USA > New York > Wayne County > Military history of Wayne County, N.Y. : the County in the Civil War > Part 41
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From the same paper we have the following account :
THE NEWS IN LYONS.
" The news of the surrender of General Lee and his army, was received here soon after seven oclock on Monday morning by the United States line, and was communicated to our citizens by means of a bulletin issued from the Republican office. There was little more work done that day ; for who could work? The streets were crowded with peo- ple ; every flag in town was hoisted ; cannon were fired ;
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MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
the bells were rung a score of times, or more; brass and martial bands paraded the streets; the stores and shops were closed ; and everybody (nearly) was shaking his neigh- bor's hand and exchanging congratulations.
" In the evening a meeting largely attended was held at the Court House-addressed briefly and pithily by Rev. Messrs. Brown and Jervis, and Messrs. C. L. Lyon and J. H. Camp, and concluding with that grand old hymn, ' America,' in the singing of which the entire audience joined. Meantime a number of private residences were illuminated and decorated with flags and lanterns ; and from one or two points fireworks were discharged. Afterwards the bells were rung again, a bonfire was lighted, and another salute fired ; and thus, at about midnight, the jollification concluded."
DEATH OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN.
The celebration of the victory and the joyous festivities . of peace would have continued with exultant enthusiasm through days and weeks, had not the news of the assassin- ation of Abraham Lincoln followed so close upon the triumph of the Union arms.
The tide of feeling was suddenly arrested; the display of joy gave way to grief
The flags yet waving as symbols of gladness, were soon draped with the emblems of mourning. Addresses of con- gratulation gave place to funeral orations.
Large meetings were held to express the tender emotions of the hour. The editorials of two papers are all that could be obtained to exhibit in this volume the public senti- ment, while our limits forbid making any attempt to gather up extracts from sermons, addresses and orations.
From the Palmyra Courier. OUR PRESIDENT IS DEAD.
" To-day we mourn as those without hope ! Our President -our chief-is dead. The father of our Nation is no more. The assassin's deadly arm was all too sure, and as his mur- derous ball pierced its illustrious mark the most precious life of the Republic was snatched from earth to heaven. For a few hours his great soul lingered upon the confines of time, as if it fain would stay in the scenes of its noble and unselfish labors and glorious triumphs, and then passed away to eternal rest. He died in the midst of usefulness and in the fullness of the Nation's love and gratitude. Had he
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MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
been taken from us earlier we should have never known the magnitude and benevolence of those plans which he had formed to soften the asperity of conquest towards our ene- mies and bring them again in fraternal union with us, and by which he hoped to make us one people, not only in polit- ical relations, but in heart and sentiment. Himself incapa- ble of vindictive feeling he had no vengeance to wreak under the plea of justice. He waged war against the Rebellion, for the Union, and the Union only, and the Rebellion put down he thought only how that Union could be most firmly conserved and established. It has been said, " Statesman he was not," yet he brought to the management of public affairs qualities far more valuable. Throughout an ordeal the most terrible to which any country can be subjected, he developed a quick perception of public sentiment, its tone and power-a practical wisdom in harmonizing contending interests and factions for the common good-an earnest patriotism and an untiring devotion to the cause of his country which made him greater than the greatest states- man.
" There has been no man at the head of public affairs dur- ing the past four years of bloody purification without whom the Republic could not have lived ; but who can say that it would not have died but for Abraham Lincoln? Who does not feel that his unselfish patriotism and practical wisdom have done more to save the Nation than the ablest of our statesmen ?
" If some of the acts of his administration did not accord with the views, nor altogether meet the wishes of some of his friends, time vindicated the soundness of his judgment and the wisdom of his policy, until at this later day no dis- senting voice is found to the national approval of his measures.
" He lived long enough to see the dawning of that blessed day of peace to which he had consecrated his public life-to know that his labors had not been in vain. He died for the same cause for which he had lived-the salvation and integ- rity of his country's government and laws, and closes fitly the train of heroes who have sealed their devotion to the same noble objects with their blood."
From the Lyons Republican, April 20, 1873. THE NATION'S LOSS.
" PRESIDENT LINCOLN IS DEAD !
" These words, in the simplicity of their solemn meaning, would be in themselves sufficient to thrill the hearts of the nation with grief. The simple fact that Abraham Lincoln,
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MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
the noblest, truest, best-hearted man who has occupied Washington, has gone down into the dark valley and left the place vacant that he had filled with such peculiar and signal ability, would be enough to cover this land as with a pall from its remotest loyal reach to its remotest reach again-filling the breasts of all good men and patriots with horror unspeakable.
" But our grief at the death of Abraham Lincoln is em- phasized and strengthened in its intense bitterness, by the contrasting color of the bright days preceding the day of gloom. The land was full of joy and gladness from one end of its loyal length to the other. For many days the happiness of the people had been swelling in their hearts with steady increase under the announcement of victory on victory, of triumph on triumph, of glory covering glory, till the dazzle of the first seemed dim in the light of the last, as they merged in one thrilling whole that set the warm blood leaping to music in the nation's veins, and lifted them up to heaven with joy From every flagstaff all over the enraptured land, the star-spangled banner floated gaily, victoriously, to the breeze, and the sound of rejoicing was everywhere heard in the voices of the people, the ring- ing of bells and the booming of loud-voiced guns. On Fri- day last this was the picture our land presented ; and that day the joy had reached culmination, for after the news of victory there came now the blessed tidings of peace. Recruiting was ordered to cease at once ; the drafting-wheel was commanded to stand still; the announcement .was made that the army was to be reduced, instead of augmented, and the throats of the people were need to be brazen in order to express in triumphant, gladsome shouts, the happi- ness that swelled every bosom, and nerved every heart with new life.
" Alas! the change! The morning sun of Saturday rose upon a horrible contrast. The news of the nation's bereave- ment came upon these hearts all alive with joy and gladness, and crushed them back into a deeper, darker, more oppress- ive gloom than any which had surrounded them through all these years of bloody war. The flags were drawn to half-mast, where they drooped mournfully earthward ; the sable trappings of woe were hung from window and house- top all over the land, in city and in country ; badges of mourning found their places on men's breasts and over women's throbbing hearts ; while on every face sat a shadow so dark, so solemn, so pitiful, that the idlest spectator from some far-off land would have felt his lip quiver with sym- pathy at this awful exhibition of mourning, were not his
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MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
heart of stone. Oh ! never, never, since the earliest mem- ory of the present generation of men was such a woe as ours, this dark and solemn day !
"Such awful grief on the heels of such flaming joy, were in itself enough to almost break the heart with sadness. But to this grief was added a blank, stupendous horror, that men could hardly realize in its first hour-it seemed to benumb and paralyze wherever the tidings fell. Dead ! That were a grief too deep for tongue to tell ; but murdered ! Oh, it was a dreadful hour for every true American, when first he heard the news! Men read and read again, and mur- mured the horrid thing with white lips, and could not grasp it in its ghastly monstrousness. Even now, when days have intervened, the country has scarcely dared to draw its bated breath. It is as if something of the assassin's blow had struck into the heart of every man and woman in the land. The poor wife of the President (God help her !) cried in her agony again and again 'Oh, how can it be so!' And the nation is still repeating the mournful cry,-God of the just, how can this be so !
" The attack upon Mr. Seward and his son would in itself have thrilled the nation to its core, had it occurred alone. But mark the strange truth-it added nothing to the horror we felt at the chief tragedy ; could anything more strikingly demonstrate the paralysis of woe? An old man, the wisest and greatest statesman of the land, lying upon his bed of sickness, is sprung upon by a murderer who stabs with bloody dagger, and in the struggle the venerable and bleed- ing statesman rolls out upon the floor. His son is attacked and horribly beaten, perhaps unto death, and at the same time; and an attendant, too, is stabbed and nearly killed. Oh, horrible deed ! Could fiction invent or fiend plan a more dreadful and impressive scene of blood? Could anything approach this crime in ghastly horror ? Yes, one thing could ; the fearful thing which overshadowed it-which so benumbed our hearts with utter grief, that there was no responsive chord left with sufficient sensibility to respond to the lesser horror.
" The clock of time seems to have been set back years and years. History presents no parallel to the atrocity of this act which stains the pages of to-day. Assassination has before occurred-but never the assassination of a pure, gentle-hearted, benign and kindly President, in the hour when he stretched out the olive-branch to a vanquished foe, and at a moment when he sat with a pleased smile upon his gentle face, surrounded by a brilliant throng of whom he was the hope, the pride and the defense.
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MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
" The ways of the Almighty are inscrutable. He knows his own wise purposes in this dark hour. In Him we trust, to bring light out of gloom, and to teach us that it is even true, 'whom he loveth He chasteneth.' He permitted Christ to be murdered-the Saviour of the World. Rever- ently and holy we add, He permitted Abraham Lincoln to be murdered-the Saviour of the Republic."
From the same paper we take the following account :
THE SAD NEWS IN LYONS.
" The news of the assassination of President Lincoln and the murderous assault upon Secretary Seward, burst upon our people like a clap of thunder from a cloudlesssky. The news spread like wildfire; men forsook their stores and their shops and gathered in knots upon the corners, discussing with bated breath the calamity ; scores of people gathered in front of the Republican office, from which the later des- patches were bulletined ; and everywhere the greatest grief and excitement were manifested. Many were melted to tears, and the expression of grief at the tragic death of Abra- ham Lincoln was universal,-if indeed we except half-a-dozen vile wretches, of no political, moral or social standing, nor yet decency, who are reported to have expressed gratifica- tion at the event, and only regretted that it had not occur- red months ago. Community has put its mark upon these scurvy knaves. They will not be forgotten. Thank God there are but few of them !
" A meeting of the Village Board was held, and appropriate resolution (published elsewhere) were passed. The church- bells that so recently rang out peals of victory, tolled mourn- fully during the noon-hour ; nearly all of the business places were draped with black and the doors closed ; many private dwellings put on the symbols of mourning, and the flags were draped and hoisted at half-mast. Never was there so general a demonstration of grief.
" During the entire day great anxiety was manifested as to the prospects of life or death of Secretary Seward and his son. Mr. Seward, our honored neighbor, the personal friend of very many of our citizens, the greatest of Ameri- can statesmen of this day, was regarded by us all as the adviser of the lamented President during his entire adminis- tration ; and his death at this time would be deemed next to that of the President, a calamity almost beyond reparation. We have reason to rejoice that there seems to be a proba- bility of his restoration to his wonted activity.
"The churches, on Sunday, were scenes of solemnity and mourning such as have never been witnessed here. The
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interiors were heavily draped with black-the red-white- and-blue, was also displayed, being festooned about the altars ; and in one church a portrait of the murdered President was placed before the pulpit. The soft tones of the organs whispering subdued minor strains, or rising to the louder measures of the funeral march or dirge, the plaintive psalms and hymns, gave an aspect of the deepest mournfulness to these Sabbath services, which were in accordance with the real feelings of every heart. Grief was depicted on every countenance. All thoughts were directed to the great loss, and thence in prayer to Him whom men forget to acknowl- edge as their main support until earthly props are taken away. The texts of the discourses preached were expres- sions in which Christians of all ages have given utterance to emotions of grief, and the discourses themselves variously reviewed the details of the awful event, the character of the illustrious deceased, and the greatness of the common loss ; expressing at the same time, the firmest confidence in the future of the country, and invoking the support of the peo- ple to the Executive, on whom the tremendous responsi- bility of giving shape to the events of that future, has so unexpectedly fallen. Sunday was indeed a solemn day in Lyons. No one remembers its like.
" It was resolved, at a late hour, that the religious services which were to have occurred to-day, should take place yes- terday, at 12 o'clock, the hour of the funeral of the late President in Washington. They were held in the Presby- terian Church-the discourse being delivered by Rev. Mr. Jervis. There will, therefore, be no public services to-day."
CHAPTER VIII.
BRIEF ACCOUNTS OF REGIMENTS-SEVENTEENTH, TWENTY-SEVENTH, THIRTY- THIRD, FORTY-FOURTH, SEVENTY-FIFTH AND NINETIETH INFANTRY - EIGHTH CAVALRY.
1 T must not be expected that extended histories of the regiments mentioned can be given in this book. In a single volume devoted to the local work in Wayne county, there can be no elaborate presentation of the actual operations of regiments through the war. Accounts of these must be sought in general histories of the war, in volumes devoted entirely to single regiments, or in the complete reports of commanding officers, as published in the ponder- ous volumes issued under the direction of Congress. All that can be attempted here is an outline of the work of each regiment from the time it was mustered into the service until it was mustered out. The mention of individuals is scarcely possible, except in the case of commanding officers. Indeed, companies are largely lost sight of in brief sketches which must treat of regiments as the units of an army.
Incidents, anecdotes, rare cases of individual heroism must generally be excluded from these accounts. £
Many such items are, however, found in other parts of this work, in the town catalogues of soldiers which constitute such an important feature of the book, in the accounts of organiza- tion at home, and in various marginal notes.
The books consulted in the preparation of this chapter are the Adjutant-General's Reports; Hall's Cayuga in the Field ; Judd's History of the Thirty-third ; sketches found in the Wayne County History of 1876, and various other authorities. This general acknowledgment must be accepted as giving full credit to the labors of others.
THE SEVENTEENTH INFANTRY.
To the Seventeenth New York Volunteers belonged Com- pany I of Newark, recruited in May, 1861. Andrew Wilson was Captain, and Isaac M. Lusk First Lieutenant. The com-
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MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
pany was organized with seventy-seven men, and left Newark for New York City, where they joined the Regiment, and were mustered into service for two years, and placed under command of Colonel Henry S. Lansing.
In common with hundreds following them, their primary destination was Washington. They marched through the city and went into camp at some distance from the capital. They engaged in erecting fortifications in anticipation of a rebel attack, consequent upon the disastrous termination of the battle at Bull Run, in which they had the good fortune not to be engaged.
In August, the regiment was detailed to drill as heavy artillery, at the guns of Fort Ellsworth, leaving Companies H, I and K for guard duty. As regarded health, cleanli- ness and discipline, the regiment compared favorably with any other.
October Ist, the line of march was taken past Bailey's Cross-Roads, and the men were treated to the experience of knapsack, canteen, haversack and arms. They were attached to Butterfield's brigade of Porter's division, and subjected to severe drilling. About the close of the month they were employed in picketing near the Church.
The command wintered at Hall's Hill, Virginia, and in the spring of 1862, moved to Fairfax; thence to Fortress Monroe, and finally to Yorktown. Their first engagement was at Hanover Court House. A part of the regiment was in the seven days fight, and later took a gallant part in the second Bull Run action. At the close of the battle but thirteen men responded to roll-call. The scattered men came in, and the number was doubled. Captain Wilson fell in this action. The regiment was engaged at Antietam, and again, December 12th, 1862, at Fredericksburg. Their time of service expired in the following summer.
The Adjutant-General's report of 1868, says :
" This regiment was organized at New York, to serve two years. The companies of which it was composed were raised in the counties of New York, Westchester, Rock- land, Wayne, Wyoming and Chenango. It was mustered into the service of the United States, May 20th to 24th, 1861, and mustered out June 2d, 1863. The recruits who
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enlisted for three years, were transferred to the Twelfth Regiment, New York volunteers."
The official report only gives the regiment the credit of being engaged in the battles of Hanover Court House, Groveton and Fredericksburg ; but from the above sketch it will be seen that they shared in the seven days' battle with all their honors ; that they went through the carnage of the second Battle of Bull Run, and performed gallantly in the battle of Antietam.
The regiment was very early in actual service, owing to being sent directly to Washington, instead of drilling for a time at Elmira. It escaped severe battles during its first year, because it was assigned to fortifications instead of engaging in field operations. The regiment had an excel- lent reputation in the army. Its members, like those of other organizations formed in May and April, 1861, went into the field without bounties. They obeyed the patriotic impulses of the hour without regard to any pecuniary reward. The men of Company I came home to secure the respect and gratitude of their fellow citizens-many of them re-enlisted. The Twenty-second Cavalry, the First Veteran Cavalry and the Second Mounted Rifles received many recruits from this source.
If this notice is briefer than those of other regiments which follow, it is because little has been found in official reports clearly designating the Seventeenth from others, because the correspondence of the Newark Courier has not been found accessible, and, because no one in this section who belonged to the Seventeenth has been willing to attempt a sketch of its work.
It will doubtless be a matter of interest to the surviving members of Company I, to have ready for consultation the official roll of the commissioned officers in the entire regi- ment; although its names for the most part were from other counties than Wayne.
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MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
OFFICIAL ROSTER.
ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S REPORT, 1868.
SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT.
NAME.
Date of Commission.
Date of Rank.
Remarks.
Colonel : Henry S. Lansing. (Brev. Brig .- Gen. U.S.V.) §
June 19,'61
May 18,'61
Mustered out with regt. June 2, '63.
Lieutenant Colonels : Thomas Ford Morris
Nelson B. Bartram.
June 19,'61 June 20,'62
May 18,'61 May 10,'62
Discharged June 25, '62. Mustered out with regt. June 2, '63.
Majors : Charles A. Johnson
June 19,'61 May 18,'61 Nov. 2,'61 Oct. 24,'61
Nelson B. Bartram.
William T. C. Grower. ...
June 20,'62 May 10,'62
Promoted to Lieut .- Col. 25th regt. N. Y. V. Oet. 4, '61. Promoted to Lieut .- Col. June 20, '62. Mustered out with regt. June 2, '63.
Adjutants : J. Brainard Taylor. George H. Reynolds. George S. Wilson.
July 4,'61 May 19,'61 Feb. 12, '62 Jan. 30,'62 Aug. 30,'62 July 15,'62
Resigned Jan. 28, '62. Resigned July 14, '62. Died Feb. 7, '63, of wounds received in action.
Waldo Sprague
May 9,'63 Feb. 15,'63 Mustered out with regt. June 12, '63.
Quartermaster : Gardner S. Hawes .. (Bret. Major U. S. V.)
July 4,'61 May 19,'61
Mustered out with regt. June 2, '63.
Surgeon : James C. Stuart. ......
July 4,'61| May 19,'61 Mustered out with regt. June
2, '63.
Assistant Surgeons : Azariah B. Shipman
Highland A. Weed.
Lewis Tice.
Feb. 27,'62
Dec. 12,'61 Ang. 12,'62
Promoted to Surgeon Twelfth regt. N. Y. V. Sept. 15, 61. Promoted to Surgeon Twenty- Fifth regt. Dec. II, '61. Mustered out with regt. June 2, '63. Mustered out with regt. June 2, '63.
Chaplain : Thomas G. Carver.
July 4,'61 June 4,'61| Not mustered.
Captains : Charles H. Smith Isaac D. Blauvelt.
July 4,'61 May 19,'61 Sept. 24,'61 Sept. 20,'61
J. Newton Goff.
Aug. 27,'62
July 4,'61 April 23,'61 Discharged July 23, '62. Aug. 30,'62 July 23,'62 Killed in action at Bull Run, Va., Aug. 30, 1862.
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MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT-(Continued.)
NAME.
Date of % Commission.
Date of Rank.
Remarks.
Terrance J. Foley
Oct. 22,'62
Aug. 30,'62 Mustered out with regt. June 2, '63.
Nelson B. Bartram.
July 4,'61
May 3,'61
Luther Caldwell.
Nov. 2,'61 Oct. 25,'61
Promoted to Major Nov. 2,'61. Discharged Aug. 14, '62.
(Brev. Major N. Y. V.)
Livingston Lansing.
Oct. 22,'62 Aug. 14,'62 Discharged Jan. 27, '63.
Waldo Sprague ..
Feb. 1I,'63 Jan. 17,'63
John W. Lyon.
July 4,'61 May 4,'61
Micah J. Kelly.
Dec. 7,'61 Nov. 9,'61
Not mustered as Captain. Resigned Nov. 9, '61. Mustered out with regt. June 2, '63.
Charles A. Johnson
April 26,'61
Promoted to Major June 19,'61. Promoted to Major June 20,'62.
William T. C. Grower
July 4,'61
May 20,'61
John Burleigh.
June 20,'62
May 10,'62 Discharged Feb. 14, '63. Resigned Feb. 22, '62.
Charles G. Stone ...
July 4,'61 May 3,'61
W. Wallace Armstrong
Mar. 8,'62
Mar.
8,'62
Franklin J. Davis.
July
4,'61 May 7,'61
John Vickers
Aug. 27,'61
Aug. 3,'61
Mustered out with regt. June 2, '63 Killed in action at Bull Run, Va., Aug. 30, '62. Mustered out with regt. June 2, '63.
James Tyrell.
July 4,'61 May 10,'61 Discharged Nov. 24, '61.
Joel O. Martin.
Oct. 29,'61
Oct. 24,'61
Dismissed Feb. 23,' 63.
Andrew Wilson
July 4,'61 May 10,'61
Died Sept. 18, '62, of wounds received in action.
Gideon H. Jenkins ..
July 4,'61 May 20,'6I
Discharged Dec. I, '6 [.
Charles Hilbert
Dec. 26,'61
Dec. 5,'61
Mustered out with regt. June 2, '63.
Hiram Wilde
Dec. 31,'62 Sept. 1,'62 Mustered out with regt. June 2, '63.
First Lieutenants :
George Reynolds
July 4,'61 May 20,'61 Promoted to Adjt. Feb. 12, '62. Feb 12,'62 Jan. 30,'62 Promoted to Capt. Oct. 22, '62.
Irving D. Smith.
Oct. 22,'62 Aug. 30,'62 Mustered out with regt. June 2, '63.
John Vickers
Charles Hilbert.
Livingston Lansing.
Edwin H. Beardsley.
July 4,'61 May Aug. 27,'61 Aug. 3,'61 3,'61 Promoted to Capt. Aug. 27, '61. Dec. 26,'61 Dec. 5,'61 Promoted to Capt. Dec. 25, '61. Aug. 14,'62 Oct. 22,'62 Promoted to Capt. Oct. 22, '62. Mustered out with regt. June 2, '63.
Thomas Leigh.
May 4,'61 Not mustered.
Micah J. Kelly.
July 4,'61
May 4.'61 Promoted to Capt. Dec. 7, '61.
Hiram Wilde
Dec. 7,'61 Nov. 9,'61 Promoted to Capt. Dec. 31, '62.
Benjamin Seaward ..
July 4,'61 Apr. 26,'61 Resigned Dec. 24, '61.
William A. Fitzhugh.
Mar. 29,'62 Mar. 29,'62 Declined.
Frederick W. Bachus.
May 10,'62 Apr. 29,'62 Died Aug. 10, '62, of disease, Oct. 22,'62 Aug 10,'62 at Washington, D. C. Discharged June 20, '63.
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