USA > New York > Dutchess County > The "Dutchess county regiment" (150th regiment of New York state volunteer infantry) in the Civil War; > Part 2
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CHAPTER II. ORGANIZATION AND STAY IN BALTIMORE.
By HENRY A. GILDERSLEEVE.
Inst Practical Step -- "Josh Billings' " Resolution-Authority from Governor Morgan- War Meetings All Over the County-Mustered Into the United States Service - The Journey to Baltimore-Small Campaigns-Turning our Faces Towards the Enemy.
On July 2, 1862, the President of the United States issued a proclamation calling for three hundred thous- and men to serve for three years, or during the war. In answer to this call the Dutchess County Regiment was organized. The prompt response of the Empire State, including the loyal citizens of Dutchess County, to the proclamation of the President in those dark days of the rebellion, gave an impetus to enlistments through- out the whole North, and under the call 431,958 volun- teers were mustered into the Federal Army. This quickly gathered new force not only supplied great addi- tional strength, but improved the morale of the armies already in the field, and gave to the men in high station, upon whom rested the grave responsibility of conducting the war, the greatest confidence and encouragement.
Prior to this large numbers of Dutchess County men had enlisted in the Union armies. Some marched to the front with the 20th New York Infantry, while others followed the colors of the 128th, and still others enlisted
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ORGANIZATION AND STAY IN BALTIMORE.
in the 48th, and in various other New York regiments, in the cavalry and artillery branches of the service, as well as in the infantry.
Mrs. Benson J. Lossing took the first practical step toward the formation of the new regiment. On Thurs- day, the 21st of August, 1862, this patriotic lady caused to be published an appeal to the citizens for a Dutchess County regiment. Isaac Platt, proprietor and editor of the Poughkeepsie Eagle, heartily endorsed the appeal in his paper issued on the morning of that day, and within forty-eight hours the following young men handed to A. B. Smith of Poughkeepsie, as one of the resident mem- bers of the General War Committee, requests to be al- lowed to recruit volunteers and enter the United States service in a Dutchess County regiment.
The names are Cogswell, McConnell, Gildersleeve, Titus, Woodin, Wickes, Sweet, Gridley, Broas, Cruger, Underwood, Steenburgh, Van Keuren, Scofield and Tripp.
Henry W. Shaw (better known as "Josh Billings "), a member of the Board of Supervisors of Dutchess County, offered, in that legislative body, a resolution drafted by Mr. A. B. Smith, which was passed with unanimity and alacrity. It read as follows :
Resolved, That the County of Dutchess will pay fifty dollars bounty to each man who will enlist in a Dutchess County regiment, and the Executive War Committee of the County is requested to procure per- mission from Governor Morgan to raise such a regiment, with camp located at Poughkeepsie.
Provided with a certified copy of this resolution, and letters of introduction from Congressman Baker and Mr. Justice Emott, Mr. Smith, under instructions from the War Committee, went to Albany on August 23rd and
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THE DUTCHESS COUNTY REGIMENT.
made application to His Excellency, Governor Morgan, for authority to recruit "A Dutchess County Regiment." The application was immediately granted, and Mr. Smith returned with the following authorization :
To Hon. James Emott,
Chairman of Executive War
Committee of Dutchess County :
Permission is granted to your War Committee to raise a Dutchess County Regiment, with camp located at Poughkeepsie.
EDWIN D. MORGAN, Governor.
Hillhouse,
A. A. G.
Previous to this Governor Morgan had appointed a General War Committee for the Congressional District, with Mr. William Kelly of Rhinebeck as Chairman. From this General Committee an Executive War Com- mittee had been chosen, consisting of James Emott, Wil- liam Kelly, Ambrose Wager, George W. Sterling, Ben- son J. Lossing, James H. Weeks, Stephen Baker, Joseph F. Barnard and John H. Ketcham.
As soon as the foregoing authority was promulgated the work of bringing into life, form, and discipline, the Dutchess County Regiment, was entered upon with great activity and earnestness. Not only was the spirit of patriotism fully awakened, but home pride became thor- oughly aroused in the breasts of the citizens of the County, and martial enthusiasm reached its climax.
Many young men who from the first breaking out of the war felt inclined to enlist, but were restrained by business engagements they could not well forego, or by home ties that were painful to sever, had frequently de- clared that they would join a Dutchess County regi- ment when such a one should be organized.
That day was now at hand, and led on by John H.
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ORGANIZATION AND STAY IN BALTIMORE.
Ketcham, who was commissioned Colonel of the regiment, the young men of Dutchess County, true to their vows, eagerly enlisted as volunteers for three years, or the war, in the 150th Regiment New York Volunteer Infantry. The memories of those days recall the conflicts between love of country and love of kindred; private business interests and public duty. Patriotism triumphed, and the work of recruiting moved on rapidly.
The young leaders who undertook the responsibility of securing enlistments opened up headquarters in various sections of the County. The days were occupied in ex- plaining to young men contemplating enlistment the ad- vantages to be gained by joining the 150th; the pay, the bounties, the chances of promotion, and the probable time by which the organization would be completed and move to the scene of action. Each recruit received, when accepted and sworn in, a bounty of fifty dollars from the County. All able-bodied men between the ages of eigh- teen and forty-five were eligible, and each recruit had to submit to a thorough surgical examination as to his physical condition. Those under the age of twenty-one were required to produce the written consent of parent or guardian.
The compensation of the private was thirteen dollars per month, with clothing and rations. Clothing was supplied to the amount of a limited value each year, and for all clothing issued in excess of this allowance the value was deducted from the soldier's pay. Non-com- missioned officers received more than the privates, in pro- portion to their rank. Commissioned officers received higher compensation than enlisted men, but were obliged to furnish their own clothing, rations, and equipments.
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THE DUTCHESS COUNTY REGIMENT.
The nights were devoted to "war meetings " in dif- ferent parts of the County, but the larger gatherings were at our general headquarters in Poughkeepsie. Frequently four and six-horse teams bore young soldiers, already in blue uniform, with banners flying and bands playing, to meetings in the country districts to secure en- listments. There was scarcely a place in Dutchess County, sufficiently large to support a post office, that did not have its one or more war meetings each week, and there were scenes of enthusiastic gatherings at which bands played patriotic airs, while from barrels, stoops, wagons, and horse-blocks, orators harangued the assem- bled crowds with war speeches until the excitement ran high and many names were added to the enlistment rolls.
From the Sheriff's Office in the Court House in the City of Poughkeepsie, which was turned into a Recruit- ing Office, was displayed a banner bearing the following words :
" Come in out of the draft."
Already provision had been made by the Government to obtain men by drafting, in the event of a shortage of volunteers, and the significance of these words was ap- parent, causing no little comment. To the indifferent they were a gentle reminder of what might be expected if a sufficient number of volunteers were not promptly forthcoming, and to those who were anxious to enlist, but who were restrained by relatives and friends, they furnished a powerful argument in favor of consent.
The threatened drafts, and liberal bounties, un- doubtedly brought some men into the service, but pure patriotism was generally the sole moving power, and
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ORGANIZATION AND STAY IN BALTIMORE.
especially was this true of the 150th Regiment, com- posed as it largely was, of intelligent and thoughtful men. They hastened to the defense of their country with a spontaneous impulse born of a correct knowledge of the true nature of the cause for which they were to suffer fatigue, exposure, hunger, thirst, and the perils of battle, believing that their country's cause was their personal cause, and that the success of the Union arms would be a victory for their individual principles.
The Union Volunteers, generally, were not mere machines, enrolled, disciplined, and ranged in living palisades before the enemy, but they were men with ideas, who could, when occasion required, think and act for themselves.
As we have seen, the work of recruiting went briskly on. As soon as eighty men were enrolled by any one recruiting officer, he went to Albany and received his commission as Captain, and also received commissions for First and Second Lieutenants of his own selection. Usually the latter offices were promised beforehand to young men who aided the Captain in the enrollment. The Captains took rank according to the date of their commissions, and the Companies received their alpha- betical designation, commencing with "A," in the order in which their respective Captains were commissioned.
Our rendezvous at Poughkeepsie was named "Camp Dutchess," and was located nearly a mile northeast from the Court House, and just north of the old Alms House Farm. On that rocky side-hill field were built our bar- racks, of rough boards, and all of us had our meals in a common mess-hall. There was but little opportunity for drill and discipline, but the rudiments of a soldier's
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THE DUTCHESS COUNTY REGIMENT.
duties were here inculcated, and some feeble notion ac- quired of the life before us.
At this camp, on the 11th of October, 1862, the Regi- ment was mustered into the service of the United States. We now realized that we were real soldiers, and begun to appreciate the importance of the step we had taken.
Our march down Main Street that night, uniformed and equipped for battle, has remained always in the memory of those who participated in or witnessed it. Sad and painful were the partings; the good-byes were said with moist eyes and aching hearts; but all those who were to go, and those who were to remain behind, bore themselves with fortitude and courage. We boarded the steamboat Oregon, and sailed down the Hudson River for Jersey City, where we arrived the following day.
It was nearly night when we took the cars for Balti- more, and about midnight when we reached Philadelphia and, leaving the train, were marched to the "Soldiers' Retreat," for supper. This welcome hostelry consisted of an old cooper's shop near the depot, fitted up as a mess-hall, where free meals were served to soldiers on their way to the front. It was profusely decorated with American flags, and in conspicuous view were portraits of Washington and Lincoln.
This provision for feeding the hungry soldiers en route was a contribution from the patriotic citizens of the Quaker City in the name of the Union Relief Associa- tion, and many an old soldier remembers it with grati- tude. Philadelphia was not an exception in this regard, for similar mess-halls were provided in nearly all the large cities of the North. When supper was over we all agreed that we had enjoyed a "square meal," and
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ORGANIZATION AND STAY IN BALTIMORE.
officers and men, in unison, expressed their appreciation and thanks in three rousing cheers.
We renewed our journey at 2 A. M., crossing the Sus- quehanna by ferry (the river had not then been bridged at this point) and arrived at Baltimore Monday after- noon, October 13th. In moving from the Northern to the Southern station we passed through the street where, April 19, 1861, several Companies of the 6th Massachu- setts Regiment were attacked by a mob that had assem- bled to oppose their progress. Four of the soldiers were slain and many of the rioters killed. In crossing a bridge where the hottest of the fight occurred we could still see the marks of the bullets on portions of the structure. They were the first tangible evidences we witnessed of violence resulting from the war, and excited among us no little comment and curiosity.
Baltimore had long been a peaceful city, and we had no reason to apprehend opposition. Nevertheless, as we passed the spot where Union soldiers had been attacked and killed while on their way to defend the Capital, the deep indignation we felt when, more than a year before, the news of the attack reached the North, again rose in our breasts, and we were seized with a belligerent spirit such as we had never before experienced. We almost wished that some such mob might assail us !
We remained that afternoon and night on the plat- forms of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad station. On the following day, September 14th, we marched to the western suburbs of Baltimore, and there established a camp which we named "Camp Millington."
Later we were assigned a permanent location at the head of Eutaw Street, and there constructed comfortable
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THE DUTCHESS COUNTY REGIMENT.
wooden barracks which constituted our headquarters dur- ing the remainder of our stay in the city. This we named " Camp Belger," in honor of Colonel Belger, the Depart- ment Quartermaster. Baltimore was included in the " Middle Department" of the Armies of the United States, and at the time of our arrival was commanded by the distinguished veteran soldier, Major-General Wool.
General Wool was the first officer of high rank to re- view the regiment. His presence at our headquarters was a matter of deep interest to the command, and all made an earnest effort to appear well and create a favor- able impression, and we were greatly encouraged by his words of commendation. General Wool was soon suc- ceeded by General Schenck, who gave us our first instruc- tion in brigade drill.
We were willing and ambitious, but in our few weeks of service had acquired the simple rudiments of company and regimental drill only, and possessed no knowledge of brigade movements. Thanks to the activity of field officers, and their tactical book learning, each Captain re- ceived-before the order was executed-some explana- tion of what the maneuver was to be, and we got through very creditably.
Our long stay in Baltimore gave us an unusual oppor- tunity for military education, and we were moulded into form and discipline of the highest grade. A Regimental Band was organized from the members of the regiment, and soon furnished good and inspiring music at our dress parades. These parades were frequently attended by large numbers of the loyal citizens of Baltimore, who applauded the precision and elegance of the ceremonies. At times we were exercised in battalion drill in some of
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ORGANIZATION AND STAY IN BALTIMORE.
the principal streets of the city. We practiced especially on these occasions methods of street fighting, in which we became very proficient.
Occasionally we witnessed slight evidences of derision from Baltimore ladies of Southern sympathies, but this was always more than offset by marks of approval from loyal citizens. We were invited to the homes of some of the citizens for dinners and entertainments, and re- ceived considerable social attention. Several times dur- ing the winter Union Assemblies were given at the Opera House, attended by many of the best families, and the Union officers were the principal guests. At these gather- ings we had an opportunity to meet the ladies of Balti- more, famed for their refinement and beauty, and we learned that their reputations were well deserved.
Study of the tactics and army regulations, drill and guard duty, interspersed with a few social diversions of the character mentioned, occupied the winter. A con- siderable portion of the time Company C was detailed to do guard duty at the Camden Station, occupying a house immediately opposite the station and charged with the responsibility of maintaining order among the troops that passed through, and in protecting Government property.
Steuart's Hospital, formerly the residence of a Balti- more family of that name, but now an institution for the care and shelter of the sick and wounded, was also a post for which our regiment provided guard. Other points at times required the services of our men.
Late in December Stuart's cavalry were raiding in the vicinity of Elysville, twenty miles west of Baltimore. Here was a bridge over the Patapsco River, and the town
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THE DUTCHESS COUNTY REGIMENT.
also possessed a valuable cotton mill. Company D, under Captain Woodin, was sent to protect this prop- erty and remained on duty there a few days, experiencing no occurrence worthy of notice.
This J. E. B. Stuart of Confederate Cavalry fame, commonly spoken of as "Jeb" Stuart, was of another family from the Steuart family after which our Baltimore hospital was named.
When the holiday season arrived we were remembered by our friends at home in the form of a bountiful supply of roasted turkeys, and many delicacies, all of which were greatly enjoyed by rank and file. We were frequently visited in Camp Belger by relatives and friends from the North. Some officers had their wives or sisters in this camp, and the presence of this colony of ladies added much to the pleasure of the hours not needed for military duty.
On December 9th the routine of camp life was inter- rupted by a command requiring us to make ready to march at a moment's notice. It was reported that Con- federate cavalry had crossed the Potomac at Point of Rocks, and that a raid on the Baltimore and Ohio Rail- road was apprehended. We proceeded in freight cars to Adamstown, near Monocacy Junction, but could find no enemy, and returned to Baltimore after an absence of less than forty-eight hours, with virgin swords. The only blood shed was from two opossums captured by men on picket duty. The move was an uneventful one, and its only claim to mention is that it was our first cam- paign.
On March 20, 1863, Lieutenant Bowman of Company F, Sergeant McGill, Corporal Ostrander, and twelve pri-
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ORGANIZATION AND STAY IN BALTIMORE.
vates, were detailed as a Provost Guard at Westminster, a small village located about thirty-three miles from Balti- more, on the Hagerstown pike. Their duties consisted in apprehending deserters, and in detecting and suppress- ing the efforts of men hostile to the Union cause, who were trying to afford aid and comfort to the enemy. Lieutenant Bowman and his men were well received and handsomely entertained by the loyal citizens, and also assisted by them in the performance of their duties. They made many arrests and ascertained much valuable in- formation.
All went well until June 28th, when a squadron of the Ist Delaware Cavalry, two hundred strong, arrived and quartered themselves just east of the village. The fol- lowing day, while many of the Union Cavalry horses were at the blacksmith shops being shod, a body of Stuart's cavalry suddenly appeared on the west side of the village. No pickets had been put out in that direc- tion, as the approach of the enemy from that quarter was considered highly improbable.
The Delaware troopers that still remained in camp hastily mounted, charged down the street upon the ad- vancing foe, and engaged them in a hand-to-hand conflict. Meantime, Lieutenant Bowman rallied his little command and undertook a flank movement. As the attacking party proved to consist of several thousand of Stuart's veterans, the ambitious detail from the 150th did not get very far before it was surrounded and captured. Two of Bow- man's command, Hooper of Company D, and Matthews of Company C, made their escape. The prisoners, after hard marching with little rest and food, were paroled at Dover, Pennsylvania, on July Ist.
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THE DUTCHESS COUNTY REGIMENT.
Before the end of June the battle of Chancellorsville had been fought and lost; Confederate General Ewell had begun his march down the Shenandoah Valley; Mil- roy had been defeated at Winchester, and the triumphant rebel army, led by General Robert E. Lee, was marching into the State of Pennsylvania. The most intense excite- ment and alarm prevailed throughout the North, and the authorities at Washington were filled with fear and con- sternation. It seemed a question of a few days only when the rebel host would be sacking the cities of the North, levying contributions upon its citizens and demanding entrance to the Capital of the nation.
The principal streets of Baltimore were barricaded, and our regiment was distributed at different points to defend barricades and resist the approach of the Con- federate soldiers. All the horrors of civil war were threatening the homes of the men who were defending the Union, and the fate of the nation seemed to rest with the Army of the Potomac, then under command of General Joseph Hooker, but who was superseded in com- mand, before we joined that army, by General George G. Meade.
On June 25, 1863, with full ranks thoroughly drilled and disciplined, in bright uniforms and with colors spot- less and untarnished, to the strains of martial music the Dutchess County Regiment marched out of Camp Belger and turned its face toward the enemy.
CHAPTER III. FROM BALTIMORE TO GETTYSBURG.
By WILLIAM E. GURNEY.
Departure from Baltimore-Learning Campaign Service-"Battle Hymn of the Repub- lic"-Becoming Part of the Army of the Potomac-Just Before the Battle.
On the morning of June 25, 1863, all was stir and excitement in and around Belger Barracks, in the City of Baltimore, an excitement which was shared to some extent throughout the city itself. The different companies which had been doing guard duty at the various hospitals and depots in the city had been ordered to assemble at the barracks, as marching orders had been received, and they were to leave their comfortable quarters to go,- none knew where.
The boys were very busy packing their surplus cloth- ing and keepsakes that had accumulated during the eight months and more of our stay in the city, and the express wagons came into camp and were loaded with the boxes and bundles that were to be sent to their Northern homes. The rank and file were all jubilant at the idea of duty at the front, for many of them had begun to think that their full time of enlistment would be spent in doing guard duty, which was far from being a pleasing thought to the majority of those composing the regiment.
Little did they realize what was in store for them; the long and tedious marches through swamps and over mountains; the bivouac at night without shelter to keep
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THE DUTCHESS COUNTY REGIMENT.
them from those Southern storms of rain and wind; the long and lonely nights spent on picket; and last but not least, the horrors of the battlefield. Surely it was all for the best that they could not look into the future and see that which was awaiting them.
About the middle of the afternoon, the process of pack- ing having been completed, the line was formed, and, with the band playing and the flags flying, the regiment marched out of its winter camp amid the cheers of many who had become friendly with its members during their long stay in the city.
They made quite a display as they marched through the streets, with their clean uniforms and bright guns glistening in the sun, and with their knapsacks slung on their backs ;- and such knapsacks as those were! They were packed so full that they were in danger of bursting, and each had a blanket or overcoat strapped on top. I doubt whether any regiment ever carried such loads be- fore or since; certainly not for more than a day or two.
The regiment, under command of Col. John H. Ketcham, soon left the noisy streets of Baltimore behind and moved off on the country road at a good swinging pace, and many were the joyous and patriotic songs that floated over the Maryland hills and valleys on that lovely June afternoon. Before dark we reached Ellicott's Mills, a small town some nine miles from Baltimore, where we went into camp for the first night. Though they had made but a short distance, not being accustomed to marching, the men were tired, and many of them had already worn blisters on their feet, some of which were large and painful.
Near where we camped for the night a stream of cool,
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FROM BALTIMORE TO GETTYSBURG.
clear water ran rippling through the meadow land, and, in a very short time after the order to break ranks was given, the banks of the stream were lined with those who were anxious to soak their burning and blistered feet in the cooling waters of that friendly stream. After relief had been obtained for their suffering feet, the haversacks were overhauled and all enjoyed their frugal supper of pork and hardtack, washing it down with army coffee.
Blankets were then spread and preparations made for the night, which, however, proved not to be the most pleasant night of the year for sleeping out of doors. A shower came up which lasted until nearly daylight, and, as few had shelter, they were thoroughly soaked when morning came. So our first night's experience of actual campaign life proved to be rather disagreeable, and it is probable that some of the members of the regiment wished themselves back in the comfortable quarters of the old barracks.
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