USA > New York > History of the One hundred and twenty-fourth regiment, N. Y. S. V. > Part 2
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This thought, whispered by one, was undoubtedly the earnest wish of all. And when the writer came to shake hands and bid adieu to one after another of these men with whom he had for three long eventful years been so closely associated, he promised over and over again, that if his life were spared he would see to it that a history of the regiment was written, in which not only the sufferings and deeds of its noble . dead, but of its surviving members, should be duly and truthfully recorded.
- Ten years since then have passed away, and no able and experienced hand having been found willing to undertake a work requiring so much time and labor-which being necessarily of but local interest, promises but small remuneration-the task seems to have settled down on him who promised so faithfully to see the good work done.
It has not, however, been undertaken without many misgiv- ings as to his ability to do simple justice to so good a subject.
The work will undoubtedly contain many defects, directly traceable to the author's inexperience, and consequent lack of ability as a writer.
Having thus at the outset called attention to what he con- cedes to be his weak points, it will perhaps be well for the
9
INTRODUCTION.
encouragement of the reader to state, that he professes to be strong not only in quality and quantity of material on hand, but in a personal knowledge of the facts with which he deals.
He had been connected with the regiment from its organiza- tion, and had witnessed the patient endurance and gallant deeds of its members throughout many a long and dreary march, and on more than a score of battle-fields; had been with them at Chancellorsville that dark day on which two-fifths of the regiment were either killed or wounded, and at Gettysburgh, where, after their first and ablest commander had fallen to rise no more, their Lieutenant-Colonel had been carried wounded from their sight, and their loved Major lay lifeless at their feet, it had been his priv- ilege and duty to conduct them through the remaining scenes, in which they played a part, of that great battle.
Had seen their valor tested in the gloomy Wilderness, where, at the opening of the second day's fight, their second commander, in the last of his many battles, was wounded almost unto death ; and his again became the duty to assume command.
Had led them through that and the following battles up to and over the rebel works in the famous charge of Spottsylvania, where, though again the ground over which they passed was left almost covered with their dead and wounded, the survivors pressed on until they had captured a battery of rebel guns and taken twice their number in prisoners from the foe, whose flag they trailed beneath their own; and had been their commander in all that long series of movements, skirmishes, and battles about Petersburg, which began July 4, 1864, and ended in the sur- render of the great rebel chief, with the famous army of North- ern Virginia, at Appomattox Court-house, on the 9th of Jme. 1865-only three days before which, in the last grand effort of Lee's hourly wasting force to beat back Grant's advance, they added the last twenty honored names to their long list of killed and wounded on the field of battle.
The majority of regimental histories which have come under the notice of the writer, have been written by non-combatants, whose points of observation have invariably been fixed beyond
10
HISTORY OF THE 124THI NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
the range of shot and shell-sometimes within sight of the smoke of battle, but not uufrequently out of hearing of the largest guns.
This work, on the contrary, is written by one who " has been himself a part of what he tells," and from a stand-point which is seldom removed out of sight of the regimental colors, and is not unfrequently fixed under the smoke, amid the iron and leaden hail and fire and heat of battle.
It is the purpose of the writer to show just where each man was, and what he did and suffered, in every general engagement, and to enable the reader to trace every individual member from the time he joins the regiment until he leaves it again, or the organization is dissolved.
It is not claimed that every noble and ignoble deed of every man was seen and noted, but there will be found in the recorded career of nearly every one some special personal act or experience which stands out in bold relief and marks his individuality.
CHAS. H. WEYGANT.
NEWBURGH, NEW YORK, July 30, 1875.
1
11
ORGANIZATION-COMPOSITION.
'. CHAPTER I.
ORGANIZATION-COMPOSITION.
O UR great civil war had been raging for over a year. The victorious rebel armies, having just hurled Banks' corps from the Shenandoah, and driven Mcclellan with his grand army from the Peninsula, were threatening an invasion of the North.
The people of the South, mad with joy over the success which had thus far attended their unholy undertaking, and firmly believ- ing the Union had already been wounded beyond hope of recovery, were holding high carnival throughout the length and breadth of the Confederacy.
At the North, the patriotic enthusiasm which for months after the war began had so animated the people that volunteers rushed to the front faster than the Government could arm and equip them, had at length, by reason of the long series of terrible sanguinary disasters which had befallen the Union arms, given way to a spirit of gloomy depression.
Thousands of loyal hearts were beginning to experience a profound distrust of the Government in the conduct of the war. Copperheads and traitors who had hitherto found it unsafe to give utterance to their treasonable thoughts, save in secret con- claves, were permitted to shout aloud their joy over news of Confederate victories, and to laugh and scoff at their country's agony, in public places. Lovers of liberty all over the land were looking forward with painful forebodings of greater evils yet to come, and not a few, in whom hope had been stifled by despair, believed the hour of dissolution was close at hand, and expected soon to hear sounded the death-knell of the Union.
Five hundred thousand sons of the North had already taken the field, and six hundred million dollars had been expended to
12
HISTORY OF THE 124TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
crush the hydra, treason. Battle after battle had been fought, and the life-blood of thousands upon thousands of the best and bravest had moistened the soil of Southern fields ; and yet, to the oft-repeated question, What has been accomplished ? there came but this one answer-nothing, Virtually nothing.
The territorial limits of the Confederacy, it is true, had been somewhat reduced ; but the spirit of secession was more rampant, and the rebellion presented a bolder front than ever.
At this critical period, and under these depressing circum- stances, eighteen loyal governors united in a letter to the Presi- dent, beseeching him without delay to make through them an urgent appeal to the waning patriotism of the people for yet another mighty army of Volunteers ; and the good Lincoln-at last fully aware of the magnitude and real intent of the rebellion, and alarmed for the safety of the nation-forthwith issued, in response to this letter, his call for three hundred thousand three years' men.
The President's call was dated July 1, 1862, and on the fol- lowing day Governor Morgan made his famous touching appeal to "each citizen " of the State of New York. But for a time the people turned a deaf ear to the call of their President and the cry of their Governor, or answered only by asking the question, What has the vast outlay of blood and treasure, already made, accomplished ?
The work of preparation, nevertheless, on the part of the State authorities, was pushed forward with the utmost despatch, and Governor Morgan ceased not, day or night, in his efforts to re-arouse his people. The State was divided into military dis- tricts, in each of which a place of rendezvous was designated, and a committee of loyal and influential citizens appointed to superintend the work of enlistment, and to select and recommend suitable persons to command the regiments to be raised. Special appeals were made to nearly every town and county board, and circulars of instruction were sent broadcast over the State.
The military committee appointed by his excellency for the district comprising the counties of Orange and Sullivan, was composed of the following named gentlemen :
13
ORGANIZATION-COMPOSITION.
Hon. Robert Denniston, of Blooming Grove.
Hon. Ambrose S. Murray, of Goshen.
Hugh S. Bull, Esq., of Montgomery. Alexander Moore, Esq., of Washingtonville. Alfred Post, Esq., of Newburgh.
James M. Barrett, Esq., of Cornwall. Morgan Shuit, Esq., of Monroe
On the 11th of July this committee held its first regular meeting at the United States Hotel in Newburgh, at which they wisely decided to recommend Captain A. Van Horne Ellis, of New Windsor, for the colonelcy of a regiment it was proposed to attempt to raise in the county of Orange.
Captain Ellis was then in the service. His company-com- posed principally of men from Newburgh, who had served under him in the 71st New York State Militia at Bull Run-had, a few weeks before, been called together at less than twenty-four hours' notice, for a second term of active service, and were then stationed in the fortifications near Washington. A kind of active service for which their immediate commander had not the slightest relish.
The captain was at the time temporarily home on business, and, on being notified of the action of the committee, promptly signified his willingness to accept the proffered position, and within an hour thereafter had telegraphed his resignation as captain to the commander of his regiment, at Washington, and was on his way to Albany for instructions and the necessary credentials. Arriving at the State House he found every door wide open, and kindred spirits there to receive him; and, untrammelled by the red tape which in former and after years would have delayed him, he was enabled, ten minutes after he stepped in the main entrance, to walk out again fully equipped for the work he had on hand. And that same evening he was not only at, but hard , at work in his new field of action.
At five o'clock the following morning-for men in those days retired late, slept but little, and rose early-the writer was met by him in the street with. " Ah, ha, old fellow, you are just the man I'm looking for; if there is any fight left in you-and I
14
HISTORY OF THE 124TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
think there is-lend us a hand, 'lend us a hand,' and raise us a company."
It was understood by all that there was stern work ahead ; and that Ellis' was to be a fighting regiment.
Said the "Newburgh Journal" of the time, and truthfully : " Colonel Ellis is a man who believes the soldier's business is to do as much damage to the enemy as possible; and those who enlist under him may expect to be taken into active service, and not left fo vegetate in the useful, but inglorious work of guard- ing posts remote from the scene of danger."
A letter from a member of his old company, written to the Editor of the " Newburgh Telegraph," just after word had reached them of their captain's selection for a larger command, says : "We all concur in saying that the military committee could not have chosen a better man -- a braver or more efficient officer, as commander of the new regiment from Orange County, than Colonel A. Van Horne Ellis. . . . One thing we feel assured of, he will never disgrace himself, or those under him, by a mean or cowardly act."
Said the Colonel to those whom he asked to assist him: "I want, for subordinate officers, men who will not only be able in pushing forward the organization, but most likely to render efficient services at the front-for those who follow ine to the field may rest assured they will never, if I can prevent it, have reason to complain of being kept in the rear. A regiment of men is one thing. A regiment of fighting men is another thing. The country needs, and I want, the latter." From the very start Colonel Ellis put forth his best efforts, devoting day and night to the work he had in hand; and in less than a week recruiting offices were opened in nearly every town in the county, and upwards of thirty persons, mostly of his own selection, had been authorized to recruit for the regiment.
But day after day slipped by without any apparent results. No one volunteered.
The enlistment committee was increased in numbers,* and
* The Governor, in appointing his Committee for this district, empowered them to add to their number whenever and to such extent as they deemed best. Prior to July
15
ORGANIZATION-COMPOSITION.
met almost daily. But the rolls of the regiment remained blank, or nearly so.
On the Ist day of August but eight men had been enrolled ; and the prospect of raising a regiment was anything but encouraging.
Ellis, and the young men who had rallied round him, were doing the very best they could, but obstacles almost insurmount- able met them at every turn.
No sooner did a man make known his determination to enlist than he was approached in some direct, or indirect, way by an enemy of his country, not unfrequently in the person of his nearest neighbor and personal friend.
If a married man of moderate means, the picture of his suffer- ing family-after he should have left them-was painted in the most vivid colors. Remember, they would say, it is for three years. Who will supply the wife and little ones with the where- with-all to keep the wolf from the door, when the few dollars you may be able to leave with them are gone. (It must be remem- bered this was before the days of the big bounties). And the thirteen dollars per month, and that paid you at irregular inter- vals-as those who have been in the service can tell you-why, what can you save for them out of that ? simply nothing!
And should you ever return, the chances are you will be a poor miserable cripple-a burden, the support of which will drive your loved wife to your neighbor's wash-tub, or your children to the street for bread.
23d the following named gentlemen from Orange County had been added to the Com- mittee. Some of these gentlemen were already, and most of the others subsequently became, active workers in the good cause.
E. A. Brewster, of Newburgh. Charles St. John, of Port Jervis.
William Fullerton, of Newburgh. John Conkling, of Port Jervis.
C. H. Winfield, of Goshen.
Orville J. Brown, of Port Jervis.
Thomas Edsall, of Goshen.
C. M. Lawrence, of Port Jervis.
Silas Horton, of Goshen. James Cromwell, of Comwall.
C. B. Newkirk, of Monroe.
William Avery, of Cornwall.
Daniel Thompson, of Crawford
C. C. MeQuoid, of Wallkill. Halstead Sweet, of Wallkill. John G. Wilkin, of Wallkill. John Cummings, of Wallkill.
A. S. Dodge, of Mount Hope. Dorastus Brown, of Greenville.
A. F. Schofield, of Montgomery.
A. G. Owen, of Blooming Grove. John Cowdrey, of Warwick.
Thomas Welling, of Warwick.
16
HISTORY OF THE 124TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
If a man of means, or one without family depending on him for support, arguments almost as strong were used to dissuade him.
But this state of things did not long continue. The mighty hosts of the foe were set in motion toward the fertile North, intent on making good their threat of invasion.
Daily the necessities of the Government became more and more imperative, and at last the theory of prosecuting. the war in strict accordance with the Constitution was acknowledged to be a failure, and abandoned. Summary measures were taken for the silencing of those who were discouraging enlistments, and Fort Lafayette was speedily filled with Northern traitors. Then, and not till then, did the people shake off their lethargy and re-enact the grand spectacle first produced by the bombardment of Fort Sumter.
Public meetings were held almost nightly in every hall, church, and school-house in the State. Private bounties were offered, and funds began to be raised for the support of the needy families of those who should volunteer.
The National Capital was once more in danger. The Govern- ment was in earnest, and again the sons of freedom sprang to arms, and loud and long went up the shout, " We're coming, Father Abraham, three hundred thousand more."
Up to the 8th of August, not more than a score of volunteers had reported at Colonel Ellis' head-quarters in Goshen. Fifteen days later the regiment was fully organized and ready for the field.
In the following complete list of the members of the regi- ment at its organization, the names have been arranged with a view to enable the reader to determine at a glance the relative position each person originally occupied.
The battalion is supposed to be moving in column of companies. The Lieutenant-Colonel, Major, Adjutant, and Sergeant-Major are placed in front and rear, instead of in their proper places on the flank of the column, in order that the field, staff, and non-commis- sioned staff, may be shown in complete, as well as distinct, bodies.
17
HISTORY OF THE 124TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS. 1
JOHN H. THOMPSON, Major and Surgeon.
T. SCOTT BRADNER, Captain and Chaplain.
AUGUSTUS DENNISTON, Lieutenant and Quartermaster.
FIELD.
COLONEL A. VAN HORNE ELLIS.
STAFF.
G. DE PEYSTER ARDEN, Lieutenant and Adjutant.
MAJOR JAMES CROMWELL.
EDWARD MARSHALL,
Lieutenant and Asst. Surgeon.
R. V. K. MONTFORT,
Lient. and 2d Asst. Surgeon.
Field .- The field-officers had all, since the Rebellion began, done honorable mili- tary service in the Union army, and one of their number, Lieutenant-Colonel Cummins. had served as a commissioned officer in the war of the United States with Mexico. As to their qualifications for the responsible positions they had now assumed, the reader who is not already acquainted with their antecedents, or has not followed them with weary limbs and blistered feet on the long and rapid march, over hard and dusty roads, beneath a scorching July sun-or plodded after them from early morn till late at night through Virginia's slimy mud and November's chilling rain and sleet and snow-nor yet heard their shrill shonts of " Forward, men ! forward !" from amid the smoke of battle, may, I trust, be able to draw a not incorrect estimate from the follow- ing record of the services of the gallant regiment they were about to conduct to the . front, and such other interesting facts concerning their former histories as the writer has been able to collect, and will, at the proper time, endeavor truthfully to present.
Stuff .- Surgeon Thompson was a resident of the village of Goshen, in the vicinity of which he had for a number of years successfully practised the profession of surgeon and physician.
Chaplain Bradner, also a resident of Goshen, was a Presbyterian minister of good standing.
LIEUT .- COLONEL F. M. CUMMINS.
18
ORGANIZATION-COMPOSITION.
WILLIAM B. WOOD, of " A "-Bugler.
MOSES P. Ross, of " A "-Bugler. .
JOHN G. BUCKLEY, . . . of " H"-Fife .... CHAS. W. BODLE, .... of " A " -Drum.
CHAS. WHITEHEAD,. . . of " H "-Fife. ... HENRY M. CANNON,. . of " A " -- Drum. 1 ARTHUR HAIGH, .. .. . of " H " -- Fife. .. . WILLIAM HAMILTON, . of " B"-Drum. GEO. W. DIMMICK, .. .. of "D"-Fife. ... HENRY HOOFMAN, .. . of " C"-Drum. HENRY C. PAYNE,. . .. of " B"-Fife ... . C. H. VAN GORDON, .. of " G"-Drum. ROBERT L. TRAVIS, of " F"-Drum. .. . JEHIEL PRICE of " F"-Drum.
A. A. MILLSPAUGH,. of " K "-Drum .... J. M. MERRITT,. .
. . of "G "-Drum.
GEO. W. CAMFIELD, of " K "-Drum .... W. JOHNSTON, ... ... .of "D"-Drum. JOHN N. COLE, ...... of " I"-Drum. .. . JAMES H. MCELROY, .. of " D"-Drum. 1
R. L. STEPHENS,. ... of " E "-Drum. .. . SAML. M. WEEDEN, of " D" -- B. Drum.
Quartermaster Denniston-a son of Hon. Judge Denniston, ex-State Comptroller- was a young man of sterling worth. He resided with his father in the town of Bloom. ing Grove.
Adjutant Arden was not a resident of the county, and did not join the regiment until after its arrival at Washington ; that position, during the organization of the battalion at Goshen, having been most satisfactorily filled by William Silliman, who, on the completion of the regiment, became captain of Company "C." Arden was, however, a glorious good fellow, and during his short stay with us made many warm friends.
Dr. Marshall, also a non-resident, did not join the regiment until after it had taken the field, and remained with it but a short time.
Dr. Montfort was a practising physician, residing at Newburgh. He was an ener- getic young man, of unimpeachable habits and character, highly esteemed by all classes of the community.
Drum-Major Hart had been the successful leader of a noted regimental band. He did not enlist in the regiment, but was employed for a time by Colonel Ellis, who, so far as I can learn, paid for his services from his own well-filled private purse.
--- HART, DRUM-MAJOR.
..
HISTORY OF THE 124TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
19
1ST SERGT. John C. Wood.
CORP. Charles A. Avery.
James G. Ciles.
CORP. O. H. Whitney.
John Lewis.
SERGT. Peter L. Wood.
William H. Campbell. Samuel Yeomans.
Thomas Lewis.
William Odell.
Joseph Brownley.
Robert Potter.
John Robinson. Wesley Morgan.
William Carpenter.
George W. Edwards.
Newton Gotchieus.
Charles W. Gallow.
F. B. Gallow. IST LIEUT. CHAS. B. WOOD.
Charles McVay. George Sering.
Hugh Topping.
L. L. Jackson.
Edward Rice.
John W. Swim.
Robert A. Ashman.
Robert C. Hunt.
Isaac L. Conklin.
John H. Dingee.
Samuel L. Conklin. SERGT. Peter Rose.
John W. Taylor.
Daniel Ackerman.
CORP. Thomas Hart.
Abram Hyatt.
CORP. Joseph Davey.
Patrick Flannery.
CORP. Benj. Z. Bowen.
Samuel Clark.
CORP. Chauncey B. Jones.
Thomas Kelley.
Samuel Potter.
Calvin C. Lutes.
SERGT. James McCollum.
Richard Rollings. Ephraim Stephens.
Jacob Wilson.
Henry Arcularius.
Jolin HI. Warford.
Jabez Odell.
John Polhamus.
Jacob Lent.
Allen Owen.
Benjamin Lancaster. Joseph L. Simpson.
Frank Rhinefield.
Charles H. Valentine.
Joseph Gardner.
Enos Jenkins.
Gilbert D. W. Roat.
William MeQuoid.
Jolın H. Conklin.
John II. Judson.
Daniel Morgan.
James McGrath. Theodore Smith.
Michael Hager.
CORP. Abram Bellows.
William Saunders.
CORP. Jonathan Birdsall.
Hirvey Kimball. SERGT. Samuel T. Rollings.
Company "A"-recruited by C. H. Weygant, of Newburgh, and C. B. Wood, of Ches- ter-was made up of men from nearly every town in the county, Newburgh and Corn- wall furnishing about half the number. John C. Wood, of Newburgh, was the first „man to volunteer as a private soldier in the proposed organization. He was enrolled for this company on the 18th day of July, and for a number of days constituted the rank and file of the regiment. On the 12th of August the company had reached its minimum, and its officers mustering from that date, became the seniors of their respective grades, and secured for their company the right of the line.
(A.)
James Jones.
CAPTAIN CHARLES H. WEYGANT.
William Meyers.
Jeremiah Hartnett. 2D LIEUT. CHIAS. T. CRISSEY.
Joseph Johnson.
20
ORGANIZATION-COMPOSITION.
1ST SERGT. L. E. Elston.
CORP. Charles H. Hull.
A. T. Drake.
CORP. M. Rensler.
Reuben Doty.
Nathan Hershler.
A. J. Mesler.
Levi Cartright.
M. W. Quick.
Sanford L. Gordon.
Ira Wilcox.
James H. Taylor.
J. Z. Drake. James Comey.
John Van Houten.
William Balmos.
George W. Tompkins.
Jacob Garrison,
Judson P. Adams.
W. H. H. Hunt.
1ST. LIEUT. THOS. J. QUICK.
William V. C. Carmer.
A. J. McCarty.
Josialı Garrison.
James J. Baker. Floyd S. Goble.
J. J. Harrigan.
T. R. Allington.
C. B. Anderson.
J. C. Magee. Ransom Wilcox.
H. R. Broadhead
Nelson Dunlap.
E. H. Garrison.
James Carty.
SERGT. John D. Drake.
CORP. S. S. Crawford.
I. G. Gillson.
CORP. Wm. W. Decker.
G. H. Langton. Thomas B. Peck.
CORP. J. L. Kalbfuss.
CORP. O. U. Knapp.
R. L. White.
P. A. F. Hanaka.
J. M. Young. E. Coddington.
B. L. Tompkins.
William C. Van Sickle.
W. S. Cook.
SERGT. A. P. Francisco.
Lewis Williams.
A. S. Barkley.
Lewis D. Adams. John T. Fisher.
A. W. Quick.
- J. Terwilliger. F. H. Rossman.
C. A. Elston.
Charles Roberty.
J. N. Hazen. Ira Gordon.
2D LIEUT. S. W. HOTCHKISS.
Barney F. Kean.
George Garrett.
Philip M. Ogg.
Edward Sharp.
W. H. Schofield.
F. Rundle.
J. Cunningham. CORP. Charles Peters. T. H. Jefrey.
CORP. W. H. Patterson. John G. Ogg.
SERGT. Horace Hammond.
Company " F" was recruited by Ira S. Bush, and was organized at Port Jervis. Its officers, and nearly all its men, were residents of the town of Deerpark. On the 20th of August it arrived at Goshen with full ranks, and after each of its members had · been divested of his wearing apparel, and caused to walk on his hands, jump straight up, so that his feet were at least five feet from the floor, and to lift something less than a thousand pounds to test his bone and muscle, and had, by a series of heavily worded questions on some weighity scientifie matter, been examined as to his mental status, they were pronounced by our learned Surgeon Thompson to be not only compos mentis, but a little superior, physically, to any company he had as yet examined.
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