USA > New York > Disaster, struggle, triumph. The adventures of 1000 "boys in blue," from August, 1862, to June, 1865 > Part 19
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 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43
On Sunday, April 2d, JEFF. DAVIS being in church in Richmond, it was suddenly announced that "the Federals" were about to enter the city. "The rebel army, on the night of the 2d of April, had left in frantic haste to join JOHNSTON." At an early hour on the morning of the 3d, the 2d Corps moved rapidly along the Southside railroad in pursuit of the enemy. The 126th was detailed on the morning of the 4th as a wagon guard, and marched all day, carrying rails and corduroying the muddy road for the train as they went. On the 5th they went on toward Amelia
Map showing route of RETREAT OF THE CONFEDERATE ARMY from RICHMOND AN. PETERSBURG and its Capture by U. S. Forces under Lt.Gen? U.S.Grant . Prepared by Brev. Col. W.H.Paine , Engineer.
Scale of Miles 10
20
80
CUMBERLAND, C.H.
Drury's &
Nee surrendered Ap. 9di,
1MPPOMATTOX, C.H.
CHESTERFIELD, CHEF 1
Br.
MELIA,C.H.
TGoode's Bridge
Fartivilk
ville
Bevets Bridge
0
Riv
PR. EDWARD, C.H
PETERSBU
Deep Cr.
Jenning's Ordinary
Sutherland's
Namarine
R
References.
Hatchers
Plan
TUS MR.R
Five Forks
--
-
- Confederate Positions.
Wellsville Sta.
D.
NOTTOWAY C.H.A.
P
Blacks & Hautes.
DINWIDDIE. C.H.
Weldon R.R.
Plank R.
11 220.130Kč
Burksville Junck
Ford's Sta.
Routes of March.
R.R.
R.
Lynchhulusi
Juanandar
Routes of March.
RICHMOND
Manchester
& Danville R. R.
--
Riv.
amplin's Sta.
falo
Buf
Bush
Sandy Riv
Union Positions.
i Boydtori
ap
Appomat
291
ONE THOUSAND BOYS IN BLUE.
Springs, following the enemy, who were said to be at Amelia Court-house. SHERIDAN kept ahead of the rebels to cut off their retreat, and the 2d, 5th and 6th Corps, with SHERIDAN's cavalry pressed so closely on their rear, they were obliged to abandon their train of four hundred wagons laden with stores, which fell into our hands ; a welcome supply to our men, but a sad loss to them. As ANDREWS says, "our boys made a very good supper that evening." On the 6th the cavalry under SHERIDAN, with the 24th and 6th Corps (infantry), had a battle with the enemy at Sailor's creek, capturing 6,000 or 7,000 prisoners, a large number of whom were general officers, and six- teen guns. Two men in the 126th were wounded. "The enemy was all now north of the Appomattox ; but so close was the pursuit that the 2d Corps seized High Bridge before the enemy could destroy it, and followed at their heels." General HUMPHREYS moved the Corps across as rapidly as possible, and obliged the enemy to abandon sixteen heavy guns, and fall back two miles to a height where he entrenched him- self. MILES' and BARLOW'S Divisions attacked him here, the 126th being engaged, but losing no men, as . they fought in the woods, behind trees. The 3d Brigade of the 1st Division of the 2d Corps led the advance on the 8th, and followed close on the enemy's rear, the 126th being detailed as flankers.
On the 7th of April General GRANT had commenced a correspondence with LEE, endeavoring to convince him of the futility of further resistance, and putting upon
19
292
THE ADVENTURES OF
him the responsibility of the further effusion of blood ; and on the 9th received a letter proposing a meeting to settle terms of surrender. We will quote again (in substance) from ANDREWS. About ten A. M., April 9, a shrill bugle sound was heard, when the column was moved off the road, and General MEADE and staff, with guard, passed to the front with a white flag. All felt confident that it meant something more than ordinary, and the army was in high spirits with the expectation that the rebel army would soon sur- render. The Corps moved forward and halted in a large field, where they had a rest of about three hours ; and at two o'clock the news came that Gene- ral LEE had surrendered his whole army to General GRANT. The ensuing hour the air was rent with cheers ; such enthusiasm, such vociferous cheering and wild glee was never heard outside the army. A time never to be forgotten by any member present of the 126th. All felt that the one great object had been obtained, -the complete defeat and capture of the con- federate army of Virginia, - by stern perseverance through four long bloody years. As COPPEE remarks : "LEE, the greatest man, as well as the ranking sol- dier in the confederacy, had given up the cause, and his influence broke up the rebellion. GRANT had realized as the result of his arduous labors a most complete and gratifying success."
" The soldiers' work was nearly done in Virginia." Near the Appomattox the 2d Corps remained until the 11th, "when they moved back over the same road by which they had come." The rain poured in
293
ONE THOUSAND BOYS IN BLUE.
torrents, small streams were swelled to rivers, but were cheerfully forded, for the men were on their way back to home and peace. Reaching Burdville on the 13th, they remained there long enough to hear the "sad news of the assassination, at Washington, of the nation's best friend." On the 25th they heard of the final surrender of JOHNSON and his army to General SHERMAN ; and one after another, of the submission of the various Divisions of the rebel army.
The Regiment remained encamped near Rice's sta- tion on the railway until the 2d of May, when they broke camp and moved toward Richmond, reaching that stronghold of "the confederacy," or rather of rebellion, on the 7th of May. On the 11th the Corps passed through Fredericksburg, -that "Aceldema" of the Potomac army, now powerless and in ruins; and on the 16th were encamped near Ball's Cross-roads, not far from Alexandria. On the 23d of May the Grand Review of the army took place at Washington ; one of the most splendid and imposing sights ever witnessed on this continent. The small remnant of the 126th, only eighty men fit for duty, took part in this Review, and shared its triumph. Their wasted ranks bore witness to the severity of the service they had seen. "On the 2d of June an order came that the 126th be mustered out of the service, and placed en route for their State rendezvous." "On the 16th of June, nearly three years from the time the Regiment passed through Elmira 1,000 strong, it received its discharge 221 strong. Where are the missing ones ? The green fields of Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia hide
294 THE ADVENTURES OF ONE THOUSAND BOYS IN BLUE.
the remains of many ; the cemeteries of Ontario, Yates and Seneca are the resting places of others. Some, with honorable scars or frames enfeebled by the hard- ships of war, still linger among us to receive our gratitude and honor. We may give it without stint or abatement; for, in spite of the calumny of inte- rested individuals, and the censure of a military com- mission misled by wrong testimony, their record was an honorable one THROUGHOUT. Not only Gettysburg, Auburn, "the Wilderness," Spottsylvania, the North Anna, the Tolopotomoy, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, and Hatcher's Run, with many other interesting points, bore witness to their valor; but if the testimony we have adduced is believed, Maryland Heights and Harper's Ferry must be added names on their scroll of honor.
HAPTER XX 1
N Saturday morning, April 10, 1865, it was known throughout our broad domain that the rebellion was crushed, that its master-spirit had surren- dered, that the "Union was preserved !" As cities, towns and villages caught the flashing missives from the wires, flags were raised, cannon were fired, bells were rung, and men, women and children burst into the wildest excesses of joy. Those who had been most hopeless of our final success, seemed most jubilant over the victory ; and croaking was turned to shout- ing. On the next day which was the Sabbath, the churches rang with thanksgivings to Him who had given us the victory ; and Monday evening was lighted up with bonfires and illuminations. On the west front of the national Capitol, near the roof, appeared the inscription, "This is the Lord's doing and it is mar- vellous in our eyes." The names of our military and naval heroes were on every lip; and many an illumi- nated device bore those of GRANT, SHERMAN, and SHERIDAN, with others scarcely less illustrious. Nor was HE forgotten who for four years had borne the struggling nation on his faithful heart, and who by the voice of that nation had just been intrusted with her destinies for four years to come; the wise and
296
THE ADVENTURES OF
good Man who seemed to have been raised by Provi- dence to guide us through this awful period of our history, and permitted to witness the success of the cause he loved so well, and then with the songs of victory yet ringing in his ears, to fall by the blow of a dastardly assassin. This is no place for his eulogy, or we would slightly alter the words put into WOL- SEY's lips by SHAKESPEARE, and say that he
" Loved himself last; cherished the hearts that hated him ; Still in his right hand carried gentle peace To silence envious tongues; was just and feared not ; That all the ends he aimed at were his country's, His God's, and truth's; and when at last he fell, He fell a blessed MARTYR!"
Through disaster and struggle, to final triumph, we have now brought the remnant of our band of vol- unteers. We have avoided eulogy of individuals, for fear of seeming injustice toward those not thus noticed. To say that every man of any Regiment was brave and true to the flag, would probably not be true ; but that this Regiment as a whole, main- tained a character for promptness, energy, firmness and bravery, we have every evidence. We have shown the falsity of the charges against them in the affair at Maryland Heights, and also at Chicago ; charges which made scores of them rush on death to clear themselves from the imputation of cowardice. A careful inspection of the Official Army Register, shows that no Regiment of infantry from the State of New York, lost so many officers from wounds received in action, as the 126th New York Volun- teers, except the 48th and 88th infantry and the 8th
297
ONE THOUSAND BOYS IN BLUE.
New York Artillery. But it must be remembered that these three Regiments received large recruits in officers and men, while the 126th had never a single officer added to it and scarcely a score of men, after its first enrollment. Therefore its losses were much greater proportionally than those of any other New York Regiment.
We conclude with the testimony of Major-General HANCOCK, in a letter dated as late as August, 1868 :
* * "The 126th Regiment N. Y. Vols. served under my command in the 2d Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, during several of the most impor- tant campaigns of that army. The Regiment bore a most excellent reputation while under my command, and took an honorable part in the great battles in which it was engaged." This testimony from such a General, is very valuable.
And here our task ends. For more than a year, we have followed the fortunes of this Regiment, examining for the purpose every document, printed and manuscript, within our reach ; sparing no labor of research ; writing and re-writing again and again, as fresh materials came to hand, the simple story, which we now, with mingled hopes and fears, com- mit to the public.
APPENDIX,
CONTAINING A
Chronological Record of the Principal Events
IN THE
HISTORY OF THE REGIMENT,
AND THE
PERSONAL HISTORY OF ITS OFFICERS AND ENLISTED MEN.
PREPARED BY THE HISTORICAL COMMITTEE OF THE REGIMENT.
PREFATORY LETTER
FROM THE HISTORICAL COMMITTEE.
To the surviving Soldiers and the friends of the deceased Soldiers of the One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Regiment New York Volunteers :
On the 24th day of June, 1865, a call was issued by Colonel BULL and Captains RICHARDSON and GEDDIS, late of the One Hundred and Twenty-sixth New York Volunteers, for a meeting to be held at Canandaigua, N. Y., on the 30th day of June, 1865, for the purpose of adopting measures to secure the publication of a fair and impartial history of the Regiment, and to vindicate its character from the unjust charges made against its conduct at the battle of Harper's Ferry, in September, 1862.
The call was fully responded to, and the following resolutions were unanimously adopted :
Resolved, That it is expedient and proper that a history of the One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Regiment New York Volunteers, be written by or under the supervision of the late officers of the Regiment, and that a committee of seven be appointed by the chairman (Col. BULL), of which he shall be one, to procure the writing and publication of such history.
That this committee be also intrusted with the business of obtaining redress on account of the untrue charges made against the Regiment for its conduct on Maryland Heights, on the 13th of September, 1862, and that they take measures to vindicate its character against those calumnious charges which were made and supported by men who sought to screen themselves by convicting this Regiment of their own criminal conduct.
That all members and friends of the Regiment, who have in their possession or under their control, any books, memoranda, docu- ments or other papers relating to its operations, be and hereby
302
126 TH REGIMENT NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS
are requested to forward the same, or proper extracts therefrom, to the chairman or to any member of the committee, for use in pre- paring the contemplated history.
That the proceedings of this meeting be published in all the papers in the district in which the Regiment was raised.
The following officers were appointed the historical committee under the resolution :
Colonel JAMES M. BULL, Chaplain T. SPENCER HARRISON, Cap- tain C. A. RICHARDSON, Captain T. E. MUNSON, Lieutenant T. R. LOUNSBURY, Adjutant JOHN F. RANDOLPH and Lieutenant SAMUEL HUGHES.
The committee immediately entered upon their duties, and took steps to procure all the information that could be obtained. The Company books of all the Companies of the Regiment, which had been turned over to the Quartermaster's department, on the discharge of the Regiment, were obtained through the courtesy of the mustering and disbursing officer at Elmira; and all the regi- mental books and orders were procured, and the monthly reports of the Regiment during its whole term of service, and the retained muster rolls of most of the Companies and other valuable regi- mental and company papers were secured, and competent clerks were put to work under the superintendence of Adjutant RAN- DOLPH, and full copies of the company books were made in appro- priate blank books; and the valuable information collected from the books and papers was entered under a suitable arrangement for a ready reference. Notices were published in all the papers soliciting diaries, memorandum books, letters and papers of the soldiers of the Regiment, and also asking each to write out his personal recollections and his personal history; and so far as the addresses of the late members of the Regiment were known, special letters were written, soliciting information. Public documents and military reports relating to the war were obtained, and, in fine, no source of information was neglected.
For more than a year unsuccessful efforts were made to obtain a copy of the testimony given before the Harper's Ferry Investi- gating Commission, which tried and convicted the Regiment of cowardice, without the opportunity of the officers of the Regiment being heard or informed that they were on trial; but finally, through the personal efforts of Colonel DENNIS, a warm friend of
303
PREFATORY LETTER.
the Regiment, a copy of the testimony was obtained, and that, too, was added to the valuable information already secured.
Thus, for three years, materials for the history were being collected, when upon the earnest solicitation of the active mem- bers of the committee, Mrs. A. M. WILLSON, of Canandaigua, kindly consented to undertake the task of writing the general history of the Regiment; of shaping the materials and erecting them into a structure of symmetrical proportions.
This task she has performed to the entire satisfaction of the committee, who had but little anticipated the time and labor required to bring order, form and beauty out of the crude and disjointed materials they had furnished.
The appendix has been prepared principally by Doctor C. S. HOYT, and Captain C. A. RICHARDSON, assisted by Captain T. E. MUNSON, and Doctor P. D. PELTIER. The biographical sketches of the officers were written principally by Captain RICHARDSON. The sketch of Captain HERENDEEN was written by Doctor PELTIER, and the personal history of the enlisted men was written by Doctor HOYT.
The facts stated, however, were decided upon by the committee ; and in cases where questions arose, the judgment of other officers and enlisted men of the Regiment was taken, and where an agreement could not be had upon an alleged fact, it was omitted, so that if any living member, or the friends of any deceased member of the Regiment, shall not find statements or facts they desired to have appear, they will know that the omission is not on account of any disrespect to such person, or on account of the wish of the one writing the sketch, but because it was the judg- ment of the committee, and those consulted, that the omission should be made. The committee confidently hope that the state- ment of facts in the personal sketches will be found correct in every case; but they very much regret that many living soldiers, and friends of the deceased soldiers of the Regiment, failed to furnish them with the facts necessary to make the personal history as complete in every case as desired.
Of the original historical committee, appointed in 1865, Colonel JAMES M. BULL, died in 1867, Chaplain HARRISON, Adjutant RAN- DOLPH and Lieutenant LOUNSBURY removed, in 1866, to places too far distant to take any further active part in the work of the
304
126TH REGIMENT NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
committee, and Lieutenant HUGHES was so engaged in business, a portion of the time out of the State, that he could not give the committee his time. But Doctor HOYT, at the solicitation of the committee, early gave his attention to the work of collecting facts for the personal history, and he has labored efficiently as one of the committee, and Doctor PELTIER and Major PHILLIPS have also rendered valuable assistance in the work. The acting committee have faithfully tried to fulfill the trust reposed in them by their brother officers, and although their duties have been onerous and have consumed much valuable time, yet if the result of their labors shall receive the approbation of their surviving comrades in arms, and meet the expectations of the friends of the Regiment, they will feel fully repaid for their services.
CANANDAIGUA, January 3d, 1870.
C. A. RICHARDSON,
T. E. MUNSON,
C. S. HOYT,
P. D. PELTIER,
P. D. PHILLIPS, Acting Historical Committee.
CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD
OF THE
126th REGIMENT NEW YORK STATE VOLUNTEERS.
This Regiment was raised, in 1862, in the counties of Ontario, Seneca and Yates (the twenty-sixth senatorial district), under the call for 300,000 men issued by the President on the 1st day of July, 1862. On the 2d day of July, 1862, Governor E. D. MOR- GAN issued a proclamation, under the President's call, for the raising of the quota of this State. Subsequently an order was issued by the Governor fixing the quotas of the several counties of the State, and requiring a Regiment to be raised in each sena- torial district; and a War Committee was appointed by the Gov ernor for every such district, which should have charge of recruiting the Regiment of that district, and recommend the pro- per persons to officer it. On the 11th of July, a meeting of the War Committee, which was appointed by the Governor for the twenty-sixth senatorial district, was held at Geneva, consisting of the following gentlemen :
From Ontario County .- Honorable C. J. FOLGER, GEO. B. DUSINBERRE, S. S. COBB, J. S. LEWIS, PHINEAS PROUTY, Honora- ble E. B. POTTLE, CHARLES COY, J. M. BULL, WM. HILDRETH, E. G. LAPHAM, H. O. CHESEBRO, A. KEMBALL and R. M. GREEN.
From Seneca County .- W. JOHNSON, J. T. MILLER, O. S. LATHAM, L. B. HOWELL, T. FATZINGER, WM. KNOX, Honorable C. S. HADLEY, Honorable J. DE MOTT, D. D. LEFLER, D. C. WHEELER, D. W. W. WHEELER and A. DUNLAP.
From Yates County .- Hon. D. A. OGDEN, MORRIS BROWN, S. C. CLEVELAND, M. H. LAWRENCE, C. S. HOYT, General A. F. WHITTAKER and Judge A. F. BRIGGS.
Honorable CHARLES J. FOLGER, of Geneva, was the first choice
306
126TH REGIMENT NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
of the committee for Colonel of the new Regiment, but he declined and Honorable D. A. OGDEN, of Penn Yan, was selected, but he, also, declined; then, Honorable ELIAKIM SHERRILL, of Geneva, was chosen, and, having accepted, was duly authorized by the Governor to recruit the Regiment, and to command the camp for rendezvous at Geneva.
Recruiting commenced immediately, and the rendezvous was opened at Camp Swift, Geneva, on the 4th of August, 1862.
Wednesday, August 20th, 1862 .- The Regiment was organized.
Friday, August 22d .- Regiment mustered into the United States service.
Tuesday, August 26th .- Regiment left Geneva.
Thursday, August 28th .- Regiment arrived at Harper's Ferry in the morning.
Saturday, Sunday and Monday, September 13th, 14th and 15th .- In action at Harper's Ferry.
Monday, September 15th .- Surrendered and paroled.
Tuesday, September 16th .- Left Harper's Ferry for Annapolis, Maryland.
Sunday, September 21st .- Arrived at Annapolis.
Wednesday, September 24th .- Left Annapolis for Chicago.
Saturday, September 27th .- Arrived at Chicago.
Wednesday, November 19th .- The New York paroled troops received notice of their having been exchanged, and ordered to Washington.
Monday, November 24th .- Regiment left Chicago for Wash- ington.
Thursday, November 27th .- Arrived at Washington, D. C.
Friday, November 28th .- Marched to Arlington Heights.
Tuesday, December 2d .- Regiment re-armed.
Wednesday, December 3d .- Moved to Union Mills, and remained there, doing picket duty, during the winter.
1863.
Friday, January 9th,-General ALEX. HAYS took command of the Brigade.
Wednesday, January, 7th .- Colonel SHERRILL (who had been absent, from wounds) rejoined the Regiment for duty.
Tuesday, March 24th .- Regiment moved to Centreville.
307
CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD.
Sunday, June 14th .- The advance of the Army of the Potomac, moving toward Pennsylvania, reached Centreville.
Wednesday, June 24th .- The 3d Brigade of ABERCROMBIE'S Division, 22d Army Corps, ordered to march.
Thursday, June 25th .- Brigade broke camp and joined the 3d Division, 2d Army Corps, and encamped at Gum Springs, Va .; Colonel WILLARD, of the 125th New York Volunteers, command- ing the Brigade, and Brigadier-General HAYs the Division.
Friday, June 26th .- Crossed the Potomac at Edward's Ferry, and went into camp the next morning.
Saturday, June 27th .- Marched to Sugar Loaf Mountain, Md., and encamped for the night.
Sunday, June 28th .- Marched to Monocacy, and encamped for the night.
Monday, June 29th .- Marched to Uniontown, Md., via Liberty, Johnsville and Union Bridge, thirty-three miles, and encamped for the night.
Tuesday, June 30th .- Remained in camp with the entire corps.
Wednesday, July 1st .- Marched via Taneytown to within six. miles of Gettysburg, and halted until daylight on the morning: of the second.
Thursday, July 2d .- Marched to Gettysburg and went into position in line of battle at 8 o'clock, A. M. In action at Gettys- burg, Pa., July 2d and 3d, and engaged as skirmishers July 4th.
Sunday, July 5th .- Left Gettysburg in the afternoon and moved to Two Taverns.
Tuesday, July 7th .- Marched to Taneytown.
Wednesday, July 8th .- Marched to within five miles of Frede- rick.
Thursday, July 9th .- Marched through Frederick on the way to Williamsport, Md.
Friday, July 10th .- Passed Crampton's Gap, South Mountain. Saturday, July 11th .- Crossed Antietam creek and battle-field.
Sunday, July 12th .- Went with the entire army into line of battle before the enemy near Williamsport, Md.
Monday, July 13th .- Intrenched in line of battle.
Tuesday, July 14th .- Advanced and found that the enemy had crossed the Potomac.
20
308
126TH REGIMENT NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
Wednesday, July 15th .- Marched to Harper's Ferry along the east bank of the Potomac.
Thursday, July 16th .- Passed Harper's Ferry around Mary- land Heights, and went into camp at Sandy Hook.
Friday, July 17th .- Army supplied with clothing and muni- tions.
Saturday, July 18th .- Marched into Loudon Valley crossing the Potomac and Shenandoah via Harper's Ferry.
Sunday, July 19th .- March continued, arriving at Manassas Gap, July 23d.
Friday, July 24th .- Marched back through Manassas Gap and encamped for the night.
Saturday, July 25th .- Marched to White Plains, where rations were issued. Several men captured by guerrillas.
Sunday, July 26th .- Marched through Warrenton and encamp- ed near Warrenton Junction, twenty-five miles. Hot and dry, many fatal cases of sunstroke. Remained in camp three days, received mail, and sent the sick to general hospital.
Thursday, July 30th .- Marched to Elk Run and remained there on picket duty. Weather oppressive, and much sickness.
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.