Military history of Wayne County, N.Y. : the County in the Civil War, Part 85

Author: Clark, L. H. (Lewis H.)
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Sodus, NY : Lewis H. Clark, Hulett & Gaylord
Number of Pages: 944

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No rash enthusiasm, no ambitious designs, led him to the field. He had considered the subject well. Business arrangements alone prevent- ed him from joining the earlier companies that were formed ; and when the result of the seven days' battles before Richmond broke slowly over us, and the President's call for 600,000 volunteers rung out through the

* By Lewis H. Clark in the Lyons Republican of July 24, 1863.

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land, he felt that the hour had come. Clearly appreciating the magni- tude of the crisis, he saw before us a long and fearful contest, and knew that many more must suffer and die. Perhaps the first in town to learn of the appointment by the authorities of a District War Committee, himself and a single friend were the only representatives of Northern Wayne at Port Byron, on the 12th of July, 1862. Ten days from that time he received authority to recruit, immediately left his fields that were white unto the harvest, and entered upon the higher and holier work to which he had deliberately devoted his energies. How faith- tully he labored-how steadily, energetically and successfully-the long array of names upon his enlistment-roll fully testify. It is well known that no one in Sodus could have done more, few, or none, as much.

His after history is the history of the One Hundred and Eleventh Regiment, from its organization at Auburn down to its glorious share in the decisive victory at Gettysburgh.

* * But he is gone. He died as heroes die. With an unexpired leave of absence in his hands, he said to those who would have urged him to remain in Washington, "My Regiment is on the march for the battle- field, I shall join it." He hurried to the scene of conflict, and there met his fate with lofty patriotism-with an exalted Christian hope. In a letter to his friends at home, written the day before the battle, he says : " You may be anxious to know my feelings. I have made up my mind to be prepared for any event. I trust in God, and in Him I place my. hope, knowing that He doeth all things well. Good-bye !" After he was carried from the field, bleeding and dying, to those who asked what message he had for his friends at home, he said : "TELL THEM I DIE FOR MY COUNTRY."

Thus perished the Citizen-Soldier-the Patriot-Hero. No nobler death ever terminated an earthly career. Falling in the hour of vic- tory, breathing out his life as the last rays of the setting sun faded from the field of battle, and buried with other noble martyrs on the morn- ing of our Nation's Anniversary, his name is encircled with the most precious memories and is the richest inheritance that sorrowing friends can transmit to future generations.

THE LATE LIEUTENANT A. W. PROSEUS .*- Another name has been added to the list of martyrs to the cause of American Liberty. Another Citizen-Soldier has crowned his manhood with the glory of a patriot's death. To the long catalogue of noble men who have fallen in the defense of their country's sacred rights, must be added the name of Lieutenant A. W. Proseus, of Sodus.

In the morning of life, while all its fruits were golden, in man- hood's dawning years, he left the comforts, the hallowed associations, and the sweets of a cherished and happy home, and has sacrified his life upon his country's altar. He was killed in the battle of Gettysburgh on the morning of the 2d of July, aged twenty-eight years ; and with others, schoolmates, cherished friends,-noble soldiers all,-received

* By Dr. William Woodworth, of Sodus, in Lyons Republican of August 7 1863.

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temporary burial on the morning of the glorious Fourth. While we drop a tear over his honored death, let us pay a tribute of respect to his memory.

Probably no person in his native town had more friends or fewer enemies. Those who knew him best, esteemed him most. Educated, gentlemanly, courteous, his highest earthly ambition was to be a good citizen, an affectionate brother, a dutiful son. His letters to his most cherished friends, written since his enlistment, breathe the spirit of the Christian. To his associates he was a congenial companion, an earn- est, truthful friend.

He entered the military service of the United States as a matter of conscientious duty. His patriotism was undoubted-his heroism he has proved on the battle-field with his life. At the first call of the President for seventy-five thousand volunteers, he promptly responded by enlisting in the Seventeenth Regiment New York Volunteers, in which he unexpectedly received a commission as Second Lieutenant. After seven months' service he resigned his commission and came home. When the President called for "six hundred thousand more," he again enrolled his name among those noble ones who gallantly gave all for their country. He enlisted in the One Hundred and Eleventh Regiment New York Volunteers. When the companies were organized, he was appointed Orderly-Sergeant in Company E, and served in that capacity until January, 1863, when he was promoted to a Second Lieu- tenancy. In April following he was again promoted, receiving his com- mission as First Lieutenant. From the time the regiment was attached to the Second Army Corps, until his death, he acted as Captain of the company. Harper's Ferry, Camp Douglas, Centerville, the long march to Pennsylvania, and the bloody field of Gettysburgh, fully attest his sterling qualities as a soldier. Let the wife of a superior officer in the One Hundred and Eleventh speak his praise. In a letter to a friend she says :

" His friends have the proud satisfaction of knowing that he was all he should be ; and his death attests his courage as a soldier. It will always be with me so satisfatory to remember that I had the privilege of seeing and knowing him in camp. It was remarked by his superior officers that Lieutenant Proseus was never known to shirk his duties. He was a true, good soldier, and served his country with a determination of spirit, and an honesty of purpose, worthy of all praise. His men will mourn for him, I know, as they would for a brother, for they loved and respected him. They trusted him and never found him wanting, but always true to his manhood."

When the booming cannon announced the opening of the drama of the 2d of July, he arose from a sick couch, scarcely able to walk, and placing himself at the head of his company, gallantly led them into action. While cheering his men on to victory, and just as he said, "STAND FIRM, DON'T YIELD AN INCH," the deadly missile laid him low in death.

Thus passed away a noble youth. Thus has gone one of whom very many will feel proud to say, " he was my friend,-I knew him well." His name, untarnished, imperishable, belongs not alone to his friends ; it is his country's sacred inheritance.

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FUNERAL OF LIEUTENANTS PROSEUS AND GRANGER .- The bodies of Lieutenants A. W. Proseus and N. E. Granger, of Sodus, were interred in the cemetery at Sodus village on Sunday last. The funeral sermon was preached by Rev. Mr. Ireland. The services were held in the open air, and it is estimated that nearly fifteen hundred persons were present. The funeral procession was nearly a mile in length.

From Democratic Press, December 11, 1861.

DEATH OF A VOLUNTEER .- William S. Thornton, Orderly Sergeant of Company A, Wayne County Regiment, and son of Merrit Thornton, Esq., of Sodus, died at the residence of his father, on Wednesday last, of typhoid fever. The deceased is spoken of by those acquainted with him as a young man of ability, and possessing in more than an usual degree the friendship and esteem of the community in which he resided.

Mr. Thornton was twenty-two years of age. His funeral took place on Friday last-Captain Kreutzer's Company attending, and paying their last respects to a respected and efficient officer.

It is not out of place, perhaps, here to say, that though surrounded by friends and the endearments of home, he cheerfully and resolutely enlisted, not as one who fights for glory only, not as those who draw their swords with tiger zeal to make a race of slaves, but as one who, seeing our States disserved and belligerent, feels that his country needs his service. He made no excuses, no delays, for he asked "no omen but his country's cause." The young men who came with him lament him, and all lament him; for he was candid, intelli- gent, and reliable.

We subjoin the following preamble and resolutions adopted by the fellow soldiers of the deceased :

Whereas, It has pleased Almighty God in His allwise and inscruta- ble providence, to take from our ranks our friend and fellow soldier, W. Seward Thornton, and

Whereas, Though we know not why his sword was thus ungirt before set of sun, and he assigned to die, all overspent with disease and anguish, not in glorious battle slain, still believing that He doeth all things well,

Resolved, That we bow in meekness and resignation to His divine will, thus expressed, and extend our heartfelt sympathy and condolence to his parents, relatives and many friends, and ask to mingle our tears with theirs.

Resolved, That during the short time he was with us, we think we could trace in his character the lineaments of a noble mind; and while his parents are bereaved of a promising and worthy son, we have lost a competent officer and kind companion in arms.

Resolved, That these resolutions be published in the papers of the village of Lyons, and that a copy of them be given to his sorrow- stricken friends.

DEATH OF COLONEL B. B. ROGERS .- Another of the old residents of Lyons has gone to his long home. Bartlett R. Rogers, one of our foremost and most honored citizens, breathed his last on Thursday evening. He had been in his usual good health until a few weeks

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since, when symptoms of a grave character made their appearance; and though these appeared for a time to yield to the influences of medicine and nursing, he grew steadily worse after Sunday of last week, and died on the evening of the 10th instant, at the age of nearly seventy-three years.

Mr. Rogers was a son of Gabriel Rogers, of South Hampton, L. I., (one of the earlier settlers of Wayne county,) and was born in Palmyra, on the 30th of June, 1807. He came to Lyons at the age of five years, where he resided until the time of his death. He learned the trade of a tanner from his father, and began business for himself on the west side of Butternut street. In 1847 he abandoned the old tannery, and formed a partnership with Henry Teachout, who was already in business on Montezuma street, the partnership continuing until about 1851, when he retired to his farm a short distance north of this village (now H. C. Rogers'.) While a tanner, he was also engaged as a contractor on the canals and as a lumber dealer. He was married in 1829 to Belinda, second daughter of Deacon Leach, and went to live in the brick house (now George Sisson's) on Butternut street. Here there were born to him nine children, of whom four are living, his daughter, Mrs. Charles Bostwick, and his sons Hiram, William and John C. Beside these there survive him thirteen grandchildren, all living in Lyons. Two of his sons perished in the service of their country, viz : Captain Lyman A., who died in 1864 from wounds received at the battle of Cold Harbor, and Luther, who was killed the same year in the Wilderness battle.

During Mr. Rogers' long and useful life he was repeatedly called to positions of honor and trust by his fellow citizens. For three terms he held the office of Supervisor; he was County Treasurer from 1849 to 1852 ; he was Sheriff from 1865 to 1868; and he was the Super- visor of his town at the time of his death. The duties of all these offices. and of other less prominent ones, he discharged with rare fidelity and diligence. In his younger days he developed very decided military tastes, and joining the old Seventy-first Regiment, New York State Militia, he rose rapidly from one position to another, until he became its Colonel-whence the title by which he was familiarly known among his friends. In August, 1862, though exempt by age from military duty, he could not resist the call of his country ; and assisting in raising a company of volunteers, he was chosen its Captain and accompanied it (as a part of the 16oth Regiment New York Volun- teers) to the South, where it took part in some of the most important battles of the campaign. He remained with his regiment until January, 1864, when he was compelled by broken health to resign and come home. Here he resumed the occupation of a farmer, though residing in the village. His wife dying in 1864, he was married in 1873 to Mrs. Elizabeth A. Jewell, of this village, who survives him. His religious associations were with the Presbyterian church, of which he had been a prominent member for forty-seven years, and of which he was for forty- one years an Elder.

For nearly seventy years the deceased had lived in Lyons ; and dur- ing all this time he had borne the character of an honest, patriotic,

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upright citizen, a consistent christian, a kind neighbor, and a devoted, self-sacrificing husband and father-a man, in short, against whom no word of detraction has been or could be uttered. He was a man of untiring industry, of affable disposition, and of sound judgment. His friendships were warm and sincere, and his antipathies (if he had any) were softened by his natural kindness of heart. A marked character- istic of his nature was the undeviating desire always to do right-what- ever might be the consequence to himself. With his life we are all familiar ; in his death we have all lost a friend.

DEATH OF MANLY T. STACEY .- We have the intelligence of the death of Corporal Manly T. Stacey, of the One Hundred and Eleventh Reg- iment. . He died on Saturday last, at Brandy Station, Va. He was a son of Rev. Thomas Stacey, formerly of this village, but now of Clifton Springs.

Rev. Mr. Stacey writes to one of our citizens that he has despatched a messenger for the body of his son, and expects him to return on Sat- urday. It is intended to inter the body in the cemetery in this village, and should it arrive in season, (notice of which will be given hereafter) the funeral will take place next Sunday afternoon at the Methodist church.

Young Stacey's death will be mourned by all who knew him. He was a dutiful son, a kind brother, and a faithful soldier. His comrades- in-arms have always spoken of him in the most affectionate terms. He enjoyed the confidence, in a high degree, of his superior officers ; and had his life been spared he would doubtless have attained a high position-if not in military rank, then in the more peaceful walks of civil life. But this was not to be; and poor Stacy, though not per- mitted to pour out his life-blood upon the battle-field, yet adds another to the long list of victims to the accursed slaveholders' rebellion.

PARTICULARS OF STACEY'S DEATH .- Since the preceding para- graphs were put in type we learn from a letter (from Capt. Holmes to Mrs. Holmes) the circumstances attending the death of young Stacey. Capt. Holmes writes : " I have to tell you of one of the most sorrow- ful things that ever happened in our regiment. Only a few moments since, Sergeant Catlin, Stacey, and others, were in my quarters, chatting together, when Catlin picked up Lieut. Green's pistol, (which he did not know was loaded,) and went to snapping it. There hap- pened to be two loads in it, and one of them went off-the ball hitting Stacey in the corner of his left eye, killing him almost instantly. He breathed for about half an hour, but was entirely unconscious.

I could have seen any or all of my boys killed in battle, without hav- ing anything like the feeling which I now have, to think that one * It will be a sad blow to should be killed by carelessness. *

* Mr. and Mrs. Stacey, who seemed to almost idolize their son. * We shall send the body to Brandy Station and have it embalmed be- fore sending it home. We have telegraphed Mr. Stacey that Manly was dead, but did not say anything about the circumstances." Jan. ist, 1864.

DEATH OF LIEUT. WILLIAM C. BELDEN .- Our citizens were pained by the announcement of the death of Lieut. William C. Belden on Sun-

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day last, although they had been in almost daily expectation of the event for several weeks. Lieut. Belden was highly esteemed for his many good qualities, and his death will long be mourned by a large circle of relatives and sympathizing friends.

Lieut. Belden, at the early age of 19 enlisted in the first company which left Lyons, under Capt. A. D. Adams, Twenty-seventh Regiment, as a private. He participated in all the battles in which the Army of the Potomac was engaged from the first Bull Run to South Mountain, includ- ing the ever memorable campaign of Gen. McClellan on the Peninsula. He rose step by step in rank, and for his signal bravery at South Moun- tain, where he lost an arm, he was commissioned a Lieutenant. After the loss of his arm he had frequent attacks of hemorrhage of the lungs, and reluctantly left the service, his disease of the lungs, after many weary and anxious months, carrying him away. He died as he had lived, respected and beloved by all who knew him. His wife and parents have the sympathy of hundreds in their bereavement. Feb. 8, 1861.

CAPT. L. A. ROGERS .- The sad intelligence of the death of Capt. Lyman A. Rogers, of this village, late in command of Company D, Ninety-eighth Regiment, New York Volunteers, reached us on Thurs- day last, but at too late an hour for its mention in these columns. Capt. Rogers was the third son of Capt. Bartlett R. Rogers, for many years a resident of Lyons, and was born and educated and grew up to manhood in our midst. We say no more than is strictly true when we assert that he had not an enemy in the world. Of excellent business qualifications, irreproachable in character and exemplary in habits, honorable and generous perhaps to a fault, he was well calculated to win friends and to keep them. He was a dutiful son, an affectionate brother, and a true friend. In the death of such a man, at the early age of twenty-six, his family, society, and the service have sustained a loss that is irre- parable.

Capt. Rogers was one of three, in the Fall of 1861, to recruit and or- ganize the first company of the Ninety-eighth. For this purpose he resigned a lucrative and congenial position in the office of the County Clerk, a position which he had for two years filled with acceptance to his employer and credit to himself. His earnest labor by day and night to fill the ranks of his company will not soon be forgotten. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant ; and it is enough to say of his de- votion to his newly-adopted profession and his earnest endeavors to discharge every known duty, however laborious, that he enjoyed in the highest degree the confidence of that excellent disciplinarian, the lamented Col. Dutton. During the time the regiment remained on the Peninsula Capt. Rogers was ever active in his endeavors to promote its usefulness and to render it a credit to the service and to the State from which it came. He was assigned to the Captaincy of Company D, and remained in command of that company until he received the wound which caused his death. With the majority of the regiment he returned to his home in March last, and forthwith re-entered the service for a three years' term, resuming the command of the same company. Capt. Rogers was wounded on the 2d day of June last in the Cold Harbor battle. He was leading his company to a charge, when a minie ball struck his left

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leg just above the knee, bringing him instantly to the ground. For several hours he lay upon the field, and although he suffered but little actual pain he was extremely weakened from exposure and loss of blood. He was finally taken up and carried to a field-hospital, and being placed under the influence of chloroform, his limb was amputated just above the injured portion of the same. He was then conveyed by easy stages to the Armory Square Hospital in Washington, and placed under the care of Dr. Van Slyck of this village. Here he had every possible at- tention ; and after a few days he was cheered by the arrival of his brother William, who remained with him until the last. He had no lack of sympathizing friends. Every day brought to his bedside a group of his old Lyons acquaintances-among whom we may mention Major A. B. Williams, William Van Marter, Esq., Capt. W. R. Bourne, Dr. A. P. Sheldon, William Smelt, Esq., Dr. George S. Bennett, Mrs. Wake lee, and a score of others-who vied with each other in their en- deavors to lighten his burden and to alleviate his suffering ; and through- out his weary illness we are told by one who saw him breathe his last, that he never murmured, never complained. For a week or two the physicians were confident of his recovery. His wound was healing rapidly, and the day had been named when he might venture a journey home. But an internal disorder, consequent probably upon his en- feebled condition, made its appearance, and in two days thereafter he was no more. He died on the evening of Sunday, the 10th of July, as calmly and peacefully as if sinking into slumber.

He was not afraid to die. When informed by his physician that he had not many hours to live, he smiled and said: “ If I die I die of an honorable wound. I die for my country." And it is a sweet re- membrance of him, that during the last weeks of his life he was cheered and sustained by the hope that he was not unprepared to meet his God. In a letter to his father, dated June 26th-the last one he ever wrote- he says : "I trust that the prayers that have been offered up for me have been heard. I try to pray myself. My ideas upon the subject of religion have changed a good deal. I hope that in the event of my getting well, and mingling in the gay scenes of the world, these thoughts may not be dissipated, and I become as thoughtless as before. I hope you will continue to pray for me, that if in God's mercy I am to be re- stored to health I may be soon with you again ; but if in the dispensa- tion of Providence I am not to recover, pray that I may join the sainted ones gone before."

The body of Capt. Rogers arrived here on Monday, and was attend- ed to the place of burial by scores of our citizens. A funeral discourse is to be preached by Rev. Mr. Putnam, of Lyons, in the Presby- terian Church, on Sunday afternoon next, at 52 o'clock.

Thus has passed away a young man of more than ordinary promise -a patriot who gave his life for his country-a dear friend who, though dead, will ever live in our recollections. Pleasant will ever be his memory. And when the history of the present war is written its pages may record the death of men of loftier rank and of wider reputation ; but the name of no man who united in his person to a more remark- able degree the attributes of a patriot, a hero and a martyr, can be there recorded, than that of Capt. Lyman A. Rogers.

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CORP. L. S. ROGERS .- We have deferred the announcement of the death of this young man --- another son of Capt. B. R. Rogers, and late- ly a member of the One Hundred and Eleventh Regiment ; hoping that it might yet prove that he is alive ; but we hoped against hope. He perished, undoubtedly, in the Wilderness battle of the 5th of May. Luther was emphatically a good boy. His officers and comrades speak of him in the highest terms. His age was twenty years.

DEATH OF EUGENE D. PERRINE .- We record the death of Mr. Eugene D. Perrine ; and we do so with feelings of the deepest regret. After an illness of several weeks from typhoid fever, he breathed his last at the close of Christmas Day, and within three months of being twenty-one years of age. Among our young men, no one was better known, or more universally a favorite. Kind, generous and constant, he was just the one to be a friend, and to win friends. For one so young, he had already developed singular talent and proficiency as a business man. When duty called him to arms in his country's service, he enlisted with a brave heart in the cause, and was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in Company C of the One Hundred and Sixtieth Regiment. He gave himself and his time to the work of recruiting with remarkable energy. What he did in this matter he did with all his might. But it was not his privilege to fight his country's battles. The exposure and fatigue of camp-life at Auburn laid the foundation of the fatal disease, and the youthful soldier died peacefully among the loved ones at home.

Mr. Perrine was a member of Grace Church, in this village. On the Sunday before his company left for Auburn he partook for the last time with his father's family of the Holy Communion. A soldier's life is ennobled by a Christian profession. The faith and confidence of the Christian make him a hero indeed.

To his young friends his decease must come home with a solemn warning. "In the midst of life," with all its hopes and duties, with its bright dreams of happiness, "we are in death." If life thus disap- points us, and is thus uncertain, what can satisfy us but the better portion of the Christian's hope in Heaven? We cannot close with- out offering to the afflicted family the assurance of our most sincere sympathy. Jan. 2, 1863.

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Military history of Wayne County, N.Y. : the County in the Civil War, Part 85

Author: Clark, L. H. (Lewis H.) Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Sodus, NY : Lewis H. Clark, Hulett & Gaylord Number of Pages: 944

Author: Clark, L. H. (Lewis H.)
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Sodus, NY : Lewis H. Clark, Hulett & Gaylord
Number of Pages: 944