USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > The heroes of Albany. A memorial of the patriot-martyrs of the city and county of Albany, who sacrificed their lives during the late war in defense of our nation 1861-1865 > Part 57
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CIV. ORANGE DUDLEY.
ORANGE DUDLEY was born in the town of Guilderland on the 8th of February, 1844.
In the year 1847 his parents, JOHN T. and MARY DUDLEY, removed to Albany, where they resided at the time that ORANGE enlisted in the army.
From his earliest years, ORANGE was an affectionate son and brother, and was strictly conscientious in all his conduct. He was a member of the Albany Division of the Sons of Temper- ance, and was an enthusiastic advocate of temperance. At the age of fifteen he was hopefully converted to God, and united with the Washington Avenue Methodist Church. He was an ardent and consistent Christian, and held the office of Librarian of the West Mission Sabbath School.
726
ORANGE DUDLEY.
When the war broke out, ORANGE was a clerk in the store of Dr. C. H. Surru, druggist, and he felt it to be his duty to enlist in the army for the defence of his country. But the doctor was reluctant to have him leave, as he valued very highly his faithful services; and besides his parents considered that he was too young to endure the hardships of war. As he could not go without his parents' consent, he gave up at that time the idea.
As the war, however, progressed, he still felt it to be a duty he owed to God and his country to enlist, and if he did not live to return and enjoy the triumph of his cause, it would be a benefit to those that survived him.
As his father was a truly loyal man, he gave his consent, and in August, 1862, ORANGE enlisted in Company A, Seventh Heavy Artillery, for three years or during the war.
On the 19th day of August, 1862, his regiment left Albany for Washington, at which place they were ordered to do garrison duty. Here he remained about eighteen months. During that time, he was at home only once, on a furlough of ten days, and that was in January, 1864. He came home to see his father, who was very near death, and, although he would gladly have staid with him a few days longer, yet he could not get his furlough lengthened. He went back, saying it was his duty to do so, but if he could possibly come again he would. But his father died on the 16th day of March, and he never saw him again.
While he was at home it was evident that the life of a soldier had not injured his Christian character. On the 15th day of May, 1864, his regiment left Washington, being ordered to the front. On the 19th of May, they were engaged in the battle of Fredericksburg Road, Virginia; on May 23 and 24, at North Anna River; May 31 and June 1, at Tolopotomy Creek, and at Coal Harbor in June. At the battle of Coal Harbor, June 3, he was seriously wounded. The ball entered his left shoulder and came out on the right side. He bled very profusely and, when found, was taken up by Sergeant SMITH and carried to the Corps Hospital, where he had his wounds dressed. He was sent from there to the White House hospital, but, as he never reached it, it is supposed he must have given out on the way, and was left
727
LEVI I. HARVEY.
to die and to be buried by strangers. His friends have never heard anything from him since. Thus, far from home, without one to cheer his last hours, died one who was loved and respected by all, for his kind and gentle manners and Christian virtues.
On the 19th day of May, he wrote a letter home, which was the last one ever received from him. In that, he said: "Mother do not worry about me. Remember that my life is in the same hands as yours; and, whether in the battle or at the quiet fire- side, unless God wills it, death cannot harm me. Remember, He has taught us to say, 'Thy will be done.'"
From the time of his enlistment until his death, he was very punctual in writing home. He always wrote once a week, and sometimes oftener. His letters uniformly breathed an earnest patriotism and an intense love for his home and friends.
CV. -
LEVI I. HARVEY.
LEVI I. HARVEY was born in the county of Kent, Rhode Island, December 10, 1808.
He was apprenticed to a carpenter, and after learning his trade, removed to Cornwall, Vermont, where he married PHEBE S. BASCOM. After his marriage, he united himself to the Congre- gational Church at that place. Soon after, he settled in the city of Albany, and connected himself with the Protestant Reformed Dutch Church of that city. He was a member of that church, in good standing, at the time of his death.
Although moving in the humble walks of life, he was ever respected by all who knew him for his great integrity and con- sistent Christian character. Although he, at the commencement of the war, was quite advanced in life, he was prompted, by feel- ings of patriotism, to enlist in the service of his country as a pri- vate in Company B, Forty-third Regiment N. Y. S. V. He was with his regiment in the Division of Gen. HANCOCK, under Gen. MCCLELLAN, through the Peninsula campaign, and in all the bat-
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SAMUEL G. LOOMIS,
tles in which his regiment was engaged, until the retreat of the army to Harrison Landing, and their return to Alexandria, Va., where he was taken sick and sent to the hospital, and subse- quently was honorably discharged from the service for disability.
Mr. HARVEY, after his return home, and recovery from his sickness, could not content himself to remain out of the service, and again re-enlisted in Company G, Second Heavy Artillery, Massachusetts Volunteers. He was with that regiment at the capture of Fort Williams by the enemy, where he was taken prisoner with his entire regiment, and sent to Andersonville, Georgia. There he died from the effect of ill treatment, received at the hands of the rebels, July 18, 1864.
The record of Mr. HARVEY is one among the many, of noble sacrifice made by loyal citizens in devotion to their country.
It was purely christian patriotism that prompted him, in advanced life, to yield up the comforts of a home, and a family to which he was devoted, to hear his part in the great struggle for the maintenance of the Government; and nobly did he dis- charge his duty.
His widow, PHEBE S. HARVEY, who is quite advanced in life, survives him, with five children to mourn his loss.
CVI.
SAMUEL G. LOOMIS.
SAMUEL G. LOOMIS, son of SAMUEL and SARAH A. LOOMIS, was born in the city of Albany, March 12, 1842. He was a dutiful and affectionate son, and was remarkable in his youth for great generosity. He always felt a sympathy for the poor, and would often practice self denial to relieve them. He attended the Pearl Street Baptist Church, and for many years was a member of that Sabbath school. He often introduced himself to young men who were strangers in the city, and by doing them acts of kind- ness, he gained many friends.
He enlisted October 13, 1862, in Company B, One Hundred and
729
SAMUEL G. LOOMIS.
Seventy-seventh New York Regiment. He was on board the " Merrimac" at the time that vessel came near being wrecked, but safely reached Port Royal.
In a letter written on Christmas day, and addressed to his sis- ter, he says:
" We bade our friends good-bye, and again set sail for parts unknown.
" At daylight, on New Year's morning, we landed at Ship Island, a gloomy place, with dilapidated barracks looking very much like the ruins of some old castle.
" I was afraid we were to be stationed there, and would pre- fer to shoulder a musket and face the enemy. We received orders at this place to go to Louisiana, and, accordingly, started for New Orleans. We passed that city, and sailed up the Mis- sissippi to a place called Carrolton, nine miles above.
"This place was a marshy and unhealthy location. Where the tents were pitched, the water came upon them, while the men were sleeping."
They received their muskets at this place, and without a day's drill (for SAMUEL had never loaded a gun), they commenced their march up the country, the road being beset with guerrillas. They reached Bonnet Carré and there encamped.
We give the following extracts from CHARLES' letters :
" March 10th. Dear Mother-I was startled last night by hear- ing the long roll, which is the signal of trouble. I was not long in getting on my clothes. And in twenty minutes Company B was on the ground, all equipped for battle. The Major ordered us to load, but to his surprise, found we had done so. Col. NICK- ERSON rode up and complimented us highly, saying: he had per- fect confidence that we would be ready in any emergency."
" April, 1863-The first week in this month an expedition started out from our port, consisting of the Fourteenth and Fourth Maine, and One Hundred and Seventy-seventh, i. e., our, Regi- ment, and two cannon.
" We sailed up the Mississippi on flat boats fifty miles, and then followed the Amite river. On land we marched through swamps filled with alligators and snakes. The country being strange to
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SAMUEL G. LOOMIS.
us, we lost our way, and got in what the slaves told us was the dismal swamp. Many boys lost their shoes, and went bare footed. I was fortunate in capturing a mule, and rode him, holding on by the mane. I managed to carry my own and seve- ral of the boys' muskets. After a march of twenty-two miles, we halted behind a pile of boards on the bank of the Amite river, near McGill's Ferry. We laid on the ground. About midnight we were attacked by guerrillas. We opened fire on them, killing thirty and wounding several, and we took some prisoners. But one of our regiment was killed and three wounded. They fired over our heads. Our object was to draw the rebels away from Ponchatoula, where a part of our force intended to attack. It was a complete success. We drove them out, and captured cotton and turpentine amounting, in value, to several thousand dollars. We were absent from camp one week."
On the 18th of May, his company was sent up to McGill's Ferry to guard the place. They suffered much while there, it being a swampy place, and exposed to constant rains. They had no shelter, not even a dry place to sit down upon, but leaned against the trees to rest. They were there for ten days, with seven days' rations. They were fired upon, but all made their escape at midnight and went to Baton Rouge. He writes nothing of this, but the young men who were with him give the information.
The morning following they proceeded to Port Hudson, pass- ing through the woods while they were on fire. SAMUEL was one among others who took a message to the fleet anchored in the Mississippi, passing the entire front during the action of the 25th of May. He was engaged on the entrenched works before Port Hudson on the 14th of June. He volunteered with the forlorn hope, to storm the works at midnight. During the bat- tle SAMUEL was frequently heard, cheering and urging his com- panions on, saying, "Now is the time to make your mark," "Stand by the flag."
He worked in the intrenchments forty-two days without change of clothing, his knapsack having been left at Baton Rouge, with
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SAMUEL G. LOOMIS.
all the clothes he had. His companions told his mother that he would cheer them up, in those dark hours, by relating pleasing stories, and expressing the bright hope of meeting friends and loved ones at home.
After the surrender of Port Hudson, he writes: "Mother, I do not consider my lot a hard one. I volunteered to fight and suffer, if necessary, for the glorious cause of freedom. I do not regret having entered the army. It is the duty and should be the privilege of all young men to go, at their country's call."
After the surrender, the regiment encamped on the bank of the Mississippi, about three miles from Port Hudson. SAMUEL enjoyed good health most of the time. He was never, but one day, off duty, and then had hurt his foot so that he could not get his shoe on. He was anxious to visit the Port, as he did not remain there long after the surrender. He walked up on the 5th of August, and was sun struck, which occasioned a brain fever. He laid on the hospital floor without bed or pillow on which to rest his head. The boys could not even buy a little hot water to make him some tea. His rations of hard tack and salt meat were brought him daily, and he gave them to the boys without a murmur. He had no kind of nourishment during the week he laid there, and told his companions that he was dying for the want of food. He prayed often, while he had his senses, and talked much of home-the dearest spot to him on earth. He expressed great anxiety to see his parents. In his delirium, a short time previous to his death, he thought his father had come. He stepped out on the balcony, shook hands, and kissed one of the soldiers-went back, and in a few minutes breathed his last. This was on the 13th day of August, 1863. His com- rades rolled him in his blanket and made a coffin of boards, which they took from a negro's cabin. They laid him in it, and buried him in Mount Pleasant burying ground. They cut his name, and the date of his death, on a board, placed at his head, and laid him under a magnolia tree. The evening after he was buried, his friends sat by his grave and sung his favorite hymns. He was a good singer, and was a member of St. Paul's Church
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SAMUEL G. LOOMIS.
Choir, of this city, when quite a youth. He had been under the instruction of Mr. GEORGE WARREN, formerly of this city.
Ilis parents sent for his remains, and they arrived in this city the 23d of December, 1863. Ilis funeral took place at his father's residence, 77 Washington avenue, on the 24th, attended by his regiment and the members of Hook and Ladder Company No. 2. This company passed a series of very flattering resolu- tions in relation to the departed hero.
The Rev. Mr. BRIDGMAN, the pastor of Mr. Loomis, in a dis- course upon our deceased soldiers, thus alluded to him:
"There's another, whose body will be gathered with the honored dust-SAMUEL GREENFIELD LOOMIS, who died last August. His comrades have spoken only in the words of high- est eulogy of his patience under fatigue, of his manly bearing, of his bravery on the several occasions, when his courage was put to the proof, as in the charge upon the enemy's works at Port Hudson; while in his letters to his friends at home there is scarcely one but bears a grateful testimony to the goodness of God's Providence, or some expression of his love for the Serip- tures, in reading which he was careful to maintain the early habits of his home."
Then, speaking of him in connection with others, he said:
"They went out from us with firm, brave steps to the exigency and the agony of the hour. They went not in hatred nor in wrath, more than those whose loyal columns they helped to fill; nor did you, whose pangs at their dying were greater than their own. send them in vengeance, but for God's honor and the sal- vation of the land. To-day we mourn them as our carly dead. The battle was soon over for them-the weary march and nightly vigil-the contest and assault; and laying the garlands they have won upon their hearts, we will suffer the eager grave to fold them in, to their long, dreamless sleep. But fixed is our faith that something not of the dust, and not laid low on the field- something which the funeral procession cannot marshal, nor the earth that opens for the dead, can ever swallow up, has escaped alive unto the land of peace, unto the great triumphant company of the immortals."
733
EDWARD A. HIGHAM.
CVII. EDWARD AUGUSTUS HIGHAM.
IN the first regiment that left this city for the seat of war, as early as April, 1861, was EDWARD AUGUSTUS HIGHAM, a young man just twenty years of age; the son of LINDLEY and CAROLINE HIGHAM. He had for several years been a professed disciple of Christ, and at the time he enlisted as a soldier in defence of his country, he was engaged in a profitable and honorable business. Nothing but high motives of patriotism led him to exchange the quiet life of a man of business, for the trials and perils of a soldier.
During the three months of his enlistment he was mostly engaged with his regiment (the Twenty-fifth) in perfecting the defences of Washington, and in building that fort which was subsequently called by the name of his native city.
Returning to his home about the middle of July in the same year, Mr. HIGHAM felt that he had not yet fully discharged his whole duty to his country. Indeed as her necessities had rather increased than lessened, and her perils had only been augmented by the lapse of time, he felt that he must again engage in her defence. And how pure and patriotic his motives were in the second enlistment, may be judged of by the fact, that when assured by friends that he might re-enter the army as a com- missioned officer, his reply was, " No, the Government does not need officers; it needs privates." It was therefore as a common soldier that Mr. HIGHAM again entered the army, July 22, 1862. His connection was now with Co. H, in the Eightieth Regiment of New York Volunteers; and after passing with it safely through the battles of Norman's Ford, White Sulphur Springs and Gains- ville, was severely wounded August 30, in the battle of Bull Run.
For two days and nights our young soldier remained on the field without assistance or nourishment; and doubtless suffered physical agony that no one can describe. Upon the third day he was picked up by one of our ambulances, and conveyed to
734
ALEXANDER S. SLAWSON.
the hospital at Alexandria. There, though every attention was paid him, both by the medical authorities and by his mother, who had the melancholy pleasure of being with her son in his last hours, he died October 10th, 1862.
We subjoin a brief extract from a letter written by the Chap- lain of the hospital to the parents, a few days after their severe bereavement:
" Your son was a noble young man, patient and uncomplain- ing in every trouble and annoyance. He was a sincere and humble Christian, and felt that he had no trust but in the mercy of his Redeemer."
CVIII.
ALEXANDER S. SLAWSON.
ALEXANDER S. SLAWSON was one of three patriotic brothers, who enlisted in the American army for the defence of the nation. They were the children of WILLIAM and LOUISA SLAWSON, and ALEXANDER was born September 1, 1846. He was a good obedi- ent boy, and a member of the Sabbath school.
He enlisted February 4, 1864, in Company D, Seventh Heavy Artillery Regiment. Though of a delicate constitution, he endured the hardships of war with a noble courage, and fought bravely in the battles of Fredericksburg, North Anna River, Spottsylvania Court House, Coal Harbor and Petersburg. In the battle at the last named place, his brother was taken prisoner, June 16, 1864, and was confined in the Andersonville prison, and suffered for ten long and dreary months in that abode of unwritten and indescribable horrors.
ALEXANDER was also in the battles of Deep Bottom, Frederick City, the second battle at Deep Bottom and at Mine Run, August 25, 1864. There, after a hard fought battle, he was taken prisoner and sent first to Richmond, thence to Belle Island, and thence to Salisbury, North Carolina. After six months of intense suffering, he was released. having been reduced to a skeleton.
735
WHITMAN V. R. MATTOON.
An unknown friend, whose name the parents of ALEXANDER, desire very much to learn, aided him to return home. When he reached our lines, a surgeon wished him to go to the hospital, but his great desire was to see once more the home of his youth, and the father and mother whom he so tenderly loved. To gain strength for the journey, he laid in a barn for two days, and then started for Albany. He reached home on the 20th of March, and the first words that he uttered on entering the house were, " Mother, I have come home to die."
He lingered for ten days, and then, with perfect resignation to the will of God, and an implicit trust in the blessed Saviour, he left the trials and anguish of earth, for the peace and glory of Heaven.
ALEXANDER'S third brother escaped the perils of battle unharmed.
To this family of heroes, known only to us through this brief sketch, we tender the gratitude and admiration of the citizens of Albany, and the loyal people of America
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CIX.
WHITMAN V. R. MATTOON.
WHITMAN V. R. MATTOON was born in Vienna, Oneida county, New York. When he was less than one year old, his parents came with him to this city, since which time he continued to reside here. He was the only son of DAVID and SARAH RANSOM MATTOON. He possessed an amiable disposition, and was a duti- ful son, an affectionate brother, and a warm friend. He attended school regularly until he was in his sixteenth year, and acquired a fair English and commercial education.
After he left school, he went into his father's office, where he was engaged in bookkeeping for nearly four years. He exhibited so much business capacity that his father had made arrangements to take him, as co-partner, into his business. When the war first broke out, and the first call was made for volunteers, he,
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736
WHITMAN V. R. MATTOON,
inspired by true patriotism, desired to go and help save the gov- ernment of his country. But his father, who was in feeble health, declined to let him go, not feeling it to be his duty to sacrifice his only son at that time, but assured him that if the time came when it should be necessary, he should not object to his going.
Time passed on, and, after the battle of Bull Run, with its paralyzing effect upon the country, another call was made for volunteers. After giving much thought to the subject for seve- ral weeks, his father informed him " that the time had come when he thought God, humanity, and his country called for the sacri- fice, and that he should no longer object to his going." This conversation took place on September 26, 1861, which was a fast day appointed by the government.
Upon the following day, he left his father's office, where he had been usefully employed for several years, and a home where all his necessary wants were supplied, and enlisted as a private in Company F, Forty-fourth Regiment New York State Vol- unteers. The following month, he left with his regiment and continued in excellent health, enduring all the privations and dangers of the camp and field without one word of complaint; engaging in all the battles of his regiment, and always braving danger with true heroism. When the battle raged the fiercest, he was always cool and collected.
While under General MCCLELLAN, and while retreating from before Richmond, he passed through the first six days engage- ments unhurt. But, upon the following day, at the battle of Malvern Hill, after being engaged in a most sanguinary struggle, he was reported " missing." Since that time nothing has been heard from him. It was in a bayonet charge that he was last seen; in the front rank and in a terrible struggle. His officers and comrades, who have done all that men could do to ascertain his fate, agree that he must have fallen. All the means that human ingenuity can invent have been exhausted to ascertain his fate, and to no purpose. Whether buried or not, and if so, where, still remains a mystery.
The anguish of heart, felt by his two loving sisters, to whom he was devotedly attached, as well as by his parents, who loved
737
THOMAS GOLDWAIT.
him as an only son, and who had anticipated much comfort from him, can be better imagined than described. That most terrible of all words, suspense, still weighs heavily upon their hearts and mars all their pleasures.
During his childhood and youth, up to the time he left and went into the service, he uniformly attended Sabbath school, to which he was much attached, and always attended regularly upon the means of grace.
We can only leave the dear youth and brave boy in the hands of that God who doeth all things well. He who notices the fall of a sparrow, has not overlooked this child of many prayers, though in the din and smoke of battle, he has been lost to the view of affectionate parents and fond sisters.
CX.
THOMAS GOLDWAIT.
AMONG those from the city of Albany who sacrificed their lives for the perpetuation of the Union, was THOMAS GOLDWAIT. He was the son of JONATHAN and JANE GOLDWAIT, and was born in Albany on the 20th of November, 1828. He died at Fort Mc- Henry on the 15th of September, 1861. At the breaking out of the rebellion, when an appeal was made for volunteers for the Union army, and when patriotism alone prompted our young men to take up arms in defence of our country, GOLDWAIT gave up his business and enrolled himself as a member of Co. E, Third Regiment New York State Volunteers, commanded by Captain BLANCHARD, Col. FREDERICK TOWNSEND in command of the regi- ment. This regiment was one of the first to leave this State for the scene of war, and was among the first to engage in conflict with the rebels.
While stationed at Fort MeHenry, GOLDWAIT was prostrated by fever, and although every effort was made to preserve his life, he died as above stated, on the 15th of September, 1861.
His death caused the deepest sorrow among his comrades, as
47
738
JOHN A. LOCKLEY.
he was universally respected and beloved. One of the most solemn and impressive scenes ever witnessed at the fort, was the last tribute of his fellow soldiers to the memory of their lamented associate.
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