USA > New York > Records of the 24th Independent Battery, N. Y. Light Artillery, U. S. V. > Part 3
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His present address is "Secretary's Office," Treasury, Washington, D. C ..
Mark Andrews, Junr's, address is the same as his father's. ·
9. ARMSTRONG, WILLIAM .- Joined for service October 15th, 1861. Re-enlisted as a veteran, January, 1864. Was taken prisoner at Plymouth, and died at Anderson- ville, October 26th, 1864, of scorbutis.
10. ARMSTRONG, J. H., Mount Morris .- Mustered in, August 30th, 1862. Was discharged from the service, at hospital, for inability, some time in 1863.
11. ATWOOD, GEORGE S., Perry .- Was mustered in at Buffalo, August 30th, 1862. He died in the Anderson- ville Prison Stockade, August 28th, 1864, of chronic diarrhea. The number of his grave in the cemetery is 7,207. The writer has always imagined that George had a feeling or presentiment that he would not return home. While we were at the Park Barracks, in New 3
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York, he met his father. In a letter from Will Hosford to a friend I find the following statement of the affair :
"The first day that we were here some of the boys saw George Atwood's father, and told him George was here. They called George, and, without saluting him, the father began to abuse him for enlisting, told him he could not go, and said he should take measures to get him out. He finally came in and saw the lieutenant. . But both Hastings and George remained firm. He went to the Mayor's office to get a writ of habeas corpus, but did not succeed. He told some of the boys that he hoped George would be shot, and would never return alive." A short time before the battle of Plymouth, George was troubled with hernia, and could have obtained his discharge from the service on that account, but when advised so to do, his idea of duty caused him to spurn the suggestion.
George was a kind-hearted, generous young man ; un- selfish and ambitious only to be well read, and able to meet any argument in politics or any of the ordinary topics of the day. In prison he maintained his character of consideration and kindness, and died beloved by all his comrades.
12. ANSBACHER, MOSES, Albion, N. Y .- Joined for duty Nov. 7th, 1861. Soon after the arrival of the new men at Newport Barracks, in 1862, Ansbacher ob- tained his discharge, in order to proceed to Germany, and take charge of some estate to which he had become heir. We have no further trace of him.
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13. BAKER, JOHN, Covington .- Mustered in at Buffalo, August 30th, 1862. Was taken prisoner at Plymouth, and died in Andersonville Prison Stockade, Sept. 8th, 1864, of scorbutis. The number of his grave is 8,215. We do not remember having seen him but once after reaching Andersonville, and therefore do not know any particulars of his death.
14. BARKER, GUSTAVUS .- Enlisted at Clarkson. Mus- tered in at Buffalo, October 21st, 1861. Re-enlisted as a veteran in January, 1864.
Possessing a keen appreciation of the ridiculous, and an admirable adaptability in originating and carrying out schemes of fun, he often made the camp merry with some prank.
He was taken prisoner at Plymouth, was exchanged at Annapolis, and is now living at Clarkson Corners, N. Y.
15. BARNES, ROSWELL, Perry .- Was mustered in at Buffalo, August 30th, 1862. At the time we shipped on the steamer " Oriole" from New York to New. Berne, Barnes and McCrink left the steamer for a few moments to make some small purchases. During their absence we cast off from the pier, and as they emerged from the grocery, they spied us out in the stream. They imme- diately jumped into a barge, and offered the oarsmen quite a sum of money as an incentive to overtake us, but they failed in the attempt, and turned back a good deal alarmed and chagrined.
It was afterwards rumored in Perry that they had deserted. We find in the Battery correspondence to the
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" Wyoming Times" of November 7th, 1862, the follow- ing comment :
" Barnes and McCrink arrived at New Berne two days before our company, and going on to camp, informed the captain that we were coming. To have any suspicion of their loyalty would be treating them very unjustly."
A favorite in his detachment, jovial, witty and shrewd, was "Uncle Barney."
Barnes was taken prisoner at Plymouth, and died at Andersonville, Sept. 14th, 1864, of scorbutis. The nums ber of his grave is 8,821. In a diary belonging to Barnes, and given by his sister to the writer, we find the following on the page for Sept. 14th : "Barnes died during last night. I think he died while sleeping. I slept at the side of him, and was surprised to find him dead when I awoke this morning .- NAPOLEON B. NEAL, Middletown, Conn."
16. BARTLEY, JOHN .- Was mustered in at Albany in September, 1861.
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His native town was Palatine Bridge, N. Y. Bartley was quite a Tom Thumb in stature, good-natured and jolly, and devoted to his horses. He re-enlisted at Plymouth in January, 1864, and, while home on furlough, was married. Was taken prisoner at Plymouth, and died in the prison at Florence, S. C.
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17. BARTLETT, HARTWELL, Perry .- Mustered in at Buffalo, August 30th, 1862. Was taken prisoner at Plymouth, and died at Andersonville Hospital of scor- butis, September 4th, 1864.
The number of his grave is is 7,877.
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18. BACHELDER, B. FRANK, Perry .- Was mustered in at Buffalo, August 30th, 1862. Promoted to corporal April 14th, 1864. Taken prisoner at Plymouth, and died at Andersonville, of intermittent fever, July 16th, 1864. The number of his grave is 3,447.
Bachelder had suffered more or less from fever and ague while at Plymouth, and during his sickness at Andersonville was removed to the hospital stockade in time to have saved his life, had we been provided with proper shelter and sufficient medicine. He died in a congestive chill. We thought that he would recover, since, up to the day of his death, he was able to walk about, and had the appearance of being stronger than he proved to be. The loss of his companionship was felt by all of us who were left. In his camp life and in prison life his Christian character was manifest. He kept his Testament with him to his death, and the writer often found him perusing its contents or conversing with his . tent mates upon the precious promises it contains. We cannot doubt that he entered those heavenly realms where suffering and sorrow are unknown.
19. BEERS, L. M., New York .- Enlisted November 6th, 1861. He was taken ill soon after the company reached New Berne, and died at the hospital, June 14th, 1862. He was buried on the following day in the grave- yard on the east side of New Berne.
20. BIRDSALL, GEORGE, Tarrytown, N. Y .- Enlisted at New York, November 10th, 1861. Mustered in at Albany, December, 1861. He was appointed gunner
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corporal, and in our target practice proved himself to be one of the best gunners in the Battery. He re-enlisted at Plymouth in January, 1864, and was promoted by Capt. Cady to sergeant, which he afterwards resigned, preferring to take charge of a piece as gunner. He was taken prisoner at Plymouth. While at Andersonville he was detailed in the hospital, and acted as nurse for the sick. He was exchanged in December, 1864, at Jack- sonville. We are indebted to him for an account of the terrible sufferings that our poor fellows were obliged to- undergo while an exchange was being arranged at this point. He was mustered out of service at New York City, May, 1865. He then returned to Tarrytown, and settled there in mercantile business. May 16th, 1867, he was married to Miss Jennie Van Tassel. Is now with the firm of T. & G. Birdsall, Tarrytown, N. Y.
At the time of his exchange he was sent, with others, .from Andersonville, by railroad, to Albany, Ga. ; from thence they were marched to Thomasville, a distance of fifty-five miles, in three days. After some parley and delay, they were counter-marched this entire distance. Again they were marched to Thomasville, thence to Baldwin, to what was termed "Halfway House;" and from there they were sent into our lines at Jacksonville. The torture and cruelty to which these poor famished and weakened men were subjected, by these unnecessary and forced marches, through heavy sands and fields filled with the prickly lollipot, tells an additional tale of the horrible inventions of their tormentors. .
21. BILLINGHAM, IRA, Broad Albin, Fulton Co., New
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York .- Mustered in at Albany, November 28th, 1861. The service proved too hard for his constitution, and he was finally discharged, at New Berne Hospital, for ina- bility. He has since died at Broad Albin.
22. BLOOD, WILLIAM, Brook's Grove .- Mustered in at Buffalo, August 30th, 1862. He was one of the finest specimens of a soldier which the Battery could boast of. He was willing, and no coward. Was taken prisoner at Plymouth. The writer saw him but few times at Ander- sonville. He was reported to have died at Florence, S. C.
23. BLAKE, WILLIARD D., Gainsville .- Mustered in March 2d, 1864. He was one of the recruits who reached Plymouth but a short time before it was attacked ; our acquaintance with him, therefore, was a brief one. He was taken prisoner at Plymouth. He was sent from the Andersonville Stockade to the hospital, having had a severe "sunstroke."
A peculiar phase of his sickness was his craving for fat. He would exchange anything for a piece of fat ba- con. He was as well cared for as possibly could be, and his physical appearance was indicative of pretty good health. But he suddenly began to fail, and on the 9th of July, 1864, he died. The number of his grave is 3,231.
24. BorEs, E., Moscow .- Was mustered in at Buffalo, August 30th, 1862. After his arrival at New Berne he was troubled with heart disease, and was sent to the hospital.
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He was there discharged for inability. We can find no further trace of him.
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25. BROOKS, JOHN, Moscow .- Was mustered in at Buf- falo, August 30th, 1862. Brooks was a quiet, faithful soldier, and did his duty without a murmur. We can find little trace of him after he was taken prisoner at Plymouth. He was at Andersonville, and stood the ex- posure and suffering at that prison better than the aver- age. Ferguson reports that Le finally died at Florence, S. C. Ferrin says that he died in October, 1864, at Florence, S. C.
26. BRAYTON, RUFUS, Perry .- Mustered in at Buffalo, August 30th, 1862. Brayton was the tallest and largest man on the muster roll, and when enlisted, was expected to endure more than any other recruit. He was known by his comrades as "Our Infant ;" but from the time we left New York up to the time of his decease, he was afflicted with one malady or another, until he was so changed in appearance that he was hardly recognizable.
He died April 14th, 1863, at Plymouth, N. C.
In a private letter written by A. Lent, we find the fol- lowing particulars : " Brayton had been but a short time with us, he was discharged from hospital at Fortress Monroe, and ordered to report at camp for duty, and while he was in camp at New Berne he did light duty, and appeared to be gaining strength.
" When the second section was ordered here, he came up with the boys, and soon after his arrival here he took cold, and had another touch of diarrhea, and was sent
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to the hospital. I went to see him at the hospital, and he told me he had the billious fever. I did not see the sur- geon then, but he told me a few days afterwards that Brayton was better. About 11 o'clock A. M., April 14th, word was sent up that he was dead. I learned that he died of pneumonia, and very suddenly."
It is rather singular that Lent died of pneumonia at Andersonville, a little over a year from the time of writ- ing this letter.
27. BROWN, GEORGE .- Enlisted October 18, 1864, at Rochester, for three years. Joined at Roanoke Island, December 16th, 1864. Transferred to Third New York Artillery.
28. BULLOCK, ROBERT .- Enlisted at Hamlin, October 21st, 1861; was mustered into the United States service by Lieut. Cutting, October 26th, 1861, at Buffalo. Was mustered out at Rochester, N. Y., July 13th, 1865, and did not re-enlist. Was a prisoner at Andersonville, Ga., also at Charleston and Florence, S. C. He was released at Charleston, S. C., on the 10th December, 1864, but not paroled at the time. When at Albany, N. Y., he was promoted to sergeant. Has occupied himself with farming, but during the past two years has been unable to work, in consequence of his impaired constitution-the effects of his protracted imprisonment. Present address, North Parma, Monroe Co.
29. BULKLEY, W. E .- Joined for duty and enrolled for service at Castile, N. Y., February 15th, 1864.
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Joined the Battery at Plymouth in time to participate in the battle, and be taken prisoner, April 1, 1864. He was reported on the roll as " Absent at College Green Barracks, as an exchanged prisoner," in October, 1864.
30. BULKLEY, CHARLES .- Enlisted at Castile, N. Y., February 15th, 1864. Joined the Battery April 1st, 1864. Was taken prisoner April 20th, 1864. We can- not find anything more about him, among all the infor- mation in our hands.
31. BUOK, ROBERT, Perry .- Joined for duty, October 3d, 1861.
Buck was engineer of the Ambulance. He was dis- charged from service, at New Berne, in May, 1862, for physical inability.
32. BUTTON, JAMES, Cuylerville .- Mustered in at Buffalo, August 30th, 1862. Was taken prisoner at Plymouth ; and died at Andersonville Prison Stockade, of chronic diarrhoea. The number of his grave is 5,805.
33. BURD, HENRY C., Tarrytown .- Joined for duty, November 6th, 1861.
Mustered in December 1st, 1861. As a bugler, Burd had few superiors. His prompt responses to the com- mands of 'the drilling officer, were a great assistance to the excellence of the Battery movements, while on the drill ground. His musical talents and skill were often a source of pleasure to the members of the company.
He re-enlisted as a veteran, January, 1864; and while
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. on furlough, was taken sick, and by being thus obliged to remain home, was saved from the Plymouth capture. Was discharged at Roanoke Island, the 22d of Novem- ber, 1864, by special order, War Department, No. 361.
At present he is employed at watch making ; and we understand has become quite a musical artist.
His address is Tarrytown, N. Y.
34. CALHOUN, G. W., Albany, N. Y .- Enlisted for one year, September 5, 1864: Promoted corporal, Decem- ber 10th, 1864.
Transferred to Third New York Artillery, May 25th, 1865.
35. CALTEAUX, PAUL, Perry .- Mustered in, August 30th, 1862.
He was appointed an artificer, and, as a rule, was about one of the busiest men in camp, as our horses must be shod, and our gun carriages and caissons must be repaired. His broken French-English jargon was either a terror or a sport to us; much depending on his humor, whenever we wanted work done. He was taken prisoner at Plymouth.
We lost track of him at Andersonville.
He was reported to have gone to work for the rebels, at his trade, in Charleston, S. C. Others affirm that he died at Andersonville.
36. CALKINS, JAMES, Perry .- Mustered in, August 30th, 1862.
Was taken prisoner at Plymouth, N. C. While at
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Andersonville, he was sent to the hospital, and improved in health to that extent, that he saw he should be returned to the stockade. He thereupon, with others, planned an escape. The writer recollects occupying several days in obtaining and furnishing him with extra provisions and medicines, that he thought he would need for his subsist- ence, while on his uncertain tramp. Ferrin joined with him in the attempt to escape. They succeeded in getting away under cover of night; but in a day or two, were brought · back into the prison camp. He was reported on his company roll as absent at College Green barracks. · Ferguson says he died at Florence, S. C.
He had little mercy for rebels, or neutral men, and in our marches, interpreted the Confiscation Act freely. Particularly if he thought there was any honey, chickens, eggs, ham, or other commodity that would make a good supper for his camp mess.
37. CAMP, WM. S., Perry .- He writes: Enlisted in Perry, N. Y., August 30th, 1862, and same day was mustered into service at Buffalo. November 1st, was promoted by Capt. J. E. Lee to sergeant. December 1, 1863, was promoted to quartermaster-sergeant by Capt. Cady. February 20th, 1864, with recommendations from commanding and company officers, made applica- tion to the Secretary of War for permission to appear in Washington, D. C., before Major-General Silas Casey's Board of Examination, for an examination as to fitness for receiving a commission in some light battery of artillery formed of colored troops. On the 12th of March, 1864, I received permission to appear in Washington, D. C.
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I started, in company with Corporal S. A. Stoddard, for Washington, D. C., April 3d, 1864. Arrived there April 9th, and on the 11th appeared before the Board, but was informed that they were not granting or exami- ning for commissions in artillery, and was ordered to return to the company. Applied to and received from Secretary of War a furlough of twenty days. Surren- dered up my furlough, April 14th, and took an order to return to the company. April 15th, arrived at Norfolk, Va., where, missing the boat connection through the Chesapeake and Albemarle Canal, was obliged to wait over until Monday, 17th, when we (Stoddard and I) started for . Roanoke, where we arrived the 18th. Had we made the connection, as usual, on the Saturday morn- ing at Norfolk, we would have been in Plymouth Sun- day evening, as we had calculated; but thanks for Divine interposition in our behalf, we were delayed. Heard first of the fighting at Plymouth when we arrived at Coanjock Bridge and changed boats for Roanoke. The steamer " Massasoit," which had left Plymouth late on Monday night with women and children, arrived at the island early on Tuesday morning, and as soon as she could be coaled up, started back for Plymouth. We re- turned with the " Massasoit," and when about two-thirds of the way up the Sound, we met a gunboat, having on board the remains of the gallant Capt. Flusser, and bearing the sad intelligence that the ram " Albemarle" had come down the river at two o'clock that morning, and had sunk the "Commodore Perry," and driven the " Miami" into the Sound, thus leaving the ram in full possession of the river. We steamed forward,
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and joined our fleet near the mouth of the Roanoke River.
During that day several refugees were picked up, who had escaped by coming down on the land side to nearly opposite the fishery, and below the ram, and then taking a dug-out, escaped. Learning that this passage to Plymouth was unobstructed by the enemy, Lieut. Lang- worthy, of the Eighty-fifth New York Volunteers, Stod- dard and myself, tried to get a small boat to go up to Plymouth in, but without avail, luckily.
Wednesday afternoon, an old " darkie," who lived be- low the town, was picked up. He reported that the garrison had surrendered, and that he saw the flag on Fort Williams hauled down. Not having heard any firing of guns for several hours, and the arrival of other refugees corroborating the testimony of the old "darkie," we were convinced that the entire garrison of Plymouth had been captured by the enemy. Several "transports" arrived on Wednesday from New Berne with troops, but finding they could be of no service, they returned imme- diately. On board one of these boats I found Thomas McGuire, William Roach, Dennis Finnegan, Lawrence Green, Andrew J. Secor and Philemon Farrell; all but McGuire being recruits for the battery. These I had transferred to the "Massasoit," and I was ordered on board of a sutler's propeller with my squad, placed in charge of a load of refugees, and . ordered to proceed to Roanoke Island and report to the commanding officer. Thursday, April 21st, 1864, arrived at Roanoke Island, and, with Corporal Stoddard and the six men before mentioned, reported to Lieut,-Col. Clark, Eighty-fifth .
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New York Volunteers, commanding at Roanoke Island, these were all of the Twenty-fourth New York Inde- pendent Battery, for duty. Corporal Stoddard was ordered to report with the men to Capt. Barnum, Six- teenth Connecticut Volunteers, commanding Fort Parke at the north end of the island. I was detailed to report to Capt. George C. Wetherbee, C. S. and A. A. Q. M., for duty in the Quartermaster's Department. I remained as clerk in the Quartermaster's office on Roanoke from April 21st, 1864, until February 6th, 1865. On the 28th of January, 1865, I received a commission as first lieutenant, to rank from December 28th, 1864, vice George S. Hastings, resigned. On the 23d of February I assumed command of the battery at Fort Foster, Roanoke Island. March 2d, was ordered with my com- mand to Shallow Bag Bay, on the east side of the island, and on the 4th was ordered from headquarters, District of Beaufort, to proceed to Coanjock Bridge, on the Chesapeake and Albemarle Canal, and to assume com- mand of that station. Remained in command of this station until May 25th, when, in accordance with Special Order 52, District of Beaufort, reported to Colonel C. H. Stewart, commanding Third New York Heavy Artillery, at New Berne, N. C. On the 26th of May, 1865, in accordance with Special Order No. 113, War Depart- ment, I transferred all the enlisted men of the Twenty- fourth Independent Battery over to the Third New York . Artillery, and on the 29th of May, 1865, was mustered out of the United States service, at New Berne, N. C. Here ended my military career.
Present address, Lockport, N. Y.
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38. CAMP, GEORGE, Mount Morris, N. Y .- Mustered in, April 1st, 1864.
Promoted corporal, October 21st, 1864.
Transferred to Third New York Artillery, May 25th, 1865.
39. CANFIELD, S. D., Syracuse, N. Y .- Mustered in, September 20th, 1862. He was one of the students of Hamilton College who joined our ranks. His stay with the Battery was short. He was promoted to a commis- sion in a New York Cavalry Regiment. We have since heard of his making fortunes in oil at the time of the oil fever.
We cannot ascertain his present address.
40. CARNAHAN, WM., Moscow, N. Y .- Mustered in, August 30, 1862.
Taken prisoner at Plymouth, N. C. .
While at Andersonville, he was sent to the hospital, and recovered so as to be able to assist in nursing the sick.
At the time of the rumored exchange, he was sent with one of the first squads that were supposed to be going to Savannah. But the writer, on arriving at Millen, was surprised to find Carnahan there, feasting on sweet potatoes, and seemingly in improved physical con- dition.
He was soon after exchanged, and was finally mus- tered out, at Syracuse, July 7th, 1865. We afterwards heard of him, as a " Canvasser" for some of the works on "Prison Life."
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He was married after leaving the army. His present address is Hubbardston, Michigan.
We give the following in his own words, under date of May 9, 1869 :
" I was taken prisoner at Plymouth, N. C., 20th April, 1863. Was taken to Macon Prison, Ga. Was there a few days, and then sent to Andersonville. I remained there five months. I was in the stockade two months, and then I was taken with the typhoid fever, and sent out in the hospital. I had been there three weeks before I knew where I was. After I came to myself, I found that * * * had taken care of me, and fed me. I consider I owe my life to him.
" From the village of Moscow, there were twenty-two enlisted in this company, out of which returned two- Andrew Ferguson and myself. They all died in prison, but two. Murray Grant died at Plymouth, of sickness, and George Meade was shot in the battle when we were captured. I saw him after he was dead. The rest were taken to Andersonville, to their long home. The only brother I had was with me. I parted with him the 10th of September. The poor fellow lies outside the Ander- sonville stockade. He starved to death. At the time he died, I was not able to walk; so some of my comrades carried me in a blanket, to bid him good bye for the last time.
" I was taken out of Andersonville, after being there five months, and sent to Savannah, where I remained three weeks-and a long three weeks it was. From there I was sent to Millen, and there remained until the rebels routed us back to Savannah. We left Millen in 4
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the morning, and Sherman's cavalry came there at night. If we had been there twelve hours longer we would have been captured back. So after we got to Savannah, the rebels made up their minds they had better let us go. So after we had been there three days, they paroled us, and put us on board of a steamer, and sent us to the mouth of the Savannah river, where we met one of the Yankee boats. It was the happiest day that I ever saw. Paroled, November 25th, 1864. After I was paroled, I was sent to Parole Camp, Annapolis, Md., and then got a furlough of sixty days. When I got home I weighed eighty pounds, and during the sixty days of my furlough I gained a pound a day. After my furlough, I returned to Annapolis, and there was on detail, as orderly, for Col. Hutchins, who had charge of issuing checks for prisoners commutation ration money at College Green barracks, Annapolis. I was there three months, and then sent to my company, to New Berne, N. C. When I got there I found about twelve of the old boys. It seemed terribly lonesome to find so few of my old com- rades, and to know how they were treated, and died- starved to death-and a near and dear one to me had gone with them ; the only brother I had in the world."
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