History of Clinton and Franklin Counties, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 17

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) 1n; Lewis, J.W., & Co., Philadelphia
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 922

USA > New York > Clinton County > History of Clinton and Franklin Counties, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 17
USA > New York > Franklin County > History of Clinton and Franklin Counties, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 17

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"Wednesday, 5 P.M .- We have had a sharp fight to-day. The enemy attacked our pickets this morning about 9 o'clock in force, and drove them out of the woods into our clearing, killing and wounding a number. We threw the 18th New York, 27th New York, and 95th Pennsylvania into the woods to check them, when some sbarp fighting took place and lasted until 1 P.M., when the 31st, 32d, and 18th New York, and 5th Maine were ordered to charge, which they did in fine style, driving the enemy through the woods and out of their positions. Our batteries threw a few shells into the woods, but not knowing the enemy's position, it was blind work for them. About noon the enemy stationed a battery on the river-bank, about a mile below us, and threw some shot and shell amongst our shipping, but without damage to us. A few shells from our gunboats soon drove the battery back. During the day our regiment was (I think unfortunately for us) di- vided. As I have said before, five companies-Companies A, B, F, G, and K-were sent out ou picket, and they did not joiu us again until the fight was over. Tho other five companies, of which mino was one, were ordered to protect a battery which was iu position abont "thirty rods from the woods where the enemy were posted, but could do no work except to shell the woods, as the enemy did not show themselves out of the woods during the day. Of the companies on picket, Companies A, B, and K were on the west side of the clearing, and saw no enemy, but Companies F and G wero posted where tho enemy first mado the attack, and were driven out by tho overwhelm- ing uumber of the enemy after a stubboru resistance aud somo loss. Company F lost one corporal and two privates killed, ene corporal and one private wounded, und three privates missing. Company G lost threo privates killed, four privates wounded, and Capt. Curtis, commanding, severely wounded in the side. Tho missing of Com- pany F wero probably wounded and enrried off by the enemy. Cupt. J. K. Gilmore commands Company F, and is a fine officer. Ile met with some very narrow esenpes during the day. Both Capts. Gilmore and Curtis sny their men fonght well, and wo aro proud of it. The 18th, 31st, and 32d New York, and 5th Maine fenght bravely. Our wholo loss is about thirty killed and one hundred and thirty-five

HISTORY OF CLINTON AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES, NEW YORK.

wounded and missing. We have about eighty wounded in hospital, and others are still being found and brought in. It is all quiet this eveuing. We hold the battle-ground of the day with a strong force ; do not know where the enemy have gone. Troops have beeu landing here all day from down the river, so that we must have some thirty thousand men here now. Part of MeClellan's force took steamers at Yorktown, and have come up this way.

" Thursday, May 8th, 10 A.M .-- All quiet last night and this morning. Troops still landing here from down the river. The village and sta- tion of West Point is ahout three-quarters of a mile to the north of us and across a creek. We can hear the cars running on the railroad over there. We have possession of the place. In the fight of yes- terday it was not the intention of Gen. Franklin to drive the enemy hy attacking them in large force, hut rather to keep them here by skirmishing with them until Gen. MeClellan should come np the other side of them ; how the plan succeeded I cannot say, hut Gen. Franklin appears to he well satisfied with the state of things. We are just sending up a balloon for the purpose of seeing, if possible, where the enemy arc. My boys are well. There was not a sick man in the com- pany yesterday when there was a chance of something to do. The weather is pleasant. The fresh air is doing us all good after being ahoard ship so long."

Gen. Franklin complimented the division in the following general orders from headquarters :

" HEADQUARTERS OF DIVISION, WEST POINT, May 10, 1862 .- The general commanding congratulates the officers and men of the com- mand upon their gallant conduct and success in the action of the 7th inst., near West Point. Landing on a hostile shore, with no knowl- edge of the country iuland or of the force that would he likely to op- pose them, they were attacked by the enemy with immense superiority of numbers before the landing was completed. They not only re- gained their ground after having heen repulsed, but gained an ad- vanced position, from which they could not be driven hy all the efforts of the enciuy. The commanding general expected much from this division, and it has so far come fully up to his expectations. So good a commencement augurs well for the final reputation of the division and the success of the cause.

" By order of Brig .- Gen. Franklin."

Gen. Whiting's Texan division and Wade Hampton's South Carolina Legion formed a part of the rebel forces here engaged. The Union loss in this battle was ten killed and forty-nine wounded ; of this number six killed and six wounded were of the 16th New York.

May 23d, Gen. Franklin was put in command of the 6th Provisional Corps, consisting of the divisions of Gen. H. W. Slocum and W. F. Smith. Gen. Slocum now commanded the division (1st) formerly commanded by Gen. Franklin, and Gen. Bartlett took Gen. Slocum's place as commander of the 2d Brigade.

The march of the Army of the Potomac up the Peninsula to White House, which Gen. McClellan intended to make a base of supplies, occupied the time from the 9th to the 16th of May.

Here within a circuit of four miles the whole grand army of one hundred thousand was encampcd, the entire encamp- ment being visible from an cminence on the Pamunkey. It remained three days, and then again advanced towards Richmond. On the 23d the battle of Hanover Court-House was fought, and the last of May and first of June the bat- tles of Fair Oaks and Seven Pines. The advance posts of the army were at this time within four miles of Richmond. Our troops could hear the church-bells and see the spires of the city. After thesc battles it was decided to change the base of supplies to the James River, and the month of June was spent in effecting this.

On the 27th of June the battle of Gaines' Mills was

fought. About noon of that day the rebels attacked Gen. Porter. At three P.M., all his forces being engaged, he called for reinforcements, and Gen. Slocum's division was sent to his assistance. Greeley says,-

"Slocum's division of the 6th Corps arrived on the field at 3.30, after our position had heen assailed in force at every point, and after McCall's division had heen ordered up to support our sorely-pressed front. So urgent and instant was the pressure that Sloeum's division had to be divided and sent hy hrigades, and even regiments, to the points where the need of aid seemed greatest, Bartlett's brigade going to the help of Sykes on our right while a portion of Newton's was sent in between Morell and Sykes. . .. Our loss in this action prohahly exceeded six thousand killed and wounded."

Abbott says,-

" Probably no battle on earth was fought more fiercely. The Union forces engaged numbered thirty-five thousand, the rebel, seventy thousand. The rebels were directed by Lee, and led hy Longstreet, the Hills, Stonewall Jackson, and Ewell."

The muster-roll of the 16th Regiment, dated White Oak Swamp, Va., June 30, 1862, contains the following record :

" The regiment has been engaged with the enemy three times since last muster. First, on the 7th of May, at West Point, in which it lost six killed, six wounded, thirteen missing. Second, June 27th, Gaines' Mills ; loss, killed thirty-one, wounded one hundred and forty-nine, missing thirty-one. Third, June 28th ; loss, wounded nine. At the battle of Gaines' Mills, June 27th, Col. Howland received a severe flesh wound in the thigh, Lieut .- Col. Marsh was mortally wounded, Lieut. R. P. Wilson, assistant adjutant-general, was severely injured hy the concussion of a shell bursting near his head."

Among the commissioned company officers, First Lieut. Alanson M. Barnard, Company H, was killed ; First Lieut. John McFadden, Company K, of Beekmantown, N. Y., was mortally wounded; Capt. Warren Gibson, Company H, was shot through the head, causing total blindness ; and Second Licut. Pliny Moore, of Company C, acting adjutant, was wounded in the arm.

The following list of casualties in his company is ex- tracted from a letter written by Capt. Palmer :

" Lieut. Pliny Moore, acting adjutant, wounded; Thomas Myers, John McCafferty, Rohert Collins, John Fielders, killed.

"Lyman T. Nay, Jacob Rugar, Corp. Thomas Clark, Levi Good, fifer, missing and not knowu to be wounded.

" William Thompson, Wesley Hull, Mitchell Bully, O. Washburn, L. Torrey, William Dominy, all wounded severely, and Patrick McKeown sick, were left in hospital and are now missing.

"Corps. Robert Lucas, John Ford, John Moffitt, and privates Elijah Vegan, Marion F. Williams, C. Buchor, J. J. Clark, and John Lapan were wounded and sent off hy steamer.

" Corp. Joseph Puttian, C. Lucas, William Townseud, H. Rohinson, J. Rohinson, John Howe were wounded slightly and are now doing duty in the regiment. Others were hit and hruised in various places, but the balls and pieces of shell did not enter the flesh. Our loss was all sustained on Friday, 27th. The regiment fought a whole brigade of the enemy for three hours, doing terrible execution, driving them repeatedly, and capturing two of their guns Our loss in the regiment was thirty-six killed and nearly two hundred wounded and missing. Col. Howland was wounded in the thigh, but would not leave the field until the fight was over. Lieut .- Col. Marsh was shot through the neck, and has since died. Both Col. Howland and Lieut .- Col. Marsh are most enthusiastically praised hy the whole regiment. Col. How- land was as cool as on drill. The 16th has fought hard and well, and was the last to leave the field on Friday, and left in order. The colonel tells the boys he was perfectly satisfied with their conduct. The army is now lying in front of Harrison's Landing, on the James River, well organized, and ready to fight any day or hour. No fighting since Friday to speak of. The officers near my company say the boys he- haved like heroes and never faltered. All I have to he sorry for is the loss of so many brave spirits. If there was any chance of par-

MILITARY HISTORY.

ticularizing the conduct of any of my boys, without doing injustice to othors, I would do it, hut they all behaved like heroes.

"The colors were shot down nine times, and were repeatedly pieked up by my boys outside the color-guard, only to be leveled to the ground again by the apparent concentrated fire of the enemy. Corp. Moffitt got his wonnd while holding them, as did three others of my company. They would all have been shot down rather than have left the colors in the hands of the enemy. The color-guards, eight in number, were all but one wounded, and my men had to bring the colors off the field. They show many marks of balls and shells, and it is an honor to carry them.

" Please tell Mr. Robinson that his two sons were the bravest of the brave, and both show marks of their courage on their persons, both slightly wounded, but still doing their full share of duty in the eom- pany. Thomas Myers, who was killed, was cool and brave, and while doing his own duty, like a hero cheered on the others to do theirs. The men all speak highly of his conduct, and mourn his loss, as they do the others who were killed. Myers lived at the prison ; tell Mr. Parkhurst of his couduct. The services of Sorgt. IIare were invalu- able ; he deserves a much higher position in the army."

The following manly letter breathes the same spirit that ran through all those now so frequently received, inquiring for " my boy" or "my boys" :

" I pray you take pains with them as your own children. For me, I cannot do anything for them now, and I ask you to take all the possible care for them that you would if they were your boys. Dear sir, I ask you if either of my sons dies or is wounded, if it is possible, to send them home, for I would have the pleasure of seeing them living or dead."

Alas ! only one returned to cheer the father's heart; the other fell on the field of Chancellorsville in the spring of 1863.

Gen. McClellan, after the battle of Gaines' Mills, decided to leave the Peninsula, and accordingly ordered the army back. . On the 28th of June, Gen. Slocum's division held Savage's Station ; at four P.M. the army was attacked, but repulsed the enemy, the 16th Regiment losing nine wounded. On the 29th they were ordered to fall back and cross White Oak Swamp. On the 1st of July our army was all at Mal- vern Hill. Here it was attacked by all the rebel forces about three P.M., but the rebels were not able to force it from its position, and night found our troops the victors on a hard-fought field. Gen. McClellan, who had been absent during the day, returned at evening and ordered them to leave their situation and to fall back to Harrison's Bar, seven miles down the James.

Abbott, speaking of their retreat from near Richmond to Harrison's Landing, says,-

" The heroic struggles of the rear-guard can never be fully known. Hooker fought until his men dropped around him from sheer ex- haustion. Slocum relieved him. When his men were worn out Sedg- wick came to the rescue. And the chivalric Kearney pierced with his impetuous columns tho very centre of the rebel lines. Thus the rear presented an impenetrable shield to protect the retreating army."

Mcclellan's army was withdrawn from Harrison's Land- ing August 16tlı, going to Yorktown, Newport News, and Fortress Monroc. From thence they were ordered to form a junction with Gen. Pope's army, and Gen. Franklin's corps embarked on the 22d of August at Fortress Morroc for Alexandria. Thus ended the Peninsula campaign.

During this campaign the pestilential odors exhaling from the swamps through which our army was compelled to march were almost as fatal to our soldiers as the shot and shell of the enemy. Stricken down with fever, our

brave men were sent back to the hospital transports at White House. Here the patriotic women of the North ministered to the wants of the sick and wounded. Mrs. Howland, wife of Col. Howland, of the 16th Regiment, and her sister, Miss Georgiana Woolsey, werc on board one of these steamers, and attended to the sick and wounded of the regiment who came under their care with all the devo- tion a sister could have manifested. These ladies werc members of a family indefatigable from first to last in their endeavors to alleviate the sufferings of our army. The inother, Mrs. Woolsey, of New York, and the four daugh- ters, Mrs. Joseph Howland, Mrs. Robert Howland, and the Misses Georgiana and Jane Woolsey, were all engaged in this noble work. They tendered the hospitalities of their home in New York to the sick and wounded of the 16th as they passed through that city to their Northern homes. They labored in camp, in hospital, and on the battle-ficld. After the battle of Chancellorsville the Misses Woolsey brought fruit and flowers and tempting delicacies to the wounded of the 16th Regiment in the hospitals at Fal- mouth and Georgetown. The words of a wounded soldier were, " It does a sick man good to see onc of that family." To-day their labors are gratefully remembered in many a Northern home.

In " Woman's Work in the Civil War" is an interesting article giving some account of the labors of these patriotic and talented ladics ; from it I copy the following graceful tribute to Mrs. Joseph Howland, written by a member of the 16th Regiment, who had been under her care on one of the hospital transports at White House :

" From old St. Paul till now, Of honorahle women not a few Have left their golden ease, in love to do The saintly work which Christ-like hoarts pursue.

" And such an one art thou ! God's fair apostle, Bearing his love in war's horrific train ; Thy blessed feet follow its ghastly pain, And misery and death without disdain.

" To one borne from the sullen battle's roar, Dearer the greeting of thy gentle eyes, When he, aweary, torn, and bleeding lics, Than all the glory that the victors prize.

" When peace shall come and homes shall smile again A thousand soldier hearts, in Northorn elimes, Shall tell their little children in their rhymes Of the sweet saints who blessed the old war times. "ON THE CHICKAHOMINY, June 12, 1862."

Owing to the wound rceeived at Gaincs' Mills, and subse- quent illness, Col. Howland was unable to again rejoin the regiment. He was a gallant officer, and much beloved by those under his command.

July 4, 1862, Major Scaver was appointed lieutenant- colonel of the regiment in place of Lieut .- Col. Marsh, who had died of his wound reecived at Gaines' Mills. Capt. Frank Palmer, of Company C, was appointed major. In August, Assistant-Surgcon John H. Moocrs resigned, and was appointed surgeon of the 11Sth New York Regiment.

August 7th, Dr. C. C. Murphy was made assistant sur- gcon in place of Dr. John H. Mooers, resigned.

From Alexandria, Gen. Franklin's corps marched to

HISTORY OF CLINTON AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES, NEW YORK.

Anandale and Centreville to join Gen. Pope, but the delay in sending troops forward prevented their arriving in time to take part in the battle which took place on the 29th.

The rebels, elated by their success at this time, deter- mined to cross into Maryland and try and win that State for the Southern Confederacy. Accordingly, Gen. Lee moved the main part of his army forward to Leesburg, thence to the Potomac, crossing at Nolan's Ford, and pushed up as far as Frederick, Md., which it entered Sep- tember 6th. There it remained three days, then marched to Hagerstown.

Hearing that the Union army was in pursuit, " to secure his line of retreat and to gain an important position for de- fense he resolved to capture Harper's Ferry." Three di- visions were detached from his army to effect this, with orders to rejoin the main army at Boonsboro' or Hagers- town as soon as they had accomplished their purpose.

Gen. McClellan pursued the rebel army, reaching Fred- erick on the 12th, two days after its evacuation by the rebels. Gen. Pleasanton drove the rear part of the rebels over the Catoctin Hills to the base of South Mountain, where the rebels were strongly posted. Here two engage- ments took place at the same time,-one at Turner's Gap, under Gen. McClellan, the other at Crampton's Gap, under Gen. Franklin. The latter pass was important as defend- ing the rebel flank, and it was necessary that it should be carried by the Union army in order to relieve Harper's Ferry.

The battle of Crampton's Gap is thus described by Abbott :

"Slocum's division occupied the right of the Union line, while his left was covered by Gen. Smith's division. Slocum's three brigades were ordered to charge up the heights on the right. They obeyed with alacrity, and soon came upon a small body of the enemy posted behind a stone wall which ran along near the base of the mountain, Here, in a hand-to-hand conflict of nearly an hour, the rebels firmly stood their ground, till, yielding to the steady pressure of our daunt- less soldiers, they were routed and driven up the acclivity. Having reached the higher ground where their battery was stationed, they turned upon our troops, panting in their pursuit up the slope. But, unable to resist the impetuosity of the patriot assault, they again re- treated, withdrawing their artillery en echelon, till they gained tbe summit of the ridge, where they were prepared to make a still more determined stand.

"Flushed with success, the Union troops, closing up their greatly diminisbed ranks, still preserved their line of attack, and rushed in a brilliant charge upon the strong front of the foe. At length the rebels could no longer withstand the series of spirited charges which the pa- triot soldiers made, and breaking, they fled in great disorder over and down the mountain-sides. They left in the hands of the victors four hundred prisoners, four regimental colors, one cannon, and three thousand stand of arms."

From the Herald report the following extract is taken :

" But little over five thousand troops were engaged on our side, comprising Slocum's division of Franklin's corps. The rebels en- gaged were principally from the division of Gen. MeLaws. It was a brief and brilliant battle, and resulted in a signal success for us, as the enemy was driven from the town on the eastern slope of the South Mountain completely over the mountain, and lost upwards of four hundred killed and wounded, and five hundred taken prisoners.

" Two regiments of Bartlett's brigade-the 5th Maine and 96th Pennsylvania-were sent forward as skirmishers through the village and up the lower slopes, driving the enemy's pickets before them. On the slopes they were supported by the 16th and 27th New York, also of Bartlett's brigade. This force steadily advanced up the mountain, fighting all the way, until the enemy's main body was

found and its position correctly ascertained. Never was there a placo better adapted for defense than the eastern slope of South Mountain at Crampton's Gap. The roadway is narrow, and winds up the mountain in long reaches, which could be so swept by grape-shot that nothing could live there. Apart from the road the side of the moun- tain is so steep and rocky that it is only with great difficulty one can climb it. At the foot of the steep part of the hill the rebel infantry was posted behind stone walls, as it was also on other parts of the mountain, and the only point at which we could attempt to scale the place was swept by eight pieces of artillery, yet our gallant fel- lows struggled up with glorious courage, while the foe above poured down upon them a perfect storm of balls, drove tbe foe from the very summit of the hill, and sent him flying down the farther side in one wild stampede. Nearly the whole of the Cobb Legion was taken, with their colors, inscribed, 'Cobb Legion, in the name of the Lord.' The colors of the 16tb Virginia Regiment were also taken."

Lieut .- Col. Seaver's official report is as follows :

" CAMP NEAR WILLIAMSPORT, MD., Sept. 22, 1862.

" LIEUT. R. P. WILSON, A. A. A. GEN., 2D BRIGADE, GEN. SLOCUM'S DIVISION.

"SIR,-I have the honor to report, on Sunday, September 14th inst., this regiment, preceded by the 96th Pennsylvania Volunteers, marched from its bivouac, crossing the Catoctin Mountains and pass- ing the little village of Jefferson about 12 M., soon after which we were halted for a brief rest. On resuming the march, the 96th Penn- sylvania Regiment, under Col. Cake, was thrown forward as an ad- vance-guard, and on approaching the village of Burkittsville, and within sight of the enemy's pickets, the brigade was drawn up on tbe left of the road, and the 16th Regiment was ordered to support the 2d United States (Capt. Upton's) Battery. From this position the brigade was again moved forward, and I received an order to follow in rear of the 121st New York Regiment, which I did until we reached the outskirts of the village, when I was assigned a position in the rear of the 27th New York Volunteers, and the brigade moved to the right of the road and rested in a ravine until about 2.30 P.M., when we were again ordered to advance for the purpose of storming Cramp- ton's Pass, on South Mountain, where the enemy had taken up his position. Advancing a few hundred yards under cover of a hedge and cornfield, we were formed in line of battle, with the 5th Maine Regiment on the left, and the 27th New York thrown forward as skir- mishers. In this position we advanced about six hundred yards to the crest of a knoll, and to within short rifle range of the enemy, who were in force behind a stone wall, and in the wood skirting the base of the mountain, the enemy's cannon in the mean time keeping up a steady fire upon our lines. Here we opened upon them, and con- tinued a brisk fire for nearly three-quarters of an hour, suffering se- verely from the fire of the enemy in their superior position, when we were relieved by the 32d New York Regiment, of Gen. Newton's brigade. We had rested but a few minutes when Col. Talbot's brigade was brought up and ordered to charge upon the enemy. They were immediately followed by Gen. Newton's brigade, and the 16th New York and 5th Maine Regiments, forming now the third line, immediately advanced with fixed bayonets and ringing cheers. The enemy opened with great fury upon us with cannon and musketry. As we gained the base of the mountain I found myself directly op- posed to the enemy, who were pouring upon us a deadly fire from the cover of the woods. Rallying my men, with the aid of Maj. Palmer, wbo behaved in the most heroic and commendable manner, I ordered · them to charge into the woods, which was done, driving the enemy before us, the troops on our right and left advancing at the same time. We soon cleared the first slope of the mountain and pressed forward towards the Pass. As we gained the crest of the first hill I observed a line of battle formed in a road which led around the brow of the hill, and ordered the men to cover themselves and fire as rapidly as possi- ble. This was done with good effect. Our fire, increasing as the men came up, soon broke the rebel line, and they fled precipitately. They were pursued as rapidly as the men could climb the hill, and at sun- down we had carried the Pass and won the day. As night closed upon the scene I found myself on the beight on the right of the Pass, in company with Col. Cake, 96tb Pennsylvania, Lieut .- Col. Myers, and Maj. Maginnis, 18th New York, and a portion of the 32d New York ; these, with Maj. Palmer, 16th New York, were the only field-officers present at that point. Subsequently, and in obedience to orders, the 16th Regiment was moved to a point on the road passing through the

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History of Clinton and Franklin Counties, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 17

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) 1n; Lewis, J.W., & Co., Philadelphia Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & co. Number of Pages: 922

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) 1n; Lewis, J.W., & Co., Philadelphia
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 922