USA > New York > Chautauqua County > Portland > Historical sketches of the town of Portland : comprising also the pioneer history of Chautauqua County, with biographical sketches of the early settlers > Part 19
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when they returned, they were subject to much suffering from sickness, being stationed a few miles below Black Rock in a low malarious district well calculated to engender ague and fever, from which many of the men suffered and many others after their return home. The duties of camp life, surrounded by unknown and unseen dangers, were performed with as much of cheerfulness as could be expected under the circumstances. and they with patience kept " watch and ward " over the great avenue by which the British and their "northern hordes" in an unguarded hour might rush with fire and sword and the barbarities of frontier warfare upon their defenseless families and firesides, until the danger had passed away.
" Several incursions were made by the British at different points in this county, doing, however, but little else than alarm the inhabitants, lose their men by desertion and meet with a warm reception by the settlers. Chadwick's Bay, now Dunkirk. was visited by a British armed vessel of ten or twelve guns for the purpose of landing some property that had been plundered from Lay's tavern, long known as a house of entertainment near the lake shore between Cattaraugus creek and Buffalo. A boat manned for the purpose and carrying a flag of truce was sent ashore to effect the object of their visit. Directly upon landing, twelve of the boat's crew, relishing British gold with the restraints and dangers of a warfare against freedom less than their prospects of success in a country which offered them in exchange the novelties of a fertile soil and salubrious climate with a degree of personal liberty to which they were wholly unaccustomed, bade their commander adieu and " quit the service." The officer in charge of the expedition was left with a single sailor (a Frenchman) to aid his return to his vessel. While they were parleying with the citizens resident at the place the neighboring militia, whom a notice of the arrival had attracted to the. spot, not observing the flag of truce but having their attention principally directed to the red coats of the officer and his remaining sailor, fired upon them and broke the leg of the latter. This abrupt salutation terminated the
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interview, and the officer, failing to obtain assistance from the people to row his boat back to the vessel, picked up his maimed Frenchman and made the best of his way on board." -[ Warren.] This occurred some time in 1813.
" Some time in 1814 a British armed schooner carrying eight or ten guns came into the mouth of Canadaway creek in pursuit of some smaller craft laden with salt that were on their way up the lake from Buffalo." (At that time the mouth of the creek for from 60 to 80 rods was sufficiently broad and deep to float boats of several tons burthen.) "A boat with a detachment of men was sent ashore from the schooner to capture the salt boats. At the approach of the armed vessel the neighboring militia hastily assembled and gave their visitors a reception quite too warm to make their stay agreeable and they picked up their wounded companions and fled without having accomplished their object." -- [ Warren.]
It is not probable that any attempt was made to invade any portion of the territory now included in the town of Portland, but the settlers fully sympathized with other sections less fortunate and willingly shared the hardships and privations incident to a defense of our extended frontier and our common country. The news of a treaty of peace between the United States and Great Britain, which had been concluded and signed at Ghent, in Flanders, Europe, on the 24th of December of this year (1814) was received with demonstrations of joy and as the harbinger of better days and of a lengthened prosperity. The great objects of the war were fully gained. We had learned wisdom and our national character had become established. Sectional bickerings were in a great measure forgotten and factions ignored in the great effort for common weal.
The news of peace brought repose to the scattered population of Portland as to all the frontier towns and counties. Although not the scene of armed strife and murderous conflicts, Chan- tanqua county " shared largely in the benefits which resulted from a cessation of hostilities. Prosperity such as the county
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had never known immediately succeeded. During the war not only had emigration ceased but many who had removed hither, selected lands and commenced improvements with a view to a permanent residence, abandoned them altogether upon the commencement of hostilities and the approach of danger and returned to the more populous and, as was thought, secure portions of the state.
At the return of peace the current of population set strongly to the fertile region of Western New York, which has since, through the enterprise of its citizens. become the garden of the state. The rapidity of its growth has been unexampled, and its fame abroad for the patriotism and integrity of its popula- tion, the richness and variety of its productions and the salubrity of its climate have kept pace with its growth."
For many years Portland, in common with the other lake shore towns, shared more largely in the influx of population and general improvement than some other sections. and the various improvements, conveniences and accessories of civilized life found a place with the settlers with unexampled rapidity. The wonderful advantages of a free government were largely manifest in an incredible short space of time in a rapid rebound, a characteristic of American energy, from the depressing influence of the war to a prosperity seldom witnessed with respect to the intelligence of the population, their moral and religious growth and their rapid advancement to the enjoy- ment of the blessings of a well earned competency.
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THE TOWN OF PORTLAND.
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CHAPTER XLIV.
War of 1861-First call for Troops-Second call-The response in Portland-Men enlisted in town during the year 1861-9th N. Y. Cavalry-Their Services- Services of the 72d, 49th and 100th Regiments.
It is not designed to enter into a detail of the causes of the war of 1861 or particularize with reference to its conduct or results; all these are yet fresh in the minds of the people, and are passing into history : but the inves- tigation will be confined to the part the town of Portland enacted in this carnival of blood. Whatever else may be said of the town its patriotism cannot be called in ques- tion. In this fearful conflict it poured out its blood like water, and handed forth its treasure with a lavish hand. The first call for troops was issued by President Lincoln, April 15th, 1861, the next day after the surrender of Fort Sumpter. This first call was for seventy-five thousand men for three months for the immediate defense of the seat of government, and to aid in subduing insurrectionary com- binations. Few at first responded. The people had lived so long under the conditions of peace, that the call to the conditions of war was answered but hesitatingly. The public mind had yet to be educated to such a state of things. On the third of May, twenty days after the first, a second call was made, for forty-two thousand for three years, and besides this ten regiments to be enlisted for the regular army. In response to these two calls Portland furnished eighty men. Henry B. Taylor, son of the writer, was the first in town to respond. He at once joined the 68th
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regiment at Fredonia, which proposed to move en masse, but being impatient of delay, soon left for Jamestown. and enlisted in Co. B. 3d Regiment, Excelsior Brigade, Capt. James M. Brown, May 28th, 1861. Chautauqua county furnished for this regiment, afterward called the 72d N. Y., five companies ; the town of Portland furnishing thirteen men, though not all for the same company, as follows: For Co. B., H. B. Taylor, Edmund Barber; For Co. G., (Capt. Harmon C. Bliss), Melvin Hunt, Frank Lilly, Daniel E. Arnold, Walter Bowdish, Thomas B. Culver, Peter Kinnish ; For Co. D., (Capt. Wm. O. Stevens), Redmund Riley, Alphonso Taylor, Theron D. Walden ; for Co. E. (Capt. P. Bar- rett,) John Barry, Ovette Buurr. Newell G. Burr enlisted in Co. D., 21st Regiment, N. Y. Volunteer Infantry, May 8th, 1861, for two years. Charles Grannis enlisted in the 44th Regiment, N. Y. Infantry, or "Ellsworth Zonaves ;" a regiment designed to be enlisted from the whole state, each town fur- nishing one man until the regiment was full. Warren Couch enlisted in the 6th Regiment, U. S. Cavalry, Co. G., August 13th.
In the fall of 1861 the 49th Regiment, N. Y. Volunteer Infantry, was enlisted, the county furnishing four companies, and the town of Portland three men as follows: James A. Hall, Regimental Surgeon ; Walter Burch, John Linburgh.
In the fall of the same year and early winter, the 100th Regiment N. Y. Volunteers was enlisted; this county fur- nishing one company, and Portland nine men as follows : Jack Davis, Dan Jonas, Frank Peterson, Gilbert Potter, George Shaver, Andrew Winters, William Whitney, Andrew Anderson and Wm. Bradley. The command of this Regi ment was given to Capt. James M. Brown of Co. B., 72d Regiment N. Y. Volunteers ; he finally fell at the battle of Fair Oaks, Virginia, May 31st 1862, deeply lamented.
In Angust and September of the same year, a volunteer cavalry company was enlisted in this and adjoining towns. Very little effort was made to this end, but in an incredibly
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short space of time, or by the 25th of the latter month, forty-six men were enlisted from this town alone, and the balance from other towns. It seemed to be a spontaneous movement on the part of the young men and the youngerly married men. Those enlisting from this town were, W. A. Adams, Elisha V. Arnold, Edwin Blinn, John Batchelder, Walter Bowman, Alvah L. Billings, Chester Bradley, Frank C. Bullock, M. G. Barber, Lewis H. Bailey, John W. Bullock, Frank C. Brown, Charles R. Crosby, Wolcott Colt, Henry Colt, W. H. Daniels, Wm. A. Douglass, Vares G. Farnham, Albert A. Fay, Jehial M. Grant, Halsey F. Hakes, Mark Hamlin, Orrin D. Hadden, Birney Hull, J. C. Hipwell, John Johnson, H. Wm. Mason, M. W. Bailey, Samuel Mills, John C. Martin. Frank C. Nichols, James Z. Ogden, Lewis M. Ogden, David H. Randall, W. H. Rolph, H. C. Rolph, M. M. Ransom, Geo. W. Rolph, Thomas K. Titus, Charles B. Williams, Nelson H. Whitney, Joseph G. Weld, Silas S. Williams, Charles H. Wil- liams, Edwin Wright, John Y. Young. .
The company elected Joseph G. Weld captain and W. A. Adams 1st lieutenant. It was made a part of the 9th N. Y. Vol. cavalry, and with the regiment went into camp at West- field. The regiment was mustered into the United States service on the 2d of October and left for active duty the fore part of November. A dinner and reception was given the members of the company from town by the ladies and citizens the day before they left camp for the seat of war. This part of the company was composed in the main of the better material in town, and large expectations were entertained with reference to the service it would be able to perform in the field in aid of the cause of human rights, and these expectations were realized. They were in constant service from the time they were equipped until they were finally mustered out. They participated in the second Bull Run conflict, in August, 1862; the disastrous battle of Chancellorsville, Va .. the first of May. 1863; the battle of Gettysburg, Pa., the first three days of July, 1863; the battles of the Wilderness under Gen. Grant,
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in May, 1864 ; the stirring scenes of the Shenandoah Valley, under Philip H. Sheridan, in October of the same year; in fact most of the conflicts in which the Army of the Potomac was engaged up to the surrender of Gen. Lee on the 9th of April, 1865, except the battle of Antietam.
The 3d Excelsior, or 72d, and the 49th did no less efficient service. They were with Mcclellan on the peninsula during the seven days' fight and never faltered in the discharge of duty and fully sustained their reputation to the moment of discharge. Few, however, of the original members were left at that period. The 21st and 44th N. Y. and the 111th Pa., in which some from town had enlisted, were as devoted to their country's cause and as fearless in the discharge of duty. The 100th N. Y. did efficient service in many a conflict and nobly sustained itself in that fearful battle of Fair Oaks, or Seven Pines, May 31, 1862, in which fell its gallant commander, Col. James M. Brown, and many of the best and most intrepid of its members. Of the regiment of regular cavalry to which a single member from our town, Warren Couch, belonged, the writer knows nothing definitely, or of the service performed. All the men thus far named enlisted for three years or during the war except those of the 21st and 100th regiments, whose term of service was but two years.
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THE TOWN OF PORTLAND.
CHAPTER XLV.
War of 1861, continued-1862-The Gloomy Opening of the Campaign-The Call for 300,000 Men in July-The Call for a like number in August-Military Committee-Enlistments for the 112th Regiment-Enrollment for a Draft-The Second Call Filled by Volunteering-Names of both Given-Capt. J. B. Fay and Company-Services of the 112th Regiment-Also the 154th
" The summer of 1862 was a gloomy period in the history of the war for the suppression of the rebellion. The disastrous issue of McClellan's advance towards Richmond, the wretched failure of Pope, the invasion of Maryland by the rebels under Lee, and the mistake of McClellan in not pressing the advan tage gained at Antietam so as effectually to cripple the insurgents, all had their depressing effect upon the public mind. But they had the effect also to reveal the desperate earnestness of the rebellion and the necessity of putting forth more gigantic efforts to crush it. The call of the president. for 300,000 volunteers for three years, soon followed by a call for a draft of 300,000 militia to serve nine months, electrified the whole land. It was now evident that the government was thoroughly awake to the magnitude of the crisis. Would the people respond to this call ? The answer from every state was cheering. Chautauqua county had honored every previous call and furnished ten full companies besides nearly the entire regiment of the 9th cavalry. Now she was called upon for 903 men, soon followed by a second call for an equal number, or one out of every sixty-four of her entire population." A military committee was formed of some of the best men of the county, to whom was delegated the general supervision of the
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county with reference to the raising of recruits. This committee consisted of A. F. Allen, G. W. Patterson, J. G. Hinckley, Milton Smith, John F. Phelps and Chas. Kennedy. `At a meeting of this committee on the 12th of July it was resolved to raise six full companies from this county for a new regiment, the four remaining companies to be raised by Cattaraugus county. This was accomplished by the 22d of August and each company filled. At a meeting of the committee August 14 it was resolved to raise four more companies to answer the call of that month for drafted men, and the quota assigned to Portland under the two calls was sixty-one. The quota under the call of July was 39, but the town having furnished already seventeen beyond its full quota but twenty- two were required to answer the call. The work of recruiting was entered upon with vigor, and by the 31st of August the requisite number for the town was obtained-twenty for the 112th or Chautauqua regiment and two as recruits for the 9th N. Y. cavalry. Fifteen of the enlistments for the 112th regiment were by Capt. Phineas 'Stevens, as follows : Wm. A. Judson, Alfred O. Ellis. Thomas S. Rolph, John M. Wood, Augustus Blood, Frank C. Bullock, Daniel L. Cummings, Wm. R. Laine, Charles Pecor, Harvey Potter, Jolin R. Rolph, John O. Warner, Daniel L. Burroughs, Eleazar Swetland and John E. White. Three were enlisted by Capt Frank Waters of Westfield, viz .: Peter Lawson, Wm. F. Only, Douglass Only. Two were enlisted by Capt. W. H. Chaddock of Fredonia, viz .: Wm. Chamberlain and John King Post. Capt. Stevens company was mustered in as Co. "G"; Capt. Waters' company as Co. "E"; Capt. Chaddock's as Co. "B", 112th regiment N. Y. volunteer infantry. Of the above men John E. White was enlisted under the call for drafted men made in August. Eleazar Swetland and Daniel L. Burroughs were transferred in September to the 154th regiment, the former to Co. "E" and the latter to Co. "B." Before the close of August these men with their companies were in camp at Jamestown, this county The camp had been named Camp Brown, in honor of the
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THE TOWN OF PORTLAND).
lamented Col. James M. Brown of the 100th N. Y. regiment. who had been killed at the battle of Fair Oaks, Va., on the 31st of the preceding May. The 112th left camp for the seat of war on the 11th of September. The record of the 112th is a fearful yet honorable one. It participated in the battle of Blackwater, Va., Nov. 17, 1862, and in the defense of Suffolk. Va., when besieged by Longstreet. They were sent to Folly Island, outside the harbor of Charleston, S. C., the 3d of August. 1863; from there to Jacksonville, Florida, in February, 1864, and returned to Virginia in the following spring. They were engaged in the battle of Proctor's Creek, the battle of Cold Harbor, the storming of New Market Heights, the assault on fort Gilmore, the battle of Darbytown road, the taking of fort Fisher, the siege of Richmond, Va., and a large number of engagements of minor importance. No regiment fought more heroically to sustain the identity of the Union and the honor of the old flag.
No bounties were paid those enlisting from town the first year of the war, or up to July 1, 1862, but under this call the men were paid a bounty of $35 each, raised by subscription in part as follows : Wm. Barnhart, $20 : R. D. Fuller, $20; Clark Walker, $5; Lucy Correll, $1 : Samuel Arnold, $5: M. P. Vanleuven, $3 : Samuel Caldwell, $5 : George Freeman, $5 ; Samuel Gracy, $1 ; David Granger, $2 : George T. Brown, $3 ; Ray Bentley, $1 : Win. S. Wood, $2: G. B. Cattell, $5; Addison Barringer, $5 ; Geo. Churchill, $2 : C. W. Gulick, $2; M. S. Cook, $1 ; Jolm S. Hill, $10 ; Asa Blood, $10 ; Alfred B. Mosher, $3 : Minerva Churchill, $1; Eleazar Swetland, $1 ; Sanford Swetland, $1 : Fred. Nichols, $1 : Oscar Taylor, $2 : S. M. Noxon, $5 : J. S. Coon, $15; Mrs. M. Leach, $3 ; W. T. Nichols, $5; G. M. Taylor, $5 ; Samuel Brown. $2; Isaac Shattuck. $20: J. J. Barber, $5; R. C. Blood, $5: Martin Taylor, $2 : D. H. Randall, $2; John Springsted, $2; J. E. Harris. $5: J. H. Webster. $5; David McGregor, $5: M. Francis, $5: J. C. Haight, $5; Chandler Colt, $5: Charles LaBarr, $5 : Isaac Howe, $3: Oliver Whitney, $1 ; Franklin
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Fay, $50 ; Lincoln Fay, $25; Charles Taylor, $10 ; Timothy Judson, $10; J. H. Minton, $10; Wm. Haight, $1; V. G. Farnham, $5; Milton Kelley, $2: Loyd Burr, $5; Waldo Brown, $5; Wm. Thayer, $5; Erwin Kelley, $3; W. Pratt. $5; Rufus Haywood, $50 : H. C. Taylor, $10; Stephen May, $5; Asahel Peck, $10 ; J. B. Fay, $10 ; P. Bigler, $2; Hiram Burton, $5 ; C. Barker, $5; Linus Burton, $5; J. N. Porter, $5; Lemi Barber, $5. $669 was raised, but the paper contain- ing the balance was lost.
This was in response to a resolution passed by a meeting of citizens held early in July. The committee having the matter in charge were Rufus Haywood, T. Judson, J. H. Minton, R. D. Fuller. Henry Barnhart, Warren Couch, Alfred Eaton, J. B. Fay.
Voluntary enlistment was but a slow process to fill the ranks of the army, and as before stated a draft for 300,000 men for nine months was ordered. The idea of conscription was one particularly disagreeable to American freemen and it was resolved to fill this call also by voluntary enlistment. Thirty nine men were needed. At a meeting of citizens it was resolved to pay a bounty of $100 to each volunteer, the money to be raised by tax upon the taxable property of the town, to be collected when other taxes were collected and trust to the legislature to legalize the act at its meeting in the following January. Such an act was passed on the 21st of February. 1864. To procure the money for immediate use a note was drawn, payable at the Westfield bank, for $4,200, which at this and a subsequent meeting was signed by 81 citizens and the money obtained. By the 31st of August the quota was filled. the last two being credited from the town of Stockton. Thirty- five of these men became members of Co. "E," 154th regiment N. Y. volunteer infantry-Capt. J. B. Fay. The balance of the company was enlisted from the towns of Westfield and Ripley. Energetic measures were resorted to. The people were desperately in earnest and many of the best citizens of the town enlisted for three years or during the war rather than
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THE TOWN OF PORTLAND.
endure the odium supposed to attach to a drafted freeman. That portion of the company enlisted in town numbered 33 men, as follows : Joseph B. Fay, John Wilson, Clinton L. Barnhart, Charles O. Furman, Hiram L. Skinner, Andrew Hollister, Earl Z. Bacon, Geo. Swetland, Newell Burch, James B. Haywood, Justus Cross, David T. Taylor, W. J. Osterhaut. Mervin P. Barber, Wm. H. Reynolds. Stephen R. Greene, Elias B. Skone, Charles Anderson, Theodore F. Hall. Blackman B. Fitch. Geo. H. Richardson. Oscar M. Taylor. Wm. P. Haight. Elial W. Skinner, Reuben R. Ogden, I. Milton Slawson. Elisha B. Walden, Thomas K. Bambrick. A. A. Williams, Perry Chapman, David S. Connally, Ira F. Burroughs, Robert Page. The two from Stockton credited to Portland were F. W. Denison and Christian A. Fandt. John E. White was enlisted under this call but was attached to Co. "G," 112th regiment. Joseph Cook enlisted in the navy at Erie, Pa. Myron F. Hamlin and Wm. H. Tallman were enlisted but were attached to Co. " D," 9th N. Y. cavalry, volunteers. Eleazar Swetland was transferred from Co. "G," 112th regiment, to Co. "E." (Capt. J. B. Fay) 154th regiment. and Daniel Burroughs to Co. "B." same regiment. This company was mustered in as Co. " E " early in September, 1862. and proceeded to the seat of war on the 29th of the same month. It participated in many bloody conflicts, and among them Chancellorsville, Va .. and Gettysburg, Pa. It was afterward sent south, and was a portion of the army of Gen. Sherman in his memorable march from Tennessee to the sea coast. It participated in the battle of Lookout Valley, Tennessee, October 29, 1863; of Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge, Tenn., November 23, 24 and 25. 1863 : of Rocky-faced Ridge, Georgia, May 8, 1-64 ; of Resaca. Georgia, May 15, 1864 ; Dallas, Georgia. May 25. 26, 27, 28 and 29, 1864 ; Pine Knob, Georgia. June 15. 1864 ; Kenesaw. Georgia, June 28, 1864 : Peach Tree Creek, Georgia. July 20. 1864 ; the investment of Atlanta, Georgia, from July 22 to September 2, 1864. They returned from Savannah to Virginia through Georgia and the Carolinas with the army of Sherman
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on its victorious march north from the 15th of January, 1865, to the 30th of the following March. The record of the 154th is no less brilliant than that of the 112th.
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CHAPTER XLVI.
War of 1861 continued-Draft of 1863-The Enrollment-Names of those drafted- Names of those commuting-Names of those furnishing substitutes-Names of those otherwise excused-Money raised-Re-enlistments, &c.
The operations of the army for the year 1862 were not encouraging. To recruit the army which had become fear- fully depleted the thirty-seventh Congress, on the 3d of March 1863, passed an act "for the enrollment of the national forces." This act provided for the enrollment by Federal Provost Marshals and enrolling officers, of all able-bodied male citizens, (not white only) including aliens who had declared their intentions to become naturalized, between the ages of eighteen and forty-five-those between twenty and thirty-five to constitute the first class; all others the second class-from which the President was authorized, from and after July 1, to make drafts at his discretion of persons to serve in the national armies, for not more than three years; any one drafted and not reporting for service to be considered and treated as a deserter. A commutation of $300 was to be received in lieu of such service; and there were exemptions provided of heads of executive departments ; Federal Judges; Governors of States; the only son of a widow, or of an aged and infirm father, dependent on that son's labor for support; the father of dependent motherless children under twelve years of age, or the only adult brother of such children being orphans; or the residue of a family which has already two members -
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