USA > New York > Chemung County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 15
USA > New York > Schuyler County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 15
USA > New York > Tioga County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 15
USA > New York > Tompkins County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 15
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After bivouacking a few weeks on the banks of the Mis- sissippi, above the eity, the regiment moved to the rear of the city, where the winter was passed.
December 31 the 161st was assigned to the Seeond Bri- gade, Colonel H. W. Birge, First Division, Brigadier-Gen- eral Grover, and Nineteenth Corps. Jan. 21, together with the 30th and 50th Massachusetts, 174th New York, and 2d Louisiana, it was assigned to the Third Brigade, Colonel N. A. M. Dudley, First Division, Major-General Augur, and Nineteenth Corps.
During the winter the 161st had spent a great portion of the time in battalion and brigade drills, and become in all respeets one of the best-diseiplined regiments in the Department of the Gulf. At this time Admiral Farragut was in command of the marine forees at New Orleans, and being anxious to run a portion of his fleet past the enemy's batteries at Port Hudson, on the 12th of March ordered the Nineteenth Army Corps up the east side of the river, to attract the attention of the garrison, thereby affording the water forees an advantage. After marehing thirteen miles, the order was eountermanded and the main body sent to New Orleans, while the 161st, together with three other regiments, were shipped on transports and landed eighteen miles up the river on the west bank.
Preparations were now made by General Banks to mareh towards Port Hudson, and on May 12 the 3d Brigade broke eamp and commeneed the onward mareh. May 21, the main forces eame upon the enemy at the Plain's Store Road, where a sharp engagement ensued, and the rebel forees were routed and driven towards Port Hudson. The regiment moved forward, and, May 24, the whole eommand halted within one and a half miles of the centre of the enemy's works.
It soon became evident that a charge was the only effi- cient means of reaching the enemy's works, and on the 26th of May a storming-party, consisting of thirty men, a eap-
tain, and a lieutenant from each regiment of the 1st Divis- ion, was ealled for. And as an illustration of the material of the 161st, so many offieers and men volunteered for this perilous task that it became neeessary to appoint a special committee to make the selections. All being in readiness, May 27, the entire land foree, the artillery brigade, and the fleet of gunboats upon the river opened a simultaneous attack.
The contest was a terrible one : the artillery and flotilla poured a flaming sheet of fire of shot and shell; the land forees fought with that bravery and perseveranee never ex- eelled ; while the assaulting column rushed into the very jaws of death.
The enemy from this strongly-intrenehed position poured into those blue ranks a murderous fire of grape and canis- ter, and men fell like wheat before the siekle of the har- vester. Sergeant George Bingham, of Company C, and Edward Stratton and Anson Retan, of Company A, were instantly killed.
After this attack the regiment continued to hold its old position in the ravines until June 14, when another grand attaek was made, and again were the Union forces foreed back.
July 4, Vicksburg surrounded, and General Gardner in command of Port Hudson, having defended the position as long as he deemed his duty required, on the 9th of July the stronghold was surrendered and occupied by the Union forees.
From Port Hudson the regiment proceeded down the river, and on the 9th disembarked at Donaldsonville, and on the 12th moved to Cox's plantation, six miles dis- tant. On the following day the enemy threatened an attaek, and, after forming in line of battle, the Union forees, seeing that they were greatly inferior to the enemy in . numbers, fell back in good order to a more advantageous position near the town. The enemy opened a brisk fire, which was kept up some time, the 161st losing 6 killed, 39 wounded, and 9 missing.
The regiment remained at Donaldsonville until July 31, when they embarked for Baton Rouge and returned to their "Old Camp Ground."
August 15 the 161st was assigned to the First Brigade, First Division, Tenth Army Corps. September 2, the regi- ment embarked for New Orleans, and were ordered on General Banks' expedition to Sabine Pass. Four eompa- nies were detailed as sharpshooters on the gunboats,-A and B on the " Arizona," E on the " Granite City," and D on the "Sachem." Companies C, F, G, and I, under command of Captain W. E. Craig, were detailed as a storm- ing-party to attack the enemy and foree a landing. These companies, with others of different regiments, were eom- manded by Captain Fitch, of the 75th New York, and on the steamer " General Banks." Companies H and K were with Lieutenant-Colonel Kinsey, on the "N. H. Thomas."
Upon arriving near the Pass the gunboats opened fire, and soon one beeame disabled and another grounded. The troops were not landed, the expedition proved a failure, and the regiment returned to New Orleans. In the action at the Pass, Company D had 2 men wounded, 10 sealded,
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and Lieutenant Lindsay with 17 men taken prisoners. These were exchanged July 22, 1864.
The 161st were ordered to join the expedition to the Teche country, and September 15 they left eamp. After a series of marehes the regiment went into eamp, Nov. 17, near Bayou Teche, where it remained until Jan. 7, 1864, when they broke eamp and began the march towards Frank- lin, which was reached on the 9th. Here the regiment went into eamp, and the men enjoyed themselves generally for eight weeks.
March 15 the entire army broke camp and began its mareh on the famous Red River expedition, and, after a series of fatiguing marehes, eame upon the enemy at Pleas- ant Grove. Here a terrible battle was fought, in which the gallant 161st saved the whole army from a humiliating defeat. It lost 9 killed, 44 wounded, and 39 missing.
At the close of this battle Brigadier-General Dwight, on an official visit to the 161st, addressed them as follows :
" Offiecrs and men of the 161st New York volunteers : I appear before you to thank you for your gallant conduct in the battles through which you have just passed. In that of Pleasant Grove you were ordered, upon your arrival, to advance and hold the enemy in cheek until the division eould form in line of battle. Under a hot and destructive fire you accomplished your mission. By your valiant bear- ing you saved the Army of the Gulf from destruction, and it affords me the highest pleasure to convey to you the thanks of the commanding general. Again, at Pleasant Hill, in your movements by ' column by company,' under fire, you marched with as much order and precision as if you had been upon review. To your lieutenant-colonel much praise is due for the skillful manner in which he handled the regi- ment. Officers and men of the 161st New York, I thank you." A just tribute to as brave a body of men as cver marehed to battle.
The regiment participated in all the movements of that disastrous and unwise Red River campaign. The 161st went into camp at Morganzia, where it remained until June 18, when it, having been selected to form a part of an engineer brigade, marched to Vieksburg, arriving in that eity on the 20th. The regiment had hardly begun prepa- rations for engineer work when orders were received to move, and on July 23 they embarked for White River, Arkansas. Here the regiment remained a few days, and returned to Vicksburg, where it was joined by Lieutenant Lindsay and seventeen others, who had been prisoners in Texas eleven months.
Aug. 13 the engineer brigade was abandoned, and the 161st was attached to the Nineteenthi Corps, in the Depart- ment of the Gulf. The regiment now commeneed a series of marches and skirmishes, changing position almost daily. August 14 it left Vieksburg for New Orleans, and on the day following their arrival returned, and were transferred to the Seventeenth Corps. On the 20th it again embarked for New Orleans, where it shipped on the steamer "Cahawba" for Mobile Bay, to assist in the reduction of Fort Morgan, arriving in front of that stronghold upon the day of its capitulation. On the 25th it was sent across the bay to Cedar Point, and September 2 embarked on the old bloek- ade-runner " Kate Dale," en route to Morganzia, which 9
place was reached September 6. About six weeks were now consumed in changing from place to place. The regiment was ordered to Padueah, Ky., and on the 26th marched to Columbus and eneamped, where it remained until November 20, and then was ordered to Memphis. December 19 they bade farewell to Memphis, and embarked for New Orleans. January 11 the 161st landed at Kennerville, twelve miles above the city, and went into eamp. February 11 it left Kennerville for New Orleans, and from thenee proceeded to Mobile Bay.
The regiment participated in the eapture of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely, and was present at the surrender of Mobile, April 12. Here it remained in eamp until May 20, when orders were received detaching the 161st from its brigade, with instructions to establish a military post at Apalachicola, Fla. While here the weather was intensely hot, and mueh siekness prevailed. On the 26th of July an order was received to embark for the Dry Tor- tugas to relieve the 110th New York, whose term of ser- viee would soon expire.
The regiment remained in this desolate place until Sep- tember 25, when, having been mustered out on the 20th, it embarked for New York. New York City was reached on the 6th of October, and Elmira on the 12th, where the battle-searred 161st were the recipients of a grand ovation tendered by the patriotie citizens of that eity. The address of welcome was delivered by Hon. Traey Beadle, and Ehnira, justly proud of the gallant sons of the "Southern Tier," gave them a hearty welcome home.
In the words of the chaplain, " Thus closed the military history of the 161st New York,-a regiment which had traveled 11,000 miles by water and 1200 by land, carrying its tattered flag, torn by the enemy's bullets, over the burn- ing plains of the South, into the thickest of the fight, and into seven different States, and eame home with not an aet to regret, with not a stain on its banners, and with a his- tory for endurance and heroism untarnished and glorious."
The following is a list of the killed and wounded as compiled by the eliaplain of the regiment in 1865:
KILLED.
Baton Rouge .- George N. Wright, Co. B.
Port Hudson .- Anson Retan and Edward Stratton, Co. A; and Sergeant George G. Bingham, Co. C.
Cox's Plantatio ...- Otis Walker, Co. C; and Samuel Robinson and Hosea Sibley, Co. H.
Sabine Pass .- Anthony Compton and Orville C. Boorom, Co. D.
Sabine Cross-Roads. - Charles L. Wheaton, Co. A; Lieutenant L. Edgar Fitch, Co. C; Weller F. Smith, Henry E. Hewson, and Joseph Blunt, Co. D; James Leonard, Co. E; James Grimes and James O'Neill, Co. G. Pleasant Hill .- Elihu Loekwood, Co. C.
WOUNDED.
Port Hudson .- Michael Dougherty, Patrick Flynn, Co. A; William Beekwith, Co. B; Ezra M. Peters, Martin Hallet, Co. C; Frank McDonald and Eugene Bassett, Co. F; Alfred O. Spaulding, Co. G; Abram Cook and Incius D. Cushman, Co. H.
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HISTORY OF TIOGA, CHEMUNG, TOMPKINS,
Cox's Plantation .- Clinton H. Wilcox, Co. A; Captain William HI. Clark, Sergeant William Hibbard (mortally), Bartlett J. Beals, and George A. Brown (mortally), Co. B; Samuel A. Johnson, Joshua Kirk, Frank Letterman, Robert B. Murray, Joseph Seymour, Amasa Squiers, Co. C; Cap- tain James M. Cadmus, Sergeant Otis Smith, Dennis Losey (mortally), Bradford Sanford, Luman Philley, David G. Bryant, Alex. Carman, James Borden, George Blakeley, and Orville C. Boorom, Co. D; Henry R. Smith, Leroy Broderick, Co. E; Stephen Read, Richard Harvey, William Davidson, Co. F; Sergeant Hugh Carney, Sergeant Thos. MeCullough, Austin Amilie, Andrew Sullivan, Patrick E. Brown, Co. G; Franklin Waight, Calvin Dibble, Roswell Miller.
Sabine Pass .- Abram Blakesley (mortally), Garey Dodge (mortally), Patrick Hart (mortally), James M. Snyder (mortally), Adam H. Wilcox (mortally), George T. Gannan (mortally), Jos. Bartholomew, Thos. Sawyer, Ira Chubb, Isaac J. Lewis, Co. D.
Sabine Cross-Roads .- Lieutenant John Gibson, Ser- geant William Eggleston, Sergeant George Prentice, Elijah Sprague, Co. A ; George C. Coleman, Abner R. Page, Jas. Anderson, Ebenezer Boynton, Co. B; William Woodhouse, J. O. Armstrong, G. H. Barrett, Thomas Smith, William Smith, H. S. Clark, Co. C; Captain James M. Cadmus, Tunis J. Harford, Anthony Ayres, Theron F. Miller, Walter McCormick, Franklin Holmes, David G. Bryant, William Spencer, Co. D; Lieutenant R. L. Guion, Ser- geant Henry Moore, George Fohnsbee, Nathan P. Parker, James Murray, Byron Munn, Lcartus Redner, Henry Weisner, George W. Edget, Co. E; Jacob Swartwood, Lyman Tremain, Co. G; Samuel W. Jennings, William T. Norton, Co. H; Captain Samuel Walling, Co. I; Cap- tain George M. Tillson, Co. K.
Pleasant Hill .- Wm. H. Garvey, Co. A ; John. Henyon, Co. G.
Marksville .- Captain Edward Fitzpatrick, Co. G ; E. L. Dewitt, Co. C.
Spanish Fort .- Christopher C. Such, Co. A.
CHAPTER XIII.
.
MILITARY HISTORY-(Continued).
The One Hundred and Seventy-Ninth-The Thirty-Second - The One Hundred and Forty-Third-The Sixty-Fourth-The Eighty- Sixth-The Eighty-Ninth-Sixteenth Heavy Artillery, ete.
THE ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-NINTH REGIMENT.
THE Rebellion had dragged its slow length along until 1864, and although the Union arms had been successful in many engagements, and various important points had been secured, nevertheless the North had met with many disas- trous campaigns, and was still stinging with the disastrous results of the Bull Run battles, when it was decided by President Lineoln to call a heavy force into the field, and to no longer remain upon the defensive, but wage an aggres- sive campaign.
It was at this time, when the novelty of "ye military"
had lost its charm, and soldier life meant, instead of reviews and dress-parade, weary marches and the deadly battle-field with its attendant horrors, that the 179th was organized.
On the 8th of February, 1864, an order was given by Edwin M. Stanton, then Secretary of War, to Major William M. Gregg, of Elmira, authorizing him to raise a regiment for the service from the western part of the State. Ex-Gov- ernor Seymour, at that time governor of this State, in- dorsed the order, accompanied with the authority to Major Gregg to name the other offieers of his regiment. Simul- taneously with the order issued to Major Gregg, authority was given to Colonel Barney, of New York, to raise a regi- nient, which should be known as the 180th. He began recruiting, but succeeded in raising only one company, which was subsequently assigned to the 179th.
Gregg, having served as major in the "old 23d," and being a popular, energetie, and influential citizen, rap- idly filled his regiment, and, May 10, four companies were mustered into the service, and sent to the front under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Franklin B. Doty.
Two additional companies, with Major J. Barnett Sloan, were mustered and sent forward May 17, and joined the command under Lieutenant-Colonel Doty, then with the Ninth Army Corps at City Point. September 5, Gregg joined the command with four additional companies, where- upon the organization of the 179th was perfeeted, and he was mustered as eolonel.
It is justly due in this connection to state that Colonel Gregg gave his personal attention to the raising of the regi- ment, freely giving both time and money in organizing and perfecting it for the service.
The following were the field, staff, and line officers, as mustered in, viz. : Colonel, William M. Gregg ; Lieutenant- Colonel, Franklin B. Doty ; Major, J. Barnett Sloan ; Ad- jutant, George Cook; Quartermaster, Nathaniel P. T. Finch; Surgeon, Joseph W. Robinson ;* Assistant Sur- geon, William C. Bailey ; Chaplain, Edwin A. Taft.
Company A .- Captain, Albert A. Terrill; First Lieu- tenant, George Cook ; Second Lieutenant, James E. Farr. Company B .- Captain, Robert F. Stewart; First Lieu- tenant, George W. Cook; Second Lieutenant, James Booker. Company C .- Captain, John Barton ; First Lieutenant, John Prentiss ; Second Lieutenant, Nathaniel P. T. Finch. Company D .- Captain, William Bird, Jr. ; First Licu- tenant, Baker L. Saxton ; Second Lieutenant, Jeffrey Am- herst Wisner.
Company E .- Captain, Daniel Blatchford ; First Lieu- tenant, L. J. Ottend ; Second Lieutenant, John Hoy.
* Dr. Joseph W. Robinson, of Hornellsville, N. Y., was commis- sioned as assistant surgeon of the 82d Regiment of New York Volun- teers March 1, 1862. March 10 he joined the regiment at Winehes- ter, Va., and served with it until September 1, when he was promoted to be surgeon of the 141st New York Volunteer Regiment. Ile served until December, 1863 (when he resigned on account of the serious ill- ness of his father), and during that time held the positions of brigade and division surgeon in Cowdin's brigade and in Gordon's division. He was commissioned as surgeon of the 179th Regiment in May, 1864, and served with that command until its final muster-out in 1865. During his service with the 82d he was taken prisoner, on the battle- field at White Oak Swamp, in June, 1862. He was also honorably mentioned in the official dispatches of Generals Gorman and Sedg- wick, for field service at the battle of Fair Oaks.
Ri:
Leeco
١
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AND SCHUYLER COUNTIES, NEW YORK.
Company F .- Captain, Albert T. Farwell; First Lieu- tenant, D. A. Bradley ; Second Lieutenant, Giles H. Holden.
Company G .- Captain, James H. Day ; First Lieuten- ant, William J. Hemstreet ; Second Lieutenant, Henry J. Messing.
Company HI .- Captain, Giles H. Holden ; First Licu- tenant, Fitz E. Culver ; Second Lieutenant, S. G. Musgrave. Company I .- Captain, E. C. Bowen ; First Lieutenant, Davis C. Marshall ; Second Lieutenant, Wm. B. Kinncy.
Company K .- Captain, Moses B. Van Benschoten; First Lieutenant, Robert Hooper ; Second Lieutenant, William C. Foster.
A battalion of the 179th, Lieutenant-Colonel Doty in command, entered the field just in time to share the severe service of the last great campaign of the Army of the Potomae against Richmond.
The regiment next participated in the battle in front of Petersburg, June 17. This was a severe contest, and the 179th was in the thiekcst of the fight, losing more than one-third its number in killed and wounded. Lieutenant- Colonel Doty, Captains Robert F. Stewart and William Bird, and Sergeant Hathaway Musgrave were wounded, and Major J. Barnett Sloan* and Captain Daniel Blatch- ford killed. . Captain John Barton was promoted to major July 5, and was in command of the regiment in the battle at Weldon Railroad, and, soon after, in the famous mine explosion, where it lost many officers and men. Among the officers killed were Major Barton, Captain Allen T. Farwell, and Lieutenant B. C. Saxton.} August 8, Cap- tain Albert Terrell was promoted to major, and commanded the battalion until the return of Colonel Doty, August 18.
Next the 179th was engaged in the series of battles and skirmishes which followed the mine explosion. At Poplar Grove Church a sharp battle was fought, and Aeting Adju- tant James W. Booker was wounded, and subsequently died in hospital at Washington. Soon after this engage- ment thie regiment went into fortified camp, and lost some men while extending the line of works.
About this time the Ninth Corps, to which the 179th belonged, changed positions with the Fifth Corps, and were placed in front of Petersburg, near the Jerusalem Plank
Major Sloan was a patriotic and gallant soldier. When an im- perilled country called for volunteers in 1861, to strike at the hideous head of Rebellion, he promptly responded, and enlisted in the 31st Regiment, with the rank of first lieutenant. He was soon after pro- moted to the rank of captain, by General Mcclellan, for his gal- lantry in suppressing a mutiny in the regiment, the general remark- ing, "Lieutenant, you were born to be a soldier. I see that you have but one bar upon your shoulders; you are worthy to wear two." Soon after a captain's commission was sent to him by order of the general. He was ever found at his post of duty, and participated in all the engagements of the regiment. lfe was at the siege of York- town, battles of West Point, Gaines' Mills, Savage Station, Fair Oaks, and second Fredericksburg. He was mustered out of service in 1863, but his patriotism would not allow him to remain quietly at home when his country needed brave men, and under the call of 1864 he again stepped to the front, and, as mentioned above, joined the 179th, and was promoted to major. He was leading the regiment in the charge in front of Petersburg when he received the fatal bullet. He was a gallant soldier and a genial companion.
t It will be seen that a portion of the 179th participated in a series of engagements before its organization was perfected, and prior to the muster-in of Colonel Gregg.
Road, and here they remained until the grand forward move- ment of the Army of the Potomac.
On the night of April 1, Colonel Gregg was notified that a forward movement of the entire army would be made on the following morning, and received orders to move at ten o'clock that night with his command in front of Fort Alex- ander Hays, with empty guns, for an intended assault on the enemy's works in front of Petersburg. At midnight, everything being in readiness, the line officers received a signal from Colonel Gregg, and the column moved noisc- lessly forward. As the intrepid soldiers neared the enemy's works they heard the rebel pickets' announcement, " Twelve o'clock ! all is well!" little thinking of the desperate on- slaught soon to follow.
Precisely at twelve o'clock the charge was made. They rushed upon the enemy's works, driving them from the first line of intrenchments, and capturing as many prisoners as the regiment had men. In this assault Lieutenant Musgrave, in advance of the line, captured about thirty prisoners with a force of only ten or fifteen men. After moving about half a mile the 179th was fired upon by the Union forces, through mistake, and forced into the intrenchments from which the enemy had just been driven.
The enemy now being thoroughly aware of the move- ments of the charging party, brought a battery to bear upon them, but failing to get the proper range, the shells had no effect.
At two o'clock orders were received to repair to Fort Sedgwick (familiarly known as " Fort Hell"), preparatory to making a charge on Fort Mahone, commonly known as " Fort Danination."
The 179th was selected to lead the charge, supported by the whole division. It was a critical moment. Old army officers considered that everything now depended upon the success of this charge. Lee was now making his last grand stand, and if defeated now the backbone of the Rebellion was crushed.
All being in readiness, the gallant 179th dashed upon the rebel works. It was one of the most brilliant charges of the war, and the entire command lost heavily.
" When can their glory fade ? Oh, the wild charge they made !"
It was a terrible onslaught, and Colonel Gregg, while gallantly leading the charge, at the head of his command, was wounded and carried off the field, and reported as dead. When Colonel Gregg fell, Lieutenant-Colonel Doty assumed command, and was soon after mortally wounded, and died on the following day. He was a brave and efficient officer, and his loss was keenly felt.t
From here Lee telegraphed Davis that he was repulsed at every point. The regiment, now under command of
# Lieutenant-Colonel Doty had a hrilliant record in connection with the 23d Regiment, participating in the battles of Rappahannock Station, Sulphur Springs, Gainesville, Groveton, second Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, and Fredericksburg, to which honorahle record is to he added the battles of the Army of the Potomae in front of Petersburg, with the 179th, from June 17, 1864, until his death. A granite monument, appropriately inserihed, was erceted by the officers and men of the 179th Regiment over his remains, which were interred at Hornellsville, N. Y., his former home.
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HISTORY OF TIOGA, CHEMUNG, TOMPKINS,
Captain Bowen, followed the army to Burkeville, and par- ticipated in the elosing seenes of the Rebellion.
Many of the officers of the 179th were in the old 23d, in which Colonel Gregg served as major, and H. C. Hoff- man eolonel, and were well qualified for their respective rank, in consequence of having been disciplined under the direction of Colonel Hoffman, who was considered one of the bravest of soldiers as well as best disciplinarians in the serviee.
The 179th had the example of a brave and efficient commander, one who never shrank from duty in the hour of danger. Colonel Gregg was ever found sharing the for- tunes of his regiment, whether upon weary marches or in front of rebel bullets. His eoolness and bravery in the terrible charge mentioned above attracted the attention of the commanding general, and he was " brevetted brigadier- general for gallant conduct on the field in the assault on the enemy's lines in the front of Petersburg, April 2, 1864."
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