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 27
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A special train was soon got in readiness to take the regi- ment on another stage on its journey home. It arrived in Syracuse in the night, its place of rendezvous. It then went into encampment, and remained several days awaiting its final muster-out and disbandment as a regimental organ- ization. July 7, the regiment was mustered out of the State service, and returned to Oswego. It was there greeted with firing of cannon and other demonstrations of joy. An elaborate collation was in readiness at one of the public halls of the city, graced with a profusion of beautiful flowers. The fair daughters served the bronzed and " battle-scarred veterans" the delicacies of the groaning tables, who with modest demeanor accepted the proffered service with un- feigned embarrassment. They were much more accustomed to storming batteries than meeting the glances of the fair sex. Out of the eight hundred and thirty-seven enlisted men who had left Oswego September 27, 1862, only one hundred and forty-seven had returned; several of them were crippled or maimed for life. Its ranks had been filled several times during the war. The recruits, what were left of them at the time of the muster-out of the regiment in Washington, were transferred to other regiments. There were on the muster-rolls of the regiment nearly two thousand three hundred men.
This history would not be complete witbout a brief men- tion of Mrs. R. H. Spencer.
Mrs. Spencer possessed the true missionary spirit, with superabundant energy for its constant employment. The war furnished an excellent field for its exercise. She set
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HISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
out with the One Hundred and Forty-seventh Regiment New York Volunteers, as matron and nurse in the hospital department. She persuaded her husband, R. H. Spencer, to enlist in the ranks. He was mostly occupied with her as hospital attendant. They remained with the regiment, in the defenses of Washington, until it was ordered to the front, at Falmouth. They were left behind to care for the sick who were left in the hospitals in Washington.
January 12, 1863, they joined the regiment at Belle Plain. The sick at that time were suffering very much from the want of delicacies of diet and comforts of bedding, which could not be obtained from the purveyor's stores at Aquia Creek.
The frequency of desertions, and smuggling contraband stores into the army, had necessitated stringent regulations in all communications to and from the front.
Mrs. Spencer gathered a large amount of stores from the Sanitary and Christian Commissions.
It was necessary to apply to Colonel Rucker, the head of the transportation bureau in Washington, for transportation. He was a terror to the inexperienced regimental quarter- masters. Bluff and rude in manner by nature, the want of knowledge of the official forms and red tape in transact- ing the business of the department by regimental quarter- masters, and the many blunders and impositions practiced upon him, often drove him into a paroxysm of passion.
Mrs. Spencer applied to him for transportation for her stores to Aquia Creek. She was very enrtly told she could not have it; nothing daunted, she then called on the secre- tary of war, and made known her mission.
The secretary of war gave her an order on Colonel Rucker to give her transportation on the next boat going to Aquia Creek. She gave Colonel Rucker the order, and asked him if that was satisfactory. He gruffly said, " Yes; take the boat and run it !"
Her appearance with the needed supplies was like the advent of a ministering angel to the sick, languishing in the hospitals.
She accompanied the troops on the Gettysburg campaign, carrying with her, on her horse, her bedding, cooking uten- sils, and a supply of clothing, besides supplies for the sick.
She often assisted the men, when exhausted on the weary marches, by carrying for them their coats and blankets, which they would have otherwise abandoned on the way, and then suffered from the want of them in the twilight dews, chilly nights, and drenching rains. Nearly the entire hospital department and medical staff of the First corps was captured in the first day's battle of Gettysburg, and there was great lack of medical officers and hospital attend- ants to care for the wounded during the following two days' battle. Amidst great confusion, and not wholly free from danger from hostile shells, Mrs. Spencer, assisted by her husband, got over the fire her camp kettles, and took from her haversacks, hanging to her saddle-bow, coffee and canned extract of beef, and was soon ministering to the wants of the wounded, by giving to them fragrant coffee and delicious soup. She was always cool and brave in time of danger, and never shrank from going to the relief of the wounded when her services were the most needed. In the trenches before Petersburg, when no one could go to the
front without incurring imminent risk from the enemy's sharpshooters and stray bullets, she frequently conveyed to the weary, famishing men delicacies, of which they were sadly in need. After the terrible battles of the Wilderness and Spottsylvania, the wounded were conveyed in ambu- lances and lumbering baggage-wagons, over rough roads, many weary miles, by Fredericksburg to Belle Plain ; there they were put upon hospital transports and taken to Wash- ington.
At Belle Plain, the wounded, weary, famished, and tor- tured by festering wounds, were greeted by their old friend, Mrs. Spencer, who had, as usual, come to their relief in time of their greatest need. It had been raining several days. She spent several days, standing ankle-deep in the tenacious Virginia mud, making coffee and soup, till thou- sands were served. Thousands were removed from the ambulances and baggage-wagons and placed upon the hill- sides, without shelter from the pouring rain. They were made cheerful by her ministering eare, and forgot their own sufferings in their anxiety for her own comfort, and danger in taking cold. As the Army of the Potomac advanced towards Richmond new communications were opened, by Port Royal, White House, and City Point. She, at each successive point, repeated her ministering care to the wounded and afflicted. The remainder of her deeds of heroism and mercy are duly recorded in " Woman's Work in the Civil War."
The following members of the regiment died in rebel prisons during the war :
Company A, Thomas Barnes, October 4, 1864; Theo- dore Elliott, September 16, 1864; Moses Shaw, September 10, 1864; Miles Morgan, September 1, 1864; Wm. Camp- bell, August 31, 1864; Orrin Kimberly, July 13, 1864 ; John Green, August 26, 1864; Robert Hyde, September 14, 1864.
Company B, Joseph P. Clyens, August 17, 1864; Jacob F. Goodbred, August 28, 1864; Gilbert Sherwood, August 4, 1864 ; George Walling, August 22, 1864; Francis G. Defendorf, July 13, 1864; Matthew Devine, July 12, 1864; John Garner, July 22, 1864.
Company C, Peter Douglass, October 5, 1864 ; Lorenzo W. Horton, Morgan L. Allen, Jr.
Company D, Henry Broder, August 26, 1864; James C. Eldred, July 19, 1864 ; Edgar A. Stratton, October 10, 1864; Wm. Cline, September 25, 1864; Theo. W. H. Hawley, October 11, 1864.
Company E, John Chambers, August 29, 1864; Reuben Ellis, August 24, 1864; Wm. Haggerty, August 26, 1864 ; Theo. Smith, Angust 24, 1864; Ezra C. Jones, October 12, 1864; James Kenny, September 10, 1864; David Smiley, October 9, 1864; Jehiel Weed, at Salisbury, North Carolina, November 29, 1864; George Yerdon, at Salis- bury, North Carolina, November 29, 1864.
Company F, Leonard A. Freeman, date and place un- known ; Burr B. Lathrop, Florence, Sonth Carolina ; Fred- erick Shultz, August 23, 1864, at Andersonville, Georgia ; Wm. O. Daniels, sergeant, November, 1864, at Rich- mood, Virginia; Ansel Gannon, September 12, 1864, at Andersonville, Georgia ; Charles S. Little, September 20, 1864; A. B. Randall, September 20, 1864; Michael
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HISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Trainer, September 12, 1864, Andersonville, Georgia ; Waldo Ponchin, died, after exchanged, at Annapolis ; Wm. W. Wood, March 16, 1865, Florence, South Carolina.
Company G, Harvey D. Merritt, August 18, 1864, An- dersonville, Georgia; Cornelins Cramb, date unknown ; George Keiser, September 15, 1864; John Thompson, date unknown ; Isaac Washington, August 18, 1864; John Wetherby, December 1, 1864, Salisbury, North Carolina ; John Miller, date unknown ; John Rigby, December 10, 1864 ; Garrett S. Ayres, date unknown.
Company H, Sanford Alsavor, died in Florence, South Carolina ; John Granger, July 10, 1864, at Andersonville, Georgia ; Isaac Gaslin, Richmond, Virginia; David H. Johnson, December 29, 1864, after exchanged, at Annap- olis ; Thomas Wright, May 28, 1864; Samuel Bowen, July 20, 1864, Andersonville, Georgia; Wesley Brock, September 18, 1864; James A. Castle, June 10, 1864 ; Noah L. Myers, August 7, 1864; James Spoor, July 18, 1864.
Company I, John Dooley, after exchanged, at Annapolis; Griggs Holbrook, August 22, 1864; Joseph Lemoreux, August 21, 1864; Elijah Chappel, October 12, 1864, at Andersonville ; John H. Leach, September 11, 1864.
Company K, Silas B. Taylor, September 29, 1864, An- dersonville, Georgia ; Jabez E. Spaulding, Company E, date unknown; Chas. Jennings, date unknown.
CHAPTER XXVI.
OSWEGO IN THE REBELLION.
The One Hundred and Eighty-fourth Regiment.
THE One Hundred and Eighty-fourth Regiment was authorized by Governor Seymour, upon the personal appli- cation of Hon. Elias Root, of Oswego. W. G. Robinson and William I. Preston immediately thereafter held a series of war-meetings throughout the county, assisted by D. G. Fort, Cheney Ames, A. B. Getty, Henry Fitzhugh, and A. Van Dyck. Though Oswego had sent thousands of her brave sons to the front, and the home ranks were sadly thinned, the patriotic fire was again kindled, and recruiting for the fifth Oswego regiment was rapidly pushed forward. There were over fourteen hundred men recruited for the regiment from this county, and two hundred from Madison and Cayuga counties. It was mustered into the service during the months of August and September, 1864.
The following were the regimental and line officers :
Colonel, Wardwell G. Robinson; Lieutenant-Colonel, Wm. P. Mckinley ; Major, W. D. Furgeson ; Adjutant, Howard M. Smith ; Quartermaster, John Dunn, Jr. ; Sur- geon, Tobias J. Green ; Assistant Surgeon, T. Y. Kinnie ; Chaplain, Jacob Post.
Line Officers .- Company A, Captain, Joel S. Palmer ; First Lieutenant, C. P. Strong; Second Lieutenant, M. L. Branch.
Company B, Captain, W. S. Morse ; First Lieutenant, J. N. Root ; Second Lieutenant, C. H. Pavey.
Company C, Captain, J. W. Parkhurst; First Lieu- tenant, George A. Leonard ; Second Lieutenant, Daniel Bothwell.
Company D, Captain, S. R. Town; First Lioutenant, Augustus Philipps ; Second Lieutenant, Joel H. Warn.
Company E, Captain, John Sheridan ; First Lieutenant, J. M. Francis ; Second Lieutenant, J. H. Loomis.
Company F, Captain, Wm. Dickinson ; First Lieutenant, I. W. Darrow; Second Lieutenant, S. H. Brown. Company G, Captain, J. T. Outerson ; First Lieutenant,
J. H. Grant ; Second Lieutenant, T. W. Smith. Company H, Captain, H. W. Ramsey ; First Lieutenant,
G. W. Woodin ; Second Lieutenant, T. M. Watkins. Company I, Captain, George Wetmore ; First Lieutenant, E. F. Morris ; Second Lieutenant, John H. Gilman.
Company K, Captain, S. Scriber; First Lieutenant, M. G. McCoon ; Second Lieutenant, Jerome H. Coe.
The regiment left Elmira for the front in September, 1864. They arrived at Washington, embarked for City Point, and subsequently went into camp about two miles distant from Bermuda Hundred.
September 27, orders were received to move to Wilson's landing, known as Fort Pocahontas. The regiment embarked aboard the " Thomas Powell," and at four o'clock P.M. arrived at the fort. On the following day one hundred and twelve men were detached for picket duty, and two companies sent to Harrison's Landing. September 29, the regiment embarked for Harrison's Landing. Here they found comfortable quarters within sight of City Point, and Colonel Robinson, being the ranking offieer, became post commandant. November 8, Rev. Jacob Post was selected as chaplain. The regiment remained here during the term of service, and although not participating in any severe confliets, they performed the duties assigned them faith- fully.
To place before the reader a history of the entire regi- ment, it will be necessary to follow the four companies, A, B, D, and F, as these companies were forwarded from Elmira before the remainder of the regiment, and rejoined it only a short time previously to its discharge.
The four companies mentioned above, under command of Major Furgeson, left Elmira September 14, 1864, and soon after arrived in Washington, where they remained until September 23, when they took up the line of march for Winchester, Virginia. At Harper's Ferry they halted four days, and left for Harrisburg as a guard for a provision train. They joined the army of General Sheridan, and were with him during the celebrated raid through the Shen- andoah valley. In three days they marched one hundred and four miles on the track of the rebel General Early, burning and destroying property. During this long and tedious march they daily exchanged shots with Mosby's guerrillas, and at Fisher's Hill the army participated in a sharp engagement. They subsequently were ordered to Martinsburg. Here they remained two days, and were again ordered up the valley, and encamped at Cedar creek. Early on the morning of the 19th of October, 1864, while a greater portion of the men were sleeping, an orderly dashed into camp with orders from General Wright, the corps commander, to fall into line of battle immediately. With
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HISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
an alacrity truly commendable, they struck tents and ad- vanced, when they were immediately attacked by the enemy, and the memorable battle of Cedar Creek commeneed.
The battle raged until night put an end to the contest. It was a severe engagement, and thrice were they driven from their ground, and as often regained it. At the close of the conflict they encamped on the ground that they had left in the morning, but not all of those brave men who responded so promptly to the call returned to the old camp. Sixteen sealed their devotion to their country with their life's blood, Lieutenant Philipps among the number. In addition to the killed, there were forty wounded. General Early was defeated, and the Union forces captured five thousand prisoners, sixty-two pieces of artillery, besides a large quan- tity of small arms. In this engagement the cavalry was under the command of the lamented Custer. This was the first engagement in which these companies were under fire, but they behaved like veterans, and won many encomiums of praise for their prompt action and bravery. Through the inexcusable fault of some one, no tents were issued to these companies until the battle of Cedar Creek. Adjutant- General Andrew J. Smith, of General Seymour's staff, presented the officers with a wagon-cover, and this was the only tent in the command.
They subsequently were ordered to Winchester, where a long line of works was thrown up, called " Camp Russell." Here the companies remained about four weeks, when they returned to Harrison's Landing, and joined the remainder of the regiment. The entire command remained here several months, and, in addition to their other duties, bestowed much labor upon their eamp, in beautifying and rendering it comfortable. It was said to be one of the finest in the army. While at the Landing, Colonel Robinson was post commandant, and Major Furgeson acting provost-marshal and post inspector. June 30, 1865, Colonel Robinson re- ceived orders from Major-General Hartsuff directing that the One Hundred and Eighty-fourth be marched out of the breastworks preparatory to embarkation. The order was promptly obeyed, and the embarkation commenced. Com- panies A, B, D, I, and F, under command of Major Fur- geson, shipped aboard the steamer " North Point," and the remainder of the regiment on the " Robert Morris." July 1, the entire command reached Baltimore, and after march- ing to the " Soldiers' Rest," where dinner was served, they took the cars for Elmira, New York, where they arrived at four o'clock on the following day. The regiment subsequently went to Syracuse, where they were paid off and mustered out.
CHAPTER XXVII.
OSWEGO IN THE REBELLION.
The Twelfth Regiment of Cavalry : "Third Ira Harris Guard"-First Regiment Light Artillery.
THE Twelfth Regiment of Cavalry, otherwise known as the " Third Ira Harris Guard," was organized at New York city to serve three years. The companies of which it was
composed were raised in the counties of New York, Colum- bia, Albany, Rensselaer, Clinton, Franklin, Oswego, Onon- daga, and Erie. It was mustered inta the United States service from November 10, 1862. to September 25, 1863.
Two companies were raised in this county, and were com- manded by Captains Cyrus and Simeon Church. After the formation of the regiment they encamped at Camp Washı- ington, on Staten Island, where they remained until March, 1863. The colonel, James W. Savage, was on General Fremont's staff, and when the latter was relieved he came to New York and was tendered the command of the regi- ment. He served during the entire term of service, and at the close of the war emigrated to the far west, and is now a member of the judiciary of Omaha.
March 8, 1863, the regiment broke camp and embarked for Newbern, North Carolina, and remained there during the war. While stationed here the regiment participated in a series of raids into the enemy's country, the most important one being the advance on Tarboro', which was made by eight hundred men for the purpose of destroying a rebel gun- boat, stores, etc., at that place. They destroyed the Wel- don railroad, and on approaching Tarboro' found the enemy in force, and immediately charged them with portions of the Oswego companies, A and B. It was a sharp contest, and Captain Cyrus Church, while gallantly leading the charge at the head of his company, was instantly killed, cleven bullets entering his body. Lieutenant Hubbard was wounded and taken prisoner, and was subsequently killed, in March, 1865, in the advance on Goldsborough. Ephraim Mosier, second lieutenant of Company A, was taken prisoner, and died at Charleston. In this charge the two companies lost twenty men.
A detachment of this regiment was sent to Plymouth and also one to Little Washington. The Plymouth detach- ment performed general scouting duty, and was in the bat- tle of Plymouth, fought April 20, 1864, when the Federal forces were defeated by the Confederate General Hooke, and the two companies of this regiment composing the de- tachment were taken prisoner. In this contest Captain A. Cooper was in command, and was among the number cap- tured. Eighty-five men were sent as prisoners of war to Andersonville, and nearly all perished in that hellish pen lorded over by the notorious Wirz, who was subsequently executed. The detachment sent to Little Washington also did scouting duty, and were very instrumental in breaking up and routing the rebel General Mosby's celebrated gang of guerrillas. The Twelfth performed substantial service for the government, and no portion of the regiment did better service during their two years of life on the tented field than the Oswego companies. The prison-pen and the bullet left their impress upon these companies, as many who went out never returned. They battled nobly for their country, and it is an honor to say, "I belonged to the Twelfth Cavalry." The regiment was mustered out in July, 1865.
FIRST REGIMENT LIGHT ARTILLERY.
This regiment was organized at Elmira, New York, to serve three years. The companies of which it was composed were raised in the counties of Oswego, Oncida, Onondaga,
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HISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Chemung, Steuben, Monroe, Wayne, Erie, Niagara, Jeffer- son, St. Lawrence, Lewis, and Herkimer. It was mustered into the United States service from August 30 to Novem- ber 19, 1861. The Fourteenth New York Independent Battery was assigned to this regiment September 7, 1863. On the expiration of its term of service the original mem- bers, except veterans, were mustered out, and the organiza- tion, composed of veterans and recruits, retained in service. We give below a history of Battery D, compiled from the diary of the lamented Lieutenant Albert N. Ames, who was killed by sharpshooters near Petersburg, Virginia, Septem- ber 26, 1864.
After leaving Oswego they remained in Elmira a short time, and about November 1 moved to Washington. The regiment arrived there in the night-time, and took supper in a building bearing the pleasant-sounding title of the " Sol- diers' Retreat," and after partaking of a meal consisting of poor coffee, dry bread, and poor beef-tongue, they marched to a large building called the " Soldiers' Rest," where the members of this regiment passed their first night on south- ern soil. They went into camp here, where they passed the time in drilling, etc., until March 1, 1862, when marching orders were received, and on the following day tents were struck and the batteries embarked on board steamers, and they were soon steaming down the Potomac. At four o'clock they disembarked, and commenced their march to camp. While on this slow and tedious tramp they received their first taste of the unpleasantness of war, being harassed continually by the shells from the enemy's batteries.
March 5, the first gun was fired by this regiment in de- fense of her country's rights. They stationed a battery at Bndd's ferry, opposite the rebel batteries, and immediately opened fire. They responded with three batteries, and the shells and solid shot dropped around them like hail. This firing soon ceased without loss to the regiment.
April 5, they marched to Liverpool Point, Maryland, and embarked for Chesapeake bay, where they arrived April 9. Camped here until May, when marching orders were received. At six o'clock A.M. on the following day, after having marched during the whole night, with no sup- per and through a country rendered almost impassable by the recent rains, orders were received to move immediately to the front, and without breakfast they continued their march through mud knee-deep. While moving as rapidly as possible one of General Hooker's aids dashed along and gave the order to hurry to the front, as the infantry was in position and the general was only awaiting the arrival of the batteries to open the engagement.
At nine o'clock the batteries arrived, and while forming the enemy opened fire, and several men were wounded, among them Lieutenant C. P. Aiken, who was struck in the breast with a shell, and Lientenant H. P. Pike, who had a leg shot off.
Major Wainwright attempted to rally his men, who had become panic-stricken at this sudden firing; but neither he nor Captain Webber, who commanded a battery of regu- lars, could call the men to their posts of duty. At length Major Wainwright, exasperated at the conduct of the reg- ulars, rode up in front of Battery D, which was awaiting orders, and asked " if a volunteer company would volunteer
to work the guns of a regular battery." The battery re- sponded promptly to the call, and nobly did they do their work. They manned the regular battery, and this, to- gether with Captain Branchall's that came up soon after, were the only batteries in this division outside of the woods in front of the enemy's works. Here remained these gal- lant batteries, supported by Hooker's infantry, firing and silencing the rebel artillery, until four P.M., when the di- vision, having fought during the whole day without rein- forcements or relief, was forced back by the enemy, who had been heavily reinforced. Though pouring in a deadly fire of shot, which swept the ground and left the rebel dead thick upon the field, they were being driven steadily back. At five o'clock the lamented Kearney and his gallant divi- sion came to their relief, and, driving the enemy back, re- gained the ground from which the batteries had been forced, after a severe contest of eight hours with a force largely superior in numbers, and which had constantly been re- inforced. Through the fault of some officer this division was suffered to wage this unequal contest unrelieved, and their thin and decimated ranks at the close of the battle alone told of the severity of the struggle. Their loss was over two thousand killed, wounded, and missing.
After the battle the regiment camped near Williams- burg, and here remained nearly one month, during which time nothing of particular interest occurred to relieve the ceaseless monotony of camp life. June 1, the order was received to move out in front of the works, and while occu- pying this position they afforded excellent marks for the enemy's sharpshooters, who harassed them until they fell back. The regiment remained in this section until the latter part of August, when they embarked for Alexandria. Prior to this time the battery had participated in the fol- lowing battles : Yorktown, Williamsburg, Seven Pines, battle of June 25, 1862, Peach Orchard, Savage Station, White Oak Swamp, Glendale, and Malvern Hill. At this point Lieutenant Ames ceased the keeping of the record, and it is impossible to give a further detailed history of the battery. It was subsequently in the following engage- ments : Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Rap- pahannock Station, Mine Run, Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Tolopotomy, Bethesda Church, Petersburg, Weldon Railroad, and Chapel House.
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