History of Oneida County, New York, 1667-1878, Part 174

Author:
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Fariss
Number of Pages: 932

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SIXTY-EIGHTH INFANTRY.

This regiment was organized and principally raised in New York City, although Companies D, E, and H eon- tained men from Oneida County. It was mustered in for three years, from Aug. 1 to 20, 1861. On the expiration of its term of service the original members, except veterans, were mustured out, and the regiment, composed of vete- rans and recruits, retained in service till Nov. 30, 1865, when it was mustered out in accordance with orders from the War Department. Among its battles were Cross-Keys,

White Sulphur Springs, Waterloo Bridge, Fremont's Ford, Groveton, and Bull Run.

SEVENTY-FIFTH INFANTRY.

A few men from Oneida County were in Company E of this regiment, which was mustered in Nov. 26, 1861. The original members, except veterans, were mustered out at the expiration of service, and the veterans and recruits re- tained until Aug. 31, 1865, when they were mustered out in accordance with orders from the War Department. The regiment was organized for three years at Auburn, New York. Among its engagements were Cotten, Brisland, and Port Hudson.

SEVENTY-SIXTH INFANTRY.

A portion of Company A of this regiment was raised in Oneida County. The regiment was organized at Albany for three years, and was raised principally in the counties of Otsego and Cortland. It was mustered in Jan. 16, 1862. The original members, except veterans, were mus- tered out in December, 1864, and the veterans and recruits were transferred to the 147th New York Volunteers. The battles of the 76th were Rappahannock Station, Warrenton, Gainesville, second Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Upperville, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and Mine Run.

SEVENTY-EIGHTH INFANTRY.

This regiment was organized in New York City to serve three years. The companies composing it were raised in the counties of Erie, Monroe, Steuben, Niagara, and Oneida, and mustered in from Oct. 1, 1861, to April 12, 1862. On the 29th of June, 1864, the 78th was consolidated with the 102d. Its battles were Wauhatehie, Lookout Mountain, Resaca, Dallas, Lost Mountain, Pine Knob, Kenesaw, Peach- Tree Creek, and Atlanta.

EIGHTY-FIRST INFANTRY.

This regiment was organized at Albany, N. Y., to serve three years, and was mustered into the United States ser- vice Sept. 14, 1861. Until the 20th of January, 1862, it rendezvoused at Oswego ; but on that date it left for Albany, where, on the 1st of February, 1862, it received an acces- sion of 350 men from Oneida County, forming afterwards Companies C, E, and I. This completed the regiment, and on the 21st of the same month it departed from Albany for the front. Proceeding to New York, it went into bar- racks on Staten Island, and remained there until the 5th of March, when it was ordered to Washington, which city it reached on the 7th, and encamped on the 8th on Kalorama Heights, where it remained 20 days, and was in the mean time attached to the Third Brigade, Casey's Division, of the Fourth Corps. March 28, the boys were sent to Alex- andria, thenee to Fortress Monroe, where they arrived April 1. From this time their position was almost constantly changing, and on the 31st of May, 1862, they received their baptism of fire in the battle of Seven Pincs, where they behaved like veterans. A member of the regiment thus deseribes this engagement :

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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

" The onemy in front, scroonod by a thick undergrowth of bushes, poured sovoral volloys of mnsketry into tho regiment, and although this was the first regular engagement in which they had participated, yet they stood like veterans. Volley aftor volley was poured into the bushos with deadly effect. Soon finding that they could not maintain their exposod position, tho regiment fell back in good order to the edge of the woods in their rear. During this time both field-officers fell. Lieutonant-Colonel De Forest was shot in the breast, Major John Me- Ambly and Captain Kingman wero killed and left on the field, together with many privates. Captain Wm. C. Raulston, being the senior offi- eer present, then assumed command, and, in the position then taken, they kept up a constant fight with the enemy in front for two hours, whon a large foree, afterwards ascertained to be a brigade, entered the field they had left, and deployed in such a mannor as to approach them both in front and flank. To savo thomselves from being taken prisoners the order was given to fall back towards the centre of the line, which was on the Williamsburg road, half a mile distant. While moving in that dircetion the centro gave way, and was being forced down tho road. To meet this they were obliged to change direction, passing through a thick wood, and slashing, gaining open ground half a mile in the rear of the first line of riffe-pits, which they had ontered, and continued the fight until the day closed, the enomy in possession of the battle-field, including the eamp, with all the tonts, the personal baggage, and extra clothing of tho men and officers."

After this the regiment saw much hard service in Vir- ginia and the Carolinas. While in camp near Northwest Landing, Va., in the latter part of 1863, a beautiful flag was presented to them by Mrs. C. E. Ingersoll, of Lce, Oneida Co., N. Y., the old banner having been returned to the citizens of Oswego scarred with battle, and no longer fit for use.

At the expiration of the term of service the original members, exeept veterans, were mustered out, and the vet- erans and reeruits retained in service, and assigned to the First Brigade, First Division, Eighteenth Corps, Army of the James. During April and May, 1864, the regiment was almost constantly engaged in skirmish or battle. At Drury's Bluff, June 16, 1864, it carried itself so gallantly that it was complimented by both Generals Butler and Gill- more. It had lost in the engagement of June 2 over 70 men killed and wounded. At Cold Harbor it suffered ter- ribly. Captains W. W. Ballard, of Company I, and James Martin, of Company K, were killed, and five other captains wounded. The regiment in this engagement lost 13 offi- eers ; " the color-guard was completely annihilated, and one-half of those who went out to battle in the morning at night lay on the field, wounded or killed." The remaining members of the regiment were after this battle consolidated into four companies. At Petersburg they covered them- selves with glory ; at Fort Harrison (Chapin's Farm) they were the first to plant their banner on the enemy's works. They here captured several pieces of artillery, a battle-flag, and a large number of prisoners. Nine officers and many privates were either killed or wounded in this action. Cap- tain Rix, Lieutenants Tuttle and Nethway were killed, and Captain Fish and Lieutenants Dolbier and Porter mortally wounded. Lieutenant Amos Copeland was wounded, and was soon after killed in a railway accident, while en route home. The second day of this battle the regiment eap- tured two battle flags and a large number of prisoners. It lost in two days 100 killed and wounded, including nine officers. In recognition of its gallant services it was pre- sented by the War Department with a stand of colors bear- ing the inseriptions Yorktown, Seven Pines, Savage Station, 81

Malvern Hill, Winton, Violet Station, Kingsland Creck, Drury's Bluff, May 13, 15, 16; Cold Harbor, June 1, 2, and 3; Petersburg, June 15, 16, and 24, and July 9 and 30; Fort Harrison (Chapin's Farm), September 29 and 30; Fair Oaks (2d), October 27, 1864.

On the 5th of November, 1864, the regiment was ordered to New York, where it remained during the pres- idential election, and returned to its eamp near Richmond. It was the first infantry regiment to enter the rebel capital. It was mustered out in August, 1865, in accordance with orders from the War Department.

NINETY-THIRD INFANTRY.

This regiment was organized at Albany, N. Y., for three years. The companies composing it were raised principally in the countics of Albany, Alleghany, Rensselaer, Warren, and Washington, although Company B was partly raised in Oncida County. The regiment was mustered in from October, 1861, to January, 1862. At the expiration of its term of service the original members, except veterans, were mustered out, and the veterans and reeruits were re- tained in service until June 29, 1865, when they were mustered out, in accordance with orders from the War Department. The 93d was engaged in the following bat- tles, viz .: Yorktown, Williamsburg, Fredericksburg, Chan- eellorsville, Antietam, Wilderness, Cold Harbor, Spottsyl- vania, North Anna, Tolopotomy, Petersburg, Strawberry Plains, Deep Bottom, Poplar Spring Church, and Boydton Road.

NINETY-SEVENTH INFANTRY, NEW YORK STATE VOL- UNTEERS .*

The 97th Regiment, New York Volunteers, was organ- ized in Boonville [Oneida Co., N. Y.], under an authoriza- tion dated Sept. 13, 1861, and while forming was known as the Conkling Rifles. The companies were mainly raised as follows : Companies A and C in Boonville; B in Lewis County ; D and F in Salisbury ; E in Prospeet and vicin- ity ; G in Herkimer County ; H in Utica and Lowville; I in Little Falls; and K in Rome. It was mustered into service at Boonville, Feb. 18, 1862, left Boonville March 12, received its arms at New York, and arrived at Wash- ington on the 20th of March. After a brief sojourn on Kalorama Heights, it was ordered to garrison Fort Cor- eoran and the works adjacent, until the formation of Dur- yea's Brigade, when it was ordered to Cloud's Mills and became identified with that organization. In the fall of 1863 it received large aeeessions from eonscripts and sub- stitutes, and early in 1864 nearly one hundred and fifty of its men re-enlisted.

April 16, 1862, General Duryea took command of a brigade formed of the 97th, 104th, and 105th New York, 12th Virginia, and 88th and 107th Pennsylvania Regi- ments, at Cloud's Mills, about two miles from Alexandria, on the Little River Turnpike. The 12th Virginia and 88th Pennsylvania were a few days after transferred; but the other four remained without change during the period

# History of Duryea's Brigade, by F. B. Hough, M.D., surgeon of 97th.

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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

that General Duryea continued in command. The change of climate and exposure in tents had caused considerable sickness, and the regimental hospitals were filled with sick ; but as the spring advanced the wholesome regulations and strict discipline of the camp, with careful attention to its sanitary condition, restored the command to a high degree of health. This camp of instruction received the name of Camp Reliance, and was laid out with great care. The tents issued for privates were of the A pattern, and from the adjacent camps of the Army of the Potomac, which were left with the tents standing, an additional supply was obtained to meet every suggestion of comfort. The immediate neighborhood of Camp Reliance had been occu- pied during the preceding winter by Sumner's Division, and every vestige of fencing or other sources of fuel had been consumed, leaving an open country, with here and there a lone family, or more frequently the ruins or foun- dations of a homestead burnt, or its materials carried off to be used in camp. The command spent three weeks in this locality, drilling and becoming familiar with field evolu- tions. The brigade was actively engaged after Banks' campaign against, and retreat before, Stonewall Jackson, in May, 1862, and on the 1st of June was assigned to Gen- eral Ricketts' Division, in which connection it remained until after the battle of Antietam. June 26, 1862, the Army of Virginia was organized, and placed under com- mand of Major-General John Pope. Ricketts' Division was assigned a place in the Third Corps, in the First Brig- ade of which was the 97th. The regiment was commanded through the summer of 1862 by Lieutenant-Colonel J. P. Spofford, on account of the illness and absence of Colonel C. Wheelock. Just previous to the battles of South Moun- tain and Antietam, Lieutenant-Colonel Spofford also left on account of sickness, and was relieved by Major C. North- rup, who commanded at these two battles. The first battle in which the brigade was engaged was Culpepper, Va., near Cedar Mountain, Aug. 9, 1862. In the engagement, at Rappahannock Station, August 23, John Schneider, private in Company H, lost an arm, and Sergeant J. H. Smith, Company E, was bruised in the side. After participating in the fight at Thoroughfare Gap, the brigade took an active part in the second Bull Run battle, Aug. 30, 1862, and in this the 97th sustained the following casualties : 7 men killed, 42 wounded, and 61 missing (mostly pris- oners). At South Mountain, Sept. 14, 1862, the regi- ment lost 2 men killed. At Antietam the 97th suffered severely, losing 21 men killed on the field, and over 40 wounded. Duryea's Brigade was reorganized after the battle of Antietam, and became a part of the First Corps, to which the Third Corps had been changed. The Third Brigade was organized, including the 83d New York (9th N. Y. S. M.), 97th New York, 11th and 88th Pennsyl- vania, and 13th Massachusetts, and was placed under the command of Brigadier-General Nelson Taylor. General Duryéa, during his absence on furlough, had been super- seded in command by a junior officer, and the matter was never righted. The general resigned Jan. 5, 1863, after having led his men through seven battles. He was a gen- cral favorite with the men of the brigade, and all regretted that he should have been so unjustly treated.

The 97th Regiment colors have been preserved, and have inscribed upon them the following list of engagements in which the regiment participated, viz. : Cedar Mountain, Rappahannock, Thoroughfare Gap, second Bull Run, Chan- tilly, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chan- cellorsville, Gettysburg, Mine Run, Raccoon Ford, Wilder- ness, Laurel Hill, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Tolopotomy, Bethesda Church, White Oak Swamp, Petersburg, Weldon Railroad, Hicksford, Hatcher's Run, Quaker Road, White Oak Road, Five Forks, Appomattox Court-House, and Lee's Surrender. It acquitted itself nobly throughout its entire service, and suffered severely from the casualties of war. It was mustered out July 18, 1865, in accordance with orders from the War Department.

"Charles Wheelock, colonel of the 97th Regiment, was born in Claremont, N. II., Dee. 14, 1812, and removed in early life to Boon- ville, N. Y., where he became engaged in business as a farmer and dealer in produce. After rendering assistance in raising some of the companies of early volunteers enlisted in his vicinity, be received authorization, on the 23d of September (1861), for establishing a branch camp at Boonville, at which place tbe 97th Regiment was formed. Its organization was completed on the 18th of February, 1862. Ile conducted the regiment to Washington, and directed its movements nntil the advance from Warrenton, late in July, when siekness prevented him from furtber service, and he did not return to duty until October. He was the senior colonel of the brigade at the time of its reorganization in November.""

He was finally brevetted brigadier-general United States Volunteers, and died Jan. 21, 1865.

"Richard Jones, captain Company E, 97th Regiment, was born in Anglesea, North Wales, and emigrated with his father, John Jones, to Russia, N. Y., in 1832. Ile was engaged in business at Prospect, Oneida Co., at the beginning of the war, and in the fall of 1861 raised a company composed largely of Welsh, of which be became captain. He served with the regiment until wounded in the arm at Bull Run. Ile was taken to Washington, where his wound proved fatal on the 6tb of September (1862). His remains were taken home to Prospeet for burial."+

"Louis Dallarmi, second lieutenant of Company H, 97th Regi- ment, was born at Aschaffenburg, Bavaria, Aug. 25, 1818. In 1834 he entered the Bavarian service as a private, and served eighteen years, during which period he rose to the rank of lieutenant. At its elose he received excellent testimonials of good conduet. For some montbs he was engaged in the Schleswig-Holstein campaign. In July, 1855, be was married at Stuttgart to Miss Catharine Knoller, and from that city he removed to White Lake, on the northern borders of Oneida Co., N. Y., where he engaged in business till the present war (Rebellion). He assisted in recruiting a company of Germans, which entered the 97th Regiment as Company H. His superior military attainments would have given him a higher rank had his acquaint- ance with the English language justified. He was regarded as the best- drilled line-officer of the regiment, and on the evening before the battle of Antietam was placed by General Duryea in temporary com- mand of two or three companies consolidated for this occasion. The captain of his company was then absent, and the first lieutenant had just before been suspended from command. Wbile marching into battle at the bead of his company he was instantly killed." }

The officers and members of the 97th organized a " so- cial union," March 12, 1867, and annual reunions have since been held in different places in Oneida, Lewis, and Herkimer Counties. The present officers (April 9, 1878) are : President, Franklin B. Hough, M.D., of Lowville, Lewis Co .; Vice-President, Isaac Hall, of Leyden, Lewis Co. ; Recording Secretary, Calvin V. Graves, of Boonville, Oneida Co .; Corresponding Secretary, A. H. Van Deuscn,

# Hough's History of Brigade.

t Ibid.

į Hough.

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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

of Albany ; Treasurer, G. M. Palmer, of Rome. The last annual reunion was held at Boonville, March 12, 1878, and was a most enjoyable affair. A reception was held in Hayes' Hall by the ladies of the village, and "all went merry as a marriage-bell." All honor to the surviving patriots, and a tear of gratitude and regret for the fallen !

ONE HUNDRED AND FIRST INFANTRY.

This regiment was organized at Hancock, N. Y., to serve three years, and was mustered in from Sept. 2, 1861, to Feb. 28, 1862. Parts of Companies B and E were from Oneida County, and the balance of the regiment was raised in the counties of Delaware, New York, and Onondaga. On the 24th of December, 1862, the regiment was consol- idated with the 37th New York Volunteers, and its offiecrs mustered out of service. The battles of the force were Seven Pines, Peach Orehard, Savage Station, Chickahominy, White Oak Swamp, Charles City Cross-Roads, Malvern Hill, Groveton, second Bull Run, Chantilly, Fredericks- burg. The 37th Regiment was mustered out, June 22, 1863, by reason of the expiration of its term of service.

ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTEENTH NEW YORK VOLUN- TEER INFANTRY.

On the first day of July, 1862, in response to a letter bearing the signatures of eighteen loyal Governors, Presi- dent Lincoln issued a call for three hundred thousand vol- unteers to assist those already in the field in putting down the Rebellion, and terminating more speedily the great civil war, which for fifteen months had been devastating the land and rendering desolate many homes within the borders of the Republic. As yet the results of the war were not extremely favorable to the Union arms, and Fort Sumter, Bull Run, and the Peninsular-Richmond-cam- paign were dark pages in the history of the mighty struggle to keep the nation united. The day following the call of the President, Governor Edwin D. Morgan, of New York, issued a proclamation containing the following eloquent and earnest language :

" This appeal is to the State of New York : it is to cach citizen. Let it come to every fireside. Let the glorious example of the Revo- lutionary period be our emulation. Let cach feel that the common- wealth now counts upon his individual strength and infinenee to meet the demands of the government.

" The period has come when all must aid. New York has not thus far stood back. Ready, and more than willing, she has met every summons to duty. Let not her history be falsified, nor her position lowered."

Three days after this appeal, on the 5th of July, a cir- cular was issued from the adjutant-general's office, directing the division of the State into regimental districts, corre- sponding to the senatorial divisions, with a rendezvous camp in cach. To Hon. Horatio Seymour was addressed the letter appointing the committee for this (the nineteenth) district. The duty of the committee was to use every effort to organize a regiment of volunteers under the President's call, and it was also authorized to insure every person who recruited a company a position as captain, providing at the same time liberal bounties for enlisted men.

The following gentlemen composed the committee for this district, viz. : IIon. Horatio Seymour, chairman ; Hon. F.

Kernan, Hon. William II. Ferry, Judge William J. Bacon, and Charles Doolittle, Esq., of Utica; Hon. B. N. Hunt- ington and C. Comstock, of Rome; Luther Guiteau, of Trenton ; and O. S. Williams, of Clinton. They were in- structed to forward, with their nomination of a regimental commander, the names of a few prominent and active citizens in different parts of the district, which would be added to the list. Accordingly the committee was increased by the appointment of Hon. Samuel Campbell, of Whites- town; D. B. Goodwin, of Waterville; D. J. Millard, of Paris ; T. D. Penfield, of Camden ; and David T. Jenkins, of Vernon. July 14, 1862, the committee held its first meeting at Bagg's Hotel, in Utica, and completed its or- ganization by electing Charles Doolittle, Esq., secretary. On the same occasion, William R. Pease was recommended as colonel of the regiment in prospect. This selection was eminently proper and satisfactory. Colonel Pease was a native of Utiea and a graduate of the military academy, and was at the time a member of the regular service, sta- tioned at Utica as mustering and disbursing officer for Cell- tral New York. An interview was held with him at this session of the war committee, and on being informed of his election the position was accepted, the stated conditions being mutually satisfactory, and he reported at Albany for his commission. Although chosen commander of the new regiment July 21, he was not relieved from his previous duties until the 31st of the same month, and on the 1st of August and thereafter his entire time was devoted to organ- izing the regiment. He labored actively and earnestly, and the body of men recruited and organized was known for the time as the " 4th Oneida." With the appointment of other necessary officers-adjutant, quartermaster, and sur- geon-the progress was more rapid. Each company was to contain, officers and privates, 83 minimum and 101 maximum. On the approval of the regimental commander, the Governor issued certificates of authorization to individ- uals, allowing them to enlist or enroll men for the regiment and entitling them to receive commissions as second lieu- tenants on the presentation of not less than 30 men, who should pass muster, to first lieutenants' commissions for no fewer than 40 men, and to captains' commissions for 83 men or over. The arst person authorized to recruit a eom- pany was John M. Walcott. On the completion of ten companies of the minimum standard, of an aggregate of 844 officers and men, they were to be formed into a regi- ment, the maximum standard being 1024.

In accordance with these regulations Egbert Bagg, of Utica, was commissioned quartermaster July 23, 1862, his being the first commission issued to the regiment. The fol- lowing day, July 24, a younger citizen of Utica, who had received a thorough drilling in the local military, was com- missioned adjutant. This was James M. Latimer, and both officers entered at once upon the duties of their positions. July 29, Dr. Edward Loomis, a native and resident of Westmoreland, who had passed the examining board at Albany, was commissioned surgeon and ordered to the regi- ment, where he immediately reported and entered upon his duties. He had praetieed his profession successfully for more than thirty years in his native town and vicinity, and represented his district in the State Legislature.

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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Up to this date about 200 men had been enrolled, their medical examination, by consent of the authorities, having been conducted by Dr. Charles B. Coventry, of Utiea. Re- cruiting was being rapidly carried on throughout the county, and every means used for completing the regiment at the earliest possible date. The Governor had issued a circular address to the supervisors of every town in the State, urging thein to prompt action, and valuable aid in towns was thus secured. Many gentlemen of ability and influence were addressing " war-meetings" in every part of the county, and the spirit of war was at fever-heat. Among the gentlemen active in these efforts were Hon. Francis Kernan, Erastus Clark, John Snow (of Oneida County), C. H. Doolittle, Hiram T. Jenkins, General Bruce (of Lenox, Madison Co.), Hon. A. H. Bailey, Hon. Roseoe Conkling, Ward Hunt, Judge Geo. W. Smith, De Witt C. Grove, ex-Governor Seymour, Colonel McQuade, Judge Wm. J. Bacon, Rev. M. E. Dunham, C. M. Scholefield, Judge N. A. Foster, Rev. John Harvey, C. McLane, Judge Root, E. L. Stephens, L. H. Babcock, Rev. J. T. Crippen, and M. J. Shoecraft (of Oneida, Madison Co.).

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History of Oneida County, New York, 1667-1878, Part 174

Author: Publication date: 1878 Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Fariss Number of Pages: 932

Author:
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Fariss
Number of Pages: 932