USA > New York > Oswego County > History of Oswego County, New York, with illustrations and Biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 24
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116
97
HISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
first line. In course of the day General Lee made five desperate attacks upon this line, hut was repulsed each time with great slaughter.
Here was the most remarkable fighting of the war. Part of the Fifth corps was moved up in the evening to assist in holding the position. Every man was given two hundred and fifty rounds of cartridges, and was ordered to keep up a constant fusilade towards the enemy throughout the night ; by so doing they kept down the enemy's fire. No living thing could withstand such a constant stream of bullets. In the morning there was no enemy in sight in front, and their dead lay in heaps behind their breastworks, mostly shot through the head. The trees within musket-range were killed, and one tree eighteen inches in diameter was eut clean in two by bullets. May 11, the brave General Rice, commander of the Second brigade, when in front of his command, had his thigh-bone shattered by a bullet from a rebel sharpshooter, and died that evening after an amputa- tion, from loss of blood. When breathing his last, he made a request to have his face turned towards the enemy. Lieutenant-Colonel Harney was slightly wounded that after- noon in leading a charge on the enemy's works. In with- drawing the First division of the Fifth corps to aid in holding the position gained by the Second corps, the Fifth corps' hospitals were necessarily uncovered.
All the wounded that could be easily moved were re- moved to a place of safety during the night, but about two thousand were abandoned and captured by the enemy's cavalry. Among them were several officers and men be- longing to the One Hundred and Forty-seventh Regiment. They were resened by the Federal cavalry three days after- wards, but, from the want of care and proper nourishment, many of them died who would otherwise have recovered. In the night of the 13th the regiment experienced the most fatiguing march of the war. It had been raining steadily during several days, and the mud was deep. The corps moved twelve miles to the left, through thickets, swamps, and ravines.
During several days General Grant had been gradually moving his army to the left to get around the enemy's right, but he was met by a corresponding movement by General Lee. In these series of battles the regiment had suffered greatly in killed and wounded and from sickness.
The following were killed or fatally wounded in the bat- tles of the Wilderness and Spottsylvania, May 5, 1865 :
Company A, Arnold Brown, Benoni Baker, David Bird, George Bull, William Backus, Job G. Campbell, Abram I. White, John E. Peer, May 8; Drisdon Founier, wounded May 5, died August 16.
Company B, May 5, Bently H. Throop; Simon Barbo, May 12. May 5, wounded, Eugene Burlingame, died July 2, 1864. May 5, William Cullen, Allen S. Vorce.
Company C, May 5, Ransom Guinness, Albert Eaton.
Company D, Thomas Murphey, corporal, May 8; Wil- liam Horsford, May 12; John O. Hadley.
Company E, Burr B. Lathrop, May 5; William Caster, May 5; Roland T. Rogers, May 10; Charles Brownell.
Company F, James Brown, first lieutenant, died July 1, 1864, from wounds received May 10, 1864, at Spottsyl- vania.
Company G, May 5, William S. Herrick; May 5, Wil- liam Harrison ; May 5, Albert June; George W. Suell, May 10.
Company K, Franklin N. Hamlin, first lieutenant, died of wounds received May 5, 1864; Joseph Walker, May 5; Joseph Ballard, Silas E. Parsons, Daniel Vanderwalker, William Whitehead, Abram M. Wiburn, Michael Walken- block.
May 21 the Fifth corps marched to Guineas' station, on the Fredericksburg and Richmond railroad. Continued the march on the 22d, and reached the North Anna river at four P.M. on the 24th at Jericho ford. The banks of the stream were precipitous, and at places rising up perpen- dicularly thirty or forty feet. The crossing was at a dis- used ford. The road leading down the banks had been washed out by rains, and had to be graded. The First division, commanded by General Cutler, erossed over in advance, fording the stream, before the pontoon bridge was laid. The general carelessly gave permission to his division to mass and get coffee, at the same time posting a few pickets. General Warren coming up a few minutes after, seeing from the opposite side of the stream the precarious condition of the division, sent a peremptory command to General Cutler to get his division into line of battle at once, and get it in readiness to receive an attack from the enemy. One brigade had time to form and advance a few paces in a pine wood, when it was greeted with a deafening roar of musketry. It came out disorganized, and fled pre- cipitately down the banks of the stream. A host of non- combatants,-chaplains, servants with pack animals, stretcher bearers, hospital attendants, and surgeons,-who had crossed over with the division, took fright, and fled, giving the appearance of a stampede. In the mean time, the enemy had commenced an artillery duel with four Federal bat- teries stationed on the bluffs on the north side of the river, the shells passing over the heads of the frightened non- combatants, adding terror to their fright. The Second brigade, commanded by Colonel Hofmann, was formed into line, stood firm, and was in readiness to receive the enemy. A battery, commanded by Captain Mink, formerly a Black river boatman, a brave artillery officer, came over at the critical moment ; he posted his battery on an eleva- tion to the right of the Second brigade, at the same time sending a request to Colonel Hofmann to reserve fire, and give him the first chance at the rebels. He had loaded his guns to the muzzle with canister. The enemy came swarming out of the woods within short range of the bat- tery, when it was discharged in their midst. They recoiled, and fled panic-stricken. The battle was soon renewed. The enemy was finally repulsed with a loss of one thousand prisoners. The Fifth corps lost three hundred and fifty killed and wounded. A second Ball's Bluff disaster was only prevented by the timely arrival of General Warren on the north bank of the stream, and the opportune arrival of Captain Mink at the critical moment on the field of battle. He had been wounded, and carried a crutch with him at the time.
During the battle General Warren came over and up- braided General Cutler, an old man, in forcible but not over-polite terms for his carelessness. In the mean time,
98
HISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
General Hancock, with the Second corps, had effected a crossing four or five miles below, and General Wright, with the Sixth corps, afterwards crossed above.
In the morning, May 24, the One Hundred and Forty- seventh Regiment was deployed as skirmishers in the ad- vance. About forty of the affrighted rebels were captured .. They had not recovered from the demoralization caused by the battle of yesterday. They appeared to be very willing prisoners. In the morning of the 25th the regiment was again deployed on the skirmish-line, and advanced towards Hanover junction, to the southeast about two miles ; had severe fighting; the country flat and densely wooded at places ; loss in killed and wounded considerable. May 26 it seemed evident that not much progress was to be made towards Richmond in this direction. The enemy still held the south bank of the stream between the Fifth corps and General Hancock, and were strongly posted in our front. In the night the corps was withdrawn to the north bank of the stream, and started for Hanover town on the Pamun- key. Arrived at Hanover town on the 28th. There met General Sheridan's cavalry on its return from a raid on the defenses of Richmond. It had met the cavalry of the enemy, under the rebel general, Stuart, about four miles from Richmond, and fought a severe battle, in which General Stuart was killed. About one thousand of the wounded cavalry were left in hospital at Hanover town. May 30 the regiment was engaged in the battle of Bethesda Church, in which a large number of wounded prisoners fell into our hands. May 31, lay in the trenches in front of the defenses of Richmond. Heavy cannonading was heard in the morning on the right, and in the afternoon on the left, but no fighting in front. June 2, attacked by the enemy about five P.M. ; fell back and changed front to meet the enemy, and drove them back ; loss considerable. There was heavy firing to the right during the day, which continued along in the night. June 3, battle of Cold Harbor. Commenced throwing up breastworks about daylight ; they were not finished when the battle opened with great fury ; several were wounded, but none seriously. The heaviest fighting was on the right and left. The Ninety-fifth New York suffered severely. Lieutenant-Colonel Pye was mortally wounded.
Since crossing the Pamunkey, General Grant had been tentatively feeling the enemy's lines. To-day he had made an assault all along the lines, and was repulsed with great loss in killed and wounded; the enemy's loss was comparatively slight, as they were fighting behind breast- works. The regiment lay in the trenches till June 6. The baggage-wagons came up the first time during thirty days. Officers obtained a change of under-clothing for the first time during that period. The state of that which they had on, and of the cuticle, can be easily imagined.
In the morning of the 7th, at 3.30, the division moved to the left ; met the enemy at the West Point and Richmond railroad. The Second brigade was deployed as skirmishers, and drove the enemy across the Chickahominy river ; then encamped in the mud for the night. Picketed the north bank of the stream till the 12th, the enemy picketing the other side. The river here is about twenty feet across. The enemy's piekets were disposed to be friendly, and de- sired to trade tobaeco for coffee, but were forbidden to do
so by their officers ; but the men did so clandestinely, toss- ing their exchanges across the river. Six rebels came into our lines on the night of the 9th. The men fished in the stream. Moved July 13, and crossed the Chiekahominy in the night. The regiment was detailed as a train-guard, and moved on the road towards the James river ; arrived near the river at eleven P.M., and eneamped on a fine planta- tion, the owner of which, with three sons, had joined the rebel army, one of whom was killed and another wounded in the battle of the Wilderness. June 16, crossed the James river at Wilson's landing ; marched for Petersburg, starting about noon ; had a weary and toilsome march of twenty-six miles in a broiling sun, each man carrying a blanket, forty rounds of ammunition, and half of a shelter- tent, making a weight of forty or fifty pounds, and went into camp at two A.M, June 17, about three miles from Pe- tersburg. The regiment by this time had become much enfeebled by constant vigils and long, weary marches in the heat of a Virginia summer. Since May 5 it had been almost constantly in the presence of the enemy, and more than half of the time under fire. It often slept in the trenches when the enemy's shells were bursting thick and fast around them as a lullaby.
The losses of the armies in their fierce struggles from the Wilderness to the James river were never officially published ; probably they were so enormous that the au- thorities deemed it unwise to appall the country by making known their magnitude. The whole scene of contest from the Rapidan to the Chickahominy rivers was one Golgotha. In many places in the dense thickets the dead were left with- out sepulture, and their bleaching skeletons were seen upon the return of some of their comrades after the surrender at Appomattox Court-House (1865), who passed through there to revisit the scenes of their former struggles. Gen- eral Grant had had his losses more than made up by con- stant reinforcements from the defenses of Washington by the heavy artillery regiments stationed there. They never supposed they were to be called into the field, and lacked the experience and efficiency of the veterans who had been in constant service and had withstood the shock of a hun- dred battle-fields. They had to withstand the jeers and gibes of the hardened veterans, who, not always without malice, greeted them as " Heavies," and said, "It is better to get accustomed to the use of small guns before attempt- ing to use big ones," because, as they thought, they had shrunk from the dangers of the war by seeking a safe place behind the defenses of Washington. These regi- ments were from two thousand to two thousand four hun- dred strong when they came into the field. From sickness, arising from want of proper seasoning, and casualties in battle, in a great measure arising from the want of expe- rience, they were soon reduced to two or three hundred. They had not yet acquired the " discretion which is the better part of valor" (not speaking, however, in the Fal- staffian sense) of the veteran, coolness and wariness in battle, which can only be attained by long experience, and which makes a veteran three times as valuable as a raw recruit, bravery in both being equal. From nature's most " imperative law, self-preservation, the veteran learns to avoid all unnecessary danger, and instinctively seizes upon all the
99
HISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
advantages of his position. At the end of every day's march, however weary he might be, the veteran would pro- tret himself by constructing some kind of breastwork to guard against surprise. When on the picket- or skirmish- line, with marvelous quickness, if there was no natural cover, he would scoop up a little mound of carth to protect himself from the bullets of his foe. A gopher could not burrow out of sight sooner than a veteran would conceal himself from the enemy by the use of a tin-cup or a bay- onet.
General Grant had been flanking the enemy from the Wilderness to the James river, and now endeavored to suc- ceed by hastily seizing Petersburg before General Lee could get there to defend the place. It was protected by an elab- orate fortification built in the early part of the war, encir- cling the town on the south side of the Appomattox, about two and a half miles from the suburbs. Generals Han- cock, Smith, and Burnside, with a large force, crossed the James river and made a rapid march to surprise the place on the 16th of June; but the enemy got there about the same time. The Union forces took the outer works with- out opposition, and met the enemy midway between the works and the town. A fierce battle ensued ; neither party gained advantage. The enemy, to hold their position, com- menced to build an inner line of works. In the morning of the 17th the Fifth corps, after the toilsome march of the day previous, advanced on the enemy and gained a position, from which it took part in the general assault upon the enemy's lines which was made the next day. June 18, the Union army endeavored to take the enemy's works by coup de main, but was partially repulsed. A position was gained varying from one hundred to four hundred yards from the enemy's works. A vigorous use of the piek and spade was then made, and in a few days a heavy line of works was built, confronting the enemy's. In the charge of the 18th the line of battle of the Fifth corps passed over a broken country, partly wooded, partly open fields, and crossed diagonally over a deep railroad cut, and up the steep bank, consequently the line of battle became very irregular and uneven. The part of the line occupied by the One Hundred and Forty-seventh Regiment, under Lieutenant-Colonel Harney, was in the open field; the line gave way on each side of the regiment, but a part of an- other regiment remained with it. They had charged within a short distance of the enemy's breastworks, and were there left without support. It was more dangerous to fall back than to hold the position. Lieutenant-Colonel Harney ordered the men to lie down behind a low ridge, which afforded partial protection from the enemy's fire. The enemy opened embrasures in their works in front (the men could look into the muzzles of the enemy's cannon as they were run out), and bombarded them with spherical case- shot, which nearly grazed their backs when they passed over them. They kept their position through the day in a broiling sun. The enemy at one time sent out a force on the flank to capture them. Lieutenant-Colonel Harney reserved the fire of his command until they came within point-blank range, and poured a volley into them. They immediately fled back behind the works.
Some of the men clamored for permission to go to the
rear. The colonel endeavored to convince them that it was much safer to remain where they were; but, finally, to quiet the complaints of others, gave four or five of them permis- sion to retire and see what would come of it. They made the attempt, and were all killed or wounded.
The lieutenant colonel, like a true soldier, wished to save the colors, and called for a volunteer to carry them to the rear. William Sullivan, sergeant Company I, volunteered, and carried them off, but was severely wounded. He was soon after promoted second lieutenant for his gallant con- duct. The regiment remained till after dark, and got off safely. The losses in this day's battle in killed and wounded were very great.
The following were killed in battle, or died in hospitals, from May 22 to June 19, 1864 :
William Uperaft, Company A, killed June 1; Christian Field, Company B, killed at North Anna, May 25; Patrick O'Conner, Company B, wounded May 25, died June 14; Orange Beardsley, Company C, killed May 24; Henry Foster, Company C, June 18, at the battle of Petersburg ; Charles Gurnsey, Company C, June 18, at the battle of Petersburg; Herbert Gilbert, Company C, June 17; Philip Stevens, Company C, June 18; John Fitzgeralds, Company D, killed at battle of Bethesda Church, June 2; Sidney C. Gaylord, second lientenant Company E, killed June 18; John L. Bayne, Company E, June 18; Lewellen Laird, Company E, wounded June 18, died June 24; David S. Rice, Company F, June 18; Edwin Marshall, Company G, June 18; John McMurray, Company G, June 19 ; Thomas Seagraves, Company G, June 19; Wilber H. Wentworth, Company G, June 18; Atwell Winchester, Company H, June 19; James A. Castle, Company H, June 10; Thos. I. Wright, Company H, May 28, at Andersonville, Georgia ; John Mitchell, Company I, died from wounds received June 18; John Daly, Company K, June 18; Samuel Morey and John S. Riley, Company K, June 18; Daniel Sanders, Company K, May 25; Franklin B. Woodruff, Company K, wounded June 2, died June 11.
CHAPTER XXIII.
OSWEGO IN THE REBELLION.
The One Hundred and Forty-seventh Regiment-Siege of Peters- bnrg-Battles of Weldon Railroad, Peeble's Farm, Hatcher's Run, Hicksford, and Dabney's Mills.
Now commenced the most arduous and trying service of the war, taxing the temper of the men to the utmost endur- ance. The Union army, to make any headway, was com- pelled to hold on to every foot of ground gained, with a death-grip. The front of the line occupied by the One Hundred and Forty-seventh Regiment was in an open field, about two hundred yards from the enemy's breastworks, which it was expected to build up and defend. No one could expose any part of his person without being hit by the enemy's sharpshooters. Several of the men were shot through the head during the first two or three days. Nothing could be done at first in the daytime, and the men
100
HISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
worked with a will in the night for self-preservation. The sun came down broiling hot in the day, and the men were without shelter, save what could be got by planting boughs, obtained from the neighboring woods in the night. The rear descended to a small stream, then dry ; then ascended an incline, fully exposed to the rebel sharpshooters; conse- quently no reliefs or communications could be got from the rear, without great risk, in the daytime. Moreover, on the right the Ninth corps occupied a salient angle on a hill within one hundred and twenty-five yards of the enemy's lines. There was constant skirmishing going on in front of that corps; the balls, passing over the Ninth corps on the right flank, descended into the depression in the rear of the regiment. Many men were killed and wounded when cooking their food or washing their clothes: there seemed to be no place of safety, no matter how well, apparently, it was sheltered. In a few days, by constant labor through the nights, strong bomb-proofs were built and covered ways constructed, which afforded complete shelter for the men behind the works, and a safe access to the rear. By this time the men were worn out by constant vigils and exposure to the inclement heat. Nearly every man was sick with diarrhoea. There were only one hundred and fifty men fit for duty. The enemy soon procured cohorn mortars, and silently dropped down shells in the midst of the men when they supposed they were safe. That was a game that two could play at. Mortars were procured on our side, and both parties amused each other by an exchange of compli- ments, which often had tragic endings. Occasionally, when a fine opportunity offered, when more than usual the enemy were off their guard, a shell would be thrown into their midst, and playing havoc by a timely explosion (scoring one for our side), would raise a shout from our men which would pass all along the line. For a while this game of ball afforded recreation for both parties, but at length a truce was made against picket-firing and sharpshooting for amusement, except by the Ninth corps, which kept up a con- stant fire upon the enemy, for the purpose of concealing from them the mining of a rebel fort in its front.
The lines, about one mile to the left, approached still nearer to each other, and the picket-lines were only a few paces apart. The fort erected at the left extremity of the line at this time commanded, by its position on a hill, the enemy's line. Desperate efforts were made by the enemy to drive our forces from it, but without avail.
They called it " Fort Hell," by which name it was after- wards designated. At 4.40 A.M. July 30, the mine in front of the Ninth corps was exploded, blowing up a rebel fort with several hundred men ; at the same time the artillery opened all along the line. The Fifth corps took a very small part in this engagement. It kept down the enemy's fire in its immediate front, and awaited orders to join in the assault afterwards.
The assault was to have been made by the colored troops, but a short time before the time set for the springing of the mine the plan of attack was changed, creating some con- fusion from want of time for preparation and training the men by the commanders who were to lead the assault. The explosion had made a crater one hundred and fifty feet in length by sixty in width, and twenty-five to thirty feet
in depth. The sides were of loose sand, from which pro- jected huge blocks of clay, making a formidable barrier to the advance of the attacking column. Some delay was caused by removing the abutis and clearing away obstacles for the advance of the troops, giving the enemy time to recover from the momentary panic caused by the explosion. The troops as they rushed into the opening fell into confu- sion, and became mixed up, losing their organization. The enemy rallied, and poured in upon them a destructive fire from both flanks, and from the crest of the hill in front beyond. But a few troops were able to pass through the crater and deploy so as to protect the flanks.
The enemy were protected by covered ways, and were enabled to advance upon them without molestation from the fire from our old works on either side. The attacking column became wedged in the crater, confused and helpless, unable to advance or retreat. In the mean time the enemy had planted artillery at several points, and gained the range of the crater, and poured a terrible fire upon the helpless mass. Most of the men in the crater were killed and wounded or captured. Thus ended the attempt to capture Petersburg by breaching the works, by springing a mine, and attacking them in the confusion and panic following it. Great expectations were based upon its success, and corre- spending depression followed its failure. August 18, the Fifth corps moved to the left, taking a circuitous route, and captured the Weldon railroad, at the Yellow House. The Second corps had been seut over to the north side of the James to make a feint.
The enemy had weakened this point to oppose the Second corps. Two or three attempts had been made previously to capture this road, and they all had come to grief. It was the principal source for supplying the rebel army, and had been defended with great pertinacity. The corps massed in an open field on the side of the road. A rebel battery opened at a distance, and plowed up an adjoining field with solid shot; no one was hurt. About six A.M. the enemy had discovered the joke, and returned. The corps formed in line of battle, and advanced to meet them. A sharp fight ensued. Captain Huginin was severely wounded. The loss in killed and wounded was considerable, mostly in the Second division. In the evening there came up a drenching rain and flooded the country, it being very flat. The rain continued at intervals throughout the next day. In capturing the road there had been an interval left of about four miles, occupied by a line of pickets.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.