History of Ontario Co., New York, Part 34

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Pope, at his own request, was relieved and Mcclellan reinstated. Lee crossed the Potomac, and the army of the North advanced to encounter him in Mary- land. The Thirty-third, without knapsacks, moved forward with the rest, and on September 13, crossing Monocacy bridge, received orders in conjunction with the Seventieth New York to drive the enemy from Jefferson's Pass. This service was gallantly performed without loss. The enemy held Turner's and Crampton's Passes; Slocum and Brooks were ordered to take the latter. The column of Brooks marched direct upon the enemy, charged a battery, captured a section and many prisoners, among whom the Thirty-third found their old foe, Colonel Lamar. The Thirty-third was of the regiments in support of Brooks' column.

Preparations were now being made to relieve the force at Harper's Ferry, where lay the new One Hundred and Twenty-sixth New York, when tidings of surren- der were made known. The battle of Antietam was fought September 17, and was a Union victory unimproved. Hooker opened the fight with impetuosity and tem- porary success. The masses of Lee concentrated to repel his advances. Mansfield arrived, and the two forces held their ground for hours. Sumner came up and joined battle, and Lee sent heavy columns to force him back. The hard-beset Union lines were giving way, when Franklin, coming up with two divisions, re- stored firmness, and placed the enemy upon the defensive. Since early dawn these divisions had been marching, always nearer the roar of battle, and as they swept on with stern, resistless front, the veteran ranks of gray gave way, and the regimental flags were planted far in the advance. Here fell fifty killed and wounded in the Thirty-third. Sergeant-Major G. W. Barrett was shot dead after bearing Lieuten- ant Mix, badly wounded, from the field. The advance ground was held, and a picket detail from the Thirty-third, advancing close upon the rebel position, discovered signs of a retreat and sent back word, but Lee made good his escape, and the opportunity was lost. September 19, Smith was ordered to join Couch, as the enemy was reported recrossing. A body of cavalry had forded the river, but retired on finding the Union troops in force. On the 23d the regiment moved near Bakersville, and went into camp. October 6, Lieutenants Roach and Ros- siter arrived with two hundred recruits for the Thirty-third. Part of these men was made Company D, that company having been disbanded, and the rest were apportioned among the other companies. The lull in warfare, the delightful scenery, the accession of numbers, all united to inspirit the men, and made the time pass pleasantly. The regiment was placed upon picket service along the

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HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Potomac, about the middle of October, while Stuart made his raid around our army, and Lee fell book behind the Rappahannock. October 29, the regiment joined the Third brigade, and marched to Berlin, where Colonel Taylor, Lieutenant- Colonel Corning, and over two hundred recruits arrived. Mcclellan was removed, and Burnside given the command. The army was organized in three grand divisions, and directed upon Fredericksburg. Valuable time was lost ; Lee estab- lished his lines upon the heights and awaited attack. Burnside resolved to cross at Fredericksburg, and, as a feint, sent the left grand division down the stream, and a force was sent by Lee to resist a crossing. On the night of December 11, the batteries of the national army were planted upon the bluff above the river bank ; the pontons were brought down and all made ready for crossing. The history of the Fiftieth Engineers relates how well their part was done. Then followed the tremendous cannonade, the crossing in bouts of the Seventh Michi- gan and Nineteenth Massachusetts, the capture of the rebel sharpshooters, the crossing of the army, and, meantime, the enemy looked down from their works and bided their time. Howe's division had bivouacked in the woods, and during the 12th the troops of Hooker and Franklin had been crossing. On Saturday, December 13, warm as a spring day, the battle of Fredericksburg was fought and lost. By half-past seven, Howe's division was in line; the Thirty-third was placed in support of a battery, and batteries opening fire the advance of the Union troops began. The particulars of that desperate assault are fully recorded, where thousands of our bravest fell before an enemy protected behind stone walls and earthen bank. For hours the regiment lay close by the battery, receiving the fire of the enemy in silence, and with little loss. With night came relief, and the Thirty-third fell back to the second line. The wish of Burnside to renew the struggle at the head of his favorite corps was not received with favor by com- manders, and the army withdrew across the river unassailed. December 19, the regiment marched back to White Oak Church, and built winter quarters. Many promotions followed, and among them, Captain G. M. Guion, of A, was commis- sioned lieutenant colonel of the One Hundred and Forty-eighth New York.

On January 20 another movement was in progress, when a storm arose whose violence was memorable. The trains became mired in a sea of mud, and gladly the Thirty-third once more returned to its old camp. Burnside resigned and Hooker took command.

In February, 1863, the Thirty-third was brigaded with the Forty-ninth and the One Hundred and Nineteenth Pennsylvania, under Colonel Taylor. Winter went by, and the last of April saw the army across the Rappahannock and in po- sition at Chancellorsville. Then followed Jackson's onslaught upon and dispersal of the Eleventh corps, the night attack by Hooker, the assault, the repulse, and the recrossing of the historic river.

On Sunday, May 3, a courier brought Sedgwick orders to storm the heights of Fredericksburg and push on towards Chancellorsville. Lee had left what he deemed sufficient force to hold the hills, under command of Barksdale. The Sixth corps had broken camp, marched to the river, distant about five miles, and two bridges having been thrown across, a division had been sent over to protect them. On the afternoon of Saturday the remainder of the corps had crossed and formed line to the right of the troops already there. Darkness came on, and the Thirty- third, detailed for picket, was deployed some distance in front of the division. Morning dawned, and the men were drawn in and ordered to take position directly to the rear of Cowan's battery. The order above noted was promptly obeyed. A column of twenty-four regiments was detailed to the task. The left of this column was led by Neill's brigade, the Thirty-third in front. Let one who was in that encounter tell the story in his own graphic style : " It came in whispers along the lines, that preparatory order, 'Unsling knapsacks!' Too well we knew what it meant. We threw them quickly off, formed our line, and awaited the order to charge. Hark ! the general commands, 'Forward ! guide centre.' An awful silence prevails; the deafening roar of artillery seems to be momentarily hushed; every heart beat high, every breath is drawn with the full consciousness that it may be our last; on every face can be seen the shadow of a stern resolve; every ear is intent to catch that final word which is to seal the fate of so many loyal hearts, ' March !' Now we advance, common time at first, which is gradually changed into quick, and that again, as the men become warmed up to the work before them, is succeeded by a double-quick step, which soon brings us to the spot where the fire of two rebel batteries converges. As the point is reached, with roar, hiss, and scream, shell, grape, and canister fill the air, men fall wounded, dying, and dead, and still the line sweeps bravely on. The firing of the enemy now grows more rapid, and the troops seem enveloped in the iron storm, but still we press forward; now over a knoll, then through a gully and up a hill, and the first battery is taken without a struggle, for the enemy has fled. 'Rest a moment, boys l' is spoken, and we throw ourselves upon the ground, and at a glance learn our position. We are on the flank of the only battery the rebels have left, and that must now be taken. 'Fall in !' how promptly each man obeys! Moving by

the right flank, we pass down through a deep ravine, and form a line at the base of the hill, on the crest of which is the objective battery. The forward movement begins. 'Steady !' is the order as the men climb the hill, economizing strength for the time when it will be needed. The enemy, unaware of this danger, is direct- ing his attention to the Vermonters coming in on his right. The hill-side, along our advance, is covered with underbrush, and the line has become broken. The foremost reach the top as the rebels are seen hitching up to retire. Time is precious; without waiting for command, a scattering, irregular volley is discharged among them, and they fly, and THE GUNS ARE OURS! Suddenly a destructive volley is poured into us from the rebel reserve, and for two-thirds of an hour the battle rages. The line is wavering as reinforcements arrive, deliver their fire, and rout the enemy. The fruits of victory were thirteen rifled cannon, two brass howitzers, a stand of colors, several hundred prisoners, and possession of the Heights of Fredericksburg."

The works were left without a garrison, and reoccupied by the enemy before next morning. The corps advanced rapidly towards Chancellorsville, and at a distance of four miles encountered Lee's army, and received a heavy fire, which was resisted until night closed the contest. The Thirty-third, replenishing car- tridge-boxes, set out to follow the corps, and soon heard the sharp rattle of mus- ketry, which grew in volume as the brigades came into action. Night came and found the regiment covering the left flank, resting well satisfied with the day's work.

The men were breakfasting upon their coffee, hard-tack, and pork next morning, when the rebels were seen marching along a hill-crest half a mile distant, and towards the Union rear. The Thirty-third fell in, and marched rapidly in the same direction. It was greeted by a severe artillery fire until, passing to a pro- tected spot, line was formed and a company deployed as skirmishers. The rebel infantry came down, and an action of three-quarters of an hour followed, resulting in their repulse. Neill's brigade threw up works. It was about noon when another attempt was made to break the Union lines. It was repulsed, with a rebel loss of a stand of colors and two hundred men. Hours passed, and it was late in the day, when the enemy made a desperate attempt to drive the corps into the river, a mile and a half to the rear. Neill's brigade was in the first line of battle, formed in an arc, with extremes resting upon the river, inclosing the bridges. The rebels came down in two lines of battle on our left, centre, and right, with heavy reserve. The centre advanced with shrill yells upon the brigade, which bore the brunt undismayed, and drove back the first line in great disorder. The second line came up, threw in a cross-fire, and compelled retirement to a new position, in line with a Vermont brigade. An hour's desperate fighting ensued, and the enemy were checked, not repulsed, and the position was seen to be un- tenable longer. During the night the corps crossed the river, and at 8 A.M. the Thirty-third crossed over and went into camp on the north bank of the river. The regiment took four hundred and seventy-five men, all told, into the fight. Of these, two hundred and seventeen were killed, wounded, or missing, six color- corporals were shot, and the color-bearer came through safe. On May 12, term of service having expired, the regiment was discharged, and ordered to Elmira for muster-out. The brigade, division, and corps commanders, in special order, circular, and general order, gave high testimonial of gallant and meritorious service. From an extract of special orders No. 120: "They have enjoyed the respect and confidence of their companions and commanders, they have illustrated their term of service by gallant deeds, and have won for themselves a reputation not surpassed in the Army of the Potomac, and have nobly earned the gratitude of the general. By command of Major-General Sedgwick, commanding Sixth army corps." The recruits were formed in one company, and attached to the Forty-ninth New York. The regiment met a noble reception at Geneva and Canandaigua. E. G. Lapham, Esq., J. P. Faurot, and A. H. Howell addressed the soldiers. Colonel Taylor, Lieutenant-Colonel Corning, and Rev. A. H. Lung, chaplain, replied for the regiment. The flag of the Ontario regiment was re- turned by the colonel unsullied to the ladies who, two years before, had bestowed it with their prayers and blessings. The regiment left Elmira nine hundred strong; they returned with three hundred and fifty, and crowned with honor. They were mustered out at Geneva, June 2, and the work of the organization was completed.

The Thirty-eighth Regiment .- This regiment was organized in New York city, to serve two years. In it was Company H from Geneva, commanded by Captain W. H. Baird. The muster into United States service took place in June, 1861. The Geneva company behaved with great gallantry in the fight at Bull's Run. John Orman, of Geneva, was killed, eleven men were wounded, and four missing. The regiment was under fire half an hour before the Fire Zouaves, and an hour before the Sixty-ninth. Repeatedly repulsed, the Thirty-eighth again and again rallied under fire. They recaptured Griffin's battery, and, repulsed with heavy loss, attempted to retake it. The loss in killed, wounded, and missing to the regiment was two hun-

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HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY, NEW YORK.

dred and one men. On December 23, 1862, the Thirty-eighth and Fifty-fifth were consolidated. The two-years' men were mustered out on expiration of term of ser- vice, and recruita were transferred to the Fortieth New York Volunteers. The list of its engagements gives Bull Run, Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Glendale, Mal- vern Hill, Blackburn's Ford, Second Bull Run, Chantilly, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville.

The Forty-fourth New York Volunteers, called the People's Ellsworth Regi- ment, was to be composed of young men taken from every county in the State ; selections being made of those having superior fitness for military service. The regiment was fairly represented from Ontario County, and the men did not disap- point expectation. The regiment was organized at Albany, from August 30 to October 29, 1861, and was mustered out of service October 11, 1864. The veterans and recruits were transferred to the One Hundred and Fortieth and the One Hundred and Forty-sixth New York Volunteers. On the departure of the regiment for the seat of war, during October, a beautiful flag was presented to them at the hands of Mrs. Erastus Corning, and its preservation was a test of their devotion. When, on July 3, the great battle of Gettysburg turned the wavering balance on the Union side, the Forty-fourth fought hard to win victory, and the heavy list of casualties indicates peril boldly encountered. A brief record is all that we can give of their career. The well-known care taken during the first months of the war not to trespass upon private property, even of a known enemy, and the guarding with strict orders of a rail-fence and a patch of potatoes, were at variance with the ideas of soldiers, who could not see that property was more sacred than person, and regarded confiscation as right and commendable. Hence they viewed with approbation the dispatch of an expedition, in charge of Quar- termaster Mundy, upon the soil of Virginia, and gleaned from the plantations one hundred and thirty-two wagon-loads of corn, hay, and cats. For a time the regi- ment lay in camp at Hall's Hill, Virginia, studious of discipline and in daily practice of the evolutions and art of war, perfecting that system which merges the individual in the mass and makes the force formidable. The quiet monotony of camp was broken on the evening of March 9, 1862, by the pleasant tidings of orders to prepare to march on the morrow. At one A.M., March 10, the Army of the Potomac was on the move. The Forty-fourth marched out from their home- like camp, and advanced in the direction of Manassas via Fairfax and Centre- ville. The Ellsworths had the advance of the right of the grand army-the post of honor. Their course lay over fields of mud and through patches of timber, to Fairfax. Here they were joined by their colonel, and with loud cheers moved out upon the road to Centreville, which place they were first to enter. "An hour's rest, and on to Manassas," was the order, and had it been carried out, a march of thirty-four miles would have signalised the first day's service. Ma- nassas had been evacuated, and the movement was made too late. Counter- marching, a return was made to Fairfax, where the regiment lay till the 15th, when it proceeded to Alexandria, where it lay in camp till the 21st. . Porter's division, in which was the Forty-fourth, was taken upon a fleet of twenty-four steamers, guarded by two gunboats, and transported to Fortress Monroe. On the morning of March 24 the division disembarked, and marched within five miles of Big Bethel. A reconnoissance in force was made, with the Forty- fourth in advance. The men were deployed as they came in sight of the rebel position, and saw before them a line of rifle-pits a mile and a half in extent, wherein were men in gray busily at work. The line advanced under cover of a close picket-fence, which was leveled, and at a double-quick the regiment reached the ground, to find the rebels fled, with camp-fires burning. The forces under Gen- eral Porter, on May 27, attacked the enemy at Hanover Court-House, and after four hours' hard fighting drove them from the field. The Forty-fourth left camp at two A.M., and marched some fifteen miles in a northwest direction, through a region of swamps,-mud to the knee, and rain falling constantly. Having arrived at a cross-roads four miles from the court-house, Allen's Fifth Massachu- setts and Martin's Third Rhode Island batteries were put in position, and the Forty-fourth placed in support and in reserve. Meanwhile, Martindale's brigade and Berdan's Sharpshooters, pushing forward, engaged sharply, and the enemy yielding in the front, swung round upon the rear, and prepared to profit by the situation. The Forty-fourth advanced to the support of a section of Allen's battery, as the presence of the rebels became known. Four companies, deployed to guard the left flank, were fired upon, while a North Carolina regiment was seen upon open ground advancing upon the Union artillery. The skirmishers were gathered in at a double-quick, and the regiment drawn up to receive them. The enemy turned to the right-about and retired to the woods. Presently a hot fire was opened in front and on the right, and the regiment retiring to the road, lay there for an hour and a half exposed to a severe cross-fire. The Ellsworths and the Second Maine maintained a galling fire, and kept the enemy at bay. Wounded and dying, the soldiers gave utterance to expressions of fealty to the Ang, and manifested heroic devotion. The men became wearied, and the fire upon

them redoubled in severity, when a few scattering shots, then a ripping volley, and finally a continuous crackling of musketry, told the glad story that the rebels were attacked by our returning troops, and speedily the action was at an end. Five hundred men went into action ; nineteen were killed and sixty-five wounded, eight of whom died. The colors were pierced by forty-three balls, and the staff by one, making the number of the regiment. Not a man had left the ranks, and men when wounded continued to fire their muskets. Upon the ground occupied by the enemy lay two hundred killed and wounded men, as evidence of the accuracy of the Union riflemen. On June 7 the regiment had advanced to the eastern bank of the Chickahominy, and took their turn upon the picket line. Those familiar with the history of the regiment know that it bore the brunt of many a battle, and sustained its name with honcr. They were discharged upon the expiration of their term of service, September 30, 1864. Out of one thousand of the best youth of the State who went out to support the Union cause three years before, but about one hundred were left to be mustered out.

The Fiftieth New York Engineers .- This famous regiment was organised during the summer and fall of 1861, at Elmira, New York, by General Charles B. Stewart, of Geneva, formerly chief engineer in the navy. Captains Wm. O. Smalley and Porteus C. Gilbert, Lieutenants James L. Robbins and Thomas F. Langdon, and a large number of men from Ontario went into this regiment. The organization was recruited, by direction of the Secretary of War, as a regiment of engineers, pontoniers, sappers, and miners, and.was mustered into service on September 18, as "Stewart's Independent Volunteers."

At the breaking out of the rebellion there was but a battalion of engineers in the service, belonging to our small regular army, and it was soon seen that the command was inadequate to the duties of their branch of the service. General Stewart was empowered to raise a regiment for this duty from the ranks of men qualified by their occupations. The organized regiment had men qualified to build railroads, run locomotives, conduct trains, and ranged from common laborers to first-class engineers.

Starting for the seat of war September 18, 1861, the engineers were quartered for a few days on the Battery, at New York, to receive arms and equipments, then transported to Washington. Quartermasters' supplies were obtained at Meridian Hill; thence they marched through Georgetown to Fort Corcoran, and pitched their first camp on rebel soil. Here arose a serious difficulty. Enlisted for a special service, and promised the allowances pertaining, the war department had made no provision for this class of soldiers, and the men were ordered into the field as infantry. Severe reflections were made upon those who had promised what they could not fulfill. Subsequently, a special act of Congress was passed, which placed the regiment upon its proper footing.

Orders were received to proceed to Hall's Hill, Virginia, and report to General Butterfield, then in command of a brigade in Fits John Porter's division. This force, under General Mcclellan's favorite officer, was composed largely of regulars, and contained many of the best regiments in the service. General Butterfield gave the regiment constant exercise in the routine of duty. There were drills by squad, company, regiment, and battalion, accompanied by guard and picket duty, while recitations in military tactics were the order for the night. During this time four reviews were instituted,-once by General Porter and three times by Mcclellan.

About November 1, the engineers were ordered to Washington to receive in- struction in special duties of their branch, and, going into camp near the navy yard, the practice of bridge-building by the French ponton system was begun. Thorough instruction was given in the construction of fleld fortifications, to mili- tary roads, and to war appliances, such as gabions, fascines, chevaux-de-frise, stockades, palisades, sap-rollers, and block-houses. Early in the spring of 1862 the regiment moved into Virginia, under command of General Woodbury, of the regular engineers, and was assigned to General McDowell's corps, then covering Washington. Marching to Manassas, past the formidable Quaker guns, which were the occasion of mirth and cheer, the command proceeded to Bristoe Station, where Captain John B. Muncy was directed to deploy a portion of K company, under Lieutenant McDonald, to skirmish the road in advance, as hostile cavalry had been seen hovering on our flank. While thus advancing, expecting to meet the enemy, a halt was sounded and an order read from General Mcclellan, direct- ing the return of the engineer brigade, to join his force at Yorktown. Loudly cheering at the prospect of active service under the commanding officer, the men countermarched at quick time for Alexandria.

April 10, the steamer " Louisiana" took the Fiftieth on board, and conveyed it to Cheeseman's Landing, near Yorktown, on the 13th, when duty at once began in the trenches, under fire of the rebel batteries. The ponton boats were ordered up and bridges thrown across the various streams that obstructed free communi- cation, and roads were opened for the passage of heavy artillery. It is difficult to realize the firmness required to perform these hazardous duties under the de-

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PLATE XXV.

NOK AUT FOR THE GOS CANANDAIGUA

ANANDAIGUA BREWERY, J. & A. M. KECHNIE. CANANDAIGUA, N. Y.

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History of Ontario Co., New York, Part 34

Author: Publication date: Publisher: Number of Pages: 391

Author:
Publication date:
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 391