Growth of a Century : as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894, Part 16

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

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would accurately and eloquently describe. But first it is proper to observe that the lines of the opposing armies were many miles in extent, nearly parallel to each other, and at intervals of about a third of a mile were forts and redoubts on either side, connected by other strong defenses. And these works were so constructed that if any one of them should be taken it would be commanded by others com- prising the series of defenses on the same side. Cannon seemingly without number were mounted thereon. And now, in that calm, still night, with darkness only relieved by the light of peaceful shining stars in the vaulted heavens above, these fierce engines of war opened their brazen throats, sulphurous smoke and fire issuing therefrom in visible form, which seemed to freight the impalable air with noisome odors. Screaming, hissing shot and shell, interspersed with the sharp whiz and ping of leaden bullets, seemed passing everywhere above our heads. Crash after crash, in quick succession, and then, as if to swell the roar, hundreds of simultaneous dis charges of great guns were heard and felt, the. concussion causing the earth to tremble. As far as the vision could extend to the right and left, the burning fuses of bombs and shells in graceful curvatures could be seen, all making a proytechnic display wholly unrivalled in the experience of all who witnessed it. Not all the enginery of the great Jove himself could equal this warlike display of puny man.

While our men were lying along the ground to escape as much as possible these hurtling missiles, a shell struck the earth and ploughed under a file of men, killing one of them and wounding three others. Another shell ex- ploded in the ground near one of the com- panies, doing no further harm then to cover the men with earth. For more than two hours the terriffic storm of war continued, and then there seemed a little lull, during which the regiment moved by the right flank, until its right rested on the so-called Jerusalem plank road. Faced to the front, the order to lie down was again given. Here we had not long to wait. Our regiment now composed part of a column of assault. In a recent communication, addressed by General Griffin to your humble speaker, he says :

" Concerning the formation of my brigade for that final assault on the 2d of April, I formed in column of regiment, each regiment in line of battle, six regiments deep, with one in reserve, the whole preceded by a company of pioneers to clear away the abatis. Two regiments, the 7th and 11th N. Y., were left to hold our main line in case of repulse. I made the formation thus because I knew the head of the column would be swept away by the enemy's terrific fire, and I must have lines enough till one complete in its formation could reach and pass the enemy's lines and hold them. My records are still at Keene, and I can only give you the relative positions of the regiments in the column from memory, which may not be wholly accurate. My recol- lection is that they stood thus: The 31st Maine, 179th New York, 17th Vermont, 2d

THE WAR FOR THE UNION.

Indiana, 186th New York, 6th New Hamp- shire, with the 56th Massachusetts in reserve. The column was not repulsed or driven back at all, although a great many were panic- stricken, and fled to the rear."

The colum was not moved as a unit. The regiments in column preceding the 186th were first ordered forward, but they never reached the enemy's works. In relation to them it should be said that the 31st Maine, the 17th Vermont, and the 2d Maryland were mere skeltons of regiments, their numbers having been wasted by long and arduous service. The 179th had fuller ranks, having been more re- cently recruited. That it suffered seriously is well known. Its gallant Lieut .- Col. Daily was mortally wounded, and its Col. Gregg re- ceived a severe wound in the head. These troops, panic stricken, rushed back, trampling upon our boys as they were quietly resting on the ground. But the panic was not contagious enough to extend to them. And now came the decisive moment. A staff officer from the brigade staff, Capt. Goodwin, if I remember his name correctly, a brave and faithful officer, whom we all remember from the sobriquet given him of "Old Corduroy " be- cause he wore corduroy pants, came to me and said : "The General directs you now to advance," and as the last word fell from his lips, he extended his hand, and with evident emotion, said : "It will be hot. God bless you!" Turning then to the duty in hand, the order was given : " Attention, battalion!" Instantly the men were in place. Then fol- lowed : "Shoulder arms!

centre. March!" And forward it was. First our own rifle-pit was reached, and be- hind the embankment, crouched and cowed, were a large number of our own troops. Steadily, and in as good order as possible, the line went over the embankment, and then across the interval of 20 rods between out- posts, then over the rebel rifle pits. Mean- time the fire from Fort Sedgewick was re- doubled, the hissing shot and shell passing above so as to strike the works of the enemy, doubtless to lessen the fire of his batteries and drive his infantry from the top of the works, and so prevent their fire. Nevertheless, we had to face a leaden storm. Here and there along the line some noble fellow dropped from his place, and here and there the cry of anguish could be heard from the brave fellows who had been wounded. The abatis is reached. The brave pioneers, who, under cover of the darkness, had sought to remove it, had only made an opening wide' enough to admit the passage of a company front. The right com- pany passed through the opening and perhaps the second right company. The advance of the right was checked to give the remainder a little time to surmount the obstruction. This was quickly accomplished; then the order was given : "Charge bayonets ! Double quick time, march!" and with a rush accompanied by a wild yell, our men soon reached the enemy's works. There was no resistance to the on- slaught. As we approached the foot of the parapet the enemy, in a crowd, rushed out

Forward, guide

towards us, calling out : "We surrender! We surrender!"

And now an incident occurred that is worthy of mention. Among the enemy was a large, bushy-headed man, with long, heavy whisk- ers. He seemed to tower above his comrades, and as he rushed down the parapet towards us, he threw up his arms, and in a loud, hypocritical voice, exclaimed : "I thank God I am once more under the stars and stripes." His hypocrisy was apparent, so it seemed to the brave Capt. J. P. Legg, who instantly responded in language more emphatic than graceful, and seizing the man by the shoulder he gave him a kick that greatly accelerated his passage to the rear. Standing for a mo- ment upon the high parapet, and looking down into the fort, the scene was most impres- sive. The blue-coated boys were swarming in. There were the great guns, and a little distance from each a charcoal fire, where had been heated the iron rods that were applied to the priming powder when the guns were dis- charged. While thus standing, looking upon this scene, a large shell dropped down within the fort, and sinking into the earth, exploded. Up rose a great column of smoke, dust and earth, and when it had reached a certain height it spread over like an umbrella, the debris covering everything about. It looked like the pictures we often see of a volcano in a state of eruption. Fortunately, no one was hurt. The capture of the fort was a great victory, which our gallant fellows appre- ciated, and made their joy manifest in ringing cheers.

But remembering that the order was to advance, the regiment was quickly re-formed in rear of the captured fort, and commenced marching towards the city of Petersburg, which seemed some little distance away across a comparatively level space. Its steeples and roofs were plainly visible. Directly an order was received to change direction to the left and halt, with the information that we were in danger of being flanked. After the changed direction the fire in our front was giving us trouble, and to avoid its effect a lie-down was again ordered, and even while in this position men were killed and wounded. Again, we were ordered forward, but had proceeded only a little distance when we found a strong work, which the enemy still occupied. At the point of approach was a deep ditch, filled with water, too wide to be crossed without scaling-ladders, or other appliances that we did not possess. Passing a little to the right, in search of some opening to enable us to effect an entrance, my own active career with you, comrades, in the field, suddenly termin- ated. What I may further say as to your subsequent doings will be from hearsay.

Much has been said of the achievements of the second brigade on this memorable 2d of April. Great praise of its gallant conduct has been awarded in the public prints and in army records, but it has seemed to me that the credit to which the respective organizations composing the brigade are entitled has been quite lost sight of. Readily will it occur to

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

you, my comrades, that if the 186th regiment had not been there but little would have been accomplished. Indeed, but for it, at the point of attack, the enemy's line would have remained unbroken. So far as to results ac- complished, the 186th regiment was the second brigade. Considering the actual and reported strength of Fort Mahone, the perils and difficulties to be encountered, its assault and capture by the 186th regiment was a magnificent success. Tennyson has immor- talized the charge of the Light Brigade at Balaklava upon a Russian battery :

"Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them, Volleyed and thundered ; Into the jaws of death, Into the mouth of hell, Rode the six hundred."

On the occasion of which I speak you had cannon in front of you, cannon to the right of you and cannon to the left of you, that volleyed and thundered. A military critic who knew of the blunder that was made when the charge of the Light Brigade was ordered, and who witnessed the heroic sacri- fices, said of the charge : "It is magnificent, but it is not war." No less praise is due for your conduct in the charge you made, with this distinction : It was magnificent, and it was war. The object being one of possible attainment, and the resulting victory was the test.

During the night succeeding the battle of Petersburg, its remaining defenses, which so long kept the Union troops at bay, were evacuated, and the second brigade, with other troops, when morning came entered the city. You continued the pursuit of the retreating enemy as far as Burkesville, some sixty miles. But Appomattox, near by, was the closing scene of the bloody drama in which the Army of the Potomac and that of Northern Virginia had played leading parts. After a brief period you marched back to Petersburg, thence to City Point, thence by transport to Alexandria. Here you rested for a few days, when the order for your muster out was received and your discharges made June 2, 1865. You marched in the grand review with the victorious troops of Meade's army and of the army of General Sherman. Thence you came by rail to New York, thence by steamer to Albany and by rail to Watertown. Your proud record and heroic deeds had preceded you. On your arrival the citizens came out to welcome you; speeches of welcome by our leading citizens were made ; a bountiful ban- quet was spread in Washington Hall. Con- tinuing on to Madison Barracks, after a few days, your honorable discharges were deliv- ered, and the 186th regiment became history, and you who comprised it were once more citizens in the land your patriotism and valor had done much to save and redeem.

THE 10TH NEW YORK HEAVY ARTILLERY.

THE organization of the artillery of an army, and especially in the old army of the United States, has been almost invariably by independent batteries. Such form of organi- zation has always proved the most effective, because, being a small force, with four to six guns, and perhaps 100 men, it could be quickly moved, easily handled, and so small as to be readily governed and trained to quick movements-often by a hasty concentration at a given point, changing the fate of battle. It was the artillery that saved the day at Get- tysburg by nearly decimating Pickett's division before it had reached the first Union line, over which it might have poured but for the heroic work done by the artillery. In each division and corps there are chiefs of ar- tillery, who have control of these separate batteries, which they can concentrate, as at Gettysburg, upon a definite line, giving confi- dence to the infantry with whom they serve.

This much is necessary to explain what fol- lows. There had been sent out from this county, in the spring of 1862, two such bat- teries as we have above described, known as batteries "C" and "H," the former com- manded by Capt. Joseph Spratt, a well- known Watertown boy, and the latter by Captain Barnes. These batteries proved efficient, serving in the Peninsula under Mc- Clellan, where Captain Spratt was seriously wounded. They formed a part of what was

known as Bailey's 1st regiment New York artillery. These batteries had done so well that a movement was made to raise in Jeffer- son county, ten or more companies, or inde- pendent batteries, which should be concentra- ted and operated as one regiment. Enlist- ments were made with that understanding, the men believing that their duty would be confined to guarding the many forts which environed Washington on the south, east and west. Officers from batteries "C" and "H," which had done good work before Richmond, were designated to fill the important positions in the new organization at Madison Barracks.

It ought to be stated that before many en- listments had been made for the purpose des- cribed above, Capt. E. P. Webb had enlisted some 50 men for an independent battery, and was directed to bring his men to Sackets Harbor, and himself to instruct and send out recruiting parties. This was done, and his small detachment formed the nucleus around which there soon congregated 16 companies, aggregating nearly 2,300 men. Thus origin- ated what was known afterwards as the famous 10th N. Y. Heavy Artillery.

It was natural to expect that so large a force, devoted to a single arm of the service became an embarrassment to the officials at Washington, who wanted batteries, not regi- ments, of artillery. To make a long story short, while the regimental officers wanted to

THE WAR FOR THE UNION.

retain their regimental organization as heavy artillery, for which they had been enlisted, the government finally consented to their remaining enrolled as such, but required them to serve as infantry, in_which capacity they behaved nobly.

We can only give a brief sketch of the com- pany histories :

COMPANY A.

Capt. Edward P. Webb's Co. " A." This company was recruited at Watertown, N. Y., early in July, 1862, composed of men from that place, Lewis and Oneida counties. The company rapidly filled to the maximum, many being transferred to other companies of the regiment. About fifty men were enlisted for this company when they were transferred to Madison Barracks, Sackets Harbor, and were mustered with their original battalion into the United States service, September 11, 1862 ; on September 18 the company advanced with the batallions 1 and 2, as then numbered, to New York city, Capt. Webb in command of the battalions ; here the battalions were equipped for the field. Leaving New York, it arrived with the battalions at Camp Barry, in the department of Washington, D. C., on the 23rd of September, 1862, laying in camp until September 29th, when, with the bat- talions, it was transferred to the fortifications near the city, remaining there until the regi- ment was ordered on active duty, March 27, 1864, in command of Lieut. E. H. Toby. The company was never commanded by Capt. Webb, he being in command of the bat- talions, headquarters at Fort Baker, until May 15, 1863.

Edward P. Webb, captain, Watertown ; Elijah H. Toby, 1st lieutenant, Watertown ; Leeman A. Rising, 1st lieutenant, Watertown; Morris A. Reed, 2nd lieutenant, Watertown ; Addison W. Wheelock, 2nd lieutenant, Watertown.

COMPANY B.

Capt. Giles F. Kitts' Co. "B." This com- pany was recruited from Adams, Rodman, and Lorraine, rendezvoused with the battalion at Madison Barracks, and mustered with them into U. S. service on the 11th of September, 1862. This company is entitled to, and claims the banner, being the only company mustering its complement of men, all being present. This company was originally "I" of 1st Batallion, subsequently becoming " B " of 10th regiment, served with that regiment in the army of the Potomac until mustered out, June 23d, 1865.

Giles F. Kitts, captain, Rodman ; F. O. Sherman, 1st lieutenant, Adams; E. H. Smith, 1st lieutenant, Adams ; Chas. B. Spear, 2d lieutenant, Rodman ; Daniel Ranney, 2d lieu- tenant, Adams.

COMPANY C.

Capt. C. C. Abell's Co. "C." This com- pany was recruited principally from the towns of Antwerp, Philadelphia and LeRay. It was mustered in at Sackets Harbor, Sept. 11, 1862, as company "C" of the 2d battalion, Black River Artillery; subsequently becoming

"C" company of the 10th regiment. It marched with its battalion from Sackets Harbor, Sept. 18, and occupied the fortifica- tions in the department of Washington until the regiment was ordered into active service, March 27, 1864, and subsequently was in the engagements in front of Petersburg and . Bermuda. It was mustered out June 23, 1865, with the regiment.

C. C. Abell, captain, Antwerp ; Alexander Kennedy, 1st lieutenant, Evans Mills ; Tim- othy A. Ackerman, 1st lieutenant, Philadel- phia ; Wm. M. Comstock, 2d lieutenant, Evans Mills ; Eugene Miller, 2d lieutenant, Antwerp.

Col. Charles C. Abell went out as captain of Co. C., 10th N. Y. heavy artillery. Served with his company and regiment until June, 1864, when he was detailed as inspector of artillery for the 18th corps, commanded by the distinguished "Baldy " Smith. After serving as inspector for four months, he was promoted to be chief of artillery for the same corps. The 18th corps and the 10th each had colored troops and white troops intermingled. By putting all the colored troops of each corps under one command, they became the 25th corps, and the white troops were designated as the 24th-and Col. Abell remained with the 24th as chief of artillery. He served through with that corps until Appomattox, and was honorably mustered out with his regiment in September, 1865, after being relieved from duty with the 24th corps.

Col. Abell soon made Chicago his home. where he remained eighteen years, then he was two years in Mexico, and since then has resided in Denver and Omaha, cashier of the Omaha Packing Company, an honored citizen, one whom it is great pleasure to meet and "fight one's battles o'er again."

COMPANY D.

Captain S. R. Cowles' Co. "D." Origin- ally mustered as "B" 1st battalion, at Sackets Harbor, Sept. 11, 1862, was recruited in Champion, Croghan, Diana, Rutland and Wilna, subsequently being numbered with 4th battalion ; served with the regiment in the campaign of the James, with distinction, Captain Cowles being commanding officer of the battalion in its charge on the rebel works on April 2, 1865. The company, during the seige of Petersburg, met with considerable loss. Mustered out with the regiment June 23, 1865.

Seneca R. Cowles, captain ; Lucian E. Car- ter, 1st lieutenant ; George D. Salter. 1st lieutenant ; Walter A. Horr, 2d lieutenant ; James S. Ward, 2d lieutenant.

COMPANY E.

Capt. A. Cleghorn's Co. " E." This com- pany was originally mustered as " A," 1st battalion, subsequently becoming " A" 4th battalion, was recruited from Ellisburgh and Henderson ; mustered with the battalion Sept. 11, 1862, at Madison Barracks; advanced with the battalion, Sept. 18th, to the depart- ment of New York harbor; served with the

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

regiment in its movements in front of Peters- burgh, Bermuda Hundred, and in the Shen- andoah Valley ; subsequently mustered out with the regiment June 23d, 1865.

Adams Cleghorn. captain ; Elman Tyler, 1st lieutenant ; A. A. Wheeler, 1st lieutenant: Russel M. Jones, 2d lieutenant ; M. G. Cook, 2d lieutenant.

COMPANY F.

Capt. J. F. Vanderberg's Co. "F" was re- cruited principally from the towns of Alexan- dria and Theresa, originally lettered " D," of the second battalion, subsequently "F" of the 5th battalion, mustered with the battalions Sept. 11, 1862, at Sackets Harbor ; moved with the battalions to the defence of Washing- ton, and with the regiment when ordered in active service ; served in the seige at Peters- burg and the operations at Bermuda Hun- dred, and mustered out with the regiment June 23, 1865.

John S. Vanderberg, captain ; I. L. Hun- tington, 1st lieutenant ; Elias Getman, 1st lieutenant ; Robert McNight, 2d lieutenant ; Levi A. Butterfield, 2nd lieutenant.

COMPANY G.

Capt. R. B. Biddlecome's Co. "G." This company, originally mustered as "B" Second battalion, subsequently as "G" Fifth bat- talion ; was recruited from Clayton and Orleans ; mustered at Madison Barracks, Sept. 11, 1862; advanced with the bat- talion Scpt. 18, 1862 ; served at Fort Mahan, department of Washington, until the advance of the regiment, March 1, 1864; served in the Army of the James, suffering considerable loss at the seige of Petersburg ; was subsequently mustered out with the regi- ment and discharged at its original mustering place, Madison Barracks, Sackets Harbor, in June, 1865.

R. B. Biddlecome, captain ; G. H. Marshall, 1st lieutenant ; E. A. Chapman, 1st lieu- tenant ; V. B. Rottiers, 2d lieutenant ; W. J. Hart, 2d lieutenant.

COMPANY H.

Capt. Samuel Middleton's Co. "H." was recruited at Brownville and Houndsfield ; mustered in at Sackets Harbor on the 12th day of Sept., 1862; left the barracks for Washington on the 20th day of September, joining the preceding battalions in the defen- ces of Washington. At the seige of Peters- burgh and battle of Bermuda Hundred the company took an active part, being command- ed by Captain Parker. Subsequently muster- ed out with the regiment, June 23, 1865.

Samuel Middleton, captain ; Stephen W. Fowler, 1st lieutenant ; John N. Parker, 1st lieutenant ; J. Randolph Knight, 2d lieuten- ant.

COMPANY I.

Capt. H. O. Gillmore's Co. " I" was origin- ally mustered as "B" of the 3d battalion, Black River Artillery, and was recruited in Brownville, Houndsfield, Watertown and Worth. Date of muster, Scpt. 12, 1862, by

W. G. Edgerton, 11th Infantry, U. S, army. This company rendered service in the depart- ment of Washington, advancing to the front with its regiment, March, 1864 ; was engaged in the siege of Petersburg and battle of Bermuda Hundred, retiring from the service with a record second to none ; mustering out with the regiment, June 23d, 1865, and dis- charged at Sackets Harbor, N. Y. At Cold Harbor the Captain narrowly escaped. The enemy charged on our lines, and one of the men in his fright held his thumb over the muzzle of his piece, stooped down and with the other hand fired his gun. Either the thumb or the ball passcd through the Cap- tain's hat, sadly marring that appendage.

H. O. Gillmore, captain ; R. R. Bell, 1st lieutenant ; P. B. Grant 2d lieutenant.

COMPANY K.

Capt. B. B. Taggart's Co. "K" was re- cruited in Adams, Antwerp, Brownville, Osceola, LeRay, Houndsfield, Watertown, Worth, Clayton, Rutland and Orleans ; originally mustcred as Co. " C," 3d battalion, subsequently mustered as 7thi ; served in New York harbor ; joined the regiment in the de- partment of Washington in the winter of 1862, and served with the regiment in defenses of Washington until the advance in 1864; served in front of Petersburg and Bermuda Hundred, and in the Shenandoah Valley ; mustered out with regiment in June, 1865 ; suffering its full share in loss of killed and wounded.

B. B. Taggart, captain ; Fred Lansing, 1st lieutenant.

COMPANY L.

Capt. Jas. E. Green's Co. "L," Tenth N. Y. Hcavy Artillery, was raised mostly in Ellisburgh, Henderson and Lymc. James E. Green, M. A. Hackley and C. E. Seaton were the parties who were the most effective in getting the enlistments of men. Capt. Gould had some inen whom he had enlisted in the northern part of the county, mostly from Lyme. The command gathered at Sackets Harbor about the middle of Sept., 1862, which place they left about the 19th of Sept., and arrived in New York on the 20th, Under the command of Captain Gould ; after one night spent at Park Barracks, they were sent to Camp Arthur, Staten Island. Up to this time none of the men had been mustcred into the U. S. service. About this time differ- ences of opinion arose between Gould, Green and others, as to who should be the com- pany's officers, the finale of which was that Capt. Gould was ordered to turn his men over to J. E. Green. The men were nearly mutin- ous, and refused to be mustered, but they were ordered in line at the camp, and marched on board a steamer, and conveyed to Fort Schuyler, where they were mustered.

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Growth of a Century : as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894, Part 16

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