Growth of a Century : as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894, Part 15

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

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'There were many other discouragements in that recruiting business. Notably when I was attacked by an Irish mob, while arresting a deserting Irishman, a worthless fellow, but detiant-in which I was struck by a stone on the head, causing a permanent thickening of a skull already thick enough. In this episode I was patriotically aided by Calvin Decker, Hon. Geo. A. Bagley and a Colonel Martin, son of the Martinsburgh banker of that name, and by several other good friends, who kept back the attacking force until I was able to collect my senses and get my enlisted man behind the bars at the jail. In this con- nection I will also mention the threatened raid upon my home on High street during the New York draft riots, which would have met a peculiarly warm reception had it been made.

As I look back upon these occurences, I am filled with wonder at the manner in which certain Democratic citizens opposed recruit- ing. They seemed possessed of a kind of madness, and under its influence forgot the needs of the country and their own duty as citizens. The name of Lincoln was like shaking a red rag before a mad bull. I re- membered that a quarrel was forced upon a party of soldiers who were armed and in uni- form at the Woodruff House, where they were waiting for a delayed train. A blatant copperhead who chanced to be there sneer- ingly denounced them as "Abe Lincoln's hirelings," which wound up by his being shot to death-a disaster he had brought upon himself by attempting to disarm one of the soldiers his libelous tongue had abused. A Democratic clothing merchant when the mur- dered body of the great and patient Lincoln was being taken through the North on its way to Springfield (after Lee had surrendered and the war was at an end), unfolding a morning newspaper in front of his store, one morning, made a remark peculiarly offen- sive.

Yes, in loyal and beautiful Watertown just such scenes occurred. It was hard work to enlist men under such discouragements. Yet I enlisted over 300 recruits for my regiment- some of whom were doomed to perish in the

great struggle, leaving memories and names that are proudly cherished. Many of them returned, and some are yet alive, drawing, I hope, suitable pension for their services.

The reflecting mind sees in those incidents, imperfectly described, how a few misguided men may retard and embarrass a good and a popular cause, though they may not be able overthrow it or long delay its victorious course. Myself a Democrat, I can but regret that that party, now over an hundred years old, should have had its proud escutcheon smirched by those who withheld their hearty support of a cause which saved the Union from threatened disintegration. The just historian, however, will not fail to record that there were many distinguished and able members of that party in Jefferson county who sought, by increased activity and greater self-denial, to make amends for what their laggard party friends failed to perform.

Having mentioned Col. Martin as aiding me when attacked upon the street by a mob of Irishmen, I will tell of an effort to aid him in return for his kindness.

The Colonel was a true patriot, an earnest and wholesome man in all respects, and came from the distinguished family that had given to Martinsburg, N. Y., its name. One day Colonel Martin came to me where I was on duty in one of the bureaus of the War De- partment at Washington, and told me he was in trouble. I had not forgotten the Water- town episode and desired to aid him. He told me he had been on duty with his regi- ment under Butler in Virginia, and the General had peremptorily dismissed him upon a false charge of drunkenness while on duty. Of course every one knew that an officer could not be dismissed in such a way as that, and I suggested an appeal to the President. Through my superior officer I was able to procure an audience with President Lincoln, who was evidently impressed with Martin's story, and wrote a note to Secretary Stanton, who issued an order to Butler to reinstate Colonel Martin in his command or file proper charges against him. This pleased us much, and we thought the Colonel was soon to be all right. But inside of a week he was back again in Washington, declaring that Butler had refused to obey the order, and, after abusing him afresh, had torn the paper up and stamped it under his feet.

Now the matter had become serious, and my chief and myself felt sure the President would do something "awful" to Butler for his insubordination. On the following day President Lincoln gave us another interview, and after hearing Colonel Martin's story ap- peared somewhat annoyed. Finally he himself wrote an order in his own hand and over his own signature directing General Butler to reinstate Colonel Martin in his command upon receiving the paper. Now, surely, the matter was settled all right, and we felt happy. Ten days afterwards Colonel Martin came back and reported that Butler had flatly refused to reinstate him, declaring

THE WAR FOR THE UNION.

that he knew the facts in the case better than the President did, and that he would not obey the order, as he had already put another officer in command of the regiment. When this was reported to the President he smiled a little, and at last spoke : "Now, Colonel, you see yourself how I am placed. Of course, I could deprive Butler of his com- mand, but would that be the best thing for the country? Under all the circumstances, I feel like letting the matter drop; but I will give you another place, that will perhaps suit you as well." The President kept his prom- ise and Colonel Martin did not leave the service under a cloud.

Those who delight to hear how a head- strong and unreasonable man may at times be

brought to taste of some of his own ill- manners will be pleased to learn that in General Joseph Hawley, the distinguished Senator from Connecticut, General Butler found a man his equal in forcible language as well as ingenuity in expedients. At the time Butler was digging his canal in Virginia, Hawley was under his command, and one day received from Butler an order to do some- thing distasteful. Turning to the aide who brought the order, he remarked: "You tell General Butler that I shan't obey his order. He is a d-d old fool, and if he wants this thing done he had better come and do it him- self." The aide departed and that was the last of it. J. A. H.

THE 186TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.

IT is fortunate for our history that we are able to present, from living participants, vivid descriptions of the service of their com- mands in the field. The 186th N. Y. Vol. Infantry was an exceedingly gallant regi- ment, and we can do no better than trace its history as related by General Bradley Wins- low, who fell, shot through the body, while gallantly leading his comrades to the assault upon Fort Mahone, one of the largest Con- federate strongholds about Petersburg, Va.

On the occasion of a re-union of the veterans of that regiment, some 125 in number, in Music Hall, Watertown, April 2, 1888, Gen- eral Winslow spoke as follows :

Comrades of the 186th Regiment, ladies and gentlemen :- Heartily we greet each other, comrades, after a separation as to the greater number, of twenty-three years. Mutual con- gratulations are offered that our lives have been prolonged and that we are able to meet to renew acquaintances and friendships that were formed when we were environed by the perils of war. The occasion to us is one of rem- iniscence and of hallowed memories. In thought we go back through the intervening years to the time when we abandoned the callings in which we were respectively en- gaged to become soldiers to fight for the preservation of the Union which was then the only existing government based upon the broad principle of the equality of political rights. The most of us were young men then, filled with the ardor of youth and burn- ing with righteous indignation that armed re- bellion, which was without justification or palliation in the sight of humanity or justice, should seek to destroy that national unity which was the heritage of all the people of this land, and which had showered upon us blessings without number.

It was in the summer of 1864 that we left the peaceful walks of civil life and enrolled ourselves as volunteer soldiers in response to the call of President Lincoln for "five hun- dred thousand more."

The losses attending the campaigns of the

army of the Potomac and the forces in the west under Gen. W. T. Sherman during the spring and summer of that year, had been very great, and the terms of enlistment of many thousands of Union soldiers were about expiring. Formidable Rebel armies were still in the field, but the sentiment to continue the war until the authority of the Union should be fully restored was still strong and dominant in all the loyal States. That sentiment Presi- dent Lincoln voiced in making the call I have referred to for five hundred thousand volun- teers for the military service. A certain period of time was given in the call in which volunteers could be enrolled. If in that inter- val a sufficent number were not obtained, then a resort was to be had to a draft. The quota for each of the States was apportioned, and then again apportioned to the several counties, towns and districts.

In the early part of August, 1864, a meet- ing was held in Watertown of citizens who were earnestly devoted to filling the quota of the county and of the several towns with volunteers, and thereby avoid the irritation probable to result from an enforced draft. At that meeting a committee was appointed to aid in the procuring of volunteers and in their organization. The committee consisted of such well-known citizens as James F. Star- buck, W. V. V. Rosa, E. B. Wynn, A. M. Farwell, L. J. Bigelow, and E. S. Lansing. Under date of August 17, 1864, one month after the call of the President had been made, this committee entered upon the work of organizing a Jefferson county regiment. Dr. E. S. Lansing went to Albany and obtained from Governor Horatio Seymour authoriza- tions to recruit the companies that were to compose the proposed regiment. Such authority was issued to E. J. Marsh, H. J. Welch, Lansing Snell, J. D. McWayne, A. D. Sternberg, Richard McMullin, and D. B. Rood, and perhaps others. Such was the zeal with which these gentlemen entered upon the work of recruting, and such the enthus- iasm of the people, that in about two week's

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

time a sufficient number of volunteers had been enrolled to organize eight companies. Two additional companies only were required. These were soon found : one headed by Capt. Squires, recruited in Lewis county, and an- other headed by Capt. Wallace, recruited in Herkimer county.

In perfecting the regimental organization E. J. Marsh was appointed lieutenant colonel, A. D. Sternberg, major, and your humble speaker colonel. Madison Barracks at Sackets Harbor was designated as the rendezvous while the enrollment and organization were being perfected. That accomplished, but little time was given for preparatory drilling. The order to move soon came. On the 23d day of Septemper, 1864, the 186th regiment, about 900 strong, left Madison Barracks for the seat of war. The route was by way of this city, then by rail to Albany, thence to New York by the steamer "St. John " of the People's line, landing at Castle Garden. In barracks near Castle Garden the regiment re- mained two days and then embarked on a large transport for City Point, Va. The passage took four days, and was without incident except experiencing a storm that disquieted the stomachs of some of the boys. City Point reached, the life of a soldier in the tented field began. There were many of us in the regiment who had seen service before ; some who had been in regiments that were first raised and had served a term of enlist- ment. To such, of course, the new life was without novelty. But to most of the rank and file, and to some of the officers as well, the duties entered upon were new. The regiment became temporarily a part of the command of Gen. Benham, of the engineer corps. Large details were at once ordered daily, and indeed for fully two weeks the effective force of the regiment was devoted to the building of fortifications. The work was hard to perform, and some who were unac- customed to severe manual labor were re- ported on the sick list and were sent to the hospital. Some three weeks were thus employed, when the regiment was sent to the immediate front and assigned to the second brigade, second division of the ninth army corps. Its first camp after leaving City Point, was in the vicinity of Poplar Grove church, to the south of Petersburg a number of miles. Here was the regiment's first experience in the presence of the enemy, and its daily details for outpost duty put the boys in the position for the first time of looking into the faces of their foes. Outpost duty, guard mount. camp duty, squad drill, company drill and battalion drill were among the daily duties. There were no idle hours, and those who were inclined to shirk were made very uncomfortable. In this way the days passed until the 27th of October came, when a movement of a portion of the Army of the Potomac, including the ninth corps, was undertaken for the purpose of further ex- tending the left and to strike, if possible, the South Side railroad, which was an important channel of supply for General Lee.

The movement substantially failed, the 5th corps doing the most of the fighting on the Union side and getting pretty roughly hand- led. Beyond a little skirmish firing and taking a defensive position near the enemy, the 186th regiment had no part. When it marched from camp in the early morning of the 27th of October, it was generally believed that in a short time the regiment would be in action, and that hurtling shot and shell would soon be thinning its ranks. The prevalance of this belief brought the few who were cowards prominently to notice. These, on one pretense or another, absented themselves from the ranks. One scalded his foot with hot coffee and could not march; another had a box of hard-tack fall on his feet in some mysterious way, and then there were cases of severe attacks of diarrahoa. There were only a few of these untimely accidents, as there were only a few cowards. One little incident occurred at the expense of the colonel, which may be related. While the regiment was occupying the defensive posi- tion referred to there were occasional shots from some concealed foe, possibly fired by sharp shooters. One came rather close to the colonel's head as he sat quietly on his horse, awaiting developments. Now, when the ping of a rifle ball is heard very near one's head, to duck the head is an instinct, and the strongest and bravest will do it. The colonel at this time was probably no exception, and his head dropped a little. Thinking that the mounted officers might be rather conspicuous marks for sharp shooters, he gave the order for them to dismount, which was obeyed with alacrity. Whereupon officers and men who were lying along the ground in comparative safety, indulged in a little laugh. As the second day from leaving camp wore away, and the evening shadows lengthened, we marched back to camp. As we come near it a further incident occurred which many will recall when mention is made of it. If there is one thing that is apparently disagreeable to a soldier, it is to unload his gun by draw- ing the charge. He wants to do it in an easier way, namely, by firing it. Just as we had reached camp, as stated, it occurred 10 some one that his gun must be unloaded, and forthwith he fired in the air. This was con- tagious, and immediately a fusilade began that took some minutes to arrest. The firing was a gross breach of orders and discipline. We were not only near the enemy, but camps and troops were near by, and there was imminent danger that the balls fired in the air, in their descent would kill or wound men or animals. Such a gross breach of discipline could not be overlooked. The company offi- cers were directed to examine every musket, and report every man whose piece was found empty. The result was that about 150 men were immediately marched to brigade head - quarters and their offense reported, What the punishment was, not having witnessed it, I shall not now relate. Those who suffered it will no doubt remember, and they are not called upon to say anything about it.

THE WAR FOR THE UNION.

Outpost duty and constant drill filled up the autumn days until the 29th of November, when the regiment was ordered to a new position. This was in front of Petersburg, slightly to the left and a little in the rear of Fort Davis, and about a half mile to the left and in the rear of Fort Sedgwick. Fort Sedgwick was a large, strongly constructed fort, on which were mounted a large number of heavy guns, and which also had a mortar battery. This fort was confronted by one perhaps equally strong, built by the enemy, called Fort Mahone. Between these hostile works there was almost a daily exchange of shots. So constant was the firing, and so dense oftentimes became the sulphurous clouds of smoke caused by the frequent dis- charges of the great guns and mortars, that the forts received nick-names from the soldiers. Our fort (Sedgwick) was called " Fort Hell," while the confederate was called " Fort Damnation." At this point the out- posts of the hostile armies, (protected by an embankment and ditch, called a rifle pit), were not over twenty rods apart. During the daytime the sentinels on one side rarely fired at those of the other, but when night came, in order to guard against a surprise and to keep the pickets on the alert, constant firing was maintained. In our camp it was nothing unusual to hear the whistle of hostile bullets passing overhead, one occasionally striking in the camp. One astonished the sutler one day by passing through his tent. I may remark here, as illustrative of the dangerous character of the service the regi- ment performed, that from the date in Octo- ber of making our camp near Poplar Grove church, until the evacuation of Petersburg, April 2 thereafter, the regiment was, except when away from camp on battilion drill or engaged in some movement, within rifle range of the enemy's picket line. The service under such circumstances was most arduous. Alarms and sudden turnouts to resist ex- pected attacks were frequent. In midwinter, about Dec. 10, I think, the regiment, with other troops, made a forced march to Notto- way river, twenty-five miles distant, which, with the return march, made a distance of 50 miles, in thirty six hours. On the outward march the weather was moderate, with rain and mud. On the return we faced a piercing wind, with the temperature low enough to freeze the mud and cover the wayside pools with thick ice. No member of the regiment, who participated, will ever forget the discom - fort and fatigue of the march to Nottoway river and return.

With constant daily duties, such as I have mentioned, the winter of 1864-5 wore away. In the early part of the winter, the area of country included between our camp and the outposts was covered to some extent with a forest, which obstructed the view to both sides of the camps and works of the other, but the timber was gradually used for fuel, and as spring approached the face of the land had been denuded of trees. And this reminds me of another incident. The regi-

ment was out for battalion drill one day, not far from camp and near brigade headquarters. The drill closed with a movement in line of battle at a charge bayonet and double quick time, accompanied with a terrfic yell, in imitation of the well-known "rebel yell." It attracted the enemy's attention, and several Whitworth shells were fired at us, which came dangerously near. One passed between the right of the regiment and drum corps as both were marching away from the field. The drum corps was not more than ten or twelve paces from the right of the regiment. The time of the marching step was being beaten on the large bass drum. The shells made double quick time for the drum corps, and the frantic efforts of the man with the big drum to climb over it were quite ludicrous. It was an occasion well calculated to try the nerves and test the steadiness of the regiment. This shot proved that the battery from which it was fired had the proper range and we had good reason to expect that another shot would follow and very likely crash through the moving ranks. Looking back from my posi- tion at the head of the marching column, I noted that every man was in his place. There was no panic, no excitement, the same measured step was maintained. Fortunately, no more shells were thrown. From that moment my convictions were confirmed that in the worst of positions the men of the 186th regiment could be relied on to bear themselves with the coolness of veterans. And not long afterwards was the ordeal presented that proved their heroism, and which entitles them to the honor and respect that just men ever award to the brave who peril their lives in their country's service.

At the date of which I am speaking, the tireless brain of Gen. Grant was forming plans and putting them in force which were soon to culminate at Appomatox, the crown- ing victory of the war, the surrender of the army of Northern Virginia. Not until then could it be clearly foreseen that the " last ditch " for the rebellion had been nearly reached. The gallant Sheridan, with his victorious army fresh from the conquest of Early in the Shenandoah, had come to the assistance of the army of the Potomac. For three days his conquering legions had been passing some dis- tance in our rear. They were moving to join the left of General Meade's army with the ob- ject of making a strong effort against the right flank of General Lee's army. This formid- able array it did not seem possible for General Lee to successfully cope with, and the sequel proved that he was unequal to the task. In his efforts to meet the crisis it is presumed that he had drawn from the defenses of Peters- burg and Richmond such numbers as he thought could be spared and not imperil the safety of those points. The defensive works were strong-believed to be too strong to be carried by assault. Evidently the Union commanders had a different opinion or else they deemed it wise to make a demonstration against them to prevent the withdrawal of more troops to fight against Sheridan. On

TIIE GROWTII OF A CENTURY.

the evening of the 30th of March, the regi- ment was ordered to report at 3 o'clock the next morning to the commander of the first brigade of our division in rear of Fort Sedg- wick. The purpose of the movement was not explained. On reaching the point designated, however, it was apparent. It was to make an assault upon the enemy's line in our front. Perfect quiet was observed, the necessary orders were given in a low voice. The order to attack was momentarily expected. All knew that a simple movement of a few rods to the left, passing a projecting angle of the fort and making a sharp wheel to the right, would bring the attacking force within easy and direct range of hostile batteries and of a musketry fire that would sweep every foot of the ground. Of course the hope was that the intervening space between where the move- ment was to begin and the objective point would nearly or quite be covered before the enemy should be aware of our approach. What if he should be fully informed? What if some spy had given a warning signal and every gun be shotted and every man at his post to aid the work of destroying the assail- ants? These thoughts were doubtless in the minds of all who, in that still morning hour, awaited the order to attack. But it came not. After an hour of suspense we were ordered back to camp. But the expected fearful struggle was not long delayed. About 9 o'clock in the evening of the 1st of March, the regimental commanders were summoned to brigade headquarters. When we had as- sembled, the General said that it had been determined that we should attack the enemy's works the next morning at 3 o'clock; that we would see that our regiments were promptly turned out at that hour and that everything should be in readiness. He spoke encourag- ingly as to probable success, but little conver- sation was indulged in. All seemed impressed with the gravity of the situation. As we rose to leave, with much feeling visible in his ex- pressive face he took each by the hand and good-byes were exchanged. Returning to camp, the order to be in readiness to turn out at the hour named was given to the company commanders through the adjutant. Midnight came, and at that hour swift, galloping feet were heard, and in a moment stopped at the colonel's tent. Quickly the order was de- livered : "The General directs that you turn out your regiment at once and march to the picket line." The unfinished letter was quickly locked in a valise, and in a very few minutes the regiment formed and we marched to the picket line and halted, and were ordered to lie down. We then learned that the 179th regiment had charged the enemy's picket line in our front and taken a number of prisoners. What induced this movement at an earlier hour than had previously been named was not explained. Apparently, besides the capture of a few prisoners, it had the effect to alarm the enemy, for very soon his batteries began a terrible fire that brought a prompt response from our own, and opened a scene which I could wish some more competent witness than I

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Growth of a Century : as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894, Part 15

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