History of Onondaga County, New York, Part 27

Author: Clayton, W.W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., D. Mason & Co.
Number of Pages: 840

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rank from July 3, '64, not mustered, (Brevet Ist Lieut. N. Y. V.) ; Andreas Cassard, 2d Lieut., rank from March 24, '64, declined ; Franklin Sours, 2d Lieut., rank from April 20, '64, not mustered ; Jacob Schwartz, 2d Lieut., rank from Mar. 28, '65, not mustered, (Brevet Ist Lieut. N. Y. V.) ; David Gere, 2d Lieut., rank from June 7, '65, not mustered, (Brevet Ist Lieut. N. Y. V.) ; Adolphus J. Fix, 2d Lieut., rank from June 7, '65, (Brevet Ist Lieut. N. Y. V.), not mustered ; Milton E. Miller, 2d Lieut., rank from Mar. I, '65, mustered out June 12, '65 ; George P. Frost, 2d Lieut., rank from Jan. 7, '65, not mustered, (Brevet Ist Lieut. N. Y. V.)

BREVET COMMISSIONS ISSUED BY THE GOVERNOR TO ENLISTED MEN OF THE 149TH REGIMENT.

Rank.

Name. Brevet Rank.

Sergeant,

John W. Vaugh 2d Lieut.

Q. Sergeant, Dudley D. K. Marvin, 2d Lieut.

Sergeant, Augustus P. Brown, 2d Lieut.

Sergeant, Joseph F. Thomas,

2d Lieut.

Private,

William Fehrenz,

2d Lieut.

Private,

George W. Chase,

2d Lieut.

Private,

George I. Sager, 2d Lieut.

Com'sary Sergt., Henry L. Purdy, 2d Lieut.

Private,

Oliver Ormsby,

2d Lieut.

Sergeant,

Howard B. Sloan,

2d Lieut.

Sergeant,

Willianı Cross, 2d Lieut.

Sergeant,

William Cahill, 2d Lieut.

Medals of honor were awarded by the Secretary of War to the following :

First Lieutenant, N. F. Potter ; Private, Peter Kappesser ; Private, Philip Goettel.

CHAPTER XXIX.

THE ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-FIFTH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS-ORGANIZATION-ARRIVAL IN FRONT OF PETERSBURG-DESTRUCTION OF THE WELDON RAILROAD - WINTER QUARTERS -BATTLE OF HATCHER'S RUN - ATTACK ON FORT STEEDMAN.

T HE 185th was the fourth complete regiment of volunteer infantry from Onondaga county, raised late in the war, and composed largely of artisans, farmers, mechanics and profes- sional men. It was its peculiar fortune to be mustered into the service when hard fighting had to be done, which continued with little interruption to the close of the war. The 185th was organized as follows :

Field and Staff Officers-Edwin S. Jenney, Colonel ; Gustavus Sniper, Lieutenant-Colonel ; John Leo, Major ; Byron Mudge, Adjutant ; William Gilbert, Quartermaster ; Charles W. Crarey, Surgeon ; G. L. Newcomb, Assistant Sur- geon ; Chester W. Hawley, Chaplain.

Line Officers-Company A : Stephen O. How- ard, Captain ; Ephraim F. Bander, Ist Lieutenant ;

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HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

William A. Brooks, 2d Lieutenant. Company B : John Listman, Captain : Willam A. Rotf, Ist Lieutenant : John Herron, 2d Lieutenant. Com- pany C: Henry D. Carhart, Captam ; John T. Hostler, ist Lieutenant ; Charles J. Rector, 2d Lieutenant. Company D: Daniel N. Lathrop, Captaum ; Theodore M. Barber, ist Lieutenant : Henry L. Kingsley, 2d Lieutenant. Company E : Robert P' Bush, Captain : Robert C. Rorepaugh, Ist Lieutenant ; Pembroke Pierce, 2d Lieutenant. Company F : John W. Strowbridge, Captain ; An- drew J Lyman, Ist Lieutenant ; Harrison Givins, ed Lieutenant. Company G : Albern H1 Barber, Captain ; Hiram Clark, Ist Lieutenant ; Daniel Minier, 2d Lieutenant. Company II : Daniel Christler, Captain : Stephen S. Jordan, Ist Lieu- tenant : Stephen R. Hitchcock, ed Lieutenant. Company I : Jared F. Abbott, Captain : H. Wads- worth Clarke, Ist Lieutenant ; Jacob M. Doran, 2d Lieutenant. Company K : Abram H. Spore, Captain : Cyrus A. Phillips, ist Lieutenant ; Lewis S. Edgar, ed Lieutenant.

This regiment was organized at Syracuse and mustered into the service September 22. 1864. On the 23d they left for City Point, where they arrived ata Fortress Monroe on the 30th, and were that night ordered into action, an attack being made on the Union forces at Warren Station, where a light skirmish ensued. On the 4th of October the regi- ment was assigned to the First Brigade, First Divi- sion, Fifth Army Corps : Gen. S. Warren, Corps Commander. The division was commanded by Gen. Charles Griffin, and the brigade by Gen. Sickles. The regiment moved on the 4th from Warren Station to Poplar Grove Church, where they went into camp and remained till Sunday the 16th. On Saturday, October 8, an attack was made by the rebels and the 185th was ordered to sup- port Gen. Ayers, in command of a brigade of the 9th corps. A fight ensued in which the rebels were repulsed. No further incident of interest occurred while in camp here, except the capturing of a rebel spy by one of the pickets of the 185th. He was an engineer and had a complete map of the whole Union lines and defences from City l'oint to the extreme left, extending over twenty miles. The map was concealed next his person. He offered money to be allowed to escape ; but was tried by court-marshal and shot by order of Gen. Warren.

October 16. The brigade and division moved to the Squirrel Level Road in front of Petersburg and went into camp. Here the officers of the 1 85th presented Colonel Jenney with a horse. On the 27th, a move was made on the South-side Railroad, where an engagement occurred in which three men of the 185th were wounded. After the battle they returned to the same camp on the 29th of October. On the 3d of December the army was ordered to

move on the Weldon Railroad for the purpose of destroying the track, to prevent the communication of the rebel army stationed about Petersburg with their base of supplies at Weldon. This road was used by the enemy in transporting supplies from North Carolina nearly up to our lines, whence they were wagoned around our left to Lee's camps. The expedition consisted of Warren's ( 5th ) corps, Mott's division of the 2d corps and Gregg's mounted divi- sion. They moved down the railroad as far as the Meherrin, across which to Hicksford the rebels were driven, while the road was effectually destroyed down to that point-some twenty miles. The track was taken up and the rails heated and bent so that they could not again be used. The im- mense amount of rebel supplies at this point was captured ; in this expedition the 185th bore a conspicuous part. On the 12th of December, they went into camp at the Gurley House near Warren Station. The snow, sleet and rain were terrible ; and on the march, without preparations to with- stand the inclemency of the weather, the regiment suffered severely ; one man, being compelled to march, fell out by the way and was never heard of afterwards. He probably perished.

Here the division went into winter quarters, con- structing their camp in a dense pine forest and clearing the ground, so that not a stump remained, in an incredibly short time. The Quartermaster, by order of Gen. Griffin, detached 125 men to raid into the country to secure materials for the officers' quarters. This was successfully accomplished and in due time neat and comfortable quarters were erected, which were occupied till the 5th of Febru- ary, 1865. During the winter a large church sixty feet long was built of pine logs hewed on the inside, which made a comfortable place of worship. It was roofed with tent-cloth furnished by the Chris- tian Commission ; a platform at one end for the preacher was built of some of the pine lumber ob- tained on the raid ; and seats were constructed of hewed pine slabs set upon legs. Here Sergeant Bregg was killed by rebel guerrillas-shot through with five bullets and stripped of his clothes. The health of the regiment during the winter was excel- lent. Gen. Warren here sent an invitation to Col. Sniper and staff to make him a New Year's call at his headquarters, in compliment to the gallant ser- vices of the 185th Col. Jenney was then absent on a visit to the east.

On the 4th of February, 1865, orders were re- ceived to be in readiness to march at a moment's warning, and on Sunday morning the 5th, before daylight, our forces were ordered to move in the 1

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HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

direction of Hatcher's Run ; and on the afternoon of the same day occurred the second battle of Hatch- er's Run, lasting till next day, in which the 185th suffered severely. Two men in Company A were killed ; one in Company C; Capt. John Listman, Company B, wounded in the thigh so badly that his leg had to be amputated close to the body ; Major Bush taken prisoner and sent to Libby Prison. Among the privates a considerable number were wounded.

During the early part of this engagement the 185th Regiment was held in reserve. About the middle of the afternoon, however, the first brigade, commanded by Col. Sickle, composed of his regi- ment (the 198th Pensylvania) and the 185th New York, was hastily ordered forward to relieve the 2d division of the 5th corps. This division, composed largely of regulars and commanded by Gen. Ayers, a regular army officer, occupied a position in front of a piece of woods. In its front was an open field, upon the opposite side of which were one or two small buildings and a sudden declivity in the ground, occupied by the enemy and answering the purpose of an intrenchment. Gen. Ayres' division had here suffered terribly.

As our brigade marched for nearly half a mile along the road through the woods, we met the wounded from this division being borne back by the hospital corps ; some hastily bandaged, others with undressed, gaping wounds ; some besmeared with blood, others pallid as though in the grasp of death. It was a trying ordeal for our men-a severe test of their courage ; even the bravest pushed forward with blanched cheek.

As we moved upon the field Ayers' division moved off. An occasional shot developed the near presence of the enemy, but the fight there seemed to be over. We had scarcely moved from flank into line, however, before a terrific fire was opened upon us by the enemy. Our brigade commander was one of the first wounded and as he was carried off the field sent his staff to report to Col. Jenney, who was thus left in command of the brigade.

Col. Jenney appreciated the danger of attempt- ing to hold his open position against an enemy substantially covered, and instantly ordered the brigade forward. The brigade moved in excellent form. No command to charge was given. It would have probably been dangerous to do so, as the enemy were upon both our flanks and it was necessary to keep the troops well in hand. For- ward went the brigade, through the smoke and against the bullets. It was the work of a few minutes only. There was no wavering-con-

stantly, steadily forward ! The firing slackened, ceased-the enemy was gone. We were the masters of the field.

Many brave fellows fell, but the loss was slight compared to that which must have occurred if the enemy had not at once been driven from the field.

We retained our position until evening when un- der cover of darkness we retired to the main line.

After the engagement Col. Jenney sent Major Bush to reconnoiter our right flank and station pickets ; in performing which duty, when scarcely out of speaking distance from his regiment, con- cealed from them only by the intervening under- brush, he was captured with a squad of his men. He was sent to Libby prison, and the regiment, during most of its subsequent service was deprived of one of its best officers.

The brigade was warmly commended by Gen. Griffin for its gallant service, and its praise was fairly earned, for seldom had a single brigade accom- plished so important results at so small a sacrifice.

After this engagement the regiment went into camp at Hatcher's Run. Here, on the second day after the battle, Colonel Jenney took his departure from the regiment. At the time he was commis- sioned as Colonel of the regiment he was Major of the 3d New York Artillery and acting as Provost Judge of North Carolina at Newbern and had, after notice of his promotion, been taken prisoner by the enemy, as has been stated in the narrative of "Jenney's battery." Notwithstanding the fact that he was a paroled prisoner he had been mustered in as Colonel of the regiment, and taken the regi- ment into the field. He expected to obtain an im- mediate exchange. But while he regarded himself as bound by his parole, the War Department was of the opinion that the officer who captured and paroled him had sufficient authority to capture, but none to parole, and that Col. Jenney was therefore to be regarded as an escaped rather than a paroled prisoner.

In this situation Col. Jenney remained during his term of service with the regiment. He en- deavored to induce the Secretary of War to relieve him from the responsibility of his situation by mak- ing an order declaring that he was not paroled and ordering him upon duty, but the Secretary of War refused to do so lest an embarrassing precedent might thus be established.

His only relief from this unfortunate situation seemed to be to retire from the service, and accord- ingly he had forwarded his resignation about the middle of January. This resignation had been accepted, and an order honorably discharging him

17*

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HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

from service had been received by Gen. Griffin just before the last engagement. At his request, how- ever, it had been retained by the General until the advance then contemplated had been made, and now was delivered to him.

Upon the morning of his departure the regiment was formed in square, and the command turned over to Lieut .- Col. Sniper in a short speech, praising the regiment, highly complimenting Col. Sniper, and reluctantly saying farewell.

Col. Sniper was immediately promoted, and com- manded the regiment during the remainder of its service.

The regiment remained in camp at Hatcher's Run till March 29, 1865, when the grand movement for the closing struggle of the rebellion was made. On the 25th of March, the division was ordered out before daylight, at 3 o'clock, v. M., the rebels having made an assault upon Fort Steedman, near City Point. It was stated in the order that an attack was probably being made along the whole line, and that a general engagement was imminent, which proved true. General Lee, foreseeing clearly the speedy downfall of the Confederate cause, unless averted by a prompt concentration of his remaining forces, and a telling blow delivered thereby on some one of our encircling armies, which were now prob- ably crushing out the life of the Rebellion, resolved to anticipate Grant's initiative by an attack on his lines before Petersburg and Richmond. This attack was made on Fort Steedman, nearly east of Peters- burg, where its success would have cut our army in two and probably compelled a hasty reconstruc- tion to recover our lines and works ; thereby open- ing a door for the unassailed withdrawal of the rebel army southward by the most direct route to unite with that of Johnston, and thus overpower Sher- man. The assault was delivered by Gordon with two divisions all the disposable rebel army of Vir- ginia being collected just behind the assaulting column and held in hand as a support. Gordon charged at daybreak on the 25th of March. His men rushed instantly across the narrow space sepa- rating the confronting lines, and pouring into Fort Steedman, which was held by the 14th New York Artillery, completely surprised and captured the garrison. The guns, whereof three batteries were taken by the rebels, were instantly turned on the adjacent works of Fort Haskell, next to Fort Steed- man on the left. Here their triumph ended. They failed to rush forward and sieze the crest of the ridge behind the forts.

The 20,000 men whom Lee had massed in the rear of the charge were either not ordered forward

or failed to respond. The result was that instead of cutting our army in two as they had intended, they had divided their own and isolated a portion of it in the midst of an army of foes. Our forces rallied and swept the field, capturing 2,000 prisoners. The battle lasted till after nightfall. About 3 o'clock p. M. an attack was made on the extreme left, where the 185th were on the right of the 2d corps and in the thick of the fight. A terrible battle soon raged along the entire line. The ground was soon covered with the dead and wounded, among whom fell several of the 185th. The rebels were driven back with heavy loss. The reports of the battle make the loss about equal on both sides -2,500 besides the 2,000 rebel prisoners taken by our army. After the battle our soldiers returned to camp at Hatcher's Run and remained till the 29th of March, at which date Gen. Grant had de- termined to advance the left wing of his army. On the 28th, orders were received to move at 3 o'clock next morning. Three divisions of the Army of the James, now commanded by Gen. Ord, being with- drawn from the banks of the James River, where it had menaced Richmond, and brought over to the left of our lines facing Petersburg. Warren's (5th) and Humphreys' (2d) corps moved quietly out southward till they had crossed Hatcher's Run, when, facing northward, they advanced cautious- ly, feeling for the enemy's right. Sheridan was on our extreme left at the head of nearly 10.000 cav- alry, acting under orders directly from Gen. Grant. The 9th ( l'arke's) and one of Ord's divisions were left to hold our extended lines under the command of Gen. Parke ; all dismounted troopers being ordered to report to Gen. Benham, who guarded our im- mense depot of supplies at City Point.

Humphreys crossed Hatcher's Run at the Vaughan Road ; Warren, moving further to the left. crossed four miles below (the stream here, since its junction with Gravelly Run, being Rowanty Creek,) and moved up the Quaker Road, to strike the Boydton Plank Road ; Sheridan moved nearly south to Dinwiddie Court House, where, at 5 P. M., he halted for the night. Warren's corps alone, en- countered any serious resistance on this day, the 29th. Continuing their march till about 2 o'clock, they arrived at Quaker Farm and were there met by the enemy. A fierce engagement ensued. During the action our forces were being repulsed, the ed division retreating in great disorder, when Gen Chamberlain, in command of the ist brigade, rode up to the Colonel of the 185th, saying : " For God's sake, Col. Sniper, can you save the day with your regiment ?" The Colonel replied : " General,

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HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

I can try." He immediately formed his regiment in line of battle. The balance of the brigade, con- sisting of the 189th Pennsylvania, had shared in the retreat, leaving the 185th to stand the ground alone. They were ordered to charge the enemy. The charge was made with great spirit over an eminence, where they met the advancing columns of the rebels in pursuit of our retreating forces, and, making a desperate charge, hurled back the foe, but with great loss to our gallant regiment. The killed and wounded were 180 ; all the officers of some of the companies were either killed or disabled ; so that there were not line officers enough to command the regiment.

This charge lasted scarcely more than half an hour, but it was one of the most desperate and im- portant in its results of any during the war. The aim of the rebels seemed to be to shoot down our colors. William Tyler, of Company D, was Color- Bearer of the regiment. He was shot first. The colors were then seized by a private, who was im- mediately shot. Private Benjamin Wilson, of Com- pany D, then seized and bore aloft the fallen stand- ard, but was instantly shot and wounded. Then Private Herman Rice, of Company B, sprang for- ward and raised the colors, but the arm which lifted them was immediately pierced by a rebel ball, and they again fell. Col. Sniper being dismounted in the thick of the charge, seeing the colors drop, rushed forward and seized them, and whirling them above his head, shouted, "Men of the 185th, for- ward !" A wild yell was sent up from the ranks, and rushing forward with their gallant leader, the day was won. After the engagement the general officers complimented Col. Sniper in person upon the gallantry and valor of his regiment in that ter- rible charge, and said that they had saved the day.

March 30th and 31st. While the Union forces were driving the rebels, several minor engagements occurred. Warren had pushed forward skirmishers on his left to seize the White Oak Road beyond the rebel right, and had ordered Ayers to advance Winthrop's brigade through the woods to support the effort. At half past IO A. M., Lee dealt him an unexpected and staggering blow, striking Ayres heavily in flank and rear, hurling his division back on Crawford's, which likewise broke. For a moment there was a prospect of another Chancel- lorsville. But behind these two stood Griffin's division, well posted in more open ground, whence it refused to be driven. It held its ground against the rebel advance till the routed divisions rallied and formed behind it, enabling Warren to assume the offensive. Humphreys sent in Miles' division on

Warren's right to strike the enemy's left flank. Before these well-timed charges the enemy recoiled, taking refuge behind his intrenchments along the White Oak Road, and losing heavily in prisoners. Meantime Sheridan had advanced to Five Forks and had fought the rebels from there to Dinwiddie Court House and back-one of the most brilliant actions of the war.

CHAPTER XXX.

ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-FIFTH REGIMENT CONTINUED-BATTLE OF FIVE FORKS-BOM- BARDMENT OF PETERSBURG-LEE'S TELEGRAM TO JEFF. DAVIS-EVACUATION OF RICHMOND- FLIGHT AND CAPTURE OF THE REBEL ARMY- RETURN HOME OF THE REGIMENT - LIST OF PROMOTIONS.

T HE battle of Five Forks, one of the most memorable of the great campaigns which closed the rebellion, was begun on Saturday, April I, at about 3 P. M., and continued without cessation of firing till Sunday morning at daylight. Nearly the entire force on both sides was engaged. The 5th corps was on the right and in the hottest part of the contest. The rebels were strongly intrenched and fought with desperation, knowing their fate depended on the battle. Adjutant Mudge, of Col. Sniper's staff, was severely wounded in the arm, which resulted in the permanent loss of its use, and several officers and privates were killed and wounded. During this battle 4,022 rebel prisoners were taken. Greeley, speaking of this battle, says : " The Con- federates, facing their foes in each direction, stood bravely to their arms, *

* In a few minutes Ayers' division burst over their flank intrenchments taking 1,000 prisoners ; while Griffin struck their refused flank in the rear, capturing 1,500 more ; and Crawford, resisted only by skirmishers, pressed for- ward rapidly to the Ford Road, running northward from their center, precluding the retreat towards Lee ; and then turning southward on that road, came rapidly down upon their rear, taking four guns -our cavalry all the time sharply assailing their front and right, and at length charging over their intrenchments, as Ayers and Griffin, having turned their left out of its works, bore down upon its re- newed front, hurling all that remained of the enemy in disorderly flight westward, charged and pursued for miles by our cavalry, until long after dark, and until our prisoners exceeded 5,000 ; while our total loss this day (April I,) was about 1,000. At this cost Lee's right wing had been sub- stantially demolished. Among our killed was Brig.

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HHISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Gen. Frederick Winthrop, Colonel of the 9th New York, and cousin of Major Theodore Winthrop, killed at Big Bethel." Griffin was now ordered with two divisions of infantry to Gravelly Church, some miles towards Petersburg, to reopen his com- munication with the rest of the army, while Griffin's own division (now Bartlett's) supported McKinzie's cavalry, which had pushed northward up the Ford Road to Hatcher's Run. As darkness set in, our guns in position in front of Petersburg opened from right to left, making the night lurid with a bombardment that proclaimed the signal victory just achieved on our left, and predicted more decisive triumphs at hand. Parke and Ord assaulted the rebel works at daybreak on Sunday morning, April 2. carrying with the 9th corps the outer line, but being intercepted by an inner line behind them, which he could not force. Wright, on his left, with the 6th corps, supported by two divisions of Ord's, charging at dawn, drove every- thing before him up to the Boydton Road, on which, wheeling to the left towards Hatcher's Run, he swept down the rear of the rebel intrenchments, capturing many guns and several thousand prison- ers. Meantime Ord's other division had forced the enemy's lines at the Run, and now Wright and Ord swung to the right, pressing on Petersburg from the west, while Humphreys, to the left, with Hayes' and Mott's divisions of the 2d corps, having stormed a redoubt in his front, came up with two divisions, closing in on their left. Thereupon the rebel lines defending Petersburg on the south were assaulted by Gibbon's division of Ord's corps, which carried by storm two strong and important works-Forts Gregg and Alexander. This shortened our be- sieging lines, and weakened the rebel defence of the city. Lee, seeing that Petersburg must soon fall, telegraphed to Jeff. Davis at Richmond at half-past 10 A. M .. on Sunday, April 2 :

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History of Onondaga County, New York, Part 27

Author: Clayton, W.W. (W. Woodford) Publication date: 1878 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., D. Mason & Co. Number of Pages: 840

Author: Clayton, W.W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., D. Mason & Co.
Number of Pages: 840