USA > New York > Wyoming County > History of Wyoming County, N.Y., with Illustrations, Biographical Sketches and Portraits of Some Pioneers and Prominent Residents > Part 20
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On the 20th of May, nearly a month after the company was filled, orders to move forward were received. A colla- tion was served to the men by some kind hearted citizens, a Bible presented to each one by Rev. Dr. Nassau in behalf of the Wyoming County Bible Society, farewells and tearful leave takings were exchanged, and the volunteers moved to the railroad station, whence, in the presence of the thou- sands who had assembled to witness their departure, they were borne away. After a halt of two days in Albany they were ordered to New York, where they were assigned to the 17th regiment New York volunteers, under command of Colonel Lansing, of Albany.
In this county, as in all parts of the country, the depar- ture of the first company of volunteers was an occasion of peculiar interest. It was the first time in the history of the country that the national existence had been threatened, and the patriotic feelings of every loyal citizen were roused into intense activity. It was the first general call which had been made upon the present generation for volunteers to serve in the field, and of course the first occasion on which the people had been called to bid adieu to fathers, sons or brothers, who took their lives in their hands for the defense of their country. They experienced a higher pride in the patriotism of their kindred and friends, and a more poignant grief at parting,than they felt on similar occasions afterwards; for the acuteness of these feelings was to some extent worn away by frequent exercise, and after the first departure less of idle curiosity was felt.
The brave volunteers of Wyoming county who left the comforts of their homes, their social and domestic pleasures,
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TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT NEW YORK INFANTRY.
and who severed for the time the ties which linked them to their families and friends, to rally for the defense of the insti- tutions under which they had been permitted to enjoy these comforts, pleasures, and affections; to face the stern realities of grim visaged war, to endure the hardships and privations of the field, to inhale the pestilential emanations from south- ern swamps, to languish in sickness and pain on pallets, "with no hand of kindred to smooth their lone pillows," and, too often, to find solitary graves where neither mother nor sister, wife nor children could come to "drop affection's tear," deserve a more minute history than the merits of this work will permit. They constituted parts of organizations the balance of which came from other regions, and their his- tories are inseparably connected with those of these organi- zations.
CHAPTER XVI.
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HISTORIES OF THE TWENTY-FIRST AND TWENTY-SEVENTH NEW YORK INFANTRY.
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HE following sketch of the 21st is compiled mainly from the third annual report of the Bu- reau of Military Record:
This regiment, called also the "first Buffalo regiment," was organized, accepted into the State service and numbered on the 13th of May, 1861. It was made up mostly from companies re- cruited from Buffalo, but Wyoming county was represented in it by Horace W. Jones, Arcade; William H. Boorman, Castile ; Walter M. Fox, Orangeville; John Bump, James Bump, Job Bump, Charles M. Fox, Sheldon; Charles H. Littlebridge, Pike; George W. Bassett, Edwin P. Fanning, Horace Firman, Warsaw.
The regiment left Elmira on the 18th of June. On the 14th of July it moved into Virginia and was assigned to duty at Fort Runyon. There it was occupied in guard and camp duties and in drilling with the guns of the fort. September 28th it advanced to Upton Hill, where it expected to meet the enemy, but the place was deserted, and the formidable "cannon " on the breastworks were found to consist of a few pump logs and some old stovepipe on wheels-varieties of "quaker " guns. The regiment went into camp and erected a fort, which was named Fort Buf- falo. At that place, and on the 15th of December, it went into winter quarters.
At the end of 1861 it was found that the regiment, which left Elmira with 754 men, had lost by discharge 80, and by death 4; and that it had gained by recruits 64, leaving it with a strength of 734.
On the toth of March, 1862, it was in the reconnoisance in force towards Centreville, where it was found that the enemy had left their fortifications with the (quaker) guns mounted. Here General Patrick assumed command of the brigade, General Wadsworth, who had commanded, having been made military governor of the District of Columbia.
On the 15th the regiment returned to Alexandria, and from there went to what was appropriately termed "Camp
Misery," where it enjoyed Virginia mud and Virginia weather during three weeks. On the 18th of April it, with McDow- ell's command, moved towards Richmond, encountering the enemy occasionally in light skirmishes. On the 19th of May it reached and crossed the Rappahannock and took up camp on Hazel Run, in the rear of Fredericksburg. On the 9th of August the regiment, with the division to which it was attached, left Fredericksburg under orders to join the corps at Culpepper, where the army, under General Pope, was concentrating. On the 14th it crossed Cedar Run and encamped, the army occupying both flanks of Cedar mountain to await the approach of Jackson. Here it remained till the 18th, when General Pope became satisfied that the enemy was preparing to advance in overwhelming numbers, and he determined to withdraw behind the Rappahannock. In the ensuing engagement the 21st regiment became ex- posed to the enemy's artillery and sharpshooters. The enemy withdrew across the river. The regiment then re- turned to a former position on the right to oppose an ex- pected attempt of the enemy to cross a second time. Here, in the ravine in which it was stationed, it was exposed to a shower of projectiles. The order soon came to fall back, as it was discovered that the enemy had planted a new battery fully commanding the ravine. The movement of the regiment to the wood was executed in a masterly man- ner, and the day closed without the loss of a man.
August 26th the regiment reached Warrenton at dark. On the 27th it moved to the Sulphur Springs, encountered the enemy's pickets and lay all day between the contending artillery. On the 28th it moved toward Groveton, and was in the reserve in the engagement at that place in the evening. On the 29th and 30th it took part in the second battle of Bull Run, and formed the right of the line of battle at Chantilly September Ist. It fell back with the army and reached Upton's Hill on the night of the 2nd of September, 1862.
On the 14th the 21st took part in the battle of South Mountain, where it was engaged in the severe contest for the possession of the crest on the left of the ravine. It was deployed as skirmishers in this action, and went straight up the slope, drawing the fire of the enemy and revealing his position. On the 16th and 17th, at Antietam, it was on the right, under General Hooker, and fought valiantly during several hours.
It next took part in the battle of Fredericksburg, and at the end of 1863 was encamped at Cottage Grove, on the left flank of the army.
At the beginning of 1862 the regiment was 734 strong. At the end of the the same year there were present for duty 295.
On the 9th of January, 1863, the 21st was transferred to the command of General M. K. Patrick, for duty as provost guard of the army, and it continued in his command till it was sent home for discharge.
The regiment returned to Buffalo on the 11th of May, 1863. On the 21st a reorganization was authorized, but the authorization was revoked on the 30th of the next Sep- tember.
TWENTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT INFANTRY.
The 27th regiment was organized at Elmira May 21st, 1861, to serve two years. It was composed of companies
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HISTORY OF WYOMING COUNTY, NEW YORK.
recruited in Orleans, Allegany, Livingston, Broome, Monroe, Wayne and Westchester counties. Wyoming county was represented by George Cady, William Fitch, Thomas C. Heath, William F. Johnson, J. McDuffy, Atwood Preston, Simon Ray, Charles Rock, Harman. Stannard, William E. Smith, Elias Smith and J. L. Smith.
The field officers were: colonel, Henry W. Slocum; lieut- enant-colonel, Joseph J. Chambers; major, Joseph J. Bartlett.
The regiment was mustered in July 5th, 1861, at Elmira, and on the next day set out for Washington, where it arrived on the 11th. On the 16th it left Washington, and on the evening of the 18th encamped near Centreville. At 2 o'clock on the morning of Sunday, July 2Ist, it marched to the field of Bull Run, where it fought . well under General IIunter and suffered severely.
It withdrew from the field in order, but when it encount- ered the rest of the army in a confused retreat it broke up, as did other regiments in the flight to Washington.
August 14th the 27th encamped near Alexandria, Va. There Colonel Slocum was promoted to the position of brigadier-general, Lieutenant-Colone! Chambers resigned, and Major Bartlett was made colonel, Captain Adams lieut- enant-colonel, and Captain Gardner major.
September 12th the regiment commenced the work of building Fort Lyon. October 14th it went into winter quarters at Camp Clara, four miles north from Fort Lyon. April 17th, 1862, the division to which the 27th belonged embarked on transports, and on the afternoon of the 23d sailed to Fortress Monroe. On the 24th the regiment camped on a peninsula about seven miles from Yorktown.
May 5th the troops went up to the head of navigation on York river, and landed under cover of the gunboats, from which a few shots were fired, scattering the rebel cavalry und infantry that were skirmishing on the shore.
The 27th was the first to land. The enemy was near, and a line of battle was at once formed. Six companies were sent out as skirmishing pickets, and the other four acted as reserves. Picket firing at once commenced and was kept up during the night. The regiment sustained a loss of several killed and wounded, and succeeded in taking a few pris- oners.
On the morning of the 7th of May, while the Union troops were at breakfast, they were surprised by the enemy. A severe engagement followed, in which the fighting was done in the midst of thick bushes. The enemy were finally driven back with the loss of one of their batteries. The Union troops lost between 100 and 200 killed and wounded.
On Thursday, May 22nd, a reconnoisance was made, in which this regiment participated. From that time forward until June 29th it was actively engaged, most of the time in skirmishing. On the afternoon of the 27th it crossed the Chickahominy and participated in the battle of Gaines's Mills, losing 179 men in killed, wounded and missing.
Near Harrison's Landing the regiment remained some time, throwing up entrenchments. Shortly after began a retro- grade movement toward Yorktown, and the regiment on the 21st day of August was at Newport News. There it em- barked for Alexandria. From there it moved on to Manas- sas, and arrived just in time to cover the retreat of General Pope at the second Bull Run battle.
September 14th, the 27th was in an engagement at South Mountain, acting as skirmishers and routing a rebel battery. 'The regiment was engaged again on the 17th, at Antietam, but suffered no loss. In December the 27th marched to the fight at Fredericksburg, sharing in the terrible sacrifices made by the Union troops, and in the defeat. From this memo- rable field the regiment returned to camp at White Oak Church.
In the last week in April it was again engaged at Freder- icksburg, under General Sedgwick, and soon afterward in the disastrous battle of Chancellorsville. After this the regi- ment guarded Banks's Ford until its term of service expired. The mustering out order, which was dated May 13th, 1863, and signed by Major-General Sedgwick, contained the fol- lowing: "The general commanding the corps congratulates the officers and men of the 27th N. Y. volunteers upon their honorable return to civil life. They have enjoyed the re- spect and confidence of their commanders and companions. They have illustrated their term of service by gallant deeds, and have won for themselves a reputation not surpassed in the Army of the Potomac, and have nobly earned the grati- tude of the Republic."
The regiment was mustered out at Elmira.
CHAPTER XVII.
THE NOBLE RECORD OF THE 17TH NEW YORK INFANTRY- THE DEATH OF CHARLES E. BILLS.
HE data for this sketch are gleaned from the re- port of the chief of the bureau of military record, the files of the Western New Yorker and the Wyoming County Mirror, from a diary kept by the late Orlando S. Smith, and other sources. This regiment, at first called also the "Westchester Chasseurs," was made up of companies that were re- cruited in various parts of the State. Westchester county furnished four, New York city two, Rockland, Chenango, and Wayne counties each one, and Company K represented Wyoming county. The following is a roll of this company at its organization:
COMPANY K.
Officers .- Gideon H. Jenkins, captain ; H. A. Budley, Arat loutenant; Alvin M. Whaley, second lieutenant. Sergeants-Charles V. Jenkins, Warsaw ; Edwin H. Beardsley, Warsaw : Adelbert H. Jenkins, Warsaw ; Joseph W. Morey, Wyoming. Corporals-Frank S. Austin, Perry ; Charles J. Watkins. Warsaw ; Lucien H. Post, Perry ; Oscar Nicholson, Warmw.
Privates .- Charles H. Agar. George Armstrong, George Baker, Riley R. Baker, Galusha W. Blowers, John R. Brown, Homer C. Curtis, Eugene Edson. William Fisk, Miles P. Fowler, Sumner Gill, Willard L. Hitchcock, Edward Harty. Jason M. Johnson, Frank H. Johnson, Lucien P. Knapp, Thomas E. Knapp, Frank Lamphire, Charles W. Lewis, Ira Lonnebury. Ellis Luther, jr., George F. Martin, Jesse J. Mattocks, Adelbert Mosier, Samuel R. Munger, William Parker, Charles A. Patridge, William Poland, George Keynick, John T. Keynick, Daniel Starks, James A. Smith, Wilber H. Snyder, America M. Turner, James Tyler, William H. Walker, Alfred Watrous, Morris Warren, Romanzo L. Wilkin, William B. Young, Warsaw ; Charles Bills, Henry Cronkhite. Thomas Durfee, Henry C. Ferris, William Hodge, Solon G. Rip- ley, Orlando 8. Smith, Walter C. Tillotson, Otto Warner, Middlebury ; Wil- liam P. Bovie, Martin H. Carpenter, Frank Graves, Lafayette E. Hastings, Henry Rice, Devello Sheffield, Arthur E. Thorpe, Edwin R. Wood, Gaines- ville; George A. Armour, David Jones, Albert Lewis, Augustus Sat yr Henry Stroemer, Henry Schneider, Orangeville; Michael Metzger, Nicholas Smith, Sheldon Alton, P. Beardsley, Oscar Ayres, Perry ; Mansor Dunbar.
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SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT NEW YORK INFANTRY.
Origen Dunnell, John Etwell, Alson Peet, Wethersfield ; William R. Benob- ley. Dale; Jacob Darrow, York ; Giles Gilbert, Pike; William A. Houghton, La Grange: Samuel Houghton, Fredonia.
Henry S. Lansing was appointed colonel of this regiment. Thomas J. Morris lieutenant-colonel, and Charles A. John- son major. Company K was mustered into the United States service on the 25th of May, 1861, and the regiment was mustered on the 28th.
It is perhaps due to the regiment to speak of the claim which its officers put forth for it: that recruiting for it be- gan on the 16th of April and ended on the 5th of May, 1861; that it was numbered successively 9, 11 and 17, and its organization delayed by the action of the State military board for reasons that were then deemed sufficient; that the headquarters of the regiment was established at the corner of Rector street and Broadway, New York, in a store, the rent of which ($12,000 per annum) was paid by the Union Defense Committee ; that it occupied the City Hall barracks during about six weeks without uniforms, and was then moved (June 15th) to Camp Washington, Staten Island.
It left Staten Island on the 21st of June, and proceeded, via New Jersey, Harrisburg and Baltimore, to Washington, where it arrived on the 23d. The expenditure by the Union Defense Committee up to August 16th, 1861, was $22,351.58. The State expended for the regiment, exclusive of quarters and subsistence, $41,983.22.
On their arrival at Washington the troops went into camp about two miles west from the city. They remained at that camp, perfecting themselves in military drill, till July 14th, when they went to Alexandria and encamped about two miles above the city, near Fort Ellsworth. At that place Company K was detailed on its first duty-that of guarding military stores on the dock. They were placed temporarily in the second brigade of the fifth division, and shared in the movements of the reserve at the " reconnoisance in force," and battle of Bull Run.
The regiment went to Fairfax Seminary in September, and participated in a reconnoisance to Mason's Hill. It went to Hall's Hill in October, where it went into camp, and there spent the winter of 1861-2. Soon after its ar- rival at that camp, which was called Camp Butterfield, in honor of General Butterfield, to whose brigade they were as- signed, the men received Sibley tents in place of the A tents that were first given to them, and in the following February the smooth-bore muskets that they originally re- ceived were exchanged for Springfield rifles.
On the 12th of the following March (1862) the regiment left Camp Butterfield and went with its brigade on a recon- noisance. It stopped at Fairfax Seminary, from which place it moved on the 21st to Alexandria, and went on board the steamer "Knickerbocker." The following en- tries appear on Smith's diary :
"March 23d, 1862 .- In the Chesapeake Bay. Pleasant. Saw the ' Monitor,'. the iron gunboat that had a fight with the 'Merrimac.' Left the boat about dark. Passed Old Point Comfort, and we are lying on the ground. . Knicker- bocker ' sprung a leak so we had to leave her.
"Monday, March 24th .- Arose and moved about sun- rise about one mile and pitched our tents. Had dress parade at 6 P. M. Pleasant day. Passed through the vil- lage of Hampton-now in ruins, having been burned by
the enemy to prevent the Union men from having winter quarters there."
On the 25th they moved about four miles and camped in the woods. On the 26th they went to Wall's Creek on a reconnoisance, discovered the enemy in force, and re- turned with one prisoner. On the 27th the force went to Big Bethel on a reconnoisance, which the diary describes thus :
"Thursday, March 27th .-* Arrived at Great Bethel at noon. The enemy fled before us. Marched in line of battle across the flat up to the enemy's breastworks, and placed the stars and stripes on the first fortification. Returned to camp, the distance said to be ten miles. The. sharpshooters shot two rebels."
April 4th they moved toward Yorktown, and on the 5th marched nine miles and reached the scene of active opera- tions in the siege. Under this date the diary says : "Marched soon after sunrise. Halted about noon to leave our knap- sacks and prepare for a fight. Pitched our tents in sight of the enemy's batteries ; exchanging shots freely now, while I write and rest with my knee for a desk."
The regiment remained at this siege, engaged in picket and fatigue duty, with occasional drill, during about a month. On the 3d of May the rebels evacuated Yorktown. The diary says : "Sunday, May 4th. The 44th went out to work and saw our flag on the enemy's parapet. Went over and found our men in possession. Several had been killed by torpedoes that they had stepped on (which had been left by the enemy). Got a good many prisoners. Our flying artillery and cavalry in pursuit."
On the 8th the regiment passed through Yorktown and embarked on the steamer "S. R. Spaulding " for West Point, whence, two or three days afterward, it went to Cum- berland. The roads had been obstructed with fallen trees, and the woods set on fire ; and during the severe march the men were obliged to remove the obstructions and labor to extinguish the fires. They remained one day at Cumber- land and marched to White House. The regiment then moved and made its camp on Gaines's farm, on the Chicka- hominy. Nothing noteworthy occurred till, on the 27th, the regiment moved with the brigade for the purpose of at- tacking the enemy at Hanover Court-house. After a tire- some march of about fourteen miles, the enemy was en- countered about two miles from the court-house, where the road joins Ashland, with a guideboard marked " To Rich- mond seven miles-to Port Green Church two miles." There, according to a correspondent, a brilliant charge was made by the 17th, and a howitzer captured and turned on its late possessors. The enemy were completely routed, and after the regiment had spent a short time going through their abandoned camp it proceeded to the court-house. A sharp and vigorous attack on the rear of the division was repulsed, and the victory was complete. The next day the regiment went down the railroad and burned some bridges, and returned to its camp on the Gaines farm on the 29th. It remained in this camp, occupied with the usual details of fatigue and picket duty, till June 22nd, when it moved six miles back.
According to the third report of the bureau of military record the regiment remained in camp until the 26th of June, when it marched to Old Church. While there the battle of Gaines Mills was fought June 27th ;. This regiment, being
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HISTORY OF WYOMING COUNTY, NEW YORK.
in the rear, was cut off from the main army, and under Gen- eral Stoneman retreated toward the White House. The distance was twenty-two miles, and the march one of great suffering. Says a correspondent: "History will not record a more hasty, timely, or terrible march than this by such worn out and fatigued men. Many fell fainting by the roadside and 'recovered at their leisure. The last few miles was positively awful. The colonel, a good brave man, rode bareheaded down the rapidly decimating ranks and ex- claimed, 'Men, it is hard, but if you do this to-day your country will not, cannot be ungrateful.' We accomplished it; and as I looked at my blistered and swollen feet, I thought painfully of other days. The result was, as had been anticipated by General Mcclellan when he ordered Stoneman to fall back to White House if cut off, the move- ment of the enemy in that direction was anticipated, the stores removed or destroyed, and the regiment and other forces then embarked. on the gunboats. On the 30th the gunboats sailed for Fortress Monroe.
"The regiment reached Yorktown on the Ist of July, and there passed from the gunboat to the steamer 'Cattskill,' subsequently to the tugboat 'Adriatic,' and from the latter to the steamer ' Kennebeck,' and sailed for Harrison's Land- ing, where it arrived on the and. It remained in camp at Harrison's Landing until the evacuation. In this time its camp was exposed to the artillery of the enemy in the attack of the 30th and one man killed; and it was detailed on duty on the opposite bank of the James in cutting down timber and patrolling the country. On the 14th of August it moved at midnight, and 'reached and crossed the Chickahominy, continued the march on the 15th, and passed Williamsburg; on the 16th reached Yorktown; on the 17th marched seven- teen miles, and from thence to Newport News. This was a very severe march, and will be long remembered by those who participated in it."
From Newport News the regiment was transferred by water to Aquia creek. On the morning of the 21st it went to Fredericksburg by railroad, and from thence marched up the Rapidan to Warrenton and Manassas, and opened the fight at Groveton on the 30th. Says a correspondent: "When the enemy made their sudden and powerful advance toward our center on Saturday, Porter's corps was ordered up to meet the attack. Butterfield's brigade was sent for. ward-the 17th N. Y. having the advance. They marched up the hill amid the fierce leaden hail as if it had been but a pleasant summer shower. ' On they went, and fiercer and hotter was the fire. First a battery on the right and another on the left opened and poured a devastating fire into their devoted ranks, but they never wavered. Faith- fully did they ply their trusty muskets, and held their po- sition. Officers who witnessed the scene describe it as most terrific. Storm upon storm of bullets, grape shot, screaming shell, and pieces of railroad iron were hurled into, through and over them. Thus they stood, their ranks being thinned at every discharge. The enemy suffered too, and quickly sought the cover of the woods. At length came the order to fall back, it having been found impossible to reinforce them. The line was still preserved, and at the command they moved off steadily and coolly, although the dreadful fire of the enemy never ceased for one moment. The colors were shot into shreds, both flagstaffs were shot in pieces by grape shot, and three color bearers were shot
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down. Out of 350 men that went into this charge, 13 of- ficers and 250 men were killed or wounded. Captains Wilson, Blauvelt and Demarest, and Lieutenant Reid were among the killed; and Major T. C. Grover, at that time in command of the regiment, acting Adjutant Sprague and Cap- tains Burleigh, Martin and Foley, and Lieutenants Green and Morey were among the wounded-Major Grover wounded in four places.
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