History of Wyoming County, N.Y., with Illustrations, Biographical Sketches and Portraits of Some Pioneers and Prominent Residents, Part 23

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Publication date: 1880
Publisher: F.W. Beers & Co.
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USA > New York > Wyoming County > History of Wyoming County, N.Y., with Illustrations, Biographical Sketches and Portraits of Some Pioneers and Prominent Residents > Part 23

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HISTORY OF WYOMING COUNTY, NEW YORK.

broke J. Safford, Laban H. Shank, Phares Shirley, Timothy F. Shockensey, Mason C. Smith, Henry Tilton, Edward Welch, Oliver Williams, Emmet Wood, George B. Johnson.

CHAPTER XXI.

HISTORY OF THE NINTH NEW YORK CAVALRY AND FOURTH ARTILLERY.

IVE companies of the 9th cavalry were raised in the counties of Wyoming, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua. It was first called "Stoneman Cavalry," in honor of General Stoneman, chief of cavalry in the Army of the Potomac. He was once a resident of Chautauqua, and went from that county to West Point ; and among the officers and men of the regiment were many of his old friends and schoolmates. It afterward came to be designated, like other regiments, by its number.

The Wyoming county companies numbered about 225 men, of whom a portion came from Genesee county and elsewhere. The chief company officers were : Company A .- captain, H. R. Stimson ; lieutenants, A. B. Merril, and D. W. Lapham. Company H .- captain, W. G. Bentley ; lieutenants, P. E. Bailey, and William L. Knapp. Company G .- captain, O. L. Tozier, and lieutenant, W. Carson.

The first place of rendezvous was Camp Seward, at West- field, Chautauqua county. There the newly raised com- panies were placed in command of Colonel Porter, an ex- perienced cavalry officer. He soon came to be regarded with disfavor by the line officers. Many of these were men of talent and education, and entertained the opinion that a man might be at the same time "an officer and a gentle- man." They could not readily be brought to submit to the insolence of one who looked with contempt upon everything that was not "regular," and who, under the protection of his shoulder straps, gave unbridled license to his domineer- ing spirit and his native churlishness. They were willing to make sacrifices for the cause in which they enlisted, but they could not consent to sacrifice their self respect Colonel Porter was soon relieved.

The field officers, designated by special order, numbered 5%I, from general headquarters, State of New York, were : Colonel, John Beardsley ; lieutenant-colonel, William B. Hyde ; majors, William Sackett, Charles McLean Knox and George S. Nichols.

From Camp Seward they went to Albany, and thence, November 26th, 1861, to Washington. There they made their winter quarters at Camp Fenton, in a grove between Seventh and Fourteenth streets, in the northwest part of the city. Captain Stimson called their camp "a city of white houses among the pines." They remained in this camp during the following winter, discharging the ordinary routine of camp duties and perfecting themselves in the drill.

In the month of March they went out as an escort to some artillery trains, and the opening of the spring cam- paign found them in the field. There had been frequent

rumors of the discharge of this regiment, and these rumors were not wholly without foundation ; for at one time such a measure was talked of at the department. From this time forward they were in active service.

Early in July, 1862, they received their horses, and became, in the language of one of their number, what they were en- listed for, " a cavalry regiment." It was then attached to Buford's cavalry brigade, and from that time it was con- stantly in active service, and its record was as brilliant as that of any cavalry regiment in the service.

It must be remembered that cavalry service is different from that of infantry or artillery-companies and squads of cavalry are frequently sent on reconnoisances, raids, and forays, where celerity of movement is required, and quick, sharp fighting is to be done. The members of cavalry organizations are, of course, more constantly in motion, and oftener in action than those of any other branch of the service.

The 9th was in the campaigns in Virginia and Maryland in the summer of 1862. In the winter of 1862 and 1863 it was in the region about Culpepper. In the summer of 1863 it was with the army in Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylva- nia. It passed the winter ot 1863 and 1864 in Loudon val- ley, with headquarters at Stephensburg. In the spring and early part of the summer of 1864 it was with General Grant, and afterward with General Sheridan in his campaign in the Shenandoah valley.

Although the record of all the engagements in which all or portions of the 9th participated is not accessible, it is known that the number of these is fifty-seven, and that some among these were very severe actions. The following are recorded: Yorktown, Williamsburg, Cedar Mountain, Brandy Station, Aldie, Upperville, Gainesville, Second Bull Run, Chantilly, Antietam, Gettysburg, Kelly's Ford, Rappahan- nock Station, Sulphur Springs, Opequan, Wilderness, Cold Harbor, Mechanicsville, Deep Bottom, Winchester, Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creek, Petersburg, Five Forks, Trevillian Sta- tion, Beverly Ford, Malvern Hill, Appomattox Court-house, Germantown, Haymarket, Berryville, Middleburg, Spotted Tavern, Goose Creek, Boonsboro, Funktown, Falling Waters, Stevensburg, Culpepper, Bealton and Mine Run, in most of which it suffered in killed, wounded or prisoners.

At the expiration of its term of service the original mem- bers, except those who re-enlisted, were mustered out; and the 4th New York cavalry was transferred to this as com- panies B, E and L, and, thus made up of veterans and re- cruits, the organization continued in the service till after the close of hostilities. It was mustered out July 17th, 1865.

Among the testimonials which this regiment has received of the confidence which its commanders reposed in it, the following order may be quoted:

" Headquarters and brigade, Ist cavalry division, * *

June 14th, 1864-

"SPECIAL ORDERS NO. 27.

"The 9th New York cavalry of this brigade having been ordered to the Department of the Shenandoah, the brevet brigadier-general commanding considers it an act of justice to the officers and men of this decimated command to refer to their services during the campaign just ended. Upon them devolved the duty of sustaining the reputation of the

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RECORD OF THE FOURTH ARTILLERY.

fighting 9th upon the brilliant operation upon the enemy's communications north of the James river, and in the cam- paign that culminated in the suppression of the Rebellion. At the battles of Five Forks, Shiloh Creek, Scott's Cross- roads and Appomattox Court-house, their behavior under their gallant leader, Major Dinnan, elicited the highest com- mendations; and their stubborn valor on more than one oc- casion assisted materially in the success achieved. Their glorious record will always be one of the brightest chapters in the history of the and brigade.

" CHARLES J. FITZHUGH,

" Brevet Brigadier-General commanding."

THE FOURTH ARTILLERY.

This organization was formed in New York city, and con- sisted originally of eight companies. Wyoming county was represented in it by Eugene A. Aken, Abner P. Adams, Page Burnell, Lewis Cain, Owen Huntley, John W. Hatch, Samuel S. Mais, John Prill, Albert Pratt, Goodley Puff, Wil- liam Spicknell, Spencer Thrall, William W. Warner, Joel H. Watson, Darwin Waite, Pike; Francis Davidson, William E. G. Puff, Genesee Falls; William Gregg, Frank Hardens, James Hildrum, William H. Mateson, Perry; and Walter Tallman, Castile.

The regiment was raised in 1861 and 1862. During the summer of 1862 it garrisoned the forts in front of George- town. On the 28th of September it was sent to Fort Rum- sey, Va., and thence to Fort Ethan Allen, some five or six miles away. This fort it guarded a long time without being in any active engagement. In the month of June, 1863, the maneuvers of the contending armies brought the 4th artillery to the front, although still in charge of Fort Ethan Allen, and likewise garrisoning Fort Rumsey without infantry sup- port. There, at that time, they were constantly liable to cav- alry raids.

March 7th, 1863. Colonel Doubleday was discharged, and Colonel De Russey succeeded him. On the 23d of May following De Russey was promoted to the position of briga- dier-general of volunteers, and was succeeded by Colonel Hall, who remained in command until the 6th of the follow- ing August, when he resigned. The next colonel was Cap- tain John C. Tidbull, an artillery captain in the regular army, and a thorough fighter; having carried his battery through the principal battles of the war with success.

The regiment remained at Fort Ethan Allen till March 27th, 1864, when it was sent to the front, numbering 2,400. Up to June, 1864, after having participated in the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Tolopotomy and Cold Harbor, no casualties were reported in it. From a letter written by one of the officers of Battery D in this regiment, the following is copied: "We are working six co. horn mortars. Each throws a 24-pound shell. Much cu- riosity and great excitement are caused among the infantry by the operation of these pieces. They are so small that four men can pick one up and travel away with it. We can throw a shell from 25 to 1,200 yards with one of them, as we choose. The infantry all declare that the rebels shall never take our battery, and they mean it. We took our present position on the night of June 3d, and we have been under fire ever since three o'clock A. M. of the 4th. As I write

the bullets are whistling and shrieking over our heads. On our part we have thrown 150 shells among them. . The effect of them has been terrific. They fall directly among the Johnnies, and create great consternation. We have seen two of the poor fellows blown ten feet into the air by one of them,-heads off, and arms and legs shattered. So far, the reb's have injured none of our battery boys, but have killed and wounded quite a number of others."

The position mentioned was before Cold Harbor, and the battery was detached from the regiment. A long period of comparative inaction before Petersburg was brought to a close on the morning of July 30th by the memorable mine explosion. This mine had been constructed under a strong rebel fort in front of Burnside's line. It was a very large one, containing six tons of powder.

The explosion took place about five o'clock in the morn- ing. A shower of dirt was sent up about three hundred feet, completely demolishing the fort, and burying in its ruins the greater part of a South Carolina regiment and six guns. Im- mediately after the explosion our batteries opened fire, and simultaneously our forces, including the 4th artillery, charg- ed on the works, and a great part of the second line of de- fenses was taken. Company C of the 4th operated in this engagement with a battery of cohorn mortars, which were served splendidly.

The next engagement in which this regiment participated was at Deep Bottom. Having embarked on the James and dropped down a few miles it returned, and in conjunction with the roth corps attacked the rebels and won a victory.

The next fight was on the 25th of August, at Ream's Sta- tion, on the Weldon railroad, and in that the 4th suffered terrible loss; 900 of the regiment went into the fight, and but 503 came out. Among the losses were 19 officers killed, wounded and missing. Four charges were made by the rebels and bloodily repulsed; but in the fifth they succeeded in breaking the Union line. In this engagement the 4th was supporting two or three four-gun batteries, and fought under Hancock.

After this the regiment encamped on what was known as the Jerusalem plank road, and reorganized, armed recruits, drilled, worked in trenches, etc. It then went to the vicin- ity of Fort Hell, and thence to the left of the line before Petersburg, and encamped about two miles west from the Weldon railroad, where it remained during the winter.

It was mustered out of the service the next June.

CHAPTER XXII.

A HARD YEAR'S FIGHTING BY THE EIGHTH NEW YORK HEAVY ARTILLERY.

- HE history of this regiment is a terrible one. Volumes that will never be written are ex- pressed in the truth that during its services it . Jost nearly twelve hundred men in killed, wounded and missing. Twenty-two officers and two hundred and eleven men were killed, twenty-nine officers and six hundred and fifty-three men were wounded and fifty men missing.

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HISTORY OF WYOMING COUNTY, NEW YORK.

This regiment was organized in the gloomiest period of the war. The Union troops in front of Richmond had been repulsed, and they awaited help to check the advance north- ward of the enemy. The demand of the hour was men. In this crisis the President issued a call for 300,000 troops, and it was in response to this that the 8th heavy artillery was organized. It was raised in the counties of Wyoming, Niagara, Orleans and Genesee by Colonel Peter A. Porter, of Niagara Falls under authority granted by Governor Fen- ton. It was completed and mustered into the service at Camp Church (Lockport) on the 22nd of August, 1862, with the following regimental officers: Colonel, Peter A. Porter, Niagara Falls ; lieutenant colonel, W. W. Bates, Orleans county; major, James M. Willett, Batavia; adjutant, E. L. Blake, Lockport; quartermaster, George B. Wilson, Lock- port; surgeon, James M. Leet, Lockport; assistant surgeon, H. C. Hill, Somerset ; chaplain, Gilbert De La Matyr. Wyoming county had in this regiment the following repre- sentatives:

Elias M. Doty, James Ellis, Lawrence Flynn, Edward Hooper. John Hush, Henry M. Jones, George W. Kendal, Henry McMay, Carl Martin. Frederick Pilgrim, Henry Rush, Augustus Stuby, William Silsal, Marion Buck, Luke White, Attica; John Amerdick, David Burleigh, Ira Croes, Ervin Ewell, Kirk L. Ewell, N. Ferner, Adam Grill, J. G. Husch, Mart. Lingtield, Andrew Lingfeld, S. Dexter Ludden, Stephen Myers, Michael Myers, Charles Rice, Friend Rice, John Shum, H. H. Van Dake, Eugene Plumley. Bennington; Elias Burt, Charles Scribner, William Scribner, Castile; Lyman Bennett. Esra Flint, George W. Johnson, Hiram Johnson, Gainesville; Charles H. Ful- ler, J. B. Jewett. Stephen Judd, Middlebury ; Thomas Cofield, Perry ; Elias Gratton, Sheldon ; John Aiken, Charles C. Bishop, Michael Burke, Lewis E. Clement, George Gibson, Alfred W. Hoyt, Milton W. Huriburt Abraham Ennis Keeney, L. D. Mapes, Alburtis Sammis, Thomas J. Scribner. Luther J. Spencer. Charles E. Whittam, Warsaw ; and H. Z. Owen, Wethersdeld.

The regiment served from the time of its muster till the spring of i864 in the defenses of Baltimore, with the excep- tion of a short campaign to Harper's Ferry and in western Virginia. There it was subjected to none of the privations and to few of the restraints of military life. Officers' balls, company dances, Christmas, New Year and Thanksgiving feasts and merry makings varied the monotony of garrison duty, but none ot the hardships of the field were encoun- tered. During nearly two years they " played soldier."

On the morning of May 15th, 1864, the regiment was or- dered to the front. About five o'clock in the evening of the 17th it crossed the river on a pontoon. In almost every building were crowded the wounded from the recent battles of the Wilderness and Spottsylvania Court-house. The regiment marched through Fredericksburg and up the heights beyond the town, until at eight o'clock it stopped for rest and supper. At ten o'clock it started on the march again. Soon after two o'clock in the morning the welcome order was given to rest until daylight.

With the first light of morning the dull booming of dis- tant cannon was heard. The 8th regiment had joined the great "battering ram," the Army of the Potomac, and was at the front. After breakfast it started in the direction of the firing, which was not heavy, nor was the engagement general. As the troops neared the scene of action they met numbers of wounded men moving to the rear with mangled limbs and bloody faces, while near the front lines others were waiting for stretchers. On the night of May 18th, 1864, they rested quietly, camped in a lovely spot. They remained there dur- ing the next day awaiting orders.

On the night of the 19th the 8th had its first encounter with the enemy. About 4 o'clock in the afternoon of that

day the troops heard heavy musketry firing to the northeast of them, and they immediately started in that direction on the double quick. They soon began to meet the wounded and the bullets began to whistle over their heads. The reg- iment took a strong position in the second line and lay down behind the crest of a ridge. At dusk it advanced across a small stream and through a cornfield and was soon engaged. The first charge was made into the woods, where it was dark. The 8th was there until about 9 o'clock. di- recting its fire by the flash of the enemy's guns. The loss was light-33 killed, wounded and missing. The wounded were carried to a field hospital and soon all was quiet again. Morning revealed only abandoned positions, for the enemy had fled with the darkness. After burying its dead the regiment returned to its old camp.

At midnight on the night of May 20th the regiment broke camp and went, via Bowling Green, to Milford Station, on the Richmond and Potomac Railroad, a distance of twenty-five miles, arriving after a steady march of fifteen hours at 3 P. M. There had been a brisk cavalry fight at Milford Station that day, and some of the wounded, with a few prisoners, were still there. The 8th rested there for dinner and marched again at 10 o'clock that night. About 5 o'clock in the evening of the 23d it arrived at North Anna river in the vicinity of the Chesterfield bridge. The rebels held an ugly fortification, which at 6 P. M., after a vigorous fire from three sections of artillery, was stormed and captured by Pierce's and Egan's brigades, of Birney's division. Thirty of the garrison were captured, and the remainder sent across the river in such haste that they were not able to burn the bridge. The 8th lay on its arms till morning. The rebels sent their compliments with early dawn. The 8th replied and continued to fire all day. From this time until June and the regiment was most of the time on the road to Cold Harbor, meantime engaging in several sharp skirmishes.

About IT A. M., June 2nd, this regiment took the front at Cold Harbor, relieving other troops. In an eager and confident frame of mind the men received the order to be ready to charge at 4 o'clock; and at that hour they were found sitting behind their breastworks, every man grasping his gun, ready to spring at the command. One of the officers of the regiment says: "We were acting very much unlike the stern and silent soldiers we read of, for we were laughing and chatting, speculating upon the prospect before us as if it were a mere holiday or some bore of a parade." But it began to rain and the order was counter- manded. The sun went down under a cloud and thus night settled.

Thousands beheld the dawn on the 3d for the last time. The signal gun was fired at daybreak, when the men were not thinking so much about the order to advance as they were about their coffee.

The distance between the lines of the 8th and the rebel lines has been variously estimated at from seven hundred to one thousand yards. The first battalion, on the left of the regiment, was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Bates; the second, in the center, by Captain McGinnis (Major Spaulding being sick); the third, on the extreme right, by Major Willett. The batteries in the rear of the regiment opened a heavy fire simultaneously with the advance of the charging column, and the rebels replied no less vigorously. One after another went down beneath the storm of iron and

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RECORD OF THE EIGHTH NEW YORK HEAVY ARTILLERY.

lead which swept the plain. As the ranks thinned they closed up sternly, and, with arms at a trail and bayonets fixed, they pressed forward on a run without firing a shot. Down went the colors, the staff splintered and broken as well as the hand that held it; brave hands seized them again and bore them onward until the enemy's works were close'at hand. Colonel Porter fell, crying, "Close in on the colors, boys!" Major Willett was wounded, a large number of line officers lay dead and dying, one-third of the rank and file was hors du combat, a part of the regiment was floundering in the mire, the rebels were pouring in double charges of grape and canister at less than point blank range, sweeping away a score every moment. The line, having lost its momentum, stopped from sheer exhaustion within a stone's throw of the enemy's works.

All this transpired in a short time. The supporting line failed to come up-old soldiers declaring that it was fool- hardiness to advance under such a fire; so the brave men of the 8th were compelled to look out for themselves. They be- gan to dig, and every man was working himself into the ground. Every stump, mole hill, bush and tree was a shelter. Thus the regiment lay all day under the very noses of the rebels, and came away in squads, under cover of the darkness. This seemed as hazardous as the charge itself ; for no sooner did the rebels detect a movement in their front than they opened a murderous fire of both musketry and artillery. Some were killed in attempting to come out ; among them Cap- tain Gardner, of Company I. An officer, describing the fire, says : " It was either more severe than in the morning, or darkness made it seem more terrible."

At 9 that night the regiment was in its old position and had brought away most of the severely wounded, who had been unable to get back during the day. The dead were lying where they fell. Some were buried during the night following, and some lay exposed till the truce of June 6th. No one knew exactly where the body of Colonel Porter lay, and all effort to find it during the night of the 3d proved unavailing. It was discovered the next day midway be- tween the advanced pickets, about twenty yards from either. To recover it during the day was too hazardous to attempt, for the rebel sharpshooters were always on the alert. About midnight on the 4th Le Roy Williams crept stealthily from his picket post, followed by Samuel Traverse, of Company B, and in a few minutes they reached the body without at- tracting the attention of their vigilant neighbors. But they could not carry the body without rising to their feet, and that they dared not do; so Williams watched the body while Traverse returned to the pit and sent a comrade to the regiment after ropes. In less than an hour they had tent ropes enough to reach the body, and, having fastened one end to the feet of their dead commander, they lay on their faces, one behind the other, and gradually dragged the body to a place of comparative safety. From there it was taken to Colonel Bates's headquarters and then to the hos- pital, where it arrived about 3 o'clock on the morning of June 5th.

Greeley once said, in speaking of Colonel Porter : "He was but one among thousands actuated by like motives, but none ever volunteered with purer motives, or served with more unselfish devotion than Peter A. Porter." On the evening previous to the battle, he was asked, "Don't you think it very foolish to charge across there ? We don't ex-

pect that many of us will ever come back alive." The colonel replied, " That has nothing to do with the matter. If I am ordered to go I shall go, and I think my regiment will follow me."

The following figures tell something of the desperate work the 8th heavy artillery performed in this action : Killed, 9 officers and 146 men ; wounded, 14 officers and 323 men ; missing, 1 officer and 12 men ; making an aggregate loss of 24 officers and 481 men. The material that composed the regiment was equal to any that went out, and the story of its experience June 3d carried desolation to many once happy homes.

The regiment went from Cold Harbor to Petersburg, un- der Colonel Willet, engaging in sharp skirmishes on the way. Its services from this time forward, until the close of the war, were in and about Petersburg. Arriving there June 16th it was in the engagement of that day, and took part again on the 18th and 22nd. It fought at Ream's Sta- tion, Deep Bottom, Hatcher's Run and Appomattox, doing its full share of duty, and suffering the loss of 13 officers and 65 men killed, 15 officers and 230 men wounded, and 4 officers and 238 men missing.

June 4th, 1865, six companies were transferred to other regiments, and the next day the remaining six were mus- . tered out.

CHAPTER XXIII.

HISTORY OF THE 130TH VOLUNTEERS, OR IST NEW YORK DRAGOONS.

'N the month of July, 1862, the disastrous cam- paign of General Mcclellan on the Peninsula culminated at Harrison's Landing. A gigantic effort had been put forth, and a signal failure was the result.

A call was made for men to recruit the depleted ranks of the regiments in the field, and to constitute along with these regiments an army that would be able to check the progress of the Rebellion, retrieve the national prestige, and demonstrate to the world the cohesive force of republican institutions. The need of a stronger force was recognized, and in response to this call regiments sprang in- to existence as if by magic. The 130th N. Y. volunteers was organized at this time. It included in its ranks many of the best citizens of Wyoming, Allegany and Livingston counties.

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History of Wyoming County, N.Y., with Illustrations, Biographical Sketches and Portraits of Some Pioneers and Prominent Residents, Part 23

Author: Publication date: 1880 Publisher: F.W. Beers & Co. Number of Pages:

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: F.W. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: