USA > New York > Wayne County > Military history of Wayne County, N.Y. : the County in the Civil War > Part 50
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89
The Adjutant-General's report of 1868, already often quoted, gives the following summary statement :
" The One Hundred and Sixtieth was organized at Auburn, New York, to serve for three years. The companies of which it was composed were raised in the counties of Cayuga, Seneca, Wayne, Ontario, Allegany, Erie and Wyoming. It was mustered into the service of the United States Novem- ber 21, 1862. It was mustered out of service November I, 1865, in accordance with orders from the War Department."
The same report gives the battles of the regiment as Cotton, Bisland and Port Hudson ; a singular meagre and unsatisfac- tory statement.
Writing Judge Dwight on this point, he replies as follows : SUPREME COURT CHAMBERS, AUBURN, N. Y., June 11, 1883. 5
LEWIS H. CLARK, ESQ. :
My Dear Sir :- The record you quote from the Adjutant- General's reports is certainly a very meagre and incomplete
595
MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
statement. The One Hundred and Sixtieth Regiment bore a very honorable part to the following engagements, at least, of importance sufficient to be inscribed on their banners, viz : The Catten (not Cotton), Bisland, Port Hudson, Sabine Cross Roads, Pleasant Hill and Cane River, Louisiana, and Win- chester, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek in the battles of Vir- ginia.
In the memorable campaign of the Shenandoah the One Hundred and Sixtieth was in the Second Brigade, First Division of the Nineteenth Corps, and is entitled to a full share of the credit won by that organization.
Truly, &c., CHARLES C. DWIGHT.
The following list of the engagements of the One Hun- dred and Sixtieth does still more complete justice to the magnificent record of valor justly belonging to the One Hundred and Sixtieth. It is taken from a published muster roll of Company C:
Gunboat Cotten, La .; Bayou Teche, La .; Fort Bisland, La .; Siege of Port Hudson, La., forty-eigth days; Donaldsonville, La .; Sabine Pass, Texas; Carrion Crow Bayou, La .; Sabine Cross Roads, La .; Pleasant Hill, La .; Cane River, La .; Mansma Plains, -; Deep Bottom, Va .; Snicker's Ford, Va .; Win- chester, Va .; Fisher's Hill, Va .; Cedar Creek, Va.
Regiment organized at Auburn, September 1, 1862.
Mustered into the United States service at New York, November 21, 1862.
NINTH HEAVY ARTILLERY ; FIRST ORGANIZED AS THE ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-EIGHTH INFANTRY.
This regiment was known as the Second Wayne and Cayuga, and was recruited in August, 1862, immediately fol- lowing the departure of the One Hundred and Eleventh to the field. The field and staff officers at the time of the organization were: Colonel, Joseph Welling, of Wayne ; Lieutenant-Colonel, Wm. H. Seward, of Cayuga; Major, Edward P. Taft, of Wayne; Surgeon, Theodore Dimon, Cayuga ; Quartermaster, Henry E. Knowles, Wayne ; Adju- tant, William R. Wasson, Cayuga ; First Assistant Surgeon, Samuel A. Sabin, Wayne ; Second Assistant Surgeon, Byron Dewitt, Cayuga; Chaplain, Warham Mudge, Wayne; Ser- geant-Major, Lyman Comstock, Cayuga. Six of the ten
596
MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
companies were raised in the various towns of Wayne. They were designated as A, B, D, G, H, and K. The regiment left camp September 12, and proceeded by rail to Albany, and thence to New York. At that place cars were taken for Washington.
The following outline of the operations of the Ninth Artil- lery is written mostly by Lieutenant-Colonel Wm. Wood, of Butler, to whom the editor of this volume is under obliga- tion for much other valuable assistance.
Arrived at Washington the regiment marched from the Baltimore Depot through the city across Long Bridge and to Arlington Heights; encamped for the night, were served with rations unfit for civilized dogs. Without any apparent knowledge that there is a limit to physical endurance the regiment was marched back across Long Bridge through the city and northward to the line of defences where they crossed the Baltimore Railroad to Fort Bunker Hill. Men were disabled in these marches who never recovered. Here the regiment remained a few days engaged in fatigue duty and drilling. Orders were received and then counter. manded to march to Frederick, Maryland. Next the regi- ment moved to the left along the line of defences and estab- lished a camp which they called "Camp Nellie Seward" in honor of a daughter of the Lieutenant-Colonel. It was near Fort Kearney. After a few days a further remove was made to a position on the left beyond Tenleytown midway between Forts Reno and Sumner. At this place the regi- ment built Forts Bayard, Mansfield and Simmons. Here the men suffered severely from fever. The regiment being changed to Heavy Artillery they were assigned to garrison duty through the following winter and spring in Forts Gaines, Bayard, Simmons and Mansfield. Engaged drilling in infantry tactics, in light artillery as well as heavy, in fatigue duty and in strengthening the fortifications there was at all times enough to do. At this time the authorities seemed to be of the opinion that the Confederates might at almost any time take it into their heads to make a raid into Washington and make a tour of inspection through the pub- lic buildings without asking leave. Besides the duties above
597
MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
described, there were multifarious reports to be made taking much time. The regiment was also required to appear for frequent inspection in full dress, leather stocks, white gloves and accoutrements shining like silver. It was apparently required to support in a special manner the dignity of the army of the United States, so that the President of the United States, the cabinet officers or possibly a foreign min- ister or two could visit them at any time and form an opinion of their own whether the capital was safe. These were the duties ample and onerous, if not dangerous, which this regiment was actively performing all the time that they were derisively termed the "band box regiment."
August 14, 1863, pursuant to orders the regiment marched to Washington, went on board a steamer and were trans- ported to a point on the east bank of the Potomac, twelve miles below Washington. It was a point so unhealthy that it was currently known as the grave yard of Prince George county. Here this command built, with some assistance from engineers, a large, strong work known as Fort Foot. They mounted in it among others several heavy sea coast guns. When these were fired for practice, as they often were, the report shook the surrounding hills as the fever and ague shook the soldiers. The Second battalion located here consisted of companies C, D, E and G, under command of Lieutenant- Colonel Seward and Major Taft. The other companies constituting the first battalion remained in the old position under command of Colonel Welling until March 26, 1864, when they moved to the right and occupied Forts Baker and others south of the east branch of the Potomac.
On the 6th of May, Companies E and C left Fort Foot and rejoined the First battalion which at this time was garrison- ing forts west of the Potomac with headquarters at Fort Richardson opposite Washington. May 18th Companies G and D were transported to Alexandria and marched via Long Bridge, Fort Richardson and the chain of forts to Fort Ward ; a specimen of military red-tape marching nine miles to gain three. This was nearly repeated a short time afterwards by a night's march from Fort Ward via Fort Richardson back to Alexandria.
598
MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
Before daylight on the morning of the 18th of May the once more united Ninth Artillery commenced a southern movement. At Alexandria they were shipped on board transports and arrived at Belle Plain on the afternoon of the same day, thoroughly drenched with rain. Here hostile guns were heard. No transportation could be obtained. Extra stores had to be turned in. On the 19th, six days' rations of hard tack and coffee were issued. In the after- noon Companies C and D, under Major Snyder, took charge of supply trains for the front ; Companies H, I and L having moved out on the same duty in the forenoon. May 21st the remainder of the regiment also marched forward, except Company G, which was directed to await the return of Lieu- tenant-Colonel Seward from Washington, whither he had gone on business.
At noon of the 22d, Lieutenant-Colonel Seward having returned, Company G, also in charge of a wagon train, marched for the front. During the day the company over- took the rest of the regiment and all arrived at Fredericks- burg at 10 P. M., but continued marching until 2 A. M. of the 23d; then with only two hours rest the march was resumed and continued until 2 A. M. of the 24th, reaching Milford Bridge ; passed Bowling Green on fire -- troops very tired ; some good men fell out. On the 25th the regiment crossed the North Anna and formed a line of battle confronting the rebels and becoming a part of the Army of the Potomac. The Ninth was cordially received but with rather a free use of such terms as "Washington Gunners," "white-gloved soldiers," " bandbox regiment," etc., etc. The route from Belle Plain to the North Anna was a well beaten track strewn with broken wagons and dead mules.
On the 26th, the regiment was assigned to the Second Brig- ade, Third Division, Sixth Army Corps; the brigade com- manded by Colonel B. F. Smith of the One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Ohio; the division by Brigadier General Ricketts, and the corps by General Wright. Now com- menced a rapid march for the Pamunkey River and thence to Cold Harbor, where the corps arrived June Ist. On the march there was some heavy skirmishing and the Ninth
599
MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
took its full share as flankers and skirmishers. On the 31st of May one battalion had been detached from the Ninth, con- sisting of Companies G, I, Land F, under command of Major Snyder, and was joined to the artillery brigade of the Sixth corps under command of Colonel Tompkins. By this detail this battalion escaped the terrible engagements of the Ist and 3d of June. The other two battalions of the Ninth were in those battles and were entitled to a handsome share of the compliments tendered to the division for its unflinching brav- ery in the following note :
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC. To MAJOR GENERAL WRIGHT :
Please give my thanks to Brigadier-General Ricketts and his gallant command for the very handsome manner in which they have conducted themselves to-day. The success attained by them is of great importance and if followed up will mate- rially advance our positions.
Respectfully yours, GEGRGE G. MEADE, Major-General Commanding.
On the first of June at 6 P. M. a general assault was made upon the rebel entrenchments. The Second brigade carried the works and captured several hundred prisoners. They held the works and forced the enemy back. During the night repeated attacks of the rebels failed to recover the works and with great loss to them.
On the 2d the captured works were altered and strength- ened. Skirmishing and artillery firing continued. On the morning of the 3d the brigade moved forward about two hundred yards and entrenched themselves under a heavy fire, using their bayonets, tin-cups and plates instead of spades and shovels. At night the enemy made a fierce attack, but were repulsed, losing heavily in the attempt.
The battalion under Major Snyder, during the twelve days' stay at Cold Harbor, were encamped in the rear of the rifle pits and batteries of the artillery brigade. They were engaged in fatigue duty during the day time and in cutting timbers for use in the night, building new batteries between the lines of the opposing armies, that the Union forces might be moved still nearer the enemy. To erect these works they went out after dark and returned before daylight. At this work dead bodies of soldiers slightly covered were often
600
MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
uncovered-no very pleasant incidents. The rebels, aware of what was going on, fired frequently at the parties, but in the dark the shells generally were too high, and besides, by watching the flash of the guns the shells might generally be dodged by dropping behind the embankment the men had already formed. The separation of the regiment was at first supposed to be temporary. All esteemed Colonel Seward and preferred to remain under his direct command. The Third battalion were aware that they had not had the rough usage which the others had received on the Ist and 3d of June, but they were disposed to be quiet about it as long as they were obeying orders. They were not anxious to get into such affairs unless duty required it.
At about 10 P. M. of the 12th of June the regiment with the Sixth corps resumed the march to the left. On the 13th it crossed the Chickahominy and encamped. On the 14th they arrived near Wilcox Landing on the James river. On the 15th Major Snyder's battalion crossed the James on Pon- toon bridges and encamped about half a mile from the river near Fort Powhatan. Here the fields were covered with army wagons in all directions and a stream of them moved by all day of the 16th. Men short of rations lived on boiled wheat and parched corn and found fault with the officers for putting guards over the houses and wells of secessionists thus compelling the soldiers to use swamp water. The two battalions with the Third division, Sixth corps, moved to Wilcox Landing on the 16th of June, embarked on transports and at one in the morning landed at the point of rocks near Bermuda Hundreds. On the 19th the two battalions with the division rejoined the Sixth corps now before Petersburg.
The Third battilion at 10 P. M. of the 16th acting as flank- ers for the artillery brigade marched towards Petersburg and encamped within a few miles of that place on the 17th. The regiment remained with the Sixth corps before Peters- burg until the 21st, a part of the time in sight of the city. The two battalions were occupied in advancing, skirmishing and entrenching. The one battalion was occupied in sup- porting the artillery brigade and that was engaged in firing upon the rebel batteries, generally giving them two or three
601
MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
shots for one, or in hurling shot and shell into the city. On the 2Ist the corps moved to the extreme left of the army, south of the city ; a part of the Third brigade, Second division, reliev- ing the cavalry then engaged with the enemy. On the 29th the corps marched to Reams' Station, took position and entrenched. A detail of six hundred men from the brigade aided on the 30th in tearing up the railroad. Here the cat- tle guard dug up wine and plenty of other luxuries in a garden; the family complaining that they have nothing else left; the soldiers have taken it all. It is difficult to hide good things from soldiers.
On the night of the 30th the return march was com- menced in much haste and July 2nd the old position left on the 29th of June was reoccupied. At this time it was very dry and dusty ; dust pervaded everything.
July 6th the two battalions with the division marched for City Point and were transported to Baltimore, arriving on the 8th. They were immediately sent forward to Monocacy and on the 9th the battle of Monocacy was fought. Skir- mishing began at 9 A. M. A division was pitted against a corps and for hours held their ground. The Ninth was brought into action about 3 P. M., although it had been under a galling fire all day and some twenty men were killed or wounded. The enemy finally advanced his lines so as to flank the Union left, breaking in suddenly. The whole Union line wavered and then gave way. It was impossible to rally them.
The Ninth were in a wheatfield near a fence. Neither party saw the other until they were almost in collision, when a volley was received that cut like a flame. The right began to give way. Colonel Seward, wounded in the arm, was also injured by the fall of his horse upon him. Lieutenant-Colonel Taft, in attempting to rally the men, received a shot which dis- abled him, and soon after the rebel line swept by and over him. He, with others, was taken to Frederick; but the Union cavalry charging upon the guard, drove them out, and the prisoners were again in Union hands.
The Ninth fell back to the defenses of Washington, hav- ing lost heavily. Meanwhile the one battalion under Major
40
602
MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
Snyder, left in their old position south of Petersburgh, were engaged day and night building rifle pits to protect the ex- treme left of the army until the night of the 8th, when tents were struck and an immediate march was made to City Point. It took all night. Dust was ankle deep. Even after day- light one man was undistinguishable from another save by size and form. All were of one color, like the original man, covered with, if not made " of the dust of the earth." July 9th, shipped for Washington and reached there on the morn- ing of the 10th, Sunday. They landed at the foot of Sixth street, proceeded to the Soldiers' Rest, had dinner, and then, in pursuance of orders, marched to Fort Reno.
These were days of excitement at Washington. The Union forces in Maryland had been defeated and the enemy were advancing on the capital. As the troops marched up the street the news spread, " the Heavy Artillery are coming," and men and women thronged the streets. There were no soldiers in the forts north of Washington in whose ability to handle the guns they had any confidence. Soldiers were not odious then. " Boys, we are glad to see you;" was the serious, joyous salutation of the men. Women cried for joy at the sight of these dusty soldiers. Girls brought water, ice and milk. Pies and cookies were offered. Nothing was too good for the soldiers. The soldiers marched on. Their arrival was none too soon. The battalion was distributed to several of the forts, Reno, De Russey, Stevens, and some intermediate batteries. The first night there, they were aroused to man the guns. On the 11th detachments were at the guns all day; the rebels making a demonstration in front of the forts with cavalry, light artillery and infantry.
There was skirmishing in front of Forts De Russey and Stevens, which gave the rebels a few shots from the hun- dred-pounders. On the 12th the enemy was still in front and Forts De Russey and Stevens engaged them. Reno gives them four or five guns and there is a sharp skirmish in front of De Russey that lasts well into the night. On the morning of the 13th all is quiet. The rebels are gone and by the clouds of dust it is seen that they are marching to our left and towards the Potomac with our cavalry in pursuit.
603
MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
After the battle of Monocacy the First and Second bat- talions of the Ninth, with the Third division, marched to near Baltimore, and subsequently joined the Sixth corps at Washington; halting at Tenleytown and exchanging greet- ings with their comrades of the Third battalion. The two battalions participated in the pursuit of Early's army, cross- ing the Potomac at Chain Bridge and being engaged in skir- mishing at Snicker's Gap, Charlestown, Halltown, and Smith- field in August. September 3d they went into camp near Berrysville, being joined to Sheridan's army. On the 16th they left camp and on the 19th participated in the battle of Opequan, near Winchester. In this battle Lieutenants Fish and Colvin were wounded. A son of Lieutenant Fish was killed while standing but a few feet from his father. A writer upon this battle says the regiment went in with about two hundred and fifty men and lost nearly seventy.
The two battalions were next detailed as guard of the wagon train and did not share in the battle of Fisher's Hill on the 21st, but proceeded with the army of Sheridan up the valley as far as Harrisburg. The Third battalion left in the defences north of Washington had no fighting after the 13th of July. They drilled six hours a day and maintained a strong picket guard sufficiently extended to keep an officer with his orderly all night on horseback to make the rounds. To the captain, Sunday was no day of rest but rather an opportunity to work upon his property accounts with the government, his muster rolls, his pay rolls and his tabulated statements. To the men, Sunday was a time to attend to personal necessities for which no leisure was given during the week. On the 26th of July the battalion was ordered to report to General Wright commanding Sixth corps, marched at night and on the 27th was overtaken by an orderly near Rockville who brought orders directing us to return to the defences of Washington. The order was obeyed and the battalion resumed its old position. They remained there until September 23d occupying in the mean- time Forts Mansfield, Simmons, Reno, Bunker Hill and Bat- teries Vermont and Kimble, invoicing and receipting for all the government property on taking command of these posts and repeating all the process on taking leave.
604
MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
At II P. M., September 22, Captain Wm. Wood, then in command of the battalion at Fort Bunker Hill (Major Snyder being away on leave of absence) received orders to have his battalion at the depot of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad at daylight on the morning of the 23d with three days' cooked rations in their haversacks. It was quick work but the order was complied with. The battalion was trans- ported to Harper's Ferry and arrived there in the night ; marched through Harper's Ferry and Bolivar and encamped near Bolivar Heights. Here the battalion was attached to a provisional brigade under command of Colonel Keim of the One Hundred and Second New York Volunteers; marched up the valley of the Shenandoah, guarding trains ; and on the 3rd of October joined the other battalions near Harris- burg with four hundred and fifty-three men and eleven offi- cers. On this march up the valley several incidents are worth noticing as they were recorded in a soldier's diary :
" Saturday, Oct. Ist .- All the barns passed and all in sight are in flames. The Cavalry are passing down the valley with instructions to burn all the forage and grain and drive off all the stock. They pass with large herds."
This was a thickly settled farming country and the destruction was simply immense. It was a specimen of the awful scourge of war. Viewed from a national standpoint it was doubtless a necessary movement by which the very territory from whence Richmond and the Confederate army had for three years and more been fed was now made a bare desert. The officers in immediate command differed very much in their judgment of the policy of wholesale destruction. Said one old German Colonel after others had expressed their views: " Vell, Chentlemen, it is my opinion unqualifiedly that it is a piece of unmitigated tom foolery."
Commanders had strict orders not to allow the men to wander from the line of march. Passing a farm house where a barn had just been reduced to smoking embers, an officer hearing a wordy wrangle and seeing some soldiers about the house a few rods away, rode up and ordered the soldiers back to the lines. Two or three women were outside the door in sharp dispute with the men. The soldiers near were handing out chickens from under the porch. As the officers
605
MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
came up, the women hoping he was come to their relief, changed their demeanor from scornful denunciation to sup- plication. Amid their tears one said :
" The men are to blame for this war, but we (the women) have to suffer for it. Our barns and grains are in ashes- our cows are driven off. They are taking these chickens, and we have nothing left."
The orders for destruction were imperative. Such is war ! Again from the diary we have :
" We live well upon the products of the valley, mutton, honey, syrup, chickens, eggs, biscuit, etc. Much more leisure than when in the defences of Washington."
The regiment united with Sheridan's army and com- menced to march down the Valley. The diary again says : " We see behind us the rising smoke of many burning buildings, set on fire as we recede."
The army arrived at Strasburg on the 8th and 9th of October. On the 10th, the Sixth Corps were detailed from Sheridan's army and marched to near Front Royal. On the 12th, Major Snyder returned from his leave of absence and took the command, which he retained until the regiment was disbanded. On the 13th, the regiment started to march by the way of Ashby's gap to Alexandria and Petersburgh. The order was countermanded and they marched back to camp. The enemy were advancing on Sheridan. At two o'clock, A. M., of the 14th, the Ninth Artillery started by a forced march to rejoin Sheridan's army, then at Cedar Creek, near Middletown.
They arrived the same day, and formed in line of battle. The rebels could be seen at work, and were supposed to be fortifying. On the the 16th and 17th, the troops were under arms at daylight. The 18th was very quiet,-a calm presaging the storm. On the morning of the 19th, a little before daylight, the unusual stillness of the night previous, was broken by a fierce musketry firing on the left of the Army, occupied by the Eighth Corps. Men and officers sprang to their feet. A mounted staff officer rode into camp at a break-neck speed, shouting : “ Put the regiment in line of battle, immediately!" In less time than the story can be told the men were under arms in line of battle. A movement to the left was commenced, where
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.