USA > New York > To sacrifice, to suffer, and if need be, to die : a history of the thirty-fourth New York Regiment > Part 22
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HISTORY OF THE THIRTY-FOURTH REGIMENT
under the beautiful blue sky of a perfect autumn day, listening to the fall of the benediction, from the lips of the holy man, with the old familiar voices calling to us, out of the unseen, and the old familiar hands reaching down, out of the infinite spaces, to clasp our own, then, indeed, we could feel paid and repaid, a thousand times over, for all that we had done, and all that we had wanted to do, and tried so ineffectually to do. "The long day's work was ended."
On the morning of September 16, 1902, after all our groundless fears as to the success of the excursion, a goodly number of comrades and friends, from points all along the Mohawk Valley, boarded the east bound train of the West Shore Railroad, with through tickets for the dedication. At various points along the valley, other comrades and friends boarded the train. By evening of the same day, it had reached New York, where other comrades caught on ; and during the night that followed, the train of the Baltimore and Ohio, by a none too comfortable journey, was side-tracked at Harper's Ferry, where it waited for the morning. This history records how some of these same people, by this self-same railroad, had arrived at this self-same place. on a morning, forty years before, to find the granite doorway of the Shenandoah locked and barred against their further progress southward : and how
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VILLAGE OF SHARPSBURG, MD .- 1903
I 57
THE DEDICATION
JAMES N, GREENE
Mountain range, down through which the regiment had defiled, at Turner's Gap, on that morning after the bloody battle of September 14, 1862. To the south was plainly seen the break of Crampton's Pass, with its stony re- minders of the hosts that had once swarmed through it.
they had then labored to unbar the door, and reopen the great railroad to the commerce of the world. The morning of September 17 was passed in revisiting the scenes of their former labors. Early in the forenoon of that day, the train bearing the com- rades, who now fully real- ized that they were again amid hills and valleys of the long ago, and whose memories were thronging with reached the little long-vanished scenes, town of Keedysville,
Md. On the east towered
the South
AND JESSE R. FORT, OF COMMITTEE.
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HISTORY OF THE THIRTY-FOURTH REGIMENT
Here was the great spring where the men had filled their canteens; and this was the same Boonsboro road they had once traveled. To the westward flowed Antietam Creek, which they had forded on a distant morning, when every man's heart was in his throat; and further on the heights and plains, from which on that same morning, had thundered a thousand guns, dealing out death and destruction with a lavish hand.
Here the party were met by the teams, which were to bear them to the old battlefield, by substantially the same route they had taken just forty years before. Arriving at the same little old Dunkard Church, which did not seem to have changed much in all the long interval, the veterans looked around them on scenes vastly different from those with which they had once been familiar. Then all this vast tract was covered with dead men, and dead horses, and all the dreadful detritus of a great battle ; while the air was rank with villainous odors. Now there were "orchard lawns, and bowery hollows, crowned with summer sea." The faces of many of the comrades were bathed in tears, as it all came back.
Soon we began to meet other comrades, who had come by one route and another, for a final roll-call at the monument. The little church was thrown open to visitors, and every inch of the old familiar ground was carefully surveyed. Then there was a business meeting, at which every man's heart was full, and everybody wanted to thank everybody who had had the least part in bringing about the enterprise, and this dearest and sweetest of all the reunions, a reunion which could never. by any possibility, be repeated. The following is the resolution, offered by Captain Irving D. Clark, of Company B, which he has several times since written us to amplify, fearing it didn't thank anybody half enough :
"We wish, first of all, to thank our Monument Committee, Chairman, Quartermaster Nathan Easterbrook, Jr., Treasurer, Major Wells Sponable: Secretary, Lieutenant Louis N. Chapin; also our Regimental Association Secre- taries, Secretary Jesse R. Fort; Corresponding Secretary. James N. Greene; for their self denial, and extraordinary efforts, and unremitting labors. for the success of our noble enterprise; and we wish the veterans, and their child- ren, and children's children, to know that these comrades did their duty well. and labored not in vain."
After the business meeting, there was an adjournment to the monu- ment, on Confederate Avenue, near by, and the old veterans, led by the band, found that they had not forgotten how to keep step, touching elbows, and guiding right.
The following is the program that was carried out at the monu- ment, where a large crowd of people from the country round, and even from distant towns, were interested spectators, and listeners. The un- veiling proper of the beautiful monument, was performed by Mr. James A. Suiter, Jr., son of the veteran Colonel. who, though still hale, at 86, wisely thought it not prudent to hazard the long journey. It had been announced that Captain Emerson S. Northup. of Company K, would be
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THE DEDICATION
present, to make the dedicatory prayer; but the Captain lives in far away Los Angeles, Cal., and found it not possible to be present. Ac- cordingly his place was taken by Captain Clark. It was also hoped that Captain Northup's daughter would be present, to sing a solo; but she, also, was compelled to be absent. But Captain Northup sent a imessage, which was read by the Secretary, Lieutenant Chapin, who also read a message, full of noble words, from the aged Colonel, whom everybody missed. This sentiment of regret was embodied in a reso- lution, which was offered by Mrs. Donald McLean, one of the speakers. All the features of the program, the oration, by Hon. J. D. Henderson, the paper read by the President, giving the history of the monument en- terprise, and transferring the title of lot and monument to the United States Government, which was so worthily responded to by General E. A. Carman, on behalf of the Government, the address by Mrs. McLean, and all the voluntary addresses; the reading of the Roll of Honor, by Secretary Chapin, which gave the names of all the comrades who died or were killed during the whole period of the regiment's service; in short, everything said and done, at the unveiling, was so worthy, and in such good spirit, that there was nothing left to regret.
After the exercises were finished, and the photographs taken, the comrades and their friends were taken to the little village of Sharps- burg, only a mile or so away, where a most bountiful dinner was spread. The afternoon was spent in riding over the old battlefield. Every cor- ner was explored, and many relics were gathered. Toward night the people all found their way, by one road or another, back to Keedys- ville, where they took train for Washington. From this point they scattered, and excursioned in all directions. Many have written since that the week of the dedication was the happiest, the sweetest, and the most sacred, of all their lives.
CHAIRMAN EASTERBROOK'S INTRODUCTION
Comrades, Ladies and Gentlemen :-
We are assembled here this beautiful autumn day, made more charming by the tints imparted to the foliage in this Eden of entranc- ing landscape.
These tints indicate to the husbandman that harvest time is here, and that it is time to gather in the fruits of his labors.
Time has touched you with the frost of age; and you are ad- monished that the seed of death sowed here forty years ago to-day is ready for the reaper, and that your harvest time is here, and that account shall be taken of the fruits of your work. We little realized what our harvest would be when that seed was sowed here in blood and sweat. We did not know that on the result of this battle depended the proclamation that shattered the shackles that bound five million in slav- ery, and we are here to rejoice that we were instruments in determin- ing the event that gave liberty to every bonded human being in our
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غباءـ
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THE DEDICATION
country. We did not then consider the rapid rush of the stream of blessings following the restoration of the Union, a reunited people, a country prosperous beyond the dreams of the enthusiast; we made no estimate of the grandeur to which our country should attain and its power in shaping and determining in a large measure the happiness and the well being of the whole human race ; but, my comrades, all these are in large measure closely related to what we may jus. y claim as part of the harvest from the seed of your sowing, in your capacity of ear- nest, honest, effective citizen soldiers.
Our heroic comrades, whose life blood was shed on this and other fields, have left us a legacy of imperishable honor.
We are here to dedicate this beautiful and enduring monument in honor of them. "They risked all, and lost all, and what they lost we gained." As a visible memorial, prompted by high appreciation of their devotion to country, for which they gave up their lives, surviving 'comrades, appreciative friends, and a grateful people, have erected this monument, and celebrate the 40th anniversary of their sacrifice.
We cordially welcome the friends who honor the occasion with their presence. We especially welcome distinguished ladies and gen- tlemen, friends, who in eloquent words will address you. We welcome the representative of the United States to whose care and custody our monument will be committed, and under whose fostering care it will stand as a sentinel for a thousand years, guarding the sleeping patriots beneath its shadow. In the name of the Veteran Association of the Thirty-fourth Regiment, I welcome you all.
HISTORY MONUMENT ENTERPRISE
The project for the erection of a Monument in honor of the Thirty- fourth Regiment on the battlefield of Antietam, had its inception at the business meeting of the reunion of the Association, at Little Falls, September the 17th, 1895. The following resolution was introduced, and received the unanimous approval of the Association :
Resolved, First, That a committee of three members of this association be appointed by the colonel to collect information and other data, and to make arrangements for the erection of a monument on the battlefield of Antietam.
Resolved, Second, That the committee so appointed shall have power to add to their number, in order to accomplish the erection of said monument.
In pursuance of the above resolution, Nathan Easterbrook, Jr., Wells Sponable, and Louis N. Chapin were appointed by Colonel James A. Suiter, President, as the committee, and the committee so appointed by Colonel Suiter shall be, and they hereby are, empowered, to do all things, and to per- form all acts, either by themselves or in conjunction with the persons they may add to their numbers, for the purpose of the erection and dedication of said monument on the Battlefield of Antietam.
The committee immediately took active and vigorous steps toward the forming of a fund as a nucleus for more extended operations. It seemed necessary to first secure a site and dedicate the same by proper
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dedicatory exercises, before introducing a bill for an appropriation by the Legislature. In order to accomplish this an appeal was made to the Board of Supervisors at their session in December, 1895. The grounds for our petition set forth so forcibly and so briefly some of the consid- erations that prompted us to appeal directly to the representative local legislature of the County, that I doubt not that it will be of interest to you, and I therefore read :
The Honorable The Board of Supervisors of Herkimer County, .V. Y .:
At a meeting of the Veteran Association of the Survivors of the Thirty- fourth Regiment Volunteer Infantry, State of New York, held in the City of Little Falls, Herkimer County, September 17, 1895, the undersigned, Nathan Easterbrook, Jr. of New Haven, Conn., Wells Sponable, of Morris Heights, New York City, Louis N. Chapin, of 30 Rose Street, New York City, were appointed a Committee of said Association, to procure the erection of a monu- ment on the battlefield of Antietam, Maryland, in honor of the men of the said Thirty-fourth Regiment who lost their lives on that battlefield, while performing the highest duty of American citizenship. The attack on Fort Sumter, April 12th, 1861, was a sufficient incentive to insure their prompt response to march to the front in support of the Union. That they conscientiously, intelligently and effectively performed their duty, the records of many battles bear witness. and the graves of many soldiers of the Thirty-fourth Regiment, silently pro- claim. They honored the county, state and nation by unfaltering patriotism at a most critical period, and their example stimulated others to do likewise. Distinctly representing Herkimer County as no other organization did, at all times commanded by a citizen of the county, its field officers exclusively citizens of the county, during its entire service, its staff and line, rank and file so largely composed of citizens of the county, seem to give it a claim to your consideration that no contemporary organization can have. In considering the facts recited, we feel that it is fitting and appropriate, and that we may with great reliance ask you, and through you, the people of the county, to take the initiative in the erection of a monument for the purpose indicated, which, at the same time will perpetuate the patriotic zeal of Herkimer County, in upholding the Union. And we desire most respectfully to assure you that the surviving members of the Thirty-fourth Regiment, will deeply feel the honor of such recognition as may result from your compliance with our request. We there- fore respectfully ask, that you appropriate, and pay over to the committee heretofore named, in behalf of the Veteran Association of the survivors of the Thirty-fourth Regiment Volunteer Infantry, the sum of twenty-five hundred dollars, for the following purposes, viz .:
Ist. The purchase of a suitable plot of ground on which to erect a monu- ment, at Antietam.
2nd. For clearing, leveling and excavating.
3rd. The building of foundations for walls (inclosures).
4th. For building inclosing walls and gate posts.
5th. For building foundations for steps.
6th. Proper dedication.
7th. For such other legitimate expenditures as may be deemed necessary by said committee.
Our petition failed. The Supervisors made no response, and they appropriated no money. In the meantime your committee were endeav- oring to form sub-committees of influential citizens and friends in the towns of the county. All these efforts proved fruitless. We next con- sidered and laboriously and lengthily discussed, through the medium of letters, a plan for raising funds by popular subscription, and after months of futile effort we had to abandon it.
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THE DEDICATION
We formulated a bill, with the aid of our loyal and generous friend, the late distinguished Judge George A. Hardin, of Little Falls, and handed our bill to Senator Feeter (an honored honorary member of our Association ), who gave it his unqualified approval, and his earnest, active advocacy and support. Senator Feeter had it promptly referred to the Finance Committee of the Senate, and arranged a hearing by the Finance Committee at the earliest practicable day. Your committee went to Albany, and remained January 27, 28, 29 and 30th, 1901, and worked in conjunction with Senator Feeter in personal solicitation of Senators, members of the Finance Committee and with other Senators, not members of the Finance Committee. Our friends Hon. A. M. Mills, Hon. Timothy Dasey, and Postmaster Ransom, of Little Falls, came to Albany, to lend their influence and voices in our favor. Unfor- tunately the Finance Committee deferred the hearing on our bill to such a late hour, that Messrs. Mills, Dasey and Ransom could not remain to be heard, as other important engagements at distant points demanded their presence, and we were thus deprived of their wise coun- sel and valuable assistance. Our bill asked an appropriation of $5,000.00. The Finance Committee, after deliberate consideration, reported the bill to the Senate with the recommendation that an appro- priation of $2,500.00 be made. The cutting of our request in two was a sore disappointment. To erect a $5,000 monument with $2,500 was a problem with which we were not familiar.
In the meantime the Board of Supervisors, at the solicitation of a loyal and zealous member of our association, backed by influential citi- zens, had appropriated $500.00 to assist in the erection of our monu- ment .* It is with a sense of grateful pride that we refer to this act on the part of the Supervisors. We felt that it was in some degree a recognition of the appeal made to the Board in December, 1895. We felt encouraged to make still further efforts. Our bill appropriating $2,500, passed both the Senate and Assembly and became a law May 3rd, 1901, by the approval of Gov. Odell.
To accomplish the purpose your committee had started out to ac- complish, more funds were needed ; we therefore determined to intro- duce a bill at the session of the Legislature of 1901-1902, for an addi- tional appropriation. We did so with the aid and effort of Senator Feeter, but the additional appropriation was not granted. But our loyal generous friends came to the rescue and supplied us with addi- tional money, to purchase a site, and to erect this noble tribute to the men who laid down their lives here, and to honor the living members of the Thirty-fourth Regiment.
*The following is the resolution passed by the Board of Supervisors of Herkimer County. Thursday, Dec. 13, 1000:
Resolved, That the sum of five hundred dollars ($500.00) is hereby appropriated to the Veteran Association of the Thirty-fourth Regiment Volunteer Infantry, State of New York, towards a fund for the erection of a monument on the field of Antietam in the State of Maryland, to com- memorate the valor and participation of the Thirty-fourth Regiment, N. Y. S. Volunteers, in the memorable battle of September, 1862. That the said amount be placed in the budget and an order therefor drawn in favor of said Veteran Association, to be paid over at such time as in the judgment and discretion of the Chairman of this Board shall seem proper.
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HISTORY OF THE THIRTY-FOURTH REGIMENT
You are familiar with the literature emanating from our committee, and with the work they have done; it is therefore unnecessary to go into the detail of the same. I wish to say, however, that with the dili- gent, unfailing effort and assistance, of our Comrades Jesse R. Fort, and James N. Greene, your committee have spent years of unremitting effort, to accomplish the duty with which they were charged, and they are now prepared to present your Monument to the United States, whose special representative, General Carman, is here, by direction of the Secretary of War, to accept it.
After careful investigation and consideration of plans, specifica- tions and prices of different firms of monument builders, the contract was awarded to Stephen Maslen, of Hartford, Conn., who was the lowest bidder.
The cost, including site, foundation, grading, lawyers' services per- fecting deed, etc., expense of committee in coming here to select site, and arrange for this dedication, etc., is about $3,000.00. In addition, the enterprise has involved many other necessary and heavy expenses.
The dimensions of the parts, and of the complete monument, are as follows, viz. :
Base .
ID. XIO. XI.4 7.8 X 7.8 XI .2
Second Base
Plinth 6.1 X 6.1 X2. 10
Section 4.7 X 4.7 X1.00 Lower Dic 4. X 4. X7.9 Cap 1.9 X 4.9 XI .8 3.2 X 3.2 X2.6
Upper Dic Cap 3 IOX 3. 10X2 2
Height from foundation to apex, 20 feet, five inches. The monu- ment is of the best Quincy granite. The plot of ground on which the monument is erected was bought of George F. Poffenberger and wife. and. by the direction of your committee, was deeded by them to the United States. It is 60x60 feet in extent and cost $160,000.
ORATION OF HON. JOHN D. HENDERSON
Mr. Chairman, Comrades, Ladies and Gentlemen :--
"Taller and richor grows the corn where fell Antietam's dead."
We have come here to-day to dedicate a monument. Ever since man came upon the earth, he has been erecting and dedicating monu- ments.
It is fairly well established, that those large, unshaped, or partly shaped stones, now known as Megalithic monuments, were set up in prehistoric times as memorials of mighty warriors, or of important events.
Such stones are found in all the countries of Northern, and West- ern Europe, in India, in Africa, and in South America. Mexico and Central America abounded in pyramids, and monuments, erected to
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the memory of their great men, and to their gods, and it may be also, that the curious mounds of earth, scattered over our own country are monuments, and were built for a like purpose.
But coming down to the times of authentic history; the Patriarch Jacob set up a pillar at Bethel and another at Galeed. The story of the erection of a monument is not an unusual thing in the Hebrew record. True, it more often took the form of an altar, as we might expect among a people whose government was a Theocracy, but pillars, and stones, and monuments, were not uncommon. The pyramids, the Sphynx, and hundreds of monoliths testify to the glories of ancient Egypt, and the mighty events which have taken place on the shores of the Mediterranean, are commemorated by monuments.
The Greeks and the Romans built a great many of them. Some have decayed, crumbled and disappeared, but others remain, and are still admired for their finish and their beauty. The Campaigns of the Emperor Trajan are sculptured in long panoramic display, on the spiral band which crowns his shaft, and this idea was copied without improve- ment on the design, upon the column of Antonine erected in the second century of our era, and later upon the splendid monuments of Napoleon. 'The accidental discovery of the Rosetta stone furnished a key to the inscriptions on the Tombs, and Obelisks of Egypt, and we are able to decipher those curious characters, and to read some of the stories writ- ten there. From them we have learned much about the men of past ages who struggled, as we do now, for life, for glory, for supremacy over fellow men.
In our times, the building of monuments has often taken the form of hospitals, libraries, colleges, and asylums, erected to the memory of their founders ; men who have accumulated wealth and wish to do some good in the world as they leave it; these foundations are no less monuments than are the stones in our cemeteries, or the memorial windows in our churches. A splendid building, an art col- lection, a library, a fountain, a great institution of learning, a fund preserved and devoted to a particular purpose, which bears the name of its founder, is a very useful monument, and a worthy memorial of the giver, but it is not desirable that every memorial should be of such a nature.
Usefulness in itself is good, but not essential, or requisite. A monument stands as a witness of something. It is the embodiment of an idea. Set up in stone to-day, it voices our sentiments, and speaks to future generations.
The printed page will tell, in more or less detail, of those whose deeds we commemorate.
Men, however, are not all readers of books, and the world gener- ally is too busy with the activities of the present, to give much thought or time to the doings and stories of the past, but as the child in the kindergarten is taught by the blocks and objects which he sees, so men are taught lessons of history, from sculptured marble, from statues of bronze, from shafts which stand as silent witnesses for those who can no longer speak for themselves.
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A victory lasts as long as the result can be seen and felt. A man lives annong men, so long as he is not forgotten. But how long can a man live? There have been men whose deeds shall keep their memory green, and their names upon the lips of their fellow men, so long as the earth shall last.
To be known to-day, to-morrow, and forever, is the mainspring of ambition, and too often the chief incentive for human effort. But no one wishes to sleep in an unknown grave. All desire to be remem- bered. Is such desire, implanted in every human breast an evidence of the immortality of man? It certainly is, and it is a proper and noble sentiment.
It is also proper that we should pay suitable tribute to those who have gone before, and perpetuate, in so far as we are able, the memory of the worthy dead of our own times.
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