History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York, Part 9

Author: Peirce, H. B. (Henry B.) cn; Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Ensign
Number of Pages: 1112

USA > New York > Chemung County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 9
USA > New York > Schuyler County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 9
USA > New York > Tioga County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 9
USA > New York > Tompkins County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 9

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).

"Of the cool and deliberate bravery exhibited by the officers of the two companies G and B, under the peculiarly perilous circumstances in which they found themselves, I cannot in justice speak but in terms of especial commendation.

"In the action we had engaged one field officer, one acting staff officer (adjutant), fourteen line officers, and nine (9) companies, em- braeing 276 enlisted men.

"Company C was detached. We took three (3) prisoners. We had three (3) stragglers.

" H. C. HOFFMAN, Colonel Commanding."

On the 17th the 23d moved down near the bank of the river, and went into eamp, where it remained until the 20th, when it received marching orders, and proceeded to Belle Plain and went into winter quarters. This mareh elosed the active campaign that eommeneed at Fairfax Court- House, March 10, and ended at Belle Plain, Dee. 20.

The regiment remained in eamp here during the winter and spring of 1863. April 20 the army moved, and the 23d was assigned to the defenses of Aquia, and was there in the fortifications during the battle of Chaneellorsville. A member of the regiment says, " At the sound of boom- ing eannon and the blaze of battle, which could be distinctly heard and seen, the spirit of the 23d was aroused, and many longed to go and help their noble comrades fight out the battle which all were sanguine must result in a great victory to our arms."

The term of enlistmen of the 23d having now expired, arrangements were made for the homeward trip, and on the 11th of May the battle-searred regiment left the saered soil of old Virginia, and on the evening of the 13th eame within view of the " welcome spires and green shade-trees of Elmira." A sad accident occurred while en route near Marysville. Captain Clark, of Company H, was instantly killed while in the aet of elimbing on the rear car just as the train was passing under a bridge. His head struek the bridge, and he was knocked off the ear, his body falling on the rocks by the side of the track. When found, a few moments after, life was extinct.

Upon the arrival of the regiment in Elmira it formed in line in front of the Delevan House, and an address of wel- come was delivered by Mayor Spaulding, which was briefly responded to by Colonel Hoffman, after which they marched to the old barraeks of the 23d, where a bounteous repast was prepared by the ladies of Elmira.

In the language of the Ehnira Advertiser, " It was a

magnificent reception and worthy the patriotie people of Elmira, and gladdened the hearts of the men to honor whom the demonstration was made; but it gladdened far more when they were allowed to throw off their knapsacks and war-gear and go home to their own firesides, to their fathers and mothers, brothers, sisters, wives, and sweet- hearts. Wednesday, the 13th of May, will be ever green in the memory of the soldiers of the 23d and their friends."

It was, indeed, a fitting reception of the battle-searred regiment of the Southern Tier, the first from the 27th Congressional district.

The following is a list of the killed and missing, and also of those who died from wounds or disease in the 23d :

Jeremiah V. Bogart, killed in second battle of Bull Run, Aug. 30, 1862.

Eli Deeker, died of fever, Dee. 3, 1861.

David Farron, killed at Antietam, Sept. 17, 1862.

William March, killed at Fredericksburg, Va., May 25, 1862.

John M. Mowers, died ef fever, Dee. 31, 1861.

Herkimer Shults, died of fever, Dee. 18, 1861.

S. Williams, killed at Antietam, Sept. 17, 1862.

Christopher Brennan, died at Falmouth, July 4, 1862.

Henry Brown, killed at Antietam, Sept. 17, 1862.

Thomas Carroll, killed at Ball's Cross-Roads, Aug. 17, 1861.

Charles W. Tiee, died Aug. 5, 1862, of wounds received at Antietam.

Alexander J. Jaynes, died Dee. 15, 1861.

Harlow Arms, died March 24, 1863.

David J. Perene, supposed to have been killed at Rappa- hannoek Station, Aug. 21, 1862.

Jerome Gorton, supposed to have been killed at Antietam, Sept. 17, 1862.

Henry E. Gilbert, died Dee. 1, 1862.

George C. Ames, died Oct. 7, 1862, of wounds received

at Antietam, Sept. 17, 1862.

Richard B. Hurd, killed at Fredericksburg, Dee. 13, 1862.

Thomas Van Horn, died Dee. 21, 1861.

Israel Marquart, died Nov. 18, 1861.

James Pease, died Aug. 16, 1861.

Edmund Campbell, died in November, 1862, of wounds received at Antietam, Sept. 17, 1862.

William Deeker, died Dee. 16, 1861.

Elias Dodge, died in January, 1863.

Hamilton Squires, died Dee. 4, 1861.

Henry C. Cooper, died Dee. 4, 1861.

F. B. Tiffany, died Dee. 12, 1861.

A. M. Taylor, died Dee. 29, 1861.

Samuel W. Kelly, died Jan. 15, 1863, of wounds re- eeived at Fredericksburg, Dee. 13, 1862.

J. F. Bosworth, died Sept. 29, 1861.

J. W. Parmatin, died Oet. 2, 1862, of wounds received at Antietam.

R. W. Steele, died Dee. 7, 1861.

L. L. Bacon, died Sept. 6, 1861.

J. W. Burke, died of consumption after his discharge, Oet. 1, 1861.

A. D. Griffen, died in February, 1862.

AND SCHUYLER COUNTIES, NEW YORK.

J. E. B. Maxson, died Feb. 17, 1862, of wounds re- ceived from accidental discharge of a pistol.

James Simmons, killed at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862. Olin L. Bennett, killed at Antietam, Sept. 17, 1862.

Uriah F. Faurer, died at Fredericksburg, Aug. 7, 1862.

Charles Hathaway, died from wounds received at An- tietam.

C. P. Smith, died Aug. 26, 1861.

S. F. McGee, died Feb. 18, 1862.

Charles McOmber, killed at Fredericksburg, Dee. 12, 1862.

William D. Monagle, drowned in the Rappahannock, May 10, 1862.

CHAPTER VIII.

MILITARY HISTORY-(Continued).

THE FIFTIETH ENGINEER REGIMENT.

THIS regiment, which achieved such distinction during the war, was organized by General Charles B. Stuart, during the months of July, August, and September, 1861, at El- mira, by direction of the Secretary of War, as a regiment of engineers, pontoniers, sappers and miners, and was nius- tered into the service September 18, as Stuart's Independent Volunteers.

'The following were the field and staff and line officers : Colonel, Charles B. Stuart ; Lieutenant-Colonel, Wm. II. Pettis; Major, Frederick E. Embrick ; Adjutant, E. C. James ; Quartermaster, Charles B. Norton; Surgeon, Hazard A. Potter ; Assistant Surgeon, Charles N. Hewitt ; Chaplain, Edward C. Pritchett ; Quartermaster-Sergeant, Clinton H. Graves ; Commissary-Sergeant, John W. Smal- ley ; Hospital Steward, Edward Vivian Coulton.

LINE OFFICERS.

Company A .- Captain, George W. Ford ; First Lieu- tenant, Henry W. Perkins ; Second Lieutenant, James L. Robbins.

Company B .- Captain, William O. Smalley ; First Lieu- tenant, Daniel H. Andrews.

Company C .- Captain, Wesley Brainard; First Lieu- tenant, George N. Falley ; Second Lieutenant, Henry O. Hoyt.

Company D .- Captain, B. W. O. Grady; First Lieu- tenant, George N. Nares; Second Lieutenant, Asa C. Palmer.

Company E .- Captain, Ira Spaulding ; First Lieutenant, Orrin E. Hine ; Second Lieutenant, Delos L. Holden.

Company F .- Captain, P. C. Gilbert; First Lientenant, John A. Johnson ; Second Lieutenant, Frank W. Watson.

Company G .- Captain, W. V. Personius; First Lieu- tenant, John F. Malette; Second Lieutenant, John L. Roosa.

Company II .- Captain, Edmond O. Beers ; First Lieu- tenant, R. S. Ransom; Second Lieutenant, William L. Morgan.

Company I .- Captain, John E. R. Patten ; First Lieu-

tenant, Peter E. Reynolds ; Second Lieutenant, Tillman Wiles.

Company K .- Captain, John B. Murray ; First Lieu- tenant, J. H. MeDonald ; Second Lieutenant, Warren W. Lamb.

At the breaking out of the Rebellion there was only a battalion of engineers in the regular army, and it soon be- came apparent that the command was entirely inadequate to perform the constantly-increasing duties of that branch of service.

General Stuart, eminent as an engineer, was empowered to raise a regiment for this duty from among those whose occupations adapted them to its performance. The organ- ized regiment had men qualified to build railroads, run locomotives, and conduct trains, and ranged from common laborer to first-class lawyer and first-class engineer.

Starting for the seat of war Sept. 18, 1861, the engineers were quartered for a few days on the Battery, at New York, to receive arms and equipments ; then, proceeding to Wash- ington, they received quartermaster's supplies on Meridian Hill, marched through Georgetown and continued to Fort Corcoran, and pitched their first camp on rebel soil. Ilere arose a difficulty. Enlisted for a special service, and prom- ised the allowances pertaining, the War Department had made no provision for this class of soldiers, and the men were ordered into the field as infantry.

Severe denunciations of officers followed for making promises that they could not fulfill. Subsequently a special Act of Congress was passed, which placed the regiment upon its proper footing. Orders were received to proceed to Hall's Hill, Virginia, and report to General Butterfield, then commanding a brigade in Fitz-John Porter's Division. This force, under General Mcclellan's favorite officer, was composed largely of regulars, and contained many of the best regiments in the service. General Butterfield gave the regiment incessant exercise in the line of duty. There were drills by squad, company, regiment, and battalion, ac- campanied by guard and picket duty, while recitations in military taeties were the order for the night. During this time the regiment was reviewed four times,-once by Gen- eral Porter and three times by General MeClellan.

About November 1 the engineers were ordered to Wash- ington to receive instruction in especial duties of their brauch, and, going into camp near the navy-yard, the practice of bridge-building by the French ponton system was com- mneneed. Thorough instrnetion was given in the construc- tion of field fortifications, military roads, and to warlike appliances such as gabions, fascines, chevaux-de-frise, stock- ades, palisades, sap-rollers, and block-houses.

Early in the spring of 1862 the regiment moved into Virginia, under the command of General Woodbury, of the regular engineers, and was assigned to General MeDowell's Corps, then covering Washington.

Marching to Manassas past the formidable guns which were the occasion of mirth and cheer, the command pro- eceded to Bristoe Station. An order was soon after re- ceived from General McClellan directing a return of the engineer brigade to join his force at Yorktown. With cheer upon cheer at the prospect of active service under the commanding officer, the men countermarched at quick

HISTORY OF TIOGA, CHEMUNG, TOMPKINS,

time for Alexandria, arriving April 10; the steamer " Lou- isiana" took the 50th on board and conveyed it to Cheese- man's Landing, near Yorktown, on the 13th, when duty at once began in the trenches, under ineessant fire of the enemy's batteries.

The regiment was now ordered to bring up the ponton bridges and throw bridges across the various streams that obstructed communications with different parts of the field, and to open roads for the passage of heavy artillery. It is difficult to realize the firmness required to perform these. hazardous duties under the demoralizing effect of ponderous shells constantly exploding in their midst. During the siege an immense battery for ten thirteen-inch mortars was con- structed by the regiment, and was to have opened on the enemy the very day of the evacuation.

Sunday, May 4, was ushered in bright and beautiful. It was a perfect day in the " Sunny South," and the soldiers lay in their camps exeitedly awaiting the opening of the mortar battery with its one-hundred-pound shells, when the news spread that Yorktown was abandoned and the enemy in retreat. Gathering up the siege material, bridge-trains, and tools used in investment, the regiment followed in pur- suit of the enemy up the Peninsula by way of the Pa- munkey River. Marching from West Point, on this river, to the White House, thenee to the Chiekahominy, near New Cold Harbor, bridges were at once commenced across this treacherous stream. At Bottom's Bridge a portion of the structure was left standing, and it was rapidly rebuilt for the passage of Casey's Division to the battle of Seven Pines.

The Chickahominy, near Richmond, in a dry season is a mere brook, with more or less marsh on either side, and is often not more than ten to twenty yards wide; but on the night of March 30, while attempting to build a timber bridge across the stream at a point near Gaines' house, it rose so rapidly during the prevalence of a heavy rain that the approaches to the bridge were entirely under water, and in five hours the stream had widened to ten times its ordinary channel. For a time it was believed that the enenty had dammed the stream above, and had let down the accumulated water to destroy the bridges. It seemed a very crisis, and the engineers, in water to the waist, worked like beavers, momentarily expecting the enemy to open on them from the wood beyond. Anxiously awaiting to cross this bridge was the 44th Regiment, which had taken the place vacated by the 50th the year before at Hall's Hill.

Six bridges at different points were rapidly constructed, covering a distance of six miles from one extreme to another, and known officially as Sumner's, Woodbury's, Duane's, Alexander's; the Grapevine, and New Bridges, near Cold Harbor. June 26, Porter ordered the bridges on his front destroyed, as the battle of Mechanicsville had that day commenced.

During the battle of Gaines' Mills, next day, the pon- tons were taken up and a portion of the regiment ordered forward, while the remainder were placed at different bridges to blow them up as soon as Porter's Corps should cross from the battle then pending. Pushing on rapidly during the night, Captain Spaulding and Lieutenant MeDonald built two bridges at White Oak Swamp in time for Keyes' Corps, who had advanced towards the James on that day.

These two bridges were destroyed the next day by General French, commanding the rear-guard, just before the arrival of Stonewall Jackson at the swamp.

Pressing forward through the woods, with their muskets slung, the men plied their axes vigorously, opening parallel roads for the immense trains of heavy artillery hurrying on to Glendale and Malvern Hill. At the latter place the regiment slashed the woods for a long distance, to enable the gunboats to open on the enemy during the expected battle there, and rendered very effective service in placing formidable obstructions along the right of the line, where the rebels subsequently attempted to capture our batteries. Still pressing forward in the advance with the ponton bridge, great difficulties were encountered from fugitives from the main army while laying the bridges over the smaller streams on the route, and not until General Kear- ney had ordered the cavalry to clear the way did the en- gineers suceeed in completing the last crossing that landed our heavy trains at Harrison's Landing.

While at the landing the enemy made a demonstration on the front, and the 50th was ordered up to participate in the expected engagement. Cheerfully and promptly they responded, but the movement proving a feint the men returned to their more legitimate duties. Antici- pating an attaek, McClellan ordered bridges constructed over IIerring Creek and several smaller streams for the rapid co-operation of the different corps, then occupying a line about five miles in extent. While the bulk of the army seemed at rest, this regiment was constantly on duty, strengthening the defenses of the camp, and inereas- ing the surrounding communications by opening new roads and facilitating the passage of supply-trains from the land- ing to the more distant troops on the outposts.

August 13 the regiment was divided into detachments, and ordered to the Chickahominy to prepare the way for the army about to evacuate the Peninsula. At Barnett's Ferry a ponton bridge was laid nearly 1600 feet in length. Gen- eral McClellan said it was the longest bridge known to him in history. During three days and nights this bridge was occupied by the passing of infantry, cavalry, artillery, and the interminable supply-trains.

On the morning of the 19th, General Pleasonton came up with the guard, and two gunboats took position to re- strain the enemy while the bridge was dismantled. The bridge-equipage was taken to Fortress Monroe, and thenee to Alexandria. September 30 the engineers set out for Aquia Creek to bridge for Burnside, then about to evacu- ate Fredericksburg. September 7 they were ordered back to the fortress, and from thence conveyed pontons and bridge-equipage to Washington. September 20 the regi- ment started for Harper's Ferry, via Rockville and Fred- erick City, with bridges to replace those destroyed by the enemy upon its retreat from Antietam. About the 25th a long ponton bridge was laid across the Potomac at Berlin, Md., six miles below Harper's Ferry, and by that causeway the old Army of the Potomac once more crossed into Virginia. Later, an order came to proceed to Wash- ington and partake in the campaign that culminated in the attack on Fredericksburg. Proceeding by rail, the engi- neers assisted at Washington to make up the desired bridge-

AND SCHUYLER COUNTIES, NEW YORK.

equipage, and, November 19, started from the capital with fifty ponton-boats by land. It required nearly one thousand animals to draw this immense train of bridge-material. Alexandria was searecly reached when the rain poured down, and the road became a succession of quagmires. This march occupied six days and nights of arduous toil in rain and mud, the men lifting the wagons from the ruts, and pushing them on as fast as possible.

Major Spaulding saw horses and men giving out, and the roads utterly impassable, and, bridging the Oecoquan at Oc- coquan City, erossed the stream, made the boats into rafts, and took them via the Potomae to Belle Plain in tow of a large tug. The boats were immediately loaded on the wagons, with other material, and the train moved to a posi- tion near and opposite to Fredericksburg on November 25. The regiment eneamped near to the Laey House a few days, and then went into camp at White-Oak Church.

The first week in December was occupied by Burnside's chief of artillery and officers of the battalion in reeonnoi- tering positions for erossing the river, about ten miles be- low the city. Roads were repaired, and miles of corduroy laid through swamps approaching the river, along positions hidden from the enemy. After a few days the plan was changed, and the army was to eross opposite the city. The engineers were ordered to throw a bridge aeross opposite the city, at a point about 300 yards below the ruins of the railroad bridge. Carefully examining the route through an opening in the bluff, and repairing the road leading to the designated point during the night, every precaution was taken to approach the river without alarming the enemy's piekets on the shore opposite.

On the morning of December 10 eame the order to move near our position in the early morning, and during the night push along the river-bank, reach the point, and con- struet the bridge as rapidly as possible.

Moving silently along the river-bank, the engineers were in position at one o'clock on the morning of December 11, while a dense fog prevailing at the time lent its protection to shroud their movements. Rapidly making a detail of bridge-builders, the work was begun. The river at this point is between four and five hundred feet wide, requiring twenty-three boats to span the stream. The engineers were supported in their perilous work by two regiments of infantry. Pushing the work with great energy, the bridge was completed to within eighty or ninety feet of the oppo- site shore, when a foree of the enemy posted behind a stone wall in front, and about two hundred yards distant, opened a deadly fire on the men elustered upon the bridge, killing and wounding several, and driving the rest ashore.

The 89th New York Regiment poured a volley against the wall, while a battery from the bluff in vain attempted to dislodge the enemy from their defense. As the work on the bridge ceased, the enemy's fire was suspended.

It was finally resolved to finish the bridge at all hazards. The places of the killed and wounded were filled by fresh details, who with cheerfulness stepped forward on the for- lorn hope. Captain MeDonald alone walked to the end of the bridge, made an examination, and returned unmolested. Again the detail reached the terminus and resumed work.

A few moments passed, when a murderous volley was

discharged by the enemy, killing and wounding several. These two attempts to lay the bridge with a force of sixty men resulted in a loss of two killed and seventeen wounded. A third time the bridge was commenced, and again were they driven back by the enemy's bullets. Infantry was now taken over by the engineers on boats, the enemy cap- tured, and the bridge finished. After crossing the army and back again to the Falmouth side they went into eamp.

Bridges were laid April 29 below Fredericksburg, and June 5 the regiment assisted in laying a bridge at Frank- lin's Crossing, under a severe fire from the enemy's rifle- pits. After the battle of Chaneellorsville the engineers moved to Washington, and June 25 marched to Pooles- ville, Md., and pushing on rapidly to Frederick City, reached Beaver Dam on the 30th. July 6 the engineers took their trains to Harper's Ferry, and ferried over in- fantry to drive out the rebels holding the place. This done, bridges were laid across the Potomae and Shenan- doah, to eonneet Loudon, Bolivar, and Maryland Heights. Moving down to Berlin, bridges were laid at a former site, where McClellan had crossed, and here Meade's victorious army marched once more into Virginia on the 18th and 20th of July. Until the 26th the men guarded the bridge from the Virginia side, then, dismantling, moved to Wash- ington via eanal, and ordered thence to Rappahanock Sta- tion, to take charge of all the bridges on the river. During August the Rappahannock was spanned at Beverly's Ford, Kelly's Ford, and the Station.

Early in October, Lee began to menaee the Union lines along the Rapidan, and the engineers were kept busy march- ing, building and renewing bridges, and finally, constructing a fortified eamp at Rappahannock Station, went into winter quarters.

April 12, 1864, the battalions were assigned to different corps, and entered upon arduous service. At short notice bridges were laid, corps crossed, and then, dismantling and loading, rapid and fatiguing marches were made, and the process again and again repeated.

The engineers seemed empowered with ubiquity. At one time a bridge 200 feet long is luid in fifty minutes, a battalion marehes to take part in the battle of the Wilder- ness, a bridge is built at Ely's Ford to eross wounded, then to Fredericksburg, and on to the Pamunkey River, at Hanovertown. The bridges were dismantled June 2, and a movement was made to Cold Harbor.

Once more on that familiar stream, the Chiekahominy, at the ruins of Long Bridge, June 12, the position was reconnoitered, and a small rebel force found on the opposite bank. At dark the engineers, launching the boats, took across the charging-party, losing one man killed; then moving over the familiar road to Cole's Ferry, on the Lower Chickahominy, assisted in laying a bridge of sixty boats, making a structure 1200 feet in length. Five boats were towed down this stream, passing the point erossed by McClellan on his retreat, in 1862, and then moved up the James to Fort Powhatan and City Point. At the battle of Reams' Station the engineers were ordered into rifle-pits on the left of the field.

During the siege of Petersburg the men were distributed along the lines, and engaged in the construction of forts

HISTORY OF TIOGA, CHEMUNG, TOMPKINS,

with magazines, bomb-proofs, and traverses. Here the 50th constructed an immense fort, the largest built during the siege, the faces being 125 yards in length, with a relief of 15 feet. With an average daily detail of 1000 men its construction occupied three weeks.

October 1, an extension to the left required the eonstrue- tion of a chain of forts within short artillery range, and the 50th actively engaged in the work. The regiment rendered important service in repairing roads and extrieating ammu- nition-trains. During the last of March, in the movement on Five Forks, Petersburg fell, and the need of pontons ceased. At Farmersville, on the Appomattox, was con- strueted the last ponton bridge used against the enemy by the Army of the Potomae. The army of Lee surrendered. The long bridge over Staunton River was rebuilt, and other services rendered, when one evening the intelligence spread through the eamps that a dispatch had just been received from General Meade, saying that the Army of the Potomac would pass in review through Richmond on the following day, and if the engineers would reach the city in time the next morning they would be placed at the head of the column. This news was received with cheers, and in an exultaut mood the march was begun and completed. Pursuing their way with long bridge-trains, the 50th reached the river at Fredericksburg, and laid bridges at the old points. Here Sherman's army erossed on its way to Washington. The bridges were then removed, and, marehing to Fort Berry, near Long Bridge, the regiment went into eamp June 1, 1865.

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History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York, Part 9

Author: Peirce, H. B. (Henry B.) cn; Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Ensign Number of Pages: 1112

Author: Peirce, H. B. (Henry B.) cn; Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Ensign
Number of Pages: 1112