USA > New York > Dutchess County > History of Duchess county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 31
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The attempt to carry the rebel works at Port Hudson by assault was renewed on the 14th of June, but was, like the first, unsuccessful, though a more advantageous position was gained. The casualties in the 128th in that action was one killed and twenty wounded. Among the latter were Capt. G. W. Van Slyck and Lieut. John P. Wilkinson, Acting Adjutant, both slightly. Both were on duty within a few days.
Lieut. Col. Smith was promoted to the Colonelcy of the 128th in June, 1863, and later that year, Capt. Francis M. Keese was promoted Major in place of Major Gifford, who was taken prisoner at Port Hud- son May 26, 1863, and died from fever at New Orleans, August 8, 1863. Major Keese was from Rhinebeck, and a son of John M. Keese, then the postmaster at that place.
Col. Smith, writing from before Port Hudson July 6, 1863, at which time the 128th was attached to the Ist brigade, 20 division, 19th corps, thus re- capitulates the losses sustained by the regiment to that time :-
The number of men enlisted in the regiment was. 1,02I
The number of men mustered in the regi- ment Sept. 4, 1862, was. 993
Killed in action, on picket, skirmish-
ing, etc. . 23
Died of disease 63
Died from wounds. 2
Discharged for disability . 77
Missing 6
Deserted 62
Present strength .
2 Commissioned officers 33
S Enlisted men . 727 760 993
Wounded in action and by accident since the regiment had been in the service, nearly all of whom would return to duty, 79
The fall of Vicksburg made Port Hudson unten- able, and it was surrendered July 8, 1863. The I 28th was one of the two regiments selected from the division to occupy the place, and receive the surrender of arms and munitions from the rebel garrison. July 11th, the regiment was detailed to escort a large train of artillery from Port Hudson to Baton Rouge, a distance of twenty-five miles. The march was made in one night.
July 15th, the regiment was assigned to the 3d brigade, 3d division, (which was soon after changed to the 2d brigade, Ist division,) and left Baton Rouge with the brigade on transports for Donald- sonville, La., where our forces had been attacked and driven back. There it remained till August 2d, when it was detached and sent up the river some ten or twelve miles above Donaldsonville, to prevent guerillas from attacking or firing on pass- ing boats. August Irth it was ordered to the village of Plaquemine, fifteen miles higher up the river, whence, on the 29th of that month, it pro- ceeded to Baton Rouge, where it was encamped directly in the rear of the State penitentiary. While there the regiment was engaged in picket duty, drills, parades, etc., and their old colors, which were so much worn as to be unserviceable, were exchanged for new ones, the gift of the citi- zens of Poughkeepsie, the ladies being the prime movers in the affair. The losses of the regiment from various causes from July I to Sept. 3, 1863, were 59 officers and men.
The 128th participated with a part of Banks' forces in an engagement on Cane River, April 23.
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HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.
1864, and lost one killed and about twenty wound- ed, only three or four dangerously so.
At the close of the Red River Expedition the regiment returned to New Orleans, and was sent thence to the Shenandoah Valley, where it served under Sheridan, participating in the brilliant en- gagements which distinguished that intrepid commander.
About the middle of September, Sheridan, who had been engaged in skirmishing both of an offen- sive and defensive character, was instructed by Grant to attack Early's army, at the risk of ex- posing Maryland and Pennsylvania to invasion, with a view to recovering the use of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad and the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal. On the 19th of September, Sheridan attacked Early, who was posted on the west bank of Opequan Creek, covering Winchester, and after a fierce engagement, which, for most of the day, remained undecisive, drove him from his posi- tion. In this engagement the 128th was com- manded by Major Keese, Lt. Col. Foster being in command of the 3d brigade, 2d division. The regiment lost 7 killed, 57 wounded, and 8 missing. Among the wounded was Major Keese. "There was scarcely a man in the regiment," says Lt. Col. Foster, " who had not some portion of his clothing or accouterments struck." The colors were pierced by eleven bullets. Early rallied his fleeing army at Fisher's Hill, twelve miles from the battle-field of Opequan, and one of the strongest positions in the valley, which is here bisected by the Mansanutten Mountains interposing between the Blue Ridge and Shenandoah Mountains. Sheridan attacked and drove him from this almost impregnable position late on the 21st. The 128th formed a part of the assaulting column, and were selected to charge the right of the enemy's works, which they carried with singularly light casualties, losing only two killed and six wounded, notwithstanding the scath- ing fire to which they were subjected. The regi- ment was complimented for its gallantry on this occasion by Generals Sheridan, Emory and Grover, Gen. Emory pronouncing their charge the hand- somest thing he ever saw.
Sheridan pursued the retreating enemy through Harrisonburg, Staunton, and the gaps of the Blue Ridge. In a week, says Draper, he had destroyed or captured half of Early's army, and driven the rest southward. Having devastated the valley so thoroughly, that, it was said, if a crow wants to fly down it he must carry his provisions with him, he returned toward Strasburg, posted his army in
echelon behind the bold bluffs which skirt the north bank of Cedar Creek, and proceeded to Washing- ton to consult with the Secretary of War respect- ing the return of the 6th corps to that city.
On the 18th of October, Early, whose force had been restored to its original strength by the addi- tion of Kershaw's division, crossed Cedar Creek, and at daybreak on the 19th, under cover of a dense fog surprised and attacked the national army with great fury. They first fell upon the unsus- pecting 8th corps, whose camp was overrun in over- powering numbers before the men had time to dress themselves. They fled in the wildest confusion, many almost in a state of nudity, closely followed by the rebels. Rout and disaster to the entire army was imminent in the confusion which ensued, and a reformation of the line became unavoidable. Gen. Wright, on whom the command devolved in the temporary absence of Sheridan, who was then in Winchester, had, though wounded, succeeded in checking the advance of the enemy, and made the disposition of his forces, with which, later in the day, Sheridan achieved the glorious victory which immortalized his name. Lieut. Col. Foster of the 128th, writing from camp near Cedar Creek, Oct. 24, 1864, said, referring to this engagement : " Cer- tainly, as it has resulted ultimately, it is one of the most substantial victories of this, as it is one of the most remarkable battles of any war." The casu- alties of the 128th in that engagement were two commissioned officers missing and one wounded, and six enlisted men killed, fourteen wounded, and eighty missing.
From the valley the 128th went to Savannah, and thence to Augusta, where it joined Sherman and went with him through the Carolinas to Raleigh. From thence it went to Morehead City and back to Savannah ; thence to Augusta, which it garri- soned for about six weeks, when it returned to Savannah, was mustered out July 12, 1865, and sent to Albany to be paid off. The regiment went out with nearly a thousand men, and though it received quite a number of recruits, returned with only five hundred. The officers were : Capt. T. M. Davis, who went out as ist Lieutenant, com- manding the regiment ; Ambrose B. Hart, who went out as corporal, Adjutant ; J. Mortimer Craven, Surgeon ; Wm. H. B. Post, Assistant Surgeon ; Lieut. Crafts, who went out as corporal, command- ing Co. A; Capt. Pierce, who went out as 2d Lieutenant ; and Ist Lieutenant White, who went out as private, Co. B; Lieutenant Hager and 2d Lieutenant Asher, both of whom went out as Ser-
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THE WAR OF THE REBELLION, THE 150TH REGIMENT.
geants, Co. C; Lieutenant Armstrong, who went out as Orderly Sergeant, Co. D ; Lieutenant Keese, who went out as Orderly Sergeant, Co. E; Capt. Anderson, who went out as Ist Lieutenant; and Ist Lieutenant Van Tine, who went out as Ser- geant, Co. F; Capt. Mitchell, who went out as Sergeant, and Lieutenant Moreil, who went out as private, Co. G ; Capt. Sincerbox, who went out as Ist Lieutenant ; and Ist Lieutenant Benson, who went out as Sergeant, Co. H; Capt. Wilkinson, who went out as Ist Lieutenant; and Ist Lieut. Schouten, who went out as private, Co. I; Ist Lieutenant Speed, who went out as private Co K.
The return of the regiment was appropriately welcomed by the towns from which the several com- panies went, and in some cases was made the occa- sion of imposing celebrations.
CHAPTER XVI.
MEASURES INSTITUTED FOR THE RAISING OF A DUCHESS COUNTY REGIMENT - REGIMENTAL CAMP AT POUGHKEEPSIE AUTHORIZED - WAR MEETINGS AND MEASURES TO PROMOTE ENLIST- MENTS-GREAT ACTIVITY IN RECRUITING-CAMP DUCHESS-CHARACTER OF THE MEN COMPOSING THE I 50TH REGIMENT -- PRESENTATION OF A STAND OF COLORS-MUSTER AND DEPARTURE OF THE 150TH FOR THE SEAT OF WAR-ARRIVAL OF THE REGIMENT AT BALTIMORE-JOINS THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC-PARTICIPATES IN THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG-TRANSFERRED TO THE ARMY OF THE CUMBERLAND-THE ATLANTA CAMPAIGN- SHERMAN'S MARCH TO THE SEA-TOILSOME AND PERILOUS MARCH THROUGH THE CAROLINAS- LAST BATTLE OF THE 150TH-MARCH THROUGH RICHMOND TO WASHINGTON-THE RETURN- MUSTER OUT AND WELCOME HOME.
A MEETING of the Executive Committee of the district war committee was held August 19th, and preliminary arrangements were made for securiug a full enrollment of all liable to do military duty in the county, and for promoting further enlistments. It was also
Resolved, That, as it has been ascertained that the whole quota of Duchess county is 2,008 men under both calls, and no provision is made by the County for bounties beyond the present regiment, that we recommend an immediate meeting of the Board of Supervisors of the County to consider the propriety of offering adequate bounties to secure the remaining men needed without a draft."
The quotas of the different towns under the call of August 4th were the same as those under that of July 2d.
August 22, 1862, the Board of Supervisors met at the suggestion of the war committee and authorized the County Treasurer to borrow a sum sufficient to pay a bounty of $50 to every volun- teer who had enlisted since July 2, 1862, or who should thereafter enlist, provided he had not already received any bounty from the county, and that he enlisted under such circumstances as to be credited to this county in case of a draft. They also directed an application to the Legislature for a law authorizing the issue of bonds to the amount thus borrowed and expended for bounties, such bonds to be payable in ten annual installments. They further resolved "that the county ought and is able to raise the whole number called for on both quotas by volunteering, thus avoiding the in- convenience and disgrace of a draft," and "that the war committee to this end be requested to take immediate steps for the organization of a Duchess County Regiment of volunteers for the war," and "pledging themselves to spare no exer- tions to form and fill such regiment."
Pursuant to this action the executive war com- mittee that night dispatched Alfred B. Smith, of Poughkeepsie, one of the general committee, to Albany, to obtain permission from the Governor to raise a Duchess county regiment, with camp at Poughkeepsie .*
August 26, 1862, the war committee, which met in Poughkeepsie the previous day, selected Hon. John H. Ketcham, of Dover, for Colonel of the Duchess county regiment, Alfred B. Smith, of Poughkeepsie, for Major, George R. Gaylord, for Quartermaster, and William Thompson, for Adju- tant. This action was personally communicated by Major Smith to the Governor and was ratified by him.
Permission was immediately given to Joseph H. Cogswell, Robert McConnell, Henry A. Gilder- sleeve, William R. Woodin, Andris Brant, John Green, Edward Wickes, Edward Crummy, Benja- min S. Broas and John S. Schofield to recruit for the new regiment, and those gentlemen subse- quently became captains of their respective com- panies, designated in the order named from A to K. They were assisted by those who afterwards became Lieutenants of the several companies.
* We are indebted largely for the data from which the history of the 150th regiment is prepared, to Gen. A. B. Smith, of Poughkeepsie, who was officially connected with the regiment during the period of its service.
156
HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.
The executive branch of the war committee arranged for war meetings to be held as follows: at Bull's Head, (Noxon's,) August 30th ; at Clin- ton Hollow and Pawling Station, Sept. Ist; at Washington Hollow and Ameniaville, Sept. 2d; at South Dover and Pleasant Valley, Sept. 3d; at Beekmanville and Upper Red Hook, Sept. 4th ; at Millerton and Freedom Plains, Sept. 5th; at Stormville, Hyde Park and Rhinebeck village, Sept. 6th; at Matteawan and Bangall, Sept. 8th ; at LaFayetteville and Channingville, Sept. 9th. The following named gentlemen were designated to address the meetings: Hon. James Emott, Hon. H. E. Davies, Hon. G. Dean, Hon. John Thomp- son, Hon. A. Wager, Charles Wheaton, G. W. Sterling, William Eno, B. J. Lossing, Hon. H. A. Nelson, Rev. G. W. Lord, Rev. G. F. Kettell, Rev. J. Scarborough, Rev. L. H. King, Wm. S. Eno, A. B. Smith, G. H. Swift and A. Anthony.
An enthusiastic war meeting was held at Upper Red Hook August 23d, and was ably and elo- quently addressed by Rev. G. L. Platt, Rev. J. G. Johnson, A. L. Martin, Z. Weeks and E. Staats. As a result of this meeting fourteen recruits were enlisted.
September 3, 1862, Mayor James Bowne issued the following proclamation :-
"By request of many citizens, and in view of the importance of unity of action in promoting enlistments, I, James Bowne, Mayor of the City of Poughkeepsie, request that all places of busi- ness be closed each afternoon of the present week, at 4 o'clock, and that the people use all efforts to promote enlistments, and also to meet the ex- igencies of the times."
War meetings were held in the city hall each evening during the succeeding week, and a free in- terchange of sentiments on public affairs was had. The meeting of Saturday evening was composed of Poughkeepsie's most intelligent citizens. The hall was crowded. Alderman Shaw presided. Mr. Lossing, by invitation, addressed the meeting in a powerful and manly speech, showing the true rela- tion of slavery to the then existing troubles of the country.
At a meeting of the ladies in Poughkeepsie, Sept. 8, 1862, it was resolved to raise a fund to provide a stand of colors for the Duchess county regiment, and such necessary articles of comfort as were not furnished by the government, also that an appeal be made to the ladies throughout the county in this behalf, "so that concert of spirit and action should give encouragement and comfort to this regiment." A committee was appointed, consisting
of the following named ladies : Mrs. S. Barculo, Mrs. J. Emott, Mrs. Wm. Schram, Mrs. W. S. Morgan, Mrs. W. H. Crosby, Mrs. J. Winslow, Mrs. B. J. Lossing, Mrs. T. L. Davies and Mrs. John Thompson. Mrs. Charles H. Ruggles was appointed Secretary, and Miss Sarah M. Carpenter, Treasurer.
Sept. 8, 1862, Mayor Bowne issued the follow- ing proclamation :-
"I would reccommend and request that all places of business be closed during the present week at 6 P. M., and that every citizen make an extraordi- nary effort to increase our enlistments, that the Duchess County Regiment may be filled up and mustered into the service as soon as possible, which the exigency of the times and the state of the country demands, and would also recommend the war meetings be continued every night this week, at seven o'clock, at the City Hall."
A great war meeting was held at Poughkeepsie Sept. 17th, and was addressed by Gen. Corcoran. A platform was erected on Market street, on the east side of the court house, and to this, after being driven through the principal streets in an open barouche, escorted by Capt. McConnell's company and the Poughkeepsie cornet band, he was accom- panied by Hon. Judge Daly, John Savage, Lieuts. Wm. J. Kane and John Tracy, Jr., Father O'Reilly, Chaplain of the 69th Regiment, and Lieut. Col. Smith, of the Phoenix Regiment. James Bowne was chosen President ; Charles Swift, Charles Murphy, E. Q. Eldridge, Wm. Gregg, George Wilkinson, Charles Doran, J. F. Barnard, Patrick McAvery, Charles Wheaton, George Innis, William Paulding, Thomas Coffin, Edward Post, George Lockwood, Wm. Hill, John Brooks, Adam Caire and Sidney Fowler, Vice-Presidents ; and John M. Flood, James Mulrein, Wm. Harlow and John Burns, Secretaries.
The first installment of men for the new regi- ment, consisting of sixteen recruits from Beekman, in charge of Capt. Underwood, arrived in Pough- keepsie August 27, 1862. Hyde Park was the first town to fill her quota under the two calls, for early in September she had accomplished this and had a surplus of four .* Union Vale accomplished the task with almost equal expedition-by the 9th of that month ; and at the same date Capt. Cogswell had mustered in eighty-three men, and received his commission as commandant of Co. A.f
The regiment, during its formation, was quartered at "Camp Duchess," on a portion of the county farm, at the head of Mansion street, where bar-
* Poughkeepsie Eagle, Sept. 8, 1862.
t Ibid, Sept. 9, 1862.
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THE WAR OF THE REBELLION, THE 150TH REGIMENT.
racks were erected in the forepart of September. Owing to the great demand on it at that time the government was temporarily unable to supply blankets for the members of the new regiment, who were rapidly gathering in the city, and Quar- termaster Gaylord made a requisition on the citi- zens for several hundreds of that necessary article.
Sept. 10th, Mrs. James Winslow presented the regiment with a fine garrison flag to adorn the staff in front of their quarters at Camp Duchess ; and about the middle of that month the Rev. T. E. Vassar, who had had the pastoral charge of the Baptist Church of Amenia for five or six years, accepted the appointment of Chaplain of the regi- ment. Charles G. Bartlett, who had been chosen to fill the office of Lieut. Colonel, arrived at the regi- mental camp and entered upon his duties the latter part of September.
On the 26th of September, 780 men had been mustered at Camp Duchess, and thirty others had been examined and accepted by the Surgeon. Six companies were filled to the minimum standard. At that time Amenia, Dover, Hyde Park, North East, Pawling, Rhinebeck, Union Vale and Wash- ington had filled their quota. All the rest of the towns were more or less behind, some of them very much so. Recruiting at this period, however, was much more brisk than previously, and the regiment rapidly filled up, having 975 men mustered Oct. 8. Greater attention was given to the drilling of the men, and the camp of the regiment began to pre- sent quite a military aspect. When on dress parade and during battalion drill every afternoon the regiment presented a fine and soldierly appear- ance. Many persons, including a liberal sprinkling of ladies, daily witnessed their evolutions. Oct. 8, 1862, a stand of colors was presented to the regi- ment.
The field, staff and line officers of the regiment as organized were :-
Field and Staff Officers .- Colonel, John H. Ketcham, Dover; Lieut. Colonel, Charles G. Bartlett, West Point; Major, Alfred B. Smith, Poughkeepsie ; Adjutant, William Thompson, Poughkeepsie ; Quartermaster, George R. Gay- lord, Poughkeepsie; Surgeon, C. N. Campbell, Stanford ; Ist Asst. Surgeon, Stephen G. Cook, -; 2d Asst. Surgeon, Henry Pearce, Amenia ; - Chaplain, Rev. Thomas E. Vassar, Amenia.
Non - Commissioned Staff Officers. - Sergeant Major, Cyrus S. Roberts, Poughkeepsie ; Quarter- master Sergeant, Henry C. Smith, Poughkeepsie ; Commissary Sergeant, John M. Case, Dover ; Ordnance Sergeant, James Williams, -; Hospital Steward, Frank Gildersleeve, Clinton ; Drum Major, Hubbard F. Roberts, Stanford.
Line Officers .- Company A-Captain, Joseph H. Cogswell; Ist Lieut., Henry Gridley ; 2d Lieut., James P. Mabbett. Company B-Captain, Rob- ert McConnell ; ist Lieut., Albert Johnson ; 2d Lieut., Robert C. Tripp. Company C-Captain, H. A. Gildersleeve; Ist Lieut., Edgar P. Welling ; 2d Lieut., Rowland Marshall. Company D- Captain, Wm. P. Woodin ; Ist Lieut., Robert G. Mooney ; 2d Lieut., Frank Mallory. Company E-Captain, Andris Brant ; ist Lieut., Obed Wheeler ; 2d Lieut., Perry Chapman. Company F-Captain, John L. Green ; Ist Lieut., S. V. R. Cruger ; 2d Lieut., Polhemus Rowman. Company G-Captain, E. A. Wickes ; Ist Lieut., Dewitt C. Underwood ; 2d Lieut., John Sweet. Company H-Captain, Platt M. Thorne ; Ist Lieut., Wm. S. VanKeuren ; 2d Lieut., Charles J. Gaylord. Company I-Captain, Benjamin S. Broas ; Ist Lieut., Richard Titus ; 2d Lieut., David R. Sleight. Company K-Captain, John S. Scofield; Ist Lieut., Michael P. Corcoran ; 2d Lieut., Wade H. Steenburgh.
The 150th was mustered into the service on Saturday, the 11th of October, and left Pough- keepsie the same day on the steamer Oregon for Jersey City.
A fine brass band was organized and well sus- tained during the whole period of the regiment's service. The regiment took with it to the scene of its arduous duties many tokens of love and friend- ship from those who bade them God-speed. Sept. 17th, Capt. Robert McConnell was presented with an elegant sword, sash, belt and pistol, by William Harlow, in behalf of a number of friends, at the house of James McGeen, 221 Main street, Pough- keepsie. Oct. Ist, Lieuts. Henry Gridley and James Mabbett, of Co. A, were presented with swords by the Amenia boys of the company, at the Gregory House. The presentations were made by Dr. J. C. Payne and Rev. T. E. Vassar, Chaplain of the regiment, after which the company partook of a splendid supper furnished by Mr. Gregory, the proprietor of that house. Oct. 2d, the friends of Lieut. Robert G. Mooney met at the sheriff's office, and through H. W. Shaw made a like pre- sentation to him. On the 5th of that month, the friends of Capt. Joseph H. Cogswell, of Co. A, presented him with a handsome sword and appur- tenances, at the Congregational church. The gift was from his friends among the members of that society, and the presentation was made by Rev.Mr. Tyler at the usual hour of service on Sunday even- ing. Capt. Cogswell replied in a most excellent address. Oct. 7th, a splendid sword, sash, belt and pistols were presented at the high school, in Church street, to Major A. B. Smith, by the children of the public schools, in which that gentleman still takes
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HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.
a deep interest. The presentation was made by Mr. George W. Mclellan, in a brief speech, which was responded to by Major Smith. Addresses were also made by Revs. Messrs. Chandler and Wheeler. On the evening of the same day, the young ladies of Mr. Rice's school presented a sword, sash, etc., to Capt. E. A. Wickes, at the in- stitute. The exercises were very interesting and quite a number of citizens were present to witness and take part in them. Oct. 10th, Capt. Gilder- sleeve was presented with " a most splendid sword, sash, belt and pistol," the latter at the Poughkeep- sie Female Seminary, through the Rev. D. G. Wright, by the ladies of that institution, and the "sword and appurtenances," by H. W. Shaw and others. Just before the regiment broke camp at Poughkeepsie, Lieut. Dewitt C. Underwood was presented with an elegant sword, sash, belt. and pistol by his uncle, Captain Charles Underwood ; and the same day, as the regiment was preparing to leave camp, a bible agent visited them and presented a New Testament to each man not sup- plied with that or a Bible. They were accepted with many thanks by all except two.
The regiment was accompanied by many of its friends to Jersey City, where it arrived at 4 o'clock on Sunday morning, disembarked at noon, and marched to the railroad station. As the Oregon reached a point opposite 31st street, New York, James McGrath, a private in Capt. Brant's com- pany, fell overboard and was drowned. At 3 o'clock six companies, under Lieut. Col. Bartlett, left for Baltimore, and at 5 o'clock the remaining four, with arms and ammunition for the regiment, left with Col. Ketcham. The regiment was fed most sumptuously at the "Cooper shop," in Phila- delphia about midnight by the ladies of that pa- triotic city, and on Monday arrived in Baltimore, where arms were distributed to the men. That night was spent under the open depot of the Balti- more & Ohio Railroad, and the regiment suffered severely from the intense cold, the officers being destitute of both overcoats and blankets, that part of the train containing the baggage not having ar- rived. The next day, the 14th, it went into quarters in shelter tents at Camp Millington, on the Carroll estate, in the western part of Baltimore, adjacent to the camp of the 128th, which was then absent on a trip to Gettysburg, but returned on the 15th. A snow storm on the night of Wednesday covered the ground nearly six inches deep. The regiment was furnished the next day with wall and A tents, and the camp made comfortable.
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