USA > New York > Livingston County > History of Livingston County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 30
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144
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
On the 26th of June it moved to the Jerusalem Plank Road, where the brigade constructed and garrisoned Fort Warren, afterwards officially desig- nated Fort Davis, and was constantly engaged in picket and skirmish duty until about the 18th of August. On the morning of that day it made a long detour to the southwest, struck the Weldon railroad a few miles north of Ream's Station, and took possession of it for several miles with but little opposition. Up to the commencement of this movement, from the time of crossing the James river, the casualties in the regiment were 6 killed, 32 wounded and 2 missing. It then numbered less than 300 ; but of these about 100 were recently arrived recruits, who were unarmed and did not accompany it.
This movement on the Weldon railroad left a gap between Warren's corps, (the 5th,) which was engaged in it, and the troops on his right, and into this, on the 19th of August, Lee thrust Mahone's division, taking 2,000 prisoners, but being event- ually driven back into his lines. The division to which the 104th belonged, then commanded by Gen. S. W. Crawford, occupied the right of War- ren's line, and the brigade to which it belonged, the right of that division. Suspecting that such an attempt would be made, the 107th Pennsylvania was ordered to deploy as skirmishers to prevent surprise from that quarter ; but a vigorous attack now being made on their front that regiment was unable to execute the movement, and the 104th were ordered from their hastily constructed trenches for that purpose. After proceeding about one- fourth of a mile through a dense forest filled with underbrush, the regiment suddenly and unex- pectedly encountered Mahone's division, by which it was almost immediately surrounded. After a few minutes' sharp fighting, in which a few were wounded, every commissioned officer and nearly every enlisted man, were captured and sent into the rebel lines, where many of them died in rebel prisons, and most of the remainder were so en- feebled by exposure and starvation as to be wholly unfit for further service. Few ever returned to the regiment, which was thus left without a single field or line officer present for duty, and so remained during the entire fall and winter following. 1ts ranks were increased by recruits until it again num- bered about 250 enlisted men. Capt. Graham, of the 39th Massachusetts, was assigned to its com- mand, and it was ordered on duty at corps head- quarters, where it remained until after Lee's sur- render. Col. Strang, who was wounded and taken
prisoner at the Weldon railroad, returned to the regiment April 5, 1865.
About the last of April, 1865, the regiment was restored to its former brigade, and accompanied the army on its return to the vicinity of Washing- ton. It was mustered out at Elmira, July 17, 1865, and paid off and finally discharged on the 29th of that month.
The following tabulated statement presents a general summary of the total number of officers and men who were ever connected with the regi- ment, and the disposition of them :-
Total No. on Rolls.
I Killed in Action.
| Wounded.
₦ | Died from Wounds.
Died from Disease.
| Missing in Action.
F [ Resigned.
w | Dismissed by War Dept.
| Dismissed by Court Martial.
| Transferred.
| Promoted
Deserted.
| Absent, Sick, etc.
| Returned with Regiment.
Commis'ned Officers. Non-commis'ed Staff. Company A
84 3 17
19
1
7
.. ... 19
B
169 8
2
16
57
78
1 2
-
10
17
D
156 6.
16
56
9
1
12
6
26
E
160
5
60
IO
2
33
15
20
F
158
4
14
3
72
6
₹
17
16| 23
G
158
3
3
10
66
2
32
5 23
H
168
4
5
. .
40
o
72
2 28
16
I
169' 4
5
8
N
56
7
2
45
7
33
K
158
4
5
6
6
5
7
2
32 19 23
Totals. ...
1704 52 331 35 116 13 647 14 3
6 100 28 327 103 250
1
1
153
7
14
8
*: .
25
C
154
5
5
15
1
6 20 67 Sob | Discharged.
7
2
40 11 20
4
The serious losses sustained by the Federal armies in the early campaigns of 1862, inducec. the President on the 2d of July of that year, to call for an additional 300,000 men, to serve for three years or during the war ; and to facilitate and sys- tematize the labor of raising them, and equalize the burdens to be borne, military districts were formed, and committees appointed to represent the various counties embraced therein. Under this call, and the succeeding one on the 4th of August following for a like number, the 130th and 136th regiments were formed.
July 7, 1862, the State was divided into military districts corresponding with the Senatorial districts. Geneseo was designated the recruiting rendezvous for the 30th district, which then comprised the counties of Livingston, Allegany and Wyoming, and the following named persons were constituted the military committee for the district : Hon. Chas. Colt, chairman, Amos A. Hendee, Walter E. Lau- derdale, Geneseo ; W. S. Fullerton, Sparta ; James Faulkner, Alonzo Bradner, Dansville; McNeil Sey- mour, Mt. Morris ; Alfred Bell, Nunda ; Martin Grover, Wilkes Angel, Angelica ; M. B. Champlin, Cuba; John B. Halsted, Castile; L. W. Thayer, H. L. Comstock, Warsaw ; John B. Skinner, 2d,
I45
WAR OF THE REBELLION.
Attica. Gen. W. S. Fullerton of Sparta, was se- lected as the Commandant of the military depot for this district, which, pursuant to the request of the committee was soon changed to l'ortage, and there barracks were erected for the accommodation of recruits who rapidly congregated there.
With a view to stimulating enlistments, the follow- ing enactments were passed by the general gov- ernment :-
" WAR DEPARTMENT. " WASHINGTON, D. C., June 21, 1862. )
"Pursuant to a joint resolution of Congress to encourage enlistments in the regular army and vol- unteer forces it is
" Ordered, That a premium of two dollars shall be paid for each accepted recruit that volunteers for three years or during the war ; and every sol- dier who hereafter enlists, either in the regular army or the volunteers for three years, or during the war, may receive his first month's pay in advance upon the mustering of his company into the service of the United States, or after he shall have been mus- tered and joined a regiment already in the service. This order will be transmitted to the Governors of States and recruiting officers.
" EDWIN M. STANTON, " Secretary of War."
" WAR DEPARTMENT, "WASHINGTON, D. C., July 2, 1862. )
"Ordered, That out of the appropriation for collecting, organizing and drilling volunteers, there shall be paid in advance to each recruit for three years, or during the war, the sum of $25, being one-fourth of the amount of bounty allowed by law ; such payment to be made upon the mustering of the regiment to which such recruits belong into the service of the United States.
" EDWIN M. STANTON, " Secretary of War."
In addition to the government bounty of $100, Governor Morgan offered a State bounty of $50, to be paid at once to each private soldier who should enlist thereafter into the United States' ser- vice.
Enlistments were stimulated by these induce- ments, and in various parts of the county meetings were held to promote that object. July 25, 1862, an order was granted for raising the 130th Regiment, and such was the energy displayed that its ranks were filled within five weeks. An enthusiastic meeting was held at Scottsburgh, in the town of Sparta, July 28th, under the auspices of A. T. Slaight, Supervisor of the town, who energetically put his shoulder to the wheel, issuing stirring ap- peals to the patriotic Spartans to rally to the call of country. The M. E. church of Scottsburgh was filled to repletion, and stirring speeches were made
by Drs. Jackson and Hurd and Prof. Porter of the Dansville Water Cure, Dr. Jocelyn, Capt. Smith and Lt. Lancey of Mt. Morris, and A. T. Slaight, Wm. Scott and Col. McNair of Scottsburgh. . 1 committee was appointed to raise funds for the sup- port of the families of those who enlisted. Another meeting was held at the same place on the first of August.
These were but samples of the energetic efforts put forth throughout the county. Lockwood L. Doty, then l'rivate Secretary to Governor Morgan, offered a premium of $100 to the first ten men recruited in Groveland, his native town, in which also a bounty of $50 was offered to the first com- pany recruited in the district to the maximum stan- clard. Generous bounties were also offered by the several towns. Prof. Smith of the Academy in Mt. Morris, took hold of the business of recruiting with a will, to raise a company of which he was to be Captain, and Rev. S. H. Lancey, (who had seen service in the army as chaplain,) Lieutenant. Springwater, which had already done more than any other town in the county of its size, held a mass meeting July 31st.
In Geneseo, Sidney Ward of the firm of Ward, Abbott & Wilkinson, opened a recruiting office, and gave zealous and efficient aid to the great work. In Avon, Capt. Orange Sackett, Jr., a young man well and favorably known in Livingston county, raised a company for the regiment to be formed in the district. In Conesus a well-attended and spirited meeting was held in the hotel of John Me Vicar on Saturday, July 26th, and a bounty of $30 voted to each volunteer from the town. The quota under the call was thirteen. In Dansville a highly enthusiastic meeting was held on Wednes- day, July 30th, and enlisted the earnest efforts of many of its ablest citizens. The town sent one full company (K) under Capt. Leach, and another for the 136th, under Lt .- Col. L. B. Faulkner.
In West Sparta Prof. D. F. Brown was the soul of the movement, spending his whole time in dis- tributing circulars and haranguing the people. A meeting of the citizens of that town was held in the M. E. church one mile north of Byersville, Thursday, August 6th, for the purpose of enrolling the names of volunteers. L. B. Fields, Supervisor of the town, was also active. At Canaseraga Hall, in Dansville, Tuesday evening, August 5th, Capt. Leach's war meeting was held in conjunction with Russell's War Panorama, and great enthusiasm pre- vailed. The meeting was addressed by O. W. West, G. H. Read, B. T. Squires, S. N. Hedges,
146
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
J. H. Jackson and F. W. Hurd of Dansville, and A. E. Crittenden, recruiting officer for the town of Burns. At Springwater Capt. Leach held a war meeting on Monday, August 4, 1862, which was addressed by Dr. James C. Jackson. J. W. Smith D). W. Noyes and L. B. Proctor. A meeting was held the same evening at South Livonia and ad- dressed by Capt. S. Ward, O. W. West, E. K. Scott, A. A. Hoyt and others. The meetings in Dansville were followed by others on the Sth and Tith of August, and stirring addresses were inade by D. W. Noyes and S. Hubbard. York and Cal- econia paid each one of their recruits $100. Sat- urday, August 9, 1862, a war meeting was held at Read's Corners, and was addressed by Lieut. West, Charles S. Hall, G. H. Read, B. T. Squires and William Hamsher. It was the first meeting held there and a great deal of enthusiasm was mani- fested.
Other portions of the county made equally noble and strenuous efforts to fill the quotas without re- course to a draft, which was ordered to take place to supply deficiencies on the 15th of August. The 130th was sent to the seat of war September 6th, 1,044 strong ; and before it was completed the 136th was under way. The latter left for Washington with 874 men under Col. James Wood, October 20th.
For these two regiments Livingston county fur- nished about 1,200 men. Between August 1I, 1862, and Dec. 31, 1862, there was raised by tax and paid by the county for bounties to volunteers, $76,929; and by subseription, in 1862, $4,000.
The 130th Regiment, afterwards the ist N. Y. Dragoons, was composed of men from the three counties comprising the district. Companies B and K were from Livingston county, G and I, from Livingston and Allegany counties, C and D from Wyoming county, E, F and H, from Allegany county, and A, from Allegany and Wyoming connties. The following constituted its organiza- tion :-
Colonel-William S. Fullerton. * Lieut .- Colonel-Thomas J. Thorpe.
Major-Rufus Scott. Adjutant-George R. Cowee. Quartermaster-A. B. Lawrence. Surgeon-B. F. Kneeland.
Company A-Captain, J. F. Bills; Ist Lieu- tenant, J. P. Robinson ; 2d Lieutenant, C. L. Daily.
Company B-Captain, Howard M. Smith ; Ist Lieutenant, S. Herbert Lancey ; 2d Lieutenant, Saul C. Culbertson.
Company C -- Captain, R. P. Taylor; Ist Lieu- tenant, O. R. Cook ; 2d Lieutenant, S. V. Waldo.
Company D-Captain. Jacob W. Knapp; Ist Lieutenant, Leonard Wilkins; 2d Lieutenant, Jared M. Bills.
Company E-Captain, Wheeler Hakes ; Ist Lieutenant, S. F. Randolph ; 2d Lieutenant, Elias Horton, Jr.
Company F-Captain, Jeremiah Hatch; Ist Lieutenant, S. A. Farnam ; 2d Lieutenant, A. K. Thorp.
Company G-Captain, Alanson B. Cornell; ist Lieutenant, C. L. Brundage; 2d Lieutenant, G. Wiley Wells.
Company H-Captain, Joel Wakeman; Ist Lieutenant, Ira Sayles; 2d Lieutenant, E. S. Os- good.
Company I-Captain, James Lemen ; ist Lieu- tenant, R. A. Britton; 2d Lieutenant, F. S. Adams.
Company K-Captain, Andrew J. Leach; Ist Lieutenant, James O. Slayton ; 2d Lieutenant, Edmund Hartman.
The regiment was mustered into the United States' service Sept. 3, 1862, and three days there- after left its quarters at l'ortage for the seat of war, followed by the well-wishes of a vast throng of spectators who had gathered from all parts of the district to witness its departure. On the 13th it arrived at Suffolk, Va., where it remained until the following summer, performing the duties of an advanced garrison, and suffering the inconvenience of a malarial distriet contiguous to the Dismal Swamp.
While in this position it participated in an expe- dition which repulsed a foree under Gen. Roger A. Pryor, who was advancing on Suffolk, losing in the engagement about thirty men killed and wounded. It left the camp at midnight of the 29th of January, with a force of 3,500 infantry, 12 pieces of artillery, and Spear's cavalry, the whole com- manded by Corcoran, and about 4 o'clock on the morning of the 30th, encountered a similar force of the enemy midway between Suffolk and Black- water. For two hours it lay in support of and immediately behind the artillery, exposed to a galling fire. Col. Gibbs ventured to remonstrate with Corcoran at this disposition, and suggested that the infantry be placed on the flanks of the artillery, but for his temerity he was placed under arrest and deprived of his sword. Coreoran's brigade, which was still farther to the rear, was soon thrown into confusion, and broke into pre- cipitate retreat. Corcoran was obliged to retire and join in the effort to rally them. The artillery
* Resigned before the regiment left the county ; and Sept. 6, 1862, was succeeded by Alfred Gibbs, who had had twenty years' experience in the regular army, and at West Point was in the same class as McClellan, at whose suggestion he was appointed.
I47
WAR OF THE REBELLION.
withdrew, and the infantry supports lay in front of the enemy without direction. The cry to advance without orders was raised and passed quickly along the line. The three regiments composing the sup- port dashed forward and drove the enemy before them, until recalled by Corcoran, who, after re- forming his brigade, resumed the pursuit, but only succeeded in overtaking a small rear-guard. Col. Gibbs, though under arrest, and destitute of horse or sword, joined in this impetuous charge, and seizing the flag of the regiment, heroically led the advance.
April 3, 1863, Gen. Longstreet invested their position in force, and on the 17th of that month, the 130th, with two other regiments, made a bril- liant sortie, for the purpose of developing the enemy's strength. They drove the enemy from his rifle pits and first line of works, compelling him to disclose the main body of his force, and could with difficulty be induced to retire. The loss of the 130th was only eight or ten killed and wounded. The siege was raised on the Ist of May and the 130th joined in the pursuit.
After participating in some minor operations on the Peninsula, the regiment was ordered to join the Army of the Potomac, which it did at Berlin on the 19th of July, and with it proceeded to Warrenton, Va., where, July 28, 1863, it was changed to a cavalry organization and designated the 1st New York Dragoons. At Manassas it was instructed in the cavalry drill, and in September was mounted. After a few days' mounted drill it resumed active duty, making a reconnaissance on the 12th of October through Thoroughfare Gap, to ascertain if the enemy were threatening the rear of the Union army, which was then being pressed back by Lee from the Rapidan. Having proceed- ed to Sałem without finding the enemy, it returned and joined the army near Catlett's Station. From thence it guarded the approaches on the left flank of the retreating army to Centerville, whence it re-crossed Bull Run on the evening of the 16th, and engaged in a skirmish on its recent camp ground. On the evening of the 17th on the plains of Manassas, it charged a brigade of rebel cavalry and, single-handed, drove them to near Bristow Station, with considerable loss, continuing the pursuit until night, and resuming it the follow- ing day to the Rappahannock, but without further engagement.
It was engaged in picket duty at Morrisville and Bealton till November 8th, when it made a rapid advance with the cavalry column, crossing the
Rappahannock at Sulphur Spring, and attacked the enemy in flank as they were retreating through Culpepper on the 9th, inflicting severe punishment, but sustaining no loss. The following day the pursuit was continued to the Rapidan. The regi- ment soon after went into camp near Culpepper, whence, in several important reconnoissances, it engaged the enemy, on one occasion capturing a signal station on Slaughter Mountain, and on an- other developing the full strength of the enemy in its works at Rapidan Station. On the 23d of No- vember, in aid of the contemplated operations at Mine Run, in connection with other forces, it crossed the river at Ely's Ford, occupied the heights beyond, and raided the country to and beyond Chancellorsville, returning to Culpepper on the abandonment of the movement. The regiment soon after went into winter quarters near Mitchell's Station, and was occupied during the winter in picketing the Rapidan.
May 4th, 1864, it was again in active service on the left of Grant's army. It was engaged in the Wilderness, and on the afternoon of May 7th, it attacked a greatly superior force of the enemy on a small run near Todd's Tavern, maintaining the unequal contest till far into the night, twice re- forming its line, broken by the desperate assaults of the enemy, who were each time compelled to relinquish their temporary advantage, and pressed far back into the woods towards Spottsylvania. The night was spent in burying the dead. In the morning, before it was yet light, the contest was renewed, and the enemy forced steadily back to their infantry lines, where it was relieved by the 5th Corps. The regiment sustained a loss of 104.
After a day spent at Aldrich's Tavern, to replen- ish their supplies, they joined Sheridan's Cavalry in a raid on Lee's line of communication. At Beaver Dam Station, on the evening of the 9th, they burned Lee's supplies, captured several trains of cars, pierced the locomotives with cannon-balls, and destroyed the track. The following day they proceeded towards Richmond, and encamped at night beyond Squirrel Bridge. The Ist Dragoons brought up the rear, which was twice attacked by Stuart's cavalry, who were repulsed each time with loss. At early dawn the next day an attack was made at the point where the Ist Dragoons was encamped. Leaving every fourth man to saddle the horses, the rest of the regiment charged the assailants, who were slowly forced back ; when, returning hastily to their horses, they mounted and filed out after the main column, just as the enemy
148
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
again got in range, and opened on them without effect. Major Scott was wounded in the thigh in this charge.
In the afternoon the ist Dragoons, supported on either side by regular regiments, dislodged Stuart's cavalry, who had gained a threatening position to- wards the front, sustaining a loss of twenty men; and although it was near night when the action ended, the troops continued the advance towards Richmond, and got within its first line of defenses. Turning to the left they proceeded down the Chickahominy between the lines amid exploding torpedoes, and about dawn the advance was en- gaged with the second line of defenses. They es- sayed to recross the Chickahominy at Meadow Bridge, but the passage was disputed by Stuart's cavalry. The enemy had gathered in large foree in their rear. While engaging these, a division was massed to force the passage of the river, which was accomplished after a hot dismounted fight. The bridge was repaired and the Ist Dra- goons crossed in advance of the mounted troops. They charged the enemy who fled in every direc- tion.
The ist Dragoons led in the advance to Me- chaniesville. During the noon bivouac piekets were thrown out in every direction. On resuming the march to Cold Harbor, the brigade to which the Ist was attached took the lead, but the regi- ment was delayed by drawing in its pickets. It pushed rapidly by the moving column to overtake the advance, which was already engaged with the enemy, and was met by an orderly who was sent to accelerate its movements. Proceeding at a gallop, the rest of the brigade was met flying in wild con- fusion before the closely pursuing and exultant foe. The battery, which stood in column, seemed doomed. As the head of the regiment came abreast of the battery, Col. Thorpe, who com- manded, shouted the order "Forward into line ! Prepare to fight on foot !" Each man designated to fight on foot, as he reached the line, leaped from the saddle and pressed forward, firing ashe went. In ten minutes, without the loss of a man, the enemy was put in full flight and fifty of their men were left prisoners in our hands.
After various movements with Sheridan's com- mand, the Dragoons joined in the race with Lee to Richmond. On the morning of the 26th they dashed across the Pamunkey at Hanovertown and during that and the succeeding day drove the ene- my some distance beyond Hawes' Shop. On the 28th, the enemy in force attempted to dislodge this
advance, and there ensued for several hours one of the most hotly contested battles of the war. The Dragoons led the advance in a flanking party to the right, and were met with a shower of grape and cannister from a battery posted beyond a deep and seemingly impassable gulf. They dismounted, and sending their horses to the rear, plunged into it out of harms way, for the guns of the enemy could not be depressed to reach them. Capt. Knapp led the charge up the opposite bank and the enemy were quickly put to flight. Turning to the left they at- tacked the remaining force, which fled precipitately, leaving their dead on the field. On the 30th, at Old Church, Custer's brigade and the Ist Dragoons drove the enemy back, with considerable loss, on Cold Harbor, before which the Union forees en- eamped for the night.
The next day the contest was renewed for the possession of that point, and an attempt was made to carry the formidable earthworks by direct assault. The Dragoons charged through a shower of iron and lead over an open field, broken by swells, halt- ing in each successive depression for a fresh start. In the last of these, within five rods of the enemy's works, they paused to make preparation for the final assault, which they carried to within twenty feet of the enemy's line ; but the fierce fire which swept the field and rapidly thinned their ranks, was more than poor human nature could endure. They were forced back to their cover, where they opened a straggling fire. The bugle advance of Custer was heard on the left above the din of conflict. As his line swept up to the Dragoons they rose the erest together and charged. Another fierce but short confliet ensued, and the enemy were driven from their works with loss and confusion. The loss of the Dragoons was sixty men. The ground was held against repeated and desperate assaults till about noon, when they were relieved by the 6th corps and Smith's command from Butler's army. During the two succeeding days, while the further scenes in this bloody drama were being enacted, the Dragoons, with two divisions of cavalry under Sheridan, watched the lower erossing of the Chicka- hominy at Bottom's Bridge, and covered the base of supplies at the White House.
On the 7th of June they accompanied Sheridan with the cavalry divisions of Torbert and Gregg, in an expedition against the Virginia Central Rail- road, which, it was expected, would facilitate Grant's passage of the Chickahominy and James, by withdrawing Stuart's cavalry from Lee's army, and enable Sheridan to effeet a junetion with Hun-
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