History of Ontario Co., New York, Part 40

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On the morning of October 19 the enemy had passed the Union left flank, and, massing, moved upon the unsuspecting troops, and despite all efforts to form and resist, drove two corps, the Eighth and Nineteenth, back to and beyond the Winchester road. General Custer led the Third division in a charge upon the enemy, and induced a temporary check. Sheridan appeared, and changed a rout to a victory, a result greatly owing to the spirit of the cavalry.

The following order from Custer indicates his estimation of the Eighth New York :

HEADQUARTERS THIRD CAVALRY CORPS, M.M.D., October 21, 1864. SOLDIERS OF THE THIRD CAVALRY DIVISION :

With pride and gratification your commanding general congratulates you upon your brilliant achievements of the past few days. On the ninth of the present month you attacked a vastly superior force of the enemy's cavalry, strongly posted, with artillery in position, and commanded by that famous " Savior of the Valley," Roeser. Notwithstanding the enemy's superiority in numbers and position, you drove him twenty miles, capturing his artillery,-six pieces in all, also his entire train of wagons and ambulances, and a large number of prisoners. Again, during the memorable engagement of the 19th instant your conduct throughout was sublimely heroic and without a parallel in the annals of warfare. In the early part of the day, when disaster and defeat seemed to threaten our noble army upon all sides, your calm and determined bearing, while exposed to a terrible fire from the enemy's guns, added not a little to restore confidence to that portion of our army already broken and driven back on the right. Afterwards, rapidly trans- ferred from the right flank to the extreme left, you materially and successfully assisted in defeating the enemy in his attempt to turn the left flank of our army. Again ordered on the right flank, you attacked and defeated a division of the enemy's cavalry, driving him in confusion across Cedar Creek, then changing your front to the left at a gallop, you charged and turned the left flank of the enemy's line of battle, and pursued his broken and demoralised army a distance of five miles. Night alone put an end to your pursuit. Among the substantial fruits of this great victory, you can boast of having captured five battle-flags, . large number of prisoners, including Major-General Ramseur and forty-five of the forty-eight pieces of artillery taken from the enemy on that day, thus making fifty- one pieces of artillery which you have captured from the enemy within the short period of ten days. This is a record of which you may well be proud,- record won and established by your gallantry and perseverance. You have surrounded

the name of the Third cavalry division with a halo as enduring as time. The history of this war, when truthfully written, will contain no brighter page than that upon which is recorded the chivalrous deeds, the glorious triumphs, of the soldiers of the Third division.

G. A. CUSTER, Brigadier-General Commanding.

Oficial : Charles Siebert, A. A. A. General.

On the 12th of November, the regiment, which had gone into winter quarters near Winchester, was suddenly attacked by Rosser's cavalry, who charged the pickets, and, driving, followed them directly into the camp. Five minutes from the moment of alarm, horses were saddled, mounted, and the regiment out in line. Five minutes from that time, the enemy had been met, halted, and held in check until more of our forces arrived, when the tables were turned, and night found the enemy seeking safety south of Cedar Creek. During the closing days of 1864, the cavalry marched up the Shenandoah valley, the Eighth led by Major Compson. The enemy made a night attack December 31, and the men fought hand to hand. The number wounded by sabre-stroke was in excess of any other time during the service. The command returned to camp. On the morning of February 27, 1865, the Eighth set out with the corps of which it formed part, and mached south from Winchester. Staunton was passed, then filing left, they pursued the narrow road leading to Waynesboro', which was reached at noon March 2. Here was posted the army of General Early behind breastworks. The Eighth New York being on the advance of Custer's division, was ordered to charge upon a battery obstructing the road. Major H. B. Compson in command, was given the Twenty-second New York cavalry, which he divided, and placed on either flank, and posted the Eighth in the centre on the road. Calling Ser- geant Kehoe, color-bearer, to his side, Compson said, "Sergeant, we'll lose the flag this time, or bring more flags back along with us!" At the word, the regiment charged rapidly full in the face of the guns. Two almost harmless volleys and the troopers were on and over them, with one man killed and twenty wounded. Ten battle-flags, six cannon, one thousand three hundred prisoners, and trains were fruits of this exploit. Major Compson was sent with seventeen battle-flags to Washington. He received a medal of honor, voted by Congress, and a brief furlough. In a subsequent raid the Eighth routed the command of Colonel Morgan, proceeded to White House Landing, and thence marched to Petersburg. One day of rest, and then General Sheridan led his cavalry, accompanied by three corps of infantry, around the rebel extreme right, and on April 1, Wells' cavalry brigade, including the Eighth, was ordered to charge the enemy, posted behind works, about three miles west of Dinwiddie Court-House. The Eighth, in com- mand of Major Bliss, led the advance, and lost its color-bearer and many men, but the enemy was routed and a large number of prisoners taken. Petersburg fell, Richmond was evacuated, and Lee in full retreat. Sheridan led his cavalry on April 8, by wide detour from the left flank, and reached the front of the rebel army at Appomattox Station about sundown and checked further advance. Trains of cars loaded with supplies were captured, and thirty-nine pieces of artillery fell into their hands. The infantry, miles away, were marching rapidly, while Sheri- dan's troopers lay down and slept undisturbed in the front of Lee's reduced, but still powerful, force. The infantry arrived and formed line during the night, and morning found the Army of Northern Virginia completely surrounded. A flag of truce was received by the Eighth, which was on the skirmish line, and at four P.M., April 9, 1865, the war was virtually ended by Lee's surrender. The army returned to Petersburg, and then the cavalry started to join Sherman, but at Hali- fax Court-House met a courier bearing intelligence of Johnston's surrender. The cavalry returned. The Eighth New York took part in the grand review, May 22, at Washington ; returned to Rochester, and was mustered out of service July 3, 1865. The Third cavalry division captured in battle one hundred and eleven pieces of field artillery, sixty-five battle-flags, and upwards of ten thousand prison- ers of war. A noble and most honorable record, challenging the admiration of friend or foe.

Twenty-fourth Regiment Volunteer Cavalry .- This regiment was organized at Auburn to serve three years. Its companies were raised in the counties of Oswego, Erie, Monroe, Chemung, Oneida, Otsego, Ontario, Onondaga, Livingston, and Albany. Company L was almost exclusively composed of Ontario citizens. It was recruited by Captain F. T. Brown, Lieutenant William F. Jessup, and Byron F. Crain, at Canandaigua. The regiment was mustered into United States ser- vice on the 19th of January, 1864, and remained in barracks until the latter part of February, when ordered to Washington, and, with the Second Regiment New York Mounted Rifles and the Twenty-second New York Cavalry, placed in com- mand of Colonel McIntosh. Carbines and sabres were supplied, but no horses, and as time for spring service arrived, the command was astonished to receive orders to turn in their arms, in exchange for muskets ultimately replaced by

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HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Springfield rifles. The men refused to do duty as infantry, and finally a com- promise resulted. The men resumed carbines, and entered upon the campaign dismounted, but with the understanding that they were to be mounted as soon as the government could obtain horses. Marching orders came April 24, and the regiment proceeded through Fairfax, Centreville, and other places to Warrenton Junction, where orders were received to report to General Burnside at Culpepper. Crossing the north fork of the Rapidan at Kelley's ford, the regiment reached its destination on the afternoon of May 3. Here it became permanently attached to the Ninth corps, and assigned to duty in the Third brigade, Third division, commanded by General Wilcox. The next day the campaign of 1864 was com- menced by a movement in two columns of the Army of the Potomac against Lee's chosen position south of the Rapidan. One column crossed at Germania ford, the other at Ely's ford. During this initiatory movement, Burnside's Ninth corps was held in reserve, and was the last to cross the river. The Twenty- fourth crossed Ely's ford on the night of May 4, and marched next day to the vicinity of Wilderness Tavern. In the battle of the Wilderness, the regiment was not seriously engaged, although several times under fire. The regiment moved by the Orange and Chancellorsville roads to Spottsylvania Court-House. Here, during the first day's fight, the second squadron, consisting of Companies E and L, under command of Captain Brown, first battalion of the Twenty-fourth, was detached, and sent to support a section of Battery A of the Eighteenth Artillery. The battery had taken position upon a knoll about midway between the Spottsyl- vania road and the extreme Union right, and on the left flank of the Sixth corps. It was hotly engaged for several hours, during which the squadron received its baptism of shot and shell, but owing to a sheltered position in rear of the battery below the hill crest, the enemy's missiles ricochetted over the line into the low ground below. At nightfall the squadron returned, and rejoining the regiment, lay in the trenches to the right of the Spottsylvania road. Next day the Twenty- fourth skirmished heavily to the left of the road; few were injured, and none of these in L. The army marched to the North Anna. The Twenty-fourth crossed the river at Oxford on May 23, and at nightfall retraced its march. The army moved by the left flank, and approached the old battle-ground of Cold Harbor. The Ninth and Fifth corps moving with great caution, unearthed the enemy at Bethesda Church, where Ewell made an impetuous and gallant assault upon Warren. Burnside's troops were in line upon his right, and the rebel column extending beyond Warren, came in front of Burnside's left. Captain Brown led the second squadron on the skirmish line. An impassable morass in front pre- vented a bayonet charge such as was made along Warren's front, but a heavy fire of musketry was continued until night closed the action. On June 2, the Ninth corps marched towards Cold Harbor and encountered the enemy at Shady Grove. Here Company L lost its first man, Corporal W. J. Bancroft, killed in action. On the road from North Anna, Lieutenant Crain resigned and returned home. Immediately after the fight at Cold Harbor, Lieutenant Jessup also resigned, and Captain Brown being disabled by a wound at Bethesda Church, the company was left without a commissioned officer. Captain Brown recommended Sergeant Michael McGraw to fill the vacancy, and daily expecting a commission, the latter assumed command.

At Cold Harbor the Ninth corps, beyond heavy skirmishing, was not engaged on the 3d, and on the morning of the 4th it was withdrawn, and posted between the Fifth and Eighteenth corps, where it met and repelled a night attack, on June 6; but being intrenched, the Twenty-fourth lost few men, and Company L nope. From here the Ninth corps moved southward on June 10, crossed the Chickahominy at Jones' bridge on the 12th, and reached Charles City Court- House on the evening of the same day. At this point the army was massed, preparatory to crossing the Jantes river. General Burnside's troops passed over on the night of the 15th, and by noon next day was in position on Hancock's left, in front of Petersburg. On the night of the 16th a combined assault was made on the rebel works by the Second and Fifth corps, but Lee's veterans had reached

the place, and a counter-assault was made by them upon the Ninth corps. Vigor- ons charges were handsomely repulsed, and next morning Burnside determined to advance his line. General Potter's brigade, in which was the Twenty-fourth, was ordered to take the rebel works along its front. The columns were formed at daylight, and at the command rushed forward, with a prolonged cheer, and after a half-hour's conflict won the first line, the enemy retiring to his second line. The action was bravely fought, and when Ledlie's brigade relieved Potter, the command took to the rear as trophies of victory four pieces of artillery, several battle-flags, and many prisoners. Desultory fighting continued all day, and at night the enemy, strongly reinforced, assaulted and recaptured a part of his front line. On the morning of June 18, Grant gave orders for a general attack, which was not successful. In this assault the Twenty-fourth lost heavily in killed and wounded. During the three days Company L lost five killed and eight wounded. The digging and explosion of the mine beneath the rebel works was the next duty with which the Twenty-fourth was connected. It was in the Third division, Ninth corps, and formed part of one of the supporting columns which did not become seriously engaged. From this time the regiment performed its full share of duty during the siege of Petersburg, and meantime received a number of re- cruits from New York. Lieutenant McGraw, slightly wounded in the first attack on Petersburg, after thirty days' absence returned, and resumed command of the company, but in the skirmishes around the Yellow Tavern was captured, and con- fined in prison until the war closed. At the virtual close of the campaign of 1864 and while the army lay in winter quarters, the horses long awaited were furnished and the regiment was immediately detached from the Ninth corps and assigned to Crook's division of cavalry, and lay in the rear of the army until the opening of the spring campaign of 1865. Captain Brown had so far recovered from his wound that, on February 25, he resumed command of his company. During the memorable twelve days' campaign which ended the war, the Twenty-fourth was constantly on the move, and was engaged at Dinwiddie Court-House, Five Forks, White Oak road, Sutherland's, Sailor's Creek, Farmerville, and Appo- mattox. In this brief final campaign Company L lost three killed and eight wounded. After the surrender, the Twenty-fourth returned to Nottoway Court- House. A movement was made to head off Johnston, but the news of his sur- render was soon received, and nothing remained but the review, and then home. The regiment weut into camp at Cloud's Mills, Virginia. In the latter part of June, 1865, by order of the war department, the Twenty-fourth was consoli- dated with the Tenth New York Cavalry. The men expected to be sent on the Indian frontier, but were finally mustered out of service, and returned to peaceful pursuita.

Brief records these of Ontario soldiers, but sufficient to prove their devotion and bravery, their self-sacrificing spirit; and the county has not failed to per- petuate their memory by monument and tablet, which shall endure when citizen and soldier shall have passed away. Our limits permit no detail of home-work : the exertions by self-denying women in securing supplies to sick and wounded soldiers, the presentation of colors, and the welcome of returning troops. With the fervent and devout expression, "Thank God!" the people of Canandaigua and vicinity met on the square of the village, and gave general expression to joy over the close of a war whose proportions, so enormous, had left many a " vacant chair." And then so quietly did the soldier merge into the civilian that, but for the bronzed visage, the martial bearing, the steady stride, few would suspect the presence in the population of so large a proportion of veteran soldiers. Years pass, and the reunions assemble, constantly diminishing bands; but when the last survivor shall be " mustered out," the sun will yet shine upon a free and glorious Union of well-nigh forty States, no star erased, no evidence of decay, and a cher- ished memory retained of the Volunteers in the War of the Rebellion.

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HEAD OF CANANDAIGUA LAKE, LOOKING SOUTH

GLYPH FALLS,COOK'S POINT GLEN, CANANDAIGUA LAKE.

MANUFACTURING VIEW. SHORTSVILLE,

GENEVA, FROM SENECA LAKE .

PLATE XXX I.

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HISTORY OF THE TOWNS AND VILLAGES

ONTARIO COUNTY.

CANANDAIGUA VILLAGE.

"THERE is no new thing under the sun" is exemplified in the early occupation of this village site by a former, to us unknown, people. Although when first visited by the purchaser the locality had become a part of the common forest,- the upland thinly timbered with a growth of oak and hickory ; the lowland with ash, elm, and bass-wood; still, beyond the traces of Indians and presence of forest beasts, there were the mute monuments of an ancient race. Eight forts and embankments exist in close proximity, and within the area of the village. Their location upon high, commanding ground, overlooking the adjacent country, and their construction, evidence a high degree of intelligence. The work upon what is known as Fort Hill is incomplete. The foundation of a stone chimney was observed, and within a receptacle a small quantity of corn had been preserved. Of all these earthworks, but one showed evidence of a burial-ground. This work, west of the village, contained a number of graves laid in regular order. Phelps and Gorham made their land purchase of Massachusetts on the 1st of April, 1788; held their treaty with the Indians early in July following; purchased their rights, and employed Hugh Maxwell to survey the tracts into townships.

Originally Mr. Phelps had fixed upon Kanadesaga (Geneva) as the site upon which to build a city, but, finding the locality not upon his purchase, according to the old pre-emption, his next choice was Canandaigua. An original map, re- corded in folio 1, page 106, exhibits the following entry : " No. 10 reserved by Nathaniel Gorham and Oliver Phelps, as a county town for their own use." The selection of the foot of Canandaigua lake as an eligible village site was made both on account of beautiful location and convenient access. The site being settled, was found to be in No. 10, in the third range. The next thing in order was the survey of the tract into lots. Two-acre lots were first run out and then rejected. After various measures, a line was finally run, beginning at the foot of the lake, running north, thirty-five degrees west up what is known as Main street, a dis- tance of two miles, with the public square near the centre. Lots begin with one, and count north and south on east and west sides of the main street, beginning at the public square. The public square was deeded to the county for the pur- pose of erecting buildings thereon, and for no other use, except a school-house lot given for a town school to Canandaigua. Any other buildings being erected upon this square would cause it to revert with its building to the original owners. Other streets parallel to Main were laid out. The work of improvement was begun on the part of Benjamin Walker, the agent of Phelps and Gorham, by taking lot No. 1, east side of Main street, south of the square, and hiring John Decker Robinson to build for him a house of hewed logs upon it. This was the first house built in Canandaigua. Robinson was to have forty pounds, payable in provisions, for himself and hands while at work on the building, and the re- mainder of his payment was to be in land, at two shillings per acre, with choice of locality ; and we find that Robinson soon became a heavy land-owner in the town of Sullivan, later called Phelps. Two other houses, same in size as the first, were built the same season ; one for James D. Fish, on the lot afterwards owned by James G. Smedley, and the other for Joseph Smith, on the hill near the lake, on the east side of Main street. A road was imperative, and parties from Geneva were engaged to cut the underbrush and extend a track from the terminus of a sleigh-road on Flint creek to the foot of the lake, along the old Indian trail. Four years later this road was only a little improved the first five miles from Geneva, while the remaining eleven miles were through heavy timber forest. In all that distance but two families had settled. A track was made to the head of navigation of Canandaigua outlet. The place was abandoned for the winter. Low prices, good title, and excellent land induced many New Englanders to emi- grate, and the next season there were many purchases and settlements in other parts of the county as well as at Canandaigua. Moving from Geneva with his

family early in the spring of 1789, while snow yet lay upon the ground, Joseph Smith took possession of his dwelling. Anticipating patronage from many who would be sure to visit this locality, this pioneer of Canandaigua resolved to open a tavern. Indispensable to this end a supply of spirituous liquors was required, and Smith set out to obtain a stock from Niagara, Upper Canada. The journey from the mouth of Genesee river was made by canoe. His weak craft was foundered in a gale at the mouth of Oak Orchard creek, but the liquors were saved and transported on pack-horses to the village. During the spring parties arriving found the simple accommodation of the tavern very convenient; but Smith, who had been a captive among the Indians, and had learned their language, made a brief sojourn at Canandaigua, and was subsequently known as an inter- preter. About the 1st of May, General Israel Chapin came with a party of eight or ten persons to Canandaigua, and there erecting a log house near the outlet, took up his residence. General Chapin was made the local agent of the Six Nations by General Knox, Secretary of War; and while he was influential in restraining the Indians from war, he was greatly admired by them, and mourned at his death. His presence at Canandaigua, more than any other cause, prevented the Six Nations from taking up the hatchet.

With General Chapin came Nathaniel Gorham, Jr., Frederick Saxton, Ben- jamin Gardner, and Daniel Gates, parties connected with surveys and land sales. Within a brief time a second party arrived, under leadership of Benjamin Walker, who, as agent of Phelps and Gorham, built and opened a log land office, the first regular land office for the sale of land to settlers ever established in America. Others came in during the summer, some to stay, others adventurers, but by the coming of winter, 1789, there was a good beginning of a settlement. As an evidence of growth, it was remarked by John H. Jones, one of the party engaged fourteen months previously in opening up the road between Geneva and Canandaigua, that in August there had grown a lively place, full of people,-settlers, land-hunters, and speculators. Early in the spring of 1790, Nathaniel Sanborn, wife and family,. came from the east to Schenectady. At that point, Judah Colt joined to charter a boat, in which they came finally to the cabin home at Canandaigua outlet. As an indication of the paucity of settlement and the discomforts of journeying, the experience of Mrs. Sanborn is bere related.

Leaving Schenectady, the journey was made to Utica, where there was one habitation, a small log house. Mrs. Sanborn spread a bed upon the floor for her- self, husband, and children. Several boatmen were quartered for the night at this tavern, ard esteemed it a privilege to be permitted to lay their heads upon the borders of the bed. The journey thence was but the experience of thousands, camping on the approach of night, and resuming their journey with the coming of day. On the Oswego, possession was taken of a deserted camp; supper was prepared, when there came to the group two stalwart Indians, who angrily ordered the settlers away from what they claimed as their camp. A parley ensued and the dispute was settled, but this first interview was not calculated to make pleasur- able anticipations of a life among the Indians. The family moved first to the Robinson neighborhood, in Phelpstown, but the locality seemed too lonesome, and a removal was made to Canandaigua, and there were found Joseph Smith, Daniel Brainard, Captain Martin Dudley, James D. Fish, and General Chapin. The general had built for his family a small framed house, near the site of the Bemis block. Temporarily occupying this house till a small frame house could be built upon what is known as the Atwater Corner, Mr. Sanborn on its completion opened therein a tavern, which, save Smith's, was the first one west of Seneca lake, and the only one for a period of four years. To this came a motley array of guests, the rude and the cultured, white men and red, emigrant and settler. Here were republican equality and pioneer simplicity,-emigrants pushing forward, and herc

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History of Ontario Co., New York, Part 40

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

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