USA > New York > Chronicles of the One hundred fifty-first regiment New York state volunteer infantry, 1862-1865; > Part 2
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20
CK- 28
CHRONICLES
the floor of the porch nights, where we sleep. They offer us beds, but that would not do for soldiers, especially on picket duty. Last night was very cold and rainy, and we left the kit- chen door open, and laid on the floor in there, with a good fire in the grate. The other officers envy us our place, as we board with the family."
Gen. Mulligan commanded the forces at Clarksburg, and the confederates had threatened the town several times, oven specifying May 3d as the time of surrender.
Remaining until the 11th with no disturbance, marching ord- ers were received. A distance of fourteen miles was covered at one p. M., after resting until five, they marched till dark.
On reaching Weston, tents were pitched, and the regiment did picket and guard duty for a few days, then with a train of provisions, marched to Buckhannon. The place had been pillag- ed by the confederates. They had been more considerate at Weston, doing little damage, as the people were strong seces- sionists.
The section was mountainons with villages located in the val- leys. The streets and general appearance of the villages sug- gested little care, pride or disposition to thrift.
The weather had been favorable and the men were in good spirits. The 5th Md. regiment had been at Point of Rocks for three months, never having been out of Maryland.
The 151st was ordered to relieve it, and the Maryland regi- ment ordered to go to Winchester. But the men refused to be relieved, claiming to have been enlisted as State troops. How- ever, after the Colonel ordered the 151st to assist them on the ears with fixed bayonets, they seemed to realize "the better part of valor is discretion."
Extracts from letters: "May 24, 1863. Gen. Kenly came in with his brigade with orders for our regiment to proceed to Martinsburg and there await onr camp equipage from Baltimore, and then report to Gen. Milroy at Winchester." "May 31. Eight of Co. A men at Medical Purveyor's are relieved and all expect to join the regiment soon, or with the regimental equip- ments. They say the Band has been doing big things since we left, in the way of serenades, and has had many presents and compliments. They will come with the rest."
151st REGIMENT
GROUP FROM CO. A, ON DUTY AT MEDICAL PURVEYOR'S DEPARTMENT. BALTIMORE. Left to Right. Standing :- George Wilson, E. P. Demary. S. S. Stacy. George Smith. George Dikeman, George P. Everett. Left to Right, Sitting :- Seth Bee- man. Arnold Axtell, Eugene L. Barnes. Lyman A. Coon, A. J. Achilles, G.Ibert Woodhull, R. S. Plummer.
29
30
CHRONICLES
At Point of Rocks the men received rations of very hard hard tack, and one man being ambitions to take the first bite, broke off two of his teeth in the attempt. A means of making it. fit for mastication was to put it on the railroad track before a train, the car wheels reducing it to powder. A jest was made that the 5th Md. had vindictively left it for the 151st. The fol lowing parody is quite apropos :
THE OLD ARMY HARD TACK.
How dear to my heart are the war-time mementoes I've cherished in memory of sorrows and joys; In days when I tramped through the dust of Virginia, Or splashed through the mind, with the rest of the boys. There's a rusty old rifle, I never will part with, A faded old cap, and a jacket of blue,
A battered canteen, and a haversack holding Some squares of the hard-tack we all had to chew.
The iron bond hard tack. The moss-covered hard tack, The old army hard tack we all had to chew.
There was hard tack from wars of a past generation, Which remained mconsumed, till abont sixty -three; It was rumored that some which defied mastication Was marked Vera Cruz, or was lettered B. ( .! What a trimph was this for the skill of the baker! Indestructible product, defying tine's tooth, But it could not resist the assault of our grinders, The grinders we had in the days of our youth.
The Bunker Hill hard tack, The 1812 hard tack, The old army hard tack, we ate in our youth.
O youth can make feasts of the coarsest of viands, And never again shall we veterans feel Such a testing in our lives, as way back in the sixties When hard tack sufficed to create a square meal.
31
151st REGIMENT
Though now we may dine at more sumptuous fables,
We'd gladly exchange all the dainties they yield For the healthy enjoyment, the youthful digestion
That seasoned the hard tack we ate in the field.
The bullet-proof hard tack,
Thr iron-bound hard tack,
The old army hard tack we ate in the field.
From Point of Rocks, Capt. Bowen as Provost Marshal, and companies A and F' were sent to Berlin to guard the railroad and river. The Potomac was crossed by ferry, as the rebels had burned a fine bridge there in the beginning of the war. A canal on the Maryland side, and the Baltimore & Ohio railroad ri- ning through the place, made a large market, and the loyal peo ple of Virginia had permission to cross there to sell their pro- duce, and to buy goods. Many tried to pass the line withont tak- ing the oath of allegiance. Ruses were attempted to feign the oath, by slightly raising the hand from the Bible, or keeping the glove on. Smuggling was frequent. Mrs. M. R. Bowen, and Mrs. Pettit followed their husbands from Baltimore and they were employed to search suspicious women. Mrs. Bowen tells of one woman having her hair padded with papers of needles, and many loose ones fell to the floor.
In less than two weeks after the 5th Md. joined Gen. Milroy's forces at Winchester, Lee's attack both front and rear was ex- tremely disastrous, resulting in the capture of 2300 of Milroy's men. The 151st reached Maryland lights at ten p. M. of the day of the engagement, and the following day Gen. Milroy came in with only 2000 of the 7000 men of his command. The troops having been greatly demoralized, those who escaped capture by the enemy were each seeking personal safety, and stragglers were coming in all day, while some of them "never halted in their wild flight until far into Pennsylvania."
Lee's proximity to the 151st camp at the base of the Heights seemed a menace, so when not on picket the men were throwing up earth works towards the river. John HI. Stevens relates an amusing incident in the following: "The evening of the 19th one hundred men from our regiment were detailed for picket anty. Fourteen from Co. A besides myself. Abont a mile from camp half the men were left in charge of a Lieutenant as a re-
32
CHRONICLES
serve, the remainder were taken a mile farther and posted along the line. Myself as corporal with the Co. A men on the extreme left toward the Potomac river. Rain soon began to fall in tor- rents, and the darkness was intense. Abont ten o'clock we heard firing on the right of the line, which frightened some of the men on picket who fired their guns and started for camp. The Lieut. of the reserve, feeling sure the rebels were after them, told his men to look ont for themselves: In the meantime the Colonel on hearing the firing, ordered the regiment out into the rifle-pits on double quick. All was confusion, and in the darkness as the Lientenant and six of his men neared the camp, they were taken prisoners by a corporal and one man of Co. A, cach party think- ing the other the enemy. ' I had heard the firing, but told the boys we would not leave our post without canse, not hearing of the fracas at camp until we were relieved in the morning. When Lt. Col. Bowen heard we had stuck to our posts, he exclaimed, . Bully for Co. A.'"
Members of Co. A were requested to volunteer to take up the picket line which had been deserted. Corporal Mason and a file of men acted as advance guard. On hearing in the darkness, horsemen approaching, the Corp. called, "who's there?" he- fore any reply could be given, one nervous excitable man fired his gun, the bullet just escaping the head of one of the mounted Union officers .. Unquestionably many accidents were due to the fright and meontrollable disposition of some men. The follow- ing morning Lt. Col. Bowen declared he would investigate the cause of the disturbance, and suggested that the men be in readi- ness if he should return on double-quick. In due time his horse was seen coming at full speed, when the soldiers were preparing to meet the foe, he slackened, and in his facetions manner an- nounced that the firing was by Union cavalry-men, who were shooting hogs! Three refugees came into camp the same moru- ign and gave the information that the Confederate picket line was about a mile from the Union line.
Vision and hearing were exceedingly aente when encamped near the enemy. Many times the rustle of bonghs, the falling of leaves, and even the shifting of the clouds were imagined to be the presence of the foe. Fire flies were of very large size, giv- ing the phosphorescent glow an unusually bright appearance,
33
151st REGIMENT
and one timid comrade insisted that they were signal lights flash- ed by the enemy. William W. De Wolf being with the wagon train recalls that "the train was parked about a mile ont of Frederick. We had orders to go to Harpers Ferry. We started and had gone about a mile when we were overtaken by an orderly telling us to get back to camp as quickly as possible, for the rebel cavalry was coming. There was a lively time, drivers whipping mules, dust flying, and mules braying; but we got back safely. The next morning some of the boys and myself went half a mile from camp to see a spy hanging from a free. It was said he was Inig by Kilpatrick. I saw him in camp a few days before disguised as a peddler, but in a false bottom of his tin cup were found plans of the camp."
When on the march along the Potomac and the Blue Ridge mountains, there was considerable foraging, and incidentally the cavalry picked up many horses and mules from the Rebs. In their bartering, Frank (. Bolt, (too young for enlistment) as- sistant to Co. A's officers, paid $5.00 for a mule, which afforded easy transportation for himself and the officers luggage. Al-
SYLVANUS S. WILCOX First Lieutenant Co. H.
FRANK C. BOLT
3:
34
CHRONICLES
though Mr. Bolt is now a reputed millionaire banker in Passa- dena, Cal., we recall his exceeding good nature, and his excellent service with the 151st.
Low E. Darrow writes, "The boys might be interested in an incident relating to Capt. S. S. Wilcox, which occurred on one of our marches in the summer of 1863. I was Adjutants Clerk for a year or more, and went along any where I pleased on the march instead of keeping with my own company and marching in the ranks. So I use to change off, one day would be along with one company and the next day with another & c.
The day in question I was with Capt. Wilcox's company, it was warm and the roads were somewhat muddy in spots. An aid from the Brigade staff had ridden along and spoke to Col. Emerson asking him to keep the line of march closed up as much as possible. Capt. Wilcox' company was the rear of the regi. ment on this day, and Col. Emerson was riding in the rear. There was a big angry looking und paddle in the middle of the road which could be avoided by going on either side of it, but this would cause slight delay. Col. Emerson noticing the delay without fully understanding the whole cause of it ordered Capt. Wilcox to have his men go through the mnd instead of around it, as those in advance had done. Capt. Wilcox hurried ahead and at a glance took in the situation, and as the men were more than half of them past the mud hole said nothing to them. Col. Emerson in an angry fone repeated his command, and Capt. Wileos said to him, "Col. Emerson I don't like to ask my men to go through mnd where there is no need of it, and where I wouldn't like to go myself," and some other words of explana- tion followed. On arriving in camp that night charges were preferred against Capt. Wilcox for "disobedience." For a week or more nothing was done abont it, as.we were daily on the march, but as soon as we were in camp a few days Col. Emer- son brought the charge again to the attention of the brigade com- mander. At this Capt. Wilcox was sent for, and appeared at Brigade headquarters, and made his explanation to the brigade commander, who said it would be necessary for him to reprimand an officer for such action as disobedience of orders, and cantioned him regarding it in general terms, but intimated that under the same circunstances he would probably have done the same thing.
35
151st REGIMENT
Col. Emerson was informed of the reprimand and that closed the incident. In a few days Col. Emerson was detailed to El- mira, N. Y., on recruiting duty, and a few months afterward at the battle of Mine Run, November 27, 1863, Capt. Wilcox was killed in the first battle in which our regiment took an active part. He was greatly loved by his men, and a gallant officer, and an ideal soldier."
2011627
CHAPTER IV
Hardships, If Not Battles.
The morning of June 30th, the regiment broke camp, and be- ing all ready to move, stood in the rain two hours waiting for the order.
When marching along the narrow road way between the high bluff and the river, with clothing wet, and mud to the shoe-tops, singing was heard at the head of the column, far up the moun- tain side a small monument was espied, and hundreds of voices were singing "John Brown's body lies a 'moulding in the grave."
During the severe march and intense heat, the men were con- vinced that their physical good was paramount, and a whole- sale. abandonment of surplus baggage was commenced. Over- coats, blankets, knapsaeks, and many prized gifts were sacrificed, one throwing away the small case of an ambrotype of the young lady whom he made his wife after the war. Some thought of throwing away their pocket-books, however probably with no thought of sacrificing U. S. currency which was least of all burdensome!
The friends of all new reernits were anxious to express their regard as well as to contribute something to their comfort, the consequence was that the men were burdened with Inggage of really useless articles.
Capt. Geo. K, Collins in his history of the 149th says: "This regiment was possessed of everything that could be thought of from a feather duster to a patent water filter."
The ogvernment interceded July 3d after they had marched through Frederick and halted on the Monocacy river, by order- ing knapsacks and everything except blanket and piece of shelter- tent turned over to the quartermaster. The last of October, the knapsacks were returned to them, having been rifled of all their contents.
-
CK- 38
CHRONICLES
The following are recollections of Win. W. De Wolf :- "Fre- member hearing the booming of cannon at the time of the battle of Gettysburg; thanks to Gen. Halleck's orders to hold Mary. land Heights at all hazards. After the escape of Lee, after the battle of Gettysburg, we followed him to Falling Waters and Williamsport, but he got away into Virginia by crossing the Potomac. We followed to Ashby's Gap and had a serap with him at Wapping Heights but he got away. I was taken sick at Sulphur Springs, Va., and was taken to a field hospital, and when able to be moved was sent to Washington. After I was nearly well I made application to go back to my company and regiment. I was sent to Convalescent Camp at Alexandria, and was ex- amined by Dr. Sutton and Hunt, and was ordered back to Wash- ington and transferred to 2nd Battalion Veteran Reserve Corps, because of injuries received in West Va. I remember Mrs. Lin- colo and Mrs. Secretary Wells coming through the bospital and Mrs. Wells giving me a flower. I saw President Lincoln many times, and will never forget the night he was assassinated. I was awakened by the Cavalry and rattling of sabers. I heard the ward master say Lincoln was shot and every one in the ward was awake in a short time. Later I saw his body lying in state in the East room of the White House. I was at Fords Theatre a few nights before the President was shot."
On July 4th, about one P. M. the regiment was preparing to go out on pieket line, when a dispatch from Gen. Meade was re- ceived stating that the enemy had been repulsed, and ordering the forees to march to South Mountain Gap, a distance of six- teen miles. In thirty minutes the men were on the march reach- ing there at eleven P. M. in a heavy thunder storm. When the regiment halted at their destination "only twenty of Co. A were in line to right dress, the others came straggling in during the night." The severity of the march depleted all companies in like proportion. It proved an unusual celebration of the Na- tional Independence, though somewhat in keeping with the un- settled affairs of Uncle Sam. The day did not close with an expensive pyrotechnic display, nor with balloon ascensions, nor even with fires to make their coffee, as orders were received to lay on their arms and kindle no fires. Like true supporters of a grand Republic the soldiers were obedient and made their beds
39
15Ist REGIMENT
in md, and their coverings of water-soaked garments. July 5th, some who were ordered on picket line were stationed near a barn, and close by were cherry trees loaded with ripe fruit. The unusual delicacy of ripe fruit, and the comfort of a barn for the night was an extreme treat. The following day a few confeder ates came in, and at night the Cavalry brought in 600 pris oners captured at Gettysburg, which with the passing of three Brigades of cavalry, and a number of pieces of Artillery the 151st appreciated more than before the reality of war.
July 8th there was heavy firing on both sides four miles away, and wounded were brought in when the barn the pickets had used served as a hospital. Long before daylight on the 9th the vast cavalcade of the Army of the Potomac commenced its march through the Pass and continued for two days. The clat -. tering hoofs, the rattling sabers, the rumbling of Artillery trains, and the bronzed and scarred veterans of decisive battles, was inspiring to the new reernits and a seene never to be forgotten. It aronsed their patriotism and the 151st was proud to fall in the ranks as a part of that Grand Army of the Potomac. Richard Mark Dillion anmsingly tells how he lost his shoes. "After a hard day's march I laid down at night with my shoes safely, as I thought, under my head, but when I awoke in the morning my shoes were gone! I was forced to march all the next day bare- footed through a tangle of low growing black berry bushes. My feet were in bad condition when that night came, and a comrade -Frank Winans -- pitying me said, "Come with me Diek and I'll get you a pair of shoes?" So we quietly walked over where the 10th Vermont regiment was soundly sleeping and Frank helped himself to a pair of shoes that some Cooky Vermonter had left beside him, and handed them to me. I found marching easier the next day, but I always felt a bit sorry for the man from Ver- mont."
Lee's escape made pursuit necessary, and on the 15th the regi- ment marched back to Harpers Ferry, and at noon the following day encamped in the beautiful Middletown valley at the base of Maryland Heights.
On Monday, July 20th, when marching from London Heights, the cavalry had a sharp skirmish with Mosby's Guerillas and routed them. Mosby commanded a partisan corps and operated
40
CHRONICLES
in the rear of the Army of the Potomac. His men received no pay but were allowed to keep all the plunder they seenred. "They were kept in subjection by their leaders, by the under- standing that for any failure in obedience they would be sent to the regular army." At the time of Lee's surrender the band numbered about six hundred, all well mounted.
On April 25, 1865, Mosby assembled his band, "I have," he said summoned you together for the last time. The vision that we cherished of a free and independent country has vanished, and that country is now the spoil of the conqueror. I disband your organization in preference to surrendering to our enemies. I am no longer your commander."
It seems impossible that a man who sought notoriety by the unusual method of guerilla warfare could be possessed of the Inumane instincts of honest people. But in Gen. Grant's me- moirs he states that after the war he came to know Col. Jolm S. Mosby personally and found him "able, and thoroughly honest and truthful." The Halst naturally had little encounter with him but William I. Peasley was killed by his men while scout- ing:
Harley S. Hobbs relates a pleasant experience while safe- guarding Jacob Wood, a planter near Brandy Station. Mosby spent a night at the Wood residence. He courteously greeted the Union gnard, and becoming interested in his skill as a bar- ber sought to be shaved by him. After the operation as a remin- eration Mosby presented him a mouse-colored hat, which he wore whenever he went to camp, and thereafter was nick-named "Mosby" by his company. Mr. Hobbs also states that he "was captured by Mosby's men near Woodstock in the Shenandoah Valley, and released the third day after being captured and got back to the wagon train at Middletown while Sheridan was chas- ing Early up the valley." Residents of some sections of country through which the 151st maneuvered have testified their ap- preciation of its courtesy when employed in pieketing and guard duty. The gentlemen who were its rank file are not forgotten, nor are the courtesies extended to them by southerners. Esper- ially were they well treated by the rebel women when in need of suecor from sickness or fatigue, and the reports of the heart- lessness of southern women toward our soldiers is not entirely warranted.
CHAPTER V.
Rumblings of War.
July 20, occurred a skirmish at Wapping Heights, or Manas- sas Gap. Twenty men from the right of Co. A were sent ont on the Skirmish line. In passing over ground which had been held by the rebels a dead young confederate soldier was seen lying on his back having been shot in the forehead, his gun was upon his breast, and finger in his cap ponch, apparently in the act of loading. S. S. Stacy took a letter from his pocket written by his mother in South Carolina. Years after Mr. Stacy wrote to the postmaster of the mailing place of the letter inquiring about the young man's parents. He received a reply from an unele stating that they had died without knowing the fate of their boy. The suspense and anxiety in those days which the home people en- dured, was more than the terrors of battle to those who fought. The facilities for news was so meagre compared with these days of numerous dailies, the telephone and rural free delivery, that many days woukl elapse after battles before authentie partien- lars of casualties could be received in ontlying districts.
Although the 151st did not take part in the skirmish at Wap. ping Heights, its Brigade was held as a reserve. The men from Co. A wore ordered on the right flank half a mile or more distant, to guard against any flank movement by the enemy. They had full view of the combat, being on the side of the mountain. The . enemy was driven back. The total loss of the Union forces was 103 killed, wounded and missing. The regiment arrived at War- renton, July 28.
Melvin M. Conklin contributes an interesting experience in the following: "On our way to Warrenton, there was an order read to us stating in substance that there was to be detailed three officers and six enlisted men from each New York Regiment, who
42
CHRONICLES
were to proceed to the rendezvous nearest to where the regiment was raised, for service. The order also stated that in the selec tion of these men, they should take into consideration character, soldierly bearing, etc. Some time elapsed when one night Lieut. Tanner came to my tent and said ' pack up your traps and report to the railroad station. You are detailed to go home.' With what alaerity I did so can be imagined. On my arrival at the station, I found the other boys there engaging their berths in the Palace Box Car. The others were Andrew Warner, of Co. D, Colt Smith of Co. C, Joseph Powley Co. F, Warren S. Berry Co. H, Ed. Russell Sergeant-Major, also Col. Emerson and adjutant James A. Jewell. We went to Buffalo and were given a week's leave to visit our homes, and then ordered to report to Elmira, N. Y. and there assigned to Barracks No. 3 on West Water Street. Our duties were various. Being so called veter- ans, we were placed in responsible positions. Part of the boys were used to escort the recruits and drafted men to the front and to their regiments. My duties were mostly in the Adjutant's office and acting Sergeant-Major in his absence. Col. Emerson and Sergt .- Major Russell did not remain with us long, returning to the Regiment. In May, 1864, an order came that Barracks No. 3 should be made ready for the reception of Confederate prisoners. This made a change in our detachment of men, so that I only of our regiment, remained in the Confederate prison; the others going to Barracks No. 2. There were sixteen veterans quartered in a small building in the center of the camp. I was Commissary of the mess. I drew rations from the Department Quartermaster Capt. Sappington. Two of the prisoners did our cooking. Our duties in prison camp were anything and every- thing that needed looking after. No guard duty. My main du- ties together with Capt. Munger, were that of secret policeman or detective, endeavoring to ferret out the plans and means by which the prisoners intended to escape. I discovered and crawl- ed into nearly every tunnel that was projected. There were 12,122 prisoners in the camp; 17 escaped. There were 2,917 deaths; and I saw nearly all of those who died nailed in the coffin. The reason I saw this was that the prison- ers took charge of the dead, nailed up their coffins and placed them in the hearse. They soon learned that a colored man did
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.