USA > New York > History and personal sketches of Company I, 103 N.Y.S.V., 1862-1864 > Part 12
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Comrade Tyrrell arrived at his old home April 1st. He resumed farming again at East Windsor, Broome county, N. Y., remaining there four years. April, 1870, he moved to Colesville, same county, where he still resides, conduct- ing his farm.
Married in March, 1867, Julia E., daughter of Isaac R. and Emeline J. ( Thurber ) Livingston, of Colesville. To this union were born children, viz .: Delphine N., born at East Windsor, April, 1868 (now Mrs. Scudder), Lena M., born at Colesville, N. Y., Sept. 1869 (now Mrs. Ster- ens), and Lou J., born at Colesville, N. Y., December, 1872, has been successfully engaged in teaching school since about 1SS9.
Mrs. Tyrrell, never of strong constitution physically, died September, 1883.
Again married September, 1883, to Mrs. Joanna H. ( Carroll) Livingston, who has three children, viz .: Verge D. Livingston, born January, 1875; Inez Livingston, born August, 1872, and I. K. Livingston, born April. 1887.
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JOSEPH WADE.
Joseph Wade was born in Lancaster county, Pa , Aug. 12, 1832. He was the son of John S. and Mary ( Jones) Wade, who moved from Lancaster county in 1837 to Elmira, N. Y. The father was a carpenter by trade, but the son worked mostly on farms. He was also engage:l on the canal and railroad to some extent.
He enlisted at Elmira, March 12, 1862, in Company I. 103rd Regiment N. Y. Vols., and went to the front with that regiment, arriving at Newberne, N. C., April 1, the same year.
Comrade Wade was detailed to cook for a time in his company, and was also teamster at Hatteras Island, N. C., during the summer of 1862. He was detailed as cook for Brigade Quartermaster's train at Petersburg. Va., for some time after the surrender of Appomattox C. H.
He re-enlisted as veteran at Folly Island, S. C., after two years service, and went home on veteran furlough about twenty days after the balance of the re-enlisted men from the company, returning about the last of June. 1864. He was mustered out with the battalion at City Point, Va., Dec. 7, 1865.
In the spring of 1866 he accepted a position on the Northern Central Railroad, which he held for about three years, then was employed on the canal for about the same length of time.
He learned the slater's trade, working in Elmira; was also engaged by the Water Works Company; also for Barker, Dounce, Rose & Co. in their tinning and roomre department for a number of years, then for Losey Bro. . slaters, for about six years.
He was married in the spring of 1855 to Reince. daughter of Jacob Wolfe, of Cashtown, Adams coun Pa. By this anion were born children, viz .: Samuel B deceased ; Ida, deceased ; Benjamin Franklin, born is62.
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FERNANDO WESCOTT.
Kate Belle (Mrs. Jean Arnold, of Elmira); Jessie, of Syra- cuse, N. Y .; Mary E., at home. Comrade Wade is living in Elmira, N. Y.
FERNANDO WESCOTT.
Fernando Wescott was born in the township of Hector, county of Tompkins ( now Schuyler), State of New York, July 17, 1842. His father, Amos Wescott, was born May 20, 1806, and came to Tompkins county from New Jersey in 1818. He died May 8, 1888. His mother, Sophie Ann, was a daughter of Alexander Lyon, who in 1825 settled on the Hector farm, now owned by Fernando W'escott.
The subject of this sketch enlisted January 15, 1862, at Elmira in Captain William MI. Crosby's Company I, 103rd N. Y. Volunteer Infantry, and went to the front with the company, passing through the National Capi- tal, thence to Annapolis, Md., and by ocean transport to New.berne, N. C , April 1st, same year. He was with the expedition to Evans Mills in May, and later in that month went with his company to Hatteras Island, N. C. He was with the detail of which Orderly Sergeant Wilber took command at Cape Hatteras Light House as guard during the summer, but was taken with typhoid fever, and was left at the hospital at Hatteras Inlet when the company left there September 7th to join the regiment. As soon, however, as he had sufficiently recovered he was sent north, arriving in New York City October 26.
Here, through the influence of the matron of the "Sol- diers' Home," he was given a furlough and went to his home, where he remained till January 4, 1863. He then returned to New York, was sent to Fort Hamilton, New York harbor, and from there to the convalescent camp at Washington, D. C. He joined his company and regiment The last week in March at Newport News, Va. He went to Suffolk with the company, but was again taken sick
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and was sent to the United States General Hospital at Hampton, Va., in April, 1863.
In July he again joined the company and regiment at camp near Portsmouth, Va., in time to go with his con :- mand to South Carolina, landing at Folly Island early in August. While at this place he re-enlisted, with others of his company and regiment after two full rears service. for three years more, and was granted a veteran furlough: of thirty days. Returning from furlough he was with the expedition on James Island June 30 to July 10, 1861 From this time he was with the company in its service till mustered out from South Carolina to Arlington Heights opposite Washington, thence in the Shenandoah Valley, and about January Ist to Bermuda Front in the Army of the James, till the first week in April, 1865.
The camp was then moved to Petersburg, Va., and the battalion of three companies was doing provost duty in the counties of Surry, Chesterfield and at Petersburg. Va .. till the last part of November, 1865, when it was or- dered to City Point, Va., for final muster out, which was done Dec. 7.
Comrade served four years, lacking one month and three days, and returned to his home.
IIe was married August 29, 18SS, to Mary A. Owen They have no children.
Comrade Wescott is a farmer, but with that occupation has added the manufactory of grape baskets at Hector. N. Y. He thus ends his sketch : "I am now 57 years and my time here perhaps is short, but am expectit. . when the time shall come for me to lay my work ami and join the silent majority, that there is a mansion pre- pared for me in the realms of eternal springtime, for I know whom I have believed, and He has said. "I go to prepare a place for you, and will come again chat w lis I'm you may be also," through all eternity, and hope that I may have the pleasure of meeting in the Celesti City all the members of Company I, N. Y. Vet. Vols."
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ORRIN R. WHITNEY.
Orin R. Whitney was born in Southport township, Chemung county, N. Y., Aug. 10, 1844. His father, Lem- uel Whitney, was born in New Hampshire July 12. 1810, and died Sept. 20, 1883. His mother was born April 6th, 1825,at Burlington, Vt., and is still ( 1897)living at Meriden, La Salle county, Illinois. There were three sons of these parents. The eldest served in Company B, 161st Regi- ment N. Y. Vols .. and was killed at the battle of Ceme- tery Hill, Louisiana. The subject of this sketch enlisted at Elmira, N. Y., February 15th, 1862, in Company I, 103rd Regiment N. Y. Vols., for three years, and was mustered into the service of the United States the next day by Major .A. L. Lee, U. S. A.
He went to the front with his company on March 21st, joining the 103rd Regiment at Washington, D. C .; and, aiter complete equipment, embarked at Annapolis, Md., on ocean steamer Errieson and landed at Newberne, N. C., April 1st. He was ever ready for any duty he was called on to perform, in the camp at Hatteras Island, on the march or transport; on the long march from the bat- tle field of Antietam, Md .. to Fredericksburg, Va., in the autumn of 1862, he was ever at his place in the ranks, though many fell by the wayside and were sent to hos- pital or brought in by wagon. Comrade Whitney writes as follows :
"Laying before Fredericksburg, on the hills, doing camp duty and drilling until December 11, 1862, when the great battle commenced. I was doing duty at headquar- ters (division ), and was on post when, at + o'clock in the morning, I heard the signal guus fired on one of the gun- boats down the Rappahannock river. I knew that a great struggle was now on hand, and in a few minutes nearly two hundred pieces of artillery opened fire on the old, fated town of Fredericksburg. AAll day long the bat- tle raged in all its fury. Then the army commenced to
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cross the river on pontoons; the three bridges were quickly placed, and the fierce battle was raging with all . branches of the service engaged. My company was or- dered to join the regiment, as they lay down on the bank of the river.
On the morning of the 12th of December our turn came to cross over and take a hand with the others. We did not do much the balance of that day but pieket duty, but oh ! how the poor soldiers were being slaughtered to the right, to the left and in the center. Men were being brought to the rear minus legs, arms, severely wounded through the body. At night we slept in the basements of houses, and what a fearful night it was. The cannon kept booming at close intervals, and the long roll of mus- ketry and the picket shots made the most dreary fore- bodings. On the morning of the 13th of December the outlook was anything but encouraging for the Union forces. The sky was cloudy and threatening, and most of us felt blue enough. Close in our front lay Gen. Lee's great army intrenched behind this impregnable breast- works, keeping a sharp lookout for the Union forces. Down on the left Gen. Franklin's grand division was fighting furiously, and had advanced about two miles from the river, driving the enemy slowly but surely. Then came a halt; the rebels had been re-enforced at that point, and Franklin met a most stubborn defiance, which lasted all day long. On our right was Gen. Hooker with his army, crossing the Rappahannock near Falmouth. They made but little progress, as the rebel line was so strongly defended and their position impregnable.
Our brigade was round on the bank of the river near the gashouse, near and below where we crossed the river on the pontoon bridge. About three o'clock p. m.ion the 13th; the bugle sounded the "fall in call" and we knew our turn had come for action. We filed along slowly up through the narrow and muddy streets in close column,
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until we got opposite a long racant lot, then the shot and shell from the enemy began to drop around among us at a lively rate. Major Ringold, commanding the regi- ment, gave the order to "charge bayonet through the open field to a low depression in the land formation near the railroad track. We hurried downthere as fast as legs would carry us to get under cover.
About this time our division was formed for a grand charge on the rebel lines. We were formed three lines deep and when the bugle sounded "forward" away we went for rebel breastworks and oh, my! what havoc the enemy's shell made with our men at close range. The Johnnies gave us shot, shell, canister and bullets. It did not seem as though any human being could survive such a rain of iron and lead. Our brigade consisted of the 89th N. Y. Vols., 9th N. Y Vols. ( Hawkins Zouaves), 103d N. Y. Vols., 25th N. J. Vols, 10th N. H. Vols. and 16th Conn. Vols., commanded by Col. H. S. Fairchilds of the 89th N. Y .. It was arranged that the old regiments of the brigade should lead the advance in the charge, going to the rail- road cubankment and then cover the three new regiments -the 10th N. H. Vols., the 25th N. J. Vols. and the 16th Conn. Vols., to go over the rebel breastworks, but ther met with such a terrible fusilade of musketry, shot and shell, that they broke and ran in every direction. The ground was strewn with the dead, and dying and wound- ed men were calling for help in every direction.
Such a horrible sight I hope never to see again. Dark- ness closed the dreadful carnage and we withdrew, under cover, near the city laying on our arms all night in the rain and mud.
All day the 14th preparations were made for recrossing the army to the south side of the Rappahanock and just as soon as darkness set in the troops commenced to re- cross and take up position in the old camps. This was so skillfully done that the enemy knew nothing of it and few
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NATHAN WOOD.
of our men actually knew it till we had reached the pon- toon bridge."
Comrade Whitney speaks as follows of a later trans- action while at Bermuda Front: "One night I was sent on duty down near the river (James) under the Hallett House battery, when the rebel fleet, consisting of the ram "Old Dominion," "State of Virginia" and "Drurys Bluff" came down the river having in view the breaking of the blockade and attacking our fleet which was laying in the river below.
As the Old Dominion was trying to get through the blockade she got foul on the bar and the Drurys Bluti came to her assistance. She had no more than got a lite on board the former than a gunner from a Rhode Island battery threw a shell which exploded in her magazine. literally blowing her to atoms, not a soul being saved from the wreck. It was the most beautiful sight I ever saw. There was unbounded grandeur amidst death. On our picket line we had frequent skirmishes with the rebels from day to day up to the time we left the army for home:"
He participated in all the skirmishes or actions in which his company was engaged and was finally mustered out at New York city March 18, 1865, After his discharge he began life's battle in earnest, at first by working in a nursery at Watkins, N. Y. He now hangs his shingle at New York city as Mechanical Engineer.
We here give a circumstance related by him: "After .: few days visiting I resolved to go to work and was @B. ployed in Col. Frost's nursery at Watkins with several other returned soldiers. When President Lincoln w: - killed our foreman remarked that he was glad of it. We held a council together and it was decided to hang I be Wheaton at 12 o'clock that day |April 15th. We get rope and had the knot tied and hid it in a pile of tiec- When the bell sounded the noon hour, we all assembled!
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THE FACTS PRINTING CO., JOB PRINT, ELMIRA, N. Y.
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