation to clear the city at the point of the bayonet of every traitor that dwelt there- in, and avenge the recent insults offered there to our flag. The Quarter-Master distributed three rounds of cartridges, each carry- ing an ounce ball and three buckshot. Every musket received one in readiness for the expected fray.
Debarking from the cars at the head of Eutaw street, the regi- ment formed in column by half companies. While this was being done, disorderly crowds gathered around in the street, composed of ugly looking desperadoes, some of whom had coun- tenances that would have made the fortune of an African gorilla. "D- those infernal Yankees !" "Hurrah for Jeff. Davis !" and similar remarks were shouted on all sides. Everything looked ripe for a first-class disturbance. Before starting, Col. Clark gave the order "Fix Bayonets !" With a loud clash, 730 gleaming points of steel sprang to their places. The decidedly business-like air of this proceeding, and the wicked looking eyes of the Cayuga boys rather staggered the Baltimorean nerve, and when, with a squad of policemen in the advance, and with colors proudly flying, the regiment took up the line of march for the Washington depot at the foot of the street, the crowd gave way for it respectfully. Soon, however, the roughs grew bolder, and . renewed their profanity and evil remarks, and jostled the regi- ment continually. Richly dressed beauties came out upon bal- conies and waved little secession flags and hissed as the command marched by, as though to urge on the excited populace to riot. But it did not work. The manifest coolness and determination of the regiment and its capped muskets, bluffed the turbulent
.
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19TH NEW-YORK INFANTRY.
element completely, checking every violent demonstration. The steadiness and nerve of the 19th was commented on admiringly by the police, who said that it saved the volunteers from the home of Seward from an attack.
Passing the Eutaw House, the regiment halted to give three tremendous cheers at the sight of a large National banner flying over it. Reaching the Washington depot a train came up after a short halt. By noon, the men were aboard and rattling over the rail to the Capital.
Camps and detachments of artillery and picket guards were passed, strewn numerously along the way, guarding the road, every rail of which between Washington and Baltimore was precious beyond computation to the Government at this time, and was protected by either a musket or a cannon the whole distance. A few miles from Washington the loaded pieces of the regiment were discharged. The firing created a panic in the locality. Pickets, scattered through the field, thought there was a descent by the enemy and came running in. An alarm was sounded in some of the camps. The commotion partly arose from the recollection of a recent attempt on the railroad at this point.
Washington was reached at 3 P. M. The regiment was full of enthusiasm. It had reached the National army and was now among the defenders of the Capital. The general hope was that orders to go across the Potomac at once and encamp on the sacred soil of the Old Dominion would be received. In view of the undisciplined state of the command, it was ordered into camp of instruction instead, and, pending the selection of camping ground, it was thought best to quarter it in the city. The 8th and 9th of June were accordingly spent in a tall brick building on Pennsylvania Avenue, within a few blocks of the President's house, known as Woodard's Hall. Seven rooms were occupied. They were unclean apartments and the regi- ment was glad, when, on the evening of the 10th, the command came to vacate them and go into camp.
North of Washington, within two or three miles of the heart of the city, a range of verdant hills 200 feet in height bounds the plain on which it stands. Further on, the surface swells into hills of greater elevation, on which, afterwards the northern fortifications of the city were located. On the crests of the first range of hills, were built many a number of fine man- sions, surrounded by elegant and extensive grounds. Just back of Georgetown, on the eastern bank of Rock Creek, stood the loveliest of these places, once the home of the poet and patriot,
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IN CAMP AT KALORAMA.
Joel Barlow, author of the "Columbiad "' and "Hasty Pud- ding." named by him Kalorama. In 1861, its occupant, a true patriot, had tendered it to the Government for a camp without cost. To this spot, on the Ioth of June, a warm, genial sum -. mer's day, the favored 19th had been ordered to proceed.
The regiment left the City of Magnificent Distances in the af- ternoon, passing the President's House and other noted edifices, and reached the heights at 8 P. M. Leaving the main road, it turned to the left into the fields, and marched to a meadow, nine acres in area, in a retired situation, on the top of the banks of the romantic and richly wooded glen of Rock Creek. Glen and woods surrounded the field on three sides. On the fourth, the old mansion stood, now used as a hospital. It was too late and too dark to pitch camp. So the men stacked arms, and bivou- acked on the ground under the open stars, some sleeping on boards and all either softening the asperities of their bed with their blankets or using that article as a pillow. The lovely night invested their first taste of genuine campaigning with an air of romance. Sleeping on the ground was a novelty that all relished then.
Next day, the baggage wagons came up from the city. They were speedily unburdened and the regiment pitched its first camp, which was forthwith dubbed Camp Cayuga. The tents of the field and staff officers were located in a row under the shade of the locusts and cedars, on the southern side of the field, that of Col. Clark being distinguished from the rest by the colors of the regiment planted in the ground in front, one on each side. The companies encamped in wedge, or " A " tents, four men in a tent, on the western side of the field, in ranks, in the same or- der and on the same ground, which they would severally have occupied if they stood there under arms, formed in regimental column for the march. The tents of each company were located in this camp in two parallel rows, facing inwards on a company street, which all took pride in keeping in the neatest order. In later camps, the rule was for companies to arrange their tents in single ranks, but that was when they had Sibley tents, holding fifteen men. Captains and Lieutenants habitually camped on the right flanks of their companies.
After a few days all tents were floored with boards, partly obtained from the leavings of a regiment which had previously occupied the field. The camp was cleared up then and made to look heat.
When comfortably settled, camp routine was announced and set forth in special order, so that camp business might be carried
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19TH NEW-YORK INFANTRY.
on systematically and smoothly. Hard study and training then began and continued without remission for a month. The 19th was in Maj .- Gen. Charles W. Sandford's division of New York troops. It resolved to be the best disciplined regiment in it.
The camp awoke daily at break of day, or 5 A. M. ; the drum corps beating the reveille on the parade ground. All aroused thereat from morning dreams, dressed and washed. The com- panies then formed for roll call. At 5 1-2 A. M. company drill took place. The duties of the day began thus early to avoid the excessive heat of the middle of the day. This early drill often, and at first generally, took place under West Point cadets, three of whom-Lieuts. Barlow, Redding and Meagher-were sent up by Gen. Mansfield from Washington to teach the man- ual of arms and the company tactics. At 6 A. M. breakfast was served, consisting of salt pork, salt beef, bread, crackers, pota- toes and coffee, varied sometimes with mush and beans.
At 9, squads of from six to ten men, detailed from each com- pany at morning roll call, were assembled on the parade ground by the Sergeant-Major, under command of the Adjutant, to do the guard duty of the day in and around the camp. Arms and equipments being inspected by the Officer and Sergeant of the Guard, who were appointed daily for the day, the guard was divided into three reliefs, or divisions ; one relief was then im- mediately marched off to do general guard duty in the camp and to be posted in a circle around it, relieving the old sentinels of the day before. Each guard in the relief was given a certain part to guard on a certain portion of the circle, upon which he must pace back and forth and allow no one, on any account, to pass without the countersign, or password, for the day, given out each day from headquarters. This relief was kept on duty one hour and was then relieved by another, and this, in an hour's time, by the third, and that again by the first, so that each relief had alternately through the day one hour of duty on and two off. The headquarters of the guard was the guard house, which always stood at the entrance to the camp. There was only one entrance. In it the prisoners of the camp were always confined. At 9 A. M. the companies were again drilled by their commanders for one hour. Then occurred several hours of leisure, broken only by dinner.
:
The drums beat for battalion drill at 3 P. M., and again for dress parade and battalion drill at 6. This latter, in the cool edge of the evening, sometimes taking place under the soft moonlight, was the most agreeable of the day. Muskets and equipments were highly polished for it, and every uniform was
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CAMP LIFE AT KALORAMA.
required to look its best. Visitors were always present to wit- ness it. There was a talismanic influence in that title of "The Seward Regiment." It brought out to Kalorama Heights Senators, Congressmen and distinguished people generally. The President, also, and Secretary Seward came several times. Mr. Seward had always a cordial smile and a cordial grasp of the hand which endeared him to all.
At 9 1-2 P. M. the drums sounded tattoo, or retreat, in the en- campment. It was the signal for every man to repair to his quarters. At 10 o'clock, taps beat, when lights were extinguish- ed, except at the guard house, for the night. At midnight, the Officer of the Guard made the Grand Rounds, to see that the sentinels were faithful and all things were safe.
Rapid and great improvement was made in the discharge of these duties. A spirit of emulation became rife among the com- panies, and though mistakes were often made, these four weeks caused the 19th to become one of the most proficient of the raw regiments of the division. At battalion drill, Col. Clark gener- ally commanded. He always made lively work. His favorite practice was to draw the regiment up in line of battle, or regi- mental front, and send it flying across the field on a double quick, as though in the act of storming imaginary works. Once a charge, not properly halted, stormed the camp. Another time, the line charged into the woods, with a terrific yell, which so drowned the command to halt that the regiment drove the field officers into the woods at the point of the bayonet.
June 15th, the regiment marched to Washington and ex- changed "those trusty muskets" for Harper's Ferry smooth bores. They were a better arm than the old ones. Great pride was taken in them, the old ones having been so rickety, that, after firing a volley with them, a basket full of locks and pieces might be picked up in the grass, blown off by the discharge.
Delightful weather prevailed at Kalorama. Once a thunder- storm soaked the tents and gave everybody a wetting, but rains seldom came and nothing occurred to interrupt steady drilling. The health of the camp was also generally good. The only affliction was the measles. Measle patients filled three tents at one time, but Dr. Dimon's faithful care brought them through all right.
The first death in the regiment befel it on June 26th. A drummer boy of Company C, Joseph Winters, was drowned in Rock Creek, while bathing. He was buried in an old grave yard near by with military honors.
June 18th, a very important event occured. The Pay Master
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I9TH NEW-YORK INFANTRY.
arrived to pay off the men. Privates received $5.50 a piece. Nothing creates more excitement in camp than the coming of the Pay Master. When paid off, the men first lay something aside to send home, and then rush for the tent of the camp sut- ler where goodies, tobacco and luxuries of every description are eagerly bought, and outstanding accounts are squared up. The commanding officers in Camp Cayuga made no objection to the men indulging in these luxuries if they chose to. They only required that the men abstain from beer and wine. Rules against intoxication and liquor selling were strict. Col. Clark, in orders, prohibited them positively. A vigorous attempt was made to enforce the rule, and once, when Capt. Kennedy was Officer of the Day, that officer caused the camp sutler's shanty to be torn down for violating it. Unfortunately, these practices could not be and never were entirely broken up.
The regiment began to watch about this time the rapid wear- ing away of the three months, for which it had taken the oath of service, with no little anxiety. The men unanimously regarded the prospect of carrying their banners back to Cayuga county, unbaptized in the smoke of the battlefield, with dismay. One day, there came to camp two important rumors.
Visitors at headquarters brought the first unofficially from Washington. It was said that the State of New York had turned the regiment over to the United States Government for the whole period of its original two years' enlistment. It im- pugns neither the courage nor loyalty of the Cayuga boys to say that some were disconcerted by this quite positively unexpected intelligence. They supposed as a matter of course they were going home at the end of the three months. The Government had not in any manner intimated a desire for their services longer than that time. They knew nothing of the official correspond- ence between the Governor and the War Department. They had not been consulted about staying beyond the term for which they had mustered in, and many had already laid out plans for fall and winter work, in anticipation of going home on the 22d of August.
The rumor of being held for two years, naturally created a lively sensation. Col. Clark was appealed to for his opinion of the matter. He replied that he had no official information on the subject. His individual opinion, based on the needs of Government and the probabilities of protracted war, was that the Government would demand the full two years' service of all three months regiments, and would be entitled to receive it. The men were inclined to be rather indignant at what they consider-
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