USA > New York > Yates County > History of Yates County, N.Y. : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of the prominent men and pioneers > Part 12
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The thickness of these formations was obtained by taking a series of levels from Bellona to Seneca Lake. The results cannot be far from correct, as the dip in that direction is scarcely appreciable. My father, Dr. S. Hart Wright, a practical surveyor and engineer, assisted me in the work, and the results may be relied upon as correct.
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HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
CHAPTER XI.
YATES COUNTY IN THE WAR OF 1861-65.
T HERE are times in the history of nations when the voice of rea- son is unheeded ; when the laws are trampled upon; when the counsels of the wise are disregarded and the dictation of statesmen ignored. It grows out of the struggles of men for power, in the race for political preferment, in contests for personal recognition with a de- termination to triumph regardless of expressed wishes of majorities, and to secure success at a sacrifice of the rights of others ; there is but one natural, legitimate outcome of such revolts-revolution. This genera - tion has witnessed and been participants in the crucial period of our na- tion's existence, when no settlement of the vexed questions was possible save by the arbitrament of the sword.
From the hour that man first learned that it was possible to take the life of his brother the stronger has reached the goal of his ambition at the cost of blood ; some nations have gone out in the smoke of battle while others have enlarged their territory and brightened their civiliza- tion by victorious armies. Many are looking for the coming of a time when reason will so far sway the human mind as to make war no longer a necessity ; such may be the case and is earnestly hoped, yet it is hardly expected until man has gone at least one round higher on the ladder of evolution. For many years prior to 1860 strong antagonism had existed in this country between two sentiments-the South was the ยท enemy par excellence of free labor and the North of slave labor. Advo- cates of these principles were earnest and determined, and their respect- ive views enlarged until the remotest corners of our territorial limits became more or less impregnated with the prevailing ideas. The po- litical contest of the year was fevered and exciting. Never before had so much depended upon the result of the ballot. There were murmur- ings so significant that they could be felt, and preparations of a char- acter that carried alarm to a nation that had devoted all her energies and resources to the fertile labors of peace. Then followed an assault
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YATES COUNTY IN THE REBELLION.
upon the integrity of the ballot and the will of the majority, an innova- tion which, if successful, must of necessity destroy our republican form of government. The voice of reason was drowned in the thunder of cannon. The question to solve was, Should liberty and union no longer walk hand in hand, and if either was to go out, which ? How sudden the transformation of the peaceful citizen to the uniformed soldier! Volunteers were furnished in every county, town, and neighborhood of the great North. Nearly every citizen realized that it was his duty to be loyal and to serve his country in the way he best could.
The county of Yates was no exception to the rule. She freely sent her sons and their blood crimsoned the soil of a hundred battlefields. They fell at Gettysburg and Lookout Mountain, in the Wilderness and at Cold Harbor, at Petersburg and in the valley of the Shenandoah. The Spartan mothers gave their sons with a heroism that has been the admiration of the world since those chivalric days, but they did not excel the mothers of America in their unselfish sacrifice of their house- hold idols.
The hardships incident to soldier life, suffering from wounds, and dis- ease and the surrendering of young lives, presents a chapter of patriot- ism that warms the heart of every American citizen in its contempla- tion, but the years and months that came and went, while the father, and the mother, and the wife, and the sister waited in their homes; when the heart stood still as the hurried stranger knocked at the door; when the hands trembled as the message was opened ; and when in hushed words they expressed a doubt whether the wound would kill or had already killed the soldier in whom so much of their interests centered. Who did the most or suffered the most when the shadows of war dark- ened our land ? who can say ?
Little Yates was as strong in her devotion to the Union cause as any locality in State or nation. There were a few exceptions where stu- pidity, ignorance, and a lack of self-respect warped men out of line and let them sink from respectable notice; their influence then was lighter than air, and since they have not been trusted by either those who fought for or against the flag. Over $600,000 were raised to recruit the army, or about one tenth of the assessed valuation of the entire property of the county. Names of vast numbers of men and women
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HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
could be mentioned who did not go beyond the county limits during the years of the Rebellion who struggled as earnestly for the preserva- tion of the Republic as the soldier at the front, but we refrain from entering upon the list for fear of doing injustice to many who might be overlooked or for want of space whose deeds could be only meagerly narrated. They all did well their part. Who can do more ? The cost was great, but no more than commensurate with what was secured. A restored nationality ! A free people ! An enduring government ! To the eye of man the future is hidden in deep obscurity, but we feel as- sured that the storm of war with its destructive forces will never again break upon our fair inheritance. We have learned the full meaning of patriotism ; we have shown to the world that we know how to take care of our rights as a people, and that those rights will be maintained, let the cost be never so great.
THIRTY-THIRD REGIMENT N. Y. V.
Devotion to the Union and loyalty to the national government were evinced in a conspicuous manner by the great northern uprising in 1861. And in this movement no small part was taken by the patriotic citizens of Yates and the neighboring counties. The Thirty-third New York Volunteers, which was then raised in this part of the State, was one of the first regiments to go to the front. The regiment was recruited by companies as follows : A, C, and K in Seneca County ; B in Wayne County ; D and H in Ontario County ; E and F in Livingston County ; G in Erie County ; and I in Yates County. Of the latter a particular account will be given.
An the 19th of April, 1861, three days after the attack on Fort Sum- ter, was issued the President's proclamation calling for 75,000 men. Immediately after the news of such proclamation reached Penn Yan a war meeting was called in Washington Hall. Gen. Alexander F. Whit- aker presided and George R. Cornwell was secretary. Several ad- dresses were made and the session continued till a late hour. A roll was presented and thirty-four names were obtained. A much larger gathering was held on the evening of April 25th, with bands of music parading the streets and playing national airs. Resolutions were adopted to raise a company of volunteers and recruits came forward
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THIRTY-THIRD REGIMENT N. Y. V.
freely. The Republican and Democratic Central Committees combined in a call for a county mass meeting and union assembly, which took place in the court- house park on Saturday, April 27th. A procession was formed under the direction of Gen. A. F. Whitaker, aided by Gen. George Wagener, and led by martial and brass bands. Morris Brown, esq., was president of the day and over 5,000 persons were in attend- ance on this occasion. Stirring addresses were delivered by Hon. Darius A. Ogden, Hon. Henry Spence, Gen. A. F. Whitaker, and Abraham V. Harpending, esq. At that meeting was appointed a finance committee consisting of Messrs. Farley Holmes, Ebenezer B. Jones, Darius A. Ogden, and Charles C. Sheppard, who circulated a subscription to raise funds to provide for the families of volunteers.
The military company now recruited, and which at this time was known as the " Keuka Rifles," assembled on the 9th of May in Wash- ington Hall, and was there inspected by Maj. John E. Bean, of Geneva, and mustered into the State service. An election was held for officers on the same day, resulting in the following being chosen : Captain, James M. Letts; first lieutenant, Edward E. Root; second lieutenant, Will- iam H. Long. The company continued to drill under its officers until orders were received to go into camp at Elmira on the 19th of May. On that day the company departed and was escorted to the railroad depot by the Penn Yan firemen in uniform and a vast crowd of citizens. The company was presented by the ladies of Penn Yan with a beautiful flag, and was addressed on its departure by Hon. D. A. Ogden and E. B. Jones. A testament was also presented to each member. The men on their arrival at Elmira were quartered in Rev. Thomas K. Beecher's church and on the 24th of May became Company I of the Thirty-third New York Volunteers, and with the history of this regiment from that, date the history of the company is identified. Eight of the companies previously mentioned had already arrived in Elmira, then an ordinary place of rendezvous for troops going to the front. The officers of these companies met on May 17th and decided upon forming themselves into a regiment, the two other companies afterward joining them. The or- ganization of the new regiment was rendered complete by the election of officers on the 21st of May. Robert F. Taylor, of Rochester, a gentleman of warlike taste and ability, who had served in Mexico, was
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HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
appointed colonel. The other field and staff officers then elected were : Lieutenant-colonel, Calvin Walker, Geneva; major, Robert J. Mann, Seneca Falls ; adjutant, Charles T. Sutton, New York city ; quarter- master, H. G. Suydam, Geneva; chaplain, Rev. G. N. Cheney, Roch- ester ; surgeon, T. Rush Spencer.
The Thirty-third Regiment, when organized, was assigned to barracks in Southport, where it remained until the departure for Washington. An interesting event of the sojourn in Elmira was the reception of a regimental flag from the patriotic ladies of Canandaigua. The regi- ment being formed in a hollow square Mrs. Chesebro, with a few felicit- ous remarks, presented the banner to Colonel Taylor, who in a brief speech expressed the thanks of himself and command for the beautiful gift, promising that it should never be dishonored or disgraced. Chap- lain Cheney also in response delivered an able and eloquent address to the delagation. This flag was made of the finest blue silk, bearing upon one side the coat-of-arms of the State of New York and on the reverse the seal of the county of Ontario adopted in 1790. Over this seal appeared in bold gilt letters the words : "Ontario County Volun- teers." Surmounting the staff was a highly finished carved eagle with extended pinions, the whole forming one of the most elegant battle- flags ever wrought by fair hands. On the 3d of July the regiment was mustered by companies in the United States service for two years by Captain Sitgreaves, a regular officer. Five days later the command started for Washington and was assigned on arrival to Camp Granger, about two and one-half miles from the city. While the regiment was here encamped there occurred the disastrous battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861. The distant sound of cannon all that day was distinctly heard in the camp. Toward evening the Thirty-third, along with sev- eral other regiments, received marching orders, but had proceeded no farther than the Treasury Department, when the orders were counter- manded. William Riker, sergeant, Company I, died at Camp Granger on August 28th. The regiment took up a new position at Camp Lyon near Chain Bridge, and was here brigaded for the first time, being placed together with the Third Vermont and the Sixth Maine under the command of Gen. W. F. Smith. On the 3d of September the en- tire brigade crossed the Long Bridge into Virginia. The Thirty-third
I33
THE THIRTY-THIRD IN ACTIVE SERVICE.
first occupied Camp Advance, changing soon after for Camp Ethan Allen. While at the latter camp the regiment had its first skirmish with the enemy. Camp Griffin was the next place of residence, and while here occurred at Bailey's Cross-Roads a grand review of the army by General McClellan, attended also by President Lincoln and other distinguished personages. James M. Letts resigned December 3 Ist and was succeeded by Edward E. Root as captain of Company I.
An advance on Richmond along the peninsula between the York and James Rivers having been decided upon the Thirty-third Regiment embarked at Alexandria on March 23, 1862, and proceeding by steamer reached Old Point Comfort the next morning. Here the com- mand disembarked and went into camp about four miles distant on the James River. Yorktown was invested on the 4th of April, but hardly had the siege commenced when contrabands brought the intelligence that the enemy had evacuated the place. The Army of the Potomac followed in pursuit of the retreating Confederates, and on Monday, May 5th, was fought the battle of Williamsburg. In the beginning of the action three companies of the Thirty-third (Company A, Capt. George M. Guoin, afterward lieutenant-colonel of the One Hundred and Forty- eighth Regiment N. Y. V .; Company D, Lieut. George W. Brown, commanding ; and Company F, Capt. James M. McNair), with regimen- tal colors and color-guard, were ordered to occupy a redoubt a short distance from the enemy. This was quickly done amid a heavy fire of artillery and musketry, and the beautiful banner remained waving from the battlements throughout the fierce conflict, torn and tattered for the first time by shot and shell. Company C, Capt. Chester H. Cole ; Company E, Capt. Wilson E. Warford ; Company H, Capt. Alexander H. Drake (born in Yates County) ; and Company I, Capt. Edward E. Root were deployed by Colonel Taylor as skirmishers. The remaining companies of the regiment (Company B, Capt. Josiah J. White ; Com- pany G, Capt. Theodore B. Hamilton ; and Company K, Capt. Patrick McGraw) were stationed on guard duty under the command of Lieut .- Col. Joseph W. Corning. All day the fight continued and toward night a sudden and furious attack was made by the enemy upon Hancock's position, then occupied in part by the Thirty- third. Companies A, D, and F were ordered out of the redoubt into line of battle as the Con-
I34
HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
federates came rushing on, shouting "Bull Run ! Bull Run ! That flag is ours !" The enemy's flying artillery also moved forward and dis- charged shot and shell in quick succession. The Federal lines wavered and all seemed lost when the lieutenant-colonel, turning to Colonel Taylor, remarked "Nothing but a charge can check them." " A charge it shall be," he replied, and waving his sword aloft shouted "Forward, men !" "Charge bayonets !" added Lieutenant-Colonel Corning and the Thirty-third sprang forward on the double-quick, when its gallant action was imitated by several regiments along the line. Alarmed at this sudden counter- charge the enemy turned and ran in confusion, while the Thirty- third poured volley after volley upon the Confederates as they rapidly retreated over the plain. This daring exploit of the regiment decided the fortunes of the day and changed a seeming defeat into a substantial victory. Company I, commanded by Captain Root, and which with Companies C, E, and H was on the skirmish line, at this time encountered and fired upon a party of Confederates, who, sup- posing our soldiers to be friends, cried out, "Don't fire, you are shoot- ing your own men." Captain Root ordered them to surrender, and they were all made prisoners, much to their surprise and chagrin. One of their officers attempted to escape, but Captain Root started after him and compelled him to deliver up his sword. On the evening of May 7th General McClellan rode into camp on his favorite bay charger, " Dan Webster," and thus addressed the regiment while drawn up in line :
" Officers and Soldiers of the Thirty-third : I have come to thank you, in person, for gallant conduct on the field of battle on the 5th inst. I will say to you what I have said to other regiments engaged with you. All did well-did all that I could expect. But you did more ; you behaved like veterans ; you are veterans ; veterans of a hun- dred battles could not have done better. Those on your left fought well ; but you won the day ; you were at the right point, did the right thing, and at the right time. You shall have Williamsburg inscribed on your banner."
The regiment was next engaged (May 24th) in battle at Mechanics- ville and on the 28th of June at Golden's Farm. Here its capture was attempted by an overwhelming force of the enemy, consisting of the Seventh and Eighth Georgia Regiments, but in the effort the Confed- erates were repulsed with great loss. The Thirty-third was highly complimented for its bravery by General Davidson, a loyal Virginian,
135
THE THIRTY-THIRD AT MALVERN HILL.
in his report of the action. An attack of the enemy was also success- fully resisted (June 29th) at White Oak Swamp during the retreat to the James. Colonel Taylor there commanded the Third Brigade (to which the Thirty-third belonged), the regiment itself being in command of Maj. John S. Platner.
On the Ist of July occurred the engagement at Malvern Hill. The Thirty- third was here posted with others of our forces among lines of batteries, which the Confederates several times fiercely attacked, but in vain. Charge after charge was made by the enemy, only to be repulsed with fearful slaughter. The determined bravery of the Confederates evoked cheers from the Unionists themselves. But to carry the Federal position was beyond their power. "In several instances," says General McClellan, " our infantry withheld their fire until the attacking column, which rushed through the storm of canister and shell from our artillery, had reached within a few yards of our lines. They then poured in a single volley and dashed forward with the bayonet, capturing prisoners and colors and driving the routed columns in confusion from the field. The result was complete victory." In the afternoon of July 3d the regiment, which all through the retreat had formed a portion of the rear guard of the army, reached Harrison's Landing. Afterward going by transport it arrived and went into camp (August 24th) at Alexandria, from there marching to the battlefield of Antietam. In this fight, which was on the 17th of September, the Thirty-third was foremost in action, losing alone fifty men in killed and wounded. Among the former was Sergeant-Major George W. Bassett, of Yates County, a brave and popular officer. He was shot through the head on returning to the front, after having carried Lieut. Lucius C. Mix, who had been severely wounded, from the field. First Lieut. William Hale Long, of Company I, was promoted November 25th to captain and assistant adjutant-general and on the Ist of December George Brennan, orderly-sergeant of the same company, was promoted to first lieutenant. The regiment crossed the Rappahannock on December 12th on pontoon bridges laid by the Fiftieth New York Engineers, and next day was in the battle of Fredericksburg, where its loss in killed and wounded amounted to over 200. Having remained in camp near White Oak Church during the first four months of 1863 the command on the
I36
HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
2d of May participated in the storming of Marye's Heights. These were gallantly carried, and on the summit the regimental colors were unfurled in triumph to the breeze. In the charge up the heights many of the regiment were killed and wounded, among the latter being Cap- tain Root, of Company I. The battle of Salem Heights, fought May 4th, was the last in which the Thirty- third was engaged.
On Tuesday, May 12, 1863, Colonel Taylor informed the men in his command that, their term of service having expired, they were to go home on the coming Friday. The order for their departure was ac- companied by parting addresses from the corps, division, and brigade generals, each address containing a graceful acknowledgment of the . past services of the regiment. Farewells were uttered by members of other regiments who had fought side by side with the Thirty-third, and on the 17th of May the regiment arrived at Elmira. The Saturday following the Thirty-third came to Geneva, where an address of wel- come was delivered by Hon. Charles J. Folger. A bountiful repast was also served at Camp Swift to the returned soldiers by the ladies of Geneva. On Monday, May 25th, the regiment proceeded to Canan- daigua, where a splendid ovation was received from the citizens. The buildings were handsomely decorated with the national colors and tri- umphal arches spanned the principal streets. The veterans, together with the Canandaigua firemen, formed in procession and marched to the Court- House Square and were here addressed by Hon. Elbridge G. Lapham. The procession again formed and passed through various streets to the fair grounds, where the regiment gave an exhibition of the manuel of arms. J. P. Faurot, esq., made a brief speech of congrat- ulation, to which Lieutenant-Colonel Corning responded. Colonel Tay- lor then returned to the ladies of Canandaigua the regimental banner received from them two years before. Handing the flag to the com- mittee he remarked that it had been given to his command with the pledge that it should never be sullied by cowardice or a dishonorable act, and it had never been. It was a beautiful flag when presented to the regiment, but was now torn and soiled, but to him and the regi- ment it was all the dearer. He had no doubt it would be dearer to those who gave it as a relic of the bravery and patriotism of the men of the Thirty-third, who, when he assumed command, were 800 strong,
I 37
THE THIRTY-THIRD MUSTERED OUT.
but now less than 400 remained. On receiving back the banner the ladies presented an address, which was read by A. H. Howell, esq. A parting speech to the regiment was delivered by Chaplain Augustus H. Lung. A sumptuous banquet, served at the Canandaigua House by the ladies of the village, closed the services. The same evening the Thirty- third returned to Geneva and on Tuesday, June 2, 1863, was assembled on the green in front of the barracks, by Captain Beirn of the regular army, and there mustered by companies out of the service. On the 20th of June a grand reception was given at Penn Yan to the members of Company I. Led by Lieutenant Brennan as senior officer they marched to the sound of martial music through the principal streets and were served with a collation at the Benham House. The flag presented to the company two years before was returned to the ladies of Penn Yan and appropriate addresses were made by Hon. D. A. Ogden and Rev. Frederick Starr. Several who had belonged to Company I, and to other companies in the Thirty third Regiment, subsequently re- enlisted in other commands.
The following is the muster roll of Company I of the Thirty-third Regiment, added to which is a list of the regimental and line officers at the time of muster out :
Officers of Company I .- James M. Letts, captain; Edward E. Root, lieutenant ; William H. Long, ensign; Charles Howe, first sergeant; William Riker, sergeant ; Edward S. Rice, sergeant; Henry Atwater, sergeant; Richard J. Harford, corporal; Peter V. Mead, corporal ; David A. Cook, corporal; John Dunham, corporal; Lamon Morse, John Oliver, musicians.
Privates .-- Joseph Agins, Patrick Ambrose, John Ashley, Daniel G. Baker, Oliver Baker, James Ball, Dorr Barber, Charles Bishop, James J. Boyd, Cornelius Bonney, Freeman M. Brazee, George Brennan, Patrick Brennan, Charles Brown, Charles Chap- man, Augustus A. Chidsey, Archibald Coleman, Charles Comstock, Thomas Conway, Bruen Cooley, George W. Corey, James W. Corey, Daniel Daily, John Davis, William Decker, Putnam Demming, John Durham, William H. Eddy, James Firmin, John For- shay, Charles Forshay, Sylvester Fredenburgh, Charles Gage, William Gates, John Gor- don, George W. Goundry, Jonah Hartwell, Josiah Holcomb, John A. Holmes, Lewis B. Holmes, Martin Hope, Lewis G. Horton, Delos C. Hubbard, William Humphrey, William W. Hunt, Eugene Hunt, Thomas Hunter, Charles Hyatt, Fenton C. Hyland, William Johnson, William H. Keane, Clement W. Kidder, George Madden, Michael Mahar, Hackett Merritt, Charles Miller, Augustus Murdock, Christopher Nash, John E. Neary, John Newlove, Jeremiah S. Pierce, William F. Pierce, William Plaisted, Charles P. Quick, George Quick, Byron F. Randolph, Oliver Raplee, Henry M. Reppenger,
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HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
George Reynolds, James Royce, Lewis Shaw, George Shearman, Nehemiah Shultz, Charles Shuter, William V. R. Sloan, Owen Smith, Jeremiah Sprague, George S. Wells, Peter S. Wheaton, Samuel Wheaton, Edward Wheeler, James White, Menzo Wixson, John G. Wolcott, John Woodruff, George Youngs.
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