USA > New York > Wayne County > Military history of Wayne County, N.Y. : the County in the Civil War > Part 29
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The opening scenes of the war; the slaughter at Big Bethel, and the death of Colonel Ellsworth at Alexandria, were already inscribed on the early pages of the bloody record. And then quickly followed the disastrous battle of Bull Run. It became necessary to provide for a permanent army. The theory that the war might end in ninety days was already sadly dissipated. Fallen heroes had already been brought home for burial, but the work must go on, and brave men were ready.
Regiments were formed to serve three years. Prepara- tions were made on a large scale for the protracted war now seen to be upon our hands. Congress met in special session July 4th. It was a memorable session. Immense supplies were voted. More power was given the National Govern- ment than had ever before been deemed necessary. The civil rulers were commanded by the Nation as well as by the Bible, not to " bear the sword in vain."
FORTY-FOURTH INFANTRY.
The tragic death of young Ellsworth at Alexandria suggested a rallying cry for the formation of a regiment to be known as the " Ellsworth Avengers," and to be composed of picked men of good height and first-class physical quali-
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MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
ties-compeers of the lamented Ellsworth in age, character and patriotism. The men were sought for in all parts of the State. The County of Wayne furnished a respectable number of young men answering well the qualities desired.
From the Democratic Press of Wednesday, September 25, 1861.
" William R. Bourne, who has been recruiting for the Ellsworth Regiment, left on Monday last for the east with fifteen as fine looking and intelligent volunteers as can be found in the army. Large crowds assembled at the hotel and at the depot to see them off, but no demonstrations were made."
The after record of these men and of the whole regiment was an honorable one.
The local or popular name of this regiment was " The Ellsworth Avengers," though its official designation was the Forty-fourth Infantry.
September 17, 1861, at a patriotic meeting held at Red Creek, at the close of an address by J. N. Knapp, an invitation to enlist was followed by silence and hesitation. Just then Mrs. Chesebro, of Red Creek, a widow lady rose and said :
" I have an only son ; he has just joined Captain Savery's company. I thank God for the gift of a son who has the courage and manliness to volunteer in the defense of his country."
The effect of this speech was immense. In a few moments seven hardy recruits were added to the list. At the departure of these men, the Clyde Times of September 25th, 1861, said :
" Huron and Rose, seem to be sending forth their sons in goodly numbers to help uphold the National Government. On Monday last nine young men, who had been recruited by Corporal W. W. Jones, of the Ellsworth Regiment, for that crack corps, left the depot at this place on the noon train for Albany. Seven of them were from Huron and two from Rose. They came into town in the morning with a four horse team and a flag flying, in good spirits. They are a fine lot of men and belong to the yeomany of Wayne, One among them, Mr. Milton, is an old printer, and a good machinist and will most probably handle Uncle Sam's ' Shooting stick' as well as the printers.
" The names of the young men are William W. Upson, Henry Riggs, Milton Derby, Charles Weeks, Sidney Dowd, Edwin Merrill, George W. Dowd, of Huron; H. D. Barnes, Sidney Colvin, of Rose."
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MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
At Port Byron and Weedsport they were joined by more men, and at Jordan Corporal W. W. Jones joined the com- pany with a squad of men. At Savannah there had also step- ped on board as recruits: Charles L. Barrell, William Moshier, A. W. Burnham. In addition we find in the Demo- cratic Press the following list of men who started with M. R. Bourne.
Sodus, James B. Case, Philo W. Leighton, John Booth, William H. Sentell, S. A. Cook, H. H. Butts, Edward B. Boss, Bethuel R. Winters.
Walworth, L. L. Farnham.
Butler, George Green.
Ontario, C. S. T. Stamford.
Lyons, W. R. Bourne, Thurston Foster.
Wolcott, George Groat, Robert Douglass.
SEVENTY-FIFTH INFANTRY.
At this time there was a large addition to a Cayuga coun- ty regiment, secured in the eastern part of Wayne county. The northern towns of Cayuga and the eastern towns of Wayne county were close neighbors and in the progress of the war many men enlisted from the one county in the companies being raised in the other. Elbridge G. Miles, of Auburn, a relative of George B. Curtis, of Huron, came over to see what might be done in Wayne county. Mr. Curtis had been in Michigan when the war broke out. He was a member of the Jackson Greys, an independent mili- tary company. On the afternoon of Sunday, April 14, while the news of the surrender of Fort Sumter was ringing over the land, and the call of the President was not yet dated, the company held a meeting and by a unanimous resolution ten- dered their service to Governor Austin Blair, residing in Jackson. They were subsequently accepted and served for three months. After their discharge Mr. Curtis had return- ed to Huron. He now accepted the proposition of Mr. Miles and went to work for the Seventy-fifth. Enlisting in Company H, he received promotion and had the rank of Captain at the time of his discharge.
It is of so much interest to eastern Wayne that we add an account of the organization of the Seventy-fifth though
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MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
we thereby give quite a paragraph of Cayuga county history. For the substance of this account we are indebted to " Hall's Cayuga in the field." In some cases the language of that volume is used without deeming it necessary to repeat this general acknowledgment.
The disastrous battle of Bull Run was fought on the 21st of July, 1861. On the 25th, in response to the President's demand, Governor Morgan issned a proclamation calling for 25,000 volunteers. Though one regiment had gone from old Cayuga, it was immediately resolved to raise and send another from the same locality. There was some delay in the work. Over a month passed before active steps were taken for the enlistment of men and the organization of a battalion. Yet during that interval, the subject was widly discussed in public by leading citizens and deeply but more silently pon- dered at the firesides. On the 2nd of September, John A. Dodge, at that time Lieutenant-Colonel of the Fortv-ninth New York State Militia, met with a number of the leading citizens of the County of Cayuga to devise methods for rapid enlistment, and for the formation of an entire regiment instead of simply a battalion as at one time intended.
Authority was duly obtained from Albany, and recruiting commeneed September 7th. Clinton D. McDougall reported a company filled to the minimum in three days. Two days after, September 12th, Truman K. Fuller and William H. Cray offered two more companies. Recruiting parties went all over Cayuga county and into Seneca county, and crossed the border into Wayne.
Charles C. Dwight and Luther Goodrich soon reported two more companies. Henry B. Fitch enrolled a company largely of Seneca county men, John E. Savery and John Choate contributed two more commands. Lansing Porter receiving thirty recruits raised by Kellogg Beach, soon offered the ninth company.
The volume from which we are quoting makes no mention of Wayne county in describing the organization of this com- mand. By an examination of the town lists in this work it will be seen that Huron furnished about twenty-five men, George B. Curtis, John N. Knight and their associates; Wol-
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MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
cott forty or more, Stephen E. Bullock, Edward H. Cooke and a strong band of comrades ; Butler twenty-five or thirty, Volney Sweeting, Samuel Armstrong and others, represen- tatives of the leading families in town; Savannah fifteen or more, Charles E. Knapp, Cornelius Lovell and a good list of comrades. There were also a few from other towns.
The regiment went into camp in the suburbs of Auburn, October 14th, and their post was given the name of "Camp Cayuga." They were taught the manual of arms by Colo- nel Dodge, whose long connection with the State militia and his familiarity with the tactics eminently qualified him for the work. Robert B. Merritt, who had had three years experi- ence at West Point, was promoted to the Lieutenant-Col- onelcy of the regiment. The field and staff officers complete were John A. Dodge, Colonel ; Robert B. Merritt, Lieuten- ant-Colonel ; Willoughby Babcock, Major ; Edward B. Lan- sing, Adjutant; Lewis E. Carpenter, Quartermaster ; Michael D. Benedict, Surgeon ; Cyrus Powers, Assistant Surgeon ; Thomas B. Hudson, Chaplain.
The six weeks at Camp Cayuga were characterized by constant drill, dress parades, attended by the fair and fashion of the city ; an occasional parade through the streets of Auburn ; visits, delicacies, and presents from friends ; the presentation of a stand of colors from the ladies of Auburn ; a final muster into the service of the United States; and a pleasant Thanksgiving day.
On Saturday, the 30th of November, the regiment, 854 strong, left Auburn for the front, wherever that might be, taking with them the tearful " God speed " of many dear and loving ones at home. The Seventy-fifth was not only splen- didly officered but it was made up of excellent material ; men who had not hastily enlisted for a holiday parade ; men who went out with no expectation that the struggle would end in ninety days, as was thought six months before. They went as the intelligent, patriotic citizens of these counties, as men who had read and thought, who knew the peril of the coun- try and the danger to themselves personally. Knowing all this, and expecting a long and bloody struggle, they nobly, bravely left all the endearments of home at the sacred call of duty.
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MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
NINETIETH INFANTRY.
Among the other regiments which received additions from Wayne county in the fall of 1861, was the ninetieth. This regiment was organized at New York city. The companies generally of which it was composed were raised in the coun- ties of New York, Kings and Queens ; but company D had a large number of men from Clyde and a few from other towns of the county. The regiment was mustered into the ser- vice of the United States from September to December, 1861. The account of this regiment given in a subsequent chapter and the individual records of the men from Wayne will give much information in relation to the whole. The men went out by fives or tens, or even singly. Their departure was unnoticed by public demonstrations or by meetings and processions. They were, however, important additions to a regiment that was destined to a brave career, enduring not only battle but pestilence-not only the dangers of the field but the horrors of the hospital.
NINETY-SIXTH INFANTRY.
In the fall of 1861, while Wayne county men were enlist- ing in various regiments, there were a few who became members of the Ninety-sixth Infantry. The regiment was organized at Plattsburgh, N. Y., to serve three years. The companies of which it was composed were raised mostly in the counties of Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Warren and Wash- ington. They were mustered into the service of the United States from February, 1862, to March 7th, 1862. On the expiration of its term of service the veterans and recruits were continued under the same organization until February 6, 1866. Its service as a whole was therefore about four years. It was always in fighting order and neary all the time was on the line of actual fighting. The Adjutant General's report names thirty-one battles in which the Finety-sixth was engaged.
EIGHTH CAVALRY.
This organization was formed in the fall of 1861, and was largely recruited in Wayne county. The experience of six months of war had shown conclusively that no immediate triumph was possible. Enlistments for the Eighth cavalry
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MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
were made with much enthusiasm. Citizens were active in promoting the success of the organization. Recruits were obtained in nearly all the western towns of the county. The men from Sodus left for Newark escorted by a long procession of teams loaded with the friends of the volunteers. Flags were waving, bouquets of flowers were tendered by the ladies and the whole population waved their farewell from house and street. Similar scenes characterized other towns.
Of Captain Dickinson's company we find the following account in the Rochester Union of September 21, 1861 :
" Last evening a fine cavalry company consisting of sixty- four men arrived here from Wayne County to go into the depot which Messrs. Crooks and Marshall have opened under the auspices of the State at the Fair Grounds. The company fell into line after leaving the cars and marched to the United States rendezvous on State street, where Cap- tain Marshall promptly mustered them into the service of the United States. The corps then proceded to the Ameri- can Hotel and elected officers as follows: Captain, J. W. Dickinson, of Newark; First Lieutenant, John W. Brown, of Sodus; Second Lieutenant, Fred W. Clemons, of Pal- myra. There was some honorable strife in regard to the election of officers which chiefly turned on the office of First Lieutenant. J. N. Miller, of Palmyra, was thrice elected and declined to serve; but the company insisted that they could not dispense with his services. He how- ever insisted that he must be excused and urged the elec- tion of his friend, Mr. Brown, who was entirely acceptable.
"This is as fine a body of men as we have seen in the campaign.
" They were recruited by Captain Dickinson chiefly in Newark, Palmyra, Sodus and Phelps.
" They came here sixty-four strong, and the remainder to make the maximum seventy-five will shortly follow."
TENTH CAVALRY.
In the fall of 1861, as has already appeared, various regi- ments formed elsewhere, made Wayne county their recruit- ing ground. A little later the proposition to form an entire regiment took shape and was pushed for a time with con- siderable hope of success. But in the summer and early fall men went "here and there and all over." Among these outside organizations which drew upon the patriotism
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MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
of the sons of Wayne county was the Tenth Cavalry. This regiment was organized at Elmira to serve three years.
The companies of which it was composed were raised in the counties of Chemung, Chenango, Cortland, Erie, Ful- ton, Onondaga and Steuben. On the expiration of its term of service, the original members, except veterans and recruits, were mustered out and the regiment composed of the veterans and the recruits retained in service until June 17, 1865, when it was consolidated with the Twenty-fourth Cavalry and the consolidated force was designated as the First Provisional Cavalry and this organization was mus- tered out July 19, 1865.
The regiment was known as the Porter Guard. It had an active, honorable career. The report of the Adjutant- General of 1868, which purports to give a summary state- ment of all the regiments organized by New York during the war, reports the Tenth Cavalry as having been engaged in twenty battles: Leesburg, Brandy Station, Middleburgh, Gettysburgh, Shepardstown, Sulphur Springs, Auburn, Mine Run, Todd's Tavern, Fortifications of Richmond, Hawes Shop, Cold Harbor, Trevillian Station, St. Mary's Church, Malvern Hill, Charles City Cross Roads, Ream's Station, Vaughn Road, Boydton Road, and Bellefield.
It does not appear what led Wayne County men into this regiment except some acquaintance by parties organizing it with men in this county.
Martin H. Blynn, of Rose, who was promoted Major of the regiment doubtless had much influence in securing men from this section of the county. John H. Kemper, of Newark, who became Captain and was also very early pro- moted Major also exerted a home influence in favor of the Tenth Cavalry.
THE NINETY-EIGHTH INFANTRY.
This organization originated in Wayne county, with the purpose of forming an entire regiment within our limits. Though this design was not successful, and though a major- ity of the regiment was finally taken from another section of the State, yet it was known for some time locally as the Wayne County Regiment. The idea was perhaps first broach-
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MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
ed in the Democratic Press, immediately upon the outbreak of the war .*
From the Democratic Press, April 24, 1861. TO ARMS! TO ARMS!
" The times of peril awaken the patriotism of our people. The all-pervading sentiment is 'Our Union and our Consti- tution.' Companies are being formed all over the land and our citizens respond to their country's calls with an alacrity never witnessed since the days of the Revolution. A volun- teer company is now being enrolled in this place, which, we doubt not will receive the required number of names before we go to press. Those desirous of serving will find the roll at Captain Welling's office.
" Wayne county ought to form a regiment within her own bounds. Let the people of each town take the matter in hand. In the small towns, perhaps it might be necessary for two to join together in forming a company. The canal towns can form one in each and have men to spare. We hope our people will move in this matter. There is no time to lose."
The company then being enrolled, however, became Com- pany B, of the Twenty-seventh. The one at Newark was attached to the Seventeenth as Company I. The Palmyra company joined the Thirty-third as Company B. The early volunteers at Clyde largely joined the Sixty-seventh. The men from other towns joined with these or drifted into other organizations, a few here and a few there.
But after the defeat at Bull Run, when it began to be seen that many men must yet enter the armies of the Union, the idea of an entire regiment from Wayne again began to be entertained, and later in the year it took definite shape.
In the Democratic Press of October 20, 1861, we find the following article :
MILITARY RENDEZVOUS OF LYONS.
" The formation of a Regiment in Wayne county, and the establishment of a militarv rendezvous at this place are both settled points. The work of recruiting is progressing finely, and already nearly half of the companies are formed. Rev. William Putnam, of the Baptist Church, is now zealously engaged in the formation of a company.
* One of the resolutions at the meeting in Williamson of April 29, proposed to raise and equip a full regiment.
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MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
" The barracks, we understand, will be built upon the Fair Grounds-a very desirable location, provided Clyde river remains loyal, and does not get up an 'invasion.' Floral Hall is already being fitted up for the accommodation of the first companies ordered into barracks.
" Since writing the above we have conversed with one of the committee appointed to complete arrangements for the proposed regiment. He informs us that beds and blankets for 100 men would be sent from Albany forthwith, and ere this are received. The residue will be sent forward as fast as they may be needed.
" Captain Kreutzer's company, on Monday last, numbered seventy men, and we presume it is full to-day.
" Captain Seagrist commenced enrolling on Saturday, and obtained about twenty the first day. He is a German and proposes filling up his company with his own countryman.
" Several other skeleton companies are formed, the officers of whom we have not been able to ascertain, nor the number of men enrolled.
" Thus it will be seen, that old Wayne, after furnishing four full companies during the summer besides a large number of recruits for foreign regiments, will now place an entire new regiment in the field, and that too in a shorter space of time than is usually consumed in forming a single company. She is ready to respond to the call of our country for men.
" As we have stated elsewhere, we trust no man will be found enlisting in any other regiment before the Wayne County Regiment is full."
The first definite movement was begun at a meeting held at Price Hall, Lyons, Wednesday, October 23d. Rev. Wm. Putnam was Chairman and Dr. David, Secretary. Remarks were made by Mr. Putnam, Wm. Clark, Esq., J. T. Macken- zie and D. H. Devoe. Committees were appointed as fol- lows: Palmyra, S. B. Smith, Wm. H. Southwick; Arcadia, S. K. Williams, S. M. Bloomer; Lyons, H. G. Dickinson, Wm. Clark, M. Brownson; Galen, Seth Smith, J. Tremper; Savannah, R. W. Evans, James M. Servis; Wolcott, B. S. Booth, E. N. Plank ; Sodus, Merritt Thornton, W. T. Gay- lord ; Huron, Wm. Dutton, A. P. Crafts, Elias Cady ; Will- iamson, Captain Wakely, Dr. A. G. Austin, John M. Rey- nolds; Butler, Andrew Spencer, John E. Hough; Macedon, Thomas Mead, Wm. Lawrence; Marion, Pardon Durfee, Israel McOmber; Ontario, A. W. Casey, W. E. Greenwood ; Rose, Wm. H. H. Valentine, Eron N. Thomas.
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MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
A central committee was also appointed to have general charge of the enterprise consisting of Saxon B. Gavitt, James P. Bartle, Cullen Foster, E. W. Bottom, W. H. Southwick, Isaac Miller.
The enlistments for the Ninety-eighth commenced about the Ist of November.
Captain Kreutzer with Lieutenants Rogers and Norton, was principally at work in Lyons.
Captain Wm. Putnam, assisted by John L. Cole and P. H. Pope, also had his headquarters at Lyons.
Captain Charles R. Birdsall, whose headquarters were mostly at Palmyra. He was assisted in the work by Warren Sherman, of Lyons, and Eugene Elmendorf, of Palmyra.
Captain Wm. Bell, of Montezuma, also engaged in form- ing a company assisted by Lieutenant K. T. Hurlburt, of Lyons. They had a recruiting office at Savannah.
Captain Henry Segrist, of Lyons, undertook to form a German company. He was joined in the work by Jacob Wismer of Palmyra and T. C. Zimmerman of Newark.
Wm. W. Agett, of Lyons, also contemplated raising a company.
Mr. Frank Morley, of Sodus Point, also commenced a movement for a company, to consist largely of lake sailors and of farmers in that vicinity.
Rev. Allen G. Russell, principal of Marion Collegiate Institute, Captain of the Marion Home Guards, had been drilling during the summer and now gave aid to the work.
The Lyons Republican of November 8th, 1861, contains the following :
THE WAYNE COUNTY REGIMENT.
"Since our last issue, the work of raising the Wayne County Regiment has satisfactorily progressed. Floral Hall has been fitted for the accommodation of several companies, and Captain Kreutzer's company and a portion of Captain Wakely's company are now in the barracks. Captain W. was under obligations to go to Staten Island with his recruits before the organization of the regiment here was commenced, but after a brief sojourn there, concluded that it would be wise to enrol his men where they would be welcomed-at home. Captain W. served in the Mexican War, and will prove a valuable acquisition to us.
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MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
" Floral Hall is found to be ample for the accommodation of the Regiment, by building berths in and beneath the gal- leries, leaving free the central space ; and it is pronounced by those from other depots to be just the thing. Any degree of warmth and ventilation that is desired, can be had. The kitchen arrangements in the rear will soon be completed, leaving a parade ground in front.
"Colonel Dutton is in town, but will be absent on busi- ness of his own all or most of next week; after which time he will enter formally upon his duties as commandant. Colonel D. has visited several regimental depots, and inspect- ed their internal and external arrangements for the accommo- dation of troops ; and he is of opinion that for comfort, con- venience and commodiousness, the Lyons depot is in advance of anything of the kind he has seen.
" The work of recruiting goes on briskly. We are with- out the number of men already raised for each company, but are informed that the officers are entirely satisfied with the result of their labors. We shall before long publish a complete list of the names of members of each company.
" We learn that a company is being raised in Galen by Messrs. J. Tremper and J. T. Van Buskirk ; and one in Rose by Mr. W. H. H. Valentine."
Prof. William Kreutzer, Principal of the Union School at Lyons entered into the movement with energy and issued the following address :
AN APPEAL TO ARMS.
" Citizens of Wayne, we must fight! I repeat it, we must fight ! The heritage of our fathers, our country, calls to arms ! The sacred principles of the Declaration of Independence and the rights pledged by the Constitution are denied, dis- regarded and desecrated. Our countrymen can no longer in security, enjoy 'life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness ;' and our beloved Capital is beleaguered by the banded hosts of traitorous plunderers. How long shall the blush for this foul disgrace tinge the cheeks of the children of Revolution- ary fathers? Shall history ever have to say that the glorious boon of Union and Liberty, given us by the heroes of Bun- ker Hill and Saratoga, was snatched from our nerveless and degenerate grasp by the hireling arms of the office seekers and politicians of a disaffected and sectional minority ?
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