USA > New York > History of the One hundredth regiment of New York state volunteers > Part 22
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" Lient. Wilkeson was the grandson of the late Hon. Samuel Wilkeson, one of the founders of this city, and inherited many of the remarkable mental characteristics of his grandfather. Like him he was undemonstrative, intensely earnest and persistent in everything he undertook. He ated almost entirely upon convic- tions of duty, and not from impulse. Quiet and mobtrusive in his manners, he was yet eminently genial, refined and affectionate. With strong likes and dislikes, he was at once a faithful friend and a generous and forgiving enemy. In the daily walks of life he was unusually exemplary without being ascetic or ostentations.
" Lient. Wilke-on was a patriotic and devoted soldier. He finale for his country with the purest motives, and with an unfaltering trust in God, which, we do not doubt, went far toward making him a perfectly brave man In a recent letter to his brother-also in
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the army-he says, 'God our Father sparing us, trust in him. Pray everywhere in a colloquial way. All our best friends have gone before, or are fast going, and what matters it for them or us how soon we go? It will be right, since it will be Got's will, and if I do not see you again here, we must meet in the spirit worl:l.' Again he said, 'We shall have fought hard before this reaches you, and perhaps from the rolls of the 'Hundredth' my name will be dropped. I hope so, rather than that I should fail to show plnek and marked bravery. Pray that I may not fail.' His dead body, now lying buried upon the field of battle, testifies mutely that he did not fail, but possessed that rare, modest courage which distrusts itself while it feels no fear.
" He has gone, and his gentle face and lion heart are turned from ns forever toward the infinite. The beauty of his life and the glory of his death s'tall blend harmoniously, not only in making up the record of his earthly fame, but in initiating a brighter glory in a brighter world. He now walks amid the green pastures, by the banks of the river of eternal life, side by side with the loved ones who had gone before."
"The grave itself is bnt a covered bridge.
Leading from light to light through a brief darkness."
His motives for entering the service of his country are most gra- phically, truthfully and tersely given in a letter to his brother, an extract of which is here given :
* I made up my mind after cool deliberation. that it was my duty togo. One fights for a god-like principle. Ir is the blessed American liberty which was the fruit of all time, painfully produced from the struggle-so long protracted-which gave birth to Protestant freedom-later so nobly preserved and re-asserted by our fathers, and which now meets its off, old enemy, Despotism. in its blackest and most treacherous form. It must not perish. for it is the only hope for poor humanity, whose despairing eye is on us-the only hope for the pure faith in God's truths now threatened with a deadly eclipse. All this, and more. stands threatened, should the damning slave despoti-m conquer ns, for will not the haman intellect and our moral natures die without hope of resurrection ? . dear brother, we can, if needs, die for as precious truths as ever led martyr- to a burning stake, and the man who dare unt seal his faith with his blood. de- serves not to have enjoyed these blood-bought favors of ours. We must all die win. There is no fear in death for the man who is true to his best impluses. and never fails his country; for God loves freedom, truth, and fr been; and henting for those, yon fight his battles. He himself will plaice the laurel chap- It on the faithful warrior's head. Sam .. . trust in God and keep your por ter drv.' God bless you : we may meet on the bloody feld, or perchance not till we rest from our labors : in either case, all will be well."
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What more need be said. The words from the pen of this early martyr on the altar of country, will live in the memory of all who read, and his motives for bearing arms in defence of " father land" will shine clearer and clearer upon the printed page, as the years roll away, and these truths find lodgement in the hearts of the saved youth of our blessed land.
LIEUTENANT CHARLES SEVERANCE FARNHAM.
BY MAJOR D. D. NASH.
Lieut. Farnham, the nephew and adopted son of Thomas Farn- ham, Esq., of Buffalo, N. Y., was born in the village of Cazenovia, Madison county, N. Y., May 29th, 1938. His father, a lawyer by profession, died a few months previous to his birth. His uncle, the Hon. Luther Severance, an editor, representative in Congress from Maine, and commissioner of the United States Government to the Sandwich Islands, died within a few years subsequent to his birth, which, added to the loss of an invaluable friend in the person of his grandfather at the age of ten years, left young Farnham wholly dependent upon his widow ed mother. His grandfather, Col. Elisha Farnham, was one of the pioneers of Madison county, and served with a Madison county regiment at Sackett's Harbor, in the war of 1812. After these sad losses, he removed with his mother to Buffalo, N. Y., to reside with Thomas Farnham, by whom he was adopted, being a prominent business man of the city. His uncle with great liberality gave him the benefits of a preparatory and collegiate education, and he graduated at Union College in 1559. at the age of twenty-one years. He engaged with his foster father in business, but still devoted his leisure hours to his favorite pur- suits, chemistry, geology and mineralogy. Fired with patriotism, he was ready to avenge the first insult upon our flag, and was only deterred by the opposition of his friends, who knew his delicate organization. Having finally overcome all this, he was commis- sioned second lieutenant of Co. " A," One Hundredth New York Volunteers, and detailed as aid to Gen. Seroggs, with whom he fe- mained at Fort Porter, until ordered to his regiment by Col. James
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M. Brown, March 22d, 1862, just as MeClellan commenced his memorable Peninsula campaign. He joined his company at Washington, March 25th. Previons to his departure he was pre- sented by the young men of Buffalo with a sword and sash, ac- companied with a complimentary note, signed by the donors.
Soon after his arrival, the One Hundredth leaving, he joined the regiment, and was taken slightly ill on the 9th of April, and on the 16th of April, a very warm day, he was compelled to fall out, Co. "A" marching as advanced guard for twenty-two miles. From that time he continued to grow worse, and the symptoms of that terrible malady, the Peninsula fever, as it was called, exhibited themselves. Although he received the best care his many friends could bestow amid their oppressive duties, and under the disad- vantages occasioned by the short-sighted management of the busi- ness affairs of the army at that early period, which left us nearer the point of starvation than ever after, still he continued to fail, and when, May 5th, the regiment left camp to pursue the flying enemy, it was thought his end was near, which occurred without a struggle, on the 12th day of May at Yorktown, after his removal, which could have been but illy endured by one much less afflicted, or in perfect health. His body, a few days afterward, was disin- terred and brought to Buffalo, by his bereaved foster father, and his heart-stricken mother, who had strained every nerve to reach him in his sickness. Thus one martyr fell, the first sacrifice of commissioned officers of the regiment, soon to he followed by scores of men and officers. His country lost in him one of great promise. Lieut. Farnham, cultivated, liberal and genial, with great dignity of character, had endeared himself to all of our regiment, and to hosts of friends and acquaintances in Buffalo, at school, at the home of his mother in Syracuse and in his native village. The " Tigers" of this city escorted his remains to the grave, where he was followed by his relatives, to whom this loss was a most crush- ing blow, and by one of the largest and most saddened concourses the city beheld during the war. He was so anxious to have helped to push forward to its final glorious triumph the cause of unity and resistance to rebellion. To us, who heard of his death during that terrible struggle of pushing the enemy through the swamps of the Peninsula, the news occasioned a perfect heart chill, while wo wished that he could have fallen, if fall he must, in the tight, where his tall form and brave heart would have been a tower of strength
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to the men, to whom he had become attached without effort, and by whom his grave will be strewed by flowers, as long as life per- mits the sad and friendly office.
LIEUTENANT SAMUEL S. KELLOGG.
Lieut. Kellogg came to Buffalo from the central part of New York, and was engaged, previous to the study of the law, as teacher with marked success. In adopting Buffalo as his home, he entered the office of L. P. Perkins, Esq., where he pursued the studies of his profession with a characteristic diligence evincel by him in whatever he undertook. Up to the time of the organiza- tion of the One Hundredth Regiment, Lient. Kellogg had acquired a respectable law practice ; but the needs of the government and that patriotic fervor which controlled all temperaments similarly organized, urged him into the service of his country. Ile was commissioned as first lieutenant, February 7th. 1862, and became identified with the fortunes of the One Hundredth. He encount- ered with his fellow officers the exposures and deprivations of the Peninsula campaign, and was able at the front to particip ite in that fatal fray of Fair Oaks, and there senil his patriotism with his blood with Col. Brown and Lieut Wilkeson, the first offering of the regi- ment upon the altar of country.
Lieut. Kellogg, as a civilian, was regarded as a mind of more than ordinary power, and would grasp with an intuitive quickness prin- ciples which required long and severe study, often, when attempted by ordinary minds. In common with hundreds and thousands. he fell an early martyr to the cause of unity and a strong govern- ment. His death at Seven Pines commenced and ended his mili- tary career, short, brilliant and decisive.
LIEUTENANT RODNEY B. SMITHI, JR.
Lient. Rodney B. Smith, Jr., was the son of Rodney B. Smith, o1 Smith's Mills, Hanover, Chautauqua county, N. Y. His father
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being the main business man of the place, was engaged in mill- ing, a store, farming and whatever stood incidentally connected with any of the occupations mentioned. His son, Rodney B. Smith, Jr., was a helper, a sort of general clerk, in whatever department of his father's business his services were needed. The subject of this sketch was born November 28th, 1839. He enlisted and was commissioned as first lieutenant, February 7th, 1862, and assigned to Co. " H." He is spoken of as a young man of promising ability and had a large circle of friends and admirers as well as the many personal associates of his youth. He had endured with remarkable resistance the effects of the march along the Peninsula, had reached and passed through the perilous time of the 31st of May, but was obliged to give over to the power of the malarial fever, then pros- trating so many strong and able bodies, rendering them unfit for the duties of cump and army service. Lieut. Smith, sick with fever, was sent to Savage Station, and in the retreat from Bottom's Bridge, and the execution of that order of Gen. McClellan's that all ambulances should leave empty, and that all the sick that could walk should make their way to the James river, it is supposed that he, with others, had started, lost his way, and died from exposure, or some other cause, as he was never heard of after the movement began. Like Col. Brown, his grave is unknown, which helped to add to the thousands of " unknown and unmarked" graves through- out the South. The memory of his youth and manhood are kept fresh and green in the hearts of his friends, with the loyal thought that he died for country, a sacrifice on its altar for unity and free- dom.
ADJUTANT HERBERT H. HADDOCK.
Adjt. Haddock was born in the city of Butfalo, New York, July 8th, 1839, and attended our public schools. At the age of fifteen he removed to Hudson, O, and enjoyed the advantages of the Wes- tern Reserve College, umil 17, when he returned to Batfilo. At the age of twenty he united with the North Presbyterian Church, Dr. Chester being the pastor. Before enlisting as a volunteer, he was employed as a book-keeper for C. P. Churchill, grocer of this
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city. Mr. Churchill says, that he was one of the most expert and reliable clerks he has ever seen. He comprehended the details of business with an accuracy and clearness which intimated a sue- cessful future as a business man should his power be turned in that direction. He entered the field as a soldier with the same enthu-i- asm that characterized him as a civilian. He was commissioned second lieutenant, February 7th, 1862. He left the city with the regiment, passed through the Peninsula campaign, and while the One Hundredth Regiment lay at Gloucester Point he was commis- sioned first lieutenant and adjutant, November 24th, 1862. At the time of the departure of the regiment from Gloucester Point, tiu. last of December, for North Carolina, Adjt. Haddock was sick with typhoid fever and did not join the regiment till the following March, at St. Helena island, where he relieved Lieut. Leopold Evert, who had been acting as adjutant during his absence. Ile entered upon the discharge of his duty with his usual vigor and in- telligence, accompanied the regiment to Cole's and Folly islands. then to the taking of Morris island, July 10th, and subsequently with the regiment into the charge on Wagner, July 18th, where he was killed, closing his career as an efficient, courageous and es- teemed soldier. He was missed at guard mounting, dress parade and the adjutant's office. His military calls at officers' quarters, and his daily passage through the company streets, was ever hailed as an evidence of a "more," or some welcome or unwei- come duty which had to be performed, with which the adjutant was not associated as a cause but simply as an instrument of mili- tary authority. Ilis loss was keenly felt by officers and men, as his rare qualifications fully capacitated him for the arduous duties entrusted to his charge.
LIEUTENANT CHARLES II. RUNCKLE.
Lieutenant Runekle was of German descent. Military with him was an enthusiasm. He was connected with the Sixty-fifth Regi- ment of this city, and had many acquaintances. He recruited a number of men, and with them, under promise of a commission, he joined the One Hundredth Regiment. He enlisted as a private September 15th, 1862. He was soon promoted to corporal. il:>
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commission was delayed till December 20th, 1962, when he was assigned to Co. "H." He was at Carolina City, Hilton Head, St. Helena, Cole's and Folly islands, and accompanied the regiment in the taking of Morris island, and was killed in the assault on Battery Wagner, July 18th, 1863. Young and brave, with a limited ac- quaintance in the regiment, he passed away, and with hundreds will be remembered as one of the sacrificed in the attempt to take by assault a fort which proved an almost unyielding obstacle to the advance of the National Army.
LIEUTENANT AZOR HILTON HOYT.
Lieut. Azor Hilton Hoyt was born in the city of New York, October 14th, 1842, and was nearly nineteen years of age at the time of his enlistment in the One Hundredth Regiment in this city. An elaborate and amplified sketch of the life and merits of Lient. Hoyt has been kindly furnished ns, and we are very sorry that we can only find space for a few extracts, which will give our readers a limited view of his character as a man and soldier. " He en- listed as a private in Co. ' I.' One Hundredth Regiment N. Y. S. Vols., but won his way, step by step, by constant devotion to the service and by his undaunted courage. Ilis was a mind of rare in- tellectual endowments, acknowledged by all who had his personal acquaintance. He was a vigorous writer and a close student. His letters published in the Times, Tribune and other New York papers, at various periods during the war, reveal a remarkable power of description, a fine imagination and a cultivated mind. He was a printer by profession, and among his comrades was re- garded with honor and affection. In the regiment he won the love of his fellow soldiers, which they testitied by the presentation of a sword and belt on the occasion of his promotion to a lieutenancy. This presentation was accompanied by the gift of a beautiful and rostly sash by Thomas Me Elrath, Esq., of the New York Tribune. Many friends in New York proposed to present him with a sword, 1 it their gitt was pleasantly forestalled by the men of his own waspany. He was a prisoner at Richmond, and spoke generously of his capiors, attributing their apparent cruelty rather to circum-
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stances than design. He was exchanged and returned to his regiment." In a skirmish on the line in front of the works of Fort Darling, May 14th, 1864, Lieut. Hoyt was wounded, from which he died near the field of action, May 16th, and was borne by his com- rades into camp and buried as described in the body of this work. This closed the career of a young, hopeful and brilliant mind, an early victim and a sacrifice upon the altar of country and glory.
LIEUTENANT CYRUS BROWN.
Of Lieut. Brown we know but little. He was commissioned December 23d, 1862, as second lieutenant. Ile was a positive character, and changed his ideas only when thoroughly convinced. He was a firm aud consistent patriot, a lover of right and a firm advocate of suppressing rebellion by force of arms. He was wounded in the charge on Wagner, July 18th, 1863, and died at Port Schuyler, August 13th, 1863. His loss was sincerely felt by a large circle of comrades.
LIEUTENANT JAMES H. FRENCH.
Lieut. French, before enlistment as a private soldier, had long and successfully taught one of the public schools of this city. As a teacher, he was competent, able and widely known among the members of the profession. Ile was a disciplinarian of the first rank, and managed children with a skill born of intuition and a common-sense judgment. As a writer for the press, and as a re- porter often of the deliberations of educational meetings, he was terse, vigorous and comprehensive. Lient. French enlisted in the summer of 1862, August 4th, and joined the regiment at Gloucester Point, Va. His enlistment was under the auspices of the Buf- falo Board of Trade. For one year he served as a common soldier, and did his duty nobly and manfully. At Carolina City, Hilton Head, Cole's and Morris islands, he was ever the same duti-
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GUSTAVUS A. SCROGGS. Brig General U. S. Vois.
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ful, estimable and intelligent soldier. October 7th, 1863, he was commissioned as second lieutenant, while the regiment was on Morris island. As an officer, he was estimated more at his true value. His literary ability as a private had no opportunity for general advantage. He was complimented by the commander of the " post" for an ably written defence of a fellow officer, who had been unjustly arrested, in consequence of which the officer was discharged. His company was sought for solid, social entertain- ment. Through the winter and spring on Morris island and with the transfer of the regiment to Gloucester Point and to Bermuda Hundred, and into the fight at Walthall Junction, and at Drury's Bluff, where he was wounded on the morning of the 16th of May, 1864, Lieut. French was ever the same, valuable and patriotic officer. He had fought his last battle. Being wounded in the leg, he was taken prisoner, carried to Libby Prison, Richmond, where he suf- fered amputation, from the effects of which he died, May 22d, 1864. He had well represented his profession as a sterling, brave and loyal soldier, and sealed his patriotism with his life.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
OF SURVIVING OFFICERS OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH REGIMENT, OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE AT THE ADOPTION OF THE REGIMENT, WITH A SHORT SKETCH OF THE BOARD OF TRADE OF BUFFALO FROM ITS ORIGIN TO THE PRESENT.
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BRIGADIER GENERAL GUSTAVUS A. SCROGGS.
Gen. Scroggs was born August 8th, 1820, in the village of Dar- lington, Beaver county, Penn. He is of Scotch descent. His father, Gen. John A. Scroggs, was also a native of Pennsylva- nia, a prominent politician, member of the legislature several times, candidate of his party for State Senator and Member of Congress, hell office of commissioner and prothonotary of Beaver County, was brigadier general of militia, and by occupation a tan- her and farmer.
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In 1837 the subject of this sketch was an applicant for an ap- pointment to West Point, and failed. In 1840 an appointment was forwarded, but was declined in consequence of studies preparatory to the study of law. Entered the office of the Hon. N. P. Fetter- man, as a law student, at Beaver, Penn. Taught school at times, and was admitted to practice law in 1844, and had fair suc- cess. The loss of his father the same year left a mother and four sisters dependent upon the energies of young Scroggs for support. It was a hard struggle, as all young men know in like circum- stances. Went to Newcastle, Mercer county, Penn., and practiced law for two years. In November, 1848, came to Buffalo, N. Y., and formed a law partnership with Hon. Benjamin H. Austin, where he has resided ever since.
Politically Gen. Scroggs was ever strong anti-slavery. Origi- nally a democrat, he became a member of the American party, and was their candidate for lieutenant governor. In the union of the American and republican parties in 1858, Gen. Seroggs was elected sheriff of Eric county by a majority of four thousand tive hundred. As a delegate of the American party, at Baltimore, in 1860, he withdrew from the convention on the ground that the nomination of Bell was in the interest of slavery, and supported Lincoln and Hamlin, and has since acted uniformly with the re- publican party.
His tastes were strongly military. Previous to coming to Buffalo he had raised and commanded the " Washington Artillery," a com- pany of uniformed militia, and also a like company at Newcastle. till his leaving for Buffalo, in 1848. After his arrival in Buffalo, he was elected Captain of Co. "B," Sixty-fifth Regiment New York State Militia. In 1851 he was elected colonel of the same, and subsequently brigadier general of the Thirty-first Brigade. Re- tained in command of brigade till his election as sheriff of the county. At the opening of the rebellion he published a call in the newspapers of the city for a meeting to raise volunteers. As a re- sult six companies were raised which helped to form the Twenty- first Regiment New York State Volunteers. The remaining four companies were mainly formed from the Seventy-fourth Regiment. In August, 1801, he was authorized by the Secretary of War to raise a brigade of four full regiments of volunteers, as stated in the opening of this work. In July, 1862, he was appointed brigadier general of volunteers, and was assigned, by order of the Secretary
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of War, in Special Orders, No. 153, War Department, July 7th, 1962, to a command in Maj. Gen. Bank's army corps. He was not confirmed as brigadier general. April 16th, 1863, he was appointed provost marshal of the Thirtieth District of New York, comprising Erie county, with headquarters at Buffalo. Organized the office and made the first draft under great difficulties. Gen. Seroggs re- signed the office of provost marshal to accept the command of the Twenty-fifth Regiment of United States colored troops, in the lat- ter part of January, 1864. The object of the appointment is ex- plained in the following letter :
"EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, February 6th, 1864. " Maj. Gen. N. P. BANKS :
"The bearer, Gen. G. A. Scroggs, of Buffalo, has been appointed colonel of a colored reziment. and is to report with it to you at New Orleans. The object of moving in this matter is to have Col. Seroggs sent by you, with his regi- ment, to Texas, charged to collect and organize the colored men of that State, it being believed that such a nucleus as this regiment, and such an experienced organizer of troops as Col. Scrozys has shown himself, will prove highly snc- cessful. I hope this purpose will meet with your approval, and that, by such onlers as your judgment will dictate, you will put Col. S. in the way of exe- enting his mission.
" Yours truly,
"A. LINCOLN."
Col. Scroggs arrived at New Orleans on the 5th of May, 1804, and reported to Gen. Banks. About the time of his arrival at New Orleans an order was issued withdrawing all our troops from Texas, which rendered his mission impracticable. He remained in command of his regiment until July 6th, 1864, when he re- -igned, and was honorably discharged from the service. The with- drawal of all troops from Texas defeated the object of the Presi- dent, in his expectations that Col. Seroggs would organize the colored men of that State into soldiers for the Union. Hence Col. Seroggs found his regiment divided, doing garrison and other duties, and. himself' detailed on a court martial, which accounts for his resignation and discharge. November 25th, 1861, he was re- appointed as provost marshal of the Thirtieth District of New York, and on the 31st of December, 1865, the war having closed, and in consequence of the suspension of recruiting and drafting, he was 1. morably discharged from the service of the United States. Gen. Smages is still a resident of Buffalo, in the practice of his protes- sion. Having acquitted himself' successfully as a servant of the government, he is now at the service of the people.
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