The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894, Part 15

Author: Haddock, John A., b. 1823-
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Albany, N. Y., Weed-Parsons printing company
Number of Pages: 1098

USA > New York > Jefferson County > The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894 > Part 15

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The reflecting mind sees in those incidents, imperfectly described, how a few misguided men may retard and embarrass a good and a popular cause, though they may not be able to overthrow it or long delay its victori- ous course. Myself a Democrat, I can but regret that that party, now over an hundred years old, should have had its proud escutcheon smirched by those who with- held their hearty support of a cause which saved the Union from threatened disinte- gration. The just historian, however, will -not fail to record that there were many distinguised and able members of that party in Jefferson county who sought, by in- creased activity and greater self-denial, to make amends for what their laggard party friends failed to perform.

Having mentioned Col. Martin as aiding me when attacked upon the streets by a mob of Irishmen, I will tell of an effort to aid him in return for his kindness.

The Colonel was a true patriot, an earnest and wholesome man in all respects, and came from the distinguished family that had given to Martinburgh, N. Y., its name. One day Colonel Martin came to me where I was on duty in one of the bureaus of the War Department, at Washington, and told me he was in trouble. I had not forgotten the Watertown episode and desired to aid him. He told me he had been on duty with his regiment under Butler in Virginia, and the General had peremptorily dismissed him upon a false charge of drunkenness while on duty. Of course every one knew that an officer could not be dismissed in such a way as that, and I suggested an appeal to the President. Through my superior officer I was able to procure an audience with Presi- dent Lincoln, who was evidently impressed with Martin's story, and wrote a note to Secretary Stanton, who issued an order to

Butler to reinstate Colonel Martin in his command or file proper charges against him. This pleased us much, as we thought the Colonel was soon to be all right. But inside of a week he was back again in Washington, declaring that Butler had refused to obey the order. and, after abusing him afresh, had torn the paper up and stamped it under his feet.

Now the matter had become- serions, and my chief and myself felt sure the President would do something "awful" to Butler for his insubordination. On the following day President Lincoln gave us another interview, and after hearing Colonel Martin's story appeared somewhat annoyed. Finally he himself wrote an order in his own hand and over his own signature directing Generai Butler to reinstate Colonel Martin in his command upon receiving the paper. Now, surely, the matter was settled all right, and we felt happy. Ten days afterwards Colonel Martin came back and reported that Butler had flatly refused to reinstate him, declaring that he knew the facts in the case better than the President did, and that he would not obey the order, as he had already put another officer in command of the regi- ment. When this was reported to the President he smiled a little, and at last spoke : "Now, Colonel, you see yourself how I am placed. Of course, I could de- prive Butler of his command, but would that be the best thing for the country ? Under all the circumstances, I feel like letting the matter drop : but I will give you another place, that will perhaps suit you as well." The President kept his promise and Colonel Martin did not leave the service under a cloud.

Those who delight to hear how a head- strong and unreasonable man may at times be brought to taste of some of his own ill- manners, will be pleased to learn that in General Joseph Hawley, the distinguished Senator from Connecticut, General Butler found a man bis equal in forcible language as well as ingenuity in expedients. At the time Butler was digging his canal in Vir- ginia, Hawley was under his command, and one day received from Butler an order to do something distasteful. Turning to the aide who brought the order, he remarked: "You tell General Butler that I shan't obey his or- der. He is a d-d old fool, and if he wants this thing done he had better come and do it himself." The aide departed and that was the last of it. J. A. H.

THE 186TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.

IT is fortunate for our history that we are able to present, from living participants, vivid descriptions of the service of their commands in the field. The 186th N Y. Vol. Infantry was an exceedingly gallant

regiment, and we can do no better than trace its history as related by General Brad- ley Winslow, who fell, shot through the body, while gallantly leading his comrades to the assault upon Fort Mahone, one of

THE WAR FOR THE UNION.

the largest Confederate strongholds abont Petersburg, Va.

On the occasion of a re-union of the vet- erans of that regiment, some 125 in num- ber. in Music Hall, Watertown, April 2, 1888, General Winslow spoke as follows:

Comrades of the 186th Regiment, ladies and gentlemen :- Heartily we greet each other. comrades, after a separation as to the greater number, of twenty-three years. Mutual congratulations are offered that our lives have been prolonged and that we are able to meet to renew acquaintances and friendships that were formed when we were environed by the perils of war. The occasion to us is one of reminiscence and of hallowed memories. In thought we go back through the intervening years to the time when we abandoned the callings in which we were respectively engaged to become soldiers to fight for the preservation of the Union which was then- the only ex- isting government based upon the broad principle of the equality of political rights. The most of us were young men then, filled with the ardor of youth and burning with righteous indignation that armed rebellion, which was without justification or pallia- tion in the sight of humanity or justice, should seek to destroy that national unity which was the heritage of all the people of this land, and which had showered upon us blessings withont number.

It was in the summer of 1864 that we left the peaceful walks of civil life and enrolled ourselves as volunteer soldiers in response to the call of President Lincoln for "five hundred thousand more."

The losses attending the campaigns of the army of the Potomac and the forces in the west under Gen. W. T. Sherman during the spring and summer of that year. had been very great, and the terms of enlistment of many thousands of Union soldiers were about expiring. Formidable Rebel armies were still in the field, but the sentiment to continue the war until the authority of the Union should be fully restored was still strong and dominant in all the loyal States. That sentiment President Lincoln voiced in making the call I have referred to for five hundred thousand volunteers for the mili- tary service. A certain period of time was given in the call in which volunteers could be enrolled. If in that interval a sufficient number were not obtained, then a resort was to be had to a draft. The quota for each of the States was agreed upon, and then again apportioned to the several coun- ties, towns and districts.

In the early part of August, 1864, a meet- ing was held in Watertown of citizens who were earnestly devoted to filling the quota of the county and of the several towns with volunteers, and thereby avoid the irritation prohable to result from an enforced draft. At that meeting a committee was appointed to aid in the procuring of volunteers and in their organization. The committee con-

sisted of such well-known citizens as James F. Starbuck, W. V. V. Rosa, E. B. Wynn, A. M. Farwell, L. J. Bigelow, and E. S. Lansing. Under date of August 17, 1864, one month after the call of the President had been made, this committee entered upon the work of organizing a Jefferson county regiment. Dr. E. S. Lansing went to Albany and obtained from Governor Horatio Seymour, authorizations to recruit the companies that were to compose the proposed regiment. Such authority was issued to E. J. Marsh, H. J. Welch, Lan- sing Snell, J. D. McWayne, A. D. Stern- berg, Richard McMullen, and D. B. Rood, and perhaps others. Such was the zeal with which these gentlemen entered upon the work of recruiting, and such the enthusiasm of the people, that in about two weeks' time a sufficient number of volunteers had been enrolled to organize eight companies. Two additional companies only were re- quired. These were soon found: one headed hy Capt. Squires, recruited in Lewis county, and another headed by Capt. Wallace, re- cruited in Herkimer county.

In perfecting the regimental organization E. J. Marsh was appointed lieutenant-col- onel, A. D. Sternberg, major, and your humble speaker colonel. Madison Barracks at Sackets Harbor was designated as the rendezvous while the enrollment and or- ganization were heing perfected. That ac- complished, but little time was given for preparatory drilling. The order to move soon came. On the 23d day of September, 1864, the 186th regiment, about 900 strong, left Madison Barracks for the seat of war. The route was by way of this city, then by rail to Albany, thence to New York by the steamer "St. John" of the People's line, landing at Castle Garden. In barracks near Castle Garden the regiment remained two days, and then embarked on a large trans- port for City Point, Va. The passage took four days, and was without incident except experiencing a storm that disquieted the stomachs of some of the boys. City Point reached, the life of a soldier in the tented field began. There were many of us in the regiment who had seen service before; some who had been in regiments that were first raised and had served a term of enlist- ment. To snch, of course, the new life was without novelty. But to most of the rank and file, and to some of the officers as well, the duties entered upon were new. The regiment became temporarily a part of the command of Gen. Benham of the engineer corps. Large details were at once ordered daily, and indeed for fully two weeks the effective force of the regiment was devoted to the building of fortifications. The work was hard to perform, and some who were unaccustomed to severe manual labor were reported on the sick list and were sent to the hospital. Some three weeks were thus employed, when the regiment was sent to the immediate front and assigned to the

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

second brigade, second division of the ninth army corps. Its first camp after leaving City Point, was in the vicinity of Poplar Grove church. to the south of Petersburg a number of miles. Here was the regiment's first experience in the presence of the enemy, and its daily details for outpost duty put the boys in the position for the first time of looking into the faces of their foes. Outpost duty, guard mount, camp duty, squad drill and battalion drill were among the daily duties. There were no idle hours, and those who were inclined to shirk were made very uncomfortable. In this way the days passed until the 27th of October came, when a movement of a portion of the Army of the Potomac, including the ninth corps, was undertaken for the purpose of further extending the left and to strike, if possible, the South Side Railroad, which was an im- portant channel of supply for General Lee, The movement substantially failed, the 5th corps doing the most of the fighting on the Union side and getting pretty roughly han- dled. Beyond a little skirmish firing and taking a defensive position near the enemy, the 186th regiment had no part. When it marched from camp in the early morning of the 27th of October, it was generally be- lieved that in a short time the regiment would be in action, and that hurtling shot and shell would soon be thinning its ranks. The prevalence of this belief brought the few who were cowards prominently to no- tice. These, on one pretense or another, ahsented themselves from the ranks. One scalded his foot with hot coffee and could not march; another had a box of hard-tack fall on his feet in some mysterious way, and then there were cases of severe attacks of diarrhoea. There were only a few of these untimely accidents, as there were only a few cowards. One little incident occurred at the expense of the colonel, which may be related. While the regiment was occupying the defensive position referred to there were occasional shots from some concealed foe, possibly fired by sharp shooters. One came rather close to the colonel's head as he sat quietly on his horse, awaiting developments. Now, when the ping of a rifle ball is heard very near one's head, to duck the head is an instinct, and the strongest and bravest will do it. The colonel at this time was probably no exception, and his head dropped a little. Thinking that the mounted officers might be rather conspicuous marks for sharp shooters, he gave the order for them to dis- mount, which was obeyed with alacrity. Whereupon officers and men who were ly- ing along the ground in comparative safety indulged in a little laugh. As the second day from leaving camp wore away, and the evening shadows lengthened, we marched back to camp. As we came near it a fur- ther incident occurred which many will re- call when mention is made of it. If there is one thing that is apparently disagreeable to a soldier, it is to unload his gun by draw-

ing the charge. He wants to do it in an easier way, namely, by firing it. Just as we had reached camp, as stated, it occurred to some one that his gun must be unloaded, and forthwith he fired in the air. This was contagious, and immediately a fusilade be- gan that took some minutes to arrest. The firing was a gross breach of orders and dis- cipline. We were not only near the enemy, but camps and troops were near by, and there was imminent danger that the balls fired in the air, in their descent would kill or wound men or animals. Such a gross hreach of discipline could not be overlooked. The company officers were directed to ex- amine every musket, and report every man whose piece was found empty. The result was that about 150 men were immediately marched to brigade headquarters and their offense reported. What the punishment was, not having witnessed it, I shall not now relate. Those who suffered it will no doubt remember, and they are not called upon to say anything about it.

Outpost duty and constant drill filled up the autumn days until the 29th of November, when the regiment was ordered to a new position. This was in front of Petersburg, slightly to the left and a little in the rear of Fort Davis, and about a half mile to the left and in the rear of Fort Sedgwick. Fort Sedgwick was a large, strongly constructed fort, on which were mounted a large number of heavy guns, and which also had a mortar battery. This fort was confronted by one perhaps equally strong. built by the enemy, called Fort Mahone. Between these hostile works there was almost a daily exchange of shots. So constant was the firing, and so dense oftentimes became the sulphurous clouds of smoke caused by the frequent dis- charges of the great guns and mortars, that the forts received nick-names from the soldiers. Our fort (Sedgwick) was called "Fort Hell," while the confederate was called " Fort Damnation." At this point the out-posts of the hostile armies (protected by an embankment and ditcli, called a rifle pit), were not over twenty rods apart. During the daytime the sentinels on one side rarely fired at those of the other, but when night came, in order to guard against a surprise and to keep the pickets on the alert, con- stant firing was maintained. In our camp it was nothing unusal to hear the whistle of hostile bullets passing overhead, one occa- sionally striking in the camp. One astonished the sutler one day by passing through his tent. I may remark here, as illustrative of the dangerous character of the service the regiment performed, that from the date in October of making our canıp near Poplar Grove church, until the evacuation of Peters- burg, April 2 thereafter, the regiment was, except when away from camp on battalion drill or engaged in some movement, within rifle range of the enemy's picket line. The service under such circumstances was most arduous. Alarms and sudden turnouts to

THE WAR FOR THE UNION.

resist expected attacks were frequent. In midwinter, about Dec. 10, I think, the regi- ment, with other troops, made a forced march to Nottoway river, twenty-five miles distant, which. with the return march, made a distance of fifty miles, in thirty-six hours. On the outward march the weather was moderate, with rain and mud. On the re- turn we faced a piercing wind, with the tem - perature low enough to freeze the mud and cover the wayside pools with thick ice. No member of the regiment. who participated, will ever forget the discomfort and fatigue of the march to Nottoway river and return.

With constant daily duties. such as I have mentioned, the winter of 1864-5 wore away. In the early part of the winter, the area of country included between our camp and the outposts was covered to some extent with a forest, which obstructed the view to both sides of the camps and works of the other, but the timber was gradually used for fuel, and as spring approached the face of the land had been denuded of trees. And this reminds me of another incident. The regi- ment was out for battalion drill one day, not far from camp and near brigade headquar- ters. The drill closed with a movement in line of battle at a charge bayonet and douhle quick time, accompanied with a terrfic yell, in imitation of the well-known "rebel yell." It attracted the enemy's attention. and several Whitworth shells were fired at us, which came dangerously near. One passed between the right of the regiment and drum corps as both were marching away from the field. The drum corps was not more than ten or twelve paces from the right of the regiment. The time of the marching step was being beaten on the large bass drum. The shells made double quick time for the drum corps, and the frantic efforts of the man with the big drum to clinib over it were quite ludicrous. It was an occasion well calculated to try the nerves and test the steadiness of the regiment. This shot proved that the bat- tery from which it was fired had the proper range and we had good reason to expect that another shot would follow and very likely crash through the moving ranks. Looking back from my position at the head of the marching column, I noted that every man was in his place. There was no panic, no excitement, the same measured step was maintained. Fortunately, no more shells were thrown. From that moment my con- victions were confirmed that in the worst of positions the men of the 186th regiment could be relied on to bear themselves with the cool- ness of veterans. And not long afterwards was the ordeal presented that proved their heroism, and which entitles them to the honor and respect that just men ever award to the brave who peril their lives in their country's service.

At the date of which I am speaking, the tireless brain of Gen. Grant was forming plans and putting them in force which were soon to culminate at Appomatox, tlie crowning

victory of the war, the surrender of the army of Northern Virginia. Not until then could it be clearly foreseen that the "last ditch " for the rebellion had been nearly reached. The gallant Sheridan, with his victorious army fresh from the conquest of Early in the Shenandoah, had come to the assistance of the army of the Potomac. For three days his conquering legions had been passing some distance in our rear. They were mov- ing to join the left of General Meade's army with the object of making a strong effort against the right flank of General Lee's army. This formidable array it did not seem possi- ble for General Lee to successfully cope with, and the sequel proved that he was unequal to the task. In his efforts to meet the crisis it is presumed that he had drawn from the defenses of Petersburg and Richmond such numbers as he thought could be spared and not imperil the safety of those points. The defensive works were strong-believed to be too strong to be carried by assault. Evi- dently the Union commanders had a different opinion or else they deemed it wise to make a demonstration against them to prevent the withdrawal of more troops to fight against Sheridan. On the evening of the 30th of March. the regiment was ordered to report at 3 o'clock the next morning to the com- mander of the first brigade of our division in rear of Fort Sedgwick. The purpose of the movement was not explained. On reaching the point designated, however, it was apparent. It was to make an assault upon the enemy's line in our front. Perfect quiet was observed. the necessary orders were given in a low voice. The order to at- tack was momentarily expected. All knew that a simple movement of a few rods to the left. passing a projecting angle of the fort and making a sharp wheel to the right, would bring the attacking force within easy and direct range of hostile batteries and of a musketry fire that would sweep every foot of the ground. Of course the hope was that the intervening space between where the movement was to begin and the objective point would nearly or quite be covered be- fore the enemy should be aware of our ap- proach. What if he should be fully in- formed? What if some spy had given a warning signal and every gun he shotted and every man at his post to aid the work of de- stroying the assailants? These thoughts were doubtless in the minds of all who, in that still morning hour. awaited the order to attack. But it came not. After an hour of suspense we were ordered back to camp. But the expected fearful struggle was not long delayed. About nine o'clock in the evening of the 1st of March, the regimental commanders were summoned to brigade headquarters. When we had assembled. the General said that it had been determined that we should attack the enemy's works the next morning at three o'clock; that we would see that our regiments were promptly turned out at that hour, and that everything

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

should be in readiness. He spoke encourag- ingly as to probable success, but little con- versation was indulged in. All seemed im- pressed with the gravity of the situation. As we rose to leave, with much feeling visible in his expressive face, he took each by the hand and good-byes were exchanged. Re- turning to camp, the order to be in readiness to turn out at the hour named was given to the company commanders through the ad- jutant. Midnight came, and at that hour swift, galloping feet were heard, and in a moment stopped at the colonel's tent. Quickly the order was delivered: " The Gen- eral directs that you turn out your regiment at once and march to the picket line." The unfinished letter was quickly locked in a valise, and in a very few minutes the regi- ment formed and we marched to the picket line and halted, and were ordered to lie down. We then learned that the 179th regi- ment had charged the enemy's picket line in our front and taken a number of prison- ers. What induced this movement at an earlier hour than had previously been named was not explained. Apparently, hesides the capture of a few prisoners, it had the effect to alarm the enemy, for very soon his hat- teries began a terrible fire that brought a prompt response from our own, and opened a scene which I could wish some more com- petent witness than I would accurately and eloquently describe. But first it is proper to observe that the lines of the opposing armies were many miles in extent, nearly parallel to each other, and at intervals of about a third of a mile were forts and re- doubts on either side, connected by other strong defenses. And these works were so constructed that if any one of them should be taken it would be commanded by others comprising the series of defenses on the same side. Cannon seemingly without num- ber were mounted thereon. And now, in that calm, still night, with darkness only relieved by the light of peaceful shining stars in the vaulted heavens above, these fierce engines of war opened their brazen throats; sulphurous smoke and fire issuing therefrom in visible form, which seemed to freight the impalable air with noisome odors. Screaming, hissing shot and shell, inter- spersed with the sharp whiz and ping of leaden bullets, seemed passing everywhere above our heads. Crash after crash in quick succession, and then, as if to swell the roar, hundreds of simultaneous discharges of great guns were heard and felt, the con- cussion causing the earth to tremble. As far as the vision could extend to the right and left, the burning fuses of bombs and shells in graceful curvatures could be seen, all making a pyrotechnic display wholly unrivalled in the experience of all who wit- nessed it. Not all the enginery of the great Jove himself could equal this warlike dis- play of puny man.

While our men were lying along the ground to escape as much as possible these

hurtling missiles; a shell struck the earth and ploughed under a file of men, killing one of them and wounding three others. Another shell exploded in the ground near one of the companies, doing no further harm than to cover the men with earth. For more than two hours the terrific storm of war continued, and then there seemed a little lull, during which the regiment moved by the right flank until its right rested on the so-called Jerusalem plank road. Faced to the front, the order to lie down was again given. Here we had not long to wait. Our regiment now composed part of a column of assault. In a recent communication, addressed by General Griffin to your hum- ble speaker, he says :

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The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894, Part 15

Author: Haddock, John A., b. 1823- Publication date: 1895 Publisher: Albany, N. Y., Weed-Parsons printing company Number of Pages: 1098

Author: Haddock, John A., b. 1823-
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Albany, N. Y., Weed-Parsons printing company
Number of Pages: 1098