USA > New York > History of the One hundred and twenty-fourth regiment, N. Y. S. V. > Part 3
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(F.)
CAPTAIN IRA S. BUSHI.
G. W. Adams.
Charles P. Kirk.
Jeremiah Sisco.
David Titsworth. H. B. Appleman.
Job M. Snell. William Boyst.
SERGT. E. M. B. Peck
J. S. Crawford.
ORGANIZATION-COMPOSITION.
21
IST SERGT. Wm. H. Dill. CORP. Edmund F. Allen. CORP. Ebenezer Holbert. John M. Garrison. William L. Becraft. William Wright. James H. Clark.
Samuel Kniffin. William J. Miles. John Raymond. Jesseniah Dolson. Martin Mulvehill.
SERGT. Wm. B. Van Houten.
R. Quackenbush. Norman A. Sly.
Charles W. Davis. Gilliam Bertholf. 1ST LIEUT. DANIEL SAYER.
Ezra Hyatt.
Benjamin Gray.
George W. Decker. John W. Smith.
George B. Kinney. John Hall.
William H. Tomer. Cornelius H. Holbert.
John K. Clark.
John C. Degraw.
Wells Benjamin.
John W. Leeper. Robert C. Leeper.
J. F. Quackenbush. SERGT. John Cowdrey, Jr. Wm. F. Quackenbush.
William E. Hyatt.
David Currey.
Edward Royce.
Gilbert S. Howard.
CORP. E. M. Bahrman.
David F. Raymond.
CORP. Henry HI. Hyatt.
Olander A. Humphrey.
CORP. Hiram G. Herrick.
John N. Rose.
CORP. F. A. Benedict.
Daniel Stephens. SERGT. James G. Irwin.
Joseph Wood.
Win. H. Callister.
John Edwards.
Coleman Morris. Robert Connelly.
Isaac Garrison.
R. S. Lameroux.
S. W. Garrison.
Nathan Hunt.
Nelson Speer.
Abram C. Forshee.
William Mann.
Cornelius Allison.
H. S. Quackenbush.
William Wright.
J. H. Ackerman. 2D LIEUT. JOHN W. HOUSTON.
Zopher Wilson. Joseph Brooks.
Joseph Ashley. Thomas S. Storms.
James H. Bertholf.
John Gannin.
Edward J. Blake.
John Degraw.
William McGarrah.
A. P. Sherman.
Carl G. Hoffinan.
F. M. Wemer.
Charles H. Acker.
Daniel P. Dugan.
John B. Weymer.
CORP. Gideon H. Pelton.
Thomas P. Powell.
CORP. Thomas M. Hyatt.
James Pembleton. SERGT. Thos. G. Mabee.
Company " D" was recruited and organized at Warwick-in which town nearly all of its members claimed not only a residence but birth-place. It was recruited by " James W. Benedict and Daniel Sayer, and reported in a body at Colonel Ellis' head- quarters on the 16th of August. This company was composed principally of intelligent young farmers, many of whose faces turned scarlet, and fists involuntarily clenched, at Adjutant Silliman's gruff" Take off your hat, sir," as they entered his presence to be mustered in. They were proud of the title of " The Warwick Boys."
CAPTAIN JAMES W. BENEDICT. (D.)
Richard Romine. John S. Gray.
Joel McCann.
William Dolson.
Joseph B. Ray.
Norman L. Dill.
22
HISTORY OF THE 124TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
1ST SERGT. W. W. Smith.
CORP. George D. Scott.
Edward Oney.
CORP. John H. Stanton.
Joseph Hanna. SERGT. Charles Stewart.
Whitmore Terwilliger.
William Milligan.
John McGow.
William Sutherland.
James Partington.
Robert Wilson.
James T. Thitchener.
John Hammil.
John N. Knapp.
Jedutha Millspaugh.
Samuel MeQuaid.
Win. H. Milliken.
William Wallace. 1
Wi. G. Warren. isT LT. JNO. B. STANBROUGH.
Whitmore Baxter.
Rensalaer D. Baird.
John H. Brooks.
James Bovell.
Nelson Foot.
James Cooper.
David Hepper.
James Flannigan.
John Joice.
Anson Hamilton.
Thomas McBride.
Matthew Manny.
James McGregor.
John A. Meyers. SERGT. Amos M. Eager.
Spencer C. Brooks.
J. H. McCallister.
CORP. Martin Mould.
Newton B. Pierson.
CORP. J. B. Chatfield.
Alex. Thompson.
CORP. A. P. Millspaugh.
John C. Vanzyle.
CORP. David L. Kidd.
Eli Vance.
William Whan.
James Cullen.
C. S. Allen.
Samuel Chalmers.
A. B. Crawford.
Cortland Bodine.
Thomas Farley.
Charles Edwards.
William Hamilton.
John Gordon.
SERGT. A. T. Vanderlyn.
John Holland.
James C. Haggerty.
Joli T. Laroue.
Isaac Ellison.
Henry Losey.
David Loughridge.
Robert Rose.
William Moore.
J. P. Wightman.
Patrick O'Neil.
Ira Barnhart.
Patrick Ryan.
James S. Barrett.
Samuel A. White.
Alexander B. Crawford.
Smith Birdsley. 2D LIEUT. ISAAC M. MARTIN.
Giles Curran.
John H. Brown.
Patrick Keane.
William Edgar.
Charles Lozier.
James A. Smith.
David Stormes.
Henry H. Snyder.
Henry R. Turner.
David Carey.
T. R. Van Tassel.
G. N. Tucker.
ConP. J. S. Alwood.
George Weygant. SERGT. Wilson Weygant.
(I.)
Alex. M. Valet.
Nathaniel Jackson.
CAPTAIN LEANDER CLARK.
1
..
Company " I" was composed principally of volunteers from Newburgh. It had in its ranks men of all sizes, classes, trades, and professions -- and though the majority of its members were American born, Old Erin and the land of " Sir Walter " and " The bonny Bobby Barns" were well and strongly represented. The company was recruited by Leander Clark. J. B. Stanbrough, and I. M. Martin, all of Newburgh It was com- pleted, organized, and accepted on the afternoon of August 20th, and was known as the Newburgh company.
ORGANIZATION-COMPOSITION.
23
1ST SERGT. Wm. H. Many.
CORP. Thomas Foley.
Isaac Odell.
CORP. Nathan B. Potts.
David Odell.
SERGT. John W. Foley.
William A. Homan.
W. H. Decker.
Duncan W. Boyd.
Charles Knapp.
Thomas Rodman. Cornelius L. Rhodes.
Samuel Lewis.
William Bodenstein.
James Curry. David Wright.
George Florence.
Frederick Lamereaux.
George J. Thorn.
David Bowen.
Morvalden Odell.
Geo. W. Cabrey. 1ST. LIEUT. WM. BRONSON.
Daniel Pine.
Peter Conklin.
John L. Goodsall.
Leonard Cary.
James P. Moulton.
William White.
Sweezey Degraw.
Ephraim Tompkins.
Isaiah Rumsey.
Joseph Helmns.
Albert Wise.
Daniel O'Hara. SERGT. Geo. H. Chandler.
Robert H. Foley.
William Twiggs.
CORP. Thomas Milson.
Albert I. Bunce.
CORP. A. H. Barton.
James Montgomery.
CORP. Oscar Terwilliger.
John Tompkins.'
CORP. George I. Brewster.
John Hagan. Johan Fixel. SERGT. Geo. G. Taylor.
William S. Brooks.
Jolin Thompson.
William Mead. William W. Amerman.
George Briggs.
Charles Chatfield.
Nathan Edwards.
James H. Barnes.
Wm. H. G. Thorp.
Clark Smith, Jr.
James D. Tilton.
Robert Rush. Samuel Dodge.
Benj. F. Flagg.
Abram Merritt. 2D LIEUT. H. P. RAMSDELL.
* Charles H. Goodsall.
Thomas M. Brooks.
Daniel S. Gardner.
Frederick Dezendorf.
Stephen W. Brown.
Win. H. H. Rhodes.
James A. Ward.
David L. Wescott.
William King.
Jolın H. Blair.
George G. King.
John Sullivan.
William R. Owen.
James E. Daniels.
Daniel C. Jennings.
Samuel Bradenburgh.
James Ryan.
Charles C. Clark.
CORP. Peter P. Hazen.
Daniel C. Rider. SERGT. Thomas Taft.
CORP. Jonas G. Davis-Color- Bearer.
. Company "C" was called the Cornwall company, and the homes of a majority of its members were located in that town ; Newburgh, New Windsor, and Monroe were also honorably and quite extensively represented. It was recruited by James Cromwell and William Silliman, of Cornwall, and William Bronson and Henry P. Ramsdell, of Newburgh. Its ranks were full on the 15th of August, but the company was not fully organized until the 20th. It was, however, given the title of "C," and designated color company, both of which belonged, by military usage, to Company " D."
(C.)
CAPTAIN WILLIAM SILLIMAN.
Andrew M. Boyd.
John H. Finch.
.
24
HISTORY OF THE 124TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
1ST SERGT. A. MeDougal.
CORP. Theron Bodine.
Win. Buchanan.
CORP. David Monld.
Judson' B. Lupton. SERGT. Geo. B. Youngblood.
Noah Kimbark.
Henry Mathews.
John Rediker.
G. M. Legg.
David D. Post.
Charles II. Stevens.
S. S. Youngblood.
William McVay.
Charles W. Evans.
Nathan H. Duffie.
Milton Crist.
James Crist. 1ST LIEUT. HENRY GOWDY.
Josiah Dawson.
Charles A. Foster.
J. A. Miliken. Charles W. Tindall.
William Brown.
Charles Seaman.
Jesse F. Camp.
Van Keuren Crist. Edward Hunter.
William H. Dawson.
Jermiah M. Crist. SERGT. William H. Cox.
Benjamin Dutcher.
John Hatch.
CORP. John R .. Post.
Wm. S. M. Hatch.
CORP. Thomas W Bradley.
Grandison Judson.
CORP. Howland W. Davis.
Robert Mackeny.
CORP. A. R. Rhinebart.
Wm. H. Whitside. SERGT. John Rowland.
Daniel T. Tears.
John E. Kidd.
George Butters.
John Duffie.
Henry Seaman.
Thomas H. Baker.
Charles A. McGregor.
William B. Sherman.
Lyman Fairchild.
John McCann.
Andrew Armstrong.
David Hawley.
Joseph W. Delamater.
Daniel W. Baker. 2D LIEUT. JOHN R. HAYS.
Chester Judson.
George O. Fuller.
Thomas O'Connell.
llenry Kidd Jr.
William Dawson (28). James E. Homan.
Jacob F. Jordan.
Francis S. Brown.
Angus Carman.
Clark B. Gallation.
Thomas Vanstrander.
Daniel Carman.
CORP. A. B. Rapalje.
William Shelp.
CORP. W. L. Fairchild.
Andrew Bowman. SERGT. Francis Mead.
Company " Il " was raised in the town of Montgomery by David Crist and others. There were among its members an unusually large number of men who were possessed of a goodly share of this world's goods, and left behind them most attractive homes. Operatives from the Walden Knife Works formed another considerable portion. This company boasted a large amount of superior musical talent. It was partially organ- ized at the village of Walden, in and near which most of its members resided, and reported at the general rendezvous August 20th ; but being a few men short of the required number. its organizvion was not completed until August 23d.
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CAPTAIN DAVID CRIST. (II.)
E. D. Van Keuren.
Thornton Dawson.
Daniel fraphagen.
Abram Hawley.
1
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ORGANIZATION-COMPOSITION.
25
1ST SERGT. T. M. Roberson.
CORP. William J. Daley.
Joseph H. Johnson.
Zebulon. Hallock. SERGT. John R. Banker.
Curtis Ackerman.
Isaac W. Daley.
John W. Taylor.
Win. L. Dougherty.
James B. Moores.
James Sloat.
Abram Rogers.
George Brown.
Nicholas Clearwater.
John H. Sarvis.
Thomas Clearwater.
William Mackey.
David B. Wheat.
Judson Kelly.
1ST. LT. WM. A. VERPLANK.
James W. Parsons. John Scott.
Hezekiah Harris.
Lewis W. Baxter.
Horace Wheeler.
Joli Burns.
Joseph A. Blivin.
Chas. M. Everett.
Chas. J. Fosdick.
SERGT. S. H. Brower.
Edward Glenn.
John C. Staples.
Solomon Carr.
Lewis Gardiner.
. Matthew W. Wood.
Hiram Clark.
CORP. Oscar Harris, Jr.
CORP. Win. II. Howell.
John Granville.
Stephen E. Ostrum.
John J. Stafford.
Adam W. Beakes.
Simeon Wheat.
Lewis M. Tonton.
W'm. P. Uptergrove.
Jonathan Force.
Josiah Harris.
George C. Godfrey.
Benjamin Hull.
Henry M. Howell.
William Decker.
Arch. Freeman.
2D LT. A. WHITTENBEECHER.
Daniel Halstead.
Lewis Trister.
William W. Drake.
Charles C. Haxton.
Jacob M. Coddington.
John W. Hirst.
Charles Newell.
Miles Vance.
James M. Coddington Samuel Clark Jr.
Jolın R. Banker.
George Dunmoodey.
CORP. Adam W. Miller.
George Nichols.
CORP. Moses Crist. .
John F. Miller. SERGT. William Price.
Company " E" was composed principally of men from Mount Hope, Wallkill, Craw. ford, Newburgh, and Goshen : though, like Company " A," it had in its ranks repre. sentatives from nearly every town in the county. It was recruited by William A. McBirney, of Wallkill, William A. Verplank. of New Windsor, and Adolphus Whit- tenbeccher, of Newburgh. The date of its organization is August 19th. Crawford and Wallkill were always justly proud of their representatives in the ranks of this company.
(E.)
CAPTAIN WILLIAM A. McBIRNEY.
A. W. Lamereaux.
James A. Beaks.
CORP. John H. Little.
CORP. Hiram Ketchum.
. Richard Traver. Win. Il. Shaw. SERGT. John J. Scott.
Theophilus Dolson.
Isaac Furgerson.
Peter T. Stalter.
Charles Downing.
CORP. Z. Dusenberry.
26
HISTORY OF THE 124TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
1ST SERGT. Jacob Denton.
CORP. W. W. Ritch.
Charles M. Weller. SERGT. Winfield W. Parsons.
CORP. A. S. Holbert.
David N. Wilkin.
John C. Vermylia.
Hugh Foley.
John Carroll.
Henry C. Baker.
Jacob E. Smith.
John W. Pitts.
John W. Parks.
J. R. Conning.
Jacob Cameron.
Thomas Kincaid.
John C. Hawley.
H. R. Mayette.
Alonzo Price.
Paul Holliday. 1ST LIEUT. JAMES F. ROOSA.
James H. Conklin.
William H. Corter.
David U. Quick.
N. J. Conklin.
Egbert S. Puff.
Wm. H. H. Wood.
William H. Falkner,
Patrick Cuneen.
William W. Carpenter.
Jonathan Acker.
Nathan M. Hallock.
Michael Cullen.
SERGT. Daniel E. Webb.
CORP. J. J. Crawford.
Isaac Kanoff.
CORP. W. T. Ogden.
Henry W. Smith.
CORP. James McCoy.
CORP. Isaac Decker.
H. D. Paret.
Stephen B. Kerr.
G. H. Stephens.
William F. Christie.
N. B. Mullen.
N. C. Drake.
SERGT. W. W. Bailey.
Reuben C. Miller.
Charles S Godfrey.
Stephen W. Frost.
Solomon W. Smith.
Jonathan Corey.
Cornelius Crans.
D. Carpenter. Ira S. Ketcham.
John Skelton.
A. W. Miller.
Gordon B. Cox. John O'Brien.
2D LIEUT. JAMES FINNEGAN.
George Randall.
R. McCartney.
Daniel E. Webb.
J. M. Stalbird.
A. G. Randall.
Cornelius Herron.
Peter Noll.
David S. Purdy.
CORP. H. J. Wright.
John Studor.
CORP. G. Van Sciver.
Alonzo S. Frost. SERGT. Lewis S. Wisner.
Company " K."-On the 23d of August, James Finnegan, with some twenty men from Newburgh and Goshen, joined forces with William A. Jackson and James F. Roosa, who had recruited sixty odd men in and about Middletown, their native village, and with a full company stepped into the only remaining gap; and the regi- .. ment was complete. This company was not lacking in either muscle or intelligence, and judging from the swarm of lady visitors it daily entertained while the regiment remained at Goshen, it must have carried with it to the field the hearts of half the tender maidens of Wallkill.
.
(K.)
CAPTAIN WILLIAM A. JACKSON. ----
John R. Meehan. Samuel Malcomb.
Gabriel Coleby.
Joseph Point.
Samuel V. Tidd.
J. McDermott.
Sylvanus Grier.
ORGANIZATION-COMPOSITION.
27
1ST SERGT. W. H. Benjamin.
CORP. Isaac Decker.
Harvey A. Brock.
CORP. Chas. H. Wright.
Selah Brock.
SERGT. F. F. Wood.
Matherius Sager.
Daniel S. White.
Albert W. Parker.
Peter Higgins.
David H. Corwin.
John Ostrander.
Grant B. Benjamin.
Hector Finney.
Garret H. Bennett.
Stephen Decker.
George W. Odell.
Abraham Denney.
Daniel Rigenbaugh.
Henry Dill.
Cyrenius Giles.
Jolin Munhall. IST LT. JAS. O. DENNISTON.
Samuel D. Latham.
John Chambers.
Isaac W. Parker.
Elijah Fenton.
A. J. Van Zile.
David Lowers.
William Campbell.
Gilbert Peet.
Alexander Jones.
W. H. Trainer.
Abram Rapalje.
John Trainer.
Ralph R. Riker.
Wm. L. Miller.
SERGT. Robert Fairchild.
Abram Stalter.
Joseplı Miller.
CORP. C. W. Merritt.
George E. Griffin.
CORP. J. J. Taylor.
Thomas Corbett.
CORP. Daniel Giles.
Alexander Trainer.
CORP. J. M. Miller.
William Rake.
George R. Fitzgerald.
James Roke.
Jolın M. Calyer.
Lewis P. Miller. SERGT. Horatio J. Estabrook.
William Hauxhurst.
William Fosbury.
Francis E. Merritt.
Joshua V. Cole.
Peter F. Bernier.
Henry Brooks.
Hiram W. De Groat.
Daniel Smith.
Nelson De Groat.
Walter Barton.
Francis McMahan.
William Jackson.
John Newkirk.
J. M. Ketcham.
George W. Coleman.
William 'Tysoe.
2D LIEUT. DAVID GIBBS.
Charles T. Cornelius.
John H. White.
William D. Dawkins.
A. H. Merritt. .
Cornelius Hughes.
Eli Hughes.
Napoleon B. Odell.
Joseph Jones.
John H. H. Conklin.
Oliver Miller.
Reuben Turner, Jr.
Reuben Turner, Sr.
Daniel Rider.
George Cripps.
Charles Benjamin.
William E. Cannon.
CORP. S. T. Estabrook.
Patrick Tonhey.
CORP. Charles G. Cooper.
Chas. A. Ensign. SERGT. Lewis T. Shultz.
(G.)
CAPTAIN ISAAC NICOLL.
Company " G" was recruited by Isaac Nicoll and J. O. Denniston, of Blooming Grove, F. F. Wood, of Chester, and D. Gibb, of Newburgh. Some fifty of its members were from Blooming Grove, fifteen were from Newburgh, and the balance from the towns of New Windsor, Monroe, and Chester. Its organization was completed August 20. This fine body of men were generally spoken of as the " Washingtonville Boys," but frequently called the " praying company;" and there certainly were among its members a considerable number of brave Christian men.
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28
HISTORY OF THE 124TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
1ST SERGT. G. S. Tuthill.
CORP. R. R. Murray.
CORP. John Williams.
John Eckert.
William Slawson. Reuben Rynders.
Daniel Babcock.
Charles Harrington.
Jolm Glanz. Francis Lee.
'George Shawcross. Wesley Storms.
Clark Coon.
1ST LIEUT. W. E. WEYGANT.
Samuel Shultz.
James Gavin.
David P. Barnes.
Jesse Hunter.
E. N. Laine.
E. M. Carpenter. N. C. Hanford. R. J. Holland.
John Ryerson.
B. E. Birdsall.
Ezra F. Tuthill.
Matthew Crawley.
William H. Hazen.
George Hawley.
SERGT. J. H. Birdsall.
Jolın C. Storms.
George Babcock.
Charles B. Hazen.
Moses S. Clark.
CORP. Wm. G. White.
George Culver.
CORP. Wm. Valentine.
James Lewis.
CORP. W. D. Millspaugh.
William Lamereaux.
E. B. Benjamin.
Patrick Leach.
John P. Kingsland.
Benjamin M. Little.
E. T. Mapes. S. Millspaugh.
William H. Luckey.
J. M. Merritt.
James Odell.
William H. Merritt.
Henry J. Powell.
William Snyder.
Hugh McShane.
Alfred Yeomans.
John F. Brown.
Samuel Green.
A. J. Messenger.
R W. Gardner. .
J. J. Messenger.
Henry O. Smith.
Joseph Pratt. 2D LIEUT. WM. E. MAPES.
Charles H. Bull.
S. B. Smith.
James Finley.
Albert Youngs.
Samuel Sherman.
A. W. Tucker.
D. R. P. Van Gordon.
William E. Titus.
CORP. Harrison Bull.
Michael Mooney.
CORP. Coe L. Reevs.
S. Garrison. SERGT. C. A. Wheeler.
Company " B," known as the Goshen company, was recruited by II. S. Murray, of Goshen, William E. Mapes, of Florida, and N. K. Weygant, of Newburgh. The majority of its members were residents of the town of Goshen ; a squad of eight came " from Newburgh, and some ten others were from the town of Warwick. In the ranks of this company were some of the very best and a few of the poorest soldiers in the regiment. It was the second company organized, and was given its proper position- the left of the line.
CAPTAIN HENRY S. MURRAY. (B.)
M. S. Holbert. Simon Bellis. D. McCormick. David Babcock.
Joseph Bross. Herman Crans.
SERGT. Bodowine C. Lee.
John A. Space. Harrison Storms.
James Scott. SERGT. J. Harvey Hanford.
ORGANIZATION-COMPOSITION.
Edward Ginner .. .. Company " A."
JAMES A. GRIER, Sergeant-Major.
NON-COMMISSIONED STAFF.
HENRY F. TRAVIS,
Quartermaster's Sergeant.
WAGONERS.
ELLIS A. POST,
Commissary Sergeant.
JOHN VAN HORNE, Hospital Steward.
ALFRED GRAY, COMPANY "D," WAGON-MASTER.
Jeremiah Cole ..... Company " F."
J. E. Collins. . . Company " I."
Wm. H. Decker .... Company " C."
SUTLER. N. J. KELSEY.
Robert Connelly, Jr ...... . Co. "C." John Duffie. .. .. Company " H." Ezekiel Brundage, Company " G."
George Morgan. ... Company " E."
Talmage Burhans .. Company " K."
Joseph Gordon. .. Company " B." *
Among the company officers-to all of whom particular reference will be made in succeeding pages of this work-Captain Murray, Captain Silliman, and Lieutenant Wood, had been in the service. Sergeant-Major Grier and Quartermaster's Sergeant Travis had both served under Colonel Ellis at Bull Run, and a number of others among the non commissioned officers and privates had already learned, upon the battle-field, the sinell of rebel powder.
--
* When the battalion was about to be mustered, it was found that five companies exceeded the maximum allowed. There were also several small squads of men who had enlisted for the regiment, for whom no place was found. These men, numbering, all told, about one hundred and twenty-five, were left behind, as the nucleus of what was afterwards known as the Ironsides regiment. The names of some thirty others were retained on the rolls of the regiment, who either did not report to be mustered in the United States service, or left without leave immediately after. As none of these men ever in reality became a part of the 124th, their names have been omitted.
29
30
HISTORY OF THE 124TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
CHAPTER II.
AT GOSHEN -- TRIP TO WASHINGTON-SOLDIER LIFE AT MINERS HILL.
O N the 24th of August orders were received from Washing- ton, directing Colonel Ellis to hold his command in readi- ness to move on the 27th instant.
Thursday, the 26th, had been designated by the ladies of Orange, as the day on which they would present to the regiment that stand of colors beneath which he whose hand should receive them, and so many of the brave men over whose heads they were that day to be unfurled, should suffer, bleed, and die, that the Union and Liberty might live.
It was a clear bright day, and with the rising of the sun the friends of the American Guard* began to arrive ; and for hours there poured into the village of Goshen such a throng of men, women, and children, as had seldom before been seen in its streets.
At three P. M. the regiment was formed, and Colonel Ellis. hay- ing placed himself at the head of his field and staff, in front of it, the HIon. Charles H. Winfield stepped forward, and at the close of a most patriotic speech, on behalf of the donors handed the colors to Colonel Ellis, who, loosing them to the breeze, promised the multitude there assembled they should never be disgraced ; concluding with these words : " If you never again see these colors, you will never again see those who bear them from-you." The Hon. David Gedney then delivered, in behalf of the recip- ients, an impressive speech of acceptance. After which Miss Charlotte E. Coulter stepped forward, and with a modest, but
* Before the regiment had received its number-in fact, before the organization was half completed-it was christened by Colonel Ellis, " The American Guard." And by that title it was most generally known, up to its first general engagement at the battle of Chancellorsville.
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31
AT GOSHEN.
grand little speech, presented a pair of embroidered silk guidons -- a gift from the fair daughters of the little town of Wawayanda.
This ceremony over, the regiment was dismissed, and the companies returned to their respective streets, where many of their officers were formally presented with swords and trappings of various kinds. After which, the men were soon surrounded by friends and loved ones anxious to spend a few short hours with their soldier boys before the final parting came.
And many a praying mother, as she that day stowed away in her son's knapsack articles of clothing or food which she had prepared for him with her own hands, slipped away in some corner, out of immediate sight, a little Bible, with the holy name of mother written therein, hoping, praying, that though he was not much used to reading it at home, it might not be entirely neg- lected when, deprived of the comforts and protection of that home, -he came to experience the privations and dangers of the tedious march and terrible battle-field.
Nearly every house in and about Goshen was filled that night with those who remained to witness the departure on the mor- row. But the morning passed away, and day wore into night again, and yet the regiment remained at Goshen. Arms were not forthcoming; and they must wait for them.
Continuing our drills without arms, and with sticks and the few guns we could borrow, several well improved and pleasant days were spent at Camp Wickham.
But on the morning of the 5th of September, there arrived simultaneously : a telegram announcing our guns at New York city ; orders positively fixing the following day as the time of our departure, and Captain William G. Edgerton of the Regular Army, who forthwith mustered us into the service of the United States of America.
And at one o'clock P. M., on Saturday, September 6, 1862, wc bid adieu to our first camp, with its long lines of rough barracks and the pleasant grounds on which many had received their first instruction in the duties of the soldier and the evolutions of the bat- talion ; and, without arms, but with banners flying and drums beat-
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32
HISTORY OF THE 124TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
ing a lively tune ; with knapsacks and haversacks swelled to their utmost capacity, with not only wearing apparel that would never be worn and food that would never be eaten, but with books to read, and keepsakes-tokens of remembrance from mothers, sisters, wives, children, and loved ones, many of which, however highly prized, would on the first long march have to be abandoned-we moved through throngs of weeping ones to the depot, where the last hand-shakings and final adieus were given; and at two p. M. the heavily laden train, with wild shrieks to warn away the clinging multitudes, moved off, and we were on our way to the seat of war.
As we passed out of Goshen, cheers loud and prolonged fol- lowed us till out of hearing. At every depot crowds with loyal hearts seat after us shouts of approbation, and ever and anon, as our train shot along, we would catch from sweet voices familiar notes of patriotic songs.
At length we passed beyond the limits of our county ; but there was little change in the scenes which greeted us, save that forms and faces were no longer familiar.
Every depot all along through Rockland and New Jersey had its shouting, waving crowd.
At one place, high up on a projecting rock, stood an old man dressed in a military suit of Revolutionary times, the thin locks of his long white hair floating in the breeze, leaning with one hand on his staff, and with the other feebly waving the Stars and Stripes, while two little girls, dressed in the purest .white, knelt one on either side of him, their little arms stretched ont and their eyes turned heavenward, as if in earnest prayer to the God of nations for the preservation and success of the defenders of the Union their great grandsire had fought to esta blish.
In due time we reached Jersey City, and after some delay, crossed to New York, and took up a roundabout line of march for the Park barracks, where nearly all, after partaking of the con- tents of their haversacks, stretched themselves out on the pine mattresses there furnished them, and were soon asleep.
33
TRIP TO WASHINGTON.
The New York Tribune of that date contained a notice of the regiment, from which the following extract is taken : " We have seldom been more pleased with the general appearance of a regiment than with the 124th New York Volunteers; the most influ- ential families in Orange County are represented in its ranks. The regiment contains brave, intelligent, healthy young Americans, the very cream of the regimental district."
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