USA > New York > Steuben County > History of Steuben county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 29
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 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133
Band .- Horatio G. K. Anderson (leader), John J. Bowen, Reuben E. Stetson, Geo. E. Gray, Mortimore W. Rose, Isaac L. Kress, Walter W. Slingerland, John M. Tenny, James A. Wilkie, Geo. Bridgden, William G. Wright, Estes T. Sturtevant, Ges. J. Benjamin, Rankin B. Rose.
Company A, Syracuse .- Captain, Benjamin L. Higgins ; First Lieutenant, William H. Gault ; Second Lieutenant, Prentice Holmes ; and eighty-three non - commissioned offieers and privates.
Company B, Addison .- Captain, William B. Angle ; First Lieutenant, Charles W. Gillet (promoted to adjutant by order of Col. Bailey); Second Lieutenant, ITiram J. Blanchard ; and ninety-five non-commissioned officers and privates.
Company C, Corning .- Captain, Jacob H. Lansing; First Lieutenant, Leonard Scott; Second Lieutenant, Jo- seph H. Tull, Pennsylvania ; and ninety-two non-commis- sioned officers and privates.
Company D, Hornellsville .- Captain, Daniel S. Ells- worth; First Lieutenant, Arthur S. Baker; Second Lieu- tenant, Lemi II. Crary ; and eighty-nine non-commissioned officers and privates.
Company E, Elmira .- Captain, Thomas F. Shoemaker; First Lieutenant, John G. Coply; Second Lieutenant, Geo. A. Packer ; and ninety-five non-commissioned officers and privates.
Company F, Lindley .- Captain, Henry G. Harrower, Lindley ; First Lieutenant, Samuel Maurice Morgan, Lind- ley ; Second Lieutenant, Michael B. Stafford, Albany ; and ninety-one nou-commissioned officers and privates.
Company G, Canisteo .- Captain, James Bennett, Can- isteo; First Lieutenant, Nathan S. Baker, Canisteo; Second Lieutenant, John Fulton, Canisteo ; and eighty-four non- commissioned officers and privates.
Company II, Steuben County .- Captain, William Ten- brocek ; First Lieutenant, Wm. G. Raymond ; Second Lieutenant, James Carpenter, Jr. ; and ninety-five non- commissioned officers and privates.
Company I, Cooper's Plains, Steuben Co .- Captain, Amos W. Sherwood, Cooper's Plains; First Lieutenant, Jackson A. Woodward, Cooper's Plains; Second Lieuten- ant, Foster P. Wood, Addison ; and eighty non-commis- sioned officers and privates.
Company K, Woodhull, Steuben Co .- Captain, Seymour G. Rhinevault, Woodhull ; promoted to major Nov. 22, 1861; First Lieutenant, Chas. H. Wombongh, Addison ; promoted to captain Nov. 22, 1861 ; Second Lieutenant, John N. Warner, Woodhull; and ninety-six non-commis- sioned officers and privates.
The regiment had a number of recruits before leaving Elmira, which took place about the 1st of December, 1861, going by the way of Williamsport and Baltimore, arriving at the latter place late in the afternoon. Marching through the city from depot to depot by company front, with guns loaded and bayonets fixed, they reached Washington early next morning. Camped first on Kendall Green, thence moved to Bladensburg, remained there about one week, and then crossed the eastern branch of the Potomac, and pitched eamp on Good Ifope Hill, Md. The regiment re- mained at this place most of the time until March, 1862. Once during that time having received orders to join the Army of the Potomac at Camp Griffin, Va., the regiment remained there abont two weeks. About the Ist of March it was broken into detachments, and did guard duty in and around Washington; Capt. Higgins with two companies at Old Capitol prison, Capt. Lansing with three companies at Georgetown, Capt. Wombough with one company on Nineteenth Street, Capt. Sherwood with one company at the Central Guard-Ilouse, Capt. Bennett with one company at the Long Bridge, and Lieut. Stafford with a detachment at the Seventh Street wharf. The field officers did duty as officers of the day for the district. During this time there was a change in the line and staff of the regiment. Quartermaster Spence resigned, and D. F. Brown, who had been commissioned by Governor E. D. Morgan first lieu- tenant in the Sith Regiment, Ang. 10, 1862, was appointed quartermaster in his place. Lieut. Morgan, of Company F, was detached from his company and placed on the staff of Geo. Robinson. Lieuts. John G. Copley and Arthur S. Baker were detailed for duty in the provost-marshal's office at Washington by order of Col. Doster, provost-marshal for the District of Columbia. Capt. Bennett, of Company G, died while on duty here. The regimental band was also mustered out of service here by orders from headquarters of the army.
The regiment remained in Washington until the 23d day of August, when it joined the Army of the Potomac, under Gen. Pope. It reached Alexandria the same day and moved to Cloud's Mills, and was placed in the brigade of Brig .- Gen. A. Saunders Piatt, Gen. Sturges command- ing division, and from that time moved with the army of Gen. Pope, arriving on the battle-field of Bull Run on the afternoon of the 29th, where it was immediately formed for a charge by Gen. McDowell in person. The regiment made a gallant charge, led by Col. Bailey, losing many men and one officer. Lieut. Joseph H. Tull, of Company C, was badly wounded, and remained on the field six days, when he was brought to Washington, and was under medi- cal treatment for over eight months. He was finally dis- charged. and is now living in that city. This was the regi- ment's first experience in battle, and it gave them a name for a fighting regiment which they nobly sustained during the war. After the battle it fell back to Centreville, and participated in all the skirmishing that took place on that retreat. It was in reserve on the march, and during the battle of Antietam under Gen. McClellan. It moved with the army after the retreating enemy until they reached Manassas Junction, when, by orders of Gen. MeClellan, Piatt's Brigade, consisting of the 86th and 124th New
112
HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, NEW YORK.
York Volunteers and the 122d Pennsylvania Volunteers, were sent up and through Manassas Gap to support the cavalry under Gen. W. W. Averill. They met the enemy and drove them through Front Royal, joining the army after an absence of two days, and finding that Gen. Me- Clellan had been relieved by Gen. Burnside. The regi- ment participated in the battle of Fredericksburg, and then moved to Falmouth, on the opposite side of the river, going into winter quarters. Nothing transpired while here, with the exception of the Burnside mud march, until Gen. Hooker's move on Chancellorsville. The regiment was now and had been connected with the old 3d Army Corps since the battle of Bull Run, and had been most of the time commanded by Lieut .- Col. Chapin, Col. Bailey being disqualified for duty on account of age and the exposure incident to the Bull Run campaign. About this time Major Rhinevanlt resigned, and Capt. Iliggins, of Company A, was commissioned major. The brigade consisted of the 86th and 124th New York and the 122d Pennsylvania, under Gen. A. S. Piatt. The division was commanded by Gen. Whipple, and the corps by Gen. Sickles.
On the 28th of April, 1863, marching orders were re- ceived, and the regimeut bade adien to their four months' winter quarters, moving in an easterly direction until mid- night, when it bivouacked near Belle Plain, on the Rappa- hannock, the men in heavy marching order, with eighty rounds of ammunition. April 30 countermarched past their old quarters, and reached the United States Ford on the morning of May 1, crossing the pontoons laid there for that purpose. After crossing they soon struck the enemy. Those acquainted with the history of the battle of Chancel- lorsville know that the 3d Corps did most of the fighting. The 86th came in for their full share, as the list of casual- ties given in the correspondence appended to this chapter will show.
On Saturday afternoon, when the 11th Corps broke, the 3d was sent to their assistance, and stayed the rout. Sun- day is one of the days ever to be remembered by those who now survive, and were with the regiment on that day. At first placed in support of batteries, a short time after the whole division made a charge to the right of the Chan- cellor House, the 86th on the left of the line, next the plank-road-and such a charge !- the 86th losing fully one- third of their men, most of whom were left on the field when the regiment retired. The loss of officers was very large. Lieut .- Col. Chapin was killed and carried from the field; Major Higgins was badly wounded; Acting Adj. Stafford wounded in the hip; Capt. Angle, of Co. B, and Capt. Ellsworth, of Co. D, killed (the last two named offi- cers were carried into the Chancellor House, and are sup- posed to have been burned with the building); Lieut. Woodward, of Co. I, was fatally wounded, and several others slightly. After the charge the regiment was put to work building rifle-pits for their own protection, Capt. Lansing in command as senior officer. On Monday Gen. Whipple, division commander, was fatally wounded. On Tuesday the regiment recrossed the river, and were soon at their old quarters at Falmouth, and remained there until the 6th of June, 1863, when an order was received for the 86th and the 124th to accompany a large body of cavalry
on a secret expedition. They started that day in a heavy rain, in light marching order, with five days' rations, Major Lansing in command, he having been promoted since the battle of Chancellorsville. The regiment arrived at Beverly Ford, on the Rappahannock, on the evening of the 8th, and bivouacked for the night. Early the next morning they waded the river, the water reaching the waists of the men ; they were hurried forward, and soon struck the enemy in a thick wood, a short distance from the ford. They drove the enemy through and from the wood, the latter charging several times to retake it without success. Late in the day the regiment advanced within eight miles of Brandy Sta- tion, and then retired to the position they occupied in the morning. This was mostly a cavalry fight, the infantry acting as support. The 86th suffered to the extent of thirteen killed and wounded ; the enemy's loss must have been greater. Many were left within our lines, among them a major and a lieutenant.
The regiment expected to be ordered back to Falmouth. but instead was placed on duty guarding the fords and Rappahannock Bridge, until the advance brigade of the Army of the Potomae joined them on the 12th.
Whipple's Division having ceased to exist, on account of the terrible loss it sustained at Chancellorsville, and the muster-out of several regiments immediately after, the 86th and 124th New York Volunteers, together with Ber- dan's Sharpshooters, were attached to the brigade of Gen. J. H. Ilobart Ward, in Birney's Division of the 3d Army Corps. At this place Lieut .- Col. Higgins returned and assumed command of the 86th Regiment.
On the morning of the 14th the 3d Corps started from Bealton Station, hurrying back towards Washington, and bivouacked for the night at Catlett's Station. They moved the next morning, passing through Bristoe Station and Manassas Junction. This was a terrible march, on account of the heat. Very many were sun-struck. They reached the old Bull Run battle-field on the 16th, continued the march on the 17th, and camped at Gum Springs on the night of the 19th. This was a very dark night, so dark that a person could not possibly see an object two feet from him ; and the only way to get the different regiments into position was by sound. They moved again on the 23d, crossed the Potomac, on pontoons, at Edwards' Ferry, reached Emmettsburg on the evening of the 30th, passing Poolesville, Middletown, and Frederick City. At this place orders were received informing the command that Gen. looker had been relieved, and Gen. George G. Meade, of the 5th Corps, placed in command of the Army of the Potomac.
On the 1st of July moved through Emmettsburg, march- ing at quick time for Gettysburg; could hear firing in that direction, and felt sure the battle had commenced. For- ward was the ery, and ou they pushed. They slept that night on the field, with guns beside them. The next morning Gen. Ward led his brigade to the position assigned it. The 86th numbered about three hundred rank and file, and was placed on the right of the 124th, near Little Round Top, in a piece of wood, with the 20th Indiana on its right. Early in the afternoon the rebel artillery opened a furious cannonade upon our lines, and about three o'clock
113
IHISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, NEW YORK.
the infantry advanced to the attack. Gen. Longstreet's Corps was hurled against the old 3d Corps in four lines, while the 3d had but one. Ward's Brigade stood firm, and drove the enemy back, one line after the other. Almost the first man wounded in the 86th was Col. Higgins, and he was sent from the field, leaving Maj. Lansing again in command. The loss to the regiment here was terrible. Capt. John Warner, of Company K, fell, and several other officers were wounded and taken prisoners. Among the latter was Lieut. Seeley, of Company K, acting adjutant. The loss to the rank and file was severe. It was almost dark when the lines at the right and left gave way, and orders were received for the 86th to retire. They did so in line of battle, and were highly complimented by Gen. Ward, in presence of the whole division, for their gallant conduct on that occasion. Gen. Sickles having been wounded, Gen. Birney took command of the corps, Gen. Ward of the di- vision, and Col. Berdan of the brigade.
On the next morning the 86th was placed farther to the right in the lines, and near where Gen. Pickett made his charge that day, but was not called on to do any work.
On the morning of the 4th it was observed that the enemy's vedettes had disappeared from our front. That night a heavy rain set in, and on the morning of the 5th the regiment assisted in burying the dead.
The regiment moved forward on the 6th, with the army in pursuit of the enemy, and reached Mechanicstown on the 7th. It passed through Frederick City on the 8th, and on the 9th changed direction and moved down the Hagerstown road, through Middletown, and over South Mountain. Ou the 10th reached Millport, and on the 11th rested for the night near Roxbury Mill, in line of battle. On the 14th heard that the enemy had crossed the Potomac with all his transportation and stores. On the 17th crossed the Poto- mac at Harper's Ferry, and passed the night at Hills- borough. On the 20th reached Upperville. Gen. French was now in command of the 3d Corps. On the 22d reached Manassas Gap. On the 23d moved up the Gap, Ward's Brigade in advance. Struck the enemy near Front Royal, and, after severe fighting, sent them double-quick to the other side of the mountain. On the 24th retraced our steps through the Gap, and on the 26th reached War- renton. This ended the campaign of Gettysburg.
It will be seen by this that on the 6th of June the 86th Regiment left Falmouth in light marching order, with five days' rations, expecting to return by that time, but, instead, they were fifty-four days without a change of clothing ex- cept such as they had with them,-a thing not very con- ducive to cleanliness or health.
Flere Col. Higgins again took command, and Maj. Lan- sing was ordered to Elmira, N. Y., with two officers and six sergeants, on recruiting service.
On the last day of July, 1863, the brigade moved to Sulphur Springs and pitched camp, doing picket duty and drilling until the 15th day of September. On the 16th crossed the Rappahannock at Freedman's Ford. On the 17th camped near Culpepper. On the 8th of October the whole division was in line, and soon was on its way back to Centreville, reaching that place on the 14th. On the 19th moved southward again. On the 30th camped at
Bealton Station, and remained there until the 7th of No- vember. On that day the 3d Corps moved to Kelly's Ford, on the Rappahannock, in full sight of the enemy, and, under a galling fire, obtained full possession of the ford, capturing a large number of prisoners. On the 8th advanced as far as Brandy Station, crossed the Rapidan on the 20th, at Jacob's Ford. and on the 27th (Ward's Brigade being in reserve) struck the rebels about six o'clock A.M. About sundown the 86th and 124th New York Volunteers were called upon, as the 17th Maine had just been driven. The two regiments sprang quickly for- ward and occupied the space vacated by the 17th Maine, and checked the enemy, although their batteries rained a shower of shell upon them, and the infantry endeavored to drive them back. The loss of the 86th was severe, four being killed and thirty-two wounded, Col. Higgins among the latter.
That night the enemy retired from the field. On the 29th advanced to near Mine Run, and found the enemy heavily intrenched. The picket line crossed the run during the night, and an assault was ordered, but finally counter- manded. They were then ordered to retrace their steps, which was done, crossing the Rapidan at Culpepper Mine Ford, being pressed hard by the rebel cavalry. The army moved to near Brandy Station, and went iuto winter quarters. At this point Lieut .- Col. Lansing and party again joined their regiment.
The loss of the regiment up to this time had been very severe ; there was hardly a company that had the same officers that started with them, and some of them none. Company A had none; Company B one; Company C none; Company D one, on detached service ; Company E two, one of whom was detached; Company F one; Company ( one; Company H none; Company I one; Company K none.
In the field and staff it was the same. B. L. Iliggins, now colonel, badly wounded and in the hospital. He was mustered out. J. 11. Lansing was lieutenant-colonel; M. B. Stafford was major (formerly lieutenant of Company F); James Cherry was adjutant (formerly sergeant of Co. I); D. F. Brown was quartermaster. Company A was commanded by Capt. Jerry Ryan, promoted from the ranks ; Company B, by Lieut. Booth, promoted from the ranks; Company C, by Capt. Robert Barton, promoted from sergeant ; Company D, by Lieut. N. H. Vincent, promoted from sergeant; Company E, by Lieut. Geo. A. Packer, original ; Company F, by Capt. H. G. Harrower, original ; Company G, by Capt. N. S. Baker, promoted from lieutenant ; Company H, by Lieut. Stone, promoted from private ; Company I, by Capt. Foster P. Wood, promoted From second lieutenant ; Company K, by Capt. John Fiuney, promoted from the ranks.
The companies averaged from ten to forty non-commis- sioned officers and privates, the whole regiment numbering less than three hundred for duty ; although many more were carried on the rolls, such as the sick and wounded in hospitals, and those on detached service.
During the month of December, 1863, an order was issued from Washington, that if those soldiers who had enlisted for three years and whose term of service had about ex-
15
114
HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, NEW YORK.
pired, would re-enlist for the war as veteran volunteers, they should receive their bounty and be permitted to re- turn to their homes in a body with a furlough of thirty days. Nearly all (two hundred and forty-five) of the non- commissioned officers and privates of the 86th re-enlisted and returned to Elmira, N. Y., where they were furloughed for thirty days.
At the expiration of their furlough they joined their bri- gade at Brandy Station. While at Elmira, Capt. L. Todd, of Corning, who had served two years in the 23d New York Volunteers, was commissioned a captain in the 86th, as- signed to duty as captain of Company B, and returned with the regiment to the field. Several of the non-commissioned officers were also commissioned, but we are unable to give their names.
The regiment remained at Brandy Station until May 4, 1864, doing the usual picket duty, drilling, and making an occasional demonstration towards the enemy. During the month of April, the old 3d Corps was broken up, and the divisions that Gen. French brought into it after the battle of Gettysburg were assigned to the 6th Corps, and the old 3d Corps proper was assigned to the 2d Corps, to be known as Birney's Division of the 2d Corps, retaining and wearing the 3d Corps badge.
Early in march U. S. Grant was made lieutenant-general, with command of all the armies of the United States, and made his headquarters with the Army of the Potomac. On the 1st and 2d days of May, 1864, the regiment was inspected, and on the 4th six days' rations and fifty rounds of ammunition were issued to each man, and Gen. George G. Meade's address read to them. At this time the regi- ment numbered three hundred rank and file, some having re- turned from the hospitals. At eleven o'clock P.M. the army moved towards the Rapidan, the 2d Corps crossing on pon- toons at Ely's Ford, and bivouacking near the old battle- field of Chancellorsville, moved at five A.M. on the 5th. Ward's brigade reached Todd's Tavern about nine A.M., when they countermarched towards the Wilderness Tavern. The battle had commenced, and the 86th was soon in the hottest of it,-from abont two o'clock P.M. until darkness put a stop to further manœuvres. The firing was terrible, both from musketry and artillery. The woods were so thick that it was impossible to see the rebel lines. Abont eight o'clock P.M. both armies ceased firing and lay down to take a few hours' rest. The 86th suffered no loss in killed, but several were wounded.
At five o'clock the next morning the army was again in motion, pushing the enemy slowly ; but it was hot work, and quite a number of the S6th fell killed or wounded. The rebels continued to give ground until about eleven A.M., when they turned and nearly overwhelmed the entire corps, and sent it flying back towards the rear. This was a fearful time. The men were so demoralized that it was utterly impossible for the officers to rally them, until they reached the rifle-pits that had been constructed during the morning. The corps was re-formed behind these works, and rested, cooking coffee, and eating, for the first time that day. About three o'clock P.M. the Confederates advanced again. The 86th were in the front line of works, and were obliged to retire with the rest to the second line. The rebels took
possession of the first line, but they were soon forced to fall back, leaving their dead and wounded behind them. The 2d Corps returned to the first line, and remained there all that night and part of the next day. About daylight on the 8th the 86th got their hard-tack and coffee, and about cight A.M. moved to Todd's Tavern, and there formed in line of battle through the woods. They were attacked by the rebels, but repulsed them without much trouble. On the 9th moved to and crossed the Po River, meeting with but little resistance. On the 10th re-crossed the Po, after a hard day's work. Ward's Brigade was massed in column of regiments, four paces apart, at the base of a thickly-wooded hill, with the 86th on the right. Troops were going into position on the right and left of the bri- gade. After the formation news eame to the regimental commanders of the brigade, that they should see personally that every man's gun was uncapped and bayonets fixed in their command, and that at a given signal they should ad- vance, double-quick, with a yell. There were eight regi- ments in the brigade, and the formation was as follows : 86th New York Volunteers, 124th New York, 3d Maine, 99th Pennsylvania, 141st Pennsylvania, 20th Indiana, 110th Pennsylvania, and 40th New York Volunteers; and so close and compact that the field-officers were obliged to take position on the flanks of their commands. At the signal given the brigade started at a rapid pace. The picket line of the rebels was soon reached, they giving warning of the approach. Presently they came to the opening, and such a sight ! In front a massive line of works, while between that and the column the ground was strewn with timber. The cry was forward, and the 86th, moving on amidst shot and shell, reached the work. They had nothing but the bay- onet, and were unable to remain long, as their support could not reach them. The order for retreat was given, and those that remained went to the wood for cover as quickly as pos- sible. The 86th went into that charge more than two hun- dred strong. They left in and around the works of the enemy one hundred and sixteen men, besides several offi- cers, and at roll-call next morning but eighty-four answered to their names. This was the heaviest loss that the regi- ment ever sustained. They now numbered less than a company, for duty, and when paraded the companies num- bered some two rank and file. with possibly one officer. The regiment returned to their position in the lines, remaining there until late in the afternoon of the 11th, when the 2d Corps was moved to the right of the rebel lines, to a place known as the Brown House. The strictest silence was ordered. Arrived there about two o'clock A.M. ; formed in two lines, the 86th being in the first ; the command was al- lowed to rest without breaking their formation. At about five o'clock A.M. the order to advance was given in a low tone. The line sprang forward, and moved as quickly as the nature of the ground would admit. They soon struck the rebel pickets, who fired and fled, and were pursued so closely that many were captured before they could reach the works. The storming column went over the works, cap- turing Gen. Johnson, and nearly his whole division, with all their artillery. The rebels made several attempts 10 retake the works, but failed, with heavy loss. The fighting here was terrible all the 12th and a part of the 13th, and
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.