History of Steuben county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 35

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia, Lewis, Peck & co.
Number of Pages: 826

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 35

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Company A of this regiment was raised in the town of Bath, Steuben Co., by Capt. John Stocum. When this popular and well-tried officer erected his little tent on the Pulteney Square, in the village, volunteers flocked to him. The result is thus stated in one of the village papers : " Single-handed and alone, in nine days he had a full com- pany raised, equipped, and mustered into the service. A better one it would be hard to find, as the military record shows. At the election of its officers, the company unani- mously chose for first lieutenant Benjamin N. Bennett, and for second licutenant, John W. Brown."

Capt. Stocum was born in Pulteney, April 27, 1825, and at an early age came to Bath a poor orphan boy. By his industry and good character he won a position of high respectability among his fellow-citizens. Such was the con- fidence the young men had in him that, in 1861, when it was announced that he was about to raise a battery, in two weeks his company was full. He was appointed captain, and, with his command ( Battery E, Ist New York Light Artillery ), was ordered to the front. After five months' service Battery E was divided up and put into other bat- teries.

Returning home in 1862, when there was another call for men, Capt. Stocum commenced recruiting Company F of the IGIst Regiment, and was soon with his full command at Elmira. A severe epidemic breaking out among his troops, numbers died, and he was prostrated with fever three months. Meanwhile his regiment having been or- dered to the Department of the Gulf, when he had suffi- ciently recovered he rejoined them, and rendezvoused at Baton Rouge, in time to participate in the campaign against Port Hudson. Feeble health compelled him soon after to resign and return home.

On the 3d of September, 1864, he commenced raising his third and last company, for the war, with which he served, -often placed in higher commands,-till the final over-

throw of the Rebellion, when he brought his company back with the loss of only seven, and marched them into the vil- lage square at Bath, where he bade them farewell.

Company C of the 189th was enlisted in Angust, 1864, in Wheeler, Bath, Kanona, Avoca, and Urbana, by Capt. Burrage Rice, assisted by Lients. Robison and Warren. Mustered and clothed by Sept. 13, it was at first assigned to the 175th New York, but a revocation of that assign- ment was secured by Captain Rice, at Albany, and it was afterwards connected with the 189th Regiment.

Capt. Rice was born in Bath in 1829, and enlisted under the first calls of the President for volunteers at the breaking out of the war, as a private in the Ist Vermont Regiment.

Ile took an active part in the battle of Big Bethel, in which his regiment distinguished itself for bravery, and was mustered out with it at the expiration of its term of service. Another regiment being immediately formed, he was chosen captain of one of its companies, but relinquished the posi- tion at the urgent appeal of his family and friends, and accepted the office of under-sheriff in Bath, the duties of which he discharged for over two years. While captain of the 189th, Nov. 4, 1864, he was promoted to brigade in- spector on the staff of Brig .- Gen. Gregory, of the 2d Bri- gade, to which the 189th belonged, a position he held with great credit till Jan. 11, 1865, when he was shot dead by ambushed guerillas, who attacked a foraging party under his command. His body was embalmed and sent to Bath, and buried with Masonic honors Jan. 19, 1865.

Capt. Silas W. Robison was born in Hornellsville, where he lived till his seventeenth year, when he went to Ham- mondsport to reside with his sister. Ile was one of the first volunteers who, in 1861, shouldered the musket in the de- fense of the Union. Entering Company I, 34th New York, as a private, he served two years faithfully, being promoted to sergeant, and then to orderly, and discharged with his regiment July, 1863. He returned to Hammonds- port and followed farming till he entered the service again as first lieutenant of Company C, of the 189th Regiment, and had command of the company after Capt. Rice's promotion, and was commissioned captain in his place upon the death of that accomplished officer.

Lieut. Dwight Warren was born in Bath, March 21, 1831. When the war broke out he was engaged in farming. He sold his farm, and Aug. 19, 1862, enlisted as a private in Company F of the 161st New York. Ile was promoted to orderly-sergeant Oct. 27. On account of an attack of typhoid fever, he was not able to join his regiment, which had sailed with Banks' expedition, till the 20th of February. He served with General Banks in the Louisiana campaigns, and after one year was discharged on account of sickness, and returned home. In the fall of 1864 he assisted Capt. Burrage Rice in raising Company C, of which he was elected second lieutenant, and on the death of the captain was promoted to the first lieutenancy.

Second Lieutenant Mortimer W. Read was born in Urbana, March 16, 1841, and was brought up a farmer, which oc- cupation he followed till the war broke out, when he vol- unteered for two years in Company A, of the 23d New York, served out his time, and was honorably discharged with his regiment, May 26, 1863. He enlisted again under

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Capt. Rice, Aug. 22, 1864. Upon the organization of the company in Bath, he was chosen orderly-sergeant, and rose to the lieutenancy in due course upon the captaincy being vacated by the death of Capt. Rice.

Company G was recruited in the towns of Cohocton, Avoca, and Wayland, in this county. In this section the feeling was the same as everywhere prevailed under the last call. for men. The large bounties, the coming draft, and the love of country urged the necessity of filling the quota. The maximum number of the company was raised by the per- severance and address of William Washburn, Esq., assisted by Mr. E. A. Draper, and was mustered in September, 1864. Mr. Washburn was chosen captain ; Mr. Draper, first lieutenant, and Mr. A. J. Alden, second lieutenant. These gentlemen accompanied the regiment to the field, and shared its fortunes in the final campaign which successfully crushed the great rebellion.

Capt. Washburn, born and brought up in Cohocton, was a remarkably exemplary young man. For a number of years he was engaged in teaching and farming in Wisconsin, and returned to Cohocton in 1851, and was subsequently, till the breaking out of the war, in the employ of the Rochester, Corning, and New York and Erie Railroad Companies. 1st Lieut. Edwin A. Draper was also a native of Cohocton, where he always lived till entering the service. He first enlisted Oct. 1, 1862, as second lieutenant, in Com- pany I of the 161st New York, and served faithfully two years with General Banks in Louisiana. He re-enlisted as a private, Aug. 31, 1864, and enlisting twenty-seven men for his company, upon its organization it promoted him by vote to the first lieutenancy. He was a neat and skillful officer, and a real military man, whom the adjutant would always designate to perform his duties when he was absent.

Second Lieutenant Andrew J. Alden, although not a native of Steuben County, married and became a resident of Avoca, where he established himself in business in 1846. He enlisted Aug. 22, 1864 ; he was made second lieutenant in Company G, 189th New York, but disability interrupted considerably his duties with his company.

Company H, of this regiment, was chiefly raised in the town of Bath, Steuben Co. In the fall of 1864, after Captains Johu Stocum and Burrage Rice had each raised a company of men, the quota of the town of Bath not yet being full for the call for five hundred thousand, Ion. D. B. Bryan, of Sonora, John T. Allen and others, of Bath, proposed to Supervisor John L. Smith that anthority be obtained for Prof. N. Crosby to recruit a company of in- fantry. The professor, for five years connected with the Sonora Academy, was designated, by his influence with the best class of young men, as the proper leader of another recruiting campaign. Duly authorized from Albany, and assisted by Lieuts. H. F. Scofield and L. G. Rutherford, and Sergts. D. Crosby, R. McCann, and S. P. Teachman, he succeeded so well that in five days were mustered at Elmira, on the 13th of September, over seventy men for this company, who thereupon received furloughs home until the 26th. Punctually they returned, and enough others came to fill the company's complement, and about one hun- dred besides. Capt. N. Crosby and his lieutenants were

mustered on the 19th, and Company H awaited in Barracks No. 1, at Elmira, orders to move to the front.

Capt. Crosby was a graduate of the University of Mich- igan, and previous to entering the service had been principal of the Sonora Academy over two years, and had also studied law with Hon. David Rumsey, at Bath.

First Lieutenant Hiram F. Scofield enlisted in August, 1862, in Capt. Biles' company, then organizing for the 161st New York, and was at once promoted to sergeant. Ile was subsequently made second lieutenant of a colored regiment organized at New Orleans, and held the position till, with other officers, he was mustered out, on account of consoli- dation, in the fall of 1863, and returned home. Hle re- mained but a short time, however, when he was called to the position of first lieutenant of Company H, of the 189th New York. He was acting quartermaster of the regiment for some time after its organization, aud one of its most active and efficient officers.

Second Lieutenant L. G. Rutherford was born in Bath, N. Y., Jan. 2, 1840, and received a good education at Pratts- burgh and Sonora Academies. He studied law with C. F. Kingsley, Esq., of Bath, and was about being admitted at the New York bar when he joined the 78th New York Regiment, under the first call for three hundred thousand troops. He served in the Shenandoah Valley, under Gens. Siegel and Bauks, but severe illness compelled him to re- turn home, where he partially regained his health, and re- enlisted and engaged in recruiting with great enthusiasm in the fall of 1864. IIe was made second lieutenant by the unanimous voice of his company, and was a brave and reliable officer in all the vicissitudes of the service.

The companies of Capts. Bernan, Washburn, Hill, and Pond were sent forward before the regimental organization was completed, and, arriving at City Point, encamped near the depot of the United States Mail Railroad, and engaged in guard and drilling duty under Gen. Patrick. Capt. Pond had broke faith with his regiment and joined the engineer corps. On Monday, October 24, the remaining six com- panies arrived from Washington. The first movement of consequence was to Warren Station, fifteen miles, Noveui- ber 1, Col. Hayt having been ordered to report to Gen. Warren, commanding the 5th Corps, in front of Peters- burg. Arrived here, the regiment was placed in Gen. E. M. Gregory's (2d) Brigade, Griffin's (1st) Division, 5th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, Gen. Meade, command- ing.

The following few days were mainly spent in building tents, policing streets, and fitting up the camp in comfortable military style. On the 5th, Col. Hlayt went down to City Point, leaving the regiment in command of Capt. Stocum, and while there, on the 12th of November, died suddenly of congestion of the brain. When this sad news reached his command at Warren Station, the commissioned officers of the regiment were convened by order of Lieut .- Col. Allen L. Burr. After mutual consultation, by request, the com- manding officer appointed Capt. Burrage Rice, Chaplain Wmn. H. Rogers, and Capt. Wm. H. Withey a committee to draft resolutions expressive of the sentiments of the regi- ment. These resolutions, cubodying the regiment's high appreciation of the character of Col. Hoyt and its deep

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HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, NEW YORK.

sense of bereavement at his sudden death, will be found in the history of the 189th, by the chaplain, page 74.

November 24-Thanksgiving-Day-was spent in camp, the regiment partaking of the bountiful supply of baked poul- try, etc., sent from the North. December 6, commenced the celebrated raid on the Weldon Railroad. After destroying miles of the road, tearing up the track, burning the ties, and heating and bending the rails so as to render them useless, and effectually cutting off the rebels' communica- tion with their supplies and reinforcements from North Carolina, the regiment returned and went into camp before Petersburg, between the Jerusalem Plank-Road and the Gurley House, where the whole brigade rendezvoused for the rest of the winter.

Here the brigade and regiment enjoyed the benefit of two churches, erceted voluntarily by the soldiers in a short time. Their bodies and gable ends were made of pine logs and poles, the erevices being chinked and smeared with the reconsecrated soil of old Virgina. The Christian Commis- sion furnished the tent-roofs and stoves, which, with the close-fitting panel-doors, made them comfortable places in which to worship. One ealled " The Brigade Church," 40 by 60 in size, was on the left of the brigade ; the other, called .. The Church of the 189th," 30 by 40, stood on the right. The former was dedicated on Sunday, December 22, by Bishop Edmund S. Jones ; the latter, the following Sun- day, by Rev. J. K. Tuttle, of Waterloo, N. Y.

A foraging expedition was sent out on the HIth of Jan- uary, and visited a forsaken plantation at a considerable distance off the Jerusalem Plank-Road, about six miles out- side the Union lines and some eight miles from eamp. C'apt. Riee was in command. While the teamsters were loading, he had stationed picket-guards at a distance, to be on the lookout for the enemy. He was informed by a loyal resident of the near proximity of a band of rebels. They soon made their presence known by firing twice upon his command and retreating, so that when the reserve guard was sent forward they could not be discovered. The train was loaded, and as quickly as possible commenced to return. By order of Capt. Rice, Company H, under command of Lieut. H. F. Seofield, had the advance both going and coming, throwing out skirmishers on each side of the road, under Lieut. J. G. Rutherford.

About a mile from the Jerusalem Plank-Road, in a dense wood, a swamp-swollen full by the recent rains-compelled the flankers on the left of the train to come into the road to pass. The enemy, seereted in this swamp as near the road as possible, fired upon the middle and rear of the passing train. Instantly riding back from the front, Capt. Rice ordered it forward as rapidly as possible, and ordered the men to halt and form in line of battle. The firing of the enemy, the hurry of the teams and wagons, produced such confusion that the two companies of the 189th were the only ones that stood firmly and deliberately returned the enemy's fire.

Here Capt. Rice fell from his horse mortally wounded. The officers and men gathered around him. The firing of the enemy had eeased. With rare presence of mind in such an extremity, Capt. Rice took this as an indication that the enemy's intention was to flank the train before it

could reach the plank-road, and to the commanders whose unflinching troops had sileneed the enemy, he said, with great emphasis, "Move forward your men to protect the train. You cannot assist me. Move forward; save the train !"

They obeyed, The fallen leader should have been borne to the train by those around him, and promptly succeeded by the captain next in rank ; but that was shamefully or thoughtlessly neglected, and the blame attached to the whole expedition instead of to those who ought to have been held responsible.

Instantly upon the assault being commeneed, Capt. Rice, with the coolness of a veteran, dispatched an orderly to Gen. Gregory for reinforcements. It was not long before the long roll was beating in the camp of the 189th, and Lieut .- Col. Townsend quickly led bis other eight compa- nies, under command of Gen. Gregory, to the rescue. Meeting at our picket lines the train, the general ordered it to camp, and all its guard to " About face !" and, with the rest, confront the foe, if necessary, and bring in Captain Rice's body. The body was found after dark. It had been stripped naked and shot onee through the waist and twice through the head. On the 13th it was embahned at City Point, and sent home in charge of Lieut. Dwight Warren.

On the 5th and 6th of February the regiment was en- gaged in the battle of Hatcher's Run. In the thick of the fight, on the second day, Lieut .- Col. Burr rode to and fro along the line in front of his brigade, amidst a storm of leaden hail, and rallied and strengthened his men to stand firm. Many portions of the line were forced temporarily to give way, but quickly reformed, and stayed the progress of the enemy in this part of the field. The 189th, under Capt. Stoenm, did gloriously. Two of the regiment were killed and eleven wounded in this action.

On the 6th of March, 1865, Lient .- Col. Burr was pre- sented by the regiment with a noble black horse, purchased at six hundred dollars, in token of the gallantry displayed on the memorable field of Ilatcher's Run on the 6th of February. The presentation was made by Capt. Crosby in an eloquent and fitting speech, and feelingly and appro- priately responded to by the colonel.

The regiment participated in several hard engagements during the final campaign of the war. At Lewis' farm brisk skirmishing deepened into a spirited conflict. Com. panies A and B and a portion of F composed the skirmish line, under Adjt. Roney, which, followed by the regiment in line of battle, advanced through bushy woods obliquely to the right, struggling with the enemy, who were con- stantly giving way. Our regiment had none killed, but twelve wounded. Company B took twenty-five prisoners, with three horses and their equipments. A report of the engagement at Gravelly Run says, " So conspienous was the sueeess of the 189th that their brave conduct was complimented by their brigade, division, and corps com- manders." At four o'clock P.M. Major Withey, with three companies, was sent to the skirmish line, supported by the other seven companies of the regiment in line of battle. Advaneing on double-quick, left wheel, the regiment closely pressed the flecing enemy. Thus they were completely

IHISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, NEW YORK.

137

flanked. Thereupon a charge was made all along our line, by which six thousand rebels, with their arms and ammu- nition, were captured, and the battle of Five Forks, the Key of Petersburg, Richmond, and the downfall of the Rebellion turned gloriously in favor of the Union. In this decisive charge every officer and man was in his place ; Gen. Gregory, followed elosely by the 189th, being the first whose horse leaped the enemy's fortifications, and who struck down with his sword those who attempted to raise their guns to take his life

On the 3d the news of the evacuation of Richmond evoked the wildest cheers and enthusiasm. Passing through Mannsboro' and Dennisville, the regiment struck the Dan- ville Railroad at dark on the 4th, seven miles east of Burksville, and immediately were ranged in line of battle to encounter the forces of Lee trying to elude Sheridan, who had intercepted him in his westward flight. Hastily erecting breastworks across the railroad, the 189th lay down behind them for the night, no enemy appearing. On the morning of the 5th, planting batteries, strengthening earth- works, and manceuvring forces indicated the proximity of the enemy. Soon the regiment was ordered to advance and assist the cavalry in capturing a body of rebels ; but they had not proceeded far when shouts of victory were heard, and jubilant troops of cavalry came back bringing many cap- tured battle-flags. The end approached.

The historian of this regiment thus describes the final struggle before the surrender of Lee: " The bugle-notes by which, at six o'clock on the morning of Sunday, the ever- memorable 9th day of April, we were summoned to renew our marching, ealled us forth to the proudest deeds that ever shed lustre on human effort. Word was brought that Lee, completely surrounded, was engaging Sheridan, intent upon eutting his way through. Marching towards Appo- mattox Station, we met forty cannon, numerous wagon- rains, and army stores, and at the depot four railroad rains of supplies, captured the previous night by the eav- alry, who were now struggling with the advance of our ensnared foe. The enemy, unconscious of the presence of

the 5th Corps in support of Sheridan's cavalry, were slowly but surely repelling it, expecting to break through its lines and escape. Forming in line of battle in an open field half a mile in the rear of our cavalry line, which was fight- ing briskly but giving way, Companies A and F of the 189th, being deployed as brigade skirmishers, advanced and relieved the cavalry, who moved off to the right of our corps, and took their position in the invincible circle whose toils now surrounded the greatest hope and army of the Rebellion. Coolly and steadily our columns advanced under the volleys of shell and solid shot poured upon us from the rebel batteries. Our infantry skirmish line having become hotly engaged with that of the rebels, we proceeded double- quick to their support. Rapidly the foe drew back, and our column rose to the brow of the bills around Appomattox Court-House. Here the grandest military view ever pre- sented to mortal sight appeared. Wherever the woods did not intercept the view, Grant's dread phalanx of embattled hosts,-infantry, cavalry, and artillery,-were seen con- verging, 'with awful tread and slow,' down the slopes towards Lee's hostile and defiant battalions, moving to em- brace annihilation if made to give battle. On both sides the banners are all floating on the breeze. Generals and their mounted aids and officers are hurrying to and fro, directing the movements which are to decide the issues of four years of war. The double circle of skirmishers come into closer and closer conflict.

"Our boys, with fixed and pallid features, move onward, expecting every minute to participate in the most over- whelming outburst of fire and death and ruin that ever shook the martial field. Then across the fields, at terrible speed, through our brigade skirmish-line, came Lee's orderly, bearing a flag of truce, and exclaiming, 'Cease firing ! Gen. Lee surrenders with all his forces!' Instantly was riven, as if by a thunder-bolt from Heaven, the irou spell which had bound every man to his fate in the ex- peeted conflict, and in an unrestricted confusion of shouts and demonstrations of joy, officers and privates gave the wildest veut to their feelings of gratitude and delight."

TOWNS AND VILLAGES

OF STEUBEN COUNTY.

ADDISON.

GEOGRAPHICAL SITUATION.

ADDISON is situated in the southern part of the county, and lies upon both sides of the Canisteo River. It is bounded north by Thurston, east by Erwin, south by Tus- carora, and west by Woodhull and Rathbone.

PHYSICAL FEATURES.

The surface of the town is chiefly a hilly upland, broken by the valley of the Canisteo and its tributaries. The prin- cipal valley is one mile wide, and is bordered by steep hill- sides ranging from three to four hundred feet in height. The chief streams which intersect it are the Canisteo River, the Tuscarora, Elk Lick, and Goodhue Creek. Goodhue Lake, in the northwest corner of the town, covers an area of abont 100 acres. The alluvial soil of the valleys is rich and productive; on the hills it is clay, mixed with the débris of broken shale, and produces a fair yield of the various kinds of grain, grass, and fruit.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The first settlement in the town of Addison was made by Samuel Rice in 1791. Reuben and Lemuel Searles, Oliver Miller, George Goodhue, John Martin, Jonathan Tracy, Abel White, James Benham, Asahel Stiles, Silas Morey, Elisha Gilbert, William Wombough, and Martin Young were among the first settlers.

William Wombough settled on a farm about two miles southwest of the village, on the road leading to Troups- burgh. He was the father of William and Henry Wom- bough, the former still a resident of the town. Henry died some years ago at Addison. He was a prominent man, and owned a large milling interest at one time in Minne- apolis, Minn.

John Helmer and John Martin settled on farms about a mile above the village on the river. None of their fami- lies now reside in town.

Samuel Colgrove was a surveyor, and settled in the town at an early day. He resided on the road between William Wombough's and the village. He afterwards removed to Arkport.

The first saw-mill was built by George Goodhue about 1793. William Wombough also built a saw-mill in 1805, and the year following a grist-mill. Samnel Smith opened the first store. Stephen Rice, son of Samuel Rice, was the first white child born in the town, and the first persons married were Brown Gillespie and Miss Gilbert, daughter of Elisha Gilbert. James Martin, brother of John and Isaac Martin, was the first person who died among the early settlers. The names of many of the pioneers of the town, and those who took a leading part in its civil and industrial affairs, will be found in that part of our history copied from the early records, under the head of " Organization."

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History of Steuben county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 35

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford) Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Philadelphia, Lewis, Peck & co. Number of Pages: 826

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia, Lewis, Peck & co.
Number of Pages: 826