USA > New York > Records of the 24th Independent Battery, N. Y. Light Artillery, U. S. V. > Part 2
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Yours, &c.,
Wherever in this book a Personal Sketch is not full, it occurred from our being unable to obtain information.
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PERSONAL SKETCHES.
It will be noticed that in the "Personal Sketches," there is no mention of a large number of reductions of Non-Commissioned Officers.
The Battery passed through several changes of organ- ization, and of administration. As a rule, differences of opinions and personal considerations, influenced and brought about these reductions.
At the time of the Mutiny, and at other times, Non- Commissioned Officers asked to be reduced. Only in two or three cases of reduction, are we aware that there was any reflection upon the soldierly qualities of the officer reduced.
Space could not be spared to give a detailed history of each case-allowing both sides of the story to be told- in this book.
The writer trusts and believes that the surviving mem- bers of the Battery will understand these remarks; and that they will consider these reasons ample for not reviv- ing questions of differences, by particularizing those reductions.
There were indeed few left to whom the Circular letter could be addressed, but those who did respond gave us much valuable information. In many cases, friends and relatives replied. In all cases where it was possible, we have given the sketch of each member, as it was fur- nished us, either by himself or his friends. In some instances, however, the writer knew more of the expe- riences of his comrades than any other person; and in such cases he has himself taken the liberty to sketch the character and experiences of his comrades.
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He would here take the opportunity of thanking the following persons for their aid, and for the information which they so pleasantly and cheerfully furnished.
Mrs. C. A. Cleveland,
Lucius S. Newcomb,
Mrs. A. D. Keeney,
Wm. R. Murray,
Miss Mary Smith,
H. C. Burd,
Jay E. Lee,
George Birdsall,
George S. Hastings,
Andrew Ferguson,
C. A. Clark,
H. P. Lloyd,
'C. H. Dolbeer,
Wm. S. Camp,
Charles Homan, R. D. Higgins.
There were many others who encouraged him by writ- ing agreeable responses; and they too will please accept his heartiest thanks.
The Personal Sketches are placed in the same order as the Company Roll.
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LEE, JAY E., Captain .- In the fall of 1861, Mr. Lee, a young and successful lawyer of Perry, convinced that more men were needed in our army, determined to offer his services to the Government. Upon investigating the tactics of the different branches of the service, he select- ed the artillery, as that most needed and most desirable. Together with Mr. Wyckoff, he set about interesting the young men of the place, in organizing a company which should represent that town and vicinity in the great con- flict.
About fifty men signed a declaration to join the com- pany, but from some cause, when they were called upon to proceed to Buffalo and muster in, only about twenty responded. These consolidated with other squads from different towns, and formed a company, of which Mr. Lee was elected captain. He was mustered into the ser- vice October 26th, 1861, and commissioned as captain in the " Rocket Battalion," December 9th, 1861. Soon after he was commissioned, the people of Perry, appre- ciating his efforts and ability, presented him with a purse, an account of which is given in the "Wyoming Times" of February 7th, 1862, as follows :
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" SOMETHING MORE THAN A COMPLIMENT .- The following corres- pondence explains itself, but we cannot refrain from accompanying it with the expression of our gratification, in view of the handsome and spirited manner in which the thing was done-quite characteristic of our community, by the by-and the peculiar propriety of doing it. Captain Lee moved in the matter of organizing a company when our national- affairs were in their most gloomy condition ; greatly influ- enced, as we happen to know, by the consideration that his country needed his services. * *
"' PERRY, January 29, 1862. "'Capt. J. E. LEE :
"'Sir :- In behalf of a large number of your fellow-citizens, resi- dents of Perry and vicinity (a list of whom I enclose), I have the honor of presenting to you the enclosed sum of sixty-five dollars, contributed by them for the purpose of purchasing side arms (sword and pistols), for your use in the service of your country, to which you have so gen- erously and at so great a sacrifice devoted yourself.
"' Please accept it, to quote the language of the subscription, " as an expression of their appreciation of your patriotic and successful efforts in raising your company, and of your admirable fitness to com- mand it." Trusting that the efforts of the Government and the people to put down this unrighteous rebellion may speedily be crowned with success, and that you soon may be restored to your family and friends, "'I am, yours respectfully,
"'H. N. PAGE.'
"'PERRY, February 1, 1862.
"'H. N. PAGE, Esq. :
"' Dear Sir :- Your communication, enclosing sixty-five dollars for the purchase of side arms for my use, with a list of the donors, is just received. Permit me, through you, to thank my friends for this hand- some gift, and the flattering words with which they grace their generosity. * * * *
""' With you, I earnestly hope this unrighteous rebellion may · speedily be crushed, and that I, with others, who are self-banished from our pleasant homes, may soon be permitted to return to your
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midst ; and, moreover, when I do return, that no act of mine while wearing these arms, shall cause me to avoid the greeting of any of whose generosity and patriotism they are the indices. "' With genuine gratitude, I am, "'Very truly and respectfully, "' Your obedient servant, "' J. E. LEE.'"
Capt. Lee was in command of the section that parti- cipated in the battles of Kinston, Goldsboro' and Whitehall. He was also in command of the Battery at the second attack on New Berne, N. C.
While in the service, he was attacked with a severe hemorrhage of the lungs, the result of exposure and over exertion, which unfortunate event compelled him to re- sign his commission, while stationed at Plymouth, N. C., June 13, 1863. The following letter was read to the Battery, after his resignation had been accepted :
"NEW BERNE, N. C., June 13, 1863.
"TO THE MEMBERS OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH N. Y. BATTERY : " I can no longer address you as "my men," or "fellow soldiers," but I can say what is as good or better, my friends, you have just heard the order which discharges me from the service of the United States, and sunders my connection with the dear old Twenty-fourth. I regret exceedingly that I cannot see you all again, and say good bye with my own voice, and give each a parting grasp of the hand. When I left you last Thursday, I had already prepared my resignation, and did not expect to return, and it made me feel very badly to come away without saying good bye; but I could not ; my resignation had not been acted upon, and we have all learned that nothing is certain in military matters but uncertainty. I had no right to take it for granted that it would be accepted, so I was obliged to leave in silence, as I did. My motives and actions cannot be misconstrued, however, I trust no one of you will be so ungenerous as to think I desired to steal away from you.
"One of my greatest regrets at leaving the service is, that I cannot
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in person take my leave of you, and assure each one of my high re- gard and lasting attachment. As it is, let me say that there is not a man in the Battery who has not a firm hold on my memory and heart. I shall constantly carry with me the deepest interest and anxiety for the Battery, and every individual member of it ; and not only while you are in the service, but as long as you or I shall live. If length of years is given me or you, I know that in after life when we meet, warm and earnest will be our words of greeting, and a thrill of pleas- ure will follow the hearty grasp of our hands. I have not only deep personal attachment for all of you, but I am proud of you as an organ- ization. If I was to remain in the service I should want no other command. Nothing would tempt me from you. My ambition has not been for promotion, but to make you thorough or efficient soldiers. In that I trust I have succeeded. I sincerely believe that in all the armies of the United States, there cannot be found an organization better fitted to do thorough and earnest work for its country, than the Twenty-fourth New York Battery. I am not so vain, however, as to take to myself all the credit for this; I have had able and willing assistance in my officers, from highest to lowest, and above all, I have · had intelligent, honorable, manly men to govern and instruct. No other organization of like size in the army can boast a tithe of the intelligence, education, and high-toned manliness and moral charac- ter this company contains. Under such circumstances I had shown myself but poorly fitted for the position I have had, if now, I had not a battery to be proud of. I have been proud of my command, and shall let no opportunity go unimproved of boasting of it when I am home among you and my friends.
" This, at least ought to be granted me, as I have no deeds of valor, &c., to boast of. Of my reasons for resigning my position and leaving you, there can scarcely be any necessity of speaking. I presume it was not unlooked for by any one, certainly not by those who were familiar with my physical condition. For more than a year I Have been unfit for military service, and I considered it my duty to resign a position whose duties I could not perform. The officers who remain are tried and true. You know them well, and, I believe, have full confidence in them. Upon you, I know they rely.
"Let me now say a final good bye, and God bless and preserve you. " Your friend and former Captain,
"J. E. LEE."
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The Battery went through many changes, and Capt. Lee was not always popular. In Washington, D. C., March, 1862, he was tried before court martial, on several charges, but was honorably acquitted. Still, we think that even those who did not accord with his views and decisions, would admit that he was an able and efficient officer; and at the time he resigned, the Battery was one of the finest appearing and best drilled batteries in that department. He was brevetted major and lieuten- ant colonel of United States Volunteers, for "gallant and meritorious conduct," and also received a commis- sion as brevet lieutenant colonel of New York Volun- teers. Soon after his discharge from service he visited the Western Territories, California and the Sandwich Islands, for the purpose of benefitting his health. In January, 1866, he received an appointment on the staff of Governor Fenton, with rank of lieutenant colonel, and was assigned to duty as military agent for the State of New York, at Washington.
He is at present at Jacksonville, Fla., where he is practicing law.
CADY, L. A., Captain .- Enlisted in Hamlin, Monroe Co., N. Y., in October, 1861, and upon the organization of the Battery, was mustered in as its second lieutenant. He remained in active service until December, 1864, rising to the rank of captain. He participated in every battle in which the Battery was engaged, evincing the qualities of the good soldier. In entering the army he was actu- ated by a noble patriotism that led him to make great personal and domestic sacrifices, with cheerful alacrity,
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thoroughly comprehending the mighty issues of the long struggle ; he always had a stanch faith in the integrity of the cause, and an unwavering confidence in its ulti- mate triumph.
He was a faithful and diligent officer, with a quick appreciation of the fidelity of the humblest member of the Battery ; and a just pride in the intelligence, good discipline and splendid appearance of his command. He was captured in the battle of Plymouth, and suffered the rigors of prison life, until early in October, 1864, when he escaped, while en route from Charleston to Co- lumbia, S. C.
After a weary experience in the swamps, forests and mountains of the South, he reached the Union lines at Strawberry Plains, in East Tennessee. His health was considerably impaired by the hardships and exposure he had undergone; and there being but a fragment of the Battery for duty, he was induced to resign his com- mission.
His health continued to fail, and though his strong love of an active and useful life, and the devotion of an affectionate wife and children, furnished the most power- ful motives for living, his hitherto tireless energies were destined to succumb to the fatal force of disease. He died on the 8th day of November, 1865, at Waterford, . Orleans Co., N. Y.
HASTINGS, GEORGE S., First Lieut .- In the autumn of 1861, he removed from Oswego to Perry,N. Y., where he engaged in the practice of law, until August, 1862. In common with thousands of patriotic young men, he then
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believed that duty called him to his country's service. He accordingly procured authority to recruit for the Twenty-fourth New York Battery, then known as Bat- tery "B," of the "Rocket Battalion." Among the pioneer recruits who gave him cheerful and patriotic co- operation, were Mason C. Smith, Phares Shirley, Oliver Williams, William S. Camp, Charles Dolbeer, and J. W. Merrill.
The work of enlistment was sharp, short and decisive ; commencing in earnest on the 25th of August, and receiving a strong impetus at a public meeting held in Perry, on the evening of the following day. In the same week sixty-four young men had enlisted ; sixty of whom were accepted and mustered in at Buffalo, on August 30, 1864. Shortly afterwards, the detachment, numbering about seventy, joined the battery, in North Carolina. Returning to Perry to make necessary and final arrangements to follow his comrades, after a brief interval. he joined the command at Newport barracks. In March, 1863, the Battery was ordered to Plymouth, then an insignificant station on the Roanoke. It afterwards became one of an important line of fortified posts on the coast region of North Carolina, and was the head-quar- ters of the sub-district of the Albemarle. While there, Lieutenant Hastings was detailed as Judge-Advocate of the sub-district, and served in that capacity until the battle of Plymouth. Having been taken prisoner, he was sent to Macon, Ga., remaining there until August, 1864. During this time he made two attempts to escape, both of which were defeated at the point where success seemed assured. In August, while on the route from
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Macon to Charleston, he escaped from the cars ; and after a wearisome, painful and solitary tramp of four nights, was pursued by dogs and recaptured. His citizen captors were disposed to regard him as a spy, and for a time he had an unpleasant foretaste of the pains and penalties visited upon curious intruders.
The Commanding General of the Department of Georgia was pleased to restore him to the rigors, face- tiously styled, "The rights of a prisoner of war." A month in sultry Savannah ; a fortnight in the filthy jail yard of Charleston, with pestilential odors below, and screaming shells above; and five days in the prison camp near Columbia, S. C., rounded the period of his probation as the unwilling partaker of "Southern Hos- pitality." Then a night escape through the cordon of sentinels who guarded the camp ; a long pilgrimage through the pines of the Palmetto State, and over the rugged mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee; and the dream of liberty was realized under the flag whose folds were so dear to the sturdy loyalists of East Ten- nessee. Shortly afterwards he received an appointment upon the staff of Governor Fenton, and subsequently became his private secretary, in which capacity he re- mained in Albany, until September, 1868. He then removed to New York, and held the position of Assistant Attorney of the Board of Excise.
He is now practicing his profession at 4 and 6 Pine Street, New York.
GRAHAM, GEORGE W .- Was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the " Rocket Battalion, " December 9th,
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1861. Transferred to the Twenty-fourth New York Battery, February 11th, 1863. Transferred to the Third New York Cavalry, December 24th, 1863. From thence transferred to the First North Carolina Cavalry. He was a dashing and reckless officer. Several of his reported exploits exhibited both coolness and audacity. At the reorganization of the army he was appointed first lieutenant in the United States Army ; has since been promoted to captain of the Tenth Cavalry, and is now with his regiment, somewhere on the borders.
1. ADAMS, ABNER .- Enlisted at Albany, September 30th, 1862, and mustered in there, October 1st, 1862 .. He was discharged at New Berne, February 20th, 1863, and promoted to second lieutenant in the First North Carolina Union Volunteers. Held the position of Military Secretary to the Military Governor of De- partment of North Carolina, (Governor Stanly), and resigned June 10th, 1863, to leave the army. In September, 1864, he re-entered the army, as private, in the Twenty-fourth New York Battery; was on detached service, as clerk in Provost Marshal's office of Twenty- fourth District, New York, and mustered out in, June, 1865.
Married Miss M. E. French, in Livingston Co., N. Y., 21st October, 1863, and has one child, named " Robert Turner Adams," to perpetuate the name of a member of the Battery, who was killed in North Carolina, in the fall of 1862.
His present address is Rochester, N. Y.
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2. AINSWORTH, RUFUS C., Clarkson, N. Y .- Lieut. W. S. Camp, says :
"He was enlisted at Hamlin, N. Y., by J. E. Lee, October 21st, 1861, and was mustered into the United States service, at Buffalo, N. Y., by Lieut. Cutting, on the 26th October, 1861, to serve three years unless sooner discharged. November 1st, 1862, he was promoted to first duty sergeant by I E. Lee, Captain Commanding. About September or October, 1863, he received a furlough of thirty days to go to New York, and did not return until he was arrested as a deserter, and returned to the command as such in February or March, 1864. On ac- count of his desertion he was reduced to the ranks by . Capt. L. A. Cady, January 20th, 1864. In April, just before the battle of Plymouth, he was sent, under guard, to New Berne, N. C., for trial by general court martial. The company all being captured (April 20th,) at Ply- mouth, before his trial, there remained no evidence of his guilt, and no one to appear against him. In this confinement he remained until, through the influence of Corporal Stoddard, myself, and the Christian Commission, his case was brought before the authorities, and he was released and returned to the company, then under com- mand of Capt. E. De Meulen, at Roanoke Island, August 20th, 1864. During his confinement at New Berne, he was put in a gang of men, and worked in the Sanitary Gardens, so that he did not have a severe time. " In accordance with Special Order No. 1, Head- Quarters Twenty-Fourth Independent Battery, Roanoke Island, August 20th, 1864, he was again promoted to sergeant, by Capt, E. De Meulen, commanding detach-
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ment, and held this position until November 7th, 1864, when, by reason of expiration of term of service, he was mustered out at New Berne, N. C.
· " He is now farming in Wisconsin."
3. AINSWORTH, WM., Clarkson, N. Y .- Joined for ser- vice, October 8th, 1861. Re-enlisted as a veteran, in January, 1864, and was taken prisoner at Plymouth, N. C. He was a tall, strong, good-natured fellow, and made a capital No. 1 at the piece. Ferguson writes that Ainsworth died at Charleston, S. C. .
4. ALBURTY, WILLIAM, Perry .- Joined for service, October 22d, 1861. He was but eighteen years of age on the muster roll, and it is our opinion that he was nearer sixteen than eighteen when mustered in at Buffalo.
He held the position of guidon in the Battery, and in drill, march or action, was prompt, ready and efficient. We quote the following from correspondence to the " Wyoming Times," August 15th, 1862 :
" NEWPORT BARRACKS, July 31st, 1862.
" Last Friday we received orders to prepare for a march. We marched all day Saturday, and part of the night. Sunday morning we started again, marching about fifteen miles, when we stopped to feed the teams and eat our dinner. When we had been there about an hour and a half, we heard some guns fired and orders came to hitch up. This we did as soon as possible, and had hardly finished when a body of cavalry, three hundred strong, came charging right upon us. We wheeled our guns into position, and commenced firing. The fight lasted about an hour. Our force consisted of six companies of infantry, three companies of cavalry, and one section of our Battery. There were three or four of the infantry wounded ; and two or three of the cavalry. There was no one hurt in our Company. Col. Heck-
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man said, we worked our guns as well as any battery he ever saw. * *
* * William acted bravely. He rode up to where the Colonel was, and that was when the rebels were firing, and the bullets went by like hailstones. He had his flag in one hand and his revolver in the other. The Colonel told him to go back with his flag and horse and then come and if he got a shot to fire. The Colonel said he had good blood."
He re-enlisted in January, 1864; was taken prisoner at Plymouth, being one of the furloughed veterans who re- turned just in time to be captured. He died at Ander- sonville, Ga., August 23d, 1864.
The number of his grave is 6,698.
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5. ALBURTY FRANCIS M., Perry .- Joined for duty October 21st, 1861. He writes :
" I enlisted in Perry, about the middle of September, 1861, and was mustered in at Buffalo, October 1st, 1861. I was mustered out at Plymouth, N. C., January 1st, 1864. Re-enlisted the same day as veteran, was absent at the battle of Plymouth, being delayed from return- ing with the other veterans by sickness, was transferred to Third New York Artillery, May 25th, 1865, was mustered out lastly at Syracuse, on the 7th of July, 1865. I was promoted to the rank of corporal, the 14th of April, 1863; was in the skirmish at the White Oak River ; also in one at Kinston, and another at Golds- boro'. I am at present working at my trade, printing, in the " Silver Lake Sun " office, in Perry."
6. ALLEN Z .- Enlisted at Whitehall, and mustered in September, 1861. Re-enlisted January 1st, 1864.
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Was married while on the furlough which had been granted him as a veteran. Zeph's white team, and his management of them on the lead, was one of the notice- able things of the Battery, during its days of drill. He was taken prisoner at Plymouth. Comrades will remem- ber him as quite small, but hardy and tough. Prison life did not affect him to the extent that it did many of the larger and seemingly stronger men. He was paroled and exchanged in December, 1864 ; joined his company at Coanjock Bridge, N. C., April 23d, 1865. Was in good health, fat and fair, having been gone from the company one year and three days. Transferred to Third New York Artillery, May 25th, 1865 ; was mustered out in June, 1865.
His present address is Whitehall, N. Y.
7. ANDRUS, LEMUEL, Perry .- Joined for duty, October 25th, 1861. While the Rocket Battalion was stationed at Washington, he was seized by that terrible pestilence, the small pox, and died in the hospital, the 9th of March, 1862. We had not a personal acquaintance with him, but we always heard him spoken of by his comrades as one who highly deserved their friendship and respect.
8. ANDREWS, MARK .- Enlisted at Perry, N. Y., Oct. 21st, 1861. Mustered in at Albany, Oct. 26th, 1861. He was soon after promoted to position of sergeant, and afterwards to orderly sergeant. Through some differ- ences and misunderstandings with the officers of the company, he was reduced to the ranks.
In January, 1863, he was mustered out to receive
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promotion to first lieutenant in Tenth New York Artillery ; in which he served until it was trans- ferred to Heavy Artillery. He then resigned and ac- cepted a commission as first lieutenant in the Twentieth New York Battery. On July 20th, 1864, he resigned this last commission, and soon after received an appointment in the Treasury Department at Washington. He must have proved a valuable man in the position he occupies, since he seems to hold it, notwithstanding change of Administration and of the Cabinet.
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