USA > New York > Livingston County > History of Livingston County, New York, from its earliest traditions to the present together with early town sketches > Part 48
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Here again we find commendations of the Colonel for the bravery, coolness and courage of the men of his regiment. He says:
"I must also speak of the excellent conduct of (here follows the names of those already mentioned) Captain Albert G. Cooper, Cap- tain Charles C. Brown and Lieutenant Henry Lomb, since promoted to be Captain."
On July 2d, the regiment reached Harrison's Landing where the water was so bad that much sickness resulted. July 31st the camp was shelled by the enemy at night and one man, Private Bemish, was mortally wounded.
August 14th, the regiment embarked at Newport News with Gen. Porter: disembarked at Aquia Creek, and proceeded thence by forced marches to Manassas Junction.
August 30th Bull Run was reached, and the regiment worn with fatigue and hunger engaged the enemy. If the Thirteenth had before this fought bravely, they now fought with desperation, but in vain; the men fell rapidly, killed and wounded. On the night of that day, the regiment fell back on Centerville; thence, September 2d, to the fortifications near Washington.
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September 12th, the regiment was again on the march on the Mary- land campaign.
, At Sharpsburg September 16th, and 17th the battle of Antietam was fought, the regiment being on reserve with Gen. Porter. On the 18th it was deployed on picket duty in front of Gen. Burnside's position.
September 20th it crossed the Potomac, but was repulsed by an overwhelming force of the enemy and recrossed the river under heavy fire. The regiment remained in camp at Sharpsburg until October 30th, when it was again on the march, this time for Fredericksburg, arriv- ing at the Rappahannock November 19. Here it remained in camp until December 11, and crossed the river at noon on the 13th under fire. During the battle of Fredericksburg Colonel Marshall was severely wounded. The loss in this battle was quite severe. Out of 298 of- ficers and men 5 were killed, 63 wounded and 17 taken prisoners.
The report closes with these words:
"The service rendered the country by this command has not been slight. The Thirteenth N. Y. Vols. will not be forgotten as long as Manassas, Yorktown, Hanover, Mechanicsville, the Banks of the Chickahominy, Turkey Bend, Malvern. Bull Run, Antietam, Sharps- burg, Shepardstown, and Fredericksburg are numbered as fields whereon brave men fought nobly and died willingly for the protection of our national honor and unity."1
The following is a roster of officers of the 13th Regiment at the time of muster out, May 13, 1863:2
Colonels-E. G. Marshall, (D) Isaac F. Quinby, (D) John Pickell, (D).
Lieutenant Colonels-Francis A. Schoeffel, Carl Stephan.
Majors-George Hyland, Jr., (D) Oliver L. Terry (D).
Captains-William Downey, A. G. Cooper, Charles C. Brown, Mark J. Bunnell, Elijah M. Cooley, (D) Willard Abbott, Henry Lomb, John Weed, (D) Jerry A. Sullivan, (D) Robert F. Taylor, (D) Horace Boughton, (D) Edwin S. Gilbert, (D) Hiram Smith, (D) Adolphus Nolte, (D) Henry B. Williams, Eugene P. Fuller, (D) George C. Put- nam, (D) Ralph T. Wood, (D) Alfred H. Hulburt, Lebbens Brown,
I. The foregoing account of the 13th Regiment is from the files in the Adjutant General's office at Washington, D. C. and from the Adjutant General's office at Albany.
2. Those marked D are dead.
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(D) Clark S. Benjamin, (D) John H. Pickell, Henry Geck, (D) Clar- ence D. Hess, (D).
First-Lieutenants-James Hutchinson. S. S. Partridge, Job C. Hedges, (D) Wm. R. Mckinnon, (D) James H. Wilson, Homer Foote, Ernest P. Becker, Edward Martin, (D) John Marks, (D) John M. . Richardson, James E. Williams, (D) Charles J. Powers, (D) Mont- gomery Rochester, Henry R. Curtiss, John Weiland, (D) Mortimer F. Stillwell, (D) Robert Stewart, Richard Schreiber, (D) John M. Kirk, Henry W. Scott, Charles Hamilton.
Second-Lieutenants-A. Davis, (D) James Stevenson, (D) Henry J. Gifford James K. Burlingame, (D) L. G. Gibson, (D) Sumner Aus- tin, John Fichtner, Henry I. Wynkoop, John Cawthra, Conrad Kueh- ler, Thomas Jordan, W. J. Hynds, Edward Hamilton.
Surgeon-David Little.
Assistant-Surgeon-George W. Avery, (D).
Chaplains-John A. Bowman, John D. Barnes.
THIRTY-THIRD REGIMENT NEW YORK VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
The 33d Regiment included two companies from Geneseo and Nunda, the former being Company E and the latter Company F. It also included two companies from Seneca Falls and one cach from Palmyra, Waterloo, Canandaigua, Buffalo, Geneva and Penn Yan. The organization of the regiment was effected May 21st, 1861, at Elmira, with Robert F. Taylor as Colonel. On the Sth of July the regiment left for the front and during its term of service participated in the battles of Yorktown, Malvern Hill, Fair Oaks, Williamsburg, Lee's Mills, Second Bull Run, Antietam and Fredericksburg, and in many minor engagements and desperate skirmishes. The regiment was mustered out June 2d, 1863: accompanying the order for this purpose was an address from General Sedgwick in which he said:
"The General commanding the corps congratulates the officers and men of the Thirty-third New York Volunteers upon their honorable return to civil life. They have enjoyed the respect and confidence of their companions and commanders; they have illustrated their term of service by gallant deeds, and have won for themselves a reputation not surpassed in the Army of the Potomac, and have nobly earned the gratitude of the Republic."
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The following extracts are from letters written to the editor of the Nunda "News" by Captain McNair, from Banks' Ford, Virginia, early in May, 1863, and give a vivid picture of the strenuous work of this regiment :
"Sunday we were ordered to storm the works in rear of Fredericks- burg, where General Sumner lost so heavily in the former battle. This was done effectually, under a heavy fire of infantry directed principally against the 77th and 33d New York, and the loss in both Regiments was large. The 33d lost seventy-four in killed and wounded; many of the wounds, however, were slight.
"Our own Company are again called to mourn the death of one of our noblest and best. William Crossett was instantly killed in the moment of victory, cheering on the men to the enemy's works. Ser- geant McDuffie was struck with a shell, not seriously wounded. Nor- ton Bardwell, of Grove, was shot through the breast, I fear a fatal wound, although he was in excellent spirits when taken to the hos- pital, and may recover. Dibble was shot through the arm, but was able to walk, and was sent to the hospital.
"After the heights were captured the corps marched forward some three miles in order to communicate with General Hooker, according to his order, but met a large force under Hill, and a fierce fight en- sued, in which General Brooks occupied the front. During the night the Rebels received large reinforcements and attacked us early in the morning with a large force. They marched across the plain in open view, with two lines of battle, seemingly enough to sweep everything before them. Our Brigade were holding the front at this point in a good position. The enemy had approached within good range, when a well directed fire broke their line and the whole force scattered in confusion across the plain. You will hear more fully from this gallant and glorious battle in the General's report. A perfect calm now en- sued for several hours -- a calm ominous of preparation on the part of the enemy for a final effort. Hooker having been checked, a large force under Jackson came down to attack us. At four o'clock the battle opened again-the fiercest, and for the 33rd, the hardest fought, the most fatal and the most glorious in which we have been engaged. The whole force of the Rebels was thrown upon the left flank held by our brigade. The 20th New York were on the skirmish line, sustained by the 33d New York. For several minutes their en- tire fire was directd upon the 20th and 33d. We held them in check until the forces in rear were properly in position when we retired under a fire the fiercest I have ever witnessed. The enemy came on, cheering as if assured of certain victory ; but suddenly the Vermont brigade rose from a ravine and poured volley after volley into their lines; then with a cheer and a charge the Rebel hosts were scattered to the winds, and our skirmish line reestablished at dark in its former
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position. The battle in our front yesterday was a great success. Why we are across the river again this morning giving up all our ad- vantages won by as brave and successful fighting as the war has shown, it is General Hooker's business to explain. If the army has failed in its object, no one will fail to acknowledge that General Niel's brigade did their whole duty nobly and successfully. But we have done it with a sacrifice of life which will carry sorrow to many a heart. Under all the circumstances, however, we consider ourselves fortunate still. No one expected that a fraction of the regiment would escape. But what cared we, when the salvation of the army was at stake. And here I affirm solemnly to you, to the honor of your noble sons and brothers, that the final order to retire was never so reluctantly obeyed. There were men who refused to obey, and stood their ground until wounded or captured by the enemy. With mingled feel- ings of sorrow and gratitude to the brave boys who have proved their devotion to their country with their blood, I record the casualties of the Company :
"Robert Watson, wounded in two places, not dangerous. Albert Watson, wounded through ankle and left at Hospital. Eugene Beach, wounded in arm, not dangerous. Philander Merithew, missing, but reported wounded. Charles Newman, slightly wounded. W'm. Piper, wounded, reported seriously. John Skillens, wounded slightly. Jerry Morrison, wounded severely in face, not dangerous. Michael Clark, missing. David Evans, missing. Corporal James Haver. missing, but seen after the battle. Warren Franklin, the same. John Franklin, missing. John Reid, missing. James Norris, mis- sing. Jonathan Greenwood, missing, but seen afterwards, unhurt. W'm. Nolan, the same. Warren Streeter, missing.
"I yesterday wrote you, stating as near as possible the loss of the Company. Since, the result has changed materially by several re- turning who were reported missing. The report is now as follows: "On Sunday William Cosnett was instantly killed; Norton Bard- well died Monday night; Dibble badly wounded in shoulder; Smith, slight, in ear; McDuffie, slight, in groin: making two killed, three wounded; total, five On Monday, Albert Watson shot through ankle; William Piper wounded in left side of body, doing well when Jast heard from; Philander Merithew reported wounded; Jerry Morri- son wounded, not badly; Michael Clark missing: Corporal Wilson wounded, not badly; John Franklin, Eagle, missing; John Reid, Corning, missing; David Evans, Nunda, missing.
"These last four were in the ranks while we were fighting. When we retired they may have been taken prisoners. None of our boys saw them after the command to retire. Corporal James Haver was not wounded. One of our boys was with him when he was some dis- tance from the firing. He was so exhausted that he fainted. His comrade brought him some water, and, as the enemy had retreated, he
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left him comfortable in the rear, near the Hospital. When we finally fell back we could not find him, but suppose he crossed the river, which is probable. James has in a peculiar way the heart-felt sym- pathy of his comrades, and our earnest prayer is that he is safe. Sunday morning he was called hastily to the side of a dying brother, Wilbur. He had the satisfaction of being allowed to attend his brave brother in his last moments, and attended to his burial. then returned to avenge his death. I have since found that he was quite sick before and during the battle of Monday, but he uttered no word of com- plaint, and fought among the bravest. We shall rejoice to hear that he is really safe.
"Thus our loss on Monday was but three badly wounded, two slightly, and five missing. I cannot express my thankfulness for this wonderful escape from what seemed almost certain death. The Regi- ment was thrown forward as a forlorn hope, trusting that by desper- ate fighting we might hold the enemy in check until the left could be strengthened. During thirty long minutes we stood with seven com- panies against two regiments advancing upon us. They were held at bay, and half the number shot down, when a regiment to the left of us giving away, the enemy were rapidly flanking us, when we were ordered to fall back on the run. Behind us was a ravine from which the land sloped upwards. As the Regiment passed over this ground It was exposed to a raking fire and here suffered most. Company F fortunately kept the ravine as closely as possible, which accounts for our fortunate escape. The Regiment suffered a loss of 147 killed, wounded and missing; Company F, ten in all, with but seven cases, so far as we know. Hooker is falling back and everything looks badly at present. It was a fatal, outrageous blunder of some one in leaving the heights, which we had fought so hard to storm, wholly at the mercy of the enemy. However things may terminate, we can have the pride of knowing that we did all that could be asked of men."
TWENTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT NEW YORK VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
The 27th Regiment, organized at Elmira May 21st, 1861, was com- posed of ten companies from seven different counties of the State. The two companies from Livingston were Company G of Lima, Captain James Perkins, numbering eighty-one officers and men, and Company H of Mt. Morris, Captain C. E. Martin, numbering eighty- three officers and men. Henry W. Slocum of Syracuse, a West Point graduate and a veteran in the regular service, was made Colonel; Joseph J. Chambers of White Plains, Lieutenant Colonel, and Joseph
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J. Bartlett of Binghamton, Major. On the 29th of June the members of the regiment received their uniforms, equipments and guns, the guns being old smooth-bore muzzle-loading, Harpers Ferry, caliber fifty-eight.
On the 10th of July the regiment left Elmira for Washington, arriv- ing there on the 12th. One night was spent in the Capitol, and the next morning the regiment was quartered in barracks on Franklin Square in Washington City. July 15th the regiment was marched out on the Georgetown road about a mile, and the day was spent in target practice, each soldier firing twenty rounds. It is probable that none of the men had ever before loaded a gun according to army tactics, and the mistakes were many and ludicrous. In the language of one of the veterans of the regiment, "The old muskets kicked like a mule, and we returned to camp at night with lame shoulders." The next day orders were received to march, and the long bridge into Virginia was crossed in quest of the enemy. They were found at Bull Run July 21st, and here the 27th Virginia regiment was encountered, and the first engagement occurred, which resulted in the retreat of the enemy and a loss of two men killed, seven wounded and nineteen captured in Companies G and H. It next met the 8th Georgia, which fell back till reinforced, when the 27th was repulsed and took refuge under a hill. It was soon ordered to charge a battery stationed on a knoll; this it did under a heavy fire which told fearfully on its ranks. Colonel Slocum was wounded,- the color guard reduced from nine to two and the movement was abandoned. It retired from the field in good order, but on reaching the road its ranks were broken and it participated in the confused retreat to Washington. August 14th it encamped near Alexandria, where Colonel Slocum was promoted Brigadier General, and Lieutenant-Colonel Chambers resigned. Major Bartlett was made Colonel, Captain Adams, Lieutenant-Colonel, and Captain Gardiner, Major. September 12th the regiment, having been assigned to Slocum's brigade, with the 16th New York and Franklin's division, commenced the construction of Fort Lyon, and on the 14th of October went into winter quarters four miles north of it.
March 13, 1862, the division with which it was connected was attached to General McDowell's (1st) corps. April 16th the divisions of Generals Franklin and Smith were detached from MeDowell's
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corps, and May 7th were organized as the 6th corps, under General Franklin, General Slocum succeeding Franklin in command of the division. This arrangement was not subsequently changed during the term of service of the 27th, although the officers in command were changed, General Bartlett succeeding to the command of the bri- gade, General Brooks to that of the division and General Sedgwick to that of the corps.
April 12, 1862, the division to which the 27th belonged embarked on transports, and on the afternoon of the 23d sailed to Fortress Monroe. On the 24th it encamped on the Peninsula about seven miles from Yorktown, in the siege of which it participated. May 5th, the day succeeding the evacuation of Yorktown, it went with other forces to the head of navigation on York river and landed under cover of the gunboats, which dispersed the Rebel cavalry and infantry skirmishing on the shore. The 27th were the first to land, and as the enemy was near, six companies were deployed as skirmishers, the others acting as a reserve. Picket firing was opened and continued during the night. The regiment lost several in killed and wounded, and captured a few prisoners. On the morning of the 7th the enemy surprised the Union troops while at breakfast, but were repulsed after a sharp engagement with the loss of one of their batteries.
On Thursday, the 22d of May, a reconnoissance was made in which the 27th participated; and from this time until June 29th it was actively engaged, most of the time in skirmishing, in connection with McClellan's Peninsular campaign. On the afternoon of the 27th, the second of the Seven Days' Fight, it crossed the Chickahominy to the support of General Porter, who was strongly pressed by an overwhelm- ing Rebel force, and took part in the desperate encounter of Gaines' Mill. The 27th went into action about 5 P. M .. on the extreme right of Porter's corps, drove the enemy from his position by a bayonet charge, and captured a large number of prisoners. They held their position till dark, when Porter withdrew his forces and joined in the retreat towards Harrison's Landing. The regiment lost in this en- gagement 179 men killed, wounded and missing. At Charles City Cross Roads, on the 30th of June, it skirmished and supported bat- teries; and at Malvern Hill, July 1st, was early sent into action on the right of the army to prevent a flank movement.
The regiment remained at Harrison's Landing till about the middle
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of August. when, McClellan having been ordered to withdraw his army to the support of General Pope in repelling Lee's sortie through Maryland, it retraced its steps down the Peninsula, and embarked at Newport News for Alexandria. Thence it was sent to the support of Pope, and arrived at Centerville on the night of the 30th of August, in time to cover Pope's retreat from the second battle of Bull Run, but too late to affect the issue of that desperately fought con- test. It followed the retreat and went into camp at Fort Lyon.
The regiment was engaged in the battle of South Mountain. Sep- tember 14th, acting as skirmishers and routing a Rebel battery; and , in that of Antietam, with its horrible carnage, three days later, but, though supporting batteries and being under heavy fire all day, suf- fered no loss. It joined in the pursuit of Lee, and on the 13th of December, shared with the army under Burnside, who superseded McClellan in command November 8th, in the terrible disaster of Fredericksburg. The 27th was the first regiment to cross the Rappa- hannock in the left grand division of the army. Burnside withdrew his army from this memorable field on the 15th, and the 27th spent the winter in camp at White Oak Church. In the latter part of April it was again engaged at Fredericksburg, under Sedgwick; and on the 3d of May, in the disastrous defeat at Chancellorsville, under Hooker. From this time it guarded Banks' Ford till the expiration of its term of service. May 13, 1863, General Sedgwick directed the muster out, which took place at Elmira, May 31, 1863.
The regiment was actively engaged in thirteen battles, viz: First Bull Run, West Point, Mechanicsville, Gaines' Mill, Goldsborough Farm, Charles City Cross Roads, White Oak Swamp. Malvern Hill, Second Bull Run, Crampton Pass, Antietam, Fredericksburg and Fredericksburg Heights. The total enlistment of the regiment was 1165; mustered out May 31st, 1863, 566; killed in action, 42; died of wounds, 17; died of disease, 67; discharged for wounds and disability, 234; transferred to other commands and by promotion, 69; deserted and dropped, 170. The total cnlistment of Company G. was 123; mustered out May 31st, 1863, 49; killed in action, 8; died of disease in service, 11; discharged for wounds and disability, 27; transferred to other commands and hy promotion, 15; resigned, 2; deserted, 11. The total enlistment of Company H was 104; mustered out May 31st, 1863, 44; killed in action, 3; died of wounds and disease in
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service, 7; discharged for wounds and disability, 22; transferred to other commands and by promotion, 10; deserted, 18. Many of those mustered out reenlisted in the 1st Veteran Cavalry and served during the war. Of Company G there were in September, 1904, but fifteen survivors and of Company H but five survivors. 1 .
Besides those in the organizations mentioned many recruits were furnished by the county for other regiments. Among them were the 24th Artillery (of which Lee's Battery was a part), the 75th, 89th and 18th Regiments, Sth Heavy Artillery, Harris' Cavalry, and regiments from other States. Others, again, entered the Navy, and won enviable records there. The total number who entered the Union service in regiments other than those raised in the county is unknown, but it was certainly several hundred.
Such, in brief, is the war record of Livingston, and imperfect and incomplete as it is here set down it yet reveals a spirit of the truest loyalty among the people of the county, and presents an example of labor and sacrifice, of bravery and patriotism, which the Nation well could emulate. The people gave freely of men and money, and in the darkest hours of the struggle they never faltered. Even when their loved sons fell like forest leaves before the rude blast, they did not waver, but closing up the fearful breach with others as dearly beloved. they watched with aching but brave hearts for the final issue of the strife. £ And when it came they deemed the victory a glorious one, though it had cost thousands of lives and millions of treasure, and though there was scarcely a home that was not mourning the loss of father, brother or lover; and tears and sorrow attested the horrible havoc of war.
1. The foregoing sketch of the 27th Regiment is in part from matter furuished by Benjamin S. Coffin, Esq., and from Mason's History of Livingston County.
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CHAPTER TWENTY.
T HE HISTORY of the war period in Livingston county was probably not unlike that of most rural counties in the North. The people bore the ordeal with the patience and fortitude befitting their well tried patriotism, and proceeded with their usual vocations with such composure as they could command in the presence of the stirring and trying events of that time. Intense earnestness and eagerness in every detail of the struggle was manifested by the press and public. The gift by the county of fathers, husbands, sons and brothers made it easy to spare whatever was required to sustain our arms and provide in any other needed direction. In every village and hamlet measures were being constantly devised to raise funds in . aid of the various agencies established for the improvement of the condition of the soldier. A characteristic display of this universally generous spirit is found in the following letter of a correspondent of the "Livingston Republican," written from Fowlerville in May, 1864:
"Our citizens have been moving, pursuant to resolutions adopted at a meeting held at the Congregational Church in this village on Sab- bath evening last, to canvass our village and vicinity to secure aid for the Christian Commission, which has resulted as follows: Cash collected. $282.00 Hospital stores. 163.00
$445.00
"A large amount of lint and bandages was prepared, our district school devoting two hours each day since the meeting in scraping and picking lint. And, in fact, nearly every family has been engaged in the same noble enterprise of preparing lint and bandages, and a large quantity is now ready for shipment, together with dried fruit, hop and feather pillows, shirts, drawers, etc. Our ladies met yester- day at the church, upon which our glorious flag was floating, to pre- pare and pack the articles, all of which are now ready for delivery. The ladies of our village have kept up an organization since the war commenced. and have met weekly to labor for the wants of the sol- diers, and have sent forward repeatedly the effects of such service, and have contributed largely to the amount of hospital stores sent or prepared at this time. The territory canvassed embraced the second
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