USA > New York > Seneca County > History of Seneca Co., New York, with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, palatial residences, public building and important manufactories > Part 23
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
On the morning of December 10 came the order to move near our position in the early morning, and during the night push along the river bank, reach the point, and construct the bridge as rapidly as possible. Moving ailently along the river bank, the Engineers were in position at one o'clock of the 11th of December, while a dense fog prevailing, lent its protection to shroud their movements. Rapidly making a detail of bridge builders, the work was begun. The river at this point is between four and five hundred feet wide, requiring twenty-three boats to span the atream. To the left, a German regiment took their place, an infantry support, and on the right was the gallant Eighty-ninth New York, wherein were a few men from Seneca County. Pushing the work with great energy, the bridge was com- pleted to within eighty or ninety feet of the opposite shore, when a force of the enemy, poated behind a stone wall in front and about two hundred yarda distant, opened a deadly fire on the men clustered upon the bridge, killing and wounding several and- driving the rest ashore. .. The New York Eighty-ninth poured their volleya against the wall, while a battery from the bluff in vain attempted to dis -. lodge the rebels from their defense. 'Aa the work on the bridge ceased, the encmy'a fire was auspended. Calling the men to "fall in,". McDonald determined to attempt the completion of the bridge at all hazards. The places of the killed. and wounded were filled by fresh details, who stepped forward on the forlorn hope with cheerfulness. To act with vigor at the supreme moment, McDonald alone walked to the end of the bridge, made an examination, and returned unmolested. Again the detail reached the terminua and resumed work. A few moments went by and a still more murderous discharge ensued, killing and wounding several; one ball pierced the leg of Sergeant Sterling Wicks, and another the arm of Captain McDonald, breaking the elbow-joint. These two attempts to lay the bridge with a force of sixty . men resulted in a loss of two killed and seventeen wounded. McDonald, while having his wound dressed, decided to renew the effort, but, fuinting from loss of blood, was obliged to turn over the command to Lieutenant
PLATE XVIII
xxxxxxxx
RES. or D. E. PARTRIDGE CAYUGA ST. SENECA FALLS N. Y.
Holmes Shoemaker & Co's Flouring Mills . Seneca-Falls, N.Y.
.....
65
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
McGrath, while Lieutenant Wm. V 'an Rensselaer succeeded to command of K. McGrath made a desperate effort to finish the bridge, but, met by the same wicked sleet of bullets, a third time gave way. Infantry were uow taken over by the Engineers in boats, the euemy captured, and the bridge finished. After crossing the army and back again to the Falmouth side, the company took up their bridge and went into camp.
On January 20, 1862, Lieutenant Van Rensselaer was directed to move to Banks's Ford, above the city, and throw a bridge at that point. While on the way a storm of snow, sleet, aud rain came on ; the teams floundered in the mire, the meu were drenched to the skin, and, in wretched plight, the " mud-march" ended. Three months in quarters, and on April 29 K was engaged iu constructing bridges three miles below Fredericksburg. The work was done with but one man wounded. Sedgwick's Corps was crossed, the bridge dismantled and re-laid opposite the city. The Engineers moved, on June 5, down to Franklin's Crossing. and assisted in laying a bridge under a severe fire from the enemy's rifle-pits, and resulting in the woundiug of several meu. Immediately after the battle of Chancellorsville, the company moved with their boats to Washington by way of Alexandria. On June 25, marched to Poolesville, Maryland, and pushed on rap- idly to Frederick City, Liberty, and reached Beaver Dam Creek on the 30th. Anticipating a movement against Harrisburg, two bridge trains were made up here, one in command of Wm. W. Folwell, of " I,".the other of Captain MeDen- ald, of K, to facilitate the pursuit of the enemy in that direction. Starting on this expedition July 1, news came of the rebel retreat, and the trains were di- reeted to move on to Washington. On July 6, the Engineers took their trains to Harper's Ferry and ferried over infantry to drive out the rebels holding the place. This done, bridges were laid across the Potomac and Shenandoah to connect Loudon, Bolivar, and Maryland Heights. Moving down to Berlin, bridges were laid at a former site, where Mcclellan had crossed, and here Meade's victorious army marched onee more into Virginia on the 18th and 20th of July. Until the 26th, the men guarded the bridge from the Virginia side; then, dismantling, moved to Washington via canal, and ordered thence to Rappahannock Station to take charge of all the bridges on the river. During August, the Rappahannock was spanned at Beverly's Ford, Kelly's Ford, and the station. The bridge at Kelly's Ford was taken up about the middle of September, transported to Cul- pepper Court-House, and laid at Mountain Run. On the 20th and 21st, the boats were removed, and a permanent bridge, two hundred feet in length, con- structed. The company then moved on to Sperryville Pike and reported to Gen- eral French, commanding the Third Corps.
Early in October, General Lee began to menace our linca along the Rapidan, and General Meade directed Captain McDonald to take the advance of the Third Corps and eross them at Hazel River. The order was carried out on the 11th, the bridge taken up and re-laid aerosa Freeman's Ford, on the Upper Rappahan- nock, on the same night. Exhausted by marching and bridging, the men threw themselves upon the ground and sought sleep; they were quickly aroused by the report of the officer on guard that the enemy were about to shell the posi- tion. With all haste, the rear of the long bridge train was scarcely in motion before the rebels opened. Aroused to action, the train was brought safely off, and moved rapidly to and through Rappahannock Station to Kelly's Ford, expecting to eross the Second Corps, General Warren commanding at this point. The corps had erossed a bridge above, and the whole army was on the retreat. Anxious to save the bridges, the Engineers, sleepless, and eating as they marched, passed rapidly on to Centreville amidst a drenching rain, while Meade, facing about, ordered bridges to be laid aeross Bull Run, usually insignificant, now a formidable stream. Crossing troops and trains, the boats were taken np and the train moved to Rappahannock Station. While repairing boats, the order came to relieve the regular engineers at Kelly'a Ford and take charge of the bridge there. November 19, removing the bridge, the men marched to Brandy Station, "and2, halting near the Rapidan, Captain McDonald was sent with escort from Buford's Cavalry to reconnoitre the fords held by rebel piekets, and seleet a posi- tion for a crossing the next day. This done, the bridges were laid next morning at Culpepper Ford, and a crossing rapidly effected. Meade having failed to carry the enemy's works at Mine Run, the army recrossed, and the bridges were dis- mantled. Here was met Captain Loring, of Waterloo, George Shermon, once of the Reveille, and Ed. Crane, of Seneca Falls. Moving back with the army to the south side of the Rappahannock, bridges were thrown across at the station, and the Engineers assisted in making a fortified camp for winter quarters. The company had charge of bridges at various points during the winter, and April 12, 1864, was designated as part of the Third Battalion Fiftieth Engineers, under Major Ford, and assigned to Warren's Fifth Corps. On May 1, Captain McDonald took command of the Engineers at the station, and, after the,rear of the army had crossed, took up the bridge and awaited orders. May 3, orders eame to remove the bridge rapidly to Germania Ford, on the Rapidan, and eross the
corps. At daylight, the Third Battalion, three hundred and fifty strong, were advancing their long train with all haste, Van Rensselaer miles ahead, with topo- graphical map, designating the proper route. Arriving at night, a rest was taken till daybreak, when a bridge two hundred feet in length was constructed in fifty minutes. This prompt aud rapid work brought warm commendation from General Warren.
During May 4 and 5, three corps, the Fifth, Sixth, and Nintli, crossed this bridge, and, on the evening of the later day, Meade ordered the bridge left with a small guard, and the battalion to headquarters in the Wilderness, to fight in the morning. With forty rounds and three days' rations, the men responded, .and reported to General Meade, at one o'clock Bivouacking near by, they moved in the morning into the second line of battle, as part of First Division, Fifth Corps, General Griffin. During the day the Eogineers strengthened the thin line with abattis aud other devices. Near sundown, the rebels making a demoustra- tion on the right, the Engineers were double-quicked to that part of the line, and remained till one o'clock of the 7th, when one company was left, two taken back to the bridge, which was removed to Ely's Ford, and there re-laid. The labor was futile, as rebel cavalry were in our rear, holding the route intended for our ambulance train. Re-crossing the wounded, the bridge was removed, and marching, via Chancellorsville, to the "Ny" River, rested twenty-four hours. Leaving the pontous near Salem Church, the men marched to the lines near Spottsylvania Court-House, npening communication with the Fifth Corps, then returning, removed bridges to Fredericksburg, spanned the stream, crossed rein- forcements ; then removing the bridge, May 21, and proceeding to the North Anna, two bridges were laid for General Hancock, and his corps crossed on the 27th. Pushing on to the Pamunkey River, a bridge was laid at Hanovertown, troops crossed, and over a thousand contrabands, moving freewards. Dismantling the bridges, June 2, the movement was made to Coal Harbor, where was met Col- onel Baker, of General Martindale's staff, now editor of the Seneca Falls Courier, Horace Rumsey, of the One Hundred and Forty-eighth, and other Seneca soldiers. Ouce more on that familiar stream, the Chickahominy, at the ruins of Long Bridge, in the afternoon of June 12, the position was reconnoitred and a small rebel force found on the opposite bank, At dark, the Engineers, launching boats, took across the charging party, losing one man killed ; then moving over the fa- miliar road ou to Cole's Ferry, on the Lower Chickahominy, assisted in laying a bridge of sixty boats, making a structure twelve hundred feet in length. Forming the boats into rafts, they were towed down this stream, passing the point crossed by Mcclellan on his retreat, in 1862, and then moved up the James to Fort Pawhattan and City Point. A sheltered eamp was formed July 1, within which the bridges were left, under a guard, and the company, moving to the "front," prepared material for investment. At the battle of Ream's Station, the company was ordered into rifle-pits on the left of the field, and formed part of the line under General Mott.
On August 29, Captain McDonald was ordered to constrnet Fort Du Shane, on the Weldon Railroad. With sixty men of the company, to build magazines, traverses, and bomb-proofs, the work was rapidly advanced by heavy details of infantry. This fort was one of the largest built during the siege of Petersburg, the faces being one hundred and twenty-five yards in length, with a relief of fifteen feet. With an average daily detail of one thousand men, its construction cecu- pied three weeks. The interior arrangements consisted of a bomb-proof of suffi- cient capacity to shelter five hundred men. The traverses and magazines were rendered bomb-proof by use of rails from the Weldon road. Outside were two heavy lines of abattis, with elaborate wire entanglements. Within short cannon range a similar fort, known as Fort Wadsworth, was built by. Captain W. W. Folwell, of Company I. The Engineers were kept busy during the siege by labor on covered ways, bomb-proofs, and other defenses. It having been dis- covered that the enemy were mining to blow up Fort Hell, Company K was ordered to countermine, and cut off their mine. October 1, the lines having extended farther to the left, a chain of forts within short artillery range became necessary. A part of "K," under Lieutenant Van Rensselaer, constructed Fort Urmston on this line, while Captain MeDonald built a redoubt near Poplar Grove Church, with the rest. About December 1, Warren made an extensive raid on the Weldon road, and, on his return, was intercepted by a stronger force. The Engineera, with their bridges, were ordered out on the night of December 10, in a storm of mingled rsin and snow, to march to the Nottoway River, distant twenty-two miles, and cross the corps. The men arrived at their destination, laid their bridges, and, without delay, the corpa passed over, nod the company, returning to camp, began to build stockndes to cover the gorges in the forts aloog the front, and so enable a small force to hold 'them, while Meade continued to extend his left. During March, 1865, Lieutenant Van Rensselaer, commandiog company, built Fort Fisher, mounting eighteen guna, and won for the men great eredit. In the Fort Steadman affair, K held the breastworks along their portion
66
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
of the line while the fort was being recaptured. On March 29, the whole army advancing for the final struggle, the company moved out carly in the morning. under Captain Burden, and advanced to Hatcher's Run. Heavy night rains raised the streams, rendered the roads useless, and prevented the supply-trains from reaching General Sheridan, then some distance in advance. The company worked with energy, in water often waist-deep, cheering as each difficulty was surmounted. Tbe ammunition train lay fast in the mire on the Vanghn road. while it was urgent that it be got to Dinwiddie Court-House, near Five Forks. Repairing the roads in advance of this train, the men lifted the wagons from the mire, and pushed them forward. Covering several small streams on their way, the company arrived at Gravelly Run on April 2; then, moving the bridges to a point near Petersburg, McDonald, who had been promoted major, reported to General Wright, of the Sixth Corps, that the bridge train was at his disposal. After the capture of Petersburg, the necessity for pontons ceased, and the com- pany moved on with the army to Burkesville, and on April 2 pushed ou to Farmersville, ou the Appomattox. Here was constructed the last pouton bridge ever used against the enemy by the Army of the Potomac,
While halting for the night, orders came to return to Burkesville, the Army of Northern Virginia having surrendered. Crossing the victorious and returning army at Farmersville, the company took up the bridge and, April 12, marched to Burkesville. Reconstruction now began, and within a few days K was bnsied assisting the "construction corps" to rebuild the long railroad bridge on the Staunton River. Moving a few miles up the river, the men assisted in crossing General Custer's division of cavalry on their return march, meeting Major Comp- son, M. Sisson, and other Seneca soldiers. Halting, after a march of twenty-two miles over recent battle-fields, whose relies gave fearful evidence of strife, and pre- paring suppers, a dispatch was received by Colonel Spaulding from General Meade, saying that the Army of the Potomac would pass through Richmond next day on review, and if the Engineers could reach the city the next morning, they would be placed at the head of the column. The proposition was heard with cheers, and with shouts of " On to Richmond!" and to the tune of "John Brown," the men set out for- Richmond, eighteen miles away, and completed their march of forty-two miles without rest. As the Fiftieth passed the old One Hundred and Forty-eighth in line, cheer after cheer went up from the ranks of cach. Pursu- ing their way with their long bridge-trains, they reached Fredericksburg and laid bridges at the old points. Here was crossed General Sherman's army on their way to Washington. The bridges were then removed, and, marching to Fort Berry, near Long Bridge, they went into camp, June 1. At the grand review: the Fiftieth had the right of the column in that imposing pageant. Their labors ended, nothing remained but a return to duties and relatives, and accordingly we take our leave of them as, at Elmira, they are mustered out.
We are under obligations to Colonel McDonald for history of the Fiftieth Engineers.
CHAPTER XXX.
THE SEVENTY-FIFTH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
The Seventy-Fifth Volunteers was recruited in Seneca and Cayuga Counties, early in September, 1861. Volunteering proceeded rapidly. Henry B. Fitel led Company F, from Seneca County. Companies K and I were partly composed of men from Seneca Falls and Waterloo. The regiment went into " Camp Cayuga," in the suburbs of Auburn, October 14, eight hundred strong, and drilling began under command. of Colonel John A. Dodge. Six weeks at this camp were occupied in learning the duties of the soldier. Being mustered into the United States service, receiving a handsome stand of colors, November 30, the Seventy- fifth left for Albany, where, embarking on the " Knickerbocker," they were landed at noon, December 1, at the Battery, New York City, and indulged in a march up Broadway .:. From Governor's Island the regiment were embarked upon the steamer Baltic, on December 5, and on the next day set sail. Opening his orders, Colonel Dodge found his destination to be Fort Pickens, Florida. The sea-voy- age, with its seanty fare and close quarters, was a disappointment to the men, who had hoped to join the army of Mcclellan ; but the journey ended, they resolved to do. their duty, wherever and however placed. . Reaching Santa Rosa on the 13th of December, debarkation by boats began on the next day and continued during that and the one following. A camp was laid out and named "Seward." The surroundings, , including Fort, Pickens and . Wilson's Zouaves, were made familiar, and curiously the defenses of the rebels .on the opposite shore were
scanned, with their beautiful background of green foliage, although mid-winter. About two P.M. of January 17, 1862, a steam-tug ran out of the Pensacola har- bor and struck boldly into the bay, while the Confederate flag was waved in defiance by a rebel on her deck. A furious artillery duel resulted. between the batteries on both sides, resulting in much sound aud little execution, while its occasion, the tug, escaped unharmed. A solid shot was plunged into the sand near the Seventy-fifth's headquarters, and' at once the regiment was formed and moved out of range. Early next morning they returned to their quarters? Night alarms, drills, and picket duty employed the time for months. . On March. 4, 1862, the paymaster made his appearance, and by Charles P. Fitch, on a visit to his brothers, much of their wages was sent home. Days and wecks passed; men filled the hospitals ; some died, and all longed for active service. At night, May 9, flames broke out along the rebel line, and forts, batteries, navy yard and edifice, barracks, hospital, and cottages were involved in a general conflagration, extending continuously for miles. By morning of next day Porter's flag-ship, the Harriet Lane, was seen coming up the channel, and bore the tidings that New Orleans had fallen, and so explained the ruin of Pensacola and its evacu- ation by Bragg. The Seventy-fifth struck tents, were transported to the main- land, and bivouacked in woods near Barrancas barracks. A day or two later and Company I was ordered to Fort Pickens on garrison duty, and a force, largely composed of the Seventy-fifth, advanced and occupied Pensacola, many of whose citizens had fled with the rebel army .. Little was heard of any enemy, and the men, fresh from the sands of Santa Rosa, luxuriated in the pleasant shade on firm soil. ' A body of recruits arrived from the North and were designated as Company . K, and served with I on garrison duty, but were finally relieved and joined the regiment, which, on September 3, arrived at New Orleans in response to an order transferring them to General Butler's command. With new rifles and accontre- ments, quartered in barracks, and making the acquaintance of the Crescent City, a month went by. September 4, the regimeut was drawn up to take leave of Captain Dwight, appointed colonel of the One Hundred and Sixtieth New York Volunteers. H. B. Fitch was temporarily made adjutant.
On September 28, a reserve brigade, commanded by General Godfrey Weitzel, was constituted of the Seventy-fifth New York, Twelfth and Thirteenth Con- necticut, Eighth New Hampshire, companies of the First Louisiana Cavalry, and the Sixth Massachusetts and the First Maine Batterics. On October 1 the Seventy-fifth embarked on the steamer Laurel Hill, were conveyed above seven miles, and formed camp near the rest of the brigade. Later, having joined them at Fort Kearney, Weitzel called a brigade inspection, and handled with pleasure the clean, serviceable rifles of the Seventy-fifth. A few days later and the brigade was marched down to New Orleans and reviewed by Butler, and the press, from appearance aud evolution, denominated them " Weitzel's Regulars." On the 24th of October, on transports attended by four mortar-boats, the brigade set off on the " La Fourche" expedition. Landing next day five miles below Donaldsonville, they marched to the village, just evacnated by a rebel force. Resuming the march, the enemy were found three miles below Napoleonville, on the left of the bayou, prepared to dispute farther progress.
The First Maine Battery advanced to shell the woods over the stream, and- drew the rebel fire, while other regiments charged the enemy. The Seventy- fifth, deployed along the left front, were opposed by the Thirty-eighth Louisiana, which did not dare to attack. The enemy were driven with severe loss, the dead buried, and next day the advance resumed, and without opposition the object of the movement was realized and the force went into camp. On December 16, 1862, N. P. Banks succeeded Butler, and organized the Nineteenthi 'Corps, com- posed of four divisions. He took from the reserve brigade the First Louisiana, Eighth New Hampshire, and Thirteenth Connecticut, and replaced them by the Eighth Vermout, One Hundred and Fourteenth and One Hundred and Sixtieth New York. The brigade was then designated as Second Brigade, First Division, .General Augns commanding. The Atebafalaya, at a point known as Butte-la- Nore, was held by a strong rebel work, and the Bayou Teche, just above its con- finence, was defended by an iron-clad old river steamer called the John K. Cotton and by an earthwork. To Weitzel was intrusted to make the capture of the "Cotton," preparatory to operations. Embarked on gunboats, the brigade were taken up tbe Atchafalaya, and, debarking at the month of Bayou Teche, formed in line,-the Seventy-fifth on the right by the river, the One Hundred and Sixtieth New York in the centre, and the Twelfth Connecticut on the left. The cavalry advancing, skirmished with the rebels till, reaching the Teche, they pre- pared to charge. An infantry volley, a round from the battery, aod they fled in haste.
At daybreak Weitzel called for sixty sharpshooters to pick off men from the " Cotton," whose smoke-stacks had been visible a mile distant. Captain Fitch being detailed, took six men from each company of the Seventy-fifth, came up with the gunboats, deployed at a run, and opened a sharp fire, which killed several of her .
FLATE XIX
RES. OF WM H NEWTON, JUNIUS TP., SENECA CO., N. Y.
PLATE XX
MRS. COL. HALSEY SANDFORD.
DOCTOR JARED SANDFORD, late of Ovid, Seneca County, New York, was born in Southampton, Long Island, February 19, 1774. His nucestor, Ezekiel Sandford, came from England and settled there in or before 1670-born, 1630; died, 1705. His son, Ezekiel, Jr., died 1730 (Doc. History New York, page 666), leaving sons, Thomas, Zachariah, Joash, John. (Thomas was grandfather of Nathan Sandford, late Chancellor and United States Senator, New York.) Zachariah had five sons, Daniel, Stephes, Joel, Abraham, Elias. Joel had live sons and two daughters, James, Lemuel, Hugh, Jared, Oliver, Prudence, Amertel.
The family on Long Island were descended in a direct line from Thomas de Sandford, who was one of the army of William the Conqueror on his invasion of England, and whose name is written in the famous Roll of Battle Abbey (the great chart of English gentry). On the conquest being thus completed, be obtained, as his part of the spoils, the landa of Sandford in Shropshire, and there founded the family which is to this day in possession of the same land by regula descent. Thomas Sandford, the father of Ezekiel, was a colonel of a regiment of Fire-Locka in the Royal Army in the Rebellion which terminated in Charles I.'s decapitation and establishment of Crom- well, and had made himself so obnoxious by his skill, energy, bravery, and remark- able daring, that, although he had been killed in the storming of Nantwich, 22d January, 1643, his family was persecuted, harassed, and driven from one place of concealment to another, until faally those who survived succeeded in making their escape to the Colonies, and settled at Southampton, Long Island.
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.