USA > New York > Disaster, struggle, triumph. The adventures of 1000 "boys in blue," from August, 1862, to June, 1865 > Part 24
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ADJUTANT JOHN F. RANDOLPH
Was born in Milo, Yates county, New York, in 1838, and was by occupation a merchant. He enlisted as a private in Company E, 126th New York Volunteers, August 15th, 1862; was detailed as Adjutant's clerk in October, 1862; appointed Corporal January 1st, 1863, appointed Sergeant-Major July 2d, 1863, vice Henry P. Cook, killed in battle; promoted Second Lieutenant in Company E; date of muster, February 9th, 1864; date of rank by commis- sion, April 4th, 1864; was wounded at Spottsylvania, May 12th, 1864; rejoined his Regiment August 15th, 1864; was appointed Adjutant, September 22, 1864, and was mustered out with the Regiment.
He was in the following battles : Harper's Ferry, Gettysburg, Auburn Ford, Bristow Station, Mine run, Morton's Ford, the Wil- derness, Po River, Spottsylvania, Deep Bottom, Ream's Station, Petersburg, Boydton road, Sutherland's Station, Farmville, and Appomattox.
SURGEON FLETCHER M. HAMMOND
Was born in Pleasant Valley, at the head of Crooked Lake (since called Hammondsport), in March, 1815. He was reared on a farm, and worked at farm labor until manhood, when he com- menced the study of medicine with E. D. PULLING, M. D., of Bath, Steuben county, New York, in 1840. In 1841 he went to Albany, and prosecuted his studies in the office of J. P. BOYD, M. D., and at the Albany Medical College, until the year 1844, when he graduated and commenced the practice of his profession in Penn Yan, Yates county, New York. He continued in the practice of medicine at that place until he was appointed Surgeon
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of the 126th Regiment, New York Volunteers, in July, 1862, when he entered upon his duties in the organization of the Regi- ment, and was commissioned and mustered its Surgeon, with rank from July 15th, 1862. He accompanied the Regiment to the field, and to Maryland Heights in the engagement there.
He continued on duty with the Regiment till after its exchange and return to the field again ; but in January, 1863, he was assigned to duty on the staff of General HAYS, as Surgeon-in-Chief of the Brigade, and established a hospital at Union Mills, Va., and when in the spring of 1863 the head-quarters were removed to Centreville, the hospital was moved thither also.
When the Brigade was assigned to the Army of the Potomac as the 3d Brigade 3d Division 2d Corps, Doctor HAMMOND con- tinued Surgeon in-Chief of the Brigade through the Gettysburg compaign, and the battles of Auburn, Bristow, Mine Run and Morton's Ford; and when the army was consolidated, and the Brigade increased by other Regiments, and assigned to the 1st Division of the 2d Corps as the 3d Brigade of that Division, Surgeon HAMMOND was still continued Surgeon-in-Chief, and was attached to the field hospital of the Ist Division of the 2d Corps during the campaign from the Rapidan to Petersburg.
In the latter part of June, 1864, he was ordered to City Point to organize and establish the Base Hospital, of the 1st Divi- sion, 2d Corps, after accomplishing which, he was ordered to organize, establish, and take charge of the hospital for the- colored troops of the Army of the Potomac, at City Point. This he did, and remained in charge of this hospital from Septem- ber to the 20th of the following December, when he was ordered on detached duty as Medical Inspector for the Western Division of the State of New York; with head-quarters at Elmira. While on this duty he made three tours of inspection of the Provost- Marshalls' Head-quarters, and of the recruits at the following places, including the rebel prison in Elmira : Elmira, Utica, Syra- cuse, Sackett's Harbor, Auburn, Canandaigua, Rochester, Lock- port, Buffalo, Dunkirk and Binghamton.
He returned to the field on the 20th day of the following March, and was assigned to duty on the staff of Major-General MILES, as Surgeon-in-Chief of the 1st Division, 2d Corps, and served in that capacity during the closing campaigns of the war,
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and was mustered out with his Regiment, June 2d, 1865. He then returned to Penn Yan and resumed the practice of his pro- fession.
Surgeon HAMMOND was a man who could be fully appreciated only by those who knew him well. Within his large and manly breast beat a warm and sympathetic heart, ever ready to do good and to alleviate suffering. It was his nature not to make loud professions of sympathy, tickling the ears with smooth words, but rather with skill and indefatigable perseverance, to contribute to the comfort of the sick and the wounded in the hospital or on the field, and if possible to restore them to health ; taking neither thought or care that his efforts for their good should ever be known by those for whom he labored.
SURGEON CHARLES S. HOYT
Was born in Ridgefield, Fairfield county, Ct., June 8th, 1822. He commenced the study of medicine in 1843, and engaged in the practice of his profession, in Potter, Yates county, New York, in the spring of 1847. When the war broke out he took an active part in recruiting in Yates county, and in sustaining the loyal feeling first awakened; and when the call for three hundred thousand volunteers was made, in July, 1862, he was appointed by Governor MORGAN one of the War Committee of the twenty- sixth senatorial district.
He immediately entered upon the duty of recruiting, and identified himself with the 126th Regiment, and, having assisted in the examination of the men, was commissioned and mustered Assistant Surgeon of the Regiment, with rank from August 11th, 1862. He accompanied the Regiment to Harper's Ferry, and was ordered on duty at the post hospital there September 1st, 1862, and was continued on duty there after the surrender of that post until the 11th of October following, when the sick and wounded were transferred to Annapolis, Md., and he joined his- Regiment at Chicago, Ill., arriving there October 29th.
Surgeon HAMMOND having been detailed Brigade Surgeon, December 12th, 1863, Assistant Surgeon HOYT became Acting Surgeon of the Regiment, and, excepting absence, on account of sickness, from September 22d, 1863, to November 13th, 1863, he retained that charge until the 20th of May, 1864, when he was
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promoted to be Surgeon of the 39th New York Volunteers. On the 10th of June following, he was detached as executive officer of the 1st Division, 2d Corps hospital, by Special Order No. 441, Head-quarters 1st Division 2d Army Corps, and continued on that duty until January 12th, 1865, when he was detailed Surgeon in charge of the hospital during the absence of Surgeon J. A. WISHART, 140th Pennsylvania Volunteers. On the 28th of March following he returned to his former duty of executive officer, and on the 25th of May, 1865, he again became Surgeon in charge of the hospital, and continued on that duty until his discharge on the muster out of his Regiment, on the 1st of July, 1865, when he returned to his home, in Yates county, and resumed the practice of medicine.
Surgeon HOYT was on duty with the army in all the battles in which the 126th Regiment New York Volunteers was engaged, except Auburn Ford and Bristow Station, and being with the Regiment a large portion of the time he became more generally acquainted with the officers and enlisted men of the Regiment than any other officer.
Surgeon HOYT was assiduous in his attentions to his charge and devoted to his duty, ever providing and improvising as necessities required, comforts and accommodations for the sick and wounded. Having been detailed to accompany the sick to Washington just before the movement on Gettysburg in 1863, he rejoined the Regiment at Frederick City, Maryland, and being without a horse, he marched on foot to Gettysburg, was on duty as field Surgeon, attending to the wounded at times even on the line of battle. When the army left Gettysburg he procured the body of the lamented SHERRILL and accompanied it to Baltimore, Maryland, where sorrowing friends from Geneva, New York, relieved him of the sacred trust. He immediately rejoined the army and marched on foot with the men to Elk Run, attending to his arduous duties, and, by his example, encouraging many a weary and faint soldier to eke out his strength till rest and refreshment came to his relief.
While executive officer of the Division hospital he brought everything into order and system so that all parts worked smoothly together without delays or jars. With the musicians of the Division, organized into a Company under an officer-a strict
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disciplinarian-who had charge of erecting, taking down and removing hospital tents and accommodations, bringing in and carrying out the wounded and such as had died ; with a corps of nurses to attend to the sick and wounded, and cooks to provide them nourishment and food, and in fine with a complete system of division of labor and duty, everything was done with such dispatch that the Hospital accommodations seemed ever to accompany the Division, and however rapid the movements of the army, or sudden the enemy was engaged, the wounded found well appointed hospital arrangements in the rear, where were in attendance, nurses in waiting, cooks to prepare food, and added to all the Sanitary and Christian Commissions to shower with a lavish hand, unexpected but much needed and tempting delicacies and comforts.
For the position of executive officer of the hospital, Surgeon HOYT was peculiarly adapted, as many thousand maimed and crippled soldiers who came under his charge can now testify, with grateful feelings for the uniform kindness and attention upon all occasions received at his hands.
ASSISTANT SURGEON PIERRE D. PELTIER
Was born at Fort Gratiot, Michigan, on the 15th of November, 1835. He was reared and educated in the State of New York, and, after a regular course in the study of medicine, he entered upon its practice in Ontario county, New York; and while the 126th New York Volunteers was being recruited, he was appointed Assistant Surgeon of the Regiment, and was commissioned and mustered as such, with rank from August 11th, 1862. He served with his Regiment until the latter part of August, 1863, when he was attacked with camp fever, induced by the arduous duties per- formed during the Gettysburg campaign, and exposures in the field, and on account of continued ill health he was discharged from the service while in the field, on the 3d day of November, 1863, by Special Order No. 285, Head-quarters Army of the Potomac. In the spring of 1864 he re-entered the service, and was appointed Acting Post Surgeon at Martinsburg, West Virginia, but at the close of the summer campaign of 1864 he again retired from the service, and engaged in the practice of his profession, at Clifton Springs, New York.
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Surgeon PELTIER, while with the Regiment, won the full confi- dence of the officers and men under his charge, as well as of his medical associates, by his skill and success as a Physician“ and Surgeon, and endeared himself to all by his uniform kindness, his genial and social qualities as a gentleman, and by his unfailing fund of pleasant wit and humor, that never required a victim.
ASSISTANT SURGEON FERDINAND M. PASCO
Enlisted as a private in Company I, 111th New York Volunteers, and was promoted to be Assistant Surgeon in the 126th New York Volunteers, November 6th, 1864, vice Assistant Surgeon HOYT, promoted, and served with the Regiment till the close of the war, and was mustered out with the Regiment.
CAPTAIN JOHN K. LORING
Was commissioned and mustered Quartermaster of the 126th New York Volunteers, with rank from July 17th, 1862; served with the Regiment till May 12th, 1863, when he was detached, Acting Quartermaster of the Brigade; was promoted to be Captain and Commissary of Subsistence July 29, 1864; and served in that capacity in the Army of the Potomac until the close of the war, when he was mustered out of the service. Captain LORING was breveted Major, in the spring of 1865, for faithful and efficient service in the field.
QUARTERMASTER JOHN C. STAINTON
Was born in Geneva, New York, in 1833, and was, by occupa- tion, a grocer. He enlisted August 7th, 1862, in Company E, 126th New York Volunteers, and was appointed Sergeant on the organization of the Company ; served as Adjutant's clerk until October 19, 1863, when he was appointed First Sergeant; was promoted to be Second Lieutenant December 22d, 1862; was detached to command the ambulance corps of the Brigade, from January 4th, 1863, to may 12, 1863, when he was appointed act- ing Regimental Quartermaster of his Regiment, and continued in this duty until in November, 1864, when he was detailed to take charge of the ammunition train of the 1st Division, 2d Corps. He was promoted to be First Lieutenant, October 27th, 1863, vice Lieutenant JACOB SHERMAN, of Company E, deceased ; was
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appointed Regimental Quartermaster, September 1st, 1864; was in charge of the 1st Division, 2d Corps ammunition train from March 15th, 1865, to May 15th, 1865, and was mustered out with the Regiment.
CHAPLAIN T. SPENCER HARRISON
Was born in Poughkeepsie, New York, July 5th, 1820. He was licensed to preach in 1844, and after a course of six years scien- tific and theological studies, he was ordained to the Christian ministry, and settled as pastor over the church in Pembroke, New York. At the breaking out of the war, and until recruiting commenced for the 126th New York Volunteers, he was pastor of the Baptist Church in Dundee, Yates county, New York, but he engaged earnestly in recruiting for the 126th New York Volunteers, and, resigning his position as pastor of his church, he enlisted in Company B of that Regiment August 2d, 1862, and from that time devoted his attention to the interests of the Regiment. Upon the organization of the Company he was appointed Sergeant, and did duty as such, and upon the organi- zation of the Regiment he was appointed its Chaplain, August 22d, 1862, and by direction of the Colonel he received the colors presented to the Regiment at Geneva by the ladies of the 26th senatorial district, and acknowledged the gift in an appropriate speech. He was on Maryland Heights when Colonel SHERRILL was wounded, and assisted him off the Heights, and attended him until he reached the Relay House, near Baltimore, where the Colonel met his friends from home. Chaplain HARRISON then joined his Regiment, accompanied it to Chicago, and thence back to the field again, remaining with his Regiment in the perform- ance of his proper duties. He was also at Gettysburg, Auburn Ford, Bristow Station, the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Tolopotomoy, Cold Harbor and Petersburg. He was detached on duty at the 1st Division hospital by order of the General com- manding the Division, August 9th, 1864, and remained on such duty till May 27th, 1865, when he was relieved and returned to his Regiment, then near Alexandria, Virginia, and was discharged with the Regiment. The duties of a Chaplain do not require him to take part in an engagement, yet in active service he is fre- quently under fire, and at every battle is called upon to witness
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the most heart-rending scenes of the sick, the wounded and the dying, as they are brought to the rear.
It is for him to give aid, comfort and consolation, to receive many last messages, and to transmit them to the bereaved rela- tives or friends in distant homes. Many soldiers can testify to the kind offices and attentions of Chaplain HARRISON in their behalf when maimed and bleeding they had been borne from the ranks where they fell in battle, and when prostrated by sickness or wounds they were lying in the hospital ; and many bereaved families well remember the letters of condolence which they have received from him in the hour of affliction, when the tender chords of affection and love which had connected hearts at home with hearts in the field vibrated in sympathetic unison throughout times of danger and trial, had suddenly been broken by the fatal bullet or other instrument of death.
CAPTAIN JOHN F. AIKINS
Was born in 1826. In the spring of 1861 he assisted to recruit Company "C" 33d New York Volunteers, and was commissioned and mustered Captain of the Company, with rank from April 30th, 1861, and was discharged on tender of resignation July 28th, 1861.
He assisted in recruiting Company "G" 126th New York Vol- unteers, and was commissioned Captain of this Company with rank from August 15th, 1862, and was discharged on tender of resignation March 4th, 1863, by Special Order, No. 21, Head- quarters Department of Washington.
He was in the battle of Harper's Ferry.
CAPTAIN RICHARD A. BASSETT
Was born in 1829. He assisted in recruiting Company B, 126th New York Volunteers, was commissioned and mustered First Lieutenant in this Company with rank from August 8th, 1862, the date of its organization; commanded his Company during the absence of Captain COLEMAN on detached service from July 26th, 1863, until October 1st, 1863 ; was absent, sick, from Octo- ber 27th, 1863, until December 29th, 1863; was promoted Cap- tain in Company E, date of rank by muster, March 27th, 1864, by commission March 1st, 1864 ; was detached in command of
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the provost guard at head-quarters, 2d Army Corps from April 4th, 1864, till November 17th, 1864, when he received leave of absence on account of sickness, and remained absent, sick, until discharged on account of physical disability, January 18th, 1865, by Special Order No. 17, Head-quarters Army of the Potomac.
While with his Regiment he was in the battles of Harper's Ferry, Gettysburg and Morton's Ford; and while in command of the provost guard he was with the 2d Corps in the battles in which that corps was engaged, from April 4th, 1864, till Novem- ber 17th, 1864.
CAPTAIN JOHN H. BROUGH
Was born in 1831. He assisted in recruiting Company E, of the 126th New York Volunteers, and was duly commissioned and mustered Second Lieutenant in that Company with rank from August 14th, 1862, and served with his Company until October 25th, 1862, when he was detailed acting Adjutant of the Regi- ment and served as such till November 15th, 1862. .
He was subsequently promoted Captain in Company E, with rank from December 22d, 1862, and commanded his Company until wounded in action at Gettysburg, July 2d, 1863.
He returned to his Regiment from absence on account of wounds, August 18th, 1863, but was sent to hospital, sick, Octo- ber 12th, 1863, and was honorably discharged the service March 7th, 1864, on account of wounds and to enable him to accept an appointment as First Lieutenant in the Veteran Reserve Corps, by Special Order No. 108, War Department.
He was in the battles of Harper's Ferry and Gettysburg.
CAPTAIN MORRIS BROWN, JR.,
Was born at Hammondsport, New York, in August, 1842. He entered Hamilton College in 1860, and while at home in Penn Yan, during the summer vacation, he enlisted in Company A, 126th New York Volunteers, on the 11th day of August, 1862, and was appointed First Sergeant of the Company. He was promoted to be First Lieutenant, December 13, 1862, vice. Lieutenant BARRAS, discharged, and was promoted Captain, April 24th, 1863.
At the battle of Gettysburg in July, 1863, he captured a rebel
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flag, on which was inscribed "Harper's Ferry, 1862," with the names of ten other battles. This flag is now preserved in the War Department, at Washington, with his name thereon as the captor; and a medal was awarded him for the capture, under an act of Congress, which was, after his death, transmitted to his father.
He was detached on recruiting service from February 10th, 1864, to April 5th, 1864, and was in command of the Regiment at vari- ous times during the spring and summer of 1864.
He was wounded while storming the enemy's works at Spottsyl- vania, but soon returned to duty again, and participated in the subsequent battles of the campaign, until June 22d, when he was killed in action at the left of Petersburg, while in command of the Regiment.
The Regiment was in the advance near the left of General BARLOW's Division, when the enemy, passing through a gap at the left of BARLOW's Division, struck that Division on its flank and soon doubled up the line with great loss.
It was while the Regiment was retreating, fighting as they retired, that Captain BROWN was instantly killed by a musket shot in the head. His body fell on ground that was between the sub- sequent lines and was never recovered. Captain BROWN proved himself an able and brave officer. He was in the following battles : Harper's Ferry, Gettysburg, Auburn Ford, Bristow Sta- tion, Mine Run, the Wilderness, Po River, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Tolopotomoy, Cold Harbor, and before Petersburg.
The following letter recommending Captain BROWN for promo- tion, shows the high estimation in which he was held by his com- manding officer :
HEAD-QUARTERS 3D BRIGADE, 1ST DIVISION,
2D CORPS, IN THE FIELD, June 17, 1864. 5
To His Excellency, Governor SEYMOUR :
I most respectfully call your attention to the case of Captain MORRIS BROWN, JR., 126th New York Volunteers. During the fearful charge of last night, after his Colonel was killed, he assumed command of the Regi- ment, and behaved with great gallantry after reaching the enemy's works and driving them out. Captain BROWN performed several acts of personal daring, which called forth my highest praise at the time, going at my request from the right to the left and in person ascertaining the position of the enemy upon our left flank, being all the time under a heavy fire. His con- duct upon the occasion was such, as in my judgment entitles him to promo-
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tion, and I most respectfully recommend that your Excellency promote him to the position of a field officer in his Regiment. Captain BROWN is an officer of a high order of intelligence, and capable of filling any office to which he may be promoted. His own conduct, as well as that of his Regi- ment and his lamented Colonel BAIRD, who was killed, were splendid, the Brigade losing in the charge about one-third of their number of enlisted men, and nearly two-thirds the number of commissioned officers present. Trusting Captain BROWN's case may meet with your early attention, I have the honor to remain,
Your obedient servant, C. D. MAC DOUGALL, Col. 111th N. Y. Vols. Com'dg 3d Brigade, 1st Div., 2d Corps.
A remarkable fatality seems to have attended the students of Hamilton College who enlisted in the 126th New York Volun- teers :
DARIUS C. SACKETT, of the class of 1864, enlisted in Company D, and was severely wounded by a musket shot in the leg, on Maryland Heights, Virginia, September 13th, 1862, in consequence of which he was discharged from the service.
HENRY P. COOK, of the class of 1863, enlisted in Company B, and was instantly killed by a musket shot at Gettysburg, Penn- sylvania, July 2d, 1863.
MORRIS BROWN, Jr., of the class of 1864, enlisted in Company A, and was instantly killed by a musket shot, June 22d, 1864, as before stated.
GEORGE W. SHELDON, of the class of 1863, enlisted in Com- pany F, and was instantly killed by a musket shot in action at Chapin's Farm, Virginia, September 29th, 1864.
These four students, imbued with the spirit of patriotism, entered the service from a sense of duty; not as officers, but as privates, ready to serve in the ranks, or, if called to a higher position, to command and lead where duty called, through dan- ger, or even unto death.
CAPTAIN TRUMAN N. BURRILL .
Was born in Elbridge, Onondaga county, in 1832, and was a merchant by occupation. He assisted in recruiting Company A, 126th New York Volunteers, and was commissioned and mustered Captain of the Company, with rank from August 4th, 1862. He
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was absent sick from February 4th, 1863, to April 4th, 1863, when he was honorably discharged the service on account of physical disability, by Special Orders No. 187, War Department, Adjutant-General's office. On the 30th of June, 1864, Captain BURRELL was commissioned Captain and Commissary of Subsist- ence United States Volunteers, and reported for duty August 1st, 1864, and was assigned to duty in the office of the Chief Com- missary of Subsistence, at Washington, D. C. He was ordered to the field September 20th, 1864, and assigned to duty in the 2d Brigade, 2d Division, 18th Army Corps; was transferred Decem- ber 5th, 1864, to the 3d Brigade, 3d Division, 24th Army Corps ; was transferred January 6th to the artillery Brigade, 27th Army Corps; was transferred March 10th, 1865, to Point of Rocks, Virginia, as Post Commissary ; was assigned to duty June 18th, 1865, as Chief Commissary of Subsistence for the district of the Roanoke; was ordered July 8th, 1865, to New Orleans on duty, and on the 28th of August, 1865, was assigned to duty on the staff of Major-General P. H. SHERIDAN as Inspector of Subsist- ence for the Military Division of the Gulf, embracing the States of Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. He was relieved December 1st, 1865, and ordered on duty at Baton Rouge, Loui- siana, as Post Commissary of Subsistence, and was honorably discharged the service February 22d, 1866.
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