USA > New York > Yates County > The military history of Yates County, N.Y. : comprising a record of the services rendered by citizens of this county in the army and navy, from the foundation of the government to the present time > Part 4
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A large number of the Yates County soldiers had by this time arrived in safety, and more were expected. But many
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THE MILITARY HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
of their comrades who went with them to the front never returned. They had fallen at Gettysburg and at Lookout Mountain, in the Wilderness and at Cold Harbor, at Peters- burg and in the valley of the Shenandoah. The soldiers of our County, in the different regiments to which they be- longed, performed good and valiant service, and made for themselves a glorious record which is given in the succeed- ing chapters.
CHAPTER II.
The Thirty-third Regiment of Infantry.
O NE of the first regiments to go to the front was the Thir- ty-third New York Volunteers, which was recruited by companies as follows : A, C, and K* in Seneca County; B in Wayne County; D and H in Ontario County ; E and F in Livingston County ; G in Erie County, and I in Yates Coun- ty. The latter Company, which was first known as the "Ke- uka Rifles," arrived in Elmira from Penn Yan on the 18th of May, 1861. Eight of the other companies above mentioned had already arrived in Elmira, then an ordinary place of ren- dezvous for troops going to the front. The officers of these companies had met on May 17th, and decided upon forming themselves into a regiment, the two other companies after- ward joining them. The organization of the new regiment was rendered complete by the election of officers on the 21st of May. Robert F. Taylor, of Rochester, a gentleman of war-like taste and ability, who had served in Mexico, was ap- pointed Colonel. The other field and staff officers then elected were : Lieutenant-Colonel, Calvin Walker, Geneva ; Major, Robert J. Mann, Seneca Falls ; Adjutant, Charles T. Sutton, New York city ; Quartermaster, H. L. Suydam, Gen- eva; Chaplain, Rev. George N. Cheney,t Rochester; Surgeon, T. Rush Spencer.
The Thirty-third Regiment, when organized, was assigned
* Company K, Captain Patrick McGraw, was composed of Irish Vol- unteers. Captain McGraw had previously been for about fifteen years in the service of Her Majesty, Queen Victoria. He received, on the depart- ure of the Company from Seneca Falls, a beautiful sword, the presenta- tion speech being made by the Rev. Edward McGowan, afterwards pastor of St. Michael's Church, at Penn Yan.
+ Resigned Dec. 1, 1861. Afterwards was pastor at Branchport, where he died June 12, 1863.
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THE MILITARY HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
to barracks in Southport," where it remained until the de- parture for Washington. An interesting event of the sojourn in Elmira was the reception of a regimental flag from the patriotic ladies of Canandaigua. The regiment, being formed in a hollow square, Mrs. Chesebro, with a few felicitous re- marks, presented the banner to Colonel Taylor, who, in a brief speech, expressed the thanks of himself and command for the beautiful gift, promising that it should never be dis- honored or disgraced. Chaplain Cheney, also in response, delivered an able and eloquent address to the delegation. This flag was made of the finest blue silk, bearing upon one side the coat of arms of the State of New York and on the reverse the seal of the county of Ontario, adopted in 1790. Over the seal appeared 'in bold gilt letters the words, "On- tario County Volunteers." Surmounting the staff was a highly finished carved eagle with extended pinions, the whole forming one of the most elegant battle-flags ever wrought by fair hands. On the 3d of July the regiment was mustered by companies into the United States service for two years by Captain Sitgreaves, a regular officer. Five days later the command started for Washington and was assigned on arri- val to Camp Granger, about two and one-half miles from the city. John Gregg Wolcott, of Company I, received (Ju- ly 11th) at Camp Granger the promotion from private to as- sistant surgeon. While the regiment was here encamped, occurred the disastrous battle of Bull Run, which was fought on the 21st of July. The distant sound of cannon was, all that day, distinctly heard in the camp. Toward evening the Thirty-third, along with several other regiments, received marching orders, but had proceeded no further than the Treasury Department, when the orders were countermanded. William Riker, Sergeant, Company I, died at Camp Granger on August 28th.f The regiment took up a new position at
* The barracks were known as No. 5. While quartered here numerous gifts were sent from Penn Van to the members of Company I. A mem- ber of this company, writing home, says, "O, great guns! the boys have just received a lot of apples from Penn Yan and they are trying to raise the roof from the building with their cheers for George H. Lapham."
+ William Riker was the first soldier from Yates County, who died in the service. On Saturday the 31st inst., the remains of Sergeant Riker ar-
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THE MILITARY HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
Camp Lyon, near Chain Bridge, and was here brigaded for the first time, being placed together with the Third Vermont and the Sixth Maine, under the command of General W. F. Smith. On the 3d of September the entire brigade crossed the Long Bridge into Virginia. The Thirty-third first occu- pied Camp Advance, changing soon after for Camp Ethan Allen. While at the latter camp the regiment had its first skirmish with the enemy. Camp Griffin was the next place of residence, and while here occurred at Bailey's Cross- Roads a grand review of the army by General Mcclellan, attended also by President Lincoln and other distinguished personages. James M. Letts resigned December 31st, and was succeeded by Edward E. Root as Captain of Company I .*
Au advance on Richmond along the peninsula, between the York and James rivers, having been decided upon, the Thirty-third Regiment embarked at Alexandria on March 23, 1862, and proceeded by transport to Fortress Monroe. Com- pany I went, with five other companies of the same regi- ment, on board the steamer Metamora, previously employed ou the Hudson River, and the entire command was disem- barked at Old Point Comfort in the forenoon of the follow- ing day. Passing through Hampton, then in ruins, the Thirty-third went into camp about four miles distant on the James River. Yorktownt was invested on the 4th of April, but hardly had the siege commenced when contrabands brought the intelligence that the enemy had evacuated the place. The Army of the Potomac followed in pursuit of the retreating Confederates, and on Monday, May 5th, was fought the battle of Williamsburg. In the beginning of the action three companies of the Thirty-third (Company A, Captain
rived in Penn Yan in charge of Samuel R. Tuell, brother-in-law of the de- ceased. A large and impressive funeral was held in the Methodist Epis- copal Church, and the remains were escorted to the cemetery by a special guard of honor, consisting of two companies of local militia and the Penn Yan firemen.
* At Camp Griffin, William Humphrey and Augustus F. Murdock (pri- vates in Company I) died, the former being accidentally killed.
t Yorktown had already an historical interest from its being the scene of the surrender of Cornwallis eighty years before.
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THE MILITARY HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
George M. Guion, afterwards Lieutenant-Colonel of the One Hundred and Forty-eighth Regiment, N. Y. V., Company D, Lieutenant George W. Brown commanding ; and Company F, Captain James M. McNair,) with regimental colors and color-guard, were ordered to occupy a redoubt a short dis- tance from the enemy. This was quickly done amid a heavy fire of artillery and musketry, and the beautiful banner re- mained waving from the battlements throughout the fierce conflict, torn and tattered for the first time by shot and shell. Company C, Captain Chester H. Cole; Company E, Captain Wilson E. Warford; Company H, Captain Alexander H. Drake; and Company I, Captain Edward E. Root, were de- ployed by Colonel Taylor as skirmishers. The remaining companies of the regiment, (Company B, Captain Josiah J. White; Company G, Captain Theodore B. Hamilton ; and Company K, an Irish Company, Captain Patrick McGraw,) were stationed on guard duty, under command of Lieuten- ant-Colonel Joseph W. Corning. All day the fight con- tinned, and towards night a sudden and furious attack was made upon Hancock's position, then occupied in part by the Thirty-third. Companies A, D, and F, were ordered out of the redoubt into line of battle, as the Confederates came rushing on, shouting "Bull Run! Bull Run! That flag is ours!" The enemy's flying artillery also moved forward and discharged shot and shell in quick succession. Lieutenant Brown, of Company D, and several other brave men belong- ing to the Thirty-third, had already fallen, mortally wounded ; the cannoniers, with their guns, and members of other regiments, were hurrying back to escape, while the right and left of the Federal line were wavering, and all seemed lost.
At this critical moment the Lieutenant Colonel, turning to Colonel Taylor, (who had just arrived from the skirmish line,) remarked, "Nothing but a charge can check them." "A charge it shall be," he replied, and waving his sword aloft, shouted, "Forward, men !" "Charge, bayonets !" added Lieutenant-Colonel Corning, and the Thirty-third sprang forward on the double quick, when its gallant action was im- itated by several regiments along the line. Alarmed at this
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THE MILITARY HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
sudden counter-charge, the enemy turned and ran in confu- sion, while the Thirty-third poured volley after volley upon the Confederates as they rapidly retreated over the plain. This daring exploit of the regiment decided the fortunes of the day and changed a seeming defeat into a substantial vic- tory. Company I, commanded by Captain Root, and which, with Companies C, E, and H, was on the skirmish line at this time, encountered and fired upon a party of Confeder- ates, who, supposing our soldiers to be friends, cried out, " Don't fire, you are shooting your own men." Captain Root ordered them to surrender, and they were all made prisoners, much to their surprise and chagrin. One of their officers attempted to escape, but Captain Root started after him and compelled him to deliver up his sword. Other prisoners were taken, in all to the number of forty, when Captain Root, considering that he had his hands full, re- turned to the redoubt with his company of thirty-eight men .* Captain Drake, of Company H, unfortunately became sep- arated, in the woods, from the rest of the troops, and being surrounded by the enemy, was obliged to surrender with
* David W. Judd, in his "Story of the 33d N. Y. Vols.," says twenty- seven, but he has evidently understated the number. Mr. Peter Mcad, of Penn Yan, who, at the time of the battle, was Sergeant in Company I, gives the number as thirty-eight. To give the exact number is a difficult matter, as several belonging to this Company were on guard, or other duty, or in this hospital. Sergeant Mead, (to the best of his recollection. as he said, ) mentioned the names of the thirty-eiglit heroes who were on the skirmish line, as follows : Edward E. Root, Captain ; Charles Howe, Lieutenant ; George Brennan. Orderly Sergeant ; Peter Mead, David A. Cook, John W. Durham, Sergeants ; Thomas Hunter, Corporal ; Privates, Dorr Barber, Patrick Brennan, Augustus A. Chidsey, Charles Comstock, George W. Corey, James W. Corey, Daniel Dailey, Putnam Demming, James Doyle, William H. Eddy, Charles Gage, Jolın Gordon, Martin Hope, Delos C. Hubbard, William W. Hunt, Eugene Hunt, Charles E. Hyatt, Clement W. Kidder, Michael Mahar, Truman Mckinney, Charles Millis, John A. Neary, William F. Pierce, William Plaisted, Greig Quick, Byron F. Randolph, George Reynolds, George Shearman, Morris Shultz, Charles Shuter, George S. Wells, Edwin G. Wheeler, and Menzo Wixson. Other men belonging to the Company were likewise in the battle, but were, as stated above, on detached duty ; among these were : Lieutenant William H. Long, then acting aid-de-camp to the General of the Brigade, and Sergeant Edward S. Rice, who was ou duty at the head- quarters of the General of the Division.
·
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THE MILITARY HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
about twenty of his men. He was taken to Richmond and afterwards to Salisbury, N. C., where he remained a prisoner for some months, when he was exchanged and rejoined his regiment in Maryland.
The night after the battle of Williamsburg, the enemy evacuated the place and its surrounding works, retreating back to the Chickahominy. The members of the Thirty- third slept on their arms, and on the following day went into camp near the York River. On the evening of May 7th, General Mcclellan rode into camp on his favorite bay charger, "Dan Webster," and thus addressed the regiment while drawn up in line :
"Officers and soldiers of the Thirty-third: I have come to thank you, in person, for gallant conduct on the field of bat- tle on the 5th inst. I will say to you what I have said to other regiments engaged with you. All did well-did all that I could expect. But you did more ; you behaved like veterans ; you are veterans ; veterans of a hundred battles could not have done better. Those on your left fought well ; but you won the day; you were at the right point, did the right thing, and at the right time. You shall have Williams- burg inscribed on your banner."
The Thirty-third was next engaged (May 24th) in battle at Mechanicsville, and, during the action, the regiment, to- gether with the Seventy-seventh New York Volunteers, charged upon and routed the opposing force of the enemy. General McClellan had now arrived within a few miles of Richmond, and the capture of that city seemed only a ques- tion of time. But the jealousy and intrigues of certain indi- viduals, high in authority, and the failure to send the needed reinforcements, prevented a successful issue of the campaign. Instead of taking the Confederate capital, Mcclellan was obliged, in order to save his army from destruction, to effect a change of base to the banks of the James River. Quietly, and without display, he commenced to do this, and though the enemy were very quickly informed, by their spies, of what was going on, they could not at first decide what it meant. At last, however, their suspicions were aroused, and they resolved to fall in overwhelming force on his flank, and
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THE MILITARY HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
cutting him off from his supplies, make an utter end of the entire army .*
The retreat to the James River having begun, the Thirty- third Regiment, which, since the battle of Mechanicsville had been encamped at Gaines' Farm, moved, and for the purpose of holding the enemy in cheek, constructed intrench- ments at Camp Lincoln, (as it was called,) on Golding's Farm, near the Chickahominy River. Here, on the 28th of June the capture of the regiment was attempted by a power- ful Confederate force, consisting of the Seventh and Eighth Georgia Regiments, but in the effort the enemy were re- pulsed with great loss. In this action the Thirty-third lost several men, killed, wounded, and prisoners. Among the killed was Lieutenant Moses Church, of Company E, who, while encouraging his comrades by words and deeds, was struck dead by a minie ball. Captain Theodore B. Hamil- ton, of Company G, was among the prisoners takeu by the enemy, but he was soon exchanged and returned to his reg- iment at Harrison's Landing. The Thirty-third was highly complimented for its bravery, by General Davidson, (a loyal Virginian,) in his report of the action. A sudden attack made by the Confederates, two days later, at White Oak Swamp, was also successfully resisted. Colonel Taylor then commanded the Third Brigade, (to which the Thirty-third belonged,) the regiment itself being in command of Major John S. Platner.
On the 1st of July occurred the engagement at Malvern Hill. The Thirty-third was here posted, with others of our forces, among lines of batteries which the Confederates sev- eral times fiercely attacked, but in vain. Charge after charge was made by the enemy, only to be repulsed with fearful slaughter. The determined bravery of the Confed- erates evoked cheers from the Unionists themselves. But to carry the Federal position was beyond their power. In several instances our infantry withheld their fire until the attacking column, which rushed through the storm of canis- ter and shell from our artillery, had reached within a few yards of our lines. They then poured, in a single volley,
* Headley's History of the Great Rebellion, Vol. I.
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THE MILITARY HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
and dashed forward with the bayonet, capturing prisoners and colors and driving the routed columns in confusion from the field. The result was complete victory .*
In the afternoon of July 3d, the regiment, which, all through the retreat had formed a portion of the rear guard of the army, reached Harrison's Landing. Afterward, marching to Fortress Monroe, and from there going by trans- port, it arrived and went into camp (August 24th) at Alex- andria, from there marching through Washington to the bat- tle-field of Antietam. In this fight, which was on the 17th of September, the Thirty-third was foremost in action, losing alone fifty men in killed and wounded.+ Among the former was Sergeant-Major George W. Bassett, of Yates County, a brave and popular officer. He was shot through the head, on returning to the front, after having carried Lieutenant Lucius C. Mix, who had been severely wounded, from the field. Lieutenant William Hale Long, of Company I, was promoted, November 25th, to Assistant Adjutant-General, with the rank of Captain, and on the 1st of December, George Brennan, Orderly-Sergeant of the same Company, was promoted to First Lieutenant. The regiment crossed the Rappahannock on December 12th, on pontoon bridges laid by the Fiftieth New York Engineers, and next day was in the battle of Fredricksburg, where its loss in killed and wounded amounted to over two hundred. Having remained in camp near White Oak Church during the first four months of 1863, the command, on the 2d of May, participated in the storming of Marye's Heights. These were gallantly carried, and on the summit the regimental colors were un- furled in triumph to the breeze. On the charge up the Heights, many of the regiment were killed and wounded, among the latter being Captain Root, of Company I.# The
* McClellan's Own Story.
+ The wounded in Company I, at the battle of Antietam, were as follows: Sergeant Peter Mead. Privates : Brien Cooley, William H. Eddy, Charles Gage, Martin Hope, Charles B. Quick, George Reynolds, Charles Shuter.
į In the charge np Marye's Heiglits, the following, belonging to Com- pany I, were wounded: Captain E. E. Root; Sergeants, George Shear- inan, Putnam Demming ; Corporals, Byron F. Randolph, Menzo Wix- son, Dorr Barber, William Plaistead, Owen Smith ; Privates, Thomas
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THE MILITARY HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
last battle in which the Thirty-third was engaged was Sa- lem Heights, fought May 4th. In this battle, Lieutenant Charles D. Rossiter, of Company D, a young man of great promise, was killed.
On Tuesday, May 12, 1863, Colonel Taylor informed the men in his command that, their term of service having then expired, they were to go home on the coming Friday. The order for their departure was accompanied by parting ad- dresses from the corps, division, and brigade generals, each address containing a graceful acknowledgment of the past services of the regiment. Farewells were uttered by mem- bers of other regiments who had fought side by side with the Thirty-third, and on the 17th of May the regiment ar- rived at Elmira. The Saturday following the Thirty-third came to Geneva, where an address of welcome was delivered by the Hon. Charles J. Folger. A bountiful repast was also served at Camp Swift to the returned soldiers by the ladies of Geneva. On Monday, May 25th, the regiment proceeded to Canandaigua, where a splendid ovation was received from the citizens. The buildings were handsomely decorated with the National colors and triumphal arches spanned the principal streets. The veterans, together with the Canandaigua firemen, formed in procession and marched to the Court House Square, and were here addressed by the Hon. Elbridge G. Lapham. The procession again formed and passed through various streets to the fair grounds, where the regiment per- formed the different evolutions of the manual, exhibited the manner of pitching tents, made a "charge," and went through with other numerous military exercises, which elic- ited rounds of applause from the lookers on. J. P. Faurot, Esq., made a brief speech of congratulation, to which Lieu- tenant-Colonel Corning responded. Colonel Taylor then returned to the ladies of Canandaigua the regimental banner received from them two years before. Handing the flag to the committee, he remarked that it had been given to his
Conway, James W. Corey, George W. Corey, (mortally,) James Doyle, William H. Eddy, Eugene Hunt, William W. Hunt, William Johnson, (mortally,) Hackett Merritt, George Reynolds, Jeremiah E. Sprague, Charles Shuter, George S. Wells, Edwin G. Wheeler.
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THE MILITARY HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
command with the pledge that it should never be sullied by cowardice or a dishonorable act, and it had never been. It was a beautiful flag when presented to the regiment, but was now torn and oiled, but to him and the regiment it was all the dearer. He had no doubt it would be dearer to those who gave it, as a relic of the bravery and patriotism of the men of the Thirty-third, who, when he assumed command, were eight hundred strong, but now less than four hundred re- mained. On receiving back the banner the ladies presented an address, which was read by A. H. Howell, Esq. A parting speech to the regiment was delivered by Chaplain Augustus H. Lung. A sumptuous banquet, served at the Canandaigua House by the ladies of the village, concluded the ceremony. The same evening the Thirty-third returned to Geneva, and on Tuesday, June 2, 1863, was assembled on the green in front of the barracks by Captain Beirne, of the regular army, and there mustered by companies out of the service.
On the 20th of June a grand reception was given at Penn Yan to the members of Company I. Led by Lieutenant Brennan, as senior officer, they marched to the sound of martial music through the principal streets, and were served with a collation at the Benham House. The flag which had been presented to the company two years before was now returned to the ladies of Penn Yan, and appropriate ad- dresses were made by the Hon. D. A. Ogden and the Rev. Frederick Starr, Jr. Several who had belonged to. Company I, and to other companies in the Thirty-third Regiment, subsequently röenlisted in other commands.
The following is the muster-in roll of Company I of the Thirty-third Regiment, added to which is a list of the regi- mental and line officers at the time of the muster-out: Offi- cers-James M. Letts, Captain; Edward E. Root,t First Lieutenant; William H. Long, Second Lieutenant; Charles Howe, First Sergeant; William Riker,; Edward S. Rice, Henry Atwater, Sergeants; Richard J. Harford, Peter Mead,t David A. Cook, John W. Durham, Corporals; John Oliver,§ Damon Morse, Musicians; Privates : Joseph Agins, § David Akins,§ Patrick Ambrose,t John Ashley, George Brennan,. .
t Wounded. ¿ Died. ¿ Deserted.
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THE MILITARY HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
George W. Bassett,* Patrick Brennan, Daniel G. Baker, Dorr Barber, t Charles Bishop, Charles Brown, Freeman M. Brazee, Cornelius Bonney,§ Bruen Cooley,t Charles Com- stock, George W. Corey," James W. Corey,t Augustus A. Chidsey, Charles E. Chapman,; Thomas Conway,t Daniel Dailey, John R. Davis, James Doyle,t William Decker, Pnt- nam Demming,+ William H. Eddy,+ Henry Escott, James Furner, William Foster, Charles Forshay, John Forshay,§ Sylvester Fredenburg,§ Charles Gage, + John Gordon, Lewis B. Holmes, Martin Hope, | Thomas Hunter, Lewis G. Hor- ton, # William Humphrey,# Eugene Hunt, + William W. Hunt, + Delos C. Hubbard, Charles E. Hyatt, William Johnson," Cle- ment W. Kidder, William H. Kean, Michael Mahar, Truman McKinney, Charles McConnell, Hackett Merritt,+ Patrick Mulligan, Charles Millis, Augustus F. Murdock,# George Mad- den,§ John Newlove, John E. Neary, Christopher Nash, William F. Pierce, William Plaisted,t Greig Quick,# Charles B. Quick, 1 Oliver Raplee, George Reynolds, t Byron F. Ran- dolph,+ Henry Reppinger, William B. Rogers, George Shearman,t Lewis Shaw, Richard Strong, Jeremiah E. Sprague, 1 Charles Shuter,+ Edward Singleton, William V. R. Sloan, Morris Shultz, Abner Stetler,§ Menzo Wixson, t John G. Wolcott, George S. Wells,t Peter S. Wheaton, Ed- win G. Wheeler,t John Woodruff, Hiram Whitney, George Youngs.
Regimental and line officers-Colonel, Robert F. Taylor; Lieutenant-Colonel, Joseph W. Corning; Major, John S. Platner; Adjutant, John W. Corning; Quartermaster, Henry N. Alexander; Chaplain, Augustus H. Lung; Surgeon, D'Estaing Dickinson; Assistant Surgeon, Duncan Mac- Lacklin.
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