History of Otsego County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 21

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) cn
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Fariss
Number of Pages: 988

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 21

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At night of June 20, 1864, the 152d left its position behind the breastworks near Prince George Court-House road, marched a few miles, and bivouacked. On the 21st it ruade a long march towards the left, suffering greatly from heat and thirst, and the dust, which filled the air so that one could searcely see a man the distance of the length of the regimeut from him. The piekets were firing throughout the night. At 3 A.M. of the 22d the 152d was put in motion and marched to a position in the edge of a field not far from the Jerusalem plank-road, and threw up breastworks of logs and earth. There was constant firing by pickets, sharp- shooters, and artillery. The enemy's batteries commanded the works constructed by the 152d. The men had to lie close except when firing, which they did, constantly, while every few minutes the movement of the logs in the breast- work showed how a shell had been stopped. At length the enemy appeared in the open field with colors flying. but moving towards a point to the left of the 152d. Soon the movement of stragglers showed that there was a panie on the left, and then came the cry that the left had given way, and that the 152d was flanked, followed by orders for the men to save themselves. There was some good running through the woods to the Jerusalem plank-road, but the regiment lost four officers and forty-two enlisted men taken prisoners. Company C, which was on the extreme left, was the greatest loser. It was somewhat singular that the officers taken did not belong to the companies which lost the most enlisted men. On no other occasion did the 152d suffer any great loss in prisoners. This disaster is said to have been caused by a failure of the 2d and Gth Corps to connect, whereby the enemy found and entered a gap. It was thought by many that if the division commanders had had knowledge which they ought to have had of the situation, the disaster might easily have been turned into vietory.

After its retreat through the woods the 152d lay for a while in an open field commanded by the enemy's batteries. But shells are apt to fall short or go too far. They make unpleasant noises, but are far less dangerous than bullets. In the night of the 22d the 152d moved into the woods through which it had retreated, but was in the third line of battle, and protected by the convexity of the ground from the enemy's fire, which was kept up through most of the night, and on the morning of the 23d it reocenpied the works from which it was driven the day before.

On June 26, 1864, the strength of the 152d in the field was 145 enlisted men and 11 officers, not counting men who were on detached service. The same day there was a reorganization of brigades. The 1524 was placed in the

HISTORY OF OTSEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.

1st Brigade, where it remained until the 2d Army Corps was disbanded. Abont this time the the water problemi was solved, and innumerable wells were dug, water being found at the depth of a few feet. The 152d was onee more on the Blackwater, which takes its rise in a swamp near Peters- burg, and runs southerly to the Chowan, a North Carolina river. The country was very level, and a railroad track was laid on the surface of the ground, without grading, for the use of the army investing Petersburg. The 152d changed position often, but without moving to any cou- siderable distance. The works of the Union army were nearly in the form of a fish-hook. The right rested on the Appomattox, and the left was bent around so that the ex- treme left faced to the rear, that the left flank might not be exposed. About July 12, 1864, the Union line was short- ened in consequence of the reduction of force caused by the departure of the 6th Corps to co-operate against Early, who was then threatening Washington. On that day the 152d was engaged in demolishing the abandoned works. On the 16th it was engaged in felling tiuiber which might furnish cover to an enemy approaching the Union line. Then for a few days it manned the works facing to the rear. On July 26, 1864, it went on an expedition across the Appomattox and the James to Deep Bottom, where it arrived the morn- ing of the 27th. There was a skirmish that day at Straw- berry Plains, in which the 152d took part. Some earth works and artillery were captured. The enemy had an intrenched position in sight, upon which the gun-boats lying in the James were firing. A cloud of dust would show where a shell had struck. No attack by infantry was made. On the 29th the 152d started ou its returni, and on the morning of the 30th was before Petersburg, and in hearing of the explosion of Burnside's mine.

On the night of Aug. 12, the 152d, with the rest of the 2d Corps, marched to City Point, and in the afternoon of the 13th embarked on transports which dropped down the river and anchored just above Harrison's Landing. In the night the transports moved up the James, and on the morning of the 14th the 152d landed on the left bank of the river at Deep Bottom, just below the ponton-bridge at Jones' Neek, where it had erossed in July. In the afternoon it attempted to charge through a ravine, under the direction of Col. Maey, of the 20th Massachusetts, eounmanding the brigade, and got into a position where it was impossible to advance, and difficult to retire. The 152d Regiment lost both in killed and prisoners.

The 152d remained near Deep Bottom until August 20, when it started back across the James, and moved towards the left of the Union position before Petersburg, reaching the Williams House on the 22d. On the 23d, at night, the 1st and 2d Divisions of the 2d Corps moved out to Reams' Station, on the Weldon railroad. On the 25th the two divisions were attacked by a superior foree of the enemy and nearly surrounded. Reinforcements did not arrive in time to be of service. The enemy's charge was repulsed four times, but on the fifth, the 7th New York Volunteers, a new German regiment, broke, and the position had to be abandoned. A rainy night followed, which aided the retreat of the Union troops. The loss of the 152d was cousiderable. Just after this disaster the regimeut was very

much depressed in spirits. Through no fault of its own it had been forced to retreat in its three last engagements,- on June 22, Aug. 14, and Aug. 25.

After its return from Reams' Station the 152d moved frequently from one post to another of the fortified position. On Sept. 7 it had the same position near the Norfolk and Petersburg railroad, in the works facing to the rear, that it had on July 23, and here on Sept. 21, the regi- meut was paid by Maj. Hewey ; that morning an artil- lery salute was given in honor of Sheridan's victory at Winchester. A little later it was moved into the front line of works, and occupied Fort Haskell, near the Norfolk and Petersburg railroad. This was a very dangerous neighborhood. Shelling was carried on from both sides, daily and nightly. The enemy's sharpshooters were on the lookout for every one that exposed himself. Roads were sunk deep into the ground to cover the supply teams. Men dwelt in the bowels of the earth. There was one pro- longed battle, the firing being renewed whenever an enemy could be sighted. Perhaps to-day a man would be killed by a shell, and to-morrow the enemy's sharpshooters would do the deadly work. These losses had a more depressing effeet upon the survivors than the greater losses which were sustained in the heat of battle.

During the month of October, 1864, the soldiers in the field executed the necessary papers and sent home their votes to be deposited in the ballot box at the presidential election which was to take place in November.

On Oet. 26, the 2d and 3d Divisions of the 2d Corps, and a small cavalry foree, moved towards the left, and on the morning of the 27th erossed Hateher's run. About daybreak a brisk skirmish took place ; later in day the enemy attacked with a superior force, but was repulsed. There was a failure to keep up connection with the 5th Corps, and thus the detachmeut was cut off from the main army and nearly surrounded; shells were thrown in, seemingly, from every direction, but every attack was met, and no panie was ere- ated. The 2d Division was commanded by Gen. Thomas W. Egan, who for some time had been in command of the Ist Brigade. The battle was fought on the Boydton road, and near the house of William Burgess, a former resident of Richfield. The 152d in this engagement lost 3 men killed and 4 wounded, but the effect of the battle was to raise the spirits of those who were engaged. They had in- flieted on the enemy far greater loss than they had sustained, and to have got out of such a trap without serious disaster was greater glory than to have gained a victory under ordinary eireumstances. The 152d, with the rest of the detachment, withdrew in the night of the 27th, and marched to the neighborhood of the place from which it had set out on the 26th.

Early in November the 152d was moved to Fort Sted- man, which is within a few rods of the position it oecu- pied in the previous June. The lines of the two armies were very near together at this point, and picket duty was therefore very dangerous. Half the regiment had to be on picket every night. Attacks were frequent. Mon were kille 1 on picket, and even within the fort. This proved a more .His- agreeable situation than that place farther to the west which was commonly called " Fort Hell." The desire of the 1524.

HISTORY OF OTSEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.

to remove to a place a little farther off from the enemy's works was at length gratified, and the last day of Novem- ber it moved towards the left, and arrived the next day near Patrick's station, in Dinwiddie county, the then terminus of the army railroad, at the extreme left of the army. The regiment moved about in the neighborhood, being part of the time on picket, until Dec. 15, when it went into winter- quarters on the Vaughn road, and remained until Feb. 5, 1865, when the 2d Corps moved out along the Vaughn road as far as Hatcher's run, a distance of perhaps three miles, and went into position, threw up breastworks, and awaited the attack of the enemy. The enemy made several des- perate charges during the day, and was repulsed each time with great loss .* The new position was held by the 2d Corps until the final move in the spring. The 152d was on the farm of Ashibel Armstrong, a former resident of Laurens. It seems to have remained undecided for some time whether to make a farther advance at once or to wait for better weather. The 152d, therefore, bivouacked for more than a week in February before it received orders to construet new winter-quarters. The new camp was in the rear of the Armstrong place, among the pines. Between the new camp and the enemy was a line of breastworks. It became necessary to eut all the trees in camp, to prevent their being blown down. One tree fell upon a whole row of tents of the 152d before the danger was appreciated. At this time desertions from the enemy were frequent. The piekets of the 152d liad the pleasure of receiving a large number of deserters, who brought their arms with them. They were looked for every night. Well-recognized signals announced their approach. This added great interest to the business of picketing. It was better than hunting or fishing. On March 23 there was a review of the 2d Corps, and the wind blew so as to fill the air with sand as it is filled with snow in a New York snow-storm. On March 25 Fort Stedman, " the late residence" of the 152d, but then oeeu- pied by a part of the 9th Corps, was surprised and taken by the enemy, but was retaken soon after. That day there was skirmishing all along the line. In the afternoon the 152d left camp and took position in the breastworks. Just after dark it advanced to the front, but there being nothing to do there, it returned to the breastworks and stayed through the night, returning to camp in the morning.

The time had now come for the final move of the Army of the Potomae. Sheridan with his cavalry had rejoined it. The siege of Petersburg had lasted from June 16, 1864, to March 29, 1865, a period of nine months and thirteen days.

The 152d was now organized. for field operations, into four companies, designated by numbers. On the books the old organization-into ten companies-remained. On the morn- ing of March 29, 1865, it broke camp and moved, by the left flank, across Hatcher's run, its old place being filled by part of the 24th Corps. Soon the 4th company was ordered to the skirmish line, and advanced through the woods. There was considerable firing along the line, but none against the 152d. The brigade lost a few men. The

notable event of the day was the capture of Fort Sawdust. Seen indistinctly in the distance and through the woods was what was taken for a strong fortification mounting a very big gun. When reached, it proved to be the remains of a steam saw-mill, and the big gun was an old boiler. The 4th company remained on the skirmish line through the night, receiving frequent orders to close up to the left. The first line of the enemy's works was passed, and the next morning it was found that the second line of works was abandoned. On the 30th the 152d lay in a ravine all day. On the 31st, before daybreak, it moved again to the left, and was sent out as skirmishers, and the 2d company went on to the skirmish line and kept up a firing through the day, the rest of the regiment remaining in reserve. The skir- mishers could not advance, owing to the slashing. Heavy cannonading was heard on the left. At night the 152d was brought baek behind the works, and remained there until the next afternoon, when it again moved towards the left and began throwing up new works. The ground was wet, and the work hard. Heavy firing at the left showed that a battle was raging. That was at Five Forks. In front of the 152d could be seen a strong fort of the enemy, and the whole distance to it was covered with slashing. The dense pine forest had been felled in such a way as to afford the greatest hindrance to an advancing foree. The regiment expected to have to charge through the slashing. It had not heard of Sheridan's victory at Five Forks. The pros- pect was gloomy. The men were kept at work on the breastworks until midnight of April 1, when they were permitted to lie down. That was the noisiest night of the war. Musketry was heard on the left during the fore part of the night, and all night long on the line from the Appomattox to Five Forks, a distance of fifteen miles, the batteries were at work. The air was full of projectiles. Such fire-works are not likely to be seen more than onee in a lifetime. It was understood that the infantry all along that line was to charge at three the next morning. At half-past two the roar of musketry began all along the line, except in the neighborhood of the 152d. The men were every moment expecting to be ordered forward. Regiment after regiment of the brigade was sent for and moved off to the right, but the 152d was left to hold the position before the fort.

Soon after daylight on April 2 reports of the taking of the enemy's works at other parts of the line began to arrive, and then prisoners began to appear, and finally the capture of the fort in front was announced, and the 152d advanced through the slashing. The fort had been flanked and thus compelled to surrender. It was the good fortune of the 152d to be placed at the most difficult point to advance .- so difficult that an attack in front would have cansed a needless loss of life. The fort, after its capture, was called Fort Porter. Soon after passing the fort the 152d erossed the battle field of the 27th of October. 1864, and then pro- ceeded towards Petersburg along the Boydton road. On the 3d the pursuit of Lee's army commenced. On the night of the 4th the 152d went on picket after marching all day. In the afternoon of the 5th it came up with: Sheridan and the 5th Corps, and witnessed a procesion of trophies. It was headed by captured flags and officers,

* This movement was made under the direction of Maj .- Gen. An- drew A. Humphreys, who had lately succeeded Gen. Hancock in com- mand of the 2d Corps.

HISTORY OF OTSEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.

then followed all sorts of men, beasts, and vehicles. Sheri- dan had captured them near JJetersville. On the 6th the pursuit was close, and the roads were strewn with property the enemy had to leave behind. The 152d had a hard march across lots, over ditches, and up steep knolls. About 10 A.M., on the 7th, it reached High Bridge, in Prince Ed- ward county, on the Appomattox. The railroad bridge was built on twenty-three columns, one hundred and twenty feet in height. The bridge had been fired by the enemy. While it was burning the 152d crossed the river by a wagon bridge, and moved on towards Farmville, the enemy being in sight, but retreating before the skirmishers. When just past Farmville the regiment deployed as skirmishers, and advanced a short distance, when it was withdrawn. If it had continued to advance it would have been on the ground where quite a hard battle was fought by a part of the 1st Division of the 2d Corps. This was about the last fighting by the Army of the Potomac. On the 9th of April Gen. Lee surrendered ; the work which the 152d took the field to help do was finished. The next move was towards home. On the 13th, at night, the regiment arrived at Burkesville, where it remained until May 2. On May 6 it passed through Richmond; on the 7th it crossed the Pamunky, and on the 9th the Ta, Po, and Ny. On the 10th it marched in review through Fredericksburg in col- umnn by companies, and crossed the Rappahannock. On the 13th it crossed the Occoquan at Wolfe Run Shoals, and on the 15th it went into camp at Bailey's Cross-Roads, opposite Washington, having marched on an average fifteen miles a day. On May 23, 1865, the 152d took part in the grand review of the Army of the Potomac in the city of Washington. It was now organized into six companies for movements, and marched through Washington in col- umn with three divisions of two companies each. Many who had formerly been in the regiment kept pace with it ou the sidewalks, performing the office of flankers. On May 30, the 2d Corps had its last review at Bailey's Cross- Roads. The governor of New York was present. It was thought by friends of the 152d who were present that its movements were not excelled by those of any regiment in the corps. On July 13, 1865, the muster-out rolls and discharges were signed, and on the morning of the 14th the regiment started for Albany, where it was paid off on the 20th and 21st, when the discharge papers were delivered with the payment, and the men scattered to their homes. The Albany aud Susquehanna railroad having been com- pleted to Worcester, many returned to the county by a route that did not exist when they went away.

The 152d had been very fortunate in the laiter part of its career. After it left Fort Stedman, the last of November, 1864, it did not lose a man in battle, although it was at the front and took part in every movement against the enemy. It did the country some service, and on no occa- sion did it fail in its duty. The credit for what it did be- longs to a great many men. The regiment was what it was, not on account of the character and ability of anybody in particular, but on account of the average merit of the mien who composed it.

In the following list of the members of the 152d Regi- ment of New York Volunteers (infantry) the names, ex-

cept of recruits, have been taken from a printed copy of the master-in rolls, which are dated Oct. 15, 1862, and cach name begins with the rank stated in the muster-in rolls. Where the rank is not stated, private is meant. Where the date of enlistment is not stated, the person was a member of the regiment on Oct. 15, 1862. In the case of those who joined after that, the date of enlistment is . given. V. R. C. means the Veteran Reserve Corps. Most of the facts given in the following list have been taken from the copies of the muster-out rolls, which are in the adjutant-general's office at Albany. . It was not permitted to copy dates of receiving injuries or dates of discharge from the rolls, except in case of those discharged with the regiment. In cases where the dates are given, they were not obtained from the adjutant-general's office. In those cases where nothing is stated, the muster-out rolls contain nothing which it was desirable to state. Natues of wein- bers of the regiment who did not belong to Otsego County are not given.

FIELD AND STAFF.

Alonzo Ferguson, Oneonta, lieut .- col .; pro. to col. Jan. 20, 1863; dis. Nov. 27, 1863.

Cleaveland J. Campbell, Cherry Valley, adj. ; ilis. April 22, 1864, to accept of pro. to capt. in 121st Regt.

George W. Ernst, Jr., Otsego, q .- m .; must. ont June 14, 1865.

Harmon MI. Blood, assist, surg. ; res. Jan. 15, 1863.

COMPANY B.

II. Dwight Smith, Richfield, 2d lient .; pro. to Ist lient. in Co. H, Nov. 13, 1863: com., but not mus. as capt. ; dis. Ang. 21, 1864.

William W. Matteson, Richfield, corp .; pro. to com. sergt. Feb. 10, 1863; dis. for disability.

Luzerne Wheeler, Richfield, corp .; dis. for disability.

Benjamin F. Abbott, Richfield; wounded in action in the Wilderness; trans. to V. R. C.

Allen S. Buchanan, Richfield; dis, for disability.

Charles Breslin, Exeter; dis, with regt.

George II. Green, Richfield; wounded in action at the North Auna, May 24, 1864; dis. in 1865.

Sanford F. Huntley, Richfield ; dis, with regt.

Lester C. Huntley, Richfield; killed in action at Reams' Station, Aug. 25, 3-44.

Robert Shutz, Richfiehl; wounded at Cold Harbor; dis, with regt.

Peter W. Smith, R.chfield ; dis. for di-ability.

Hiram W. Sonle. Richfield; dis with regt.

Alfred Welch, Richfield; died of wounds recrived at Spottsylvania Court- House, May, 1864.

COMPANY C.

Francis E. Leonard, Morris, Ist lient .; res. Jan. 25, 1863.

Lansing Swift, Morris, 2d lieut .; pro. to Ist lient. Feb. 28, 1$63; dis. J.o. 16, 1864.

Croel G. Shaw, Morris, Ist sergt .; pro. to 2d lient. Feb. 28, 18633; dis. April :h). 1864.

George T. Kidder, Morris, sergt. ; com. but not mus. 2d lieut .; killed in action at Wilderness, May 6, 1864.

George W. Hall, Morris, serut .; trans. to V. R. C.

Charles C. Hitchcock, Morris, corp. ; trans, to V. R. C.

Joseph 11. Couk, Morris, corp. ; wounded at Spottsylvania Court-House ; dis- charged.

George W. Manchester, Hartwick, corp .; wounded before Peter burg, June 22, 1864; pro. to sergt. May 5, 1864, to Ist sorgt. Nov. 1, 1.64; dis. with regt.

Delos Flagg, Morris, musician ; dis, with regt.

Amos Atwell, Morris ; taken prisoner June 22, 1861, and taken to And-rn- ville ; released on parole April 28, 1865; discharged May Is.

Charles HI. B.shop, Morris; missing in action before Petersburg.

Sammel Il. Bonnell, Morris ; trans, to V. R. C.

Andrew E. Brown, Morris; takru prisoner before Prtersburg, Va., June 21, 1-64.

Abel Card, Morris ; prom. to corpo. Jan. 15, 163; to secret. Jan. 1. IsGt ; tak n prisoner before Petersburg. June 22, 1864; died at Andersonville.

Deferite Collar, Morris.

John N. Daniels, Morris; taken prisoner Inne 22, 1864 ; released on para April 28, 1865; di-charged May 22, 1965.

A. Leroy Hall, Morris; discharged.

William Hargrave. Morris; trans. to V. R. C.

John Kirkland, Morris; trans. to V. R. C.

Chauncey Kelsey, Morris; killed in action al Boydton plank-road, Oct. 27. 1. David H. Lewis, Morris ; died of wounds received in art.on.

Lewis Lindsley, Morris; wounded at North Anna, May, 1994; de hergel. .

HISTORY OF OTSEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Nathan Lull, Morris: discharged.

James A. Miller, Morris ; taken prisoner June 22, 1864; died at Andersonville. Iliram Monroe, Morris; discharged.

Daniel Miller, Morris; Bied of wounds received in action.

Samuel G. Parcelle, Morris ; died of disease.

Robert D. Pluce, Morris; discharged.

Thomas Quimby, Morris; trans. to V. R. C.

Jolin Radley, Morris ; missing in action at Deep Bottom.

James Robinson, Morris ; wounded at Spotsylvania ; dis. with regiment.

Francia A. Ripley, Laurens; pro. to corp. April 19, 1863; to sergt. Jau. 1, 1864; taken prisoner June 22, 1864; died at Andersonville.

Archelags Stowell, Morris.

Edwin L. Scudder, Morris ; prom. to corp. Nov. 1, 1864; discharged.

Francis E. Shute, Morris ; discharged.

James Southern, Morris; trans, to V. R. C.

Stanley G. Sergeant, Morris; prom. to corp. Sept. 22, 1863 ; missing in action at Decp Bottom, Ang. 14, ING1; probably killed.

Ethan D. Stevens, Morris ; missing in action before Petersburg, Va. Murray Tallinn, Morris; discharged.

Christopher Tohey, Morris.

George T. Wilson, Morris ; dis, with regiment.

Edmund Hargrave, Morris ; taken prisoner Juue 22, 1864; released on parole April 28, 1865; dis. May, 1865.

RECRUITS.

Edward Stevenson, Morris; enl. Jan. 1, 1864 ; discharged.

George Edwards, Morris; enl. Jau. 21, 1864; prom. to corp. June 21, 1865; dis. with regiment.

James F. Kelsey, Morris ; enl. Jan. 13, 1864; sick in hosp. when regt. was dis. Alvin Kinney, Milford ; enl. Jan. 19, 1864; died of disease.

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History of Otsego County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 21

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) cn Publication date: 1878 Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Fariss Number of Pages: 988

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) cn
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Fariss
Number of Pages: 988