Growth of a Century : as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894, Part 18

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

USA > New York > Jefferson County > Growth of a Century : as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894 > Part 18

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August, marching and countermarching, Rickett's division was finally posted on the east side of the Sudley Road, near the War- renton pike

On the afternoon of the 30th, when the last grand struggle of the battle was at its height, the regiment with the rest of Tower's brig- ade of Rickett's division was pushed forward to the assistance of the Union left, where Gen. R. C. Shenck had been wounded, with a somewhat demoralizing effect upon his men. General Pope, in his report, said of this move- ment : "Towers' brigade of Rickett's divis- ion, was pushed forward to Schenck's support, and the brigade was led by General Tower in person, with conspicuous gallantry. The con- duct of these two brigades and their com-

manders, in plain view of our whole left, was especially distinguished, and called forth hearty and enthusiastic cheers. Their ex- ample was of great service, and seemed to in- fuse new spirit into the troops who witnessed their intrepid conduct."

Whatever inay have combined to defeat the Union forces at Second Bull Run, certainly one of them was not the failure of Tower's brigade to perform its duty there. A word of praise is due the memory of the 300 or more killed and wounded in the 30-minutes' ex- posure to the fire of overwhelming numbers upon that barren knoll. There are several brave men now walking the streets of Water- town whose bodies bear the scars of that day. Lieut. George McOmber there received a bullet through his shoulder, which disabled him for future service. Lieut. W. J. M.

Woodward, of Co. K. was so severely wounded that death followed. His body was sent home to Adams Centre and buried in the family lot. Private John Scott was borne down, and before he could be removed received as many as eight different wounds. Sergt. Brayton C. Bailey, of H Co., carried a buck shot in his skull for years. Col. Adrian R. Root gallantly exposed him- self in front of his troops while in the most critical period of the fight, and was slightly wounded. All the sacrifice was of no avail, and a general retreat, not to say rout, followed.

At Centerville that night a wonderful pic- ture was presented. For miles on the plains could be seen the camp-fires. where were bivouacked the bulk of General Pope's army. About those fires were groups of three to five soldiers-and in most cases strangers to each other. A 94th man going towards Centerville that evening was hailed by a group at one of these fires-" Hallo, comrade, where are you going ; stop here and cook your coffee. That fellow belongs to a Massachusetts regiment, this one to a Pennsylvania, and another to the 1st Virginia, so you, being a New York man, will be entirely 'at home' here."

Following the action at Second Bull Run, in common with the rest of the army, the 94th took up its march for South Mountain and Antietam, doing its share of the fighting at both places. Then came Dec. 13, 1862, and the Fredericksburg engagement. Here Lieu- tenant Levi Carpenter was ruined for life by a wound in the head, which finally resulted in brain trouble and death long years after. Alfred Turcott, a brave and good soldier, lost a leg. The regiment here was under command of Major Kress, a gallant fel- low from the regular army. Charles E. Scoville, its adjutant, was particularly con- spicuous for gallant bearing and encourage- ment to the men during a charge. After Fredericksburg we went into camp at Belle Plain, where in March, 1863, we were consoli- dated with the 105th. The men of both organizations were disposed to resent this consolidation, but many good officers and men were thus brought together and soon the best of feeling existed.

The campaign called "Burnside's Mud

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

March," took place long before good weather could be expected, and the fruitless Mine

Run was the result. Then came Chancellors-

ville, under Hooker. Then a long period of camp life, followed by Lee's invasion of Penn- sylvania and the battle of Gettysburg. Here the 94th was in the 1st corps, Rickett's division, with General Paul commanding our brigade. He was wounded, and the command of that brigade devolved upon Colonel Root. It was the misfortune of the 1st and 11th corps to meet here on the first day nearly the combined rebel force. The 94th occupied ground adjoining the 11th corps, which was on their right, facing nearly north and about a mile outside of Gettysburg. The 11th corps gave way almost bodily, as did the left of the Ist, leaving the troops near the 94th, which were in the woods, in advance of both wings, so that when they began also to give way, they found the roads so obstructed that escape for many was impossible. About one half of the 94th was captured at this time, and cor- ralled with about 5,000 other prisoners that night. They accepted parole on the field, and were soon returned to their comrades at the front.

During the following winter we were ordered to guard Camp Parole at Annapolis. Stayed here till Grant's campaign of the next year was well under way, and joined the army at Cold Harbor. From thence to the close of the war were identified with the Army of the Potomac, and were in most of its battles. At Petersburg, on the 18th of June, 1864, it charged the fort, which was afterwards mined and blown up, causing such destruction to Burnside's colored division. In this charge Comrade Levi Relyea was so badly wounded that he died-a record of his devotion to his country and sacrifice for it, is worthy a place in the history of his county.

During the summer of 1864 the duties of the regiment were both arduous and danger- ous. In constant exposure from the enemy, with many long marches and much building of earth works, the tedious days were passed. In August occurred the affair at the Weldon Railroad, in which another large detachinent of the regiment fell into the hands of the enemy ; most of them not returning until the close of the war, when Andersonville gave up its almost dead. Among these was William Loan, an honored name both in the army, and afterwards as a citizen of Watertown,

Its battle record is nearly that of the Army of the Potomac. The last campaign, which ended at Appomatox, closed the story of one of the best regiments in the service. Among a noble band of recruits, which joined the regiment just before the second Bull Run, was a young man from Buffalo, N. Y., about 20 years of age, named Henry H. Fish. He had joined the army actuated by patriotic motives, and from the first was anxious to know and do his duty. Of a prominent family, his influ- ence enabled him soon to get a commission as 1st lieutenant, and then as captain, followed by that of major, which, by the ab- sence of Colonel Moffett, a prisoner of

war, made him commander of the regi- ment. His gallant disposition was mani- fested in this last campaign, and when he might, without reproach, have sought safety by being less conspicuous as a mark for the enemy by going into action dismounted, he insisted on leading his regiment on horse- back. He was wounded early in the action, though not seriously. After a hasty visit to hospital, with bandaged head he again ap- peared, to encourage his men, and while cheer- ing them on to the last final effort, he received his death wound. It is recorded upon an his- torical monument in Groton, Conn., of an uncle of Henry H. Fish's mother: " Left his plow standing in the furrow to take part in defence of Fort Griswold, near here, during the Revolution, and next day his remains were brought home on an ox cart." The body of Major Ilenry H. Fish was carried from the field of battle across the horse of his chaplain, Rev. P. G. Cook, of Buffalo. Who shall say that the blood of that patriot of '76, flowing through this lad in '65, was not again performing service for its country ? Major Fish's body has honored rest in the family lot at Forest Lawn Cemetery, Buffalo.

In the winter of 1864-65, many of the three- years, men who had not enlisted were dis- charged ; and when the victory was won and the regiment disbanded, so few from Jeffer- son county were left, that the return was only of a few individual members. Of a regiment whose rolls had contained, by consolidation and recruiting, nearly 3,000 names, it may be said that not a ripple of excitement was made by its absorption into the citizenship of its native county. Except among the few survivors, its name is scarcely heard, but is surely entitled to the few lines recorded here. To most of its membership the hope that they did not march, fight; or die in vain, is all the reward they desire.

The names of many brave men must neces- sarily be omitted from a record like this. When the final roll is called, the names of Moffett, and Hulbert, and Leonard, and French, and Chester ; of White, Parsons, Demarse, Chaplain Cook, Drs. Chamberlain and Derby-and hundreds more will not fail to receive the "Well Done" which is the reward of those who perform their duty and their whole duty.

Major D. W. C. Tomlinson, lately deceased, was a special favorite in the 94th. He was a man who could never have excelled as a tac- tician or in the formation of an army-but as a "good plain fighter " he had no superior. His true place would have been in the quarter- master's department, for his early knowledge of the means of transportation, often demand- ing the best skill of an army officer, would have enabled him to get out of the teamsters all that was in them. Every soldier knows the importance of the wagon train of an army. but it is a curious fact that the teams were usually an hour or two behind the infantry regiments at the end of a day's march, and the tents could not be erected until the wagons caught up.

GEORGE DRESSOR. LT. MORGAN.

GEN. WINSLOW.

LT. GREENLEAF. LT. SLOCUM.

000

COL. ENOS.

CAPT. MAC WAYNE.

COL. SHAW.

COL. DOLAN. GEO. VAN VLECK.

THE WAR FOR THE UNION.

In closing the record of this gallant regi- ment it should not be forgotten that its early organization and care at Madison Barracks were constantly looked after by Col. Walter B. Camp, who was directed by Gov. Morgan to perform that duty-and he discharged it in a manner that met the approval not only of the Governor, but of all the men, who were well fed, well housed, and well protected. This much is due to Col. Camp, as part of the history of those times so full of excitement, and which have passed into history, to be looked upon in the future as we older ones regarded Lexington, and Bunker Hill, and Yorktown, or as the Revolutionary heroes looked back even to Thermopylæ.

OFFICERS OF THE 94TH.

Viele, Henry K., col. Root, Adrian R., col. Littlefield, C., lieut .- col. Kress, John A., lieut .- col. Moffatt, S. A., lieut .- col. Hanford, Wm. R., maj. Tomlinson, D. C., maj. McMahon, John, maj. Fish, H. P. (killed in ac- tion), maj.

Parson, Byron, maj Ernst. J. F., Jr., adjt. Scoville, Chas. E., adjt. Hulbert, Chas. E., adjt. Sprague, Chas. H., adjt. De Wolf, D. O., qr. mr Shedd, Jerome I . qr. mr. Reed, J. S., qr. mr. Goodale, Charles, surg. Smith, A. H., surg. Avery, George W., surg. Chamberlain. D. C., surg. Seymour, E. G., asst .- surg. Brown, J. T., asst. surg Reynolds, J. D., asst .- surg. Derby, E. G., asst .- surg. Fuller, W. S., asst .- surg. Reynolds, Porter L. F., asst .- surg.

Nichols, Wm. A., chap. Cook, Philos G., chap. Beebe, Isaac M. capt. White, Horace G., capt. Mason, Orlo J., capt. Snell, Lansing, capt. Gates, Jacob S., capt. Lyttle, Lafayette F., capt. Chester, Walter T., capt. Emerson, James, capt. Searle, B. D., capt. Sears, Dexter C., capt. Comee, Chris. C., capt. Colton, H. S., capt. Hawkins, Oscar F., capt. Kilborn, C. W. capt. Place, Samuel, Jr., capt. Joy, Royal N., capt. Crawford, A. McL., capt. Mesler, Charles V., capt. Bibbins, Harrison, capt. Nichols, Duane M., capt. Dayton, Ed. A., capt. Horr, Austin, capt. Lacy. John, capt. Doolittle, Isaac, capt French G. (killed in ac- tion). capt.

Leonard, Michael, capt. Briggs, I. E., capt. Carpenter, Levi, capt. Whiteside, John C., capt. Mallison, Joseph, capt Nutting, Abel M., capt. Tyler, Wallace W. capt. Rodgers, Chas. F., capt. Parker, Edward C., capt. Cooley, A. E. capt.

Field, Augustus, capt .. Moore. Abraham, capt. Benham, Willis, capt Currie, James, 1st lieut. Thomas, Jas. P., 1st lieut. Johnson, A. A .. 1st lieut Phillips, Jas. O. 1st lieut. Philes, H. H., 1st lieut. Moore, John D., 1st lieut. Colton, H. S., 1st lieut. Hatch, Junius H., 1st lieut. Strong, Hayden, 1st lieut. Timmerman, C .. 1st lieut. Mather, George, 1st lieut. Osham, Geo. H., 1st lieut. Swan, Henry, Ist lieut. De Marse, S., 1st lieut. Mayhew, E. V., 1st lieut. Cole, John B., ist lieut. McComber, G., 1st lieut. Whiteside, B., 1st lieut Holley, Jas. D., 1st lieut. Mansfield, J. M., 1st lieut. Coltier, Robert, 1st lieut. Massey, F. J., 1st lieut. Merriam, R. B., 1st lieut. Woodward, W. J. M. (died of wounds), 1st lt. Wodell. Isaac P., 1st lieut. De Graff, John, 1st lieut. Crawford, P. (killed in action), 1st lieut.

Hendricks, Jas., 1st lieut. Ludlow, M. H., 1st lieut. Knowles, Wm., 1st lieut. Brainard, O. H., 2d lieut. De Forest, C. L., 2d lieut. Rundell, C. R., 2d lieut. Cook, Horace S .. 2d lieut. Ford, Wayland, 2d lieut. Locklin, A. W., 2d lieut. Burns, E. M., 2d lieut. Washburne, Levi, 2d lieut. Swan. Henry, 2d lieut. Roseboom, H., 2d lieut. Smith, Warren S., 2d lieut. Burrows, Thos .. 2d lieut. Merrill, E. M., 2d lieut. Smith, Frank, 2d lieut. Shuttis, S. G., 2d lieut. Ryan, P. R., 2d lieut. Sloat. Ghas. W .. 2d lieut. Young, Richard, 2 lieut. Ludlow, M. H., 2d lieut. Mercer, D. D., 2d lieut. Flattery, John, 2d lieut. Quildthrite, W. W., 2d lt. Williams, W. H., 2d lieut. Crane, W. E., 2d lieut. Hay, Alexander, 2d lieut. Patterson, A., 2d lieut. Smith, John R., 2d lieut. Wilder, G. D., 2d lieut. Brewer, Allen. 2d lieut Hafie, Jonas, 2d lieut. Whalon, Daniel, 2d lieut. Longmire, G., 2d lieut.

SOME SOLDIER BIOGRAPHIES.

The likenesses which appear on the prece- ding pages are fair representations of the type of volunteer citizen soldiers who comprised the famous 35th Regiment. These illustrations are here made use of as being a fair group of those veterans who have added to their military honors by success in civil life after passing into the history of the War of the Great Rebellion with a record as brave private soldiers or as distinguished officers. Several of these men were severely wounded-notably George F. Dressor, who lost a leg at Freder- icksburg, and General Bradley Winslow, who was shot through the body while gallantly leading his men at the successful assault on Fort Mahone before Petersburg.

GENERAL BRADLEY WINSLOW.

The subject of this sketch comes from good New England stock, who were prominent pioneers in settling Northern New York. He is a direct descendant in the seventh genera- tion of Knelm Winslow, a brother of Edward Winslow of Mayflower fame. Bradley Wins- low was born August 1, 1831, at the home of his father, the late Hon. John Winslow, on the Winslow homestead, 24 miles from the city of Watertown. He was educated in the common schools near his home, until, in his 16th year, he went to Cazenovia Seminary. Here he enjoyed the advantages of an excel- lent faculty, and made good progress in all his studies. In the winter of 1850-51 he attended school at Falley Seminary, in the village of Fulton, Oswego county. In 1852 he entered as a student at Wyoming Seminary at Kings- ton, Pa., where he spent a year. This covered his school life, and he laid the foun- dation of an excellent education, and was famous in his accomplishments as a forcible and polished writer and effective orator. He began the study of law in the office of Hon. James F. Starbuck, in the fall of 1852, at the age of 22. Here he continued till the fall of 1854, when he entered the Poughkeepsie Law School, where he remained until the following spring. He was admitted to practice in all the courts in the State in 1855. He remained with Mr. Starbuck until Jan. 1, 1856. Mr. Winslow was married Nov. 15, 1855, to Miss Geraldine M. Cooper, daughter of John C. Cooper, of Adams. One son and two daugh- ters were the offspring of this union. The son, John Cooper Winslow, graduated from Dartmouth College. and after a promising career in the law, died of consumption in Pas- adena, California, in 1890, whither he had re- moved on account of failing health. January 1, 1856, Mr. Winslow opened a law office in Watertown. In the same year he associated with L. J. Bigelow in law practice under the firm name of Winslow & Bigelow. In the fall of 1859 he was elected district attorney, and entered on its duties January 1, 1860. He at once came to the front as an able official, and proved his eminent fitness for his high position by several important cases which were defended by the first talent of the bar-

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

notably the Sprague trial. The opening of the ever-memorable Civil War in 1861, found Mr. Winslow a first lieutenant of the Black River Corps, a military organization of the village of Watertown. Shortly after the news came of the firing upon Fort Sumter, Mr. Winslow met John A. Haddock in the Pad- dock Arcade, who, with some asperity of tone, asked " what the Black River Corps intended to do in the emergency ?" and remarked that the organization was in the way of other people's going to help the government. Young Winslow keenly felt the sting which this question carried with it, and the full responsi- bility of the situation burst upon him. He at once sought Captain Potter, who was in com- mand of the Corps, who, after much earnest persuasion, consented to calling a meeting to see if the organization was willing to offer its services for the war. The result was that a company was organized, made up largely of the Corps ; Captain Potter was made captain and Mr. Winslow first lieutenant. The com- pany proceeded to Elmira, one of the depots for assembling troops, where a regiment was organized, mostly of Jefferson county troops. William C. Browne became colonel of the 35th N. Y. Volunteers, and Captain Potter lieuten- ant colonel. On the promotion of Captain Potter, Lieutenant Winslow was commis- sioned captain. In July the regiment passed through Baltimore on its way to the capital at Washington. Only a few days before, Massa- chusetts troops had been cowardly shot down in the streets of Baltimore, while on their way to Washington, and great excitement pre- vailed when the splendidly-equipped and gal- lantlv-marching 35th regiment passed through that disloyal and decidedly pugnacious city. The first file of Co. A on that day was com- posed of D. M. Evans, W. W. Enos, A. D. Shaw and Milton Converse. On the resigna- tion of Lieut. Col. Potter, in August, 1861, Captain Winslow was promoted to the vacancy. Col. Winslow was a daring, energetic and brave officer, and kept the rebels on the alert in front of his command. He participated in all the marches of the regi- ment to relieve General Banks at Cedar Moun- tain, and his command effectively covered During these trying experiences he contracted typhoid fever, and his health became so im- paired that he was forced to resign, in Decem- ber, 1862, receiving an honorable discharge. Rest and care brought back good health, and when the call for 500,000 men was issued in 1864, he helped raise the 168th regiment N. Y. Volunteer Infantry, and in September of that year was commissioned and mustered into service again as its colonel. The regiment, soon after its organization, joined the army of General Mcade, then making its last great campaign against the rebel army under Gen. Lee, and was assigned to the second brigade, second division, ninth corps. During the re- mainder of the campaign the regiment was actively engaged in the trenches or in picket duty in the lines before Petersburg ; took part in the affair of the 31st of October, in the at- tempt to force the Weldon railroad. On the

morning of the 2d of April, Col. Winslow's regiment led the attack upon the fortification known as Fort Mahone, in front of Peters- burg, and by a gallant charge captured the work. In an attempt to get possession of still another fortification to the left, and in the same line with the one already taken, Colonel Winslow fell, shot through the body-a min- nie ball entering between the lower ribs on the right side, and coming out to the left of and near the spine. The following letter will speak for itself, from the commander of the second division. It imperishably fixes Colonel Winslow's name on the great records of the war. It wasan unsought and unsolicited tribute to as brave an officer as ever faced a foe on any battlefield of history.

HEADQUARTERS SECOND DIVISION, NINTH ARMY CORPS. ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 13, 1865.

My dear Colonel :- It is with sincere pleas- ure I inform you that have recom- mended your promotion to the rank of Briga- dier General by brevet, for bravery and gal- lant conduct on the field at the assault on the enemy's lines in front of Petersburg, April 2, 1865. . I am very happy, Colonel, to make this acknowledgement of your meritori- ous services as commander of your regiment, and of the gallant and judicious manner in which you handled your regiment in my presence, during the engagement of the 2d of April ; an engagement that will be forever memorable in our nation's history.

With sincere esteem, I have the honor to be, yours, etc., S. G. GRIFFIN, Brigadier-General Commanding.

Col. Bradley Winslow, 186th N. Y. Volunteers, Watertown, N. Y.

His wound compelled his retirement from the army, and he returned to his home, where he slowly recovered from his almost fatal injury. Unsought by him, he was appointed a lieutenant in the regular army, in the 22d regiment of U. S. Infantry. This rare ap- pointment he declined, preferring civil to military life in time of peace. In 1868, Gov. R. E. Fenton commissioned him Brigadier- General in the National Guard, and ap- pointed him to the command of the 16th Brigade-a position he admirably filled. He was elected district attorney for the second time in 1865, and served the term of three years with distinguished ability. As a lawyer, General Winslow has won a high position at the bar of Jefferson county. He was admitted to practice in the District Court of the United States for the Northern District of New York, December 10, 1869. In politics General Winslow is a Republican. In 1856, in his early manhood, he espoused the cause of that party, and has ever since been a stalwart sup- porter of its principles. He has long since been a favorite campaign speaker over a wide range of this State. In December, 1875, he was elected mayor of the city of Watertown, which office he filled to the general satisfac- tion of all the people. He was elected State Senator in 1879, and served two years, win-

THE WAR FOR THE UNION.

ning the confidence of his colleagues, and the high esteem of all, for his integrity, dignity and usefulness as a legislator.

General Winslow has always been conspic- uous for his high ideals of public duty. No man ever questioned his business integrity, his perfect uprightness in every trust com- mitted to his hands by his clients, and his un- failing loyalty in his profession. As a soldier, and in his professional life, he has won endur- ing fame in the circle of his life-work.

ALBERT DUANE SHAW.

The limits of local history, not wholly bio- graphical, will not permit so complete a sketch of the life and achievements of Col. Albert Duane Shaw, as a man and citizen would justify. His career has been so closely identified with current events for the last thirty years in this section of our State, that its history would be incomplete without copious mention of the honorable and distin- guished part he has borne in that respect.

He comes from patriotic stock ; his great- grandfather, on his mother's side, was a major in the Revolutionary War, and his grandfather, on his father's side, although he was but a lad, also saw service under Wash- ington. His mother, Sally Ann Gardner, was the daughter of Mr. Samuel Gardner, and his father was Henry Shaw, son of Thomas Shaw, descendent of the Shaws of New Jer- sey. Albert Duane was born in the town of Lyme, Jefferson county, N. Y., December 27, 1841, and was educated in the common schools, at Belleville Union Academy, and at St. Lawrence University, at Canton, N. Y ..

The son of a farmer, and in youth himself a toiler on the farm, have given him a ready sympathy with the efforts of the farming class for improvement and the advancement of agriculture. His active interest in this behalf has won for him the highest esteem of the farmers. When farmers gather in the interest of their calling, on public occasions, the eloquent and inspiring speech of Col. Shaw, always demanded, is an inspiration, and makes the future brighter and more hopeful to all who experience the charm of his elo- quence.

In youth, in his eighteenth year, the slave- holders' rebellion, formidable in dimensions, its promoters maddened by the poison of chattel slavery, threatened the destruction of both liberty and the Union. This his patri- otic soul would not brook, and so, with no thought of gain or fame, but of sacrifice for his imperiled country, in June, 1861, he en- listed at Watertown as a volunteer soldier to serve in Co. " A" 35 regiment of New York Volunteers, being the first volunteer from the town of Cape Vincent. With his regiment at Elmira, N. Y., he was mustered into the ser- vice of the United States in July, 1861, to serve two years. His career as a soldier is a part of that of the noble 35th, elsewhere chronicled in this history. During the term of service of his regiment he was never for a day absent from the ranks of his company,

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Growth of a Century : as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894, Part 18

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