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 32
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HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, NEW YORK.
of Chancellorsville, adding fresh laurels to those already won on the hard-contested field of Antietam.
This regiment having fought gallantly at Antietam, and left that sanguinary field crowned with the laurels of vic- tory, never harbored the thought of a possible defeat, and with the same coolness and determination that marked their career there, did they move upon the enemy at Chan- cellorsville. On the evening of the second day, believing the foe was defeated, marched out to join in capturing a conquered army ; but they reckoned without their host. The advance soon became a retreat, and, instead of victory, it was defeat. Soon after the regiment marched out they were ordered back to their position on double-quick, and met the flying columns of the 11th Corps, driven before the fierce onslaught of Stonewall Jackson like chaff before the wind. Right gallantly did the 107th attempt to stay the flight of the fleeing and stop the pursuit of the pur- suing until the night came on, when the coufusion was like unto pandemonium itself. During the night the regiment again formed in line of battle, and until daybreak over their heads blazed the shrieking shot and shell.
At early dawn, without time to consume the scanty pro- visions that had been sent them, they entered the fight, and for hours that passed like minutes struggled with the foe, until the last round of ammunition was exhausted, and then, with fixed bayonets, stood, as they supposed, until reinforcements had come to take their place. Then in orderly march, proud of their endurance, the regiment retired. The rein- forcements, however, outstripped them in the retreat ; and, under a murderous fire, they formed a new line near the Chancellorsville House, only to be driven from it by the artillery of the victorious foe. The battle of Chancellors- ville was fought and lost.
It was a bloody day for the 107th. Many a home in the Twenty-seventh Congressional District was rendered desolate by this day's carnage. At least one-third of the force engaged was lost. Fearfully were the ranks of the 107th thinned, but not dishonored. Every survivor who participated in that day's fight felt conscious of having performed his duty, and thenceforward the regiment was counted veteran.
" They never fail who die In a great cause. The block may soak their gore ; Their heads may sodden in the sun ; their limbs Be strung to city gates or castle walls : But still their spirits walk abroad, though years
Elapse, and others share as dark a doom. They but augment the deep and sweeping thoughts Which overspread all others, and conduct The world at last to freedom."
From the disastrous Chancellorsville battle-ground the 107th marched to Stafford Court-House, where they went into camp and remained during the month of May. While here the regiment parted with their brave Col. Diven and efficient Adjutant Fanton, who resigned and returned to their homes. The command of the regiment now devolved upon Lieut .- Col. Colby.
June 12 the camp presented a lively appearance, as orders had been received to march at a moment's notice, and on the following day, at six o'clock, the forces moved northward to repel the invasion of Lee. This was the be- ginning of the Gettysburg campaign.
On the 24th of June the newly-appointed colonel, N. M. Crane, joined the regiment and assumed command. July 1 the 107th reached Gettysburg, Pa., and prepared for the deadly contest of the morrow. The morrow came, and with it every indication of a terrible struggle. Everything tend- ing to encumber the men was thrown aside, guns were primed afresh, and a few words of encouragement and direc- tion given by the gallant colonel. Then each man took his place and awaited the order that should summon them to the front, where the sanguinary battle of Gettysburg was raging in all its fury. The regiment, however, was not actively engaged, and the loss was small.
July 5 the regiment left the Gettysburg battle-field, and followed in the pursuit of the retreating enemy. On the 14th, Gen. Lee, hard pressed, escaped across the Potomac, closely followed by the Union army, under the command of Gen. Meade. They continued their march through Virginia, reaching Kelley's Ford August 1, where they went into camp, and remained until September 16, when the line of march was taken up to Bealton Station, from whence the 107th was transported to Stevenson, Ala., to reinforce the Army of the West. From October, 1863, to April, 1864, the regiment-with the exception of Com- panies B and K, which were sent to Shelbyville, Tenn .-- lay at Wartrace, Bell Buckle, and Wartrace Bridge, doing guard and picket duty.
During this time the 107th received, by transfer from the disbanded 145th Regiment and by recruits, two hundred and fifty men, and was enabled to completely recuperate for the first time from the fatigue of its constant service sinee entering the field.
On the 20th of April, 1864 (the regiment then six loun- dred strong), they broke camp, and then commenced Sher- man's memorable march. May 15 was fought the battle of Resaca, and the 107th lost two killed and seventeen wounded.
Sherman hotly pursued the retreating forces of John- ston until May 25, when, coming upon his army at Dallas, a sharp contest ensued, in which the 107th lost nearly two hundred men.
The following account of this battle is from the pen of A. S. Fitch, of Elmira, who was a member of the regi- ment :
" This battle of Dallas, fought mainly by one division (the 1st ) of the 20th Army Corps, was a desperate, earnest attempt to foree from their chosen position a large force of the enemy closely massed and defended by almost impreg- nable works. That it failed has been intimated. That it was not by lack of valor or determined effort on the part of our soldiers, I trust I sball make apparent to all. It was for a long time considered by our men a rash and terrible blunder on the part of our comuanding generals. Be this as it may, the honest and manly Sherman, as usual, shoul- ders the entire responsibility of the affair, by the simple an- nouncement, in that part of his official report which covers this engagement, 'all this was done by my order.'
" It was one of those unfortunate affairs, in which a great sacrifice of precious life was made, yet nothing substantial was accomplished. The fact that in one short hour this one division lost nearly twelve hundred men, killed and
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HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, NEW YORK.
wounded, proves the magnitude of the affair. And here, too, the entire army were brought to a halt, and after ten days of incessant fighting and manœuvring had proved the enemy's position almost impregnable, a flank movement was resorted to, which alone compelled him to abandon it.
" Two days after the repulse of our troops, a heavy force of the enemy attempted to assault and carry MePherson's position, farther to the right. It was defended by earth- works and artillery, and the brave hoys of MePherson re- pulsed his every attempt, killing and wounding nearly three thousand of his men, and driving him back shattered and routed to his works. This, in a measure, 'squared' the accounts and compensated for the disastrous result on the 25th, and months afterwards we learned from a captured rebel officer that their loss in our front on the 25th was very severe, particularly in their second line, which, being less sheltered by the works, received the brunt of our terrible musketry fire and suffered severely.
" The 107th Regiment lost a much larger number killed and wounded in this engagement than any other regiment engaged, and far more than in any other of its operations ; hence to them did it become the great event of their three years' service, and they richly deserve the right to regard it as such.
" The morning of the eventful 25th of May came. Re- veille was sounded at 3.30 o'clock, and at 8.30 the column got under way. It moved slowly forward until noon, when a halt of an hour was made, after which we moved out on a by-road leading to the little town of Dallas. The marching was easy, the weather fine, and our men went forward in high spirits, hoping soon to reach this objective point in the line of march ; and as no enemy showed itself, every- thing bid fair to work for a ready accomplishment of that object.
" But suddenly a halt was sounded. Then came the order ' about face' and ' march.' Something was the matter surely. Hlad our advance struck that long expected ' snag,' or was there trouble to the rear ? We were marched rap- idly back for a mile or two, then leaving the road the column struck across a field, down into a ravine, across a creek, known by the euphonious name of Pumpkin-Vine Creek, and up a steep ascent to a thinly=wooded table-land, where we found artillery in position, and the infantry of Geary's 2d Division partially intrenched. Matters certainly looked serious. Orderlies were galloping to and fro giving orders, and as we went into position one piece of our artillery began shelling the woods in our front. The boys of our regiment had a tradition that this marching back left in front always foreshadowed difficulties and trouble, and speedily came to the conclusion that there was an enemy in front that we should soou meet. The line was formed on the crest of a hill, the 1st Division taking the place where Geary's Division had previously occupied. The 2d Brigade, to which the 107th belonged, held the right.
" We now learned that, early in the day, Gen. Ilooker, with his staff, came upon a rebel picket, posted at the cross- ing of Pumpkin-Vine Creek, which fired upon him and fled. The general, with his escort, pushed boldly ahead, and soon came upon a body of rebel cavalry. A sharp fight ensued, the escort driving off the enemy unaided.
"Shortly afterwards the 2d Division, which was on a different road than that which the 1st had taken, came upon a large force of rebel infantry ; a severe fight followed, the enemy being driven into a new and formidable line of works, where they succeeded in checking the advance of our troops with severe loss. It thus being evident that the enemy were in large force here, Gen. Hooker ordered the 1st and 3d Divisions back to the support of Geary, and by five o'clock P.M. the entire corps were in line of battle, the 107th Regi- ment occupying a position as before stated.
" We lay for some time quietly waiting some response to the shells of our battery, and preparing for the shock that seemed imminent and close at hand. Yet there was no shrinking back or expression of dismay on the faces of the veterans of the 107th. Every one felt that there was hot work to be done, but so often had they faced the whirlwind of battle, and tasted of its fiery experiences, none thought of faltering in this new hour of danger.
" No reply being provoked by the shells of our battery, the bugle sounded an advance, and the long line moved down the hill, across the ravine, and up the other side with beautiful precision ; a level, thinly-wooded section stretched before, and forward the line swept, our skirmishers coming up with, and rapidly driving back those of the enemy, until they seemed to be making a precipitate retreat. Forward, double-quick, sounded the shrill bugle-' Forward, double- quick !' shouted the officers-and away at the double-quick sprang our elated men. It was an imposing sight. The entire brigade were sweeping rapidly forward with as true a front as if on drill. Gen. Williams, who rode close behind the line, remarked that it was as strict an alignment as if on dress parade ; the line moved as one man, eager to overtake what seemed to be a fleeing enemy. But how terribly were we mistaken! Suddenly our skirmish line seemed to slacken its advance, then come to a stand-still ; not so the main line. Still at the double-quick it went crashing forward, nearly running down and over the wa- vering line of skirmishers. The word to us was still for- ward, and on we went until we were in the very breath of the hell fire that was to sweep through our ranks. But now the pace slackens-before us we hear the sharp crack- ling of musketry. There goes a man fallen to the ground wounded-there another; the line halts, and in what a fearful place ! Directly before us, so near we can see the embrasures of the batteries, frowned a line of massive earth- works, bristling with cannon, behind which, massed in heavy force, lay the enemy. We were fairly trapped-we could not retreat-we must stand our ground. The ranks closed up bravely. To the right of the 107th Regiment was the gallant old 3d Wisconsin. It was some comfort to us to know they were so near and held the flank. The fire of the enemy began to increase. Our men leveled their rifles and the whole line was ablaze with the discharge. Then out from that dark covert leaped such a discharge of death-dealing missiles as never before was met in all our experience. Shot, shell, grape, canister and minie came tearing through our ranks, mowing a terrible swath of death and destruction. At this first fire of the enemy fell full one- half of those lost during the engagement. It was sickening, fearful.
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HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, NEW YORK.
" Company F occupied a position directly across an open road that led through the woods, and from its increased exposure suffered more than any other company. Brave Capt. Knox, who commanded it, was far ahead of his men, waving his sword and endeavoring to cheer them on, when he was struck by a piece of shell and f'ell mortally wounded. In quick succession fell its first and second lieutenants, the former severely wounded, the last dead, while at the first volley fell nearly one-half of the entire company. And so along the line men and officers were falling like grain before the reaper. But, praise God ! the gallant old regi- ment stood fast, and went not backward a single step. The broken ranks close up, the line blazed forth its volley again and again, and though the hell in our front vomited out its fiery discharges thick and fast, there was no confusion or disorder. The gaps caused by our falling men were quickly filled by the survivors, and the ranks, though fearfully de- pleted, remained unbroken. We should surely have relief soon, for ammunition already began to fail. and this un- equal contest could not last long. But nearly an hour passed, and no relief came, and still the contest went on. The line of the regiment had become such a mere skeleton that the men found a partial cover behind the trees, and replenishing their cartridge-boxes from those of their fallen comrades, kept up a steady fire upon the enemy's position, striving, by watching the flash of his eannon, to pick off the men who served them. Col. Crane now dispatched Adj. Benedict to Gen. Ruger, who commanded the brigade, with the message to hurry up the relief, as his line was a mere skeleton, and nearly out of ammunition. Back came the adjutant with the stern command from the general, 'to have his men fix bayonets, and hold the ground at all haz- ards" If the enemy should make a sally and charge upon our shattered line, nothing could save us from disas- trous overthrow, for there was no force within supporting distance. Fortunately, however, the enemy, either from being too much crippled himself, or from an ignorance of the condition of affairs in his front, did not venture from the cover of his works, and we were thus saved from com- plete annihilation.
". The gloom of night began to gather around the devoted regiment, and we could distinguish the enemy's position only by the flashes of his cannon and musketry. Suddenly a thrill of joy ran through every heart, as, looking back, we saw the long-looked for relief. Never was relief more welcome or more needed. The long line of fresh troops came up, halted, and fixed bayonets, and took their position where, for over an hour, we had stood and fought in the face of a fire seldom if ever equaled in severity during the war. Cautiously the scattered men were gathered in, and slowly moving back, lying down occasionally to escape the shells of the enemy, as he at times redoubled his fire, we at last got out of range, and were safe. Soon after, as night set in, the fire of the rebel battery slackened, and the fight became a mere desultory skirmish fire between the two lines.
" It quickly grew dark, and, exhausted and heavy-hearted, our men lay down to rest. Not a company but mourned the loss of some favorite member ; not a man but had lost some comrade dearly loved.
" The morning of the 26th dawned with a clear sky and bright sun, and under its cheerful influences the depressed spirits of our men rose to their wonted level, and no active operations being ordered, time and opportunity were given to look about and ascertain the precise result of yesterday's contest. Parties were detailed to bring in and bury the dead, and the regiment was brought together and put in line to the rear of the field of operations of the previous day, and now we learned the actual loss during that fright- ful hour's work.
" Twenty-four of the regiment's bravest and best men fell ‹lead on the field. Twelve more of the wounded died during the night. Beside these one hundred and thirty-two crippled and mutilated forms found refuge in the hospitals, there to linger for a few days in agony worse than death, or to escape to a life of hopeless deformity and suffering.
" Among the dead were the very flower of the regiment. Company B lost three of its very best men, in the persons of McGuire, Greves, and Vreeland, all shot dead, while among those fatally wounded was the tried and trusty Corp. Mun- son, well known to many friends here as a most exemplary and Christian young man. Company D, in the death of young William Van Auken, lost a splendid soldier and a faithful and beloved comrade. Company F, as has been stated, was terribly eut up, and mourned, in the death of Capt. Knox and Lieut. Hill, two as brave and accomplished officers as ever drew sword. Company K lost another true and Christian young man, Sergt. Eugene Thacher. Com- pany A lost its noble First Sergt. Hammond, and by the severe wounding of Capt. John M. Losie (who suffered the amputation of a leg) were deprived of a brave and efficient commander. Two other fine soldiers were Sergt. Ben Force, of Company H, and Corp. Charles Newberry, of Company E. Both fell dead while bravely fighting; men that could illy be spared, their death eaused a vacancy hard to be so well filled again. But among so many gallant ones fallen it is useless to attempt a mention of all. Each fallen one was a hero, and will be ever remembered as such by his surviving comrades, and a nation's gratitude will, we trust, ever be accorded to them, as a part of that great host who laid down their lives that the nation might live.
" The ranks of the regiment, though so l'earfully depleted, were now fully reformed, and its gallant members were ready for the next ordeal that the campaign might develop."
Fighting and skirmishing were continued on the following day, and, although the enemy was intrenched, on the 5th of June he retreated. Sherman lost no time, but followed hard upon the retreating foe. He crowded Johnston from one position to another, and from June 6 to 14 was a series of marches, countermarches, and skirmishes. On the 15th the enemy opened an attack on our forces at Pine Knob, and, after a hard fight, was repulsed with heavy loss.
Again there was a retreat by the enemy, and again the victorious army of Sherman followed in hot pursuit. The battle of Culp's Farm was fought on the 22d, and on the 27th followed the battle of Kenesaw.
Ou went the flying foe before the intrepid Sherman. Peach-Free Creek battle was fought the 20th, and here the gallant Major Baldwin was mortally wounded, June 22. After hard fighting, Sherman secured a position in
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HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, NEW YORK.
front of Atlanta, and laid siege to the city, which was finally evacuated by the enemy September 2, and the 107th Regiment was among the first to enter the city. In this siege the regiment lost about sixty killed and wounded.
The regiment remained at Atlanta some time performing provost-guard duty, and on the 15th of September left Atlanta with Sherman on his memorable " March to the Sea." On the 26th a skirmish was had at Sandersville, and December 9, Redoubt No. 3, nine miles from Savannah, was captured, and December 21 the city was evacuated by the enemy and the campaign closed. This was one of the greatest campaigns of the war, and it is an honor to be able to say, " I marched with Sherman from Atlanta to the sea !" It may justly be written that the 107th during this campaign added fresh laurels to those already won while with the Army of the Potomac, and it is well known that Gen. Sherman held this regiment in the highest esteem ; and in 1875 he said, " I surely know no regiment that I would prefer to meet, whose services both East and West make them justly proud."
After the evaenation of Savannah, the 107th went into camp on the Georgia side of the river, where they remained until Jan. 17, 1865, when they moved with the army for the campaign through the Carolinas, and participated in the battle of Averysboro', N. C., March 16, and Black River, N. C., March 19. On the 24th they reached Goldsboro' and went into camp, ending the march of sixty- six days,-distance, five hundred miles,-the total casual- ties of the campaign being about forty. Left camp at Goldsboro' April 10, and, after a series of marches,-pass- ing through Richmond and other places,-the 25th finds the regiment in camp near Bladensburg, Md., preparing the muster-out rolls. June 6 they bade farewell to South- ern soil, and on the Sth reached Elmira, on the 9th turned over their camp and garrison equipage, on the 10th were paid off and mustered out of service, and the 107th passed into history.
Summary of Marches .- The following is a summary of marches of the regiment :
Year.
Miles.
1862 .- Before leaving Arlington Heights. 20
1862 .- First campaign in Maryland .. 175
1862 .- To Antietam Ford from Maryland Heights 10
1862 .- Winter campaign to Fairfax and Stafford Court- Ilouse. 150
1863 .- Campaign to Chancellorsville ... 75
1863 .- Second campaign in Maryland and Pennsyl- vania. 350
1863 .- Marches on the Rappahannock and in Ten- nessee ...
300
1864 .- Campaign to Atlanta and the sea, 600
1865 .- Campaign through Carolinas 500
1865 .- llomeward march to Washington. 400
Total, 2580
Summary of Campaigns .- The regiment campaigned in the following States : Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Ten- nessee, and passed through Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky.
Summary of Battles .- The regiment participated in the following battles and skirmishes, viz. :
Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.
Chancellorsville, Va., May 1-3, 1863.
Gettysburg, Pa., July 1-3, 1863. Resaca, Ga., May 15, 1864. Dallas, Ga., May 25, 1864. Cassville, Ga., May 19, 1864. Pine Knob, Ga., June 15, 1864.
Culp's Farm, Ga., June 22, 1864.
Kenesaw, Ga., June 27, 1864.
Peach-Tree Creek, Ga., July 20, 1864.
Siege of Atlanta, July 23 to Aug. 24, 1864.
Sandersville, Ga., Nov. 26, 1864.
Redoubt No. 3, Savannah, Ga., Dec. 9, 1864.
Argyle Island and siege of Savannah, Dec. 11-22, 1864. Averysboro', N. C., March 16, 1865.
Black River, N. C, March 19, 1865.
Roll of Honor .- During the month of January, 1876, Maj. Charles J. Fox and A. S. Fitch, the efficient secretary of the 107th Association, visited Albany, and upon appli- eation at the office of the adjutant-general were furnished with the muster-out rolls of the regiment, from which were copied the lists of the dead of the several companies, with date, place, and cause of death. This list comprises only those who died before receiving their discharge from the service. Many sick and wounded were discharged, came home, and died ; none such are reported in this list.
Field and Stuff.
Lient .- Col. Lathrop Baldwin, died July 30, 1864, of wounds received at Peach-Trec Creek, Ga., July 20, 1864.
Com .- Sergt. Ifenry Inscho, died April 9, 1863.
Company .l.
Cornelius Ifammond, first sergeant, killed at Dallas, May 25, 1864. Charles Bolton, sergeant, died at Chattanooga, Tenn., June 20, 1864,
of wounds received at Dallas, May 25, 1864.
John B. Arnot, died at Bolivar lleights, Oet. 23, 1862. Silas H. Betson, died at llope Landing, Va., March 3, 1863.
Abram Decatur, died at Bolivar Heights, Va., Oct. 13, 1862.
Augustus Demick, died at Fairfax Court-Ilouse, Va., Oct. 12, 1862.
John M. French, died Sept. 19, 1862, from wounds received at Antie- tam.
William Ifill, died at Jeffersonville, Dec. 2, 1864.
William J. Graves, died at Atlanta, Oct. 24, 1864.
Charles H. Luce, died at Washington, D. C., Jan 21, 1863.
George MePherson, died at David's Island, N. Y., April 5, 1865.
George Ramsey, died at Washington, D. C., July 25, 1863.
Itenry P. Smith, died at Bolivar Heights, Va., Oct. 13, 1862. Henry Stevens, died at Atlanta, Ga., Sept. 19, 1864.
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