USA > New York > Otsego County > History of Otsego County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 19
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Finding no enemy marching down the valley again, the 6th Corps moved to Frout Royal Oet. 10, and two days later was ordered to proceed to Alexandria, and there em- bark for City Point. Arriving near Ashby's Gap, the col- umn was halted for the night. Soon after going into eamp orders were received from General Sheridan to return to Front Royal at six A.M. next day ; but soon after another order eame directing us to march at once to Middletown, five miles north of Fisher's Hill, where we arrived that day.
The enemy had gathered their seattered troops, and, with reinforcements from Lee's army, had moved down the valley and again were posted in their fortifications at Fisher's Hill, threatening an advance.
The 6th Corps was placed on the right of the 12th, and the Ist Division, now under Gen. Frank Wheaton, held the extreme right of the infantry line, on the west side of the turnpike.
The enemy had made demonstrations on portions of the line, but did not attack it until the morning of Oct. 19. General Sheridan was then absent at Winchester, and Gen. Wright, of the 6th Corps, in command of the army. --
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HISTORY OF OTSEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
A detachment of their cavalry was sent to attack the extreme right, in front of Wheaton's Division, which they did about three P.M. But after the pickets were driven a short distance the movement proved to be only a feint, as the main attack was to be made on the extreme left. At early dawn, while the Sth Corps was yet sleeping, the enemy charged impetuously, driving it across the road to the rear of the 19th Corps, and at the same time attacking its front and flank, and in less time than it can be written went both commands routed and broken to the rear. The 121st, with its division and corps, was moved with dispatch to the left, and placed in a commanding position to stem the tide of retreat. A heavy mist at that early hour pre- vented the enemy from being seen until we were nearly upon them. The 2d Brigade, then under Gen. Hamlin, was posted on an elevation and directed to lie down. Here the 121st received a heavy fire, and was obliged to fall back at the approach of the enemy.
Having retired in good order about one thousand yards, the regiment supported one of our batteries, which, being ellarged by the enemy and in danger of capture, was saved from them only by having our men rush forward and draw the pieces back by hand. It was evident now that the retreat could not be stenimed, for the Sth Corps and most of the 19th were flying in disorder to the rear; and the superior force of the enemy coming against the 6th Corps compelled it to 'yield its ground. As fast as one position was lost another was taken farther to the rear, and in this way the battle waged until about one P.M., when Gen. Sheridan, arriving on the field, soon turned the tide of bat- tle in our favor. The foree of the enemy's attack now seemed to have been spent, and after waiting until four P.M. to bring up refugees from the rear, and also a supply of cartridges, the whole line made a gallant charge upon the enemy posted behind stone walls in our front.
Another delay was caused by failure to bring up the ammunition ; but finally, as the infantry saw the cavalry pressing down on the enemy's right, they rushed forward with scarcely a round of cartridges, and driving the rebels from their second stone wall, completely routed them, and turned their victory to defeat. A large number of prisoners and cannon was captured, and Early's army was never able to rally from this crushing blow. The 121st lost 47 killed and wounded. Capts. Douw and Burrell, the only two remaining after the battles in front of Spottsylvania, were How among the killed; also, Lieut. Tucker, Maj. Galpin, and Lieut. Johnson were again wounded. Col. Oleott was for a time in command of the brigade, being the ranking officer.
After this victory it became evident that the 6th Corps was no longer needed in the valley. It remained in the locality of Middletown, however, until Dee. 9, when the 121st, with its corps, returned to the front of Petersburg, occupying a position near Yellow Tavern. Thenceforward, until the final capture of Petersburg, the regiment was active in strengthening fortifications.
During the campaign of 1864 the losses had been ex- tremely heavy among both officers and men, and on their return to Petersburg but four line-officers were present for duty, and four others were in staff service. Many worthy
promotions occurred during that period. Lieuts. Johnston and Redway were made captains, and E. C. Weaver, Joseph HI. Heath, Eli Oakes, Horatio N. Duroe, George II. Snell, and Langford Burton lieutenants. In addition to the list of killed, several officers had resigned, viz. : Maj. H. M. Galpin. Assist .- Surg. Holt, Capts. Caster and Gorton, and Lieuts. Foote and Adams. All of these re- signed on account of wounds received in battle, except Surg. Holt, who was in ill health.
Only 200 enlisted men were present for duty on return to Petersburg, but before the first of the following April this number was increased-by the return of convalescent- and wounded men-to 275, more than the regiment had attained since the Spottsylvania battles.
Feb. 5 the regiment, with its corps, marched to Hatcher's Run, and for three days remained in that locality, engaging in battles known by the above name, and losing several valuable men. Col. Aleott, in his official report of that engagement, said, " Both officers and men deserve great eredit for not being influenced by the panic, which, for the time, threatened to carry everything before it." The rezi- ment returned to its eamp Feb. S, and thereafter assisted in strengthening Fort Fisher and other important defenses.
Since the promotion of Gen. Upton, the 121st had been so greatly reduced in numbers by its heavy losses ( which were below the minimum fixed by the War Department to constitute a regiment ) that Lieut .- Col. Olcott, who had been commissioned as colonel, was unable to obtain his rank. Capt. Cronkite, who had succeeded Maj. Galpin, was now commissioned as lieutenant-colonel, and Capt. Kidder as major. But neither of these officers could be mustered to a higher grade until the ranks of the regiment were increased in numbers; vigorous efforts were therefore made to till the regiment and again enter the field with a strong com- mand. They were unavailing, however, until about the 1st of March, when application was renewed to the sec- retary of war for four hundred recruits. This application was warmly indorsed by Gen. Mackenzie. the brigade com- mander, and the division commander. General Wharton. wrote thereon, " I think it greatly for the interest of the division that the 121st New York Regiment be filled. Its -er- vices have been most marked and conspicuous, not surpasse.i by any regiment I can nawie, and its gallant commander is entitled by continuous and valuable services to be mustered as colonel, he having held the commission for more than a year, and has frequently commanded a brigade in battle. and with great credit." Gen. II. G. Wright, commanding the corps, also indorsed it as follows: ". Respectfully for- warded, with urgent request that reernits or drafted men sufficient to fill up this regiment be promptly assigned to i :. And I hereby indorse all that is said by Gens. Mackenzie and Wheaton in regard to the services and standing of the regiment and the merits of its commander." Reaching fim. Meade, he forwarded it to Washington, with these words: " It is especially requested that this regiment umay be specially designated to be filled up by assignment of bien to its ranks, in consideration of its gallant reputation and the distinguished services of its commander."
With this valuable paper once in the hands of the . e- retary of war, the 121st commanded his early attention.
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and a few days later four hundred recruits were ordered to the regiment from Riker's island, New York harbor.
Many other promotions were made while in front of Petersburg.
Our excellent surgeon, Slocum, received the assistance of James P. Kimball, who was commissioned in place of Dr. Holt, resigned. Frank E. Lowe was promoted to adjutant, und Sergt .- Maj. J. L. Morton, and Sergts. Newbern, Arm- strong, Thos. J. Hassett, and Philip R. Woodcock were promoted to lientenants. Morris C. Foote, of Cooperstown, was also commissioned as lieutenant. Lieut. E. C. Weaver resigned ou account of illness, and Lieut. Kelley died of disease.
Drill, picket and fatigue duty in the trenches and forts occupied our time, but we were always in readiness for bat- tle at a moment's warning. Nothing unusual occurred, however, until, at an early hour in the morning of March 25, the 121st, with its division, was aroused by heavy mus- ketry and artillery fire beyond our right, and in front of the 9th Corps. The enemy had attacked Fort Steadman in the darkness and carried it, driving the Union troops moment- arily back to the railroad. They rallied, and in turn charged them, retaking the fort just before the 121st with its divi- sion arrived in support.
We then returned to our own front, and immediately thereafter the whole corps was ordered to advance and threaten an attack. The 2d Brigade was ou the right of Fort Fisher, and held that wing of the corps, while the 121st was on the extreme right. The line advanced in good order, receiving a sharp fire from the enemy's skir- mishers, who soon fell back under cover of their forts. Their guus from these fortifications opened a tremendous fire as we advanced, doing us considerable damage. We pushed forward, however, within seven hundred yards of their forts, and in an open field were ordered to halt and lie down. Our men were exposed to a galling fire of musketry and shells, but resolutely held their ground, not- withstanding a considerable body of the enemy had opened an enfilading fire on our right. About sundown our line was ordered to withdraw a short distance and again lie down. In executing this movement, Lieut. Duroe was in- stautly killed, but his brave meu, seizing his lifeless body, carried it to a place of safety. Our new position was now on an elevation two hundred yards in advance of the rifle-pits from which we had driven their pickets, and the men were lying down for protection from the enemy, who were en- deavoring to turu our exposed right flank. Lieut .- Col. Cronkite, then in command, ordered the two companies ou the right of the regiment to change front and open fire on them, foreing them to retire. Several of the men were wounded in this engagement ; besides, the leader's horse was shot under him. After dark the regiment was ordered to return to its encampment, where it remained until the final charge in front of Petersburg, April 2.
Soon after midnight, April 2, the 121st, with its brigade aud corps, muffled all their trappings and noiselessly filed outside of our rifle-pits in front of Fort Fisher. The corps formed cohnun by brigades in echelon, just inside our picket line, lying down as soon as in position. The night was dark, and. although the enemy's pickets were not over two
hundred yards distant, they did not hear us. The brigade formed in two lines, the 121st being on the right of the second. Just before daylight the order came, and the regi- ment, with the whole line, moved rapidly forward, main- taining its formation until within about one hundred yards of the works, when our frout moved by the left flank, and then forward again. This, together with the darkness and ' nature of the ground, somewhat divided the regiment,-the colors and left wing entering the enemy's works farther to the left than was intended. Successful in the charge, the 121st captured two guns, one of which was loaded and turned upon the enemy by Sergt. Redford M. Dustin, of Co. G. The regiment also captured about 200 prisoners. About noon the 121st, with its brigade, was ordered to the support of the 9th Corps on the right, and placed in the first line of works taken from the enemy in front of Fort Sedgwick. Before dawn on the following day it was or- dered forward to skirmish, and, nearing Petersburg, Col. Olcott ordered Lieut .- Col. Cronkite, with two companies, to go rapidly forward and hoist our colors in the town. Thus the flag of the 121st was the second Union banner that waved over that deserted city, a regiment of the 9th Corps having entered farther to the right and a few yards in ad- vance of us. Our casualties in this engagement were 1 killed and 11 wounded.
After remaining here a short time we marched back to our old encampment, distant about two miles, to get our knapsacks, which had been left under a guard. Arriving here, the men were ordered to prepare coffee, and imme- diately thereafter, joining the 6th Corps, proceeded in the direction of Jetersville to overtake Lee.
April 6 we came up with his army, which was strongly posted on a wooded bluff, with a sluggish streamn at its base, and over its summit a road along which the rebel trains were obliged to pass in their retreat. Of this battle, Col. Olcott, in his official report, said,-
"The brigade being in two lines, the 121st formed the right and the 95th Pennsylvania the left of the first line, the command of which was assigned to me, leaving Lieut .- Col. Cronkite in command of the 121st. About four P.M. the line advanced across Sailor's creek, and then halted for a few moments to reform, as the creek was deep and difficult of passage. After which they charged to the top of the crest, and meeting a deadly volley the men threw them- selves on the ground and opened fire. I instantly ordered the line to charge. They advanced some distance, when, observing the right of the brigade was exposed, the 121st was ordered to change front to the right along the road. This regiment having checked the enemy, who were eu- deavoring to get into the rear of the brigade, was again ordered to charge, which it did, driving the enemy in coufu- siou, capturing Gen. Custis Lee, and several other officers of high rauk, together with two stands of colors.
"Gen. Lee was captured by private HI. Hawthorn, of Co. F, the proof of which, there having been some controversy about the matter, accompanies this report, and is marked A. It was near the road mentioned that the brave Capt. Howland was killed. Lieut: Morton was also among the slain. The casualties in the engagement were 2 officers and i culisted men killed, and 1 officer and 12 enlisted
1
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HISTORY OF OTSEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
men wounded; aggregate killed and wounded, 22. The officers of the command, without exception, displayed great Fallantry, particularly Lieut .- Col. Cronkite, Maj. Kidder, Capts. Jackson, Johnson, and Vanscoy, Lieut. Hassett, and Adj. Lowe. The regiment captured at least five hundred prisoners."
Beyond slight skirmishing, this was the last and crown- ing battle with the Army of Northern Virginia.
The 121st had now nearly completed its term of service (3 years), and none could ever charge it with violating its trust, or dishonoring its State.
The four hundred recruits which were ordered to the regiment were dilatory in reaching it ; therefore the field- officers who had been promoted during the winter were unable to muster until some time after Lee's surrender. They joined the regiment, however, April 18, at Burkesville, when Col. Oleott and Lieut .- Col. Kidder were duly mus- tered to the rank to which they had been commissioned, Lieut .- Col. Cronkite resigning that office in favor of Maj. Kidder.
From Burkesville, the regiment marched with its corps past Fredericksburg to Alexandria, and went into eamp about three miles from Long bridge. During one of the hottest days in June, it, with its corps, was reviewed in Washington, and June 25 was mustered out of the serviee. The men proceeded at onee to Albany, where they received their final pay July 6, and then disbanded, returning to the duties of peaceful citizens.
The report of the adjutant-general of New York shows that the 121st lost 7 captains, 8 first lieutenants, and 2 second lieutenants, killed-a total of 17 officers killed. No other infantry regiment from this State shows so heavy a death-roll.
It is not to be expected that in so large an organization, comprised of persons from all elasses of society, that no bad men were among the number, nor that deserters were not occasionally found among those who had taken a solemn oath to defend the nation in its hour of peril; for this is only too true. But, as a whole, the members of this regi- ment will compare favorably with those of any similar eom- mand, and ean listen to the recital of their war record, not with a blush of shame, but with patriotie pride. For those who were disloyal to their trust we have no word of een- sure, but the greatest charity, hoping that they have since reformed, and may be found among the strong supporters of our country.
CHAPTER XXVII. OTSEGO IN THE REBELLION.
Sketch of the 152d Regiment-List of the Members of the Regi- ment from Otsego County."
ON July 1, 1862, the president of the United States issued a call for 300,000 volunteers to serve for three years unless sooner discharged, and on Aug. 4, 1862, he issued another call for 300,000 men to serve for nine months, and to be raised by a draft, unless a sufficient number of volun-
teers were obtained within a specified time. Shortly after the first of these calls was issued, the governor of New York, in view of the fact that one full regiment from each of the thirty-two senate districts of the State would nearly fill New York's quota under that call, made arrangements for raising a regiment in each senate district. The twen- tieth senatorial distriet was composed of the counties of Otsego and Herkimer, and a recruiting camp for it was established near the site of Fort Schuyler, of Revolutionary memory, aeross the Mohawk from the village of Herkimer, and ealled Camp Schuyler. In this eamp the 121st Rezi- ment was organized and mustered into the service. pursuant to the call of July 1. In the mean time the call of Anz. 4 had been issued, and it was arranged that enlistin-nts for three years should go on, and the States should get a proportionate eredit on the call for nine months' men for all three years' men enlisted after filling the quota under the previous eall. The 121st was mustered Aug. 23, 1:62. a maximum regiment, leaving men enough to form a con- siderable part of a company, for whom there was not room in the regiment. These formed the nucleus of the 152d Regiment, which was, like the 121st, raised in the twentieth senatorial district, and brought together and mustered into the service at Camp Schuyler for three years, unless sooner discharged. While recruiting was going on the defeat of the Army of the Potomac, under Gen. Pope, near Manas- sas, by destroying the hope of a speedy suppression of the rebellion, rendered it more difficult to induce men to enlist, so that even the minimum number of men required to form a regiment could hardly be obtained, and the muster-in rolls show that a few men were counted twice, being lent to companies which laeked men, after they had been musterel in the companies to which they belonged. Of the 500 men of which the regiment at the outset was composel. there were probably 200 who, owing to age and unsound- ness, were not well fitted to endure the long marches and other hardships which awaited them. Most of these men beeame separated from the regiment before it took part in any battle; but for the service of the first three months. in the construction of fortifications, they were worth more than the youngsters, who constitute the best elass for the movements of the field.
The regiment saw something of soldier life at Camp Schuyler, living in barracks, drilling, doing guard duty. and being fed by a contractor ; but a wise liberality in the matter of furloughs, allowed such as desired it to revisit their homes until the arrangements were completed for the muster of the regiment into the service of the Unitvi States. This event took place on Oet. 15, 1862, and then followed a few busy days, during which the little wuones which had been paid for bounties was properly or improperly disposed of, and the preparations were completed for de par- ture for the scene of action.
On Tuesday, Oct. 21, 1862, the 1524 took the cars a' Herkimer, in the presence of a great eoneourse of 1 : gathered to witness the departure of friends for an unknowwa destination, but to a known service, which did not pomi -: the return of all who entered it. Deep emotion persaici the assembly.
As the regiment proceeded towards the theatre of war.
# By Stephen Holden, Co. II.
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HISTORY OF OTSEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
each change of cars marked sensibly the approach to a life of hardship and danger. From Herkimer to Albany it had the usual elegant passenger-cars of the New York Central railroad ; from Albany to New York, cars of the same sort, but old and worn ; from New York to Philadel- phia, uncushioned, second-class passenger-cars ; and from Philadelphia onward, box and platform freight-cars. The journey was tedious, but at New York there was a taste of city life at the Park barracks ; on the passage to Amboy, across New York bay, the tossing waves and the first sniff of ocean's brecze brought a brief exhilaration to a body of inland men. At Philadelphia the hospitalities dispensed through the cooper-shop on Otsego street won all hearts; at Baltimore there were lodgings on a cobble-stone pave- ment, and visits to the hospitals filled with the wounded from South Mountain and Antietam. By a journey of more than four days the 152d reached Washington, Sat- urday night, Oet. 25, 1862, and remained there until the following Monday, when the mystery of its destination was cleared up, and it was marched through Georgetown and up the Potomac to Chain bridge, and across the bridge to a camping-ground near Fort Marey, on the right bank of the Potomac. Here a camp was formed, huts for winter constructed, and here the regiment remained from Oet. 27, 1862, until Feb. 12, 1863. It formed part of a provisional division commanded by Brig .- Gen, Abercrombie, and of a brigade composed of the 118th, 152d, and 169th New York Regiments, and part of the 4th New York Heavy Artillery. The brigade was commanded by Col. Clarence Buell, of the 169th. Fort Marey was in the circuit of the fortifications of Washington, and the 152d had for its main business, while at this camp, to work on the fortifications; this was a duty not calculated to gratify a desire for military glory, but it was of great importance to the success of the cause for which battles were fought. These were the works which defended Washington from Gen. Early's force in the sum- mer of 1864, and it is believed that no regiment added more to the strength of the fortifications in the same length of time than did the 152d. It was equally efficient in the business of cutting the timber which might afford cover to an approaching enemy. These labors necessarily kept the regiment from drilling to any great extent, but it had to help maintain a line of pickets which extended from the Potomae through the little village of Langley. in the direction of Falls Church. The picketing, as well as the rest of the duty at this station, was sufficiently peaceful. The only serious alarm was on the night of Sunday, Dec. 28, 1862, when the long roll was sounded at Miner's Hill, and the 152d spent the night in the trenches, waiting for an enemy who did not come. It was understood that the alarm was caused by a cavalry raid.
On Feb. 12, 1863, the 152d, except Co. C, left its camp near Fort Marcy and proceeded to Washington, and established its headquarters at Carroll Hill barracks, on New Jersey avenue, south of the Capitol. The regi- ment was distributed about the city for guard duty. Guards were required at each general hospital, the rail- road depot, the steamboat-landing, the public buildings, and other places. There were always a few men left at Carroll Hill, and the drilling of squads was carried on to
some extent.
The 152d had an easy and pleasant life at
Washington. Congress was in session until March 4, and there were a thousand other places of interest to visit. It was expected that the coming of spring would put an end to this life of ease, and accordingly on April 22, 1863, the regiment, Co. C having rejoined it, embarked on the Pa- tomae and proceeded by water to Norfolk, and thence by rail to Suffolk, Va., where it arrived on the 23d. Gen. Longstreet was at that time threatening Suffolk with a large rebel foree, and it was supposed to be necessary to reinforce the Union troops there in order to prevent the capture of the place. Maj. Gen. Peck was in cominand at Suffolk, but was subject to the orders of Maj .- Gen. Dix, whose headquarters were at Norfolk. From Norfolk to Suffolk the railroad passed through the great Disinal Swamp. cele- brated in song and story. Suffolk was rather a fine place, and the surrounding country interesting. Here the eypress and magnolia abound, and here the 152d reached the most southerly point of its travels. Upon its arrival at Suffolk, it found itself, for the first time, in the midst of preparations for battle. Picket-firing and cannonading were heard at in- tervals, On April 24, the day after its arrival at Suffolk, the 152d was under arms and marched to the field, where it heard pretty sharp firing, but did not participate; and it had a like experience on May 1, and again on May 3, which was Sunday. On the latter occasion the 152d marched through Suffolk and rested near the bank of the Nanse- mond throughout the day, watching the movements of troops in the distance. In the mean time Gen. Longstreet had gone with his corps to co-operate against Gen. Hooker, at Chancellorsville, and it seemed as if so large a force as was gathered at Suffolk ought have undertaken to do something more than hold the place, and that Longstreet ought to have been compelled to fight a battle before his departure. The 152d had a deeper feeling of dissatisfaction at the failure to strike a blow at Suffolk, upon hearing of the great loss sustained by the 121st at Salem Church, on May 3, for many had brothers in that regiment, and nearly all had friends.
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