USA > New York > Wyoming County > History of Wyoming County, N.Y., with Illustrations, Biographical Sketches and Portraits of Some Pioneers and Prominent Residents > Part 26
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The 136th regiment of infantry was raised at this time. Its ranks were filled from the counties of Wyoming, Living- ston and Allegany, which then constituted the 30th sena- torial district of New York. The 130th regiment, recruited from the same localities, had been mustered into the service a few days previous.
Three full companies of the 136th regiment were filled in Wyoming county,-Company D), Captain Augustus Harring- ton; Company E, Captain Henry B. Jenks; Company H, Captain E. H. Jeffres. Captain Harrington received author- ity to raise a company of volunteers, and commenced re- cruiting for the new regiment August 18th; and on the 29th of the same month he reported with a full company at Camp Portage, for muster. This was the first company in camp, and was recruited in about a week. Captain Jenks reported with a full company September Ist; Captain Jeffres's com- pany was filled soon after.
Companies A and K were recruited in Allegany, and Companies B, C, F, G and I in Livingston county.
The 136th regiment was mustered September 25th, 1862, at Portage, Livingston county, with the following field and staff officers: Colonel, James Wood, jr .; lieutenant-colonel, Lester B. Faulkner; major, David C. Hartshorne; adjutant, Campbell H. Young; surgeon, B. L. Hovey; first assistant surgeon, Edwin Amsden; second assistant surgeon, Charles F. Warner.
The regiment left Camp Portage October 2nd. At Elmira its arms and equipments were issued. October 4th it went into Camp Seward, on Arlington Heights, which was its first encampment on rebel territory. From Arlington it moved to Fairfax Court house, Va., where it was attached to the and brigade of the 1 1th corps, with Von Steinwehr as brigade commander, and Sigel, conspicuous with the recent renown
of Pea Ridge, as corps commander. This regiment was occupied in picket duty on the advanced line of the army, and it suffered the hardships incident to changes of food. climate and habits-in short, to the change from civil to military life in time of war. Only three captains in the regiment were on duty November 9th. Company D, which left Portage 94 strong, reported only 45 men for duty November 26th.
The battle of Antietam was nobly won, and Lee hurried across the Potomac September 18th. Yet for more than a month Mcclellan's army remained in Maryland, and so this victory was rendered barren. Then the Army of the Potomac was reorganized. Burnside was placed in command. Sigel had a grand division, which formed the reserve, in which was the 136th regiment. . December toth it left camp at Germantown, Va., and marched to the front. The regiment was reduced in numbers, but the men that were left had hardened, and gained the bearing and acquired the habits of soldiers. After the second day's march the sound of cannonading on the Rappahannock told that a battle was in progress; but the regiment reached Falmouth just after the army had recrossed the river from its disastrous attempt to carry the rebel works behind Fredericksburg. It soon moved up the river to Banks Ford, where it did picket duty in face of the enemy. Pontoons and artillery arrived or the 20th of January, 1863, and batteries were placed in position on the 21st; but, in consequence of a severe storm, the projected movement was reluctantly abandoned. Before the army could move the rebels had strengthened their position, and further offensive operations at that point were impracticable.
From Banks Ford the regiment went into camp at Stafford Court-house, Va., where it remained until the last of April, when it crossed the river at Kellogg's farm, and moved to Chancellorsville. There the brigade to which it was attached made a reconnoissance to the right of the 11th corps, under General Barlow, and captured nearly one thousand prisoners. While the 136th was absent on this reconnaissance the rath corps was driven from the field, and the guards and camp equipage left behind by the regi- ment fell into the enemy's hands.
The brigade then took position in the rear of General Sickles command, in time for the 136th regiment to witness one of the severest conflicts of the war.
After Chancellorsville the regiment went into its old quarters at Stafford Court-house, where it remained until Lee again assumed the offensive, when it moved at about equal pace with the enemy to Hagerstown, Md., where the regiment remained a short time.
July Ist, at 5 P. M., the 136th regiment left its camp at Hagerstown, and at 11 A. M. July and it reached Gettys- burg, making in this time the remarkable march of thirty- eight miles. This regiment was a part of the first brigade that reached the battle field. It was assigned a position fronting Gettysburg from the face of Cemetery hill, where it remained from the morning of the and until the evening . of the 4th of July. The battle raged fiercely, but these men did not waver amid the thunder of cannon, the plowing of shot and shell, the rattle of musketry and the groans of the wounded and dying. This decisive victory rolled back the tide of rebel invasion, and struck the army of Virginia a blow from which it never recovered.
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THE ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-SIXTH IN THE MARCH TO THE SEA.
The 136th regiment remained with the Army of the Potomac until September 23d, when the 11th and the 12th corps were detached from this army and sent under Hooker to the relief of Rosecrans at Chattanooga.
When Hooker's command reached Lookout Mountain, from its summit the enemy saw his disposition of the Union forces, and their first camp had hardly become quiet at night when the roar of artillery, the screaming of shells and the rattle of small arms opened the grand and awful spec- tacle of a battle at night. The rebels made a fierce attack on General Geary. They were intrenched on a steep hill, and the 136th New York, the 73d Ohio and the 33d Massa- chusetts were ordered to charge. Under the lead of Colonel Smith of the 73d Ohio these three regiments drove the enemy from this strong position, and their heavy loss told how gal lantly they had borne themselves in the conflict.
After this engagement the regiment, with its brigade, crossed the Chattanooga and joined the command of General Thomas. Every duty assigned it here was success- fully done. It was engaged in the battle of November 25th, which terminated the three days' conflict by which Bragg was driven back into Georgia.
The 11th corps was then ordered to the relief of Burnside at Knoxville. The weather was severe. Many of the men marched on the frozen ground, with feet nearly bare. Without rations, haversacks, knapsacks, tents or blankets, the hardships of this march cannot be described. They were severe, probably beyond any other campaign of the war; but there was very little murmuring.
As this re-enforcement approached Knoxville, the rebels fell back without further struggle. The regiment then returned to the Wahatchie valley, and went into comfort- able winter quarters ..
The army was reorganized for the spring campaign. Hooker had the 20th corps, and the regiment was attached to the 3d brigade of the 3d division. Resaca was the first battle of the campaign, and to the 136th this was the most destructive of all its engagements. The 3d brigade was ordered to storm the rebel works. In making this charge the 136th regiment crossed an open field, exposed to the bullets of rebel sharpshooters, and in face of a murderous fire of artillery and musketry from behind formidable in- trenchments. In this charge it suffered a loss of more than one-fourth its effective force, and did all that bravery could, although the works were not carried.
From Resaca the regiment marched with its brigade to Dallas Church, where it met the enemy. The next engage- ment was the battle of Peach Tree Creek. During this action, while the Union regiments were moving to repel a charge of the enemy, a rebel color bearer advanced in front of his regiment and confronted this. The color bearer of the 136th at once advanced to meet him, and these daring soldiers of the blue and the grey stood defiant in the face of two armies. The bold rebel was instantly shot; his colors were captured and flaunted in the face of the foe. A soldier avenged his comrade by the death of the man who had slain him, and recovered the colors. As this captor was bearing it away a loyal hand slew him, and the thrice captured flag was retaken. It now hangs among the war trophies in the military bureau in Albany, with other cap- tured rebel battle-flags.
The regiment took an active part in the masterly series
of maneuvers in northern Georgia by which Sherman out- flanked Johnston and beat him in battles, after which he de- feated Hood, and forced that Confederate commander to abandon Atlanta.
In that grand march of our army from Atlanta to the sea the 136th regiment sustained its reputation and won fresh laurels. The hardships of that memorable campaign were shared by these now veterans; marching through swamps, fighting and foraging through the Empire State of the south, no force could withstand our brave soldiers, no danger in- timidate, no obstacle hinder. From the 15th of November, when Sherman left his base of supplies and turned his back on the ruins of Atlanta, through all that stretch of hostile territory occupying every town on the line of march, over- coming every force sent against him, carrying Fort McAl- lister by assault instead of besieging that stronghold, to the 21st of December, when our victorious army reached a new base and occupied Savannah, every day had its story of heroic endurance and soldierly achievements, to which the 136th regiment contributed.
And, when the history of that bold anabasis shall be fully written, and the men who fought and established the theory of the genius who planned that dazzling campaign shall re- ceive their share of its glory, no mean place will belong to these loyal men, who left the valleys and hills of Wyoming to take up the musket and the sword in defense of the Union established by the fathers.
From Savannah the regiment moved northward with its brigade. Columbia was captured February 17th, and the evacuation of Charleston by the Confederates then became a military necessity. Hardee was defeated March 16th, and four days later Johnston was conquered. Then came the occupation of Petersburg, and the fall of Richmond and the surrender of Lee, and the great rebellion was ended.
From Richmond the 136th regiment moved over the field of Chancellorsville, and across the territory where it learned its first lessons in war three years before, to Washington; at last freed from danger and no longer menaced by the foe its valor had helped to vanquish. Thence it was trans- ported to Rochester, where the regiment was discharged from the service it had so faithfully performed.
Then came. a fresh' marvel of history. These men, so long accustomed to the license of camp, returned to the peaceful pursuits of civil life, and without social disturbance were transformed from soldiers into orderly and industrious citizens of the government they bravely fought to save.
CHAPTER XXV.
HISTORY OF THE "GOVERNOR'S GUARD," OR SECOND REGI- MENT OF MOUNTED RIFLES.
IN the month of July, 1863, under the head of " GOVERNOR'S GUARD," the following an- nouncement was made in the papers throughout western New York, and circulated through the country in the form of handbills:
"Colonel John Fisk, of Niagara, has been author- ized by Governor Seymour to raise a regiment for three years' service in the U. S. Army, to be known as the 'Governor's Guard.' Any person desiring to raise a com-
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HISTORY OF WYOMING COUNTY, NEW YORK.
pany to be attached to this regiment can procure authority by applying to Colonel John Fisk, of Suspension Bridge, or Lieutenant-Colonel Cook, or Captain William P. Warren, late of the 28th New York.
"Captain Warren will act as adjutant in forming the regiment. Headquarters at Lockport."
It was shortly afterward made known that the regiment would do mounted rifle service. Twelve companies were raised, and by February, 1864, the regiment was ready for the field.
. The regimental officers were: Colonel, John Fisk, Niagara Falls; lieutenant-colonel, Jasper N. Raymond, New York; lieutenant-colonel, Joseph Wood, and regular cavalry; major, William H. H. Mapex, Lockport; major, John D. Newman, Lockport; major, John H. Fralick, Little Falls; adjutant, William P. Warren, Lockport; adjutant, Franklin Rogers, Buffalo; quartermaster, Henry F. Pierce, Niagara Falls; commissary, Joseph A. Briggs, Buffalo; commissary, John M. Hill, Lockport; surgeon, Robert T. Paine, Lockport; assistant surgeon, Hugh McGregor Wilson, Lockport; assist- ant surgeon E. Woodworth, |Allegany; chaplain, Washington Stickney.
Wyoming county was represented in this regiment by the men named below:
Frederick Churning. Charles E. Gale, Charles Grabe. Thomas Haley, Nor- mas L. Kour. Edward Lampman, Edward Launt, Michael Martin, Timothy Moronay, Lewis Meurtor, Albert Nichols, James H. Phillips, Thomas Rial, Francis Sburial, Ktophen B. Sprague, William Weaver. Attics ; O.P. French, Bennington : Albert (i. Bordea, George C. Babcock, Hiram B. Booth, John Fingal, Androw Frayer, Thomas Gibbons, Niobolas Hannah, Thomse Han- Deb, Frank Higgins, Francis Hardin, Jonathan Johnson, John Les, Alex- ander Mend. Kiwin 'Mosler, P. MoMarriman, Fara Patterson, George P. Pierce, Castile : T. W. Copeland, Joseph M. Hewit, Charles Perkins. Johnson C. Bobtosos, Francia Shannon, Covington : Abram A. Howell, Gensee Falls; Westtington Whitney, Eagle: Phillip Webber, Middlebury ; George B. Austin, Engene Besancon, C. E. Cruttenden. John Drake, Abram Billa. M. F. Horing, George M. Spencer. John W. Kellogg, Charles Lyon. Frank W. Lilybridge, Lester MoCollum, Jeremiah P. Morrison (second Lieutenant), Henry Pike, William Henry, Bussel Heory Runyon, La Fayette Randal. Bari T. Thomas, Charles W. Trall, Martin L. Van Slyke, Henry Vosburgh, G. B. Woodworth, Benjamin Waite, Pike: Francis A. Calkins, Perry ; Daniel W. Peak, Marvin Preston, John Streamer, Joseph J. Streamer and Morris War- Ton, Warmw.
The regiment first rendezvoused at Lockport, but the barracks were insufficient and it was ordered to Fort Porter, Buffalo, which latter barracks were made a recruiting sta- tion and camp of instruction. The 2nd remained there from December, 1863, until the March following, when three battalions being completed they were ordered to Camp Stoneman, near Giesboro Point, in the neighborhood of Washington. Here they remained till about May Ist, when they were ordered to the front to reinforce the Army of the Potomac. Instead of being furnished with the cav- alry outfit for which they were sent to Camp Stoneman, or receiving instruction in cavalry tactics, which had been promised them, they were assigned to a provisional brigade composed of dismounted cavalry and heavy artillery, com- manded by Colonel Marshall, of the 14th heavy artillery, in the gth army corps, under General Burnside. .
On the day following their arrival at Camp Stoneman they participated in the battle of Spottsylvania, suffering but little loss. Their next; engagement was at the battle of' North Anna, southeast of Spottaylvania. In this their low was light.
Returning from North Anna, the regiment was placed as rear guard' of the 9th corps, when it had a severe engage- ment at Tolopotomy creek, losing quite a number of men. The next day it was. in the fight at Bethesda Church, a few
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miles from Tolopotomy. At this time the regiment was under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Raymond, of New York. The loss at Bethesda was quite heavy, 50 or 60 killed and wounded. Among those killed was Lieutenant Jeremiah R. Morrison, of Wyoming county.
Hardly had the smoke of this battle cleared away before the 2nd was in the memorable fight at Cold Harbor in early June, but its loss here was not heavy. Among those wounded was Lieutenant Charles W. Flagler. From Cold Harbor the regiment moved with the army of the Potomac and crossed the James river, arriving at Petersburg June 16th-just in time for service again. On the morning of the 17th the 2nd made a charge over the enemy's works and captured a large number of prisoners, who were sent to the rear in charge of Captain.W. Fitzer Williams. The regi- ment was engaged during the entire day, but its loss was light. On the morning of the 18th of June it again. ad- vanced on the enemy's works near the Weldon railroad, and toward evening made a gallant charge which resulted in the capture of the railroad, the and, however, suffering a terri- ble loss-some 200 men, killed and wounded.
From this time until July 29th, 1864, the regiment lay in the rifle pits under a constant fire, losing men day by day, and among them Lieutenant j. L. Atwood, who was killed by a sharpshooter. On the morning of July 30th the mine in front of Petersburg was exploded. A terrible struggle fol- lowed, in which the and regiment was engaged under com- mand of Major Mapes. One division was repulsed by the rebels. The division in which the and fought. had been held for the - final charge, in case those already in the fight did not hold their ground. The order was finally given for them to charge, and they did it nobly, capturing two lines of the enemy's works. They held them about six hours, but as no relief came they were compelled to fall back. In this engagement the regiment lost nearly 150 men killed, wounded and prisoners.
The next battle was at Pegram's Farm, southwest of Petersburg, where Major Mapes, Captain. Stebbins, Lieuten- ant Mansfield, Lieutenant Bush and others, in all 40 or 50, were taken prisoners. The killed and wounded numbered between 50 and 75. The next field was the battle of Hatcher's Run, in October, 1864. The loss was slight. From there the and went back to Pegram's Farm, wher: it remained until the last of November. It was then ordered to dismounted camp at City Point, where the men received their promised. horses, with. orders to report to General Charles H. Smith, of the 3d brigade, and cavalry division. The second day after reporting the regiment went on a raid to Stony Creek Station, where, with the rest of the division, it assisted in destroying a large amount of stores and taking many prisoners, sustaining slight loss. It then returned to camp near Fort Stevenson, in the vicinity of South Peters- burg, where it remained until December, 1864. The regi -. ment next accompanied the celebrated Warren raiders, and assisted. in the destruction of the Weldon railroad from near .Petersburg to Weldon, N. C.
At this time the 2nd was divided, a detachment having been sent back to the second battle of Hatcher's Rum, under command of Lieutenant Newman. In this action the and lost about 40 men, among them Captain Watson and Lieu- tenant Tippling, of Wayne county. It went into camp again 'and remained until March 29th, 1865, doing picket duty and
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losing but few men. On this date it started with General Sheridan's corps in the final pursuit of Lee, and March 30th engaged in the battle of Dinwiddie Court-house, southeast of Petersburg.
The next day the and was in the battle of Five Forks, but sustained no loss. Next at Jettysville, it lost a dozen wounded, but none killed. At Sailor's Creek it lost a few men; also at Farmville. It was next engaged at Appomat- tox Court-house, where Joshua Smith was killed. After doing service at Appomattox, the brigade to which this reg- iment belonged was detailed as an escort of General Grant from Appomattox to Burkville Junction, Va. It then re- turned to Petersburg, when, pending negotiations between Johnston and Sherman, it was ordered to North Carolina to reinforce Sherman. There it was learned that Johnston had surrendered, and the 2nd was ordered back to Petersburg, and from there to Buckingham county, Va., where it remain- ed on provost duty until August, 1865. .
This closed the eventful career of the regiment, and its next movement was homeward. It arrived in Buffalo Au- gust 10th, 1865, and was mustered out. It left home 1,500 strong, and during the service was reinforced by more than 300 recruits; but came back with only between 700 and 800 men. The depleted ranks, and the scars the survivors bore, told the story of their service in their country's defense. They were in the field a little more than a year, and they took part in nineteen distinct engagements, as recorded in this narrative.
CHAPTER XXVI.
THE HISTORY OF POLITICAL OPINION AND PARTY FORTUNES IN WYOMING COUNTY.
T the commencement of the settlement of this county two great political parties existed-the Federal and the Republican. The opposition of the Federalists to the war of 1812 rendered them so exceedingly unpopular that their name was dropped, and the members of the party in this State sought other affiliations. The Republicans had, by their opponents, been termed in the way of reproach or derision Democrats, a name which they came gradually . to adopt. They were also nicknamed " Bucktails," because a club or society of their party adopted as a badge the cau- dal appendage of a deer. Their opponents were called "Clintonians," after their leader, De Witt Clinton. They were afterward termed National Republicans, which name distinguished them from the Democratic Republicans, or Democrats, as the old Republican party was afterward called.
In 1826 arose the famous Morgan excitement, which had its origin in Batavia. Of this it is only necessary briefly to say that one William Morgan had written for publication a book, purporting to disclose the secrets of free masonry. It was alleged that for this he was abducted and probably murdered by the masons. This gave origin to the Anti- Masonic party, which became fully organized in 1828, and
which at once became overwhelmingly strong in western New York, and especially in Genesee county. In 1832 a coalition was formed between the Anti-Masonic and National Republican parties in this State, the objects of which were to elect the Anti-Masonic State ticket and carry the State for Henry Clay, the National Republican candidate for President; but neither was successful. The existence of the Anti-Masonic party terminated with this coalition, which took the name of Whig, and retained it till the present Republican party was formed.
The systematic agitation of the slavery question com- menced in the year 1833, during which the American Anti- Slavery Society was formed; and that question has exerted a most potent influence on political affairs, national and local. From time to time the Legislature enacted laws con- cerning slavery down to the year 1819. A law passed in 1799 provided for the gradual extinction of slavery in the State. "In 1817 a further act was passed, decreeing that there should be no slavery in the State after the 4th of July, 1827. Ten thousand slaves were set free by this act."
In the latter part of 1835, at Utica, "a meeting, convened to form a State anti-slavery society, was broken up by a most respectable committee appointed by a large meeting of citizens. * * * The abolitionists, at Gerrit Smith's in- vitation, adjourned to his home at Peterboro, Madison county, and there completed their organization." It was afterward learned that a mob had been organized to follow and break up the convention at Peterboro, but desisted from its purpose on learning that the convention had adjourned.
To that convention Dr. Augustus Frank, F. C. D. Mckay, Samuel Fisher (and), William Buxton and Rev. Abraham Ennis from this county were delegates.
A county anti-slavery society was formed in Genesee county. It held a meeting at Batavia March 16th, 1836. General John D. Landon, of Castile, and William Patterson, of Warsaw, were members of a committee appointed on this occasion to answer an address from the pro-slavery people of Batavia, who threatened to and finally did. break up the meeting. The meeting adjourned to reconvene at Warsaw a week later.
" Pursuant to adjournment the Genesee County Anti- Slavery Society met at Warsaw March 23d, 1836. A series of resolutions and an address were adopted, together with a 'declaration of sentiment,' expressing in brief form the prin- ciples of the abolitionists for the information of any who might never have seen a statement of them. Measures were also taken for establishing a free press,and $1,000 was pledged for its support the first year. Such a paper was accordingly established at Warsaw [the American Citizen; removed in a year to Perry, and afterward to Rochester].
" A meeting of the Western New York Anti-Slavery So- ciety was held at Warsaw, in the Presbyterian church, No- vember 13th, 1839. The extreme badness of the roads prevented a general attendance. There were present about fifty persons as members, nearly all of them from the south- ern town of the county, then Genesee. A proposition was made to nominate candidates for President and Vice-Presi- dent. It was opposed by a large portion of the members, but its advocates, among whom were Myron Holley and Wil- liam L. Chaplin, able and eloquent men, who had come for
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