To sacrifice, to suffer, and if need be, to die : a history of the thirty-fourth New York Regiment, Part 23

Author: Chapin, L. N. (Louis N.)
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Little Falls, NY : Galpin CWRT
Number of Pages: 218


USA > New York > To sacrifice, to suffer, and if need be, to die : a history of the thirty-fourth New York Regiment > Part 23


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24


But, "There is nothing new under the sun." .A stone marks the place where a battle was fought, a hero buried, a treaty signed, a life given for one's country, or it is set up as a memorial of a series of events, important in the history of a nation. When men see such a stone, the event to which it testifies is remembered, and talked about, as long as the stone stands.


We do nothing new ourselves. Forty years have passed since armies met upon this field, and contested for the mastery. We see all around us memorials of that day. Others have been here before us, upon a similar errand, but we have come to. erect a monument to the memory of as brave men, as ever fell on any field, or struggled for any cause.


You surviving comrades; you brothers, sons, neighbors, friends, acquaintances, of these men; you who have heard and are familiar with the story of the gallant Thirty-fourth Regiment; you lovers of your country, patriots, spectators on this occasion ; you all honor your- selves when you honor them,


It took nearly a hundred years to decide the "irrepressible con- flict" between freedom and slavery in this country. Everything which led up to the battle of Antietam culminated here. It was not alone a mighty conflict between two armies of brave men, it was a great crisis, and the result of the fight upon this field saved Maryland to the Union, and furnished the opportunity, and occasion, for President Lincoln's first emancipation proclamation. It was the adoption of a new policy. Thereafter there was no question about the abolition of slavery ; there would be no more compromises. The excuse for conflict would be removed, and removed for ever. It was an' epoch-marking time, in the history of the world. It was an event, the influence of which, shall be felt during the entire life of this nation. Freed from the pas- sions, and prejudices of that hour, we can look calmly back, and dis- cuss the whole matter, without bitterness of thought, or speech. First, we must recognize that those who took part in the great civil war were actuated by similar motives, and were terribly in earnest. The men in both armies, were trying to do their "duty to the state" but "the state"


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HISTORY OF THE THIRTY-FOURTH REGIMENT


had two different meanings. On one side it meant that individual local government, whose domestic institutions were in danger, whose honor was at stake, whose soil had been invaded. On the other side it meant that great Union of States, which had a common history, a common interest, a common heritage of liberty, a common territory which could not be divided, and a flag which must not be dishonored.


The perpetuation, or the abolition of negro slavery which fur- nished the occasion for the contest was a mere incident. Wrong in itself, an indefensible violation of human rights, those who made the "peculiar institution" the chief corner stone of their governmental structure, were from the beginning of the contest, doomed to destruc- tion. But there were thousands in the armies of the confederacy who cared nothing for slavery. They did care for the freedom, and the sovereignty of their native State. Misled and misinformed, they regarded the men of the North as enemies, and oppressors, and they could not see that a Union of States formed upon the idea that any one of them could secede, at its own sweet will, was a "rope of sand" unworthy of respect, unworthy to be called a nation. If it had been possible for the confederate states to have succeeded they could not have lasted ten years; even in their brief history, there were several threatened secessions from their number. Defeat was a blessing to them. Success would have been a misfortune. It would have retarded their own progress, and the progress of the world.


The Triumph of the National Idea, was perhaps a revolution, but it was a revolution in the interest of good government, a revolution which tended to the advancement of individual liberty, a revolution which proved the strength, the power, and the permanency of the Republic, and which brought progress, and prosperity to the whole people. Things move fast in our country. It took centuries in Eng- land to wear away the animosities engendered by the wars of the Roses. The house of Stuart had loyal supporters for more than a hundred years after its fall, and Ireland, conquered, and subdued by Cromwell, still refuses to be pacified; but here we see a loyal and united people. The questions settled by the war of '61 have been set- tled forever. The lines which divided the people of this country at that time can never divide us again. A prosperous North, and a resurrected South joined with the great and mighty West, present to the world a nation of unlimited resources, and of marvelous power.


Friend and foe alike sleep here in eternal peace, no contention disturbs the quiet of their repose, and "No sound can awake them to glory again." So among the living, who visit here, hatred has given place to love, enmity to friendship, rancor to brotherly kindness. We can come here and dedicate this monument to our friends and at the same time pay suitable tribute to the zeal, the spirit, and the courage of their foes. In doing this, there is no disparagement of those who triumphed in that conflict, it rather adds to their glory to admit that they had foeman worthy of their steel. Those who fought here, were all Americans, gallant descendants of the mighty stock from which


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THE DEDICATION


they sprang, and in that contest were working out the destiny of the race.


But "duty to the State" means something for us to-day, and if we would be worthy successors of the brave men of the Thirty-fourth Regiment who fell upon this field, we must have as noble a conception of "our duty to the State" as they had, when they gave up their lives for their country.


There is no duty that calls for the immediate sacrifice of human life. No duty that requires the abandonment of our usual occupa- tions, no duty that greatly interferes with our daily business.


But there is duty, which may conflict with our personal comfort, duty, which demands our interest and attention, duty to be done every day of our lives, if we would be good citizens of a free republic. Vigilance is to-day as much the price of liberty as it ever was, and it is the vigilance of patriots, uninfluenced by selfishness, or hope of present reward.


Our "duty to the State" consists in having an intelligent opinion on all political issues ; a knowledge of the policy and practice of the government ; a place, and a standing, in a political party, and in always making an honest effort on all occasions, to support those men and measures only, which we believe to be nearest right. Corrupt prac- tices should have no countenance from any of us. That man is not a good citizen or patriot, who would be influenced himself, or would influence others by corrupt motives. A stream can rise no higher than its source. You stand as citizens, at the fountain head of all power in this country.


Bribery in one form or another is the greatest danger which threatens the Republic; set your faces against it. Condemn it on all occasions. Support no men who favor or practice it; and make hon- esty the chief qualification for public office.


Flatter not yourselves that you will have sufficient virtue to pre- serve the republic in perilous times, if you neglect your present duty as citizens.


Do not think that your sons and daughters will love their country or perform their civic duties any better than you do; your example will be their model of conduct.


We shall not have come here in vain, if we make this occasion a noble incentive to better citizenship.


MRS. McLEAN'S ADDRESS


We had fully expected to be able to give the address delivered by Mrs. McLean; but the address was delivered without manuscript, or even notes; and there was no stenographer present to take it down. Still, the lady, desiring to accommodate the many who wanted to read the address, promised to try and reproduce it. But the drafts on her time have been many, and we are, therefore, obliged, though very reluctantly, to proceed without it. Mrs. McLean is Regent of the New


A GROUP OF COMRADES AT THE DEDICATION


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THE DEDICATION


York City Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, a very busy woman, and at the moment of our writing this notice is deep in a public function up at Sherry's, this January 6th, being the anni- versary of Washington's wedding day. The Thirty-fourth had the honor of being present, though a little late for the ceremony, at the little Roper's Church, where the Father of his Country and the beauti- ful Martha Custis were joined for life; and it must be gratifying to that august, first great patriot of his time, to know that we not only honor all the other great days of his life, but also the great day when he took to himself a lady who, ever afterward, justly divided with him all the glory which properly belonged to his name.


Following these regular addresses, Chairman Easterbrook called on a number of the old officers present for addresses. We are able to give a number of them.


REMARKS OF MAJOR WELLS SPONABLE


Mr. Chairman, Comrades, Ladies and Gentlemen :


In behalf of our venerable and beloved Colonel, I will say that we are thankful for the privilege of meeting on this famous field, and congratulating one another, after an absence of forty years; or more than an ordinary lifetime.


Forty years' work marked changes in nations, and especially in republics. It will be remembered by those who visited this place forty years ago that they were more hospitably received to-day than forty years ago, and that the atmosphere is also very much changed. It is not so hot as forty years ago.


There is not so much noise, bustle and confusion, as forty years ago. The people we meet are not so excited as forty years ago. The hotel accommodations are much improved.


The facilities for getting from one point to another are also much improved.


On the whole, I venture to say that to-day will end in a much more enjoyable one than forty years ago.


We meet here to-day for the purpose of doing honor to those of our regiment who were killed on this spot of ground, in one of the great battles of the war between the States. We believe we are doing our duty to the past, present and the future, in erecting a monument to our comrades who were killed in defence of our country's flag.


" On Fame's eternal camping ground Their silent tents are spread, And glory guards, with solemn round, The bivouac of the dead."


Greeley, the historian, in closing his account of this battle, says : "And thus ended the bloodiest day America ever saw." General Alex- ander, Chief of Artillery in Longstreet's corps, who directed the Con- federate fire, in the celebrated artillery duel at Gettysburg, in his


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HISTORY OF THE THIRTY-FOURTH REGIMENT


speech made at West Point June 9th last in speaking of Antietam, said: "Dolorous and bootless Antietam is conspicuous as the bloodiest single day in the annals of this continent." So comrades you see it may be truly said that the American people have been tried in both fire and water, and found not wanting, but equal to every emergency.


Every emergency thus far has been successfully met.


In the beginning, we had our Washington, who laid the foundation of the republic absolutely on the granite rocks. Later we had our Lin- coln. Still later we had our Mckinley. And now we have Colonel Roosevelt, in whom we have the utmost confidence, believing him equal to any emergency that may arise. It will be remembered that our greatest Presidents were veterans. A hint to the wise is sufficient. Do not accept an uncertainty for a certainty. There is no use borrow- ing trouble about the future. An American always turns up equal to the occasion.


The time and money spent in building monuments on the battle- fields of the war between the States, by either the Union or Confeder- ate veterans, is well invested.


There are no better teachers for those who come after us than the silent monuments on the battlefields, marking the places where men died for a principle they believed right, whether they wore the blue or the gray uniform.


The monuments erected by the veterans of the war between the States, whether north or south of the compromise line, will teach those who come after us lessons that can be learned in no other way. History fails to impress on the mind what this nation experienced during the war between the States as do those silent sentinels, con- stantly on duty, reminding the youth that is to conduct the republic in the future, of the events that occasioned and occurred in the civil war. Therefore I say to the veterans of the blue and the gray, continue to build monuments ; they virtually cost nothing. In this country the peo- ple are the government, and the government is the people. The people who are the government build the monuments and they have both monument and money. So you see the people (the government), are just a monument ahead. We are thankful to all who assisted in the erection of that pile of stone which will be a page in our nation's his- tory for all time.


I hope all may live to meet one year from to-day, in the beautiful Valley of the Mohawk.


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REMARKS OF CAPTAIN IRVING D. CLARK


Captain Clark of Company B, was the next speaker, and in the course of his remarks related the following touching incident concern- ing the Terry brothers. We might add that Captain Clark had a brother killed at the Battle of Antietam :


Mr. Chairman, Comrades, Ladies and Gentlemen :


At the Pan-American Exposition, I saw, at the entrance to the Art Building, a soldiers' group or statue, representing a scene in Cuba (or the Philippines). A dead soldier lay upon the ground, another stood beside him looking away in the distance, seeming to wonder what the folks at home would think when they heard of his comrade's death. The boy soldiers of 1861-65, the same as now, with radiant faces, car- ried their lives lightly in their hands, thinking only of the old flag and the future united country. Only when they found themselves beside a dead comrade, and thought of the loved ones at home, did they stop to realize what a soldier's death really meant. In the war for the Union there were many thrilling scenes, with no snap-shot camera to record them as now. Some of the most touching situations were never per- petuated, save in the memory of a few who were interested from some cause-possibly a relative or a friend. In the contest between the North and South, many tragic scenes, were in the aggregate, but com- monplaces to the officers and soldiers of those two contending armies. On Antietam battlefield our lamented Mckinley carried water to the wounded and dying soldiers of the two armies. Who knows but that he put the cup of cold water to my brother's lips before he died. It is a grand thing to be a soldier, and wear a uniform of the United States Army.


At the Battle of Fair Oaks, Virginia, May 31st, 1862, Major (then Captain) Wells Sponable, of Company B, was severely wounded, when the command fell upon me, then a lieutenant. There were in our Company, three brothers, Joseph, Victor and Albert Terry. Vic- tor and Albert were both wounded in the leg at the battle. Amputa- tion was necessary, after which they were placed in separate ambu- lances and started for the General Hospital, in the rear. On the way to the Hospital, both young men died. They were placed in one ambu- lance, and returned to the battlefield. On the next morning, June Ist, during a continuation of the battle, while the regiment was standing as support to the troops fighting in our front, Joseph Terry, the older brother, was excused from the ranks to bury his two brothers, whose remains he had placed side by side under a tree, a short distance behind our line. Setting his Enfield rifle against a tree, he began digging that grave. When .the battle raged too near, and the spent balls were falling about us, he would put his spade aside, take his rifle and resume his place in the company. When the roar of musketry and the Union cheers would show the enemy were being driven, he again would take up his spade. When the battle would again sway toward our


THIRTY.FOURTH REGIMENT


N.Y. S. V.


COL. JAMES A. SUITER COMMANDING.


ENLISTED UNDER PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S CALL, ISSUED APRIL 15, 1861, FOR 75,000 MEN. TO SERVE TWO YEARS MUSTERED INTO THE STATE SERVICE, MAY 1,1861 MUSTERED INTO THE UNITED STATES SERVICE, JUNE 10, 1861


ADJUTANT GEORGE W. THOMPSON QUARTERMASTER NATHAN EASTERBROOK, JR.


SURGEON


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SOCRATES N. SHERMAN ASST. SURGEON EDWARD S. WALKER CHAPLAIN JOHN B. VAN PETTEN


.


..


THE SURVIVING MEMBERS OF THE B WELLS SPONABLE C THOMAS CORCORAN HERKIMER CLINTON HERKIM En REGIMENT, AIDED BY THE COUNTY 00 A BENJAMIN H. WARFORD ALBANY CAPTAIN COUNTY OF HERKIMER, AND THE STATE OF NEW YORK, HAVE ERECTED THIS MONUMENT, TO THE MEMORY OF THE D JOHN O. SCOTT GALLANT MEN WHO FELL ON;THIS E HENRY BALDWIN STEUBEN AND OTHER HISTORIC FIELDS. F CHARLES RILEY HERKIMER.


G JOY E. JOHNSON HERKIMER


THE DEAD ON THIS FIELD WERE 43 H SAMUEL P. BUTLER ESSEX


AND THE WOUNDED 74.


K


EMERSON S. NORTHUP HERKIMER


THE STORY IN BRIEF


AT 730 ON THE MORNING OF SEPTEMBER 17 1862. THE THIRTY FOURTH RECIMENT LEFT CAMP NEAR KEEDYSVILLE, OROSSED THE ANTIETAM CREEK AND MARCHED WEST WARD INTO THE EAST WOODS, NOW EXTINCT. FACING WEST WARD, BEING ON THE EXTREME LEFT OF BRIGADE LINE IT EMERCED FROM THE EAST WOODS: AND SOON BECAME HEAVILY ENCACED WITH THE CONFEDERATE FORCES IN ITS FRONT. OROSSING THE OPEN FIELD AND THE HAGERSTOWN PIKE IT ENTERED THE WEST WOODS, NOW ALSO EXTINOT THE LINE EXTENDING NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE DUNK ARD CHURCH, THE LEFT OF THE REGIMENT BEING UNPROTECTED, WAS IN DANGER OF BEING ENVELOPED BY THE ENEMY AND A HASTY RETREAT BECAME NECESSARY THE REGIMENT REFORMING NEAR THE EAST WOODS WITH ITS ORGANIZATION INTACK IN A VERY BRIEF TIME 40 MEN HAD BEEN KILLED, AND 7. WOUNDED, THE KILLED BEING IJ PER CENT OF ALL ENCACED.


1862 1902


AFTER MANY YEARS, WE THEIR SURVIVING COMRADES, JOURNEYING HITHER,


AND CALLING TO REMEMBRANCE THEIR FORTITUDE IN THE MIDST OF HARDSHIPS. AND THEIR COURAGE IN THE MIDS OF DANGERS. HAVE REVERENT LY


AND WITH LOVING HANDS ERECTED THIS NOBLE SHAFT OVERLOOKING THE FIELDS


ON WHICH THEY 175 L IN GLORY TO PRESERVE THEIR MEMORY FROM DECAY, AND TO TELL ALL THE STORY OF


THEIR SACRIFICE. THEIR PATRIOTISM AND THEIR VALOR.


OTHER IMPORTANT ENGAGEMENTS.


EDWARD'S FERRY GLENDALE SIECE OF YORKTOWN MALVERN HILE FAIR OAKS, lot & 2NGA ... , SOUTH MOUNTAIN SAVAGE STATION FREDERICKSBURG CHANDELLORSVILLE


THE FRONT


THE REVERSE


FACING SOUTH


LOOKING NORTH OVER "OUR FIELL"


BRONZE TABLETS ON THE MONUMENT


COMPOSITION OF THE REGIMENT AT THE TIME OF THIS BATTLE


COLONEL JAMES A. SUITER LIEUTENANT COLONEL BYRON LAFLIN


MAJOR JOHN BEVERLY


MUSTERED OUT. JUNE 30. 1863


FIRST BRIGADE . SECOND DIVISION SECOND CORPS


WILLIAM H. KING STEUBEN


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THE DEDICATION


line, he would return to the ranks, thus alternating between the ranks and the grave, until the sad task was done. Think you Joseph Terry did not also wonder what the folks at home would think when they heard that those two young brothers were dead?


So many memories press upon us, we cannot mention them here, but feel that this word picture is worthy a place beside the Pan- American group we have mentioned.


REMARKS OF CAPTAIN SANFORD


President of the Monument Association, Comrades, Ladies and Gen- tlemen :


It is probably fitting that I, the only surviving officer of Co. "E," of the Thirty-fourth Regiment, New York Volunteers, and the only one present on this occasion to represent either of the Steuben County Companies, should say a few words in commemoration of their acts 011 this field.


Personally I have met with a great disappointment to-day, in not meeting our gallant old commander, Col. James A. Suiter, whose old gray locks, like the plume of Henry of Navarre, always waved where the battle waged thickest. The truest and grandest tribute that I can give to the memory of him whom I have not seen for nearly forty years, is that he was a true friend, an honorable man, and a brave soldier.


After the lapse of forty years memory may play false with us. She is a fickle jade at best. But the principal transactions of the past become indelibly fixed upon the tablets of memory. That there was one of the most gigantic battles of modern times fought upon this field, cannot be successfully disputed.


Speaking for and of the company I had the honor to command, and which participated here on that day; I will say that in all my ex- perience of more than four years of bloody strife, I never saw men look and act more determined to do, and to die, if need be, to accomplish a victory. When we formed line for the advance that morning, every one strove to be first and foremost. A look of determination was stamped upon each countenance. Every eye was kindled with the fire of battle, and battle to the death. With anything like a fair or equal show, they would have recorded a chapter in history that would have broken all former records, and set the pace for future generations. As it was, they were halted in the most exposed position possible, confront- ing an enemy protected by a breastwork of solid earth and rock, expos- ing only their heads at the instant of firing. At the same time our left flank was unprotected, and no Federal soldier interposed any barrier to a column of Confederates who marched in our rear, and enfiladed us.


Never can I efface from my memory the dreadful revulsion of feeling which came over me, when I discovered our position, and realized that death, retreat or capture, was inevitable. It was a sud- den change from the belief that the crisis had arrived, and that victory


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HISTORY OF THE THIRTY-FOURTH REGIMENT


was at hand, that would decide the fate of battle, and restore the Union in honor and glory, to that of a consciousness of defeat, and another retreat. I believe that the hour which succeeded disaster upon this line of battle was the darkest of my entire life. I felt for a time that all was lost.


As a tribute to the men who fell on this field, I can confidently say that truer, braver, or more loyal men never trod American soil, or breathed the pure air of heaven.


As an illustration of the heroism and spirit which actuated them, I will only take time to relate a short sketch of one of Co. "E."


Orlando Chamberlain who, when enlisted, was a youth, small in stature, and with cheeks rosy like those of a girl, had borne all of the long marches and privations without a murmur, was wounded by a large leaden bullet, which passed lengthwise through his foot, mang- ling the flesh, and fracturing several bones.


The next day when I visited him in the hospital I found that the surgeons had decided that an amputation was necessary. I said to him, "Orlando, I am sorry that you have been so badly wounded." With a cheerful smile, he turned his face up to me and said, "No, this is nothing ; I am glad they did not shoot me in the head. If the doc- tors will let me alone, I will be on duty again soon."


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ENTRANCE TO NATIONAL CEMETERY, ANTIETAM


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THE DEDICATION


While his prediction was not literally true, it was practically so, for although he was never able to return to duty in the Thirty-fourth Regiment, and was a cripple for life, he made a successful fight against the surgeons, and finally got back to service in another regiment, was in the charge at the explosion of the mine in front of Petersburg, Va., and was there taken prisoner, because of his crippled condition, and being unable to make the retreat with his comrades who did escape. But he saw that the flag was rescued, and delivered to a comrade, who got away with it safely.


This monument, beautiful as it is, is but a trifling tribute to such valor. All glory to the noble heroes who sacrificed their lives upon their country's altar. No shaft can be erected too high to testify to the glory of those who fell upon this field. If moulded from pure gold, and if every letter of the inscription had been constructed of dia- monds and precious stones, it could no more than express the rever- . ence and honor I have for those fallen comrades. It is very fitting that we, the survivors, who knew their worth, should erect a tribute to their memory. While it does not fully express our feelings, it is an evidence that their deeds, sacrifices and sufferings are not forgotten.


Comrades, there are very many other incidents that I would call to your minds, if time would permit; but I am aware of the lateness of the hour, and that most of you feel the need of food more than senti- ment, so I will not further presume upon your good nature.


Comrade Philo H. Bell, of Company H, was the next speaker called on, and in the course of his remarks gave the following account of the life and death of Chester S. Rhodes, Color Bearer, of whom we speak in the history of the organization of Company H. In this con- nection, it would be well to read the account which Colonel Suiter gives in his official report of the battle of Antietam, of Charles B. Barton, of Company C, another Color Bearer of the regiment :




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