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 24
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Doctor Jared Sandford went to Ovid, Seneca County, New York, from Southamp- ton, in the year 1796; taught school a few years and practiced medicine. He studied medicine with his brother James, at Huntington, Long Island ; was married to Sally Radley Halsey early in 1801, and died August 18, 1817, leaving the following surviving children : Halsey, Hannah Howell, Lewis Halsey, Edward, Helen, Emily, James, Sarah. His wife was daughter of the late Hon. Silas Halsey, who emigrated to Ovid, from Southampton, Long Island, in 1792. In 1805 he (Doctor Sandford) built the house, about one mile north of Lodi Village, now occupied by Herman D. Eastman, and occupied the same until his death. He was the first Surrogate of Seneca County, appointed thereto April 2, 1804. The first will admitted to probate in said County was that of James Yerkes, on June 28, 1804. When Surrogate, he drew out a system of rules of practice aad proceedings in the Surrogate Court, which has been followed in that County from that date to this, and generally received and adopted in the State. At the time no other office had a regular set of rules. He was also the first Postmaster in town of Ovid, being appointed thereto in 1801; held the some till it was located in the village of Ovid. Was appointed Associate Judge of Seneca County in 1818, and held the office during the pleasure of the " Council of Appoint- ment." As physicien and surgeon, he was eminent and successful ; his practice ex- tended to Geneva and Waterloo on the north, and to Catharine, now Watkins, and Havana on the south, embrecing of most the territory between Seneca and Cayuga Lakes. The country being new and roads bad, he traveled entirely on horseback.
LEWIS H. SANDFORD was admitted to the bar io 1828; in 1843 he was appointed Assistant Vice Chancellor of the First Circuit, New York, where he then resided; In 1848 be was appointed Vice Chancellor of that circuit, and in 1847, at the Brst election for judicial officers under the constitution of 1848, he was elected one of the Justices of the Superior Court of the City of New York, which position he held at the tima of his death, July 27, 1852. His published works, Sandford's Chancery Reports, in four volumes, and Sandford's Superior Court Reports, in 8ve volumes, are considered atandard authority In the courts of the United States, and the former in the Court of Chancery of England.
COL. HALSEY SANDFORD.
EDWARD SANDFORD was admitted to the bar in 1833, and commenced practice in the city of New York, where he had for some time resided. He died at sea, September 27, 1854, lost on the steamer Arctic on his return from Europe, in the prime of life, --- with a large and increasing practice, and with rank second, if not head, of the bar of the city.
JAMES S. SANDFORD was admitted to the bar in the State of Michigan in 1836. He removed to Marshall, Michigan, in May, 1836, and commenced the practice of his professioa. He returned to the State of New York October, 1841, and in April, 1843, after being admitted to all tho courts of this State, he settled permanently, and has since practiced, in the city of New York, residing for the present at Summit, New Jersey.
GEN. HALSEY SANDFORD (eldest of Doctor Jared Sandford's children) was born October 26, 1801, in a log house little west of the present village of Lodi, then Ovid Township, in this (Seaecs) County ; his education being euch as the common schools of the country at that day furnished; was reared on the farm now occupied by Herman D. Eastman, in Lodi, until shout nineteen years of age; then taught school a short time, and served as clerk in store, first for General D. Jackson at Trumans- burg, afterwards for the late General John DeMott at Lodi (then town of Ovid). In fall of 1821 he located in that part of the town of Reading, Steuben County, now Starkey, Yates County, entering the mercantile business, conducting the same success- fully, in connection with an asbery and distillery, until the fall of 1830; the latter was burned io 1828, and not rebuilt. In fall of 1830 he sold out his mercantile business to Adna Treat. Was the first Town Clerk of Starkey after organization of Yates Conaty ; also Postmaster in said town until spring of 1831, when he resigned. In the old military days he was Colonel of the Tenth Regiment of Cavalry of New York, later Brigadier-General of the Fifth Brigade, and finally Major-General of the Third Division of same Corps. In spring of 1831 be removed to Lodi, place of his nativity, entered into partnership with the late General John De Mott in mercantile and produce business, which they conducted oo a large scale until fall of 1838, when he (Sandford) retired from business. Was Supervisor of the town of Lodi in 1836, 1837, and 1838. In fall of 1838 he was elected Clerk of Seneca County, and held the office one term (three years). In fall of 1848 he moved to the besutifully located village of Ovid (where he now resides), and pursued his old business of merchandise, connected with produce, doing an extensive business until spring of 1861. Since residing in Ovid Village he has held the office of Postmaster ten years, Commissioner of Excise four years, and Superintendent of Poor three years.
On May 1, 1822, he married Fanny Maria Howell, of Warwick, Orange County, New York, daughter of Roger and Elizabeth Howell, who were natives of South- ampton, Long Island. She (Fanny M.) wes born January 16, 1801. Were mar- ried at her father's residence, and for their wedding tour, they came in a one-horse chaise, over the hills of the " Beech Woods," to their home at now Starkey, Yates County ; the trip occupied six days. They celebrated their Golden Wedding on May 1, 1872.
Their children were Howell, Sarah, Helen, Emma, Jared, Lewis, Montgomery. Howell emigrated to Emmett, Calhoun County, Michigan, in 1845,-hia occupation a farmer,-and diced there, September 12, 1865. Sarah resides near this village with her second husband, Josiah B. Chapman. Helen married the late Rev. H. R. Dunham ; resided st Cortland, New York, where she died, January 29, 1853. Emma married Rev. A. L. Beaton ; they now reside at Fredonia, New York. Jared resides at Mount Vernon, New York, and is practicing law in the city of New York. Lewis died in infancy in August, 1836. Montgomery resides at Geneva, New York, aad is cashier of the Geneva National Bank.
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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
crew and drove the rest below. The boat was plated with railroad iron, and car- ried a niue-inch columbiad. The enemy returned the fire of musketry from her ports and attempted to escape, but was moored to the bank by a hawser, which none dared venture out to sever. A negro came upon the deck and cut it with a hatchet, and the " Cotton" withdrew slowly up-stream, engaging Weitzel's batteries, and closely followed by our boys. Suddenly she stopped and began a return : she had run aground from her pilot being shot ; a second pilot was struck, another, and another, till six were killed in the pilot-house alone; finally the captain took the wheel, and, though repeatedly wounded, kept his post. A mile up-stream the boat came under protection of a redoubt known as Fort Bisland, whose canister prevented further pursuit. During the forenoon our skirmishers, under Captain Savery, advanced, firing ; between the opposite forces lay a broad eane-field, crossed by wide ditches and adapted to use as rifle-pits. The Union soldiers of the Seventy-fifth would rise, charge, and take a diteh, while the rebels fell back to the next. With each repetition resistance increased, and at the "last ditch" the rebels made a firm, immovable stand. An old sugar-house stood close by the guns of Fort Bisland; this Weitzel ordered taken, and with a rush and a shout the last ditch was occupied by Savery .. A party of men led by Sergeant Jayaes dashed at the sugar-house; when near it they were halted, and took to trees just as a dozen shells from the fort riddled the structure. Orders finally came to retire, yet two men held the sugar-house all night. Just before daylight the " Cotton" was seen on fire, and the expedition returned to camp.
February 6, the Seventy-fifth and one Hundred and Sixtieth were ordered to Brashear to relieve the Twenty-first Indiana and the Twenty-third Connecticut. General Banks resolved on the expulsion of Dick Taylor's army from Louisiana and the capture of vast quantities of cotton stored in the interior. The enemy held Fort Bisland with not far from ten thousand men, and built half a mile of strong fortifications. The force of Banks was about twenty thousand strong.
On the moruing of February 12 the entire Seventy-fifth were on the skirmish line, and at three o'clock the line of battle was formed, with the Seventy-fifth and one Hundred and Sixtieth in the centre. By two hours, three miles had been traversed under constaut resistance, and the line approached a row of cane shocks in sight of and distant half to three-quarters of a mile from the rebel lines.
These shocks were suspected by Weitzel to be placed as guides to accurate aim, and five minutes later, from works, fort, and the gunboat "Diana," there came a rain of shells, followed by grape and canister, and plowing the earth on all sides. Banks ordered the brigade to lie down in the nearest trench, and, opening with artillery, continued the contest till dark, when the brigade was withdrawn, and the rebel band struck up the " Bonnie Blue Flag." At daylight the battle was renewed and steadily continued. Cannon and rifle from trenches replied to the same from ditches, and, as occasion offered, the infantry made fresh advances. On the second line, in the forenoon, the Seventy-fifth was not engaged ; at two P.M. it was ordered to advance on the rebel works from the flank, as a feint. Throw- ing off ineumbrances, they marehed by right of companies, single file, to execute the order. The advance was through a maze of vegetation, in a morass, and, each working forward as he could, the men became separated. A body of cavalry attempting to turn their flank, were repelled, and suddenly, with the crack of rifles, the rebel works were seen a few rods distant. A line was formed along a ditch parallel with the rebel position, and a regiment of Texas troops engaged for a couple of hours, neither, from the thickness of bushes, seeing the other. Lieutenant-Colonel Babeock, then seeing each rifle ready, gave aloud the apparent order, " Cease firing, and fall back ;" the rebels, leaping upon their works, came in view as a Union volley tore through them with fatal effeet. Other volleys fol- lowed, and the regiment retired from the wood. Threatened in the rear, Taylor evacuated during the night, carrying along his artillery, and the whole army, advancing fifteen miles, encamped at Franklin. Continuing to push forward, the army reached Opelousas April 20, and for two weeks, vehicles, vessels, and men were employed in capturing and transporting cotton to New Orleans. Banks now resolved to advance to Alexandria and pursue Taylor farther up the river. The march thither was almost a race of regiments. From that city the Weitzel Brigade were ordered to continue up the river, and advanced some twenty miles. As the men lay at rest a courier brought orders to return, and Alexandria was once more reached. Grant called on Banks to co-operate in the attack on Vicks- burg, but the latter resolved to attempt the reduction of Port Hudson, a small village ou the east bank of the Mississippi, and thither removed his army. The lines were formed on May 26, with orders to assault next morning. The old Reserve Brigade were promptly in line, and at six advanced into the woods in two lines, a hundred yards apart. At the farther edge, in pits, was posted a stroog skirmish line, supported by batteries on a hill beyond. Unable to proceed, the first line lay down, and the Second-Weitzel's own brigade-swept past them into the storm of missiles, and captured the pits and their occupants, while, amid an interminable abattis of felled trees, with interlacing branches, were concealed
two regiments of Arkansas riflemen, and on the erest of the hill beyond, the yel- low, incomplete earthworks were visible. A charge was ordered, and, with one cheer and with bowed heads; the men ran down the hill into the jungle of ob- struction. A storm swept through them; a charge of canister sped through a party of officers, and Avery, of F, fell dying. Losing heavily, the base was reached, and one hundred prisoners had been taken by the Seventy-fifth alone. In parties and singly the soldiers worked their way forward, till Babcock and his followers were little less than one hundred feet from the rebel earthworks. Here progress was stayed, and steadily the line grew stronger as the men worked their way up. A request by the Seventy-fifth to charge was denied, and a golden opportunity lost. All day long the brigade held their ground, and kept the enemy under cover, and at night the Seventy-fifth was the farthest in advance, and a line of defense was thrown up. The Seventy-fifth bad lost fifteen killed and eighty-six wounded, from a total of seven hundred engaged.
Relieved by the Eighth Vermont, the regiment rested three days, and June 1 returned to the old position. The pits were enlarged and made strong, and three companies at a time brought on duty once in three days, during which firing was constant. A cap raised on a stick was instantly struck by bullets. Banks brought up heavy eannon, and on June 9 began and continued a bombard- ment for a day and a half continuously. On the night of June 10 orders were issued along the front to advance skirmishers at midnight and press the rebel lines. The order was obeyed, and a dreadful din arose; the enemy from their defense opened a heavy fire of musketry, which was answered by the men in pits, the advance having laid down. At an angle in the rebel lines was a small gully ; at its extremity a sap was opened and carried near the rebel bastion. A plan of attaek was arranged by Weitzel, and at eleven o'clock of June 13 the Seventy- fifth were called, and at midnight were on their way to head an assault along this ravine and sap. Delays occurred; the enemy became aroused and gathered in force, and as the Seventy-fifth, some six hundred strong, appeared in sight in the light of morning a tremendous fire met them, but joined by the Ninety-first New York and Twenty-fourth Connecticut they sought shelter, and opened so rapid a return fire as to cause every rebel head to seek cover. Weitzel brought up his re- maining regiments, and all day long the fight went on. The Seventy-fifth worked forward to the diteh, keeping up a quick fire, and individuals climbing the bastion would fire and perhaps receive a shot in the head in return. Ten hours passed, and the line was then ordered to fall back. The Seventy-fifth went into action five hundred and fifty strong, and lost seventy-four. There were eleven killed and sixty- . three wounded. The wounded were sent to Springfield, thenee to New Orleans. The Seventy-fifth were now much reduced by losses, sickness, and details ; three weeks of investment followed, and on July 7 the tidings that Vicksburg was taken were received with cheers, and after a siege of forty-eight days Gardner surrendered Port Hudson and its garrison of six thousand one hundred men. In recognition of gallantry, the old brigade was placed at the head of the column of occupation, led by the Seventy-fifth, and so entered the town. Night came, and Augur's Division was embarked on transports and started down the river.
While Banks was at Port Hudson, Taylor bad sent bodies of men to attack Brashear and Thibodeaux. The fall of the former place being known the enemy retired, and weeks passed by inactive, while promotions were many. Banks now proposed to attack Mobile, but was instructed to make a campaign against Texas, and resolved to move upon Sabine Pass. General Franklin, commanding the 'Nineteenth Corps, embarked a force of over eight thousand men, including the Seventy-fifth, and set out for the Pass. Two boats in the advance were attacked by a six-gun battery, manned by forty-five men and supported by one hundred and twenty-five infantry, and were captured, together with ninety-two men of the Seventy-fifth. Six of the regiment were killed and four wounded. As the flag was hauled down a dozen men sprang overboard; two were drowned, eight escaped. Leaving the scene of ignoble action, the fleet returned, and the Seventy-fifth bivouacked on a former ground. Banks now resolved upon a land campaign, and intrusted its command to C. C. Washburne, giving him the Thirteenth Corps, sent down by Grant, and most of the Nineteenth Corps, in all some twenty thousand men. Deliberately halting at slight obstacles, the army marched forward along the former route, the Nineteenth. Corps in advance; skirmishes only occurred, and on September 14 and 15 an attack, in earnest, was made on the Thirteenth corps and quickly repelled. The next day Taylor advanced his lines, and after an hour's battle fell back. The Seventy-fifth was not engaged. They were mounted as cavalry, November 7, and assigned to a brigade composed of the Seventy-fifth New York, First Louisiana, Sixteenth Indiana, and Eighty-seventh Illinois.
On October 26 Washburne began his withdrawal, and the army went into win- ter quarters at New Iberia. The Seventy-fifth re-enlisted, were furloughed home, and proceeded to Canandaigua. November 20, the Seventy-fifth Battalion, non- veterans, moved upon a rebel conscript camp, ten miles out. At daybreak the men charged into the camp, and the Fourth Texas lost in prisoners one hundred
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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
and twenty men. On July 24, the men taken prisoners on the boats at Sabine Pass were exchanged, and attached to a battalion of the Fourteenth New York Cavalry. Early in March, 1864, the Red River campaign was entered upon. The Thirteenth and Nineteenth Corps, preceded by Lee's Cavalry, in which was the Seventy-fifth New York Battalion, were to reach Alexandria, join A. J. Smith's Corps, of Grant's old command, push on to Shreveport, and, if possible, into Texas. General Steele, from . Arkansas, was to assist the movement. . Lee set ont March 13 with three thousand men, followed by the infantry, and by April 1 the brigade of Lucas was found engaged with the rebela some twelve miles beyond Nachitoches. The enemy retired unwillingly, and by night the brigade had reached Crump's Corners, twenty miles from Nachitoches. Several days elapsed, and April 7 the cavalry of Lee was heavily engaged at Wilson's Farm, drove the enemy five miles, when another stand was made at Car- roll's Mills, and they were again driven. A brigade of infantry reinforced Lee, who, on the morning of April 8, set ont for Mansfield, the objective point of the army on that day. Two miles south of this place, known as Sabine Cross-Roads, masses of rebel infantry were discovered. The cavalry was dismounted, and determined fighting was done, and the Seventy-fifth were working their way for- ward when the order came, " Fall back." Major Bassford, holding his gronad, saw no reason, and was the last to withdraw. As they reached the clearing, the lines of gray front, and with flanka twenty thousand strong, were seen closing in. Forces and batteries were swept away, together with the baggage and ambulance trains, as the rebel soldiers moved forward, driving back the advance. Five miles to the rear, Emory, with five thousand men of the Nineteenth Corps, well posted, received the attack, and stayed the rout.
On the 9th the battle of Pleasant Hill was fought ; the Union troops won at terrible cost. A retreat was effected, and the non-veterans were ordered to join the veteran Seventy-fifth at Morganzia, whence they had come from their fur- lough at home. Several reviews followed, and, finally, the Seventy-fifth, with other regiments, re-embarked on steamships, and July 20 reached Fortress Monroe. At the lines before Richmond, duty was done at picketing and intrenching. The Seventy-fifth reached Washington in time, with other regiments of the Nineteenth and Sixth Corps, to cover the city from General Early's attack. At Winchester, Sheridan, having formed his line of battle, gave the order to go in. Babenek, riding down the line of the Seventy-fifth, said, " Boys, I only ask you to follow me!" and they did. . Advancing from the woods, volley and discharge fast and furious amote the line. Gaps are made, and the lines close up, and, suddenly halting, the men begin to load and fire with rapidity and effect. An order to lie down is mistaken for one to charge, and with a rush Birge's Brigade is upon the works and driving the enemy before them, and a victory is won. . Early now turned his fresh batteries on the men, and sent a column like a ridge between the brigades in front. Birge saw his right crumble, till last of all the Seventy- fifth retired. Emerging from the wood, they saw the rebels closing in; and a retreat was general.
Sheridan rapidly re-formed his lines. The Seventy-fifth assembled, other men joined them, and the whole army now moved upon the rebels, and, despite all efforts, drove them in disorder. The loss on this, the 19th of September, in the Seventy-fifth, was sixteen killed, fifty-one wounded, and fourteen prisoners. Total, eighty-one; leaving two hundred and thirty-eight fit for duty. Early waa pursued, routed at Fisher's Hill, and driven nearly to Staunton. Sheridan then retired up the valley of the Shenandoah, sweeping with him everything that could help sustain an army, and, retiring to Fisher's Hill, himself went on to Winchester. Lee sent Longstreet with his veterans to aid Early to defeat Sheri- dan. Marching with extreme cantion, three divisions under Kershaw gained the Union left flank by four o'clock A.M. of October 19. Crook was first over- whelmed, and Emory's Nineteenth Corps, fighting stoutly, was driven slowly, losing heavily. Organized resistance was impossible, and by half-past six the Eighth and Nineteenth Corps were driven from their camps with the loss of everything; hundreds of prisoners had been taken, and twenty-four of their own gona turned upon their shattered columas.
The Seventy-fifth had been sent to engage the enemy in front, and returned a brisk fire upon the rebel akirmishers, while to their rear swept retreating thou- sands; and not till a body of gray-coats came in view, almost behind them, was the regiment ordered to retreat. It obeyed rapidly ; rushed into the enemy's lines at the turnpike, where many were captured ; fell back, and finally, badly disorgan. ized, reached shelter bebind the Sixth Corps, which, advancing to meet the rebel divisions, allowed the other corps to pass and begin a formation. Early and Longstreet renewed the assault with all their force, but still the Sixth held on tenaciously, when suddenly Sheridan came galloping upon the field, and the newa flashed far amid straggling groups and veterans that " Sheridan had come.". With spirit, reorganization was completed while the enemy plundered the camp. At three o'clock, as the enemy gathered for a grand charge, the Union ranks rose
with a yell, and the Second Division, Nineteenth Corps, were soon seen driving the enemy from point to point by successive. dashes. Birge's Brigade were restrained by the enemy behind a stone wall ; it was flanked by the Seventy-fifth, and many prisoners taken. Like a torrent returning, the lines of Sheridan pushed back the enemy, and far into the night his troopers hastened their dis- ordered flight. The Seventy-fifth lost three killed, sixteen wounded, and thirty- one missing; total, fifty. Later the regiment moved with the army back to Win- chester, where the non-veterans left for home, and were mustered out at Auburn, December 7, 1864. The veterans were sent to Savannah, and for six months occupied in police duty ; the time passed slowly without excitement. In July a force, composed in part of the Seventy-fifth and One Hundred and. Sixtieth, was sent to the interior of Georgia to maintain order; later came directions to return to Savannah and muster out. To New York, then to Albany; and September 23, 1865, these soldiers of four years set out for home.
CHAPTER XXXI.
THE ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SIXTH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
THE One Hundred and Twenty-sixth New York Volunteers was raised in 1862, in Ontario, Seneca, and Yates Counties ; recruiting was rapid, and a rendezvous was made at Camp Swift, Geneva, August 4, 1862. . On August 20 the regiment was organized, and two days later mastered into the United States service. Com- pany C was from Ovid, Lodi, and Romulus, and was the third to arrive at Geneva with full ranks. Organization took place August 9, with W. Scott, Cap- tain, T. R. Lounsbery, First, and A. M. Porter, Second Lieutenant. Company F was raised partly in Sencca, partly in Ontario, and organized August 15, with Isaac Sherrier, Captain, Ira Munson, First, and F. E. Munson, Second Lieutenant. Company G was from the Senatorial district at large. Part in Sencea County waa recrnited by John F. Aikins, Captain. His lieutenants were F. Stewart and S. H. Platt; and Company I was organized August 18, from Sencca County men; B. F. Lee, Captain, G. Skaats, First, and G. L. Yost, Sec -. ond Lieutenant. The One Hundred and Twenty-sixth, under orders from. General Wool, arrived at Harper's Ferry, and found there the One Hundred and Eleventh, which had been organized at Auburn, from Cayuga and Wayne, aud a number of men in Company B from Seneca. As this regiment was in the same brigade with the One Hundred and Twenty-sixth, their history is mainly identical, and if the latter have prominence, it is from the larger number of Seneca soldiers whose actions are recorded, and not from any slight to the organization. Lee, advancing north, made Harper's Ferry his objective point; his plan of operations fell into MeClellan's hands, but failed to prevent such a concen- tration of troops and batteries at the threatened point as necessitated its surrender. The incompetency of Colonel Miles, in permitting the enemy to occupy Maryland Heights, made futile any attempt to retain possession of Harper's Ferry, and resulted in the temporary loss from the service of over ten thousand good soldiers and an important military position. It remains to outline the action of the One Hundred and Twenty-sixth, so soon to feel the rigors of warfare.
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