USA > New York > Wayne County > Military history of Wayne County, N.Y. : the County in the Civil War > Part 31
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From the Clyde Times of January 22, 1862.
" The body of Thomas Cain, a private in the First Long Island Regiment, and formerly a resident of this village, was received at the depot yesterday."
The following is somewhat amusing, in view of the subse- quent events, and shows how vain at times is all human prophecy :
From the Clyde Times of May 10, 1862.
" THE WAR IS NOW SO NEAR ITS CLOSE that it is safe and - may be profitable to point out some of the lessons it has taught the American people."
The editorial doubtless became useful three years later.
The Clyde Times of June 14, 1862, contains a long description of the funeral obsequies of Henry Goodchild.
Thirteen young men, Henry's most intimate friends, claimed the privilege of honoring the memory of their departed friend by bearing him from the depot to the house of Mr. Seth Smith, with the honors due to one whom they highly esteemed and who had fought and died for his coun- try's cause. These were James Smith, John Tremper, L. Bedell, George Jones, A. Starkweather, J. B. Roberts, John Watterson, D. Platner, D. L. Stow, B. F. Clark, A. Vanden- burgh, E. Palmer and J. A. Pain.
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MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
A very large crowd of citizens was assembled at the depot, and as the train bearing the body neared the station a rush was made for the west end, so that the first glimpse might be obtained of the coffin.
The crowd generously made way for Eddy Goodchild, who came from a passenger car to follow the body. The coffin was received by the bearers just named and carried off the platform, when the beautiful merino national flag of the High School was thrown over it and a beautiful wreath of flowers made by Mrs. Hamilton placed upon it.
At the house of Mr. Smith the coffin was placed upon a table and farther honored by a small crucifix of flowers pre- sented by Mrs. S. S. Morley.
The flag on the Town Hall was hung at half mast and remained in that position until after the funeral on Wednes- day.
The services were held in the Episcopal Church, the win- dows of which were opened so that the large audience out- side as well as those in could hear the services. The bells of all the churches were tolled simultaneously in honor of the dead.
The group of mourners included Eddy Goodchild, and Miss Goodchild, O. Vincent and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Seth Smith, Mrs. Berry, .widow of Corporal Berry, who was killed in the same action.
Rev. Mr. Luson of the Episcopal Church, preached the ser- mon, from which we give a single paragraph :
" We can be thankful that his dying hours were solaced by the presence of a brother ; yes, we can rejoice that before he departed hence he received the welcome news that the flag under which he had fought waved in triumph over the bat- tle field ; but oh ! at such a time as this when traitors are endeavoring to take from us all that we venerate, all that we hold most dear, all for which our fathers poured out their blood, we can ill spare a soldier of such dauntless courage. It is only an army filled with the daring fortitude and intre- pidity of the departed that could have done what has been done to rescue the Union from the chaos into which it has been thrown. It was only such an army that could have fought the battles of Donelson, Henry, Pittsburgh, Hanover and Fair Oaks. It was only men of such mould that would dare attempt the taking of the Crescent City. But all these
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MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
-the remembrance of how many brave fellows have died in their country's cause-makes us the more exclaim, how are the mighty fallen, how are the mighty fallen."
After the sermon the Masonic ritual was pronounced by Mr. A. Griswold and the procession moved to the cemetery in the following order :
I. Hearse.
2. Mourners.
3. Clergy.
4. Masonic Fraternity.
5. Choir of St. John's Church.
6. Citizens generally.
At the grave a dirge was sung by the choir ; dust was dropped upon the coffin by Mr. Joseph Watson ; the scroll was deposited by Mr. J. H. Jones; the Masonic apron was thrown into the grave by Mr. Griswold.
The Times closed the account as follows :
" Thus passed the sad rites of burial of one who had gone from our midst one year ago that day in full health, hope and vigor to fight the battles which are to retain for us our liberties and freedom of action. A large crowd witnessed the departure of the Briggs Guards, June 11th, 1861; and many a sob of sorrow was heard as they left. But large as was that crowd, it was nothing compared to that which on the 11th of June, 1862, assembled to consign to the tomb the body of one of those who had a year before so hopefully gone forth to do battle for the right."
We add the following items characteristic of the times :
January 22, 1862, it was rumored that Captain Throop, of Pultneyville, had been invited to prepare models, drafts and plans, to be used, if need be, in the construction of vessels of war for naval service on Lake Ontario.
From the Lyons Republican of January 24, 1862.
" Hon. Eron N. Thomas noticed a bill in the Assembly for the erection of a Fort at Pultneyville.
" A banner was given to the Ninety-eighth, six feet by six inches, fringed with silk resembling gold.
" Lieutenant Swan, under date of March 19, 1862, acknowl- edges the receipt of a beautiful national flag, from the ladies of Lyons, by Company B, Twenty-seventh Infantry.
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MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
" Lorenzo Allen, Second Indiana Cavalry, from Newark, was killed May 31, 1862, in a skirmish, just after the battle of Corinth.
"The funeral of Corporal Adin Forncrook was held at Clyde, Sunday, August 17. Sermon by Rev. Mr. Brown."
We now reach the period when the resources and the patriotism, of the county were to be tested to their utmost. The series of movements bearing upon Richmond had failed. The seven days' battles were passing into history with all their undying valor, their unsurpassed bravery and their imperishable record of heroic sacrifice. Even before they were finished the President had issued the call of July Ist, 1862, summoning 300,000 volunteers.
The news of the battle of Malvern Hill and the procla- mation for volunteers went through all the land together.
The extent of the general defeat was not really appre- ciated by the people for days or even weeks. Each battle by itself had been so near a victory (as reported), and that of Malvern Hill ending with a decided rout of the rebels, that the failure of the general campaign was not apparent at once. The proclamation of the President told the real story in unmistakable terms.
Everybody knew that reverses had come which made the issue of the war doubtful unless there was an immediate movement to reinforce the armies of the Union; and that no ordinary process of recruiting here and there a few men to fill up depleted regiments would answer ; the army must be doubled. Where companies had been formed in 1861, regiments must now be raised. The Governor of New York responded promptly to the call of the President and a gene- ral plan was adopted at Albany to organize new regiments by Senatorial Districts.
A committee of leading citizens were hastily invited by the Governor to meet at Port Byron on Saturday, July 12th, 1862 .* The object was to plan the work of recruiting for this Senatorial district, composed then of Cayuga and Wayne.
* Hon. E. B. Morgan, of Cayuga, as the representative of the Governor, came over to Lyons and arranged for the Port Byron meeting.
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MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
The persons invited met, and a few other citizens with them. Only two were there from the northern part of Wayne county. Erastus N. Granger, of Sodus, who soon after gave himself actively to the work of recruiting, acci- dentally learned of the proposed meeting the day before. Taking a single friend with him he went to Port Byron. On the way he disclosed his own determination to enlist.
Hon. W. C. Beardsley, Cayuga, was chosen Chairman ; N. T. Stephens, of Cayuga and Stephen K. Williams of Wayne, Secretaries.
There was a good attendance of citizens from both coun- ties in addition to those summoned by the Governor, and they were invited to participate in the proceedings of the meeting.
A committee upon resolutions was appointed, Messrs. W. H. Adams and L. S. Ketchum, of Wayne, being members thereof. They reported resolutions approving the action of the State and National authorities in calling for 300,000 additional troops, pledging the efforts of Wayne and Cayuga counties to raise a new regiment, and requesting an immediate session of the Boards of Supervisors of the two counties to consult with the committee in regard to the necessary measures to be taken to promote the speedy enlistment of the force required from this district.
The resolutions were unanimously adopted.
On motion, General Jesse Segoine, was appointed to call meetings for recruiting. This was informally designating him to lead the movement to form a regiment, intending that he should become the commanding officer. The honor and responsibility had first been tendered to Captain Joseph Welling, of Lyons, and declined.
A War Committee for Wayne county was then consti- tuted consisting of the following citizens :
J. E. Walker, Palmyra ; Saxon B. Gavitt, Lyons ; Eron N. Thomas, Rose ; George W. Cuyler, Palmyra; Willis T. Gaylord, Sodus; Stephen K. Williams, Arcadia ; George W. Cowles, Galen; Pomeroy Tucker, W. P. Nottingham, Palmyra; Wm. H. Adams, Joseph Welling, Lyons ; Lean- der S. Ketchum, J. S. Lamoreaux, C. D. Lawton, J. N.
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MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
Brown, Galen ; Ira Lakey, Marion ; Pardon Durfee, Lyons ; L. L. Rose. Arcadia ; J. T. Van Buskirk, Galen.
Of these a Finance Committee was appointed : Stephen K. Williams, Saxon B. Gavitt, Eron N. Thomas.
This committee was to provide and disburse funds, for- ward enlistments and effect an organization of the regi- ment.
The gentlemen present pledged themselves to the finance committee to be responsible for the amount of $2,000 for immediate use in case such expenses were not provided for, by the Board of Supervisors or by the Legislature.
The gentlemen appointed upon all these. committees are entitled to permanent historical record as eminent citizens of the county who led in all the necessary work of organi- zation. They were the men to influence public opinion ; the men to raise funds and honestly disburse them; the men whose opinions carried weight with them upon all public questions. The work was thus inaugurated. The committee consisted of men accustomed to act promptly in whatever they might undertake. They immediately gave to the work an energy that knew no abatement, a determin- ation that never faltered, devoting time, money, labor and personal service to enlistment and organization.
Among their earliest duties was that of designating men to open enlistment rolls in the various towns of the county. Upon the recommendation of this committee the Governor of the State issued papers authorizing the raising of recruits by the following persons most of whose names will be recognized as the subsequent officers of the companies raised : H. S. Moor, S. D. Holmes, Lyons; N. E. Granger, Sodus; S. B. Smith, S. B. McIntyre, A. P. Seeley, Palmyra; Isaac M. Lusk, E. W. Hays, A. D. Soverhill, Arcadia; John S. Coe, J. E. Tremper, J. T. Van Buskirk, Lawrence Young, Galen ; R. M. Campbell, Butler ; P. Shear, Rose.
Meanwhile the Board of Supervisors had promptly met on the 16th of July, when the following proceedings were had :
SPECIAL MEETING OF 1862.
" At a special meeting of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Wayne, held at the Court House on the 16th day
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MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
of July, 1862, Theophilus Williams, of Ontario, was chosen chairman pro tem. Supervisor John E. Hough, of Butler, offered the following resolutions, which were adopted :
" Resolved, That this Board recommend to the Governor that the Legislature be convened without delay.
" Resolved, That in the opinion of this Board a law should be passed by the Legislature, authorizing the levying of a State tax sufficient to pay to each volunteer under the new demand for troops, a bounty of fifty dollars.
" Resolved, That the Treasurer of this county be empowered and directed to borrow, immediately, a sum not to exceed $28,200, to be appropriated under the direction and supervi- sion of the commandant of the regiment to be raised in this Senatorial District, and of S. B Gavitt, S. K. Williams, and E. N. Thomas, the Military Finance Committee of Wayne county, for the payment of the sum of fifty dollars as bounty to each volunteer from Wayne county, as he shall be mustered into the service of the United States, and for the payment of a sum not to exceed ten dollars, as expenses of enlisting each volunteer, and said sum, or so much thereof only as is needful shall be borrowed to pay said expenses and the bounty of volunteers who may enlist between this time and the action of the Legislature of this State upon the subject of bounties to volunteers at the next session thereof. " Resolved, That the Senator from this District, and the Members of Assembly from this county be requested to use their best efforts for securing the assumption by the State of the debt contracted by this county in borrowing moneys for payment of bounties to volunteers."
The excitement following the action of the Committees and of the Board, and the public enthusiasm aroused, cannot be adequately described by any formal statistics showing men enrolled or money pledged. The scenes of April, 1861, were more than repeated. There was a deeper and more intense feeling. Public sentiment rose to the height of the occasion. The resources of the people seemed to expand to meet the demand made upon them. The danger was far more clearly understood than in 1861. Great defeats had been sustained. All hopes of an early peace had vanished. The war must go on. To relax efforts was to surrender. Armies must be filled ; new regiments must be sent forward, or those already in the field would be lost. Men had gone by hundreds from the county ; they must now go by thousands.
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MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
Those appointed to enlist men acted promptly. Indeed, they scarcely waited for the authority of the Governor. By the time that the newspapers of July 25th were announcing their appointment, three hundred or four hundred men had already signed the rolls. All this was taking place at the busiest season of the year for this community. Farmers left their harvests to be reaped by other hands; mechanics abandoned their workshops; merchants their trade, and professional men their offices. There was a rallying all over the county. Men who had scarcely ever thought of giving personal service, now signed the rolls. The recruit- ing agents traversed every part of the county. Immense meetings were held to promote the patriotic cause. Not half of them were reported in the newspapers, and only the records of a few can now be gathered up.
For every story of enthusiasm from the records of 1776, there was a counterpart in 1862. For every heroic sacrifice in the Revolution, there was a similar act in the Civil War. Even the classic record of the Spartan mother who said to her son, " Return with this shield or upon it," was repeated in numerous households through all the County of Wayne.
A war meeting was held at Palmyra, Monday, July 14th. George W. Cuyler presided; F. Williams, Secretary. Charles McLouth, Hon. Ornon Archer, James Peddie, Esq., made stirring and eloquent speeches.
At Savannah, Monday evening, July 21st, 1862, there was a war meeting. Rev. J. N. Brown, of Clyde, addressed the audience, and five volunteers were obtained on the spot.
At Red Creek, a large and enthusiastic meeting was addressed by Rev. Mr. Ives, Captain Thomas, Dr. Arm- strong, and James Snyder.
At Sodus village, a meeting was held on Monday evening, July 28th. Hon. T. M. Pomeroy spoke, and eight volunteers signed the rolls.
In the midst of this rapid work under date of August 8th, 1862, the President sent forth another call asking for 300,000 more, to serve one year, making 600,000 in all. This new call added to the excitement already kindled. The number which each town should raise was carefully figured out.
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MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
Everybody knew a draft would certainly follow if this quota was not filled. In the hard work that followed the question of one year men was mainly disregarded, and men went on enlisting for three years to a great extent.
Palmyra was wide awake in the exigencies of July, 1862. The following notice appeared :
CALL FOR REINFORCEMENTS.
" Volunteers wanted for the Wayne and Cayuga Regiment ; ninety dollars in advance ; State bounty in advance, $50 ; U. S. bounty in advance, $25 ; one month's pay in advance, $13 ; premium on enrollment, $2 ; and in addition $75, the residue of U. S. bounty at the close of the war, and undoubtedly a land warrant or its equivalent.
" Patriotic Men of Wayne County ! Enlist for the Govern- ment. The call of your country for more men is imperative and must be responded to now. Do not wait for a draft. Let every able bodied man volunteer to suppress the rebel- lion and close the war. The undersigned officers of Company E, Fifty-fourth Regiment National Guard, at the request of a number of members have determined to fill up a company of IoI men to be attached to the Cayuga and Wayne Regi- ment now forming, and would call upon their fellow citizens for volunteers. Recruiting office at Rogers Building, Palmyra.
S. B. SMITH, Capt. A. P. SEELEY, Ist Lieut. S. B. MCINTYRE, 2d Lieut."
On Monday evening, July 21st, 1862, a public meeting was held at Palmyra. J. A. Holmes presided. Remarks were made by Messrs Archer, Peddie, Hutchins, Mudge, Flower, Dr. Allen, and the chairman. Several names were enrolled.
The work of enrollment was thus auspiciously begun. Similar meetings were held all over western Wayne; and indeed throughout the county.
In Marion, Macedon, Walworth, Ontario and Williamson, large audiences assembled. Besides the speakers from Pal- myra mentioned above, others participated : Hon. Abram Pryne, Capt. Lakey, C. McLouth and Pomeroy Tucker.
Lieut. S. B. McIntyre also addressed numerous meetings. As in every other case, the soldiers about to go, the officer who said, " come boys," had more power over audiences than the mere speaker, however eloquent and patriotic he
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MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
might be. Mr. McIntyre gave himself to the work with indefatigable zeal, and his stirring words brought many young men to stand with him in the ranks and march to the field of strife.
The promptness of the work done is shown eloquently even by mere dates :
"AUBURN, July 28, 1862.
" To James E. Walker of Military Committee :
" Present my compliments to Captain Smith, and salute him as Captain of Co. A. All honor to Wayne.
J. N. KNAPP, Adjutant."
An immense gathering of the citizens of Clyde and vicinity was held to promote volunteering, on Wednesday, July 30th, 1862. C. D. Lawton, Esq., on motion of Judge Ketchum, was called to the chair. Joseph A. Pain and Wm. Dady were named as Secretaries. Messrs. Murphy, Potts and McDou- gall, returned soldiers, were invited to seats upon the platform. Col. Jesse Segoine spoke, but the meeting was not as successful as was hoped.
It was not long before completed companies began to leave for their rendezvous, at Auburn.
It was on Monday, the 21st, at three o'clock, P. M., that Captain Smith, at Palmyra, had opened his muster roll, and on the ensuing Saturday he telegraphed to Auburn that his organization was complete, and more than the minimum number of men enrolled. At nine o'clock, A. M. of Monday, the 28th, the maximum number was reached, and Letter A, secured. Three weeks before things had looked doubtful, but under the energetic action of Messrs. Walker and Tucker, of the War Committee, and the stirring appeals of the officers, the company was enrolled in a single week.
Every night meetings had been held in Palmyra, Marion, Macedon, Walworth, and Ontario. Prominent citizens entered heartily into the work ; the volunteers were from all classes. Captain Smith left a mercantile trade, pleasant and profitable; Lieutenant McIntyre a full, active and promising legal practice; Lieutenant Seeley went from a lucrative mechanical occupation ; E. A. Percy from a position in the Union School, to which he had just been appointed, and so through all the heroic list ; farmers left their farms ;
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MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
mechanics their workshops ; merchants their desks ; printers their cases ; lawyers their law ; and students their books.
From the Auburn Advertiser.
" Captain Seneca B. Smith's Company, from Palmyra, Wayne County, arrived from the West last night. They were mustered in, ninety-eight strong, this morning, and marched from the armory to the barracks.
" Our citizens had the opportunity of seeing in this com- pany, one of the finest companies in the service."
From the Clyde Commercial.
" Old Wayne has furnished the first full company for the Regiment, and will most probably furnish the second. Captain Smith, of the Palmyra company, commenced recruiting, and a week from that time, the maximum number of men had been enrolled, and the company was designated as 'Company A.' Although we would much have liked to have seen our Clyde Company 'Company A,' we cheerfully give Palmyra all the credit it deserves for the promptitude with which the company was raised. All honor to Palmyra and the gallant sons thus enrolled. We hope to be Company B, and there is every prospect that we shall. The Palmyra company left that place for the headquarters at Auburn, on Thursday.
" About fifty of the Clyde company left here on the ·noon train, Wednesday, for Auburn. Others went next morning and at noon. The men are comfortably established at their quarters at the barracks."
At Clyde, Captain John S. Coe, and his associates, Trem- per, Burdock and Young, had been actively at work. There was but little difference in time between the completion of the Palmyra company and that of Galen. The latter became Company B, in the rapidly forming Regiment.
Clyde had completed the work of enrollment for this company, by a grand war meeting in the park. S. S. Briggs was chairman. Rev. Mr. Gage, of Canandaigua, and J. D. Husbands, Esq., of Rochester, were the speakers.
Captain S. D. Holmes and Lieutenant Moore, of Lyons, pushed the work of enlistment with untiring energy.
In Sodus, their associate, Erastus Granger, worked night and day. Having a large farm covered with abundant crops, he paused neither for labor upon it, nor regrets at
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MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
leaving it. Everything connected with home work was instantly abandoned, his brother taking charge of the same while he traversed Sodus and Williamson, pressing on the work with unflagging zeal.
This company attained the position of D.
Captain Isaac M. Lusk, of Newark, assisted by his active Lieutenants, also pushed the work with enthusiasm and vigor. A large number of his men were from Sodus. Lieu- tenant Granger was traveling over the town for men, but others were found to assist in organizing still another com- pany. Captain Lusk's company became E, of the One Hun- dred and Eleventh. He had received a number of men from Marion, under the active leadership of John E. Laing, who became Second Lieutenant.
Only a mere mention can be made of the meetings, the presentation of swords, the gifts of various friends to departing officers, and the innumerable patriotic incidents everywhere occurring.
At Marion, under date of July 29th, a writer said :
" Already more than thirty of the sons of Marion have enlisted in response to the President's late call for troops. On Friday evening of last week, July 25th, we assembled in the chapel of the institute to witness the impressive cere- mony of swearing in fifteen young men into the service of their country. On motion of E. A. Percy, Orville Lewis was made chairman, and A. S. Russell, Secretary. A patriotic song was sung by three volunteers-Glover Eldridge, James West and George Kenyon. Those sworn in at this time by Henry R. Tabor, were E. A. Percy, Glover Eldridge, George Kenyon, James West, Judson Hicks, Harrison Knapp, Thomas Geer, Ezra Brightman, Lawrence Turner, Gideon Durfee, Morris Welch, Elisha Allen, William J. Holling, Edward Kent, William Patterson."
The town of Marion was the first to fill up her quota of volunteers and even excelled the mark. Very much of the success was due to the noble and patriotic manner in which the supervisor, Capt. Ira Lakey, devoted himself to the work. But where all did so much and did so well, it is difficult to specify. Hundreds of worthy deeds, of noble self sacrifice must forever remain unrecorded. There were heroes all unnamed in public and private life.
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MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
At West Walworth, July 30th, a large meeting was ad- dressed by Messrs. McLouth, Peddie, McIntyre and Tucker ; Harvey Miller, Esq., presiding. Resolutions were adopted, and a goodly number of brave men enrolled their names. The meeting lasted till midnight and closed with three cheers for the recruits of the evening, three for Capt. Smith's company and three for the flag.
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