History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume I, Part 114

Author: Downs, John Phillips, 1853- ed. [from old catalog]; Hedley, Fenwick, Y., joint ed. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Boston, New York [etc.] American historical society, inc.
Number of Pages: 649

USA > New York > Chautauqua County > History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume I > Part 114

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The 187th Regiment, Infantry, was recruited by Col. James R. Chamberlain, succeeded by Col. John Mc- Mahan, with headquarters at Rochester, in September, 1864. It was organized at Rochester and went into serv- ice as one-year men. Its first company came from the 183rd Regiment, as before stated. Chautauqua county furnished one or more men from Villenova, the only town represented.

The 188th Regiment, New York Volunteers, was re- cruited by Col. William F. Bevens, in September, 1864, and like the later regiments was composed of detach- ments. It was organized at Buffalo, nine companies only being recruited. Chautauqua county furnished men from Dunkirk, Harmony and Pomfret. They went into the service as one year men. The regiment did good service, and was mustered out July 1, 1865, near Wash- ington, D. C. It lost during its term of one year a total of 47 men.

A number of independent companies being organized in the State were incorporated into the 194th, the 21st Inde- pendent Company of Westfield being represented. It was organized at Elmira, and mustered in at different times, as they were recruited. They were mustered out and honorably discharged where they were mustered in, May 3 and 10, 1865. Seven enlisted men died of disease.

The companies and regiments sent into the field of course became largely depleted by death or sickness, and the later enlistments were for filling the ranks. In gen- eral terms, Chautauqua county furnished of its own citi- zens for the war 4,000 men. Most of these served in companies regularly organized within the county, a few here and there, possibly one hundred, enlisting outside our county limits.

DRAFTS, 1863-Under the call for men in August, 1862, an enrollment of those supposed to be liable to draft was made by the supervisor of each town in the county, and a commission appointed by the Governor for the pur- pose. From this enrollment the draft of August, 1863, was made. The call was for 300,000 nine months' men, and the quota for the county was 903. Under act of Congress of March 3, 1863, the President was authorized after July I to make draft at his discretion of persons to serve in the national armies for not more than three years, any one not reporting for service to be considered a deserter. A commutation of $300 was to be received in licu of such service, and there were exemptions provided for heads of executive departments ; Federal judges; Gov- ernors of States; the only son of a widow or of aged or infirm father dependent on that son's labor for support ; the father of dependent motherless children under twelve years, or the only adult brother of such children being orphans; or the residue of a family which has already two members in the service.

The draft was in a decided sense a failure, commuta- tion money flowed into the coffers of the government, but men were not thus to be caught-the idea of con- scription was odious. In this county the draft was not interfered with-very little attention was paid to it, it was allowed to go through with little concern, nearly every man finding in some provision of the law a way of escape if he should be so unfortunate as to draw a prize

in the lottery of flesh and blood. Further drafts were ordered until the number of men with commutations should reach the number required, but was delayed from time to time on request to allow towns to fill the require- ment by voluntary enlistments if they chose or could do so. But a second or third draft was made necessary in but a few of the towns in the county, most of them eventually filling the quota. Of the quota for this county, 903, but 108 were secured and reported. A single man out of the town of Portland out of forty- seven, reported for duty. The report made to the county committee was a sorry looking document. But a better spirit eventually prevailed and by the 5th of January following and mostly in December, the quota was filled.

The families of soldiers were not forgotten. Citizens' meetings were held from time to time, always largely attended, and men, some of them old and gray, stood up and volunteered to care for the family of some son or daughter for the term of enlistment or for the war, if a son or daughter's husband would enlist as one of the county's defenders. Comparatively little, however, was called for in this direction, most families of the soldiers caring for themselves, or were the recipients of private contributions from friends.

The boys in blue from Chautauqua county, with grate- ful hearts we remember their sacrifices and "deeds of valor done, and will never fail to do them reverence so long as one lingers among us, and though few marble shafts have been raised to commemorate their deeds and keep in remembrance those who fell in the fearful con- flict or sickened and died away from kindred or home, yet their memories are faithfully enshrined in the heart of every citizen of the county and the heart is softened and made better by the kindlings that spring up as we stand about the graves of the fallen, or call to remem- brance the many virtues of our brave country's de- fenders."

The following is an item of interest taken from the Jamestown "Journal," dated September 11, 1920:

Forty-eight survivors of the 112th New York Volun- teer Infantry and the Seventh Company of Sharp- shooters attended the annual reunion held Saturday in the Grace United Brethren Church on North Main street. Although the enrollment was within one of the registration for the 1919 reunion, Secretary L. L. Hanchett announced that the death of 25 members of the regiment had been reported to him since the gathering in Fredonia last year.

The majority of the old soldiers present assembled at the church before noon and spent an hour or more in visiting and exchanging reminiscences. A sump- tuous dinner was served by the Philathea Class of the church, and there were present, in addition to the vet- erans, members of their families and widows of the 112th and sharpshooters.

The annual business meeting was called to order by the president, E. A. Dutcher, of Jamestown. Rev. M. V. Stone, chaplain, offered prayer, after which a cordial welcome was extended to the veterans by Rev. N. J. MacIntyre, pastor of Grace U. B. Church. Rev. Mr. Stone made the response. Secretary Hanchett read the honor roll and also letters of regret from Rev. Lucius Markham, of Pasadena, Cal., formerly of Jamestown, Crosby B. Sweet, of Pioneer, O., and Dexter F. Allen, of Wisconsin.

The election of officers resulted in the choice of A H. Stafford, of Jamestown, as president; J. A. Powers, of Ashville, vice-president; Rev. M. V. Stone, chaplain. L. L. Hanchett was elected secretary and treasurer for life several years ago. After brief talks by the new president, Mr. Stafford, and E. E. Kelsey, of Fal- coner, of the 64th New York, the meeting was ad- journed, the place of the next reunion being left with the officers to determine. Those in attendance at the reunion were: E. A. Dutcher, Co. H, Jamestown; L. L. Hanchett, Co. L. Jamestown; L. H. Grannis, Co. A, Jamestown; Jos. Wright, Co. A, Falconer; W. R. Skel- lle, Co. D, North East, Pa .; John A. Brown, Sharp- shooters, Jamestown; Milo J. Tripp, Co. F, Panama; C. C. Thompson, Co. D, Youngstown, O .; E. A. Haskins, Co. A, Frewsburg; Frank Fromyer, Co. K, North East,

CAPTAIN ALBERT GILBERT, JR . LIEUTENANTS FRANK A. JOHNSON AND FRED H. WILSON, COMPANY E, 65TH REGIMENT, AT CAMP ALGER.

NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS OF COMPANY E, 65TH REGIMENT AT CAMP ALGER

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MILITARY HISTORY

Pa .; Samuel C. Morse, Co. D. Corry, Pa .: John A. Swanson, Co. F. Jamestown: W. H. Sears, Co. . 1. Frewsburg; Wm. Stearns, Co. H, Panama; Daniel Wil- cox, Co. S, Kennedy: W. E. Sprague, Co. B, Spring- ville; H. B. Hollister, Co. B. Jamestown; Leon G. Brown. Co. F. Huntington, W. Va .: Wm. H. Proudfit, Co. F. Jamestown: A. H. Stafford. Co. B. Jamestown; Augustus Blood. Co. G. Brocton; Alva Mathews. Co. H. Brocton; Chauncey E. Deland. Co. F. Jamestown; Rev. M. V. Stone, Co. A. Jamestown; F. K. Lyon, Co. E. North East, Pa .; J. A. Powers, Co. D. Ashville, Jason C. Smith, Co. S, Corry, Pa .; Orson R. Pease, Co. S. Long Beach, Cal .; M. A. Arnold, Co. K, North East, Pa .: Geo. W. Cranston, Co. C, Fredonia: F. J. Kazer. Co. 1. Lake- wood. Gambol Bradley, Co. F. Russell, Pa. J. A. Kins- man, Co. B, Sugar Grove. Pa .; J. It. Raymond, Co. J. Cassadaga; E. L. Harris, Co. A. Falconer; Walter Strong, Co. B, Sinclairville: Herman Sixhy, Co. E, May- ville: Leroy Lord, Co. C. Dayton; Moses Ellis, Co. K. Cherry Creek; Theo, Williams, Co. I. Stockton; J. M. Shaw, Co. B, Falconer; R. W. Beaujean, Co. E. Mel- bourn Beach, Fla .: Chas. A. Arthur, Co. A, Falconer; Christian Fandt, Co. I. Dunkirk; C. E. Blydenburg, Co. C. Hamlet. W'm. H. Winchester. Co. I, Dunkirk; D. C. Hotchkiss, Co. 1, Kennedy; Geo, Smiley, Sharpshoot- ers, Fluvanna.

There have been many reunions of veterans held in this county, but none perhaps such a complete success as the fiftieth anniversary of the departure of the 9th Regi- ment, New York Cavalry, which was celebrated in James- town, August 29-30, 1911. Major Edgar P. Putnam conceived the idea of this fiftieth anniversary, and for six months gave himself personally to the task of mak- ing it a fitting celebration. He obtained the necessary funds without great effort, and when all was over, so generous had been the giving, that nearly one-third the amount subscribed was returned to the donors. The attendance of General Daniel E. Sickles was secured, that idol of Civil War veterans, who came at the age of eighty-six, attended by two nurses, to meet again with his old comrades. Brig .- Gen. George S. Nichols, colo- nel of the 9th, June 12, 1864-July 17, 1865, was also present, as was Col. W. G. Bentley, and about two hun- dred veterans of the regiment from near and far. One of the largest parades in the history of Jamestown was a principal feature of the reunion, while the campfire at the armory in the evening was an event never to be for- gotten. At that campfire, after eloquent addresses of welcome and response, that grim-visaged veteran of many battles, Gen. Daniel E. Sickles, former commander of the 3rd Army Corps, was introduced. When the intro- duction was over and the general hitched his big chair to the front of the platform, it was the occasion for an outburst of cheers and a genuine Chautauqua salute. The general told of some of his own experiences, of the part he and the men in his command played in that struggle at Gettysburg, of a visit and prayer of Abraham Lin- coln, while tears flowed down the cheeks of the white- haired men who listened, and when he in turn was fol- lowed by another distinguished leader, General George S. Nichols, who led the 9th in battle, the enthusiasm of the veterans was at its height. Col. Bentley in his speech brought out the fact that the New York 9th Cav- alry fired the first shot, lost the first man, killed the first Confederate, and captured the first prisoner at the battle of Gettysburg. The Jamestown "Journal" said edi- torially :

The army records show that the Ninth New York Cavalry is credited with the capture of forty-five wagons and an ambulance, eight cassions. fifteen can- non, five flags, and 1,796 prisoners. Of the prisoners. 1.523 were captured in action. 259 by patrols, and 14 were deserters from the Confederate army. Where is there a regiment that can show a better record? Where is one that was more often in the thick of the fight, and at the danger point in so many battles? These brave men held back the enemy at Old Forge while Sheridan made his famous ride from Winchester. twenty miles away; they followed the fortunes of

their intrepid leader in the Shenandoah Valley cam- paign, and helped to pick victory from the very jaws of death and defeat on a hundred battlefields. They marched. they skirmished, they picketed the lines, and they grew into the very hearts of one another as they faced danger side by side.

THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR-This war was remark- able for the unanimity of sentiment that existed in the United States among all parties and classes in favor of its prosecution. The year 1898 covers the entire period of actual war. The Cuban insurrection beginning in 1895 had early drawn attention to the cruelties practiced by the Spaniards upon the Cubans, but it was not until General Weyler, the Spanish commander, starved and slaughtered non-combatants, that the United States made vigorous protest. The Spanish cruelties had increased and sentiment against them had become very strong and outspoken when on February 15, 1898, the United States battleship "Maine" was blown up in Havana harbor with the loss of 260 American lives. This fanned the fire into a conflagration, and war between the United States and Spain became certain. In March both houses of Congress without a dissenting vote passed a bill appro- priating $50,000,000 for national defence, and on Thurs- day, April 23, 1898, war was declared.

In Chautauqua county, sympathy for struggling Cuba and endorsement of the war against Spain was very strong and unanimous. At an early day books had been opened in Jamestown and elsewhere in the county for subscriptions to the Cuban Relief Fund, and the young men of the county volunteered as promptly for military service as did the young men in any former war. Presi- dent Mckinley made his first call for troops April 23, 1808, for 125,000 men, New York State being asked for twelve regiments of infantry and two regiments of cav- alry. The President, in his call on the State of New York, expressed a wish that the regiments of National Guard be used as far as their numbers would permit, for the reason that they were well armed, equipped and drilled. Of course it became a matter of necessity first to ascertain whether the companies and regiments of the National Guard would voluntarily enter the United States service; after an expression of willingness to do so in every case to be made individually, they were to be mus- tered in and would be subject to the orders of the gen- eral government. In a surprisingly short space of time thirty-five companies of National Guard in the State ex- pressed their willingness and among them the 13th Sepa- rate Company, located at Jamestown. Under orders, this company left for Camp Black at Hempstead Plains, Long Island, May 1, 1898, where it was mustered into the United States service May 17, 1898, as Company E, and the regiment to which it was attached was known as the 65th New York Volunteers. The regiment num- bered 50 officers and 980 enlisted men, under Col. Sam- uel M. Welsh, and in camp was under the command of Maj .- Gen. Charles F. Roe. Under orders from the War Department, the regiment moved from Camp Black, May 19, with camp equipage and ten days' field rations en route for camp near Falls Church, Virginia, afterward designated as Camp Russell A. Alger. May 24 the regi- ment was attached to the First Brigade, First Division, Second Army Corps. They remained there until Septem- ber 4, except a slight change of location of camp, but moved no farther south, the exigencies of the war not demanding a further increase of the army in the field. On the date mentioned, in accordance with orders, the regiment left for Buffalo, arriving there the next day, September 5, and arriving at the armory at I o'clock p. m. The armory was made a military post, named Camp Joseph W. Plume, in honor of the commanding general. An order was issued granting all officers leave of absence

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CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE

and all enlisted men furloughs for thirty days. Octo- ber 6 the regiment assembled upon the expiration of leaves and furloughs. Preparations for muster out were begun and continued until November 19, 1898, at which date the regiment was mustered out of the United States service. A member of the 13th Separate Company, Dr. William M. Bemus, surgeon, was commissioned surgeon and major of the Third Regiment of New York State Volunteers, as the medical staff of the 65th was already appointed, and served as surgeon until the muster out of the regiment, Nov. 30, 1898. He was also in command of a division hospital at Thoroughfare, Virginia, a part of the time being detailed for that purpose and returned from duty with the 3rd Regiment. A number beside the 13th Company left the county and entered the service, most if not all of them enlisting at Buffalo. A number of men also entered the navy from Chautauqua county.

After the departure of the 13th Separate Company, a military company was organized at Jamestown to take its place, Daniel H. Post, captain. This company, the 113th Separate Company, was never given an opportunity to enlist, but forty-seven men from its ranks enlisted in other organizations and were in the service. Upon the return of Company E (13th Separate Company ), the 113th disbanded. On July 22, fifty Chautauqua county men who had enlisted in Jamestown (about thirty of them from the 113th Separate Company) left Jamestown to join the 202nd Regiment, New York Volunteers, under command of Col. Ward, at Buffalo. About twenty of this group were organized by A. F. Allen, recruited by Ira C. Brown. They all became members of Company K, 202nd Regiment, and were absent on service until the spring of 1899 (nine months), returning to Jamestown, April 18, they having been mustered out at Savannah, Georgia, April 16. Three of their number had died- Thomas B. Lockwood, Carl A. Carlson, Arthur W. Hotchkiss. Company K was given a public reception and a warm welcome.

Other Chautauquans who served were: Sergeant E. W. Bucklin, Jr., of Jamestown, joined the Roosevelt "Rough Riders" at Galveston, Texas, in May, 1898, fought with them at Santiago, and was in the service until honorably discharged in September. Col. W. F. Endress, of Jamestown, was a member of Gen. Henry's staff. Maj. George R. Smith was a paymaster in the United States Army. Frederick W. Hyde, commissary of subsistence, ranking as captain, a member of the 13th Separate Company, who served at both Camp Alger, Vir- ginia, and Camp Meade, Pennsylvania.

John T. Wagner, of Dunkirk, was a gunner on the United States cruiser "Brooklyn;" Clare E. Kent, of Jamestown, a corporal of Company A, 18th Regiment, United States Infantry, and saw service in the Philip- pines; J. E. Berndston, of Mayville, also served in the Philippines.

August 12, 1898, the peace protocol was signed, the war having lasted 113 days. The next day Manilla sur- rendered and on December 10, 1898, the treaty of peace was signed between the United States and Spain.

Jamestown is now credited with the only recognized county military organization, Company E, 74th Regi- ment, New York National Guard. This company, known as the 13th Separate Company and by the honorary title, The Fenton Guards, has an honorable history. Originally a Swedish company, its organization is fully told in the work in connection with the chapter, "History of the Swedish People." They were called out for active service during the railroad strikes and riots in 1877, and during the switchman's strike in Buffalo in 1892. In response to a call for volunteers for duty in the war with Spain the 13th Separate Company left Jamestown, May 1, 1898, and on May 17, 1898, was mustered into the United States

service as Company E, 65th Regiment, New York Vol- unteers. The company went into camp at Camp Alger, Virginia, but was not ordered into active service, and returned to Jamestown in September, 1898. When called for duty on the Mexican border in 1916 the organization responded and as Company E, 74th Regiment, compiled an honorable record. The company armory built in 1892 at a cost of $38,000 is a substantial structure of brown stone and brick, with drill shed, company rooms and all the furnishings of a complete armory. Selden Bemus is the present (1920) captain.

NAVAL MILITIA-The First Division, Third Battalion, Naval Militia, New York, was organized in Dunkirk, June, 1912, with Lieut. H. B. Lyon as commanding officer. Sixty-four men were sworn in by Commodore R. P. Forshew and staff of New York in Chautauqua Hall. The militia was organized to train young men in the same line of duties as are now carried on in the United States Navy, on board battleships, destroyers, cruisers, sub- marines, etc.

In 1913 the entire third floor of the Heyl block was leased by the State and remodeled as an armory and quarters for the division. The old power house at the foot of Central avenue was also leased and remodeled to be used as a boat house. The quarters are one of the best to be found in the State for a single division of the Naval Militia.

In 1914 Louis Heyl was promoted from seaman to ensign, and later commissioned a lieutenant and assigned to duty with this division.

The division has participated in the following annual tours of duty since its organization : In October, 1912, took part in the fleet review at New York in the North river, being detailed to the United States ship "Delaware." In August, 1913, detailed to the United States ship "Ala- bama" at New York for a ten-day cruise to the Bermuda Islands ; two days' shore liberty was granted to the crew, which gave them ample time to see the different places of interest throughout the islands. In July, 1914, the United States ship "Hawk" was assigned to the division for a ten-day cruise on Lake Erie, making Put-In-Bay the rendezvous. Lieut. Charles H. Fischer, United States Navy, was detailed as instructor in handling small boats under sails and oars, ship routine, target practice and signal work. In August, 1915, the division was detailed to the United States ship "Kearsarge" for a ten-day cruise in Chesapeake Bay, where battery practice was held. In August, 1916, the division was detailed to the United States ship "New Jersey" and cruised along the Atlantic coast and gave shore liberty at Newport, Rhode Island. After returning to the North river at New York, the men were granted two days' liberty in New York City before returning home. Besides he annual cruises, the division has had a great many week-end trips on board the United States ship "Hawk" to different ports along the north and south shores of Lake Erie.

In January, 1917, the Naval Militia was federalized, and was known as the National Naval Volunteers; the Navy Department realized the fact that their training had made them man-o-war men, and they proved it dur- ing the late war. The division was mobilized April 8, 1917, and was the first to answer the call, leaving Dun- kirk on Easter Sunday, 1917. They were sent to the Federal rendezvous at Philadelphia, where the officers and men were detailed to different ships of the navy and took part in the great World War, some serving as long as twenty-six months. In July, 1918, the National Naval Volunteers were transferred to the United States Naval Reserve Force, putting them all under one department.

The division today has a membership of two officers and fifty-six enlisted men, and known as the Naval

MAJOR CHAS. A. SANDBURG

MAJOR A. BARTHOLDI PETERSON

COMPANY E. 74th INFANTRY, JULY, 1916 BEFORE ENTRAINING FOR THE MEXICAN BORDER

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Militia, New York and Naval Reserve Force. The De- partment of Naval Affairs has ordered all kinds of equip- ment shipped to Dunkirk for the training of young men, which includes uniforms, rifles, machine guns, one-and- three-pounders, small marine engines, boats, and boat gear. Instruction in wireless, engineering, navigation, and wireless was given. A small steamer and a ship of the destroyer type were loaned to this division.

THE WORLD WAR-Owing to the differing conditions, it is impossible to present Chautauqua county's part in the World War in such a way as in that of the Civil War. In the latter, entire companies and regiments were made up within its borders. Their members came to- gether in squads and companies from their own city wards and country villages ; they were schoolmates and fellow-workmen, and when war was on, they were familiar associates embarking together in a new adven- ture.

In the World War was an entirely different system, under the Selective Draft law. The men called and assembled under its provisions were widely distributed, and there were few instances where the soldier found in his company, perhaps not in his regiment, an old-time friend or even a casual acquaintance. The great majority of them were in various regiments in four of the splendid divisions that went overseas-the 27th, the 77th, the 78th and the 8Ist, and practically every other unit in the American army abroad included men who had known Chautauqua county as their home, and in addition to these gallant fellows, the Navy and Merchant Marine drew a considerable number of Chautauquan youth. As is remarked in "Lest We Forget," the "Record of Chau- tauqua County's Own," by Maj. A. Bartholdi Peterson :

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History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume I, Part 114

Author: Downs, John Phillips, 1853- ed. [from old catalog]; Hedley, Fenwick, Y., joint ed. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1921 Publisher: Boston, New York [etc.] American historical society, inc. Number of Pages: 649

Author: Downs, John Phillips, 1853- ed. [from old catalog]; Hedley, Fenwick, Y., joint ed. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Boston, New York [etc.] American historical society, inc.
Number of Pages: 649