USA > New York > Warren County > History of Warren County [N.Y.] with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 29
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WARREN COUNTY IN THE REBELLION.
escorted the remains of General Cochrane through the city of Washington on their way to New York for interment. In February, 1864, the One Hundred and Fifty-Third was assigned to duty in the Department of the Gulf, and in March Captain Chitty was appointed Acting Assistant Inspector-General of the First Brigade, First Division, Nineteenth Army Corps, on the staff of Brig- adier-General William Dwight, and remained in that position through the Red River expedition and until the Nineteenth Corps was removed to Washing- ton, D. C., in July, 1864, when the city was threatened by the rebel General Early. General Dwight then being assigned to the command of the First Di- vision, Captain Chitty was removed to the Division Staff as Inspector-General of the First Division, serving as such through General Sheridan's Shenandoah campaign ; but on the removal of the division to Washington, immediately after the lamented Lincoln's assassination, he was assigned to duty at Camp Stoneman as Provost Marshal of the post, at that time the camp of organiza- tion for Hancock's Veteran Corps, and in a very demoralized condition. Cap- tain Chitty, however, went to Savannah, Ga., with his division in June, and the organization then being broken up, he was assigned to duty on the staff of Major-General I. M. Brennan, on the order of Major-General Steadman, com- manding the Department of Georgia, as Inspector-General of the District of Savannah, First Division Department of Georgia, remaining in that position until the following October, when his term of service having expired he was ordered to Albany, N. Y., and there mustered out of the service October 20th, 1865, having served full three years and participated in all the engagements on the Red River expedition and those of Hunter and Sheridan in Virginia in the sumnier and fall of 1864; never having been in a fight but what the gal- lant First Division came out victorious.
The Ninety-third Regiment .- This regiment was recruited in the counties of Albany, Alleghany, Rensselaer, Washington and Warren, nearly half of its members being from the last-named county. It was mustered into service in October, 1861, for three years. At the expiration of its term of service the organization returned to New York two hundred and sixty strong, February 28th, 1864, all of whom re-enlisted and were retained in service until June 29th, 1865, when they were finally mustered out.
Following are the names of the officers of the regiment, with the memo- randa of the career of each as far as obtained, and the names of recruits in the different companies from Warren county, as given in the records : -
Field Officers .- Colonel, John S. Crocker, discharged September 19th, 1864; lieutenant-colonel, Benjamin C. Butler, then of Luzerne, mustered out February, 1865 ; adjutant, Haviland Gifford; surgeon, Strobridge Smith, of Glens Falls, mustered out with the regiment ; major, Ambrose L. Cassidy ; Chaplain, Christopher H. Edgerton, of Johnsburgh, resigned May 2d, 1862.
Company A .- Captain, Orville L. Colvin, of Chester, dismissed May 25th,
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
1863 ; first-lieutenant, Henry C. Newton, then of Glens Falls and now of Moreau, promoted to captain July 20th, 1863, discharged May 15th, 1865 ; second lieutenant, James M. Southwick, died of disease May 4th, 1862 ; ser- geants (Ist to 5th, inclusive) - Danford R. Edmonds, John D. Nutting, Oscar B. Ingraham, promoted to second lieutenant ; David Burnham, Queensbury, promoted to second lieutenant June, 1862, and resigned March 2d, 1863 ; Frederick J. Thompson. Corporals (Ist to 8th, inclusive) - James W. Nut- ting of Chester, promoted to second lieutenant September 30th, 1864, mus- tered out with regiment; Charles A. Culver, Obed A. Brooks, Charles Finch, Rufus D. Hastings, Eldridge Fletcher, Joseph M. Wood, Philetus Bump. Pri- vates, Alexander Anderson, George Algier, Sheldon Austin, Nathaniel Al- bro (transferred to Captain Charles F. Barnes's company) ; Rufus Bump, Henry A. Brooks, Jeremiah Bennett, Joel Benjamin, Daniel Benjamin, Joseph C. Carpenter, Benjamin Cleveland, Calvin Clemens, Franklin Colt, Almer Conklin, James M. Cowles, Chauncey Davis, Augustus Davis, Jeremiah Dris- coll, Andrew J. Dickens, Orvis Fish (died in hospital December 2 1st, 1861); Daniel Farr, Louis Frederick, Franklin G. Gatchell, George W. Greene, Dal- las M. Gurney, Isaiah Gifford, Patrick Hurson, Norman Hitchcock, John Hav- erty, John W. Hays, Edgar Inlay, Henry Johnson, Lewis Jenks, Samuel Jack- son, Aaron Knowlton, Jerry M. King, Allen P. Lillebridge, Adolphus La Point, James Lowe, Andrew J. Merithen, Peter McGown, John McMahon, John Mauller, Samuel Murdock, Marvin E. Orlon, James Pollard, Loland Page, Henry Porter, Francis Quinn, Orlin M. Russell, George B. Rogers (died is hospital December 25th, 1861), Lewis Robbins, William G. Russell, Orville Ross, Charles D. Roberts, Nelson Rhodes, Elisha Randall, Franklin D. Smith, Charles Smith, Bethuel Smith, Cyrenus Sprague, Moses Sherman, James Scribner, James H. Stewart, Asa Swarz, Elijah Taft, John T. Turner, Lorenzo Underwood, Jay Vandusen, Wesley Wood, George Williams, Simon Welch, George Youngs, Anson M. Pettys, John Pettys.
This company was nearly or quite all recruited from Warren county, but we have no means of crediting them to their respective towns. Below are given the Warren county credits to the other companies of the regiment, with data of such promotions of Warren county men as we have been able to collect :-
Company B, Nathaniel Albro, corporal (promoted from private), James Barney, Charles Cowles, Charles Fish, Oris H. King, Elijah Rider, James Ross, Elijah Robbins, Lewis Taber, George Taber, Henry C. Taber, Andrew J. Smith.
Company C, William W. Clark and Ambrose Spencer, sergeants ; James H. Lawrence, corporal ; Abraham Austin, Martin B. Clemens, William C. Fuller, Samuel Galusha, Thomas J. Hays, Charles Ramsey, Truman M. Stewart, Hen- ry E. Whitmore.
Company F, Edward A. Tanner and Fayette Selleck, sergeants ; Abram
249
WARREN COUNTY IN THE REBELLION.
Austen, Daniel Bennett, Thomas Bemis, Jonathan Brown, jr., Elnathan Bris- tol, Samuel B. Cutts, James I. Darling, Patrick Ford, James H. Gray, Lewis Hamlin, Robert Martin, George McDonald, Edward Story, Wesley Scofield, Jesse B. Thompson, Francis L. Tanner, Joseph Woodman, Hough Wells.
Company G, James H. Morehouse, James F. Rowe.
Company H, Captain, Hiram S. Wilson, of Bolton, died March 24th, 1864, of disease. First lieutenant, Edson Fitch, of Warren county, promoted to cap- tain December Ist, 1863; mustered out on expiration of term. Sergeant, Charles F. Brown. Corporals, Charles Cleveland and Charles Roberts. Pri- vates, Owen Allen, Avery Allen, Fayette Bush, Franklin Brese, Rolland Bal- com, Murray Bentley, Benjamin Clark, Thomas D. Clark, John Calihan, David H. Decker, John Dean, Ira Duell, 2d, Joseph Duell, Martin J. Eastwood, War- ren Emerson, Norman F. Eldridge, Johnsburgh, promoted to second lieutenant May 25th, 1863, and to first lieutenant, July 20th, 1863, killed in action in the Wilderness, May 6th, 1864; Horace P. Eldridge, Sidney Fuller, Thomas Fitch, Montgomery Fish, Harley Finkle, George French, William J. Griffin, Henry Goodwin, Samuel G. Goodman, Ashel Granger, Loren S. Gibson, Almon B. Griffin, M. C. Holcomb, Perry G. Hammond, Hialmer P. Hammond (musician), Artemus A. Hastings, Nicholas Hartman, Daniel T. Hicks, Homer Hammond, Charles H. Hall, Josiah F. Lovett, Andrew Lord, Warren Mead, Sylvester McCauley, E. McDonnell, Philander Norton, Ira Ogden, Leroy Potter, Oliver Pratt, Stephen M. Pratt, Luther W. Peck, Robert Ramsey, Andrew Ryan, Clark Shaw, Russell Streeter, William Sexton, Julius P. Sexton, Leander Sher- man, George Smith, George Sweet, Isaac Threehouse, Erskine Truesdell, Dal- las M. Vernam, Sidney B. Viele, Alfred L. Wescott, Moses Wright, Ephriam T. Weeks, commissioned second lieutenant January 30th, 1862, resigned Jan- uary 12th, 1863 ; David Bushaw, James Barnes, Otis Beswick, Chauncey Bul- lard, Isaac Bentley, Philander Bartlett, Leander Bartlett, George Lake, Charles Larose, Joseph Larkin, James McCabe, DeWitt Munger, John Austin, Isaac R. Knapp, Bernard Murray.
Company I, Bethuel Comstock, George Cleveland, Stephen Monthoney, Stephen F. Monthoney.
Company K were all credited to Troy, N. Y.
During its term of service and upon the re-organization of the Ninety-third after the expiration of its first term of service, as above alluded to, there were other enlistments, appointments and promotions from Warren county, among which were those of Joseph S. Little, now of Glens Falls, who was promoted to first lieutenant July 20th, 1863, and lost a leg in battle ; Daniel W. Thomp- son, commissioned as first lieutenant January 30th, 1865, but not mustered under the commission; Oscar B. Ingraham, commissioned first lieutenant Sep- tember 16th, 1864, but not mustered under the commission; Lewis W. Ham- lin, then of Queensbury, now of Moreau, commissioned second lieutenant Jan-
250
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
uary 30th, 1865, and mustered out with the regiment; John Bailey, of Stoney Creek, commissioned captain July 20th, 1863, was killed in action May 5th, 1864. There may be others who deserve mention under this feature of the records, but if so, we have been unable to obtain them.
The Ninety-third regiment has a noble record, and it is to be regretted that a more explicit account of its valorous deeds in the field and the individ- ual acts of heroism on the part of many of its members cannot be given at this late day. It bears upon its banners a list of engagements embracing Yorktown, Williamsburg, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Antietam, Wilderness, Coal Harbor, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Tolopotomoy, Petersburg, Strawberry Plains, Deep Bottom, Poplar Spring Church, and Boydton Road-a series of battles through which no regiment could pass and come out without leaving a large portion of its members either dead on southern soil, or wounded in many hospitals. We find the following brief sketch of the regiment in a Glens Falls paper of a date not long before its return to New York, in 1864 :-
"This remarkably fine regiment was raised in the fall and winter of 1861, in the counties of Washington, Warren, Essex and Alleghany, and took its de- parture from the State in March, 1862, one thousand strong, of whom but two hundred and sixty now remain. It formed part of Palmer's Brigade, of Casey's Division, in Keyes's Corps, and went down to the peninsula with the rest of McClellan's army. In the advance from Fortress Monroe, in April, the Ninety-third formed the extreme left of the army and was encamped near the the mouth of Warwick River, where they took part in many skirmishes and re- connaissances and performed much severe labor. While here Colonel Crocker and Major Cassidy were taken prisoners within our own lines, through the negligence of the officer of the picket, and until their exchange several months later, the command of the regiment devolved upon Lieutenant-Colonel Butler.
" At the battle of Williamsburg the Ninety-third was the only regiment of the brigade that arrived on the field during the action and was highly compli- mented by General Keyes for its promptness and energy.
"Soon after the battle of Williamsburg General McClellan ordered the regi- ment to be detailed as guard at general headquarters of the army-a high tes- timonial to its drill, discipline and morale. General Burnside, on assuming command of the army, retained the Ninety-third at his headquarters, as did also General Hooker and General Mead, all of whom spoke of it in the highest terms. In drill, discipline, and morale, it is surpassed by no regiment in the army of the Potomac and none can better perform the duties of the position. Noble, pure-minded General Patrick greatly admires it, and declares it shall remain at headquarters as long as he does."
One Hundred and Eighteenth Regiment. - This regiment was organized at Plattsburg, N. Y., for three years' service. It was recruited entirely in the Sixteenth Senate District, comprising the counties of Clinton, Essex and War-
251
WARREN COUNTY IN THE REBELLION.
ren, companies A, D, and G, being from the last named county. It was mus- tered into service on the 30th of August, 1862. Following are the names of the regimental officers at the organization of the regiment :-
Field Officers. - Colonel, Samuel T. Richards, resigned July 8th, 1863. Lieutenant-colonel, Oliver Keese, jr., promoted to colonel July 31st, 1863, and resigned September 16th, 1864. Major, Geo. F. Nichols, promoted to lieu- tenant-colonel August, 1863, and to colonel November 28th, 1864; mustered out with the regiment. Adjutant, Charles E. Pruyn, promoted to major Au- gust, 1863, and killed in action June 13th, 1864. Quartermaster, Patrick Delaney, resigned August 19th, 1864. Surgeon, John H. Mooers, resigned April 4th, 1864. Assistant surgeon, James G. Porteus, promoted to surgeon Forty-sixth New York Volunteers, November 12th, 1864. Chaplain, Charles S. Hagar.
Following are the officers and members of Companies A, D, and G, raised in Warren county, with considerable details of promotions, etc .: -
Company A, captain, Josiah H. Norris, of Glens Falls, resigned January Ist, 1864. First lieutenant, Edward Riggs, of Glens Falls, promoted to cap- tain January 12th, 1863, resigned August 5th, 1863. Was drowned while on his way South, in 1865, to procure substitutes to apply on the Queensbury quota. (See biography of Daniel V. Brown, in later pages of this work.) Sec- ond lieutenant, Simon E. Chamberlain, promoted to captain Twenty-fifth New York Cavalry, May 19th, 1864. Sergeants (first to fourth inclusive), Edgar Comstock, James Kendall, Orange A. Cowles, Michael Reynolds, commis- sioned second lieutenant April 13th, 1864, killed in action near Coal Harbor, June 2d, 1864; these all from Queensbury. Corporals (first to eighth inclu- sive), Amos B. Haviland, James Goodwin, Gustus C. Sherman, Charles A. Grace, commissioned second lieutenant May 11th, 1865, mustered out with the regiment ; Samuel Van Tassell, Cass C. La Point, Edward E. Clute, George H. Wing; all from Queensbury. William E. Hall, drummer; Carlos M. Brainerd, wagoner ; Clark Arnold, Adelbert Andrews, William H. Allen, Henry Andrews, Charles C. Bennett, Royal Bullion, William Bullock, Edward Brownse. Andrew J. Brummagim, John Balfour, jr. Adolphus P. Burkhart, William A. Coffee, Martin Chamberlain, Abner Croff, Charles F. Copeland, Abner B. Crannell, John Clute, John M. J. Crannell, Joseph Doket, Marquis Davis, Hosea Day, Robert K. Evans, Edward B. Fish, Franklin Foster, Isaac Gilman, William H. Groom, Norman H. Gourlay, Hubbard W. Goodrich, Adolphus Guyat, Joseph Granger, Joseph Herbert, William Hartman, John H. Hall, Henry L. Hall, Allen D. Hubbell, Alonzo S. Hopkins, Clifford Hub- bard (of Glens Falls; commissioned second lieutenant November 30th, 1864, and made adjutant, May 11th, 1865 ; mustered out with the regiment) ; Eber F. Irish, John Jordon, Franklin Jandro (awarded medal of honor by the Sec- retary of War); De Estaing Johnson, Stephen B. Little, Mahlon Lord, Levi
252
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
Ladao, Joseph Morrison, Henry M. Mellis, Arad B. Mickle, William Mallery, Clark N. Northrup, Daniel Norlon, Ira Norlon, Franklin T. Paige, William D. Palmer, George A. Potter, Mandeville Potter, William H. Potter, Isaac Philo, jr., Henry W. Persons, John C. Robillard, Theophile Rienvielle, Silas Randall, Addison L. Stoddard, Alanson D. Simpson, Frederick W. Shaw, Janurius Sur- prenant, John S. Shippy, Wells E. Stone, James R. Tillotson, William W. Thayer, James Van Wagoner, Albert Wilson, Duane Williams, Holdridge H. Whipple, Abraham White, Charles C. Wright, Amos Ward, Edgar M. Wing, (Glens Falls, commissioned second lieutenant January 12th, 1864, died May 16th, 1864); Benoni T. Wert, George Wescott, Hiram Yetto. This company was raised largely in the town of Queensbury.
Company D, captain, Richard P. Smith, Horicon, resigned December 10th, 1862. First lieutenant, Cyrus O. Burge, Chestertown, resigned November 24th, 1863. Second lieutenant, John H. Smith, jr., commissioned first lieuten- ant, June 12th, 1863, but not mustered, resigned January 16th, 1863. Ser- geants (first to fifth inclusive), Elisha M. Baxter, Horicon ; James M. Colony, Ebenezer N. Jenks and Warren S. Wickham, of Chester; Joseph A. Hastings, Horicon. Corporals (first to eighth inclusive), Samuel Sherman, Horicon, com- missioned second lieutenant March 17th, 1863, and promoted to first lieuten- ant April 13th, 1864, discharged October 19th, 1864; George B. Green, Eb- enezer M. Sexton, William C. Duel, C. Brown, of Horicon ; Reuben W. Mead and Charles H. Osborn, of Chester; William Cox, Johnsburg. Alfred H. Holley, Horicon, drummer; Eli Pettys, Chester, wagoner. Privates, David Austin, Johnsburg; Lorenzo J. Barton, Chester ; John Bolton, Royal Z. Ben- nett, Washington Baker, Lewis Bartlett, Hiram Brown, Joel Brown, Benjamin Baker, Enos Brown and Lemuel Bentley, of Horicon ; Jeremiah Bennett, Johnsburgh; John Calkins, Hague (commissioned second lieutenant Septem- ber 16th, 1864, and promoted to first lieutenant May IIth, 1865; mustered out with the regiment); Michael Cummings, Johnsburgh ; Henry D. Coville, Hiram Drake, Reuben J. Davis, James P. Davis, of Chester ; Oscar O. Duel, Richard Dycher and Patrick H. Dugan, of Horicon; James H. Dingman, Lu- zerne; Edmond Eldridge and James D. Flansburgh, Johnsburgh; George Frazier, Horicon ; William Frazier, Levi Fuller and Henry Flansburgh, of Johnsburgh; Emory Gregory, Horicon ; James Hughes, Alfred Hotchkiss and Charles W. Higley, of Chester; James Hastings, Amasa Hill, Timothy Hill and Thomas J. Hays, of Horicon; Ira Hill, Chester; Tarquin Ingram, Horicon ; Hollis Johnson, Irwin Johnson, Norman W. King and John E. King. of Chester ; Daniel King and Norman J. King, of Horicon ; Napoleon Lape- rarie, Johnsburgh; James Lamb, Horicon; Horace P. May, Chester; Rus- sell McCauley, Horicon ; James McCormick and Frank Potter, of Johnsburgh ; Dalhousie Priestley and David G. Perry, of Chester; Lewis Pilotts, Adam Put- nam and Jeffreys Prichard, of Horicon; Henry R. Putnam, Johnsburgh ; Mi-
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WARREN COUNTY IN THE REBELLION.
chael Rattigan, Chester; Orange Remington, Martin Russell, Benager Rob- bins and Solomon Robbins, of Horicon ; Rodney Ross, Johnsburgh; William W. Stannard, Chester ; Toner Smith, Horicon; Thomas Simmons, Samuel Smith and George W. Sherman, Horicon; George Sturgis, Johnsburgh ; Charles C. Smith, Alva B. Taylor, Oscar Tyrrell and Daniel R. Taylor, of Chester ; Lorenzo D. Tripp, Mallory Tripp, Alonzo Tyrrell and George W. Tyrrell, of Horicon; Charles Underwood, Chester; Josiah D. Waldron, Rich- ard S. Waters and Henry A. Wood, of Horicon ; Job A. Wilcox, Luzerne.
Company G .- Captain, Dennis Stone, of Warrensburgh, resigned May 26th, 1865. First lieutenant, Stephen H. Smith, Horicon, resigned November 23d, 1862. Second lieutenant, M. Nelson Dickinson, Warrensburgh, promoted to first lieutenant June 12th, 1863, resigned May 3d, 1865. Sergeants (first to fifth inclusive), Henry P Grump, Luzerne; B. P. Dean, Stony Creek; Bennett J. Leonard, Johnsburgh; Truman N. Thomas, Bolton, discharged November 20th, 1863; George W. Carnes, Warrensburgh. Corporals (first to eighth in- clusive), Thomas H. Tripp, Stony Creek; George W. Fuller, Johnsburgh ; David W. Bartlett, Bolton; Charles A. Lincoln, Warrensburgh; Roswell Walsh and George Murray, Stony Creek; Henry S. Perkins, Warrensburgh ; Orlando J. Brown, Johnsburgh.
J. W. Odell, musician, Stony Creek; Calvin G. Wood, musician, Warrens- burgh ; D. M. Woodward, wagoner, Warrensburgh. Privates, Lewis Aldrich, Luzerne; Edgar Burnett, Johnsburgh ; Sewell P. Braley, Bolton; John Bes- wick, John Burnett, Johnsburgh; Robert Boyd, Bolton; Royal Bates, Cald- well; Nathan Beswick, Bolton, John H. Bennett, Warrensburgh ; William J. Barber, Luzerne; George Casey and George H. Clark, Johnsburgh; Martin V. B. Coon, John Dawson and William N. Dingman, Stony Creek; Charles Fenton, Warrensburgh; William Freeborn and Darius Fuller, Johnsburgh ; John J. Flanders, Luzerne ; William Goodnow, Stony Creek; Martin Gardner, Johnsburgh; John A. Grimes, Warrensburgh; Lemuel Griffin, Bolton ; Parley Gray, jr., and William Gamble, Stony Creek; William H. Gates and Hiram B. Gates, Johnsburgh; Edmond Gibo, Joseph H. Higgins and Jasper Harvey, Johnsburgh ; Harrison Hall, Luzerne; G. H. Hall, Johnsburgh; Valentine Hoyle, Luzerne ; John Jones, Johnsburgh ; James A. King, Stony Creek ; Ed- gar E. Lincoln, Johnsburgh; William Latham, Warrensburgh; William H. Layway, Bolton ; James McCarthy, Warrensburgh ; Benjamin F. W. Monroe, Johnsburgh ; Samuel Maxim and William Morehouse, Warrensburgh; Sylves- ter McDonald, Stony Creek; A. J. Myers, Warrensburgh; Joseph L. Norton, Johnsburgh ; Jonathan Nolton and Benjamin F. Nolton, Stony Creek; Truman H. Parke, Warrensburgh ; Dudley R. Peabody, Luzerne ; Alfred S. Purver, Warrensburgh ; William R. Perkins, Stony Creek; William H. Parkiss, War- rensburgh ; Benjamin B. Perry, Caldwell; Delius Rist, Johnsburgh ; Rufus Randall, jr., Aaron G. Randall and Selah Randall, Bolton ; Joseph Reed, Stony
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
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Creek; Henry Shaw, Luzerne; George Sanders, Johnsburgh; Ransom H. Stanton and Joel Streeter, Warrensburgh; Sidney Smith, Johnsburgh; Sylvanus H. Smith, Bolton; Elias K. Sargent, Johnsburgh; H. O. Shedel, Bolton ; Elihu Stevens and William C. Stevens, Stony Creek; Wilson Smead, Luzerne ; Charles C. Sexton and James E. Sexton, Bolton; Edward Tucker, Warrens- burgh ; Richard H. Turner, Johnsburgh; James Tucker, Warrensburgh; Will- iam S. Taylor, Luzerne ; Merritt Vermun, Warrensburgh; Garry Vandenburgh, George Williams and William H. Washburn, Johnsburgh; Franklin L. Weaver and Joshua Carnes, Warrensburgh.
Three of the companies of this regiment were from Essex county (C, E, and F), and a part of Company K, which fact rendered it incumbent upon Mr. Winslow C. Watson, in the writing of his history of that county, some ten years ago, and from which we have already made extracts in this connection to give an account of its career ; from his sketch, revised and corrected by several liv- ing officers, we condense the following : -
"The regiment, with great appropriateness called the Adirondac, was mus- tered into the service the 29th of August, 1862. By the successive resigna_ tions of Colonel Richards and Lieutenant-Colonel Keese, as above noted, Major Nichols was promoted to the command of the regiment, and led it with distinguished skill and courage. John L. Cunningham, then of Essex, and now of Glens Falls, went out as first lieutenant of Company F, of which Rob- ert W. Livingston, now the veteran journalist of Essex county, living at Eliza- bethtown, was captain. Lieutenant Cunningham was promoted to captain of Company D, of Warren county, September 4th, 1863, and to major November 28th, 1864; he was also brevetted lieutenant-colonel, and mustered out with the regiment. James S. Garrett, now of Glens Falls, was promoted from ser- geant to second lieutenant, December 9th, 1862, and to first lieutenant March 8th, 1864; he was brevetted captain and mustered out with the regiment.
"The One Hundred and Eighteenth entered the service with an aggregate of nine hundred and eighty-three men ; it was re-enforced at intervals by three hundred and fifty recruits, but returned from the field at the expiration of its term with only three hundred and twenty-three in its ranks, both officers and privates. Immediately upon joining the army the regiment began a series of active and incessant duties. It formed a part of Peck's force, in the memora- ble defense of Suffolk, and was employed in the arduous raids along the Black River. It was warmly engaged through two days and often under heavy fire, in a continued skirmish with the rebel sharp-shooters near Suffolk, and partici- pated in a diversion to the northward of Richmond, to attack Lee or a portion of his army from Pennsylvania, in June, 1863. The brigade to which the One Hundred and Eighteenth Regiment was attached was in the advance, and the regiment was ordered to destroy parts of the Richmond and Fredericksburg railroad. While the regiment was engaged in executing this service, two com-
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WARREN COUNTY IN THE REBELLION.
panies, A, Captain Norris, and F in the absence from sickness of Captain Livingstone commanded by Lieutenant Cunningham, were advanced as skir- mishers along the railroad, towards the South Anna River, and after cautiously proceeding about cne mile came in contact with the rebel pickets. The com- mand continued to advance in line under a sharp and constant fire, the enemy slowly retiring, and speedily in addition to small arms they opened a fire on the Union troops from batteries in front commanding the line of railroad and on a flank. The companies under this concentrated fire were compelled to re- treat and fell back in order, assuming a strong position in a wood, behind a ditch with an open field in front. During this movement, Lieutenant Cunning- ham received a painful wound from a spent ball, but did not leave the field. Major Nichols soon after appeared on the ground with two fresh companies, D, Captain Riggs, and a company of the Ninety-ninth New York. These com- panies deployed on either side, and the line thus formed made a rapid advance. A warm action ensued in which the command was subjected to a heavy fire of mingled bullets, shot and shells. The enemy were at length driven back along their whole front, except at one point in their position, which was obstinately maintained and appeared to be fortified. This point, which proved to be a breastwork of plank, Lieutenant W. H. Stevens of Company F proposed to capture ; and calling for volunteers for the service, selected five of the first who offered. He rapidly advanced in the dark behind a screen of bushes, which flanked the rebel's position on the right, and with fixed bayonets and loaded guns rushed upon the breastwork with a wild shout. Although surprised, the enemy attempted a resistance, but the gallant Stevenson killed one with his revolver, wounded a second and captured the remainder of the party consisting of thirteen men, who were brought into the Federal lines. The constancy and resolution of the regiment was first tested on this occasion, and the conduct of the officers engaged and the steadiness and discipline of the troops received the highest encomiums.
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