USA > New York > Livingston County > Nunda > Centennial history of the town of Nunda : with a preliminary recital of the winning of western New York, from the fort builders age to the last conquest by our Revolutionary forefathers > Part 59
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Lycurgus C. Twining, age 22, enlisted August 27, 1862, private, Company F: promoted sergeant March 1, 1863; twice wounded at Bentonville, N. C., March 19, 1865 ; died of his wounds at Goldsboro, N. C., April 9, 1865.
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Ambrose Yencer, age 18, enlisted August 28, 1862, private. Cimpany F; killed in action at Missionary Ridge, Tenn., November 23, 1863.
Richard Youells, age 25 years, enlisted August 13, 1862, from Nunda, priv- ate, Company C; wounded in action July 3, 1863, at Gettysburg and died of his wounds July 4, 1863.
Oscar D. Willett (P. O. Nunda ), age 23 years, enlisted August 31, 1862, at Mt. Morris, private Company F; mustered out with Company June 13, 1865.
Jacob Steih, age 21, enlisted at Barron School House (he was from the town of Grove), private, Company F, September 25, 1862; wounded July 21, 1864 at Atlanta, Ga., died of his wounds September 8, 1864, at Nashville, Tenn.
George H. Moshier, age 18, enlisted August 31, 1862, at Oakland ; wounded in action July 2, 1863, at Gettysburg; died of his wounds August 10, 1863, at Camp Letterman, buried at Oakland.
Otis L. Crosier, age 29, enlisted September 6, 1862, in Company H ; mus- tered out with Company.
Elisha D. Herdendorf ( Fred), age 19, enlisted in 1862 in Company F, from Tuscarora ; wounded July 2, 1863 ; died of wounds July 28, 1864.
Joseph B. Herendorf, age 23, Company F : wounded July 2. 1863; mus- tered out May 17, 1865 ; lived in Nunda after the war.
Harrison L. Clemmons, age 23, enlisted August 29, 1862 at Sparta to serve three years, private, Company I; killed in action June 19, 1864, at Kenne- saw, Ga.
Jacob Dieter, age 34, enlisted August 26, 1862, at Sparta, mustered as ser- geant, Company I; captured and died in captivity March 29, 1864, at Belle Isle, Richmond, Va.
Martin S. Hamsher, age 23, enlisted August 30, 1862, mustered as private, Company I : promoted corporal June 28. 1863, mustered out May 22, 1863.
William D. Herrington, age 21, enlisted August 9, 1862, mustered as priv- ate, Company I, September 25. 1862; mustered out September 19, 1865, at El- mira, N. Y.
David B. Price, age 18, enlisted August 31, 1862, at North Dansville in Com- pany I; wounded in action July 25, 1864, and died of his wounds August 18. 1864, in hospital at Chattanooga, Tenn.
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Henry R. Price, age 21, enlisted August 24, 1862, at North Dansville, as private, Company I ; promoted Corporal June 28, 1863, Sergeant, May 15, 1864; mustered out with Company.
Henry Wells Spear, age 22. at North Dansville, to serve three years, mus- tered as private, Company I ; mustered out May 11, 1855, at hospital, Nashville, Tenn.
Parker Brooks, age 30. enlisted from Tuscarora, August 30, 1862, mustered as a private, Company F; wounded in action March 16, 1865. at Averasboro. N. C., discharged for disability AAugust 15. 1865, at DeDain General Hospital. Daniel Island, New York Harbor.
Milton Burnap, Jr., age 19. private, Company D : from St. Helena, mustered out with Company.
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Harlem Chamberlain, age 24, enlisted from Union Corners as private, Com- pany F ; mustered out June 2, 1865, at Lonesville, Ky.
Charles Wheeler Ogden, age 22. private, Company F; promoted corporal March 1, 1863. sergeant, July 1, 1864: wounded, absent in hospital, mustered out with Company. Died at Mt. Morris.
Augustus W. Palmer, age 20, enlisted August 29, 1862, as private; killed in action May 15, at Resaca, Ga.
Jacob Post, age 23, enlisted from Little Scipio ; wounded July 2, 1863, at Gettysburg, discharged June 30, 1864. Sheboygan, Wis.
William Palmer, age 20, mustered as a private, Company F; died of disease February 17, 1863. at Washington, D. C.
Romulus Swift, age 21, enlisted from Little Scipio, in Company F ; mus- tered out with Company June 13, 1865.
Luther Whitenack. age 2.4. enlisted August 23. 1862, in Company F : pro- moted corporal, March Ist : sergeant, July 1, 1863, mustered out with Company.
Samuel Young, age 34, private, Company I ; died February 20, 1863.
Emery Cheasbro, age 18, enlisted August 30, 1862, at North Dansville, to serve three years in Company I; mustered out with Company.
Jerome Cheasbro, age 18, wounded in action May 15. 1864, at Resaca, Ga., and (lost a leg) mustered out from hospital.
Wm. C. Hall, age 26, Company H; mustered as first sergeant or second lieutenant, March 1, 1863, as first lieutenant Company A; wounded May 15, 1864, at Resaca, Ga., and died of lockjaw May 28, 1864, at hospital at Nash- ville, Tenn.
The G. A. R. Post, town of Portage is named for him, and we present his picture as he was in war time.
Levi Guernsey, age 24, enlisted at Portage in Company H; captured near Catlett Station, September 1!, 1863. Paroled November 19, 1864, mustered out with Company.
Alturna Smith, age 18, enlisted August 31, 1862. at Portage in Company H : died May 30, 1864, at Nashville, Tenn.
Benjamin Wampole, age 29, private, Company B: mustered out with Company.
Chester Gould, age 23, enlisted August 17, 1862, to serve three years in Company C; discharged for disability January 19, 1863. Died at Oak Hill.
Fifty-six men on this list; of this number 19 died in the service.
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WERE YOU AT GETTYSBURG? By Capt. John W. Hand.
Comrade. I see on your coat lapel
The badge of a soldier ; I wear it, too,- The little bronze button I love so well- But it cannot mean so much to you ; Your form is erect and your step is strong, While I am bent and crippled and gray ; My left sleeve hangs empty ; I halt along ; You could not have been in the battle-fray.
What! You were at Gettysburg! I thought I espied A gleam in your eye that comes only to those Who in furnace of fire have their metal tried- Who have measured their strength with their country's foes- Who have bravely battled for truth and right- Who thrill at the grasp of a comrade's hand ; But how could you be in that fearful fight And thus unscathed by its fury stand?
Did you go where the peerless Reynolds led In loyalty's vanguard, fearless and true, Where Cutler's and Meredith's veterans bled And died for their banner-the red, white and blue? Did you battle with Barlow and Schurz for the field 'Gainst the legions of Early and Ewell in vain, And, beaten and vanquished, ingloriously yield When the earth had drunk deep of the blood of the slain?
When wearied and thirsting and trembling with dread, Did you pass through the town in despondent retreat- Where pallid-faced women offered you bread Which you longed for, but dared not stop to eat? Did you cling to the friendly rock or tree Which sheltered alike the brave and the coward,
Did your courage return. did you breathe more free When you reached the heights held by gallant Howard?
Did you dip your canteen in Spangler's spring While the hissing bullet sped past your ear? Did war transform you into a thing Alive to duty, but dead to fear ? Did you hold with valor the rock-ribbed crest Where Slocum's conquering banner waved. And the God of Nations with victory blessed The battle his noble troops had braved?
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If you fought in the wheatfield with Sickle's crops And breathed the cannon's sulphurous breath, And crazed and maddened by battle's roar You courted the Furies and danced with Death- If in the peach orchard you tried to beat The tiger of treason back to his lair But were hunted in turn to your own retreat. Then you were at Gettysburg ; then you were there.
Can you tell me the story of Devil's Den ?- The rocky gorge that was won so well- Were you at the taking of Round Top when Brave Weed and the gallant Vincent fell? O. noble martyrs! your sleep would be sweet Did you know how grandly your work was done; How you wrested victory from defeat- How a nation was saved by a battle well won.
Did you stand with Hancock's troops at bay In Hell's seething vortex of carnage and smoke, When the sea of rebellion surged that way And on that bulwark of freedom broke -- When the daring Armistead in the van Of Pickett's Virginians leaped the wall And forward in fancied victory ran To fall as only the brave can fall?
What! You say you served in Von Steinwehr's command, That your place was on Cemetery Hill on the line Of the Tarrytown road? Comrade, give me your hand, Why it thrills me with joy as I clasp it in mine ; That is just where I stood when that bullet from town Struck my leg ; I could not go back to the rear For the battle was on, so the boys laid me down Almost fainting with pain and palsied with fear. O, the tumult and terror! the blistering breath Of brazen mouthed cannon .- the screaming of shell As onward they sped on their errand of death, O, that roaring and raging and withering hell! The iron-freighted air was a tempest of spite That thundered forth treason, rebellion and hate And a fragment of shell hurling down from its height Struck off my left arm. Do I grumble at fate? No, comrade, 'tis only my sacrifice. You Perhaps have made less, while others made more ; But the stars of our flag in their clear field of blue Are brighter with glory than ever before. So shake again, comrade, our fighting is done, But our sons will guard well what their sires did save, This grandest of countries under the sun,
This land of the free and this home of the brave.
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE FIRST VETERAN CAVALRY
By Col. John J. Carter.
Capt. H. Wells Hand, Nunda, N. Y .: Titusville, Pa., March 18, 1908.
Dear Sir :- Have finished a hurried sketch of the First New York Veteran Cavalry as a fighting unit, showing how, when, and where formed, giving an outline of its organization, what commands attached to in the service ; the names of the commanders whom it served, and the list of battles in which it partici- pated. I, also, give a list of its casualities in parallel columns beside the 27th and 33rd Regiments out of which a large number of its men came. I could not go into detail regarding individual officers or companies, for that would com- prehend a history of the regiment. which I have neither the time or data to com- plete. I might have said something interesting concerning my own command, but I concluded that it would not be wise to do that for fear of doing injustice by comparison, to some of my old companions. The sketch-what it is-short and sweet-true in fact and statement. Let it go into history!
THE CALL TO ARMS
The news of the attack on Sumter, and the surrender of the garrison un- der Major Anderson on Sunday, the 14th of April, 1861, created universal ex- citement in the Free States. Indignation and enthusiasm went hand in hand, and were the watchwords of the people ; and "War with its wide desolation, threatened our land to deform!" God defend the right was the prayer on the lips of everyone !
On the morning of the 13th of April, 1861, the New York Tribune con- tained the following editorial from the pen of Horace Greeley :
"Fort Sumter is lost, but freedom is saved. There is no more thought of bribing or coaxing traitors who have dared to aim their cannon-balls at the flag of the Union and those who gave their lives to defend it. It seems but yester- day that at least two-thirds of the journals of this city (New York) were the virtual allies of the secessionists, their apologists, their champions. The roar of the great circle of batteries pouring their iron hail upon devoted Sumter has struck them all dumb. * * The aspect of the people appalls them. * Democrats as well as Republicans, Conservative and Radical, instinctively feel that the guns fired at Sumter were aimed at the heart of the American Repub- lic. * * * Fort Sumter is temporarily lost, but the country is saved. Live the Republic !"
On the morning of the 16th of April, 1861, appeared the "Proclamation" of President Lincoln, calling for 75,000 men, "in order to suppress said combina- tions, and to cause the laws to be duly executed." It was hailed with enthusias- tic approval throughout the Free States. Proffers of men and money from every State, this side of the Rocky Mountains, poured into Washington, so that, it seemed as if the people were ready with force and arms to vindicate the au- thority and maintain the integrity of the Union.
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Heretofore the Democrats of the North seemed to sympathize with the South rather than with the North, but in only a few instances far enough to justify secession. Now, there seemed to be no diversion of sentiment-all were of one opinion-liberty or death !
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JOHN J. CARTER Capt. First Veteran Cav.
CAPT. H. W. HAND 39th U. S. A. Inf.
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ALBERT S. HAVER Co. A. 104 N. Y. V.
CAPT. JNO. W. HAND 136 N. Y. V.
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Public meetings, patriotic addresses, and the universal muster of the peo- ple, on the side of the government, became the order of the day. Business and pleasure were merged into patriotism; the love for the Union had taken the place of that for the family and the fireside: God had taken the place of mammon !
In the universal upheaval, incident to the attack upon individual liberty and the Union of the States, the farmer turned away from his plough, the mechanic forsook his tools, the merchant closed his shop, the lawyer left his brief unused and became a willing advocate of law and liberty, the student left his lessons and his books that he might become a soldier, commerce slackened sail and housed ship that her sailors might become man-of-war's men in the navy of the United States. The whole North, from Maine to the Rocky Moun- tains, became a military camp ; for the youth of the Free States, irrespective of calling, creed, birth, or condition had placed their services at the disposal of the government. Perhaps it is not overstating the fact to say: no such patriotic uprising had ever characterized any other people in the history of the world ; and the voice of the people at that time. became as near the voice of God as it is possible for a human being to interpret !
In the midst of the conditions herein presented, in the State of New York there was a body of young men who had enlisted in April, 1861, who were formed into thirty-eight regiments, known as two-year regiments, because their term of enlistment was for two years. These regiments, being among the first to organize-some of them were in the first battle of Bull Run, on July 21. 1861-formed the nucleus of the Grand Army of the Potomac, which, under McClellan, Burnside and Hooker, opposed Lee and Jackson's splendid fighters, in the battles of the peninsula, South Mountain. Crampton's Pass, Antietam. Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, and became veterans of whom the army and the nation were proud.
At the close of the Chancellorsville campaign, which proved so disastrous to the Union cause, the term of the two-year regiments had expired, and they were mustered out of the service of the United States. The time of their dis- charge was not the brightest period in the country's history. The Army of the Potomac had met defeat, and had recrossed the Rappahannock River to its old camp, back of Stafford Heights-there to rest and renew its strength. The spirit and patriotism of that army were never dimmed in camp, march or bat- tle. When defeated in battle, it retreated in order, always with face to its fore. healed its wounds, closed up the gaps in its ranks, and gave battle at the next opportunity without fear. Its glory and valor will live forever in song and story.
Among the two year men discharged at that time, were the 27th and 33rd Regiments of Infantry, New York Volunteers. In their ranks there were neither conscripts or mercenaries. The men had been recruited from the best type of American manhood, and the veterans then discharged were splendid representatives of their class-proud and patriotic sons of the Republic. The history of these two-year regiments forms one of the brightest chapters in the annals of human liberty-because the record presents the citizen, the volunteer. and the veteran soldier in the garb of the patriot-full of hope, without fear, or hope of reward; duty was as clearly defined in his mind, as the sun at mid-
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day; he had faitli in the justice of his cause, and intense love for his country led him in battle-like a pillar of a cloud by day, and by night a pillar of fire.
The regiments just mustered out, composed of such material, it was no won- der that many of the officers and men offered their services to the government before the ink on their discharges was dry. To meet the patriotic wislies of these veterans, as outlined by many, Col. R. F. Taylor, commander of the 33rd Regiment of Infantry, was authorized to organize the First New York Veteran Cavalry, with the view of gathering under the new flag as many of the 27th and 33rd Veterans as desired to join the cavalry arm of the service. An invita- tion by Col. Taylor to the officers of the two regiments named resulted in many of them taking commissions in the First New York Veteran Cavalry, which completed its organization in a little over sixty days from the date of the dis- charge of the two-year men from the army. The men assembled at Geneva, New York ; were formed into companies, squadrons, battalions, and a regiment with banners, which was mustered into the United States service, under date of September 18, 1863, with the following field and staff :
Col. R. F. Taylor, Rochester, N. Y., from 33rd New York.
Lt. Col. John S. Platner, Geneva, N. Y., from 33rd New York.
Major Wells, from 27th New York.
Major Jerry Sullivan, Rochester, N. Y., from 13th New York.
Major J. Elliott Williams, Rochester, N. Y., civil life.
Quartermaster Henry Alexander, Rochester, N. Y., from 33rd New York. Adjutant A. H. Nash. Geneva. N. Y.
Sergeant Major Eugene Davis, Olean, N. Y., from 27th New York.
When the regiment was mustered, twelve full companies answered the call, and the officers and men fairly represented both the old regiments in numerical strength. It is not within the scope of this sketch to deal with the individual companies or the officers of the, Ist New York Veteran Cavalry ; the regiment as a fighting unit only, claims attention.
Shortly after being mustered into the United States service, the regiment was ordered to Washington. D. C., and was immediately sent to Camp Stone- man, at Geisboro Point, where it went into a camp of instruction, and began its labors incident to the cavalry arm of the service. Soon after reaching this camp. swords and carbines were issued to each company that the men might become familiar with their use at as early a date as possible. Within a month, from the date of the regiment's introduction to Camp Stoneman, splendid progress had been made in the dismounted drill, and the officers and men were complimented by Col. McIntosh, who commanded the Camp. In the use of the sword and car- bine, too, the men had made progress. It only remained for the regiment to be mounted, in order that the use of arms on horseback be as well understood as. on foot, to bring the regiment to a war footing.
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Early in November. 1863, the welcome news came that the regiment was to be mounted. No man ever rejoiced more than the men of the First New York Veteran Cavalry on the receipt of their horses. Saddles and bridles .. blankets and haiters, soon followed; then commenced the arduous task of teacli- ing the men and horses their relations to each other. and the men the use and abuse of the horse, how to mount and dismount, how to handle a sabre to advan- tage, how to use a carbine and pistol with safety to both horse and man, and with effect on an enemy-finally, how to become a cavalryman-a Centaur with brains.
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If attention to details and drills be an earnest of proficiency in the school of the cavalryman, the First New York Veteran Cavalry should be skilled in their profession, for they had dismounted drills and mounted drills-in squads, com- panies, squadrons, battalions and as a regiment. There was an expert swords- man, a French Cavalry officer, on hand to instruct the officers, and they in turn imparted instruction to the men. The practice was regular and continuous. until the men handled their blades with the spirit of a Samurai, and the preci- sion of a Matador. They practiced with the carbine, too, until both horse and man were familiar with their use. An extract from a journal kept at the time will show how these drills were conducted: "Up at 6:30 for stable call. Weather freezing. After breakfast had carbine drill on horseback. Squadron drill mounted after dinner." The next day: "Up at 3:30 to get horses shod." following which on the next day: "Had mounted squadron drill in the fore- noon, mounted carbine and sabre drill in the afternoon." It was drill in the morning, drill in the afternoon, and parade in the evening, without letup or hindrance, until the first of February. 1864, when the welcome order came to go to Harpers Ferry, Virginia, and begin active service in the field as a cavalry command.
The regiment reached Harpers Ferry on the fifth of February, and on the following day Captain Carter took command of the first scouting party sent out by the regiment. His orders comprehended Charlestown, Smithfield, Bunker Hill, Winchester, New Town, and Cedar Creek, returning by the Shenandoah River to the starting point. For four days the command continued to advance sonthward, sometimes on the broad road, leading down, over which Sheridan made his famous ride at a later date. at other times over fields, through woods, and across private pathways. until New Town had been reached in the advance, always in search of the enemy, who seemed to be everywhere, yet nowheres in evidence. During the afternoon of the fourth day, while in New Town, it be- came evident that the command was in the enemy's country, for evidence of the gathering of the rebel clans in secret conclave was brought to the officer in com- mand by faithful negroes. It was determined upon receipt of this evidence to go no farther south, and the course of the scouting party was changed to cover the Shenandoah River. as per instructions. Hardly had the change been made. when there appeared on the left flank of the command, a few horsemen il. gray, who were keeping close watch on the movements of the detachment. De- termined to develop the strength of these flankers, the commander, with a half dozen trusty men, crossed the fields ahead of the flankers, shielded by a friendly wood, and confronted them face to face. There were only five of them in the party, two of whom fell at the first volley. The others fled. leaving in the pos- session of the scouting party two wounded prisoners, and their horses and equip- ment. Not deeming it prudent to follow the retreating men further, the com. mand proceeded without further incident, until early in the afternoon to the sur - prise and pleasure of all. Major Sullivan and two battalions of the First New York appeared in front of the scouting party. The Major had been sent after the scouting party, to intercept it on its return path, lest it should be overcome by a superior force of the enemy, known at headquarters to rendezvous in that section through which the scouting party was passing. It was evident that someone had blundered, at headquarters, in ordering the scouting party so far
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away from its base, and Major Sullivan saved a fight and perhaps a failure by his forced march and timely appearance.
The first blood had been spilt by the regiment during this scout. The scout- ing party returned withcut detriment to itself and with considerable experience added to its equipniert.
Immediately afterwards the regimeni was assigned to the brigade of Briga- dier General Keily, and remained in that position until assigned to the brigade of General Duffie, afterwards the division of General Averell, then to the divi- sion of General Stall, under Sigle, Hunter, Crook and Sheridan.
From the fifth day of February to the first of September. 1864. a period of seven months, the First New York Veteran Cavalry participated in the battle of Snickers Gap, March 6, 1864: Mount Jackson, May 13, 1864; New Market. May 15, 1864: Harrisonburg. June 3. 1864; Lynchburg, June 18, 1864: Lee Town, July 3, 1864: John Brown's Church, July 6, 1864: Snickers Ferry, July 22, 1864: Kernestown, July 24. 1864: Charlestown, July 30. 1864; and all the skirmishes incident and connected with the campaign of the Shenandoah in 1864. between the dates named. The regiment became thoroughly acquainted with every road and bypath in the Shenandoah Valley, from Shepherdstown to Staunton. It captured more men in actual battle than it had in its ranks, twice over. It sustained the reputation of the two regiments from which it was formed, and left the service with the respect of its commanding officers and the thanks of the American people. Its regimental losses are placed in parallel col- umns beside the old regiments for convenience of comparison :
REGIMENTAL LOSS IN WAR
Organized Date of
Arm of Service
Designation of Regiments
Killed in Action and Died of Wounds
Died of Disease During Service
Grand Total of All
Officers
Men
Total
Officers
Men
Total
May 1861
Infantry
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