Growth of a Century : as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894, Part 13

Author: Haddock, John A. 1823-
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Sherman
Number of Pages: 1094

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Our visit to Virginia's famous White Sulphur Springs, afforded us a view of the place and a drink of the waters, but our reception was rendered very lively from the rebel artillery on the heights beyond. I left the chief spring under the inspiring music of those shells, and

THE WAR FOR THE UNION.

have never seen it since, nor made. better " quick time " from that day to this. Grove- ton came next, with that dreadful trap into which so many of our troops marched, and which we barely escaped.

The following night found us, as the sun went down, tired and foot-sore, about to break ranks for the day. "Attention!" rang out on the keen night air like a bugle-blast. It is Colonel Lord's command. "Fix bayonets!" and a thrill runs through the alert regiment. " Charge bayonets! Charge!" followed in tones that stirred our blood, and the 35th with a cheer swept into that cornfield just in the nick of time to thwart a well-planned night attack on our unsuspicious artillery head- quarters, and to save the line unbroken for the coming conflict. This charge was considered a brilliant military movement, and deserves a lasting place in the history of the hotly-con- tested battles of the second Bull Run. No regiment on that bloody field was steadier, or did nobler service. It marched in order from that hot-bed of hell, in the woods where the shells from friend and foe burst all about us; while other regiments wavered and lost their formations, ours was as perfect in its move- ments as when on drill. It was one of very few regiments that came in solid ranks from the front, while wildly-rushing teamsters were working pell mell to the rear. The long night marches, as we slowly fell back towards Wash- ington, in mud and rain, and with a broken army surging around us, are an ever-living memory. And the heavy rain and heavier firing at bloody Chantilly, where we just escaped the swath of death reaped from the edge of the thick woods to our left and rear, will also recall a stirring afternoon's duty Then came the long march back over the Chain Bridge, past the White House and up Pennsylvania avenue, past the capitol, round through Maryland, amid heat and dust, on through the peerless valley where Frederick nestles like a jewel set in beauty, until the rugged steeps of South Mountain, bristling with rebel bayonets, challenged our advance.

Comrades, that sweep we made up South Mountain. as skirmishers to develop the posi- tion of our foe, was a grand sight "The sput- ter of rifles, the gloom of the forest about us as we drew the enemy's fire, made up a picture no one present will ever forget. The 35th passed to the extreme right of the line, under a fire which filled the air with shot and shell, and fairly shook the earth beneath our feet. You will readily recall the night watch, as we held the right flank of Mcclellan's army, and then followed the great battle of Antietam on the 17th of September The first great north- ward march of the rebel army was this day to end right there, and in this sanguinary conflict the 35th never wavered, but held to the line of duty, on the field receiving the enthusiastic congratulations of General Sumner for our service. Our brigade saved the right wing of that army from being turned, and our regi- ment did its full share in the day's achieve- ment. Disaster to our right wing would have opened a pathway for the rebels to roll our

main force back in confusion, and a stampede might have brought a crushing disaster. When, in later years, I have studied the part our regiment played at this point, I can under stand with what joy General Patrick received Sumner's words of praise, for it was the turn- ing point in this sanguinary battle. General Longstreet afterwards told me that " had Sedg- wick's routed lines carried the second line with it, Antietam would have been won aud not lost to the Confederates."

Upon this field the brave Capt. Barnett gave his young life to his country, and here our ranks were thinned by death. But our year's work was not yet finished. The great conflict at Fredericksburg was yet to come, for the 35th also helped to write history in their blood upon that field. Hurrying across the river in time to hear the first rebel shell explode near us, the great scene of battle was begun. Again our record shines bright in the memory of a well-acted part in this unfortunate battle. We held our left flank, while the main battle surged to the right, but the terrible cannonade we were so long exposed to with such perfect discipline taught our foe that we were not the inen to hazard an infantry attack upon, and so we suffered mainly by the havoc of shells.

Again we pass an idle winter, and when spring-time came and the Hooker campaign opened, our place, owing to the near approach of the end of our term of service. was guard- ing our line of communication with our base of supplies. But this, too, was a post of honor and responsibility. Chancellorsville ended this campaign in defeat, and late in May our good regiment took up its line of March home- ward. We had won a right to feel happy at the hope of seeing our loved ones, and resting beyond the fire and the fever of battle. [See article upon Chancellorsville].

The few days spent at the old rendezvous at Elmira were frolicsome ones-a shuffling off of a soldier's uniform for citizens' clothing. Our work was ended. The 35th had made its record. Its deeds were a notable part of the history of the first two years of the great re- bellion. At sunset on the 5th day of June, 1863, it lived only in history. Officers and privates stood upon one plane - equal as citizens of a common heritage; worthy vet- erans in the noblest cause for which men ever took up arms.

Col. Shaw closed his remarks by reading these golden words of the great President Lincoln : "Our popular government has often been called an experiment Two points in it the people have settled-the successful administration of it. One still remains-its successful maintenance against a formidable attempt to overthrow it. It is now for them to demonstrate to the world that those who can fairly carry an election can also suppress a rebellion; that ballots are the rightful succes- sors of bullets, and that when ballots have fairly and constitutionally decided, there call be no successful appeal back to bullets; that there can be no successful appeal except to ballots themselves at a succeeding election. Such will be a great lesson of peace, teaching

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

men that what they cannot take by an election neither can they take by war; teaching all the folly of being the beginners of war."

ADDITIONAL DETAILS.

Among the 100 companies rendezvoused at Elmira in the spring of 1861, were 10 from various parts of the State which were organized into a regiment on the 24th day of May, and designated as the Thirty-fifth regiment of New York Volunteers. They included six com- panies from Jefferson county-Companies A, C, E, G, I and K; one from Lewis county- Company B; one from Erie county-Company D: one from Steuben county-Company F, and one from Madison county-Company H. The field officers upon the organization, were Wm. C. Brown, of Watertown, colonel; Stephen L. Potter, lieutenant colonel, and Newton B. Lord, major. The regiment was mustered into the U. S. service about a month after its organization and was sent directly to the front-where it was almost uninteruptedly kept, as was indeed the case with many of the two-year regiments-it appearing to be the policy of the government to use these organiza- tions for the most serious work-a part they cheerfully and constantly bore. There were several two-year New York regiments in the front rank of the last assaalt upon Marye's Heights at Fredericksburg whose term of ser- vice had expired more than a month before that bloody encounter, and I name the 16th New York in particular as one of these, it having lost many men in that battle.

The 35th was composed of an exceptionally fine body of young men. It had in the ranks men who had been prominent as editors, lawyers, school-teachers, artisans, mechanics and manufacturers. Among such a collection it was natural that there should have been some wire-pulling and a spirited rivalry for the offices. At first there were several incompe- tent men put in command of companies by the votes of the privates, but after a fair trial those who proved incompetent were displaced by abler officers-nearly all the changes in company commanders, after the first weeding- out, having been by seniority. There were many changes, however, among the field and staff, which were not made by this usual method of rotation, as was illustrated in the case of Col. David M. Evans, who enlisted as private in Co. A, was promoted to orderly sergeant of Co. I, afterwards made adjutant with rank of 1st lieutenant, then major, then lieutenant colonel. When mustered out of the 35th he accepted the position of adjutant-the only officer put in commission before a regi- inent is made up-for the purpose of organiz- ing the 20th N. Y. Cavalry. By a compact made with Col. Lord on his resignation from the 35th, the latter was to be colonel of the new regiment, while Col. Evans accepted the place of lieutenant colonel, and afterwards be- came colonel. With this rank he led the 20th cavalry into Richmond and placed the first Union flag on the rebel capitol with his own hands. He was appointed provost marshal of

the city with his office in the Confederate senate chamber. His signature is scattered all over the south on paroles and oaths of allegiance. This is mentioned here merely to show the quality of the men who were in the ranks of those first organizations,

William C. Brown, the first colonel, had been an officer in the old army and came home in- valided from the Florida war. But, though he was a worthy gentleman, and held a good social position in Watertown, he was not a natural leader of men, and stood but a poor chance of becoming a successful commander. Some of the pushing and energetic men in the regiment wanted his place, and when stationed at Arlington Heights, Lieutenant-colonel New- ton B. Lord was made colonel, Bradley Wins- low, lieutenant colonel, and John G. Todd, major. Colonel Lord proved much more acceptable than his predecessor, but he had some opposition to wrestle with. A regiment may be compared (as stated at the beginning) to a large family of boys-among them will generally be found one who is superior to the others, and when all the other brothers turn in and try to "boost" this favored one, his rise will be quite certain, for other families will notice this marked preference, and will be likely to add their own support; and so, when the time comes for any undertaking de- manding superior attainments, there is usually a call for this son who secured his own family's support to begin with.

Colonel Lord, I regret to say, did not appear to enjoy this perfect confidence in his large regimental family, nor of his superior officers, and that was bad for the organization, for if he had been more highly esteemed by his superiors his command would have been more frequently singled out (as its valor and high abilities were well known), for important work when such work was to be done. He was un- fortunate, too, before the regiment had been in a serious engagement, in having declined to obey an order from the patient and beloved Wadsworth, our brigadier. While he was un- doubtedly desirous of doing all in his power for his men as a military officer, his manner with strangers was at times unpleasant, and his regiment, which he loved and was anxious to serve, and they loved him, suffered for it. Influences, too, were at work similar to those in his own opposition to Col. Brown, and this became so pronounced that Col. Lord resigned in 1862. He afterwards helped to organize the 20th cavalry, but was succeeded in that command by Col. Evans.

When Col, Lord resigned, the marching and fighting days of the 35th regiment were over. Thenceforth it was a part of Gen. Patrick's provost guard-its main duties being to patrol the railroad which extended from Falmouth to Aquia Creek and running the trains upon that important road, which furnished the sup- plies to all the troops in and around Fredericks- burg.

Our first brigade commander was that dis- tinguished officer and enthusiastically adored gentleman, Gen. James S. Wadsworth. [See a remarkable instance of his bravery in the

THE WAR FOR THE UNION.

article upon " Chancellorsville."] Every soldier in his brigade knew him, and it is not too much to say that every man among them would have died in the line of duty to save Gen. Wadsworth's life. His popularity was something wonderful, reminding one of the ardent love grandchildern sometimes bestow upon favored and affectionate grandparents .*

Gen. Massena R. Patrick was our next brigadier -a man as different from Gen. Wadsworth as daylight differs from darkness. He seemed to move among his command as if he had no feeling of human sympathy, nor cared for its existence in any one else. He was a soldier and an able disciplinarian, and

* The following incident will illustrate how kind and noble hearted General Wadsworth was : During the winter of 1862, the 35th N. Y. Vols. were in quarters at Taylor's Tavern, near Falls Church, Va. The men made themselves as comfortable as possible by providing such winter quarters as their skill and re . sources admitted. Four boys in Co. "A" got together boards enough to make a base for their small A tents to cover, and so providing a very compact little house-7 by 6 in size. General Wadsworth came on a tour of inspection one day and halting his horse be- fore this comfortable composite tent, called the attention of his staff to the comfort of the place. To one of the occupants who stood beside it, the General asked: "Do you need anything more to make you perfectly happy?" "Yes," was the reply, "nails and a furlough home." " Well," said the General, with a laugh, " come to headquarters for nails but you will have to trust in Providence to get a fur- lough ! "

The nex day the one addressed by the General pre- sented himself at headquarters on Upton's Hill, and made inquiries for the commanding officer. "What do you want?" was the greeting from the aid-de- camp. "Some nails," was the answer. "Oh, nails." said the aide, while several officers ranged about the room looked up-" Well, you can find them in Alex- andria or Washington, I think. You had better go and find them at one of those places." The private informed the officer that he wished to see General Wadsworth. and that he did not come to be made fun of-and at the moment, while the officers were mak- ing merry over the request, the General walked into the room. Seeing that something was going on, he asked, " What do you want?" "Nails." was the re- ply. "Oh, yes," said the General, "I remember see- ing you yesterday at the fine tent you have fitted up in the 35th Come with me and we will find some nails." Private and General went out together, to the great surprise of the young bloods who had attempted to "guy " the inquirer, and, calling his son Craig, after a long search the nails were found and given to the private soldier. That private was Albert D. Shaw, since widely known in public life.

Before the 35th had encountered the enemy in force, many unimportant but stirring episodes occur- red, and relieved the tedium of drill and routine duties.

In October, 1862, while they were encamped near Falls Church, Virginia, Lieutenant-Colonel Winslow, in command of a scouting-party, which had pene- trated to the rear of the rebel outposts, surprised a reserved picket-post, and captured, up a tree. Lieu- tenant H. J. Segal, of Stuart's cavalry. This incident was commemorated in Frank Leslie's Illustrated news- paper, under date of October 26, 1861. A few weeks later, while in command of another scouting-party. General Winslow surprised another picket-post near the same place. A rebel horseman, disobeying the order to surrender, was wounded, and his horse killed. So near did the party penetrate to Fairfax that they distinctly heard the "long roll " beaten at that place, where a large force was stationed. These incidents of the soldier's life have been alluded to because in the breasts of the battle-scarred veterans who stiill survive, and who once in a while meet in civil life to talk over the martial exploits in which they participated, they will revive pleasant memories of those heroic days.

that was all that could be said in his favor. His origin was very humble-he having being in his youth a " back piecer" in the old Jef- ferson Cotton Mill at Watertown when it first started. He was a graduate from West Point, and was with Gen. Scott in Mexico, being the first and only provost marshal of the Mexican capital. I doubt if there was a single private soldier in his brigade who cared for him save as one to be avoided, or if encountered, to be got away from as soon as possible. Gruff and grudging, he passed along through the war, unpopular with his superiors, loved by no one, and mourned but by few at his death. He was an extraordinary exception to the regular army officers I encountered during the war. Indeed, excepting him, I cannot recall a single West Point graduate whom I met in the Union army who was not a sincere and court- eous gentleman, full of sympathy for the private soldiers, and untiring in efforts for their benefit. It is a pleasure to recall their names and memories, for they left an impres- sion that remains sweet and grateful.

As I have said, at the time when Col. Lord left us, the fighting and marching were over for the 35th. It remained a part of the pro- vost guard of the Army of the Potomac until its time came for muster-out. When we marched through Washington on our way to take the cars for home, we were a magnificent regiment, both in size and discipline-larger, indeed, than some of the regiments that were headed the other way, for the 35th had been constantly recruited, and as men were killed or disabled, or went into hospitals, they were replaced by new men, and the ranks kept full. Capt. Haddock alone recruited over 300 men for the 35th. It was a glorious regiment, full of intelligence and ability -a fighting regi- ment, ready always to do its work. J. A. H.

FIELD AND STAFF.

John G. Todd, colonel; David M. Evans, Lt. colonel; Sidney J. Mendell, major; DeWitt Van Slyck, sur- geon; Benj. F. Goodrich, asst. sur .; Samuel L. Mer- rill, chaplain; Henry P. Taylor, adjutant; Alexander Hull, Q. M .; William H. Gaige, sergt. maj .; Wil- liam F. Ryther, Q. M. sergt .; George C. Smithe, com. sergt ; Lorenzo B. Lawrence, hosp stew.

DISCHARGED-William C. Brown, colonel; Newton B. Lord, colonel; Stephen L. Potter, Lt. colonel; Bradley Winslow, Lt. colonel; James B. Carpenter, asst. surg .; James B. Wells, sergt. major.

TRANSFERRED-LaFayette Lyttle, Adjutant; Seth French, Asst. Surg .; William W Beckwith, Sergt. Maj .; Nathan N. Lord, Com. Sergt .; Dempster Doane, Com. Sergt ; George W. Wright, Q. M. Sergt.

Co. A.

Bradley Winslow, captain; Henry C. Chittenden captain; Jesse T. Reynolds, 1st Lieut .; Lathario D. Morgan, 2d Lieut .; Seth A. Coolidge, 2d Lieut .; Enos, William W., 1st Sergt .; Wait, Eben L., 2d Sergt .; Van Vleck, George, 3d Sergt ; McOmber, George, 4th Sergt .; Greenleaf, Louis C., 5th Sergt ; Smith, Wil- liam S., ist corporal; Converse, Milton, 2d corporal; Shaw, Albert D., 3d corporal; Ward, John, 4th cor- poral; Hamlin, James M., 5th corporal; Christian, Henry L., 6th corporal; McOmber, Frederick, 7th corporal; Warham, Richard L., 8th corporal; Wood- ford, Charles W., musician; Allen, Ethan, Allen, Charles F., Auburn, Dahley H., Arnold, Robert, Avery, Lewis H., Bockmeyer, Henry, Baker, Sey- mour Z., Baker, Benoni, Betts, William H., Clark, Frank W., Croan, Warren, Clarence. Alfred S., Churchill, John A., Churchill, Cyrus, Cady, Aaron C.,

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

Comaford, Patrick O., Dodge, Webster, Dresser, George F., Forbes, Nathaniel W., Gardner, Sherman, Gardner, Schuyler, Hart, Rowland G., Hamilton, Robert, Henry, Lorenzo D., Holkins, William, Law- ton, George, Madden, James, Mellott, George, Mun- die, Frederick, McOmber, Theodore, Matthews, James B., Matthews, Eugene, Magan, Samuel, Montney, Charles, Martin, John, Nolan, Thomas Z, Peck, Horace W., Plumb, Hiram C., Smith, William N., Sellick, Henry, Steadman, John D., Tucker, Arthur H., Tucker, Alfred, Thompson, Gustavus S, Vallet, Edward, VanAmber, Isaac B., Ward, Edwin T., Wilson, James E., Wiswa, Henry. Winchester, Merrit, Winchester, George, Wait, Alexander.

DISCHARGED - Cummings, Patrick. Classen, Charles, Potter, Cleaveland H., Mohan, Phillip, Churchill, Hiram, Ballard Samuel, Poor, Asa C., Sperry, Mer- rit, Richardson, James H., Mix, Lyman, Parker, John, Myers, John A., Putnam, Christopher, King, Charles E., Fisher, Hiram. Hall, James W., Brown, Clinton F. Middleton, William H., Clark, George P., Babcock, Haulsey, Scott. Daniel H., Marsh, Geo P.

TRANSFERRED - Evans, David M., VamAmber, Frederick, Phelps, William E .. Wells, James B., Gaige, William A., Slocum, Caleb, Parks, William B., Babcock, Charles C., Boyden, Samuel, Denham, Alvin, Hanlin, Dewitt C., Mix, Simon C., Taylor, Alfred Z .. Taylor. Albert P.

DIED-Stetson, Nathan W., Bates, Henry C., Spicer, George, Lowe, Stephen Cutler, Francis B., Fleming, Charles.

Co. B.

William N. Angle, captain; Charles F. Smith, cap- tain; John O'Hara, Ist Lieut .; Michael Kirby, 2d Lieut ; Charles S. Munger, 2d Lieut .; Joseph C. Otis, 2d Lieut .; Lewis F. Weaver, 1st Sergt .; Joseph D. Bunce, sergeant; David M. Mount, sergeant; Roland Houghton, Jr., sergeant; John D. Thompson, sergeant; Thomas J. Markey. corporal; Joel H. Church, corporal; Julius Gates, corporal; Oscar D. Miller, corporal; George P. Chamberlain, corporal; Charles E. Clark, corporal; George R. Wetmore, corporal; James Bowdridge, corporal; Francis L. Ramsdell, musi- musician; Austin, Lenoard, Arnold, James, Allen, Henry, Allen Harvey, Barker, Edwin C .. Buchanan, James, Buchanan, Alexander, Billings, Franklin M., Barnes, F., Cameron, Thomas P., Casey, Henry, Coon, Almar G., Duff, Charles C., Dunaway, Elbridge R . Draper. Charles, Foley, William H., Foster. An- drew G., Florida, Milton, Gregg, Daniel, Hill, Sheldon W., Hovey, Levi Hart, Peter, Haberer, Henry, Has- kins, Henry A., Hunt, Horace S., Hubbard, Levi C, Ingalls, Richard, Kinsley, James, Lane, Edwin D., Lane, Francis, Lampman, 'Thomas N., LaDue, Alex- ander, Lawrence, Judah M .. Matthews, Pitt, Mc- Sorley, James, Mclaughlin, William, Moore. John H .. Osborne, Andrew J., Post, Jacob A , Potter, Emory, Rape, Anthony, Ryder, Dallas, Smith, Newell. Searles, Duane, Spires, Thomas, Simons, Henry, Segovis, George. Vaughn, Maurice, White, John, West, Matthew E., .Willis, Edgar, Willard, William B., Weaver, Lawrence T

DISCHARGED-Alger. Isaac, Bossout. Peter R., Buchanan, John, Bushnell, William, Barker, John W., Cottrell, William H., Chipman, Oscar, Campbell, Christopher, Coon, William H., Enos, James H., Farr. Vincent L., Fell, Luman H., Gabrian, Isaac., Gordon, James W., Hunt, Dewitt C., Knowles, Hiram, McNally, James J., Mallory, Franklin B., Mount, Wil- son, Raymond, John H., Robertson, Charles C., Smith, George W., Stanton, George D., Thompson, Chester, Wallace, Ralph, Weeks, Oscar, Wheeler, Edward, Peck, George J , Potter, William H.

TRANSFERRED-Josiah Hoover, Silas C. Carpenter, George D. Stanton George W. Duyke, James W. Beecher, Daniel Meader, Edward W. Rounds. John J. Noteman

DIED-John M. Lawrence, William LaDeu, William G. Austin, Thomas Wenban, Richard W. Billings, Orsamus, Ponto, Nathan Klock.

DROPPED-James Copsleman.

Co. C.

George W. Flower, captain; Albert A. Pitcher, cap- tain: John Cudworth, 1st Lieut ; George W. Wright, 2d Lieut .; Ira J. Folts, 1st Sergt .; Delos Staplin, sergeant; Frederick Slicker, sergeant; John Robb (1st), sergeant; George Monroe, sergeant; Hollan N. D. Parker, corporal; John Robb (2d), corporal; Al- bert Jackson, corporal; Josiah, H. Albertson, cor-

poral; August Myers, corporal; Charles Dougherty, corporal; John B. McDonald, corporal; Austin, Ed- ward, Barbury, Peter, Brittan, Harlan P., Brown, Matthew W., Canfield, Harrison, Cummings, Richard L., Christman, George, Cuppernall. Martin L., Cline, James, Call, Franklin, Calhoun, John C., Doolittle, Jasper, Denar, Robert, Elliott, Edwin. Fairbanks, George, Hogan, William, Hampson, Henry, Hath- away, Jesse B., Jacobs, Orrin, Johns, James, Knaws- man, Charles, Kooder, John G., Luther, John C., Laguire, Peter, Lang, Roger, McAllister, Oliver R., Monier John, Moore, William J., Peterson, William, Phillips, James, Pierce. Joseph, Pierce, Ephraim, Put- man, George L., Richards, Mahlan F., Robinson, John, Skeggs, Thomas W., Smith, Franklin, Staplin, Wilson D., Simmonds, Lafayette M., Simonds, James, Shaw, Thomas, Sprague, John, Swan, Franklin, Tovey, David, Tooley, Lewis R., Tascott, Henry, Van- Dusen, William H., Welch, George H., Waters, Elon, Woodward, James D., Willard, Martin L.

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Growth of a Century : as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894, Part 13

Author: Haddock, John A. 1823- Publication date: 1894 Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Sherman Number of Pages: 1094

Author: Haddock, John A. 1823-
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Sherman
Number of Pages: 1094