History of Oneida County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 174

Author: Durant, Samuel W
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Fariss
Number of Pages: 920

USA > New York > Oneida County > History of Oneida County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 174

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The 97th Regiment colors have been preserved, and have inseribed 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- eellorsville, 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 mastered out July 18, 1865, in accordance with orders from the War Department.

"Charles Wheelock, colonel of the 97th Regiment, was born in Claremont, N. H., Dec. 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 reodering assistance in raising some of the companies of early volunteers enlisted in his vicioity, he received ontborization, on the 23d of September (1861), for establishing a brnoch camp at Boonville, at which place the 97th Regiment wns formed. Its organization was completed on the 18th of February, 1862. He conducted the regiment to Washington, and directed itg movements until the advance from Warrenton, late in July, when sickness prevented him from further service, and he did not return to duty notil 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. He was engaged io business at Prospect, Oneida Co., at the beginning of the war, and io the fall of 1861 raised a company composed largely of Welsh, of which he became captain. He served with the regimeot notil wounded in the arm at Bull Run. He was taken to Washington, where his wound proved fatnl on the 6th of September (1862). His remains were taken home to Prospect for burial."t

"Lonis Dallarmi, second lientenant of Company H, 97th Regi- ment, was born at Aschaffenburg, Bavaria, Ang. 25, 1818. In 1834 be entered the Bavarian service as a private, and served eighteen years, during which period he rose to the rank of lientenant. At its close he received excellent testimonials of good conduct. For some months he was engaged in the Schleswig-Holsteio campaign. In July, 1855, he was married at Stuttgart to Miss Catharine Knoller, and from that city he removed to White Lake, oo 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, aod on the evening before the battle of Antietam was placed by General Duryea in temporary com- wand of two or three companies consolidated for this occasion. The captain of his company wns then absent, and the first lieutenant had just before been suspended from command. While marching into battle nt the head 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 sinee 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 Deusen,

# Hough's History of Brigade.

t Ibid.

# 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 reginient, 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 officers mustered out of service. The battles of the force were Seven Pines, Peach Orchard, 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 each citizen. Let it come to every fireside. Let the glorious example of the Revo- Iutionary period he our emulation. Let each feel that the common- wealth now counts upon his individual strength and influence 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 each. 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. : Hon. Horatio Seymour, chairman; Hon. F.

Kernan, Hon. William H. Ferry, Judge William J. Bacon, and Charles Doolittle, Esq., of Utica; Ifon. 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 Peuse was a native of Utica 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 Cen- 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 first person authorized to recruit a com- 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 practiced 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 Utica. 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 eireular address to the supervisors of every town in the State, urging them to prompt aetion, 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. MeLane, Judge Root, E. L. Stephens, L. H. Babcock, Rev. J. T. Crippen, and M. J. Shoecraft (of Oneida, Madison Co.).

"On the 15th day of Angust a special meeting of the board of super- visors was held in the court-house in Rome, at which measures were taken to raise $162,700 on the credit of the county, for the purpose of paying a bounty of $50 to each volunteer. The measure was passed and the sum appropriated, Lorenzo Ronse, of Marshall, presiding."

The State also paid a bounty of $50, and the national government advanced $25 of the $100 due the men at the end of their service, and $13 (one month's pay), besides $2 to each man as a recruiting fund, making a total of $140 paid to each volunteer before leaving the county. This had the effect of rapidly increasing the membership of the or- ganization.

Early in August the regiment was ordered by the Gov- ernor to rendezvous at the village of Rome, and accordingly headquarters were transferred thither from Utiea, and a eamp was established at once on a dry and elevated piece of ground on the western border of the village, about three- fourths of a mile from its centre, between Dominick and Liberty Streets. The eamp-ground was owned by Enoch B. Armstrong, and comprised about twenty aeres, sur- rounded by a substantial board fence. The only buildings on the ground were those then erected for the accommoda- tion of the regiment, consisting of quarters, kitchens, and mess-houses, and the quartermaster's department. On the western and higher portion of the ground were tents oceu- pied by the surgeon and adjutant. The camp received the name of "Camp Huntington," in honor of the prominent family of that name, whose history was intimately connected with that of the village. Spaee does not permit a descrip- tion of the various scenes and episodes of eamp life, but those who took part will recall them vividly to mind with- out unnecessary mention of them here ; and the citizens of the beautiful village-now a flourishing city-will recollect the encampment, the fine body of men thercin quartered, and many pleasant associations of the time.

The companies were filled to the maximum, and mustcred into serviee in regular order as follows : Co. A, Captain A. White; Co. B, Captain Rufus Daggett; Co. C, Captain F. X. Myer ; Co. D, Captain J. M. Waleott; Co. E, Captain

L. K. Brown ; Co. F, Captain S. J. Steves ; Co. G, Captain Charles H. Roys; Co. H, Captain A. R. Stevens; Co. I, Captain Charles Wheelock ; Co. K, Captain James A. Raee. After their muster as captains, Captain Alvin White was promoted to lieutenant-colonel, and Captain Rufus Daggett to major, their positions being filled by First Lieutenants Brigham and J. P. Stone, who were promoted.

By the 20th of August nearly 1100 men were on land available for the field, and so numerous were recruits that the tide could only be checked by refusing to accept more. On this date Lieutenant M. C. Caustin, 19th United States Infantry, mustering officer, arrived at Rome and mustered into service the entire regiment, every company having at- tained the maximum number. The organization as eom- pleted was named and numbered the " 117th New York Volunteers." On the day of muster the men received their bounties, Lieutenant Caustin paying the government bounty of $25 per man, and the State paymaster paying the State bounty.

The men comprising the regiment were principally resi- dents of Oneida County, so that it was really a county organization. The companies were recruited mostly in the following towns, viz. : Co. A, Utica and Vernon ; Co. B, Utica and Camden ; Co. C, Utica and Westmoreland ; Co. D, Utica, Whitestown, and Sangerfield; Co. E, Rome and Annsville; Co. F, Oriskany village and northward of it; Co. G, Paris and Kirkland; Co. H, Utica ; Co. I, Boon- ville, Remsen, and Trenton ; Co. K, Sangerfield and North. Every town in the county was more or less represented. Co. H had the highest percentage of married men, while Co. G was made up mostly of young, unmarried men; and the latter company, it is stated, always furnished a large share of the mail matter.

The organization being completed, the regiment broke camp on the morning of Aug. 22, 1862, and shortly after ten o'clock marched down to the depot, escorted by the " Gansevoort Light Guard," commanded by Captain Rowe. A few minutes after reaching the depot, when the last good-byes were said and the last hand-shakings over, the long train of twenty-two passenger coaches and four freight cars sped on its way with its living freight of patriotic men. At Oriskany, Whitesboro', and Utica erowds were gathered to witness the departure of the regiment ; at Utica especially the reception was very demonstrative. The old Utica Band had taken a position on the roof of the depot, and discoursed stirring musie as the train rolled in and stopped. An address was delivered by Hon. W. J. Bacon, and responded to by Colonel Pease and Lieutenant-Colonel White, followed by Colonel James McQuade, of the 14th New York Volunteers. At 1.40 P.M. the train moved away, carrying the regiment out of the county in which it was raised, and bearing its members swiftly on towards the field of war. Proceeding by train to Albany, thenee by boat down the Hudson to Jersey City, and by rail to Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, the regiment reached the latter place early on the morning of the 25th, and found shelter and " plain lodgings" on the floor of some extensive barracks near the depot. Aug. 26, the 117th went into eamp at Tennally- town, west of Georgetown, and on the 30th was removed farther west, to Fort Alexander. At the latter place it re-

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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

mained, doing guard and fatigue duty, till nearly the middle of November.

On the 12th of November the regiment was relieved by the 18th Maine, and moved to an eminence about midway between Fort Pennsylvania and its late encampment, where it remained a week in the mud, and then moved up near to Fort Pennsylvania. While in this camp a fine silk ban- ner arrived, a present to the regiment from the ladies of Utica. The first death in the regiment after leaving home took place Sept. 12, 1862.

December 24, the regiment was divided into two battalions, of five companies each, which were assigned to special duty some ten miles apart. No hard work fell to the lot of the regiment during the winter, and on the morning of March 15, 1863, the two battalions were united at Washington, and, embarking on a couple of river boats, were transported down the river to Norfolk, arriving March 17, where they were transferred to cars and taken to Suffolk, near which Longstreet was then making a decided demonstration in the direction of Norfolk. Now the regiment was literally " at the front," the event they had long been wishing for, yet the ominous thundering of Longstreet's guns sounded much less enchanting to their cars than they had expected, and an appreciation of their position was apparent in the sober glances of the men. The 117th was placed on the extreme right of the line of defense, and subsequently encamped on what was known as Cahoon's Point, where it remained for nearly a month, doing picket duty and fortifying the Point. May 15, the camp was removed to the south bank of Julian's Creek, about four miles south of Portsmouth, where the boys remained for some time. On the 22d of June camp was broken, and the regiment started on its memorable Penin- sula raid, to aid in checking the advance of Lee, who had begun another north ward movement.

The men were marched to Portsmouth, where they em- barked and steamed up to White House, and from there made a rapid march towards Hanover Court-House, making a demonstration against Lee's communications with Rich- mond. They lay at this place until the morning of the 5th of July, and then began a forced march to Fortress Monroe, suffering greatly from heat and fatigue on the way, and losing a few men prisoners to the rebel cavalry. July 29, the regiment was removed to Portsmouth, where they embarked on board a transport and steamed out upon salt water, their destination being Charleston Harbor, S. C., where they arrived on the afternoon of August 2, and the following day landed on Folly Island, where they remained till Angust 22, when their location was changed to Block Island. At their camp on the latter island the men re- mained about a month, and then returned to Folly Island. During the winter but little happened out of an easy rou- tine of camp-life. The 117th participated, on the 7th of February, 1864, in a demonstration against Charleston via John's Island, and returned on the 10th. Colonel Pease had obtained leave of absence, on account of sickness, while the regiment was at Portsmouth, and during the stay on Folly Island a letter was received from him announcing his resignation on account of ill-health. Lieutenant-Colonel White was promoted to colonel, Major Daggett to lieutenant- colonel, and Captain F. X. Meyer to major.

April 15, 1864, subsequent to General Grant's appoint- ment as commander-in-chief, an order was received by the Folly Island forces to be ready to move at short notice, and on the 18th the camp was broken up. On the evening of the 19th the regiment embarked on the steamer " Nep- tune," and on the 20th, at Hilton Head, took passage on the propeller transport " Blackstone," and arrived at Gloucester Point on the 24th. Remained there about a week, during which time it was reinforced by an installment of recruits. Moved up the York River to West Point May 1. Left for Fortress Monroe May 5, 1864, and from there proceeded up James River, arriving off City Point the next day, and landing at Bermuda Hundred. Considerable skirmishing and some sharp fighting occurred during the successive days thereafter, all in an advance towards l'eters- burg. On the 16th, in the battle at Drury's Bluff, the 117th suffered heavily, losing 89 men, among them Lieu- tenant Castleman and Captain Brigham, who were mortally wounded and subsequently died. Splendid service was rendered in this engagement by the 117th and her four sister regiments, the 89th, 142d, and 3d New York and 40th Massachusetts, composing the First Brigade, Second Division of the Tenth Corps.

In rapid succession followed the battles of Cold Harbor, capture of Petersburg Heights, Bermuda Hundred, and Petersburg Trenches, in all of which the 117th suffered greatly, principally from the firing of the enemy's sharp- shooters and the explosion of shells. In June the brigade was re-formed. The history of the regiment from this time forward is one of continued interest ; exciting events trans- pired almost daily, and the casualties were very great. It participated in the second siege of Petersburg and at Chapin's Farm (Sept. 29, 1864); the desperate fight of the 27th of October; in the two expeditions to Fort Fisher, near Wil- mington, N. C., on the second of which the fort was cap- tured, the 117th being the first regiment to plant its colors on the rebel works ; the capture of Wilmington ; and the subsequent march in the rear of Sherman's army (whose trail it struck at Bentonville) back to the " sacred soil" of Virginia.

On the 8th of June, 1865, at Raleigh, N. C., the regi- ment was mustered out of the government service, and on the morning of the 9th began its march homeward. It reached City Point, Va., June 14; proceeded to Fortress Monroe, and from there to New York City, where it arrived June 17; reached Albany the 18th, and took the cars for Syracuse ; stopped a short time at Utica, where a grand banquet was served by the citizens, and an address of wel- come delivered by Hon. Roscoe Conkling, to which reply was made by Colonel Daggett (brevet brigadier-general ). From Utica the command proceeded to Syracuse, where it remained in camp about ten days, and received its final muster-out June 28, 1865.

The casualties of the regiment in some of its prominent battles were as follows : Drury's Bluff, May, 1864, 81 (given also 89); taking of Petersburg Heights, June 15, 1864, 24; siege of Petersburg, 132; Chapin's Farm, Sept. 29, 1864, 130; Darbytown Road, Oct. 27, 1864, 52; Fort Fisher, Jan. 15, 1865, 95. Of the entire number of men lost 85 were killed in action, 154 died of sickness or wounds,

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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

198 were discharged for disability, 21 were missing in action, and 25 were transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps, making a total of 483. The 117th left with 1020 men, and returned with 315. At intervals during 1863-65 it re- ceived an aggregate of about 500 recruits. Of these about 250 were transferred to the 48th New York Volunteers.

The 117th was spoken of by Colonel Pease as being " the finest body of men he ever saw." As a fighting regiment its qualities were well tested, and they never failed to come up to the standard. The statistics of its losses speak vol- umes in its favor, and the forms lying so lowly on many a Southern field testify truthfully of its patriotism, while a grateful country awards to it cheerfully the honor it so bravely won. Many of its members to-day are among the foremost of Oneida's civilians, and peace has spread around them her manifold blessings, yet doth the eye glance bright and the form become martially erect at thoughts of the stirring " scenes of other days," now living but as dread memories of the past.

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History of Oneida County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 174

Author: Durant, Samuel W Publication date: 1878 Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Fariss Number of Pages: 920

Author: Durant, Samuel W
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Fariss
Number of Pages: 920