History of Ontario Co., New York, Part 35

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PLATE XXVI

RES. OF JOSEPH F. SALISBURY, DANS CORNERS, ONTARIO CO., N.Y.

RES. OF NATHAN OAKS, OAKS CORNERS, ONTARIO CO., N. Y.

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HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY, NEW YORK.

moralizing influence of large shells constantly exploding in their midst. An im- mense battery for ten thirteen-inch mortars was constructed by the regiment, and was made ready to open on the enemy.

On the pleasant Sabbath morning of May 4, while the men in camps awaited in suspense the opening of the mortar battery with its one-hundred-pound shells, the news spread rapidly that Yorktown was abandoned and the enemy in retreat. Gath- ering up the siege material, bridge trains, and tools used in investment, the regi- ment followed in pursuit of the enemy up the peninsula, via Pamunkey River. The march was continued from West Point on this stream to the White House, thence to the Chickahominy river near New Cold Harbor. Bridges were at once commenced across this treacherous stream. At Bottom's Bridge a portion of the structure had been left standing, and it was rapidly rebuilt for the passage of Casey's division to its battle-field of Seven Pines.

The Chickahominy, near Richmond, during dry weather is a mere brook, with marsh to a greater or less extent on either side, and is often not more than ten to twenty yards wide. But on the night of March 30, while attempting to build a timber bridge across the stream at a point near Gaines' house, it rose so rapidly during the prevalence of a heavy rain that the approaches to the bridge were en- tirely under water, and in five hours the stream had widened to ten times its ordi- nary channel. The opinion prevailed for a time that the enemy had created a dam above, and had now let out the accumulated water to destroy the bridges. It seemed a crisis for effort, and the engineers, in water waist-deep, worked like beavers, in momentary expectation that the enemy would open on them from the wood beyond. Anxiously waiting to cross this bridge was the Forty-fourth Regi- ment, of Butterfield's brigade, which had taken the place vacated by the engineer regiment the year before at Hall's Hill, and were fresh from the fight at Mechan- icsville.

At six different points bridges were rapidly constructed, covering a distance of six miles from one to the other extreme, and these bridges became officially known as Sumner's, Woodbury's, Duane's, Alexander's, the Grape Vine, and New Bridges, near Cold Harbor. By command of General Porter the bridges along his front were destroyed on June 26, and during the battle of Gaines' Mills next day the pontons were taken up and a portion of the regiment ordered forward, while companies were placed at different bridges to blow them up as soon as the troops should cross from the battle then raging. Pushing on rapidly during the night, Captain Spaulding and Lieutenant McDonald built two bridges at White Oak Swamp in time for Keyes' corps, which had the advance towards the James on that occasion. These two bridges were next day destroyed by General French, in command of the rear-guard, just before the arrival of Jackson's corps at the swamp. The men pressed forward through the woods, with muskets slung, and, plying their axes with vigor, opened parallel roads for the immense trains of heavy artillery hurrying on to Glendale and Malvern Hill. At this latter place the regiment slashed the woods for a long distance to enable the gunboats to open on the enemy during the expected battle there, and rendered very effective service in placing formidable obstructions along the right of the line, where the rebels subsequently attempted to capture our batteries. While here the Ontario soldiers of the Thirty-third exchanged greetings with the men of the Fiftieth. The engineers, pressing forward with their bridges, encountered great difficulties from the crowd of fugitives from our army while laying the bridges over the swollen streams on the route, and not until General Kearney had ordered the cavalry to clear the way did the engineers succeed in finishing the last crossing that landed our heavy trains at Harrison's Landing. While at the landing a demonstration was made by the enemy, and the engineers were ordered up to take part in the expected fight. The men responded promptly, but, the movement proving a feint, the command returned to more legitimate duties. An attack being expected, McClellan ordered bridges built over Herring creek and the smaller streams for rapid concentration of the different corps, then holding a line some five miles in extent. While the bulk of the army seemed at rest, this regiment was constantly on duty, strengthening the defenses of the camp and facilitating communication by opening new roads for the passage of supply trains from the landing to the troops on the distant outposts. On August 13 the regiment was divided into detachments and sent to prepare bridges for the crossing of the Chickahominy. At Barnett's Ferry a ponton bridge nearly sixteen hundred feet long was laid, and for three days and nights was occupied by the passage of the army and its interminable supply trains. On the morning of the 19th, General Pleasanton came up with the rear-guard, and two gunboats took position to keep back the enemy while the bridge was dismantled. The bridge equipage was taken to Fortress Monroe, thence to Alexandria. On September 3 the engineers set out for Aquis Creek to bridge for Burnside, then about to evacuate Fredericksburg. September 7, the men were ordered to the fortress, thence to Washington. Sep- tember 20, the engineers set out for Harper's Ferry with bridges to replace those destroyed by Lee on his retreat after Antietam. About the 25th of September

a ponton bridge was laid across the Potomac at Berlin, six miles below Harper's Ferry, and along that causeway the Army of the Potomac once more crossed into Virginia. Later came an order to proceed to Washington to take part in the campaign which culminated in the assault at Fredericksburg. The failure there has been unjustly ascribed to the delay of the ponton bridges, and justice to Ontario soldiers requires a statement of the facts in the case. On November 13, 1862, Major Spaulding, commanding the battalion at Harper's Ferry and Berlin, was ordered to proceed to Washington and there make up large bridge trains to operate on the Rappahannock, near Fredericksburg. The order bore date, " Head- quarters Army of the Potomac, near Front Royal, November 7,"-the very day Mcclellan was relieved of command. Major Spaulding called Captain McDonald to witness the reception of the order six days since its issue. Proceeding by rail, the engineers arrived at Washington, made up the desired bridge equipage, and started, November 19, for the Rappahannock, with fifty ponton bouts, by land, it requiring nearly a thousand animals to draw this great train of bridge material.

Alexandria had scarcely been reached when a rain set in, and the roads soon became a succession of quagmires. Heavy hills were surmounted only by attach- ing drag-ropes to the boats, while the men drew them to the top. Six days and nights of constant toil, in rain and mud, were occupied in this effort, the wagons being lifted from the deep ruts by the men, and the advance being pushed with all possible dispatch. Major Spaulding saw men and horses giving out, and the roads impassable ; and bridging the Occoquan, the boats were made into rafts, and taken via the Potomac to Belle Plain, in tow of a large tug. Again loaded on wagons, the train moved near and opposite Fredericksburg, November 25, full a fortnight before the crossing was attempted. In camp a few days at Lacey House, and then ordered into camp at White Oak Church. A week in December was passed in reconnoitering for a crossing some ten miles below the city. Roads were repaired, and miles of corduroy laid through swamps approaching the river, along routes hidden from the enemy. After a few days the plan was changed, and it was determined to cross opposite the city. Captain McDonald was desig- nated to throw a bridge across the river at a point some three hundred yards below the railroad bridge.

At one o'clock of December 11 the engineers were in position, while a dense fog lent its protection to shroud their movements. A detail of bridge-builders was made, and the work went rapidly forward. Each man acted with celerity and precision, and but thirty yards were wanting of the bridge to complete the work, when from behind a stone wall, some forty rods in front, came a deadly volley of bullets among the men clustered on the bridge, killing, wounding, and driving the rest on shore. Again McDonald led a detail down to the terminus, but scarcely had work begun when another murderous discharge ensued, and again the men were driven to the shore. These two attempts having failed, and McDonald having been wounded, Lieutenant McGrath made a desperate attempt to finish the bridge, with a like result. A body of infantry was now ferried over by the en- gineers, the force of the enemy captured, and the bridge finished. After crossing the army, and back again to the Falmouth side, the bridges were removed, and the men went into camp.

Bridges were laid April 29 below Fredericksburg, June 5 at Franklin's Cross- ing, and after Chancellorsville the engineers marched to Washington. On June 6, trains were taken to Harper's Ferry. Infantry was ferried across to drive off the enemy, and bridges laid to connect Loudon, Bolivar, and Maryland Heighta. Moving to Berlin, bridges were laid where Mcclellan had crossed, and here Meade's victorious army marched yet again into Virginia on the 18th and 20th of July. Until the 26th the men guarded the bridge from the southern side, then, dismantling, moved to Washington via canal, and thence were ordered to Rappahannock Station to take charge of all the bridges on the river.

During August the river was bridged at Beverly's and Kelly's Fords, and at the station. Early in October, Lee began to menace our lines along the Rapidan, and the engineers were kept busy marching, building and renewing bridges, and, finally, constructing a fortified camp at Rappahannock Station, went into winter quarters. On April 12, 1864, the battalions were assigned to different corps, and entered upon arduous service. At short notice bridges were laid, corps crossed, then dismantling and loading, rapid and fatiguing marches were made, and the process again and again repeated. The engineers seemed empowered with ubiq- uity. At one time a bridge two hundred feet long is laid in fifty minutes, a bat- talion marches to take part in the battle of the Wilderness, a bridge at Ely's Ford to cross wounded; then at Fredericksburg, and on to the Pamunkey river at Hanovertown. Again, June 12, that familiar stream, the Chickahominy, is reached, the position reconnoitered, and a small hostile force found on the oppo- site bank. At dark, the engineers launching boats, cross with a charging party ; then on to Cole's Ferry, on the Lower Chickahominy, and lay a bridge of sixty boats, making a structure twelve hundred feet in length. Formed into rafts, the boats were towed down to the James, then up to City Point. A sheltered camp

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was formed July 1, within which the bridges were left, under a guard, and the men were distributed along the lines, and engaged in the construction of forts with magazines, bomb-proofs, and traverses.

October 1, an extension to the left required the construction of a chain of forts within short artillery range, and the Fiftieth found ample employment thereon. Important service was rendered in repairing roads and extricating ammunition- trains, during the last of March, in the movement on Five Forks. Petersburg fell, and the need of pontons ceased. At Farmersville, on the Appomattox, was constructed the last ponton-bridge used against the enemy by the Army of the Potomac. The army of Lee surrendered. The long bridge over Staunton river was rebuilt, and other services rendered, when one evening, engaged in preparing supper, it was spread through the camps that Colonel Spaulding had received a dispatch from General Meade, saying that the Army of the Potomac would pass in review through Richmond next day, and if the engineers could reach the city in time the next morning, they would be placed at the head of the column. The news was heard with cheers, and in an exalted, exultant mood, the march was begun and completed. As the Fiftieth passed the old One Hundred and Forty- eighth in line, loud cheers went up from the ranks of each. Pursuing their way with long bridge trains, the Fiftieth reached the river at Fredericksburg, and laid bridges at the old points. Here was crossed the army of Sherman on its way to Washington. The bridges were then removed, and marching to Fort Berry, near Long Bridge, the regiment went into camp on June 1, 1855.

At the grand review, the Fiftieth had the right of the column ; then, their labors done, there remained only a return home, a muster-out, and a resumption of those civil duties whose steady pursuit had shown them not only approved soldiers, but industrious and excellent citizens.

The Eighty-fifth Regiment New York Volunteers .- Troops from which this regiment was organized had been in camp some months prior to the final muster into the United States service on the 13th of December, 1861, for a term of three years. Uriah L. Davis was commissioned colonel, and John S. Belknap lieutenant colonel. Two companies were from Ontario County.

Early in the war, William W. Clark, of Naples, an active and patriotic man, had taken the lead in enlistment of volunteers for service, and on the organization of Company B, he was chosen captain, C. S. Aldrich was first lieutenant, and Amos Brunson second lieutenant. Company G was raised at Geneva by John Raines, who was made captain, with Lieutenants George W. Munger and Thomas Alsop. The men remained for some time at Elmira, which was finally left on the 3d of December, 1861.

The regiment was conveyed upon two trains of cattle-cars, and was not fully supplied with rations,-troubles slight to those afterward endured by most of the command. Camp was made a mile and a half northeast of the capitol, on Bladens- burg Hill, and the Eighty-fifth was placed in Casey's division in a brigade with four other regiments,-the Eighty-seventh and Seventy-seventh New York, and the Ninth New Jersey, under temporary command of Brigadier-General Allen. The division was designated as the third in General Keyes' corps.

On the last of March, 1862, orders were gladly received to embark for the York- town peninsula. The men had been supplied with a variety of needed articles, sent by friends at Canandaigua, and this home remembrance and kindness was fully felt and appreciated by these citizen soldiers. Lieutenant Aldrich was here appointed adjutant, and Orderly Sergeant Spencer Martin was promoted to the vacancy. Camp was temporarily made on April 12 near Newport News, and orders were awaited to join the corps near Yorktown.

On the 16th the regiment set out upon a memorable march of fourteen miles. It was not the distance, but the load carried, which so exhausted the men. The sun was hot, the roads were full of dust from the long trains, and the first stago of seven miles was a toilsome effort. Wagon-loads of clothing were thrown away, and still the remaining loads were too great for endurance. The body was girt about with accoutrements: the cartridge-box, containing forty rounds, the haversack filled with rations, the canteen with water or coffee, upon the back a knapsack of weight from twenty-five to thirty pounds, and on the shoulder a ten- pound rifle. What wonder that the body wearied and the spirits sank as the miles seemed to lengthen ? Finally a rest was sounded, and the boys sank down by the wayside and enjoyed the brief respite as only tired soldiers can. The march was then continued for five miles, when the goal was found to have been removed by the advance of the division to Young's Mills, yet two miles farther on. The men, discouraged, fell out, lay down by the roadside, and fell asleep ; a reduced regiment went into camp at the mills, but of the Ontario boys few had fallen out.

Arrived at Yorktown, the Eighty-fifth was set to work constructing roads to facilitate communication. Constant duty was required under repeated ex- posure, and the enemy had been confronted and skirmished with from the evac- tion of Yorktown up the peninsula, across the Chickahominy, and out three

miles beyond; here, on Saturday, May 29, the Eighty-fifth were tried by a terrible fire, and found not wanting.

Company D had gone upon picket on Friday night, to remain twenty-four hours; E and F went out with axes on Saturday morning to slash the timber, to give range to siege guns which were being put in position. The division of Casey was far in advance, and to their rear lay the division of Couch. About noon shell whizzed into the camp of the Eighty-fifth, then another and another, and then by volley and distinct shots the pickets opened fire. The troops were ordered into line. The Eighty-fifth took position behind a continuous rifle trench in its front; the Eighty-first and Ninety-second on the right, and on the right of the road; the Ninety-eighth on the left, a section of the First Artillery with the right, and Captain Bates' battery of twelve-pound Napoleons in the rear of the Eighty-fifth.

Battery H, commanded by Lieutenant Hart, formerly of Naples, opened upon an advancing brigade of the enemy with grape and canister, doing some execution; but as the advance was continued, the men left their pieces,-the last shot fired, it is said, by Lieutenant Hart himself. As the rebels came within easy range, volley was poured into their ranks, which showed some confusion, but which rallied and advanced to within one hundred and fifty yards under the rapid and deadly fire of the regiment. Here they halted for half an hour, unable to advance, not willing to retreat. Finally the enemy began to retire, and halted behind a fence some two hundred and fifty yards distant. As the retrograde movement was ob- served, the Eighty-fifth raised a cheer and sprang from the pit to charge, but were called back, as regiments on both sides were nearly on the flanks. The rebel flag lay upon the field, and Albert Bancroft begged permission to go and get it, but the danger was too great and he was refused.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant-Colonel Wellman was wounded and had retired. W. W. Clarke was left in command, and sought to avoid coming ruin. The enemy concentrated a fearful fusillade upon the regiment, which kept up a rapid and un- dismayed fire. Edgar Steele, a brave boy, fell, shot in the head. Boswell Insee, of Bristol, was twice struck, and still the boys saw no defeat. A full South Car- olina regiment was within forty rods of the left, and on a line twenty rods in the rear. Two or three regiments had passed on the right nearly as far to the rear, when Clarke ordered the men to fall back, to avoid being surrounded. The Eighty- fifth reluctantly left their pit between a three-sided fire, and fell back to the slash- ings above the camp of Couch. The fragment of a shell struck Clarke to the ground, but he was up in a moment and directing the retreat. The regiment became scattered, and suffered from want of command. The men were anxious to fight, and line officers did all that was possible to check the advance of the rebels. Many joined other regiments and fought with them until dark. The camp was pillaged by the enemy, and the men left only with their arms. Casey's division held a force in check for hours, which, later broke through Couch's en- campment, aided as that division was by Casey's men and thousands of reinforce- ments. This was the first battle for the Eighty-fifth. They repulsed a superior force, and fought and fell until the close of the engagement. The loss was nine killed, forty-nine wounded, and twenty-four missing. The division lost a total of two thousand.

Next day was passed in reconnoissances; the men slept on their arms at night, and were called up before daylight to repel an expected attack, and stood two hours under arms in a heavy rain, without a blanket in the regiment. At six A.M. the men were ordered to move four miles; they waded much of the way in water two feet deep, and crossed a stream holding to a rope, where the current was strong and the water up to the shoulders. The Eighty-fifth moved into camp near White Oak Swamp, and early in June was employed in guarding several fords, and was drawn up in line at three A.M. each day. Lieutenant Brunson died about this time, after a brief illness.

In the fall of 1862, the Eighty-fifth was, ordered to Suffolk, and exchanged greetings with their comrades of the One Hundred and Forty-eighth ; they fell back to Portsmouth, and took position behind breastworks about two miles in the rear of the city. Drill and picket was the only duty. Expecting to pass the winter here, log houses were built, and a town of the earlier day seemed to have arisen.' The enemy occupied Suffolk in force, and there was skirmishing on the Black water. General Foster, in command of the department of North Carolina, organized an expedition to cut the Weldon railroad, and set out the 1st of November. By feints in various directions the enemy were mystified, while the columns moved towards Kinston. Near the bridge across the Neuse leading into that place, the rebels fought desperately. An attempt was made to turn the flank of the army where the Eighty-fifth was posted. Two South Carolina regiments took part in this movement, and were near their coveted position when Company B, under Captain Clarke, was deployed as skirmishers, and, turning their flank as the line opened fire, caused a hurried retreat. Our line advancing rapidly, captured several hundred prisoners. The bridge, saturated with turpentine, was set on fire and

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HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY, NEW YORK.

burned fiercely. The New York Third Artillery opened a heavy fire, and drove the rebels from the opposite bank, when the flames of the bridge were extinguished and troops were crossed over. Three pieces of artillery, baggage, and stores were taken. The Eighty-fifth passed through Kinston and encamped just outside of the town .. The Union loes was about seventy killed and two hundred wounded. Although in the advance brigade from Newbern, the regiment had only three wounded. As an instance of good fortune, it is noted, that early in the action, as the Eighty-fifth deployed into a field to support the Ninth New Jersey, a solid shot, striking in front, bounded harmlessly over the line, and five minutes after the regiment had left the place it was completely'swept by a shower of grape. The return to Newbern was made by the 20th, and for some time the regiment remained quietly in camp.

The Eighty-fifth joined in the various expeditions of conquest into North Carolina until April 20, 1864, when the enemy attacked Plymouth. The first attack was made on Sunday. A hard fight took place, and lasted three days, when the post was surrendered, together with the entire brigade. The rebel ram came down, ran into the "Southfield," and sank her in five minutes, and in two hours had cleaned the river. General Wessels, commanding at Plymouth, still held the place; although entirely surrounded, and sustained assault after assault for a day and a half after the ram had command of the town. The men were resolved not to give up, and repelled.a severe attack after the general had ordered a surrender. Of Company B, Seymour Smith, of Bristol, and B. G. Popple, of Springwater, were killed, and J. Perkey, Daniel L. Reed, and Franklin E. Wilcox were wounded. This com- pany was one of the nine which surrendered after a brave but hopeless resistance. The men broke swords and guns, tore into shreds their regimental flags, and car- ried the pieces secretly with them to their Southern prisons, where more than half languished and died. Of those brave fellows who went to endure those terrible sufferings at Andersonville, not one ever complained, and they suffered and died as they had battled before,-like heroes as they were. About twelve of Company B survived and returned to their homes.

An escape from Dixie was made by a party of five, namely, Captains Aldrich, of Canandaigua; Langworthy, of the Eighty-fifth; G. H. Starr, of the One Hun- dred and Fourth; Lieutenant Terwillager, of the Eighty-fifth, and Lieutenant Hastings, of the Twenty-fourth New York battery. They were quartered in an open field near Columbia, and guarded by a double line of pickets about one hundred feet apart. Resolving to escape, they chose a dark night on October 11, and made their way out unseen. Marching by night, a pocket compass obtained by one of the party proved invaluable. They first struck a westerly course, fol- lowing the south bank of the Saluda until, reaching Ninety-six, they bore off northwestward, following a railroad track towards the North Carolina boundary. On the second night out they learned that fox- and blood-hounds were on their track, but, after being chased by them several miles, threw them off the scent by smearing their shoes and clothing with turpentine. They started with the inten- tion to see no white men, and saw but three negroes while in South Carolina. Their only food was sweet potatoes, beans, and corn, gathered in the fields and roasted as they had an opportunity of making fires. They traveled entirely by night, hiding in the thickest woods by day, and leaving behind no traces of their presence. Transylvania county, North Carolina, was almost entirely occupied by Union men, one of whom harbored the soldiers for days in a ravine, where he supplied them with food at night to last six days, and gave directions to reach another Unionist twenty miles on. Here they met another party of escaped officers, and, joined by a band of Union refugees, the band was increased to twenty- nine. Three were shot dead, by a gang of rebel militia, at a house where the party was waiting for some bread to be baked. A Unionist volunteered as a guide, and led them through within our lines at East Tennessee. Their clothing in rags, their feet shoeless, blistered, and swollen, yet they were free, and at Chattanooga they received from the Sanitary Commission clothing and everything needed for comfort.

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History of Ontario Co., New York, Part 35

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

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