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 31
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149
WAR OF THE REBELLION.
ter's forces and return with them to the Army of the Potomac. On the 11th and 12th of June, at Trevillian Station, where Gregg encountered Hampton's cavalry division, the Dragoons were again hotly engaged and Col. Thorpe was wounded and taken prisoner. Returning they crossed the James with the main army on the 25th.
On the afternoon of the 26th of July, having in the interval enjoyed a period of rest, the regiment with a large force of cavalry and the 2d corps were thrown across the James, and in conjunction with the force under Butler, the next day, after an all night's march, drove the enemy from his entrenched position at Darbytown. The next day, the enemy having been heavily reënforced, made an unsuc- cessful effort to recover the lost ground. In a charge made on the first day by a squadron of the Ist Dragoons Gen. Wade Hampton and his staff barely escaped capture by them ; and on the second day the regiment maintained the only unbroken portion of the line, repelling repeated assaults. But the movement having failed in its object, which was the cutting of the enemy's railroad from near Richmond to the Anna River, and thus endan- gering Early's position in the Shenandoah Valley, the regiment recrossed the James on the evening of the 28th and returned to its old position in front of Petersburgh.
On the Ist of August the regiment was ordered to the Shenandoah Valley, up which, on the 9th, it moved with other cavalry to aid in operations against Early by the Army of Virginia, to the com- mand of which Sheridan was appointed August 7th. On the roth it took part in an encounter at White Post, where it drove a rebel force from be- hind a stone wall and with but little loss made im- portant captures. On the 11th, while on a recon- noissance to Newton, it met the enemy's infantry and cavalry a half mile from that place and five miles from the main body of Sheridan's army, maintaining a fierce and desperate contest unaided for an hour and a half, and holding its position till the arrival of the main force, though too late for the operations of that day. In this engagement the regiment suffered severely. The enemy with- drew in the night and the hospital records found in their abandoned camp contained the names of men wounded in that action from thirty-three different regiments. At Smithfield and Kearns- town on the 25th, 26th and 28th of August it was hotly engaged and lost heavily, brave Lieutenant Alfred being killed and many officers wounded.
On the 19th of September, in the desperately
fought battle of Opequan, the regiment bore a conspicuous part. It routed the enemy's cavalry and charged his infantry, capturing twice its num- ber of prisoners and three battle flags. Among its losses was the gallant Capt. Thorp, who was killed in the charge on the enemy's cavalry. The regi- ment joined in the pursuit of Early, who escaped in the night with the wreck of his army and fled to Fisher's Hill, from which he was driven on the 22d with the loss of 1,300 prisoners and 21 cannon. During the following night the regiment led in the further pursuit. On the 24th it drove the enemy's cavalry and by threatening his flank compelled him to abandon his position on the bluffs of Mt. Jack- son. On the 26th, being still in the advance, an unsuccessful attack was made between Port Re- public and Brown's Gap. October 9th, at Tom's Brook, it was engaged in turning Early's cavalry and capturing their trains and artillery.
Sheridan posted his army in echelon behind the bold bluffs which form the north border of Cedar Creek, and proceeded to Washington to consult with the Secretary of War respecting the return of the 6th corps to that city. Early, whose original strength had been restored by the addition of Ker- shaw's division, crossed Cedar Creek on the night of October 18th, and early the next morning sur- prised and routed the 8th corps, which occupied the left of the Union line. In this battle the Ist Dragoons more than sustained its reputation. During the demoralization which prevailed in the early part of that day, its organization was kept in- tact, and by its coolness and courage aided to re- trieve those early misfortunes and secure the glorious victory which eventually crowned the Union arms, and put an end to rebel raids into the North through the Shenandoah Valley.
In November the regiment participated in an expedition to Loudon Valley, which, by comnion consent, was styled the "bull raid," from the nature of the captures made; and in December it consti- tuted a part of the force which advanced from Winchester to Gordonsville, making a gallant charge at Liberty Mills on the night of the 22d, capturing two pieces of artillery and about thirty prisoners, but suffering greatly from the intense cold, many of the men having their feet frozen.
February 24, 1865, Sheridan, with a force of 10,000 cavalry, including this regiment, left Win- chester and arrived at Staunton in four days. He defeated and captured the remnant of Early's forces at Waynesboro, crossed the Blue Ridge at Rock- fish Gap, turned and destroyed the Virginia Cen-
150
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
tral railroad from Frederick's Hall to Beaver Dam, and won the memorable and decisive victory at Five Forks, April 1, 1865. From this time until the surrender of Lee's army on the 9th of April, 1865, the cavalry were daily in action, inflict- ing on the rebel army the blows which so rapidly crippled it and brought on its final catastrophe.
During its term of service the regiment cap- tured 1,533 prisoners, 19 pieces of artillery, 21 caissons, 240 artillery horses, 40 army wagons and ambulances, 160 animals of draught and 4 battle tlags. It lost in killed 4 officers and 155 enlisted men ; and in wounded, 24 officers and 204 en- listed men. One officer and So enlisted men died of disease.
The 136th regiment, like the 130th, was raised in the counties composing the 30th Senatorial Dis- trict, through the efforts of Col. James Wood, Jr., of Geneseo, aided by the patriotic endeavors of the community at large. Five companies, B, C, F, G and I, were recruited in Livingston county ; two, A and K, in Allegany county; and three, D, E and H, in Wyoming county. Capt. Augustus Harrington reported at Portage with the first com- pany for this regiment, August 29th, 1862, having recruited his company in eleven days. Within a month from the date of its authorization the entire regiment was in camp at Portage. The regiment was organized September 8, 1862, and mustered September 25, 1862. The following is a roster of its officers :-
Colonel-James Wood, Jr. Lieutenant-Colonel-Lester B. Faulkner.
Major-David C. Hartshorn. Adjutant-Campbell H. Young.
Quartermaster-John T. Wright.
Surgeon-B. 1 .. Hovey. First Assistant Surgeon-Edwin Amsden.
Second Assistant Surgeon-Charles F. Warner. Quartermaster Sergeant-Richard W. Barney. Commissary Sergeant-J. S. Galentine.
Chaplain-Alvin T. Cole.
Company A-Captain, A. T. Cole; First Lieu- tenant, M. M. Loyden ; Second Lieutenant, John M. Webster.
Company B-Captain, Edward H. Pratt ; First Lieutenant; John J. Bailey; Second Lieutenant, Nicholas V. Mundy.
Company C-Captain, A. A. Hoyt ; First Lieu- tenant, Wells Hendershott; Second Lieutenant, Emerson J. Hoyt.
Company D-Captain, Augustus Harrington ; First Lieutenant, Myron E. Bartlett ; Second Lieutenant, Russell G. Dudley.
Company E-Captain, Henry B. Jenks; First Lieutenant, James G. Cameron ; Second Lieuten- ant, Seth P. Buell.
Company F-Captain, J. II. Burgess ; First Lieutenant, John Galbraith ; Second Lieutenant, Charles H. Wisner.
Company G-Captain, Sidney Ward ; First Lieutenant, Orange Sackett, Jr .; Second Lieu- tenant, Kidder M. Scott.
Company H-Captain, E. H. Jeffres; First Lieutenant, Edward Madden ; Second Lieutenant, Anson B. Hall.
Company I-Captain, H. L. Arnold; First Lieutenant. Frank Collins; Second Lieutenant, George M. Reed.
Company K-Captain, A. F. Davis; First Lieutenant, George H. Eldredge ; Second Lieu- tenant, George Y. Boss.
The regiment left Camp Williams at Portage on the 2d of October ; received arms and equipments at Elmira ; and on the 4th of that month proceeded to Camp Seward, on Arlington Heights, Va. From thence, Sunday, Oct. 12, 1862, it went to Fairfax Court House, Va., where it was attached to the 2d brigade (Von Steinwehr's) of the 11th corps, (Sigel's,) retaining this connection until April 14, 1864, when it became a part of the 3d brigade, 3d division, 20th corps. It left Fairfax Court House, Dec. 14th, and proceeded to Bank's Ford, where it was occupied in picket duty on the advanced line of the army, and suffered the hardships incident to the sudden change from civil to military life, its ranks being much depleted by sickness.
Early in November, Mcclellan, by reason of his failure to reap the legitimate fruits of Lee's defeat at Antietam, and his subsequent dilatory move- ments, was superseded in the command of the Army of the Potomac by Burnside, who in the reorganization of the army which followed, gave Sigel the command of a grand division, which formed the reserve, and to which the 136th belonged. Dec. roth, Burnside crossed the Rap- pahannock with his army to attack Fredericks- burgh, and the same day the 136th left its camp at Germantown in aid of that movement. The regi- ment was reduced in numbers, but those who re- mained had become inured to the duties of a sol- dier. When the regiment reached Falmouth, the army, which had assaulted the enemy's works behind Fredericksburgh on the 13th and been repulsed with great disaster, was recrossing the river, and it went to Banks' Ford where it did picket duty in the face of the enemy. Burnside projected another advance movement the succeed- ing January, but the march was scarcely begun before it was arrested by a sleet-storm, which turned the roads into quagmires, and rendered movement impossible. The project was aban-
151
WAR OF THE REBELLION.
doned, and the troops ordered back to their old camps.
From Banks' Ford the regiment went into camp at Stafford Court House, Va., where it remained till the last of April, when it crossed the Rappa- hannock at Kellogg's Farm, and moved to the disastrous field of Chancellorsville. In the mean- time (Jan. 26, 1863,) Hooker had succeeded Burn- side in command of the army. The brigade to which the 136th belonged made a reconnaissance to the right of the 11th corps under Gen. Francis C. Barlow, and captured nearly a thousand pris- oners, but while so engaged, the 11th corps had been driven from the field, and the guards and camp equipage left behind by the regiment, fell into the enemy's hands. On its return, the brigade took position in rear of Gen. Sickles' command, and witnessed the fierce conflict between it and the Confederate force under Stuart, in which the position of the latter was taken and retaken repeat- edly.
From the field of Chancellorsville the 136th returned to its old quarters at Stafford Court House, where it remained until, on the 3d of June, Lee commenced another sortie into the Northien States through the Shenandoah valley, which cul- minated in the disaster at Gettysburg. Hooker followed the numerically superior rebel army down the valley, interposing between it and Washington, till both had crossed the Potomac, Lee making the passage at Williamsport and Shepardstown on the 26th, and Hooker, at Edward's Ferry, the same day. On the 27th Hooker resigned the command of the army, and on the following day was succeeded by Meade.
On the 30th of June the Union army extended from Manchester to Emmettsburgh, the 11th corps forming a part of the left flank. The Con- federate army was at Chambersburg, where Lee tarried to consort with copperheads in the North. Meade purposed fighting on the defensive in a position he had selected on Pipe creek, about fifteen miles south-east of Gettysburg. The left, consisting of the rst, 11th and 3d corps, under Reynolds, was sent as a mask toward Gettysburg to screen this movement.
At 5 P. M. on the ist of July, the 136th, which had been detached a short time at Hagerstown, left that place for Gettysburg, thirty-eight miles distant, and arrived there at II A. M. on the 2d. The enemy had been met the previous day, first by Buford's cavalry, who encountered him on the Chambersburg road, two miles westward of Gettys-
burg, and were forced back to Seminary Ridge, where they were supported by Reynolds, who was then in Gettysburg with the ist corps, and was killed in the early part of the action. Howard arrived on the field with the 11th corps at 11:30 A. M., and having forwarded two of his divisions to the support of the troops engaged, posted his third division, with three batteries of artillery on Cemetery Hill on the south side of the town. Heth's division of Hill's corps, which was the first engaged of the enemy's forces, was heavily reënforced, and the Union forces driven with loss and confusion through the streets of Gettysburg, took refuge at night behind Howard's position. Here the 136th was posted on its arrival the following day.
Meade, who was at Taneytown, planning his de- fensive line on Pipe Creek, on hearing of the battle at I P. M., sent Hancock to take command. That officer, perceiving the advantages of the position, advised Meade to bring on the whole army, which he accordingly did, arriving himself soon after mid- night. All his corps, except that of Sedgwick, which was thirty-two miles distant, arrived during the night, and were posted on Cemetery Ridge, prolonging the line to the rear of Howard's posi- tion, along the crest of the ridge. Sedgwick's corps arrived at 2 P. M. on the 2d, and was posted on the left, at the terminus of the ridge, behind the Round Tops. Reynold's corps, commanded by Newton, was in reserve, and was within thirty minutes' march of any part of the line, which was compressed into an area of about three square miles. Lee's army -which, numerically, was about equal to that of Meade-each being then about 80,000 strong- was posted along Seminary Ridge, in the form of a huge crescent, five miles in lengthi, its concavity facing his antagonist. Meade had the advantage of position and the farther advantge of acting on the defensive. Thus was commenced the memor- able battle of Gettysburg.
The Union losses during the three days' fight were 23,210, of whom 2,834 were killed, 13,733, wounded, 6,643, missing ; those of the Confederates were 36,000, of whom 5,000 were killed, 23,000 wounded.
Soon after this decisive victory, which sent Lee back into Virginia, the 136th was called to other not less trying duties. After his defeat at the battle of Chickamauga, Sept. 19, 1863, Rosecrans with- drew the army of the Cumberland to the defenses at Chattanooga, and was succeeded in the com- mand by General Thomas. Here Bragg followed
152
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
them and invested them so closely that they were threatened with starvation, or a disastrous defeat if the evacuation of the place was attempted. In this extremity General Grant was assigned to the com- mand of that army, which was reenforced by Sher- man with the Army of the Tennessee, and by Hooker, with the 11th and 12th corps from the Army of the Potomac. In comformity with this arrangement the 136th left the latter army on the 23d of September, and in seven days was trans- ferred from the Rapidan to Stevenson, Alabama, a distance of 1,192 miles.
On the 27th of October, Grant had restored the interrupted communication with Chattanooga ; but Bragg, who had lost control of the roads by a sur- prise, did not submit to the result without a strug- gle. He determined to recover what he had lost by a night attack. He observed from Signal Rock the situation of Geary's weak division encamped in the Lookout Valley near Wauhatchie and ordered Longstreet to assail it on the night of the 29th. After a three hours' conflict the enemy were repulsed with great loss. Gen. Howard, hearing the heavy firing, proceeded to the aid of Geary, but was in- terrupted by a force of the enemy posted on the heights west of Lookout Creek, who announced their presence by a sheet of fire from their crest. Though the slope was heavily wooded and the ground entirely unknown, the 136th, the 73d Ohio and 33d Massachusetts, charged the enemy and drove them from their entrenched position, but with heavy loss.
The 136th now crossed the Chattanooga and joined the command of General Thomas, which occupied the center of Grant's line in the battle of Chattanooga, and with it participated in the assault on Bragg's position on the 25th of November, which terminated a three days' con- flict, and drove his army from Chattanooga back into Georgia.
As soon as the battle of Chattanooga was won Grant detached Sherman with a portion of his army, including the 1 1th corps, to the relief of Burn- side, who was beleagured at Knoxville, Tenn .; but before they arrived Longstreet raised the siege, having on the 29th of November twice attempted to carry the works by assault, being each time re- pulsed. The hardships endured on this march of eighty-four miles are indescribable. The weather was severe, and many of the men marched on frozen ground with feet nearly bare and with insuf- ficient clothing and food, having to subsist on the country. The regiment then returned to the Wau-
hatchie Valley and went into comfortable winter quarters.
In the spring a reorganization of the army was effected. Grant having been appointed Lieutenant- General and taken charge of the army of the Po- tomac, Sherman was assigned to the command of the Military Division of the Mississippi, comprising the armies of the Ohio, Tennessee, Cumberland and Arkansas. In this change, on the 14th of April, 1864, the 136th was attached to the 3d brigade, 3d division, 20th corps, the latter commanded by Hooker. April 20, 1864, Col. James Wood, Jr., of the 136th was assigned to the command of the 3d brigade, which comprised in addition to the 136th, the 55th and 73d Ohio, 33d Mass., and 26th Wis. The command of the regiment thus devolved on Lieutenant-Colonel Faulkner.
After turning the strong position of Dalton by a detour through Snake Creek Gap and compelling its evacuation on the 12th of May, Sherman di- rected his forces against Resaca. At I P. M. on the 14th an attempt was made to break the enemy's line and force him from an elevated position in the immediate front.
Johnston retreated during the night of the 15th after a sharp struggle. This, to the 136th was the most destructive of all its engagements. The 3d brigade was a part of the storming party and was exposed to a murderous fire of musketry and artil- lery. The loss of the 136th was 82 in killed and wounded-12 enlisted men killed, and 3 officers and 67 enlisted men wounded.
Johnston was closely pursued, forced across the Etowah, and his position at Allatoona Pass turned by a circuit toward Dallas, Hooker having the ad- vance, and having some sharp encounters at New Hope Church, in which the 136th was again engaged.
Sherman drove Johnston across the Chattehoo- chee and forced the passage of that stream with his army, which he posted in proximity to Atlanta on the general line of Peach Tree Creek and across the Augusta Railroad. Here, on the afternoon of the 20th, he was attacked in force by Hood, who had superseded Johnston in command of the Con- federate forces in Georgia. The blow was unex- pected and its weight fell mainly on Hooker's corps, which was unprotected by works, and fought in comparatively open ground. After a very severe battle it was repulsed. During this action, while the Union troops were moving to repel a charge, a rebel color-bearer advanced in front of his regi- ment and confronted the 136th whose color-
153
WAR OF THE REBELLION.
bearer at once advanced to meet him, and the two stood defiant in view of the two armies. The bold rebel was immediately shot, and his colors captured and flaunted in the face of the foe. A com- rade avenged him by the death of his slayer and recovered the colors, but was himself slain while bearing away the trophy, which was retaken. This thrice captured flag now hangs among the war trophies in the Military Bureau in Albany.
The 136th participated in the brilliant successes which followed :- the capture of Atlanta Sept. Ist, 1864; the march from "Atlanta to the sea." Nov. 16-Dec. 21, 1864; and the terrible northern march through the Carolinas in mid-winter to Goldsboro which was reached March 21st, 1865, after a journey of five hundred miles of toil and suffering.
On the 14th of April, 1865, Sherman received a letter from Johnston, inquiring the terms on which he might surrender. An interview was had, and terms such as were accorded to Lee on the 9th of that month offered, which he was constrained on the 26th of April to accept.
This ended the military service of the 136th, which continued the march through Virginia to Washington, and was mustered out Jan. 13: 1865.
October 15, 1862, the members of the District Senatorial Committee residing in Livingston county and the Board of Supervisors met at Geneseo to arrange the lists of volunteers, and make provision generally preparatory to the draft, which was ordered to take place November 10th. The Supervisors were called upon to furnish lists of the men who had volunteered since July 2d, and thereby the deficiency of the county for the 600,000 was arrived at. Below are the quotas and lists claimed by Supervisors :-
Towns.
Quota.
No. Reported.
Avon
90
52
Caledonia
62
62
Conesus
45
46
Geneseo
93
78
Groveland
48
49
Lima
86
85
Livonia*
81
Leicester.
62
64
Mt. Morris.
122
140
North Dansville.
116
122
Nunda .
89
85
Ossian
39
35
l'ortage. .
46
.36
Springwater
75
66
Sparta .
39
40
West Sparta
46
37
York .
85
79
* No report ; said to be full.
Hon. R. P. Wisner, of Mt. Morris, was em- powered by the Governor to superintend and aid enlistments, to fill up the quota with nine months' volunteers.
March 3, 1863, Congress authorized the raising of additional troops to take the place of the two years' men whose terms were about to expire, and otherwise strengthen the army. President Lincoln issued a conscription proclamation on the 8th of May to carry that law into operation.
The draft for the district comprising the coun- ties of Livingston, Ontario and Yates commenced at the Town Hall in Canandaigua, on Saturday, July 25, 1863, and continued on the 28th, 29th, 30th and 31st. The following is a list of the num- ber in the several towns who were exempted and held to service. Most of the latter, however, paid the commutation of $300, in accordance with the provisions of the law :--
Avon . .
Drafted. 85
70
Caledonia .
54
42
Conesus.
31
26
Geneseo. .
86
74
Groveland.
42
32
Leicester
49
41
Lima .
SI
6.4
Livonia
78
61
NIt. Morris
IO7
North Dansville
IIO
94
Nunda
54
41
Ossian
25
21
Portage.
24
19
Sparta
37
34
Springwater
74
67
West Sparta.
3I
3I
York
76
64
October 17, 1863, another call for 300,000 men was issued. The substitutes furnished and com- mutations paid were as follows :-
Substitutes. 2
19
Caledonia
0
22
Conesus .
I3
(Geneseo
6
23
Groveland
O
IO
Leicester
O
17
Lima
2
Livonia.
I
25
Mt. Morris ..
3
29
North Dansville
3
Nunda.
1
IE
Ossian .
I
5
Portage .
O
9
Sparta
I
12
Springwater
2
21
West Sparta.
2
IO
York
1
27
The quota under this call in Livingston county was 537.
Exempted.
Commutations.
Avon .
..
154
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
During the summer and fall of 1863, H. R. Cur- tis was recruiting for the 13th New York Artillery, the nucleus of which was composed of the remnant of the 13th New York Infantry, under command of Col. E. G. Marshall. Lieut. S. H. Draper was also recruiting for the Griswold Light Cavalry. Both were organized in Rochester.
February 1, 1864, a call was issued for 200,000 men, and immediately thereafter recruiting agents were appointed in the respective Assembly Dis- tricts. February 11, 1864, the Supervisors ex- tended to the volunteers under this call the pro- visions of an Act passed by them December 11, 1863, authorizing the Supervisors of the several towns to draw on the County Treasurer for $300 for each volunteer furnished by his town until its quota was filled.
But the generous contributions thus far made by Livingston county were not the full comple- ment of what was required of her. Two further calls were issued-one July 18, 1864, for 500,000 men, and another December 19, 1864, for 300,000 men. In August, of that year, the Supervisors concluded to offer a bounty of $300 for three years' men ; $200 for one year's men, and $25 premium for the expenses of each recruit. Persons furnishing substitutes were entitled to receive the bounty. Messrs. Beckwith, Hampton and Lau- derdale were appointed a committee to disburse the county fund. For the purpose of filling the county quota, John Hlyland, of Dansville, and S. E. W. Johnson, of Avon, were sent South to recruit there. There, however, the competition was sharp, and high bounties were paid to recruits. A telegram from John Hyland, dated August 23, said they could do nothing, as other agents were offering $500 bounty for one year men. This foreign market for recruits produced a laxness in the efforts at home. Says The Livingston Repub- lican in August, 1864 :-
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