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 64
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CLV.
CHARLES VAN ALLEN, OF BETHLEHEM.
CHARLES VAN ALLEN, the brother of JACOB, was born in Beth- lehem, Albany county, November 16, 1839. He attended the district school until he was thirteen years of age, when he com- menced to learn the printer's trade at Albany, New York. He worked several years for LUTHER TUCKER, Esq., on the " Albany Cultivator," and other works.
The same call of the President that stirred up the patriotism of his brother JACOB, fired his heart. Though anxious to enlist in his country's cause, his duties to a young wife and two infant children, depending on his labor for their support, for a time restrained him. But his mind was relieved when GEORGE DAW- sox, Esq., editor and proprietor of the " Albany Evening Jour- nal," announced that he would pay to the families of any six printers, who would volunteer, four dollars per week, during the time they remained in the United States service. CHARLES was among the first to accept Mr. DAWSON's noble offer, and on the 31st of July, 1862, he enlisted as a private in Company E, (Captain N. H. MOORE), of the One Hundred and Thirteenth Regi- ment, New York State Volunteers.
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CHARLES VAN ALLEN.
Thus the brothers left Albany, side by side to battle, and as it proved, to die for their country's cause.
CHARLES remained with his regiment until June 16, 1864, at which time, he, with a large number of his comrades, was taken prisoner by the rebels at Petersburg, and carried to the Ander- sonville prison, where, after suffering untold torture and starva- tion, death came to his relief September 18, 1864.
His wife and children regularly received the promised four dollars per week from Mr. DAWSON, from the day that Mr. VAN ALLEN joined the army, until the regiment was mustered out in August, 1865, that is for nearly a year after CHARLES died. The amount paid was six hundred and twenty-eight dollars; a large sum to contribute to one family. But none but God can know what a relief it was to the suffering and famishing martyr, in a southern prison, to know that a patriot hand promptly paid the promised sum to supply his family. The liberal donor has the sincere thanks of the widow and orphans, and their prayer to Heaven is, that God's blessing may rest upon him.
The contrast between the relations of Mr. DAWSON to the wife and children, and those of southern fiends to the patriot father, may be seen in the light of the following lines, entitled "The Andersonville Post Office," which describes an event that oc- curred in that horrible den, where our hero perished:
No blanket round his wasted limbs, Under the rainy sky he slept; While pointing his envenomed shafts Around him, death, the archer, crept. He dreamed of hunger, and held ont His hand, to clench a little bread- That the white angel with a torch, Among the living and the dead; Seemed bearing, smiling as he went; The vision waked him, and he spied The post-boy, followed by a crowd Of famished prisoners, who eried For letters from their friends. Crawling upon his hands and knees, He hears his own name called, and lo ! A letter from his wife he sees.
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Gasping for breath, he shrieked aloud, And. lost in nature's blind eclipse, Faltering amidst the suppliant crowd, Caught it and pressed it to his lips. A guard who followed, red and wroth. And flourishing a rusty brand, Reviled him with a taunting oath, And snatched the letter from his hand: "First pay the postage, whining wretch !" Despair has made the prisoner brave: " Then give me back my money, sir ! I am a captive, not a slave ! You took my money and my clothes, Take my life, too, but let me know How MARY and the children are, And I will bless you, ere I go."
The very moonlight through his hands, As he stood supplicating, shone; And his sharp features shaped themselves Into a prayer, and such a tone Of anguish there was in his cry For his wife and children, that the guard - Thinking upon his own-passed by,
And left him swooning on the sward;
Beyond the "dead line " fell his head- The eager sentry knew his mark, And with a crash, the bullet sped Into his brain, and all was dark. But when they turned his livid cheek Up toward the light, the pale lip smiled, Kissing a picture, fair and meek, That held in either hand a child.
The following letter from Capt. MOORE to Governor FENTON, does no more than justice to the memory of a brave and true soldier. It can hardly be necessary to state that the request of Capt. MOORE was cheerfully granted by our patriotic Governor:
ALBANY, October 30, 1865. To His Excellency REUBEN E. FENTON, Governor S. N. Y .:
I have the honor to recommend to you CHARLES VAN ALLEN, of Co. E, Seventh N. Y. Heavy Artillery, for a commission as Brevet Second Lieutenant.
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CHARLES VAN ALLEN.
Corporal VAN ALLEN was a brave and faithful soldier, always ready to do his duty, and when in battle, he was never known to shirk; and I never had occasion even to reprimand him. He served in my company from August, 1862, to June 16th, 1864, when he was taken prisoner by the rebels, at Petersburg, Va., and conveyed to Andersonville pen, where he died. He was in every battle in which his regiment was engaged. Ile leaves a widow and two children in this city. I am sure they would prize such a commission highly, as proof that his meritorious services have been appreciated.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
NORMAN H. MOORE, Late Captain 7th N. Y. Heavy Artillery.
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SHORT NOTICES.
IN the following pages, we present short notices, of other deceased soldiers of the city and county of Albany, of whom full information could not be obtained. And in this additional list, we by no means comprise all the noble men from our city and county, who offered their lives upon the altar of their country.
Some time since a law was passed, requiring every town in the State, to obtain some information concerning every soldier who had enlisted in our armies during the late war, and send the same to the Bureau of Military Record. Up to the time of our going to press, reports had not been received from Albany, New Scotland, Guilderland and Watervliet, of this county. Had we been favored with reports from the three latter towns, as we have been from the other towns in the county, our list, in these short notices, would be more complete than it now is. We do not profess, therefore, in this volume, even to give the names of all the patriot martyrs from our county; but we surely present enough to show the intense patriotism, the noble daring, the lofty heroism, and, in very many instances, the earnest piety, of the men who freely laid down their lives to perpetuate the American Union, and preserve the honor and the liberty of the American Republic.
Captain HENRY S. HURLBURT, of the Ninety-first Regiment, was killed in the assault on Port Hudson, June 14, 1863.
Previous to the breaking out of the war, he was in the employ of the Central Railroad Company. When the organi- zation of the Third Regiment under Col. FRED. TOWNSEND, was commenced, he recruited Company F of the regiment, and went away in command of it. Some time after the regiment entered the service he resigned and came home, and the Ninety- first Regiment being in process of organization, he accepted the command of a company attached to it. He was a young man of patriotic ardor and fine soldierly qualities. Up to the time of his death he had fought bravely and escaped the shot of the foe. He had a large circle of friends to mourn his death.
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Lieutenant CHARLES B. PIERSON, of the Twenty-second Regi- ment, died at Washington of wounds received at the battle of Manassas, aged twenty-five. He was wounded in the neck on Saturday, and laid on the field till the following Tuesday. Ilis funeral took place here on the 15th, and was attended by Com- pany B and the Masonic fraternity.
Lieutenant JAMES REID, of this city, was a victim of the battle of Bull Run. He was a member of the Twenty-fifth Regiment, N. Y. S. M., in the first three months' call. Upon the return of that regiment, he joined the Fifty-third as a Sergeant. When that regiment was disbanded, his company attached themselves to the Seventeenth Regiment N. Y. V., with young REID as Second Lieutenant. REID was formerly a clerk with Messrs. VAN HEUSEN & CHARLES of Albany.
LOUIS REEHL, Orderly Sergeant of Company K, One Hundred and Seventy-seventh Regiment, died, aged twenty-five. He was formerly a member of the Twenty-fifth Regiment (late Col. BRYAN), and was one of the first to respond to the call of the country of his adoption, for the defence of its capital. The priva- tions he suffered and hardships he endured, only nerved him for still greater and more active duties. He became Orderly Ser- geant of Company G, Tenth Regiment, N. G., and discharged his duties faithfully till worn out by sickness and disease. He came home only to linger for a few short days, and receive his final discharge.
Sergeant HENRY B. SANDERS, a native of Sussex, in England, was born on the 11th of April, 1840. He was a talented. benevo- lent and noble young man, and enlisted in Company R, Twenty- fifth Regiment New York State Militia. After three months' service. he was honorably discharged.
Being filled with the spirit of patriotism, he re-enlisted on the 2d of September, 1861, and joined the Fifty-third Regiment. From this he was transferred to the Seventeenth Regiment, Colonel LANSING, where he served with great faithfulness and bravery for two years, and received an honorable discharge. Hle again enlisted, in the One Hundred and Forty-sixth Regiment New York State Volunteers, and was killed at Coal Harbor, June 2, 1864.
Mr. SANDERS was the army correspondent of the " Knicker- bocker," and his letters were very graphic and interesting. He also kept a minute journal of daily events and scenes. His loss is deeply deplored by a large circle of warm friends.
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Sergeant MICHAEL JUDGE was born in Ireland in 1836. He resided in this country seventeen years, and then enlisted in the Fifty-ninth Regiment New York Volunteers. He was at first a private, but for his energy and bravery he was made First Ser- geant, and held this position until he was shot at the battle of Antietam. He was buried on the battle field.
Mr. JUDGE was the son of JAMES and BRIDGET JUDGE, and he leaves a mother and several brothers to lament his death. He was a man of excellent moral character and was a member of the Roman Catholic Church.
Corporal WILLIAM H. H. LAMOREAUX, son of JOSHUA and ELIZA W. LAMOREAUX, was born in Westerlo, March 29, 1840. He enlisted as Corporal in the Seventh Regiment, August 6, 1862. He was killed in front of Petersburg, Virginia, June 16, 1864.
Corporal JACOB H. SLATER, of Westerlo; born March 17, 1844. Enlisted in Company K, Seventh Regiment, August 2, 1862. He was promoted to Corporal February, 1864, and was in all the engagements of the Army of the Potomac, from the crossing of the Rapidan till the battle of Petersburg. There he received a wound in his left arm, and died from the effects of it at Wash- ington, July 7, 1864.
Corporal DAVID W. CHANDLER, enlisted at Albany, and was with his Company, without intermission, until the battle of Han- over Court House, with the single exception of being sent to Baltimore in charge of JOHN C. CALVERLEY'S remains. He was a good soldier; a worthy member of his regiment. He received three wounds, and, although suffering much, would not be removed from the field, until those he thought needed assistance more than he, were cared for. He died in the regimental hospi- tal tent, on the 3d day of June, 1862; and was buried with a comrade under an oak tree, near the camp. A Pennsylvania Chaplain officiated.
Corporal JAMES STEWART was born March 3, 1841, in Phila- delphia, and came to Albany in April, 1848. He enlisted in Company C, One Hundred and Thirteenth New York Regiment, in July, 1862, and was killed May 30. 1864.
JAMES was a brave and efficient soldier, and had he lived he would doubtless have reached a higher rank than that of Corporal. He was respected by his fellow soldiers and ardently loved by all who knew him.
His death has fallen with crushing weight on his parents, as he was their only surviving child. At the time of his death, he was in the twenty-fourth year of his age.
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Corporal ALFRED LEMBROCHT was born in Germany, and enlisted in Company K, Seventh Regiment, August, 1862. He was taken prisoner at Coal Harbor, and was never afterwards heard from.
GEORGE ELDER, son of GEORGE and MARGARET ELDER Was born in the city of Albany, on the 14th of July, 1845. The family attend the North Dutch Church, and GEORGE was a member of the Sabbath school connected with that church.
He enlisted in the One Hundred and Seventy-seventh New York Regiment, on the 15th day of October, 1862, and he left for New Orleans on the 17th of December. He participated in the siege of Port Hudson, and was distinguished for his faith- fulness and bravery. The hardships of the siege destroyed his health, and he was prostrated by a fever. Being unfit for service he returned home on the 1st day of September, 1863, with the hope that he might rally and be restored to health. But his disease baffled all medical skill, and he gradually grew weaker until the 10th of September, when he expired.
During his sickness I visited him, and received from him evi- dence of his perfeet trust in his Saviour. His remains rest in the Albany Rural Cemetery.
DENNIS DUNKIN, enlisted August 20, 1861, in Company A, New York State Volunteers. He was engaged in all the principal battles until July 4, 1862, when he was wounded while on picket duty, after the seven days' battle. He was sent to the general hospital at Georgetown, and then transferred to the general hospital on David's Island. He recovered, and in February re-enlisted in the Seventh New York Heavy Artillery. He died of disease June 21, 1863. He was loved and respected by his companions in arms, and after his death they furnished the necessary means to have him embalmed, and sent to his parents, who reside in Albany. They live to mourn the loss of a loving and dutiful son.
ADAM CAMPBELL, son of WILLIAM and ELIZABETH CAMPBELL, was born in the town of Knox, August 30, 1842.
His parents died before he was fourteen years of age. He was a dutiful son, and was always an affectionate brother. He was not a professor of religion, but was a thorough patriot, and felt that the rebellion was a wicked and unholy one, and that it was his duty to assist in crushing it.
Ile enlisted August 12, 1862, in Company K, One Hundred and Thirteenth N. Y. Volunteer Infantry. He was in all the engagements with his regiment until August 25. 1864. At the
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battle of Reams' Station he was taken prisoner. He was a brave and efficient soldier, cheerful and ever ready to do his duty. As a prisoner he bore his misfortunes with great fortitude. He was confined at Salisbury, N. C., at which place he died January 5, 1865, and was there buried. The history of the confinement and death of our brave men in the prison pens, is well known. His, was the sad experience of thousands of others.
WILLIAM D. SPRINKS was born in the city of Albany, Septem- ber 2, 1841, and was the son of JAMES and MATILDA SPRINKS. He received from his parents a Christian education, and from child- hood was a member of the Sabbath school connected with the North Pearl Street Methodist Episcopal Church, of Albany. At the age of fourteen years, he obtained a hope that he was a Chris- tian, and united with that church. Afterwards he removed his membership to the Washington Avenue M. E. Church, in which he remained until his death.
Being inspired by a love for his country, he enlisted on the 20th of August, 1861, in Company A, Forty-third New York Regiment. He was in no general battle, but was in several skir- mishes, in which he manifested great coolness and bravery. He was seized with the typhoid fever at Camp Griffin, in Virginia, and after four weeks sickness he died, February 25, 1862. He was buried in the Albany Rural Cemetery March 2, 1862.
THOMAS WARDROBE was born in Sandell, Yorkshire, England, on the 12th of May, 1814, and came to the United States in 1843. He was a professor of religion, and connected with the First Baptist Church in Albany. His sympathies were strongly with the Union, but he entered the army mainly because an only son had enlisted under the age of sixteen.
He was a member of Company F, One Hundred and Seventy- seventh Regiment N. Y. S. Volunteers, and was in BANKS' expe- dition. He participated in all the skirmishes of the regiment, and in the taking of Port Hudson. During the siege of that place, he was taken siek with the camp fever, followed by chronic diarrhea, with which he suffered until his term of enlistment expired; then he started with the regiment for home, in the lat- ter part of August, 1866, but he grew rapidly worse, and was obliged to be left at Cleveland, Ohio. There he lingered twelve days, and died on the 9th of September, at peace with God. He was a true patriot, and never regretted that he had left home and friends for his country. His remains were brought to Albany, and interred in the Rural Cemetery.
JAMES PRINGLE, son of JAMES and JANE S. PRINGLE, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1822. He was married in 1841 to Miss
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AGNES BROWN, in Glasgow, and came to America the same year, and settled in Canada. He came to Albany to reside in 1852, and was a bookkeeper with Messrs. DAVIDSON & VIELE, hardware merchants.
Hle enlisted in 1861 in Company I, of the One Hundred and Thirty-first Regiment, and was a faithful and brave soldier. Hle was killed at Port Hudson by the bursting of a shell. He leaves an excellent wife and five children to mourn his loss.
Mr. PRINGLE'S son, JAMES, also served his country faithfully in the navy, and returned without injury.
WILLIAM D. MARSHALL, son of CHARLES and MARY ANN MAR- SHALL, was born in this city, April 17, 1843. His enlistment in the army was made while he was an apprentice to the carpenter's trade, on the 27th of November, 1861. He was a private in Com- pany G, of the Forty-fourth Regiment. He fell mortally wounded in the battle of Hanover Court House, May 27, 1862.
JOHN SCAHALL .- Of those who volunteered to fill up the depleted ranks of the Twenty-fifth Regiment was JOHN SCAHALL. His career as a soldier, during that memorable period, was hon- orable and meritorious. Ready to meet every requisition of the Government for men, he again accompanied the same regiment in 1862, and returned after another three months campaign in Virginia. In the summer of 1863, leaving a Inerative employ- ment, he enlisted in the Seventh Artillery, stationed at Forts De Russey and Reno, in Maryland, where he remained until last May, when his regiment, in compliance with the request of its gallant Colonel for a post of honor and activity, was ordered to the front, on the march to Richmond, under Gen. GRANT. He passed through all of the severe engagements, which distin- guished that campaign, down to the 16th of June, 1864, when he was taken prisoner. After having remained in Richmond a short time, he was removed further south, and at last to Savannah, Ga., where he died last August. The news of his death reached here but a few days ago, with that of his friend and comrade in con- finement, MADDEN, who died three days before at the same place .- The Albany Times.
WILLIAM G. LEDDY, a lad who was only fifteen years of age when he enlisted, died amid the horrors of Andersonville prison. He was the son of the late PETER G. LEDDY, a man much esteemed in the community.
WILLIAM H. VANDENBURG .- Died, in Mount Pleasant Hospital, near Port Hudson, WILLIAM H., only son of JJACOB L. and COR-
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NELIA VANDENBURG, of the Boght, Albany county, aged twenty- three years.
The deceased was a member of Company B (Capt. MERRIHEW), One Hundred and Seventy-seventh New York Volunteers, and enlisted, actuated by the purest patriotism. He was a most correct and amiable youth, and gained the love of all who knew him. His comrades in arms highly esteemed him for his unself- ish devotion to their welfare and happiness.
The prayer meetings in the camp well attested his piety and devotion to the cause of Christ. When it was evident that he must die, he had a calm and implicit trust in his Saviour. Writing to his parents, July 20, 1863, he said: " I hope you will pray that I may have strength to reach home; or, if not, that we may be permitted to meet in Heaven. Pray, also, that I may have grace to die, if it is the Lord's will to take me."
This young man was given to God and the nation, by his parents and two loving sisters, with many prayers and tears; and in their deep affliction, they are consoled by the bright hope of meeting the departed, in the realms of the blessed.
JAMES RICE-Died, in November, 1861, at Camp King, Mun- son's Hill, Virginia. He was but sixteen years of age when he enlisted to serve his country. The boy left his home inspired with the thought that he, in the hour of the nation's extremity, might do something for our honor or protection. He joined the army with high aims, and proved an active, faithful and efficient soldier. While on picket duty, guarding his companions in arms, he was shot by the enemy and fell. His last words to his dear father were: "Father, I have done my whole duty to my country."
WILLIAM I. WOOLEY .- The patriotism of WILLIAM I. WOOLEY was strikingly conspicuous. He was one of the first to respond to the call of his country, and in spite of ill health, and the remonstrances of friends who felt that his impaired strength rendered him unfit for service, he persevered in his noble efforts for the defence of the nation until his death, which occurred in the Georgetown hospital, July 13, 1861.
WOTKYNS VAN DERLIP was born in Abany, April 21st, 1842, and was the son of ELIAS and MARGARET A. VAN DERLIP. He was a most dutiful and loving son, a kind and affectionate brother, and beloved by all who knew him. For some years he was a member of the First Congregational Sabbath School of this city; and, although he never united with any church, yet he had the highest regard for religion, the Sabbath, and all sacred things.
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When the rebellion broke out, at the call of the President for troops, he enlisted as a private in the Twenty-fifth Regiment N. Y. S. Militia. He was stationed at Arlington Heights, where he worked upon Fort Albany until it was completed. While there on picket duty during a heavy thunder storm, he took a very severe cold, which caused congestion of the lings, and finally resulted in consumption.
Hle returned with the regiment. But he was still very desirous of serving his country, and assisting in crushing the rebellion. Being physically unable to go into the field, he was employed as clerk in the Provost Marshal's office at Albany until it was broken up. Then he was appointed as clerk of a court martial in ses- sion at Annapolis. This position he was filling at the time of his death. He was attacked suddenly with hemorrhage of the lungs, and, after a few days illness, he died, Sunday, September 17, 1865. He fully realized his situation, and died happy, trust- ing in Jesus.
LEONARD CORNWELL, of Bern, was the son of ALBERT and MARY CORNWELL, and enlisted in Company D, Sixty-tirst New York Regiment. On leaving home, he was presented with a Bible by his half brother, WILLIAM HENRY, and this holy book was his constant companion. He read it through while he was connected with the army. After three days severe fighting at Gettysburg, he was killed. This is all the information that we have been able to obtain concerning him. We may reasonably hope, that the daily reading of God's holy word, was blessed to his soul.
JAMES EDGAR WOOD was born in Bern, February 8, 1844, and was the son of ABRAHAM and LUCINDA WHIPPLE. He was adopted and brought up by his grand parents, SOLOMON and CATHARINE WOOD, and therefore took the name of Wood. He enlisted, December 16, 1862, in Company C, One Hundred and Seventy- seventh New York Regiment. He was in General BANKS' expe- dition at New Orleans. He died of consumption, August 7, 1863. The place of his burial is unknown.
JOHN LYON was born in the town of Bern, in the year 1843, and was the son of STEPHEN and CATHERINE LYON. He was a youth of excellent moral character, and was a true patriot. On the 8th of September, 1862, he enlisted as a private in the Sixty- first Regiment of New York. He was stationed in Falmouth, Virginia, where he faithfully discharged every duty to which he was called. He was suddenly taken ill, and died on the 12th of December, 1862. His officers give him the highest praise for private virtues and public services.
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JOHN TAYLOR, of Bern, enlisted September 1, 1861, in the Ninety-first Regiment. Died in the hospital at Baltimore. His remains were embalmed and sent home. Buried in Bern.
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