History of Company "K" of the 17th Regiment, N. Y. V., Part 2

Author: Dudley, Harwood A; Whaley, Alvin M
Publication date: 19--]
Publisher: [Warsaw, N.Y.? : s.n.
Number of Pages: 26


USA > New York > History of Company "K" of the 17th Regiment, N. Y. V. > Part 2


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2


The writer was sent to Seminary Hospital, George- town, after a process of trepauning was resorted to by Dr. Tice, of the 17th regiment. And now again we minst depend upon reports of others of the doings of Co. K.


The regiment went back to their old eamp near Fal- month, and remained until the next movement, which was called Burnside's "stick in the mnd," when he at- tempted to get to Chaueellorsville. Abont this time Captain Whaley returned to the regiment from the hos- pital. The expiration of the two years term of service of the 17th regiment was drawing near, and prepara- tion was made for the master-ont, and the regiment was ordered to New York City for that purpose. The monster-ont roll is dated June 20, 1863. There were nbont thirty-five enlisted men and two officers mns- tered out. Six enlisted men had been transferred to other organizations. Thirty-five had been previously discharged, mostly on surgeon's certificate of disability. Eight had died from wounds or disense, ten had been killed in action, four had left the service for canses un- known.


RETURN OF THE COMPANY TO WARSAW.


The return of Co. K. to Warsaw, was ebronicled as follows in the Wyoming County Mirror of June 17th, 1863:


The long-expected return of Co. K., of the 17th Reg- mment-the first company that went to the war from this county-took place on Wednesday last. The des- patch announcing that they would arrive bere at 8 n.m., was received only the afternoon before, and but little time was given for preparation or notifying the public of their arrival. But nevertheless, a large crowd of peo- ple were at the station some time before the train ar- lived. The committee of reception met the company at Portago and returned with them to Warsaw. On ar- rival of the train the greeting of the people was most enthusiastic, and the re-union of relatives and friends hearty enough. After a few moments the soldiers were formed in line, with muskets which had been provided for them, and a procession and escort formed, led by the band, which took up the line of march through the gulf, Buffalo and Main streets, to the Court House. Here a still larger crowd was in waiting for them. After staek- ing their arms they were addressed by L. A. Hayward, Esq. His remarks, which were extemporaneons, have been written out at our request, and were as follows:


SOLDIERS OF THE 17TH :- It is said that patience is a christian virtue, We have watched and waited for you long. The slow pro-


gress of your discharge from the service presents a strong contrast to the alacrity of your entrance into it. It took each mau of you about three minutes to enlist-it has required at least three weeks to get out of the enlistment. Somebody once said-it must have been some wicked old bachelor-that war was like matrimony, it was very easy to slip into it, but mighty hard to get out of it. However that may be, we rejoice to sce once more the familiar faces of our solchiers. The evergreens we wove into garlands for you some days ago have faded, but the welcome we bring you has lost none of its freshness, and our hearts are just as warm toward yon as ever.


Since you left us two years ago, we have watched your fortunes with unchanging interest. We have other soldiers now in the field, but "Co. K." was always the pet company of our region, for it pioneered our way into the war. Its interests were our inter- esta-its fame was our fame. In imagination we followed you in the weary and long winter that followed your enlistment. We thought of you in the hard marebes, in the tedious routine of the drill, in the lonely midnight picket, under the smitings of heat and of cold, and bearing amid snows aud sleet the hardships of a boltiet's life. We thought of you in the bard warfare of the Pe- ninsula, at Bull Run, at Antietam, at Chancellorsville, and upon the slippery heights of Fredericksburg, where the converging fires of the rebellion poured upon your unflinching ranks. From the glory and the blood of that field your commanding officer brings a wound, the effects of which are to last him through life.


Iu all those scenes of warfare your coerage has honored the homes that nurtured yon. We heard of your deeds of valor on the distant fields of Virginia, and there came back to us from the stormy fight at Bull Run, a story of your heroism that made the blood tingle in the veins and the heart swell with pride. Let me read it to yon that you may kuow how well you have been prized:


"When the enemy made their sudden and powerful advance to- ward our center, on Saturday, Porter's corps was ordered up to meet the attack. They responded with the gallantry for which they are noted. Butterfield's brigade was sent forward, the 17th N. Y. having the advance. They marched up the bill amid the fierce leaden bail, as if It had been but a pleasant summer shower. On they went, and bercer and hotter was the fire. First a battery on the right, and then another on their jeft, opened and poured a devasting fire into their devoted ranks. But they never wavered. Faithfully did they ply their trusty muskets, and they held their positions as cool as vete- raus. Officers who witnessed the scene describe it as most terrific. Storm upon storm of bullets, grape-shot, screaming shell, and great pleces of railroad iron, Were hurled into, through, and over them. Thus they stood, their ranks belag thinued at every discharge. The enemy suffered, too, and quickly sought the cover of the woods. At leugth emme the order to fall back. The line was still preserved, and at the command they moved off steaddy and coolly as if it had been but a dress parade, the infernal fre of the enemy never ceasing for oule moment. The colors were shot into shreds; both flag statts were shot to pieces by grape-shot, and three celor-bearers were shot down while bearing the tlags bravely up, but they were brought of. The regiment took 350 men into action and brought out 125."


In reading this noble reeord one is reminded of the charge of the light brigade at Balaklava, commemorated by an English poet :-


"Cannon to right of them, C'annun to left of them, Cannon in front of them. Volleyed and thendered. Stormed at with shot and shell, Bravely they stood aud well, All the land wondered.


FELLOW CITIZENS :-- The men who participated in that terrific charge-a charge at which the very nation held its breath, bo full of daring was it-the soldiers who shared the dangers of that glory covered field-are with us here to-day. It is what they may be proud to tell of for a life time. When they left us, two years since, the nation was just rousing itself from its sleep of peace, to enter npon a war the end of which no one could see and few ventured to foretell. Our flag had just gone down at Semter, environed in fire, and cloven with balls, and the enrsed ensign of traitors had riven in its stead. Oer brave Massachusetts boys, whose only crime was that they were bastening to defend the cup- ital, had been shot down in the streets of Baltimore-betchered to make a Baltimore holiday. These men, in whose hearts the revolutionary tires were yet slumbering, started to their feet, and, with the grand war-ery of the revolution upon their lips, hurried off to the field to resene the nation from the grasp of treason. Uninspired by bounties,-untempted by gaia-they went because the land was in peril.


When the Roman soldiers returned from the tields which they had illustrated by their valor, all lome was stirred to meet them. She wove for them the choicest of her garlands, and the Roman maidens of two thousand years ago welcomed them with music and song. We too, welcome our returning brave. The garlands we weave for yon to-day are the garlands of melody. The very skies, in their serenity, shower down their benedictions upon you. The colors of the flag, the red-the white-and the bine, dearer to us now than ever before-are pictured to ne in the loyal bloom of our northern maidens. I do not mean the badges they wear-I mean the decorations that nature has given them. In the red-of the cheeks; in the white-of the foreheads; in the blue-of the eyes; I see a token that God himself approves our national colors, for He has Jinked theia forever with beauty and immortality. Itome built monuments for ber soldiers. But shafts of brass my rust and fall in the lapse of time. Granite may crumble and moulder under our bleak northern skies. The monument we con- struct for you to-day is made up of earnest, grateful, throbbing


Company "K," Seventeenth Reg't, N. Y. Volunteer Infantry.


American hearts, that love liberty and know how to honor its de- fenders, and these will keep your names imperishable.


But you are not all here. Almost a hundred strong yon went ont from us-now less than forty men, browned by Virginia anns, and hardened inta men of iron by exposure and dangers, stand before ns. Many were discharged for disability; others were killed in battle, and ten fell victims to the diseases of camp life and died in hospitals. One of them-Solon G. Ripley-was sent home for burial. We laid him to rest in our own city of the dead vonder, where the hills that rim our valley around shall tenderly gnard the repose of the loved and youthful soldier. The rest of them lie under other skies unknown but honored still. These thinned ranks speak eloquently to-day.


The blood of our slain appeals to ns from their Virginia graves to stand by our country in its need. It bids as be stont of heart in the canse of the republic-to faint not-falter not-doubt not -and the storms that brood over his shall yet pass away. In its prophetie power it announces that the colors for which they fell shall yet go unmolested and victorions from our own Lake Outi- rio to the Gulf of Mexico. They shall yet rise over Vicksburg- over Galveston-over Mobile-over the spot where Charleston- was, and last, and best of all, over the caunon-scarred bastions of Fort Sumter. And to this grand result yon who are before ns have contributed your part. And, in closing. let me say once more, from my heart, welcome, welcome home, soldiers of the 17th.


Capt. A. M. Whaley replied, but we can only give the following, which does not do justice to the captain's remarks: -


MY FRIENDS :- I am in no condition to make a suitable reply in behalf of the company under my command, which yon are so gen- erously welcoming home. Going into the service without any reference to, and no expectatiem of, large bomities. We have en- deavored to discharge our duties faithfully, and from good mo- tives. We have been in some severe engagements, and the refer- ence which has been made to the fight at Bull Run, reminds me of one who lost his life there, while holding up the flag of his country. A corporal of our company, Bower, then of the color guard, had the flag staff shot off in his hands. He srized the rol- ots again and held them up by the stump of the flag staff, when he received a shot that branght him to the ground. He teroy- med, and still holding up the colors took Ins place again, until he fell again with his death wound. But he never for one moment lost hold of the flag, and died with it firmly gripped in his hand. It was to anstain this flag from dishonor that we went into the service, and to that end we have done what we could. I cannot find words to express onr thanks for this generous and bountiful reception. The solcher is a man of deeds more than words, and as I see yon have provided a table of good things for ns, I will guar- antes on the part of the company that we will do our duty there also.


THE BATTLE OF HANOVER COURT HOUSE.


The fight at Hanover Court House was described by a correspondent of the New York World, who was on the ground, as follows :


One of the most brilliant movements and achievements yet ac- complished by any of our armies was consummated with the set- ting of yesterday's sun. The rapidity with which it was done and the happy results following it, all comlane to mark it as a living incident in the history of this army's work, which history shall fitly preserve and time never wipe out.


The ontline of operations is briefly this, For some days past the enemy have been throwing forces upon onr right flank, in the di- rection of Hanover Conrt Honse, extending their pickets to Old Church, thus annoying our right and even threatening our com- mimications with our water base. It became necessary to dispose of this force, as well as to ent the communication of the enemy by the Virginia Central and Richmond and Fredericksburg railroads. A heavy force was, therefore, thrown suddenly between Richmond and Hanover, two spirited and even severe engagements fought, the enemy totally dispersed with heavy loss, our flank cleared and the railroad disabled.


Orderk at midnight were issued to each regiment for prepara- tions to march on Tuesday morning at four o'clock, in light march- ing trim, the men carrying nothing but their arms, canteens, hav- ersacks, and rubber ponchos. Morning came. Reveille heat at three a. m. A drenching rain was pouring down. Fires were smothered as soon as built, and many could get no breakfast, not even a enp of the much needed coffee, for the prospective march. Cold ratings for two days were hastily crowded intn haversacks; canteens filled with gushing spring water; cartridge hoxes in- spected, filled and twenty rounds additional given to each man. "Bayonet brightly gleaming" was all unappreciated poetry for as each brigade filed out into the deep and heavy roads, nothing but the spatter of mud and rain accompanied the tramp of the many hundred armed men. Cold, cheerless, discouraging was the weath- er. But something was ahead. Men, dismantled of all the usna] Inggage attending a regular move, felt that their march could not. be very long, and knew that something would probably come of it. So despite all the combinations of the elements, the march was taken up st a lively step, and ere the neighborly bnt sleeping divisions knew of the departure the long dark column of soldiery had disappeared and were already miles away.


Col. Johnson, of the 25th, formerly Major of the 17th, drew on the fight by a rapid pursuit of the enemy. In fact he got out of supporting distance from the main body, and for a time was in great danger of being comompletely ent off. His regiment suffer- ed a heavy loss, and the Colonel war himself wounded.


From the cool and determined stand of the rebels it was evident that they conceived the force in sight to be onr total strengthi. and that it would be an easy matter to repulse or capture it. But. word had gone to Gen. Butterfield, who speechly ordered the 17th N. Y., Col. Lansing, and the 83d Pennsylvania. Col. MeLane, into the timber on the left of the road, to deploy, and come ont well on the enemy's flank. With a burst of entlmsiasm in went both reg- iments, the 17th covering the front with a long line of skirmish- ers. In a trice they appeared in the wheat-field on the left, and with incredible rapidity formed line of battle, the 17th coming up on the right with the regularity and coolness of a dress parade, supported by the 12th N. Y .. Col. Weeks, in column by chvision. white the 83d took the lett of the line, supported by the 16th Mich- igan, Col. Stockton, in the same manner. The rebels at once per- enved the vitality of this movement. They had not anticipated it. Smprised, then confused, a well directed volley cansed them first to waver, and then to fly with all the speed at their comnand, seattering, like a covy of partridges, in every direction. Another volley picked off most of their men at the guns, when forward went the 17th with a yell, on the double-quick: the eannon were abandoned without even a spike, and the pursuit of the retreating enemy kept up for two and a half miles, to Hanover Court House. before the regiments finally brought up. Prisoners at once began to be brought in. The men of the 17th and 83d regiments hunt- ed them, and dragged them from their hiding places with great gusto; within an hour 50 to 60 had been brought in and confined in a bam.


The guns captured were 12 pound smooth hore brass howitzers. belonging to Latham's celebrated New Orleans battery, and they were Jett in good order. The limber-boxes were nearly full of ammunition, though one of them had been blown up by a shell from Griffin during the first part of the engagement. Thecharge of the 17th N. Y., upon these guns was very handsomely done. The koperior drill of the regiment was manifest in the solid and reg- nlar front which they preserved in moving forward. The officers hrhaved with coolness an unflinching valor. Major Bartram and Lient. Col. Morris, though both confined to their tents for several days previously, were in their saddles, and with Col. McLane and Lient, Col. Vincent, of the 83d Pennsylvania, signalized their bravery by the capture of numerons prisoners single-handed. Gen. Butterfield complimented Col. Lansing very highly on his achievements.


After a hot contest of three hours the enemy was driven from all his positions, and the railroad taken by our forces. The loss on our side was gnite heavy. It will not probably fall short of three hundred killed, wounded and missing. We have six hundred prisoners, Their killed and wounded is estimated at three hun- dred.


Roster of Fick Officers of the Seventeenth Regiment.


Names.


Rank.


Remarks.


Henry S. Lansing . Brevet Brig .- Gon. U. S. V.


Colonel.


Mnstered ont with regiment June 2d. 1863.


Thomas Ford Moris .


Lt .- Cols.


Nelson B. Bartram .


Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel 25th regiment N. Y. V. October 4, 1861.


Charles A, Jolmson


Major.


Promoted to Lientenant-Colonel June 20, 1862.


Nelson B. Bartram .


William T. C. Grower .


.J. Brainard Taylor


Adjutant.


Resigned July 14, 1862.


George S. Wilson


Died February 7, 1863, of wounds received in action.


Waldlo Sprague .


Mastered ont with regiment Inne 2. 1863.


Gardner S. Hawos Brevet Major U. S. V.


Q'm'sr.


Mastered ont with regiment June 2, 1863. Discharged May 1861.


Mustered ont with regiment June 2, 1863.


Azariah B. Shipman


Surgeon. ARN't SurB


Promoted to Surgeon 12th regiment N. Y. V. Sept. 15. 1861.


Highland A. Weed .


Promoted to Surgeon 25th regiment December 11. 1861.


Lewis Tice .


Mnstered out with regiment June 2, 1863.


Mustered ont with regiment June 2, 1863.


Thomas G. Carver


Chaplain.


Not mustered.


J. Newton Goff .


.....


Discharged June 25, 1862. Mastered ont with regiment June 2, 1863.


Wounded 2d Bull Run, and mustered ont with regiment June 2. 1863. Resigned January 28, 1862.


George H. Reynolds


James C. Stuart .


Roster of Company "K," Seventeenth Reg't, N. Y. Vol. Infantry


Names.


Rank.


Age.


Remarks.


Jenkins, Gideon H


Capt. Lient.


44


Served seven moutha; health impaired; honorably discharged.


Dudley, Harwood A.


36


Resigned December, 1861; honorably discharged,


Whaley, Alvin M ..


Enaign.


Jenkins, Charles V ..


Ist Bergt. 2d Sergt.


21 21


Promoted Ist Lientenant; discharged 1863.


19 Discharged June, 1863.


Jenkins, Adelbert H.


Morey, Joseph W. Austin, Frank S Watkins. Charles T.


Past, Lucien H


21 21


Promoted to Hospital Steward; served two years.


Knapp, Thomas E


Musician,


Fisk, William


18 Sick and sent to hospital; time of service not known.


Agar, Charles II.


Private.


Armstrong, George.


Armonr. George A


Ayers, Oscar C ..


Baker, George.


33 21 25


Died at Savage Station, during the seven days battle.


Wounded at 2d Bull Run; died in hospital from effect of wonnd.


Killed at 2d Bull; he was the color bearer and received the second wound be- fore he would release the colors.


Cronkhite. Henry


24


Went to hospital from Hall's Will and was discharged.


Served two years; re-enlisted, promoted 23 Lieut., wounded at Cold Harbor.


Dunbar, Mansville


Dunnell. Origen ..


27 Served full term.


21 Discharged at Hall's Hill.


Served two years.


Died of disease December 1861, at Georgetown, Va.


Served two years; wonuded and taken prisoner at 20 Bull Run.


vill. Sinnner tiraves, Frank Hastings, Lafayette E.


Hitchcock, Willard L.


Harty, Edward.


Houghton, William A.


Houghton, Simmel. ...


22


Discharged from hospital Jannary 1863.


Hodge, William.


Johnson, Jason M.


Johnson, Frank 11.


Jones David A.


Knapp, Lucien P'.


Lamphire, Frank.


Served two years; re-enlisted August 1864, and served one year and nine months. Served six months; afterwards detached as teamster; discharged Jannary '62. Taken sick and sent to hospital; discharged October 1862.


Served full term; since died.


Served one year.


Killed at 2d Bull Run, August 30th. 1862.


Served six months: discharged for disability.


Served two years, last part as teaninter.


Metzger, Michael.


Mosher, Adelbert ...


Sent to hospital from Fort Ellsworth, (lost his voice) afterwards discharged. Discharged June 220, 1863; detached as teamster last part.


Discharged March, 1862.


Served two years; taken prisoner 2d Bull Run; re-enlisted Sth Heavy Artillery. Served two years; part of time in hospital.


Discharged February 1863.


Died while in service, (at Dr. Wonder's house ) Hall's Hill, Va.


Served two years; re-enliated in Pa. legt., discharged July 16th, 1963.


Served two years; wounded at 2d Bull Ron and taken prisoner.


Served two years; part of time in hospital sick.


Served two years; wounded at 2d Bull Run and taken prisoner.


19 18 24 Discharged in New York. 18 21 Served two years; taken prisoner 20 Bull Rou. Served two years; re-eulisted in ist Veteran Cavalry.


32 18 Died in hospital at Alexandria December, 1862.


18 Sick and discharged July 1861.


39


Served six months; re-enlisted December 29th, 1853; served one year and lost an arm ut the battle of Cold Harbor July 30, 1864.


Served full term; promoted to Sergeant,


Served two years.


Served two years; promoted to Sergt. Major; wick in hospital Just part.


Served two years; re-enlisted and died while in service.


Served two years; part of time an teamster.


Discharged May 1862.


18


Discharged for disability August 1861.


Served two years; wounded at Hanover Court House. Served thirteen montha; health impaired and discharged. Transferred to Company C. =


18 41


30


Tune of service nuknown. Left the company at Alexandria. Discharged Joly 1861. Served fifteen months, hospital clerk.


Foote, Charles. Keeney, Kendrick J. L Mack, John. Gliss, Joseph. Hubbard, II. W.


Lamphire, Henry P'


Stearns, Win Streamer, John


Renwick, John. Terrill, Timothy.


=


20 19 19 34


Served full term. Killed at 2d Bull Run.


Served full term. Discharged May 10, 1862.


Discharged February 1863; re-enlisted and wounded at Cold Harbor. Served foll term. Term of service unknown: laken sick on the Chickahominy and sent back. Was a recruit, and remained after two years service; time unknown.


Tyler, James, Thorp, Arthur E


25 19


Walker, William 11 Watrone, Alfred. Warren, Otto Warren, Morris. Wilkins, Romanzo L. Wood, Edwin K. Young, William R. Little, Wm. II ..


Served two years; part of time in hospital.


Tillotson, Walter C.


Trner, America M.


25 24 Served two years; ** 19 16 Discharged at Camp Jane, Alexandria. 18 Detached for Signal Corps; served two years.


33


Served one year; wounded while on guard at Camp Butterfield, by the accidental discharge of his own gun, and discharged from hospital.


Sick of typhoid fever, at Fort Ellsworth, from which he died.


18 22 20 Died of disease June 1881.


Served two years; last part was detached to ambulance corps.


Lewis, Charles W. Lounsbery, Ira . Luther, Ellis Junior


38 19 33 28 20


Martin, George G Mattocke. Jessie J ...


24


24 18 25


Parker, Williat Partridge, Charles A Perte, Aleon. Poluund, William. Renwick, George


18 18 22


Ripley, Solon G. Suttyr, Augustus, Schneider, Henry Sheffield, Devello, Streamer. Henry Starks, Daniel. Smith, Nicholas. Smith, James H. Smith, Orlando S. Snyder, William J1.


Raymond, (bugler). Kent, Horatio, Jr. Cole, Percy . Cornell. W. H.


24


Taken sick and sent to hospital.


23 Promoted Captain; served foll term of two years; wonuded at Fredericksburg. Discharged November 1861; disability.


Beardsley, Edwin H


3d Seigt., 4th Sergt. Corp., ..


Promoted Ist Lieut .; derved full term; wounded at 2d Bull Run. Dincharged 1863.


23


Promoted to Sergeant: served two years.


Promoted to 2d Lieut .: werved two years; wonuded at 2d Bull Run.


Nicholson, Oscar.


18 Served seven montha;


18 Served two years; re-enlisted and was wounded at Cold Harbor.


Michael Kearny


21 Discharged July 1861; sickness. 23 Served two years and died from disease.


24 Discharged from sickness.


Served about eight months; discharged for disability. Served two years.


Curtis Hummer G .. Darrow, Jacob ..


19 221 Killed 2d Bull Run.


25 Served full term.


E lach, Engene.


Elwell, John ..


Ferris, Henry C. Gilbert, Giles ..


21 18 21 22 Sent to hospital; discharged January 1862.


Served two years; last of time as teamuster.


Went to hospital at Hall's Hill; discharged August 1861.


Beardsley, Alton T. Benchley, William R. Bills, Charles ..


19


Bovce, William P ..


21


19


20


20 19


35


COMPANY "K."


There's a eap in the closet. Old. tattered, and blue. Of very slight valne, It may be, to yon ; Ilnt a crown, jewel-studded, Could not buy it to-day, With its letters of honor. Brave "Co. K."


The head that it sheltered Needs shelter no more ! Dead heroes make holy The trifles they wore ; So like chaplet of honor Of Janrel And bay, Seems the eap of the soldier, Marked "Co. K."


Bright eyes have looked ealmly Its visor beneath, O'er the work of the Reaper, Grim Harvester Death ! Let the muster-roll, meagre. So mournfully say, How foremost in danger Went "Co. K."


Whose footsteps unbroken Came np to the town, Where rampart and bastion Looked threat'ningly down ? Who. closing np breaches. Still kept on their way, Till guns, downward pointed. Faced "Co. K."


Who faltered, or shivered? Who shunned battle-stroke? Whose fire WAR uncertain ? Whose battle-line broke? Gin, ARK it of History, Years from to-day, And the record whall tell you, NOT "Co. K."


Though my darling is sleeping To-day with the dead, And daisies and clover Bloom over his head, I smile through my tears AR I lay it Away- That battle-worn cap, Lettered "Co. K."



-New Bedford Mercury.


Genesee Falls Cemeteries


3 1833 02867 4643


Denton -Corners Cemetery Conosce Falls


$2.00


HECKMAN BINDERY INC.


+100


SEPT 96


Bound -To-Pleas@ N. MANCHESTER, INDIANA 46962





Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.