USA > New York > Records of the 24th Independent Battery, N. Y. Light Artillery, U. S. V. > Part 4
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
41. CARNAHAN, CHAS., Moscow .- Joined for service, December 19th, 1863. Joined the company for duty, April 1, 1864.
He was one of the recruits who arrived at Plymouth just in time to participate in the battle, and be taken prisoner. He died at Andersonville Stockade, of scorbutis, September 11th, 1864. The number of his grave is 8,470.
Digitized by Google
.
51
TWENTY-FOURTH NEW YORK BATTERY.
42, CHAPMAN, JOHN, Perry .- Mustered in at Buffalo, October 26th, 1861.
Chapman was the wagoner, and in the post he oc- cupied, he had both opportunity and disposition to domineer in his particular province. On several scouts or foraging expeditions, the boys retaliated a little, by starting a scare of " rebels approaching"! which brought out from John a wonderful display of cracking a whip, and handling four-in-hand, on a galop. We recall the time when Sergeant Camp was fired at by our own vidette, and an alarm raised in camp, which brought out a squad under Captain Cady, to meet and assist us. As soon as John fully comprehended that rebels were re- ported near, there was a blanched face-a gathering and tightening of the reins-a goad of a long lash, and a yelp to his team, that would have fairly awakened a Rip Van Winkle. We finally overtook him, and had our laugh at him. He did not care to hear the story after- wards.
He re-enlisted at Plymouth, in January, 1864, and received a veteran furlough. He was never heard of afterwards, and was reported as a deserter.
43. CHADBOURNE, HENRY, China, N. Y .- Mustered in, August 30th, 1862.
Was taken prisoner at Plymouth. Being of a rather frail constitution, he was one of the early ones that was grasped by that terrible disease, chronic diarrhea, and for want of proper nourishment and medicines, he rapidly run down until he died. He died June 18th, 1864.
The number of his grave is 2,157.
.
Digitized by Google
52
RECORDS OF THE
44. CHAPIN, WM. E., China, N. Y .- Mustered in, August 30th, 1862, at Buffalo.
Shortly after his joining the Battery, he was ill, and was sent to the hospital. During his convalescence, he proved to be a good nurse, and continued in the hos- pital in different positions. Was connected with the Hospitals and Sanitary Garden all the time he was in the service. He was finally mustered out of service, and returned to his home-China, Wyoming Co.
Present address, La Salle, Ill.
45. CLARK, C. A .- Enlisted, October 1, 1861. Mus- tered into service, October 26th. Promoted to quarter- master sergeant, in June, 1862. Assigned the command of a detachment, as duty sergeant, at Newport barracks, in December, 1862. Re-enlisted, as a veteran volunteer, at Plymouth, in February, 1864. Went north, on leave, in March. Received second lieutenant's commission in Sixteenth New York Artillery, but on account of sick- ness was unable to accept it. Remained in Perry, N.Y., until January, 1865. Commissioned as second lieuten- ant in Twentieth Battery, on duty at Governor's Island, N. Y. H. Battery removed to Battery barracks, N. Y. City, in May. Promoted to first lieutenant, in May, ' 1865. Mustered out, August 5, 1865.
.
Entered the employ of the United States Telegraph Co .; remained until its consolidation with Western Union Telegraph Co. Then entered the office of the "North America " Life Insurance Co., where he continues.
Present address,-care of North America Life Insur- ance Co., 17 & 19 Warren Street, New York City.
1
Digitized by Google
.
1
53
TWENTY-FOURTH NEW YORK BATTERY.
46. CLUTE, H. V., Cuylerville .- Mustered in, August 30th, 1862.
He acted as assistant artificer, with Calteaux.
Was taken prisoner at Plymouth. He was not in good health when captured, having suffered from chills and fever while at Plymouth ; and this disease seemed to cling to him after he reached Andersonville. He died, May 30th, 1864, of intermittent fever. The number of his grave is 1,497.
47. COMSTOCK, A. W., Perry .- Mustered in, August 30th, 1862.
During the battle of Plymouth, he had charge of . the horses attached to the limber chest of Crooker's piece, which was posted at the parapet off from the right of our park at Plymouth. The rebels having taken the little fort occupied by Capt. Chapin, of the Eighty-fifth New York, had concentrated their fire on the embrazure which Crooker's piece occupied. One of the rebel shells or balls passed through the embrazure, struck the limber chest, and caused an explosion of the ammunition which it contained. By this explosion Comstock was wounded, and some of the horses which he was in charge of were killed and some wounded.
Comstock was carried to the hospital, said to be wounded in the thigh. He died May 9th, 1864.
48. COOK, HARLO, Hamlin .- Joined for service, Octo- ber 26th, 1861.
Discharged at Academy Hospital, New Berne, for inability on account of dropsical affections, June, 1862.
Digitized by Google
-
i
54
RECORDS OF THE
1 49. CORBIN, B. F., Hamlin .- Enlisted by Lieut. Cady, and mustered in at Buffalo, October 25th, 1861. He was appointed corporal, January 1st, 1864, and promoted to sergeant, April 14th, 1864. He re-enlisted in Janu- ary, 1864 ; was taken prisoner at Plymouth, and died at Andersonville, June 9th, 1864, of chronic diarrhea. The number of his grave is 1,778.
He was among the first of our comrades who fell be- fore that terrible disease. Being a strong, hearty man, it was impossible for him to supply the demands of his appetite by means of the usual prison rations. Want of food was the beginning of his illness, and the corn bread which was furnished him only tended to irritate his stomach and aggravate the disease. We were finally enabled to purchase some milk and some berries for him while in the hospital, but it was too late. He was con- scious that death was near, and was perfectly resigned. He died easily and almost imperceptibly.
50. CORKWELL, JOHN, Rochester, N. Y .- Enlisted for one year, September 27th, 1864. Transferred to Third New York Artillery, May 25th, 1865.
: i
1
51. COWEN, JAMES, Albany .-- Mustered in at New Berne, May 21st, 1862. He was absent on furlough at the time of the capture of Plymouth. Was promoted to corporal, December 10th, 1864. Mustered out at Albany, in June. Present address, Albany, N. Y.
52. CROOKER, WM. W., Perry .- Joined for duty, October 3d, 1861. Re-enlisted as a veteran, January 1st, 1864.
Digitized by Google
:
!
1
!
-
!
55
TWENTY-FOURTH NEW YORK BATTERY.
Promoted to orderly sergeant, April 14th, 1864. Taken prisoner, April 20th, 1864. Appointed by Governor Fenton of New York as captain of the battery, vice L. A. Cady, resigned, to date, January 10th, 1865. Transferred to Third New York Artillery as orderly sergeant. Crooker had charge of one of the divisions in the Andersonville Hospital, and did all in his power to alleviate the suffer- ings of his fellows. He still bitterly resents the treat- ment of the men at that stockade, and theorizes that our Government was as much to blame as was the Con- federate Government. After his discharge from the army he visited the Southern States. He finally mar- ried there, and has settled at Jeffersonville, Indiana. We are sorry that his business duties were so overwhelm- ing that he could not spare the time to write us a sketch of his experience.
His travels in the process of exchange were in quite a different direction from that which most of us were obliged to participate in. We understand that Crooker was in the same squad with Birdsall. (See Birdsall's personal sketch.)
53. CROOKS, J .- His name appears on the roll, but we know nothing of him.
54. CROSBY, M., Sardinia, N. Y .- Mustered in at Buffalo, October 26th, 1861. Re-enlisted at Plymouth in January, 1864. Was taken prisoner at Plymouth and died at Andersonville Hospital, of typhoid fever, July 14th, 1864. The number of his grave is 3,324.
Digitized by Google
56
RECORDS OF THE
He was an athletic man, a good soldier, a whole-souled fellow. He endured everything cheerfully and bravely.
55. CROUNCE, GEORGE, Albany .- Was mustered in at Albany, in September or October, 1861. His pecu- liarly feminine appearance gave him the sobriquet of "Miss Crounce." His tastes and pursuits were as girlish as his form. His tent was always tidy and in order and his culinary skill unsurpassable. He was too a good man at his post, at the piece, and showed coolness and bravery in battle.
He re-enlisted at Plymouth, in January, 1864. Was taken prisoner and died at Andersonville Stockade, of intermittent fever, June 20th, 1864. The number of his grave is 2,273.
56. CUSICK, HIRAM, Rochester, N. Y .- Enlisted for one year, October 10th, 1864. Transferred to Third N. Y. Artillery, May 25th, 1865. Joined, November 9th, 1864.
57. CULVER, A. L., Gainsville .- Mustered "in, August 30th, 1862. Was taken prisoner at Plymouth ; he had been suffering from intermittent fever in Plymouth, and the experiences of Andersonville did not aid him in re- cuperating. He died, in the stockade, of chronic diarrhoea, July 27th, 1864. The number of his grave is 4,119.
58. CYPHER, GEORGE W., Kingston, N. Y .- Enlisted for one year, September 9th, 1864. Transferred to Third N. Y. Artillery, May 25th, 1865. Joined October 18th, 1864, at Roanoke.
-
Digitized by Google
i
57
TWENTY-FOURTH NEW YORK BATTERY.
59. DAVIS, ORNAU, Leicester .- Mustered in, January 5th, 1864. Arrived at Plymouth in time to take part in the battle and be taken prisoner. Joined for duty, April 1st, 1864.
Ferguson reports that he died at Charleston.
60. DOLBEER, CHAS. H., Perry, N. Y .- Enlisted on the 25th of August, 1862, at Perry, Wyoming County, N. Y., and was mustered in August 30th, at Buffalo. Joined the Battery, the 25th September, at Newport Barracks, N. C.
On the 4th of November was appointed orderly- sergeant. . January 6th, 1863, by orders from Brigade Head Quarters, General Ledlie commanding, was pro- moted to junior second lieutenant. January 13th, 1863, by orders from same head quarters, (General Ledlie,) was detailed as "Chief of Brigade Ambulance Corps," and reported to Chief of Division, Ambulance Corps, for duty. March 17th, relieved from duty on Ambulance Corps. Was commissioned as second lieu- tenant, June 23d, 1863-(See Adjutant-General's Report, N. Y. State, 1868.) Was mustered out at Plymouth, N. C., January 21st, 1864, in compliance with orders from War Department, dated January 6th, 1864. Dis- charged from service, January 22d, 1868 .- (See report above referred to.) While on detached service in Am- bulance Corps, January 26th, 1863, in compliance with orders, reported on board General Foster's flag ship, " Spalding," off Morehead City; arrived off Charleston, January 31st, and at Port Royal, February 2d. Re- turned to New Berne, February 11th, 1863. While on
.
Digitized by Google
58
RECORDS OF THE
the same service, March 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th, went with the expedition up the Trent. On the 8th, found the Rebs at White Oak River. Having been relieved from this duty, moved, March 26th, with the centre sec- tion of Battery, on board steamer "Escort," lying at New Berne, and arrived at Plymouth, the 28th. July 26th, moved with centre section to Jamestown. In skirmish at Foster's Hill, the 27th, and returned to Plymouth, the 29th.
Having obtained leave of absence to go out of the Department (which extended to Fortress Monroe), for twenty days, left Plymouth, on the 17th September, 1863, and visited friends in New York State and in Michigan. Returned to the command, the 17th Octo- ber, 1863. The report to corps headquarters, in compli- ance with order No. 2, of the 19th August, 1863, not explaining the overstay to the satisfaction of the com- mission appointed to examine and report upon such matters, charges were preferred for " absence without leave "; and before a court martial, of which Lieutenant George S. Hastings, of the Battery, was Judge-Advocate, was tried and acquitted, as the following copy of general order, No. 51, will show.
HEAD-QUARTERS, ARMY AND DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA, New Berne, N. C., Dec. 31, 1863.
General Orders, No. 51. S
Before a General Court Martial, which convened at Plymouth, N. C., on the 17th day of December, 1863,
Digitized by Google
.
I
!
-
-
ยท
----
59
TWENTY-FOURTH NEW YORK BATTERY.
pursuant to General Orders, No. 45, dated Head-Quar- ters, Army and District of North Carolina, New Berne, N. C., December 14th, 1863, of which Col. T. F. Lehman, One Hundred and Third Pennsylvania Volun- teers, is President, were arraigned and tried :
No. 2.
Second Lieutenant C. H. Dolbeer, Twenty-fourth Independent Battery, New York Volunteers :- Charge, " Absence without leave."
Specifications-" In this, that he, Second Lieutenant C. H. Dolbeer, Twenty-fourth Independent Battery, N. Y. V., having obtained leave of absence for twenty days -Special .Orders, No. 52, Head-Quarters, Department of Virginia and North Carolina-did, on or about the 18th day of September, 1863, leave the camp of the Twenty-fourth Independent Battery, N. Y. V., near Plymouth, N. C., and did not rejoin his Battery until the 17th of October, 1863. All this near Plymouth, N. C.
To which charge and specification, the accused pleaded as follows :-- " Not Guilty."
The Court, after mature deliberation upon the evi- dence adduced, find the accused as follows :
Of the Specifications. . "Guilty."
Of the Charge. " Not Guilty."
The Court are of the opinion, that prior to circular, dated Head-Quarters, Army and District of North Carolina, New Berne, N. C., October 9th, 1863, that leaves of absence were generally construed to commence from the date of leaving the Department, and that con- struction is applied to this case. The accused reported
Digitized by Google
60
RECORDS OF THE
in time, at Fort Monroe, and returned to his post as speedily as transportation was afforded. His leave of absence apparently allowed him twenty days from Fort Monroe.
The Court do therefore acquit him, Second Lieutenant C. H. Dolbeer, of Twenty-fourth Independent Battery, N. Y. V.
The proceedings and findings in the cases of * * and Second Lieutenant C. H. Dolbeer, Twenty-fourth Independent Battery, New York Volunteers, are ap- proved and confirmed.
By command of Major General PECK.
(Official.)
BENJ. B. FOSTER, Asst. Adjt. General.
After returning from the army, resumed former occu- pation, as book keeper, in the office of Alva, Smith & Son, Batavia, N. Y., remaining one year. He then resided in St. Louis, Mo., being employed in the office of L. & D. Babcock, in the examination of land titles.
Present address,-Batavia, N. Y.
61. DURYEA, GEORGE, Perry .- Mustered in, Novem- ber, 25th, 1861.
Deserted some time in April or May, 1862.
He afterwards returned to the company and did his duty as a soldier and like a man; was taken prisoner at Plymouth ; exchanged at Charleston, December 6th, 1864. For a long time he was obliged to remain at home, on furlough, being dangerously ill, from the effects of his prison life. We have not been able to find his
Digitized by Google
---
1
61
TWENTY-FOURTH NEW YORK BATTERY.
address, and therefore cannot give date of his discharge from service.
62. DURYEA, JOSEPH, Perry .- Enlisted with Samuel Andrus.
He deserted the company at the same time that his brother George and Grisewood did, and went to Canada. His name was dropped from the company roll. His present address-Elizabethport, New Jersey.
63. EASTWOOD, EDWIN M., Brooks Grove .- Mustered in, August 30th, 1862.
Eastwood was a cautious, steady soldier. A Christian, and a man who desired to do right with all whom he came in contact with. He was taken prisoner at Plymouth. He died at the Andersonville Hospital, July 30th, 1864, of chronic diarrhoea. The number of his grave is 4,410.
He was aware that death was near, and was prepared for it. He made a disposition of the few mementos he had, and we had the pleasure of returning them to his parents. In reply we received from them one of the kindest and most satisfactory communications that has been addressed to us since our return from the army.
64. FARRELL, PHILEMON, Rochester, N. Y .- Enlisted March 24th, 1864.
Transferred to Third New York Artillery, May 26th, 1865.
Found at mouth of Roanoke river, April 20, 1864, just after the Battery were captured. A lucky boy.
Digitized by Google
62
RECORDS OF THE
. 65. FERRIN, J. T .- We give his letter verbatim et seriatim :
" HOLLAND, N. Y.
"I enlisted the 18th of October, 1861, at Perry, Wyoming County, N. Y. Mustered in at Buffalo, October 26th, 1861. Mustered out, the 18th of July ,1865, at Syracuse, N. Y. I re-enlisted as a veteran,, January 1st, 1864; at Plymouth, N. C. Was in the battle of Plymouth, the 18th, 19th and 20th of April, 1864, where I was taken prisoner.
" I was in Andersonville, Charleston and Florence prisons. I got to Andersonville the 1st of May, and there I had an introduction to old WIRz; he put us into the stockade to live on one pint of meal a day and a teaspoonfull of salt every other day. It was rather tough fare at first. I was not quite as cunning as some of the boys when I was captured, for I did not take away blankets, for I supposed I was going to be taken better care of than I was. But when I got to prison I found out that I had got to have some- thing to keep me warm and to keep the sun off, so I bought a blanket, and paid thirty-five dollars Confederate money. The next night, Morton Crosby, one of my tent mates, had his blanket stolen off him; so three of us boys clubbed together and bought another one. The 2d of June I went into the hospital. I was put into Dr. Barrow's ward ; he did all he could for me, and cured me in a short time. By the 1st of July I was able to go around the stockade. I was there until the 9th of July, when James Calkins, of the Twenty-fourth, and John Burgoin, of the Eighty-eighth Illinois Regiment, thought that we would go home. So the night of the 9th of July we got over the stockade, down by the sink. When we got over, we went into the water almost waist deep. I was some time getting over, for when I got on the top of the stockade, the guard turned and came athwart me, and stood still for some time, I thought, but I finally got over all right. I had not gone far, when I ran foul of some brush, and in putting my hand .out, I got hold of a snake. I suppose it was one; at any rate, it slipped through my fingers like one. We traveled around until morning, when we got out of the swamp, and laid in the woods all day. We traveled the whole of the next night again, and got along very well until the morning of the 12th, when we were near
,
Digitized by Google
63
TWENTY-FOURTH NEW YORK BATTERY.
the swamp. We heard the dogs bark, and we made for some trees, but I could not climb, I was so weak. The dogs came up, but the men were right behind them, so they did not bite me. If it had not been for that, I should have been nibbled some. We were within about ten miles of Macon, having traveled about fifty miles ; in another week we would have been inside of our lines.
. " They were old farmers that captured us, and had three blood- hounds and a bull terrier. We went back to 'Andersonville, and old Wirz told us that we would be the last ones paroled, and he put me in the One Hundred and Sixth (106th) Detachment.
. " I went inside of the stockade in time to see the raiders hung, and I stayed there until the 11th of September, when I went out with the Twenty-sixth Detachment, with the promise of going home. But we went to Charleston, and from there to Florence. By the time I got there I could not sit up, so I was put out of the cars by the side of the railroad, with about thirty-five others. We laid there until Dr. Dar- gin, a Rebel doctor, came to our relief. He put us into an old barn, and rigged it up for a hospital. He took good care of us. There was myself, John Brooks and Harry H. Foster, of the Twenty-fourth. There John Brooks died ; there Foster and myself lived. By the end of October I was able to go around, when one morning the doctor came down and said he had orders for all that were well enough to go to the stockade, and that made me sick again right away. But as soon as he told us that he had got a parole for all that would work for him, I felt better. And so nine of us worked from that time until the 8th of December, when we were paroled for good. I went from Flor- ence to Charleston, and they put us into the Roper Hospital, where we stayed three days. The guard told us that we were to go back again to prison, which made us feel very bad, but the third morning . we got on board the steamer ' Clemb,' and started for our boats near Fort Sumter. When we came in sight of the old flag, those who had caps took them off and gave one shout ; it was a glad one. But the Rebs shut us up with, 'You will go back to Charleston if you don't stop that.' I went to Annapolis, and there got a furlough home, and returned to Camp Parole, March 27th, 1865. Went from Camp Parole to Alexandria, Va., and from there to Norfolk, Va., where we took the boat through the Dismal Swamp Canal for North Carolina. Arrived at Coinjock Station, where my company were at camp, under Lieutenant Camp. Left Coinjock the 17th of
Digitized by Google
64
RECORDS OF THE
. May. Arrived at Roanoke during the night ; started for New Berne, on board the ' Ella May,' on the 18th. Awoke the next morning and found myself on board the boat 'Tay,' at Foster's Dock. We went into camp across the tent, in the same place that we did three years ago. On the 23d of June we got orders to get ready to go home. Went to Beaufort, and started on board the 'Edward Ewett' for New York ; thence to Albany, and from there to Syracuse, where we were discharged the 18th of July, 1865. Married, November 2d, 1865, to Helen M. Cheney, of Holland, Erie County. Present residence, Hol- land, Erie County, N. Y. Occupation, blacksmith."
66. FERGUSON, ANDREW T .- Enlisted August 30th, 1862, at Moscow.
Mustered in at Buffalo, Sept. 10th, 1862.
Received a corporal's warrant.
Ferguson was a good gunner and made some capital target shots. Was taken prisoner at Plymouth, N. C. Ferguson's music, which was always such a pleasure to the Battery boys, charmed even those Southern beasts, and an occasional desire among the Reb officers to hear a tune, put him in favor with them. It was during one of these respites that he witnessed the destruction of the letters, as told elsewhere.
He was sent from the stockade to the hospital to do police duty, and from there went, on September 9th, 1864, with one of the first squads that were said to be . going to Savannah for exchange. He, however, found himself shipped into the prison at Charleston. From there he was sent to Florence, and was exchanged at Charleston, December 6th, 1864.
After receiving furlough at Annapolis, he went home, and was very sick three months. He again reported to his company, and was mustered out at Syracuse on July
Digitized by Google
.
65
TWENTY-FOURTH NEW YORK BATTERY.
18th, 1865. He then wesumed his former occupation of teaching dancing and deportment. We quote the follow- ing from " The Wyoming Sun," November 20th, 1868 : " Prof. Ferguson proposes to open a school for dancing and deport- ment in this village as soon as the necessary arrangements can be completed. The successful and creditable manner in which his school was conducted last winter has given him a very favorable reputation as an accomplished teacher and a worthy gentleman, and we have no doubt he will meet with a liberal encouragement."
His present address is Cuylerville, N. Y.
The following is a copy of a letter received in reply to a query of ours :
"Yours of the 18th inst. came to hand in due time, making . some inquiries concerning the dark days. It is still fearful to think of, concerning Wirz and some letters. About the 1st of September I went to his head-quarters tent to get a pass to go and play for a dance at his house, three miles away. At his tent were his wife's daughters, examining letters, reading every one, and destroying such ones as commented on the situation. (This a boy told me that lived with them.) The pile of letters I myself saw. After I had played for the party, I went to live with Dr. White, surgeon of the post. Then I saw the destruction of pretty much all of the letters that had been written by the prisoners up to that time. (This occurred on the evening that Stoneman shelled Macon, about the 6th of September.) The doctor brought out of the house more than two bushels of letters. We seated ourselves around the pile, and tore off the stamps, and opened as many as we liked. I saved and brought home one hundred and twenty-five stamps, and de- stroyed twice as many. 'We,' including the doctor, his mistress (she that claimed to be Provost-Marshal Reede's wife), myself, and an Irishman that was then making shoes. The letters, made a pile as high as a table. This was about ten o'clock in the evening. He said they ' would drive away musquitos,' and put fire to them, and the wail of the poor prisoners ascended higher than the smoke.
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.