War Meetings --- Prompt Response
to Lincolns Call for Volunteers --- The 24th Regiment --- The 81st ---
The 110th --- The Soldiers Relief Society --- The Threatened Draft ---
The 147th Regiment --- The 184th --- Other Military Organizations
--- The 21st New York Independent Battery --- Draft of August 4, 1863 ---
Action of the County Respecting Bounties --- Filling the Quotas --- Money
Raised by the County and Towns for War Purposes.
The long reign of peace
and prosperity in this country was ended. The time had arrived when
the question of the stability of the Union was to be tested. It is
not within the purpose or scope of this work to discuss the causes that
led to the great Civil war, nor to make a record of the national events
that characterized that conflict. The story has been written more
carefully and exhaustively than that of any war in the worlds history.
Every State and every county has in its archives complete records and muster
rolls of each regiment, company and soldier from the respective localities,
while every library has one or more works devoted to the subject.
It is, therefore, presumable that every intelligent person is familiar
with the prominent details of the civil strife of 1861-65. It
remains for us here to briefly note the chief events of a military character
that took place in this county, with concise descriptions of the several
completed organizations that went from here, with some statistics that
will be valuable for reference.
When, on the 12th of
April 1861, the enemies of the Union fired their first gun against the
flag of the country, a tide of patriotic enthusiasm and indignation swept
over the entire country. It was the culmination of the stirring political
events which for nearly a year had kept the public mind in a fever of excitement
and anxiety. As early as June 4, 1860, the Lincoln Club was formed
in Oswego, with De Witt C. Littlejohn, president, to aid in the political
campaign which resulted in the election of Abraham Lincoln. Ratification
meetings were frequent and enthusiastic; an Oswego delegation attended
one of these meetings in Fulton, June 6; and on the 21st of that month
a great gathering assembled at Doolittle Hall, the call for which was signed
by hundreds of prominent citizens. Companies of "Wide Awakes" had
already been organized, and previous to the meeting they marched to the
starch factory, where a pole 140 feet high had been raised. The meeting
was called to order by Cheney Ames, and Mr. Littlejohn presided.
The principal speakers were D. J. Mitchell, of Syracuse, and Dwight H.
Bruce, both eloquent men. The Oswego Lincoln Guards were organized
in August, to continue through the campaign, with Dr. A. VanDyke, president.
On the 12th of October
a grand mass meeting was held, over which Henry Fitzhugh presided, with
a long list of vice presidents, one from each ward and town. Two
speakers stands had to be erected in the West Park to accommodate the
crowds. At the lower stand Cheney Ames presided, and Joshua R. Giddings
spoke; while Lieutenant Governor Noble addressed the assemblage at the
upper stand. It was estimated that there were 6,000 people present.
A Wide Awake parade was made in the evening.
Oswego county gave Lincoln
a majority of 3,638, which was considerably in excess of the usual Republican
majority. On the 15th of November a ratification meeting was held
in Littlefield Hall, under the auspices of a large committee of arrangements;
one hundred guns were fired and a great parade was made. The year
closed with gloomy forebodings. The call to arms, which followed
the first gun fired upon Fort Sumter, found an echo in every loyal heart,
and thousands sprang forward to offer their services, and if necessary
their lives in defense of the perpetuity of the Union.
On the 15th of April,
1861, President Lincoln issued a call for 75,000 volunteers to aid in suppressing
an uprising which was then; generally considered as little more than a
short-lived riot. Within fifteen days after the call was issued,
350,000 men had offered their services to the government. Had the
prescience of the government been equal to the enthusiasm of the people,
all that vast body of volunteers would have been put in the field, and
much bloodshed might have been saved. The call was for three months
of service, and it soon became apparent that the army could scarcely be
armed and equipped before their time would expire.
In the brotherhood of
loyal States, New York was foremost in determination that the Union should
endure, and, under the first call, nearly 14,000 men went forward.
In common with other localities, Oswego county promptly responded to the
president's proclamation. Public meetings were called, at which speakers
eloquently portrayed the situation; martial music filled the air; the stars
and stripes were unfurled from hundreds of conspicuous points; the peaceful
occupations of the people were almost abandoned; in the newspaper offices
bulletins were eagerly scanned by anxious eyes; and military spirit and
enthusiasm prevailed everywhere.
On the 16th of April,
1861, a meeting was held in Oswego and measures adopted for the immediate
raising of a regiment of volunteers. Recruiting began with enthusiasm,
and on the morning of April 26 a company, under command of John D OBrien,
one of the bravest of soldiers, started for Elmira. Captain OBrien
was the first officer commissioned in this State under the president's
first call, and his was the first company to rendezvous at that place,
where so many regiments afterwards organized. This company was rapidly
followed by Co. B, Capt Edward M. Paine; Co. C, Capt.Frank Miller; Co.
D, from Parish, Capt. Melzar Richards (afterwards lieutenant-colonel of
the 24th Cavalry); Co. E, from Volney, Capt. Orville Jennings; Co.F, Oswego
city, Capt Archibald Preston; Co. G, Sandy Creek, Capt. W. D. Ferguson
(afterwards major of the 184th Regiment); Co.H, Volney, Capt. Albert Taylor
(afterwards major of the 24th Cavalry); Co. I, Oswego city, Capt. Levi
Beardsley; and Co. K, from Ellisburg, Jefferson county, Capt. Andrew J.
Barney, subsequently promoted to major. So rapidly were these companies
filled that the regiment was mustered in on the 17th of May. The
following were the regimental and line officers:
Colonel, Timothy Sullivan;
lieutenant-colonel. Samuel R. Beardsley; major; Jonathan Tarbell; surgeon,
J. B. Murdoch, M.D.; assistant surgeon, Lawrence Reynolds, M. D.; adjutant,
Robert Oliver, jr.; quartermaster, Charles T. Richardson; chaplain, Rev.Mason
Gallagher.
Line Officers Co.
A, captain, John D. O'Brien; first lieutenant, Samuel H. Brown; second
lieutenant, Daniel C. Hubbard.
Co. B - Captain, Edward M. Paine;
first lieutenant, B. Hutcheson; second lieutenant, William L. Yeckley
Co. C - Captain, Frank Miller; first
lieutenant, John Ratigan; second lieutenant, William L. Peavey
Co. D - Captain, Melzar Richards;
first lieutenant, Severin Beaulieu; second lieutenant, William Wills
Co. E -.Captain, Orville J. Jennings,
first lieutenant, Richard J. Hill; second lieutenant, Ten Eyck G. Pawling
Co. F - Captain, Archibald Preston;
first lieutenant, Patrick Cleary; second lieutenant, Thomas Murray
Co. G - Captain, William D. Ferguson;
first lieutenant, Calvin Burch; second lieutenant, Henry B. Corse
Co. H - Captain, Albert Taylor;
first lieutenant: Henry Sandovel; second lieutenant, Edson D. Coit
Co. I - Captain, Levi Beardsley;
first lieutenant, Theo. Dalrymple; second lieutenant, Norman Holly
Co. K - Captain, Andrew J. Barney;
first lieutenant, John P. Buckley; second lieutenant, Jonathan R. Ayres
This regiment was numbered
the 24th, and after receiving its equipments was ordered to Washington
via Baltimore. There they remained in camp, diligently drilling,
until the battle of Bull Run - the initial conflict, which, after almost
being made a grand victory for the Northern troops, was turned to a disastrous
rout by the opportune arrival of a small force of reinforcements for the
enemy. The 24th Regiment did not share in that battle, but on the
day following (July 22) they marched out of Washington city and to Bailey's
Cross Roads, meeting on the way the flying remnants of the Union army.
At the Cross Roads the regiment was placed on picket, and was then the
only organized force between the victorious Southerners and the city.
They held that picket line for three weeks, without tents, blankets, or
other.baggage. On being relieved from this arduous duty, they encamped
on. Arlington Heights, where they were brigaded with the 14th New York
(Zouaves), the 22d and 30th New York Volunteers, and about three months
later, the 2d U. S. Sharpshooters. In the fall the regiment moved
to Upton Hill; built.Fort Upton; and remained there during the winter.
With the general movement
of the Army of the Potomac, under McClellan, in the spring of 1862, the
24th advanced to Bristoe Station, and proceeded thence a week later to
Catlett's Station. From that point began the heavy march towards
Fredericksburg. Reaching Falmouth they encountered the enemy, and
drove him across the Rappahannock. The regiment was warmly received
in Falmouth by the colored population, who thought their day of deliverance
had come. While in camp at Falmouth the regiment and the brigade
in which it was placed passed from the command of General Augur to that
of General Hatch son of M. P.Hatch, a former Oswegonian. Camp life
was varied by marches and countermarches to Spottsylvania and Front Royal.
By the change above noted and others, the 24th became the senior regiment
of the First Brigade and First Corps, which position it maintained until
this corps terminated its existence by the expiration of the terms of the
two-year men. General Burnside relieved them at Fredericksburg, and
they moved under Pope to Cedar Mountain, where the battle of Cedar Mountain
was fought. On the 9th of August, 1862, began what has passed into
history as Pope's retreat, in which the regiment had the post of honor
as rear guard. In the succeeding engagement at Sulphur Springs the
24th was under fire in support of a battery. At Rappahannock Station,
also, they were under fire, and a shot from a battery killed a member of
Co. D. From here the march was taken up for Gainesville, which was
reached on August 28. Here began the series of engagements which
are known as the second battle of Bull Run. During the night of the
28th the 24th Regiment supported Gibbon's Brigade. Towards evening
of the 29th, the regiment being: under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Beardsley,
a sharp struggle of an hour took place between Hatch's Brigade under command
of Colonel Sullivan of the 24th, and Doubledays Brigade (Union), and A.
P. Hill's Confederate Division. In this engagement the 24th performed
heroic duty, and lost twenty-nine killed, 186 wounded, and 124 missing.
Among the killed was Major Barney, who fell fighting at the head of his
command.
The details of the succeeding
operations of this regiment and of the Iron Brigade, as it had been named,
cannot be followed here. At South Mountain and Antietam the regiment
covered itself with glory. In the former engagement a charge was
made while the regiment was under the command of the brave Captain O'Brien,
in which he displayed the greatest heroism. At Antietam, while still
in command of the regiment, Captain O'Brien was wounded, losing his leg;
thirty-three others also were wounded.
After six weeks in camp
at Sharpsburg, the First Corps crossed the Potomac and met the enemy in
skirmishes and raids among the mountain gaps, crowding them in upon the
Richmond defenses. From Warrenton, where the command of the army
passed to General Burnside, the First Corps marched to Brooks' Station
on the Fredericksburg Railroad, where it occupied the extreme left.
At Fredericksburg, Co. B held the picket line, under command of W. L. Yeckley.
When the line retreated the picket line was left for fear its withdrawal
would inform the enemy of the retreat. Just as the pontoons were
about to be taken away, the picket was recalled from its perilous position.
After the unsuccessful assault on Fredericksburg, the army retired to Belle
Plain and went into winter quarters.
In May, 1863 under General
Hooker, the Iron Brigade occupied the extreme left in Reynolds Division,
and in that order went into the second battle of Fredericksburg.
When the retreat was ordered this brigade covered the movement as rear
guard, and was the last to cross the Rappahannock. From this time
until .May 17, the 24th was on picket duty along the river, when, their
term having expired, they wereordered to Elmira and mustered out on the
29th day of May, 1863. The battle flag of the 24th bears the following
inscriptions: "Falmouth, Sulphur Springs, Rappahannock Station, Gainesville,
Manassas, South Mountain, Antietam, First Fredericksburg, Second Fredericksburg,
Chancellorsville.
The Eighty-first Regiment
- The disastrous battle of Bull Run opened the eyes of the North, and it
was clearly seen that probably a prolonged war was begun. Under authority
of acts of May 3, July 22, and July 25, 1861, 500,000 volunteers had been
called for, for terms varying from six months to three years, under which
calls New York State sent about 31,000 for two years and about 90,000 for
three years. The calls of May and July led to the adoption of measures
for raising a second regiment in Oswego county. On the 29th of August
1861, a meeting was held in Doolittle Hall, over which E. B. Talcott presided.
William Duer was the principal speaker, and the immediate raising of another
regiment was determined upon. The work of recruiting began at once
and was pushed rapidly forward. On the 14th of September, Co. A,
Captain Raulston, was mustered in at Fort Ontario, and seven others followed
on the 17th, of which A, B, C and D, were from Oswego city; E, from Gilbertsville;
F, from Fulton; G, from Syracuse; and H, from Hannibal. The ninth
company was mustered :in October 1, from the town of Oswego. In January,
1862, the tenth company was furnished from the town of Hastings.
But the regiment was not yet filled, and, owing to some internal disagreements,
recruiting proceeded slowly. On the 20th of January, 1862, the regiment,
under command of Colonel Rose, a West Point graduate, was sent to Albany,
where it received about 350 men from Oneida county. This filled the
ranks. As finally arranged, the field and staff officers were as
follows:
Colonel, Edwin Rose;
lieutenant-colonel, Jacob J. DeForest; major, John McAmbely; surgeon, William
H Rice; assistant-surgeon, Carrington Macfarlane; adjutant, Edward A. Cooke;
quartermaster, Roger A. Francis; chaplain, David McFarland; sergeant-major,
James L. Belden; commissary-sergeant, N. H. Green; quartermaster-sergeant,
John F. Young; hospital steward, C. S. Hart; drum-major W. S. Winters
Line Officers - Co. A, Captain,
William C. Raulston; first lieutenant Hamilton Littlefield, jr.; second
lieutenant Elias A. Fish
Co. B - Captain, Augustus G. Bennett;
first lieutenant, Hugh Anderson; second lieutenant Martin J. DeForest
Co. C - Captain, Franklin Hannahs;
first lieutenant, Orin J. Fitch; second lieutenant, Seth J. Steves
Co. D - Captain, L. C. Adkins; first
lieutenant, John G. Phillips, second lieutenant, R. D. S. Tyler.
Co. E - Captain, Lyman M. Kingman;
first lieutenant, W. C. Newberry; second lieutenant, D. G. Harris.
Co. F. - Captain, T. Dwight Stow;
first lieutenant, Edward S. Cooke; second lieutenant, D. C. Rix
Co. G - Captain, Henry C. Thompson;
first lieutenant, Henry H. Hamilton; second lieutenant, H. W. Green
Co. H. - Captain, John B. Raulston;
first lieutenant, John W. Oliver; second lieutenant, Peter French
Co. I - Captain, D. B. White; first
lieutenant, Willard W. Ballard; second lieutenant,.B. F. Wood
Co. K - Captain, J. Dorman Steele;
first lieutenant, George W. Berriman second lieutenant, L J Steele
On the 21st of February
the regiment was ordered to New York, whence they proceeded on the 5th
of March to Washington. There the men remained in camp twenty days,
and on the 28th of March marched to Alexandria, whence they embarked for
Fortress Monroe, arriving on the 1st of April. From this date until
May 31st, the regiment was on the march or in camp, acting as reserve at
the battle of Williamsburg, and reaching Seven Pines on the 28th, where
they remained until the bloody engagement of the 31st was fought.
In this battle the 81st was assigned to the left of Casey's Division, unsupported
in an open field. The regiment here underwent its baptism of fire
and stood the ordeal heroically. Lieutenant-Colonel DeForest was shot in
the breast; Major McAmbley and Captain Kingman, with many privates, were
killed and left on the field. The regiment passed to the command
of Capt. William C. Raulston. Darkness ended the battle and the men
slept on their arms. The next day was spent in burying the dead,
and on the 2d of June McClellan issued an address to the army, to inspire
the troops with courage for the decisive battle which he said was at hand.
The 81st marched to White Oak Swamp; went into camp and remained until
the 28th; and were there joined by Colonel Rose, who had been absent a
month on account of sickness. On the morning of the 30th a weary
march was made to Malvern Hill. July 1 the regiment was assigned
to the reserve corps and on the following day started for Harrison's Landing.
On the 8th they encamped near the James River, remaining, thirty-nine days,
and while here Colonel Rose resigned and the command devolved upon Major
Raulston. On the 16th of August the regiment started on the march
that took them in the ensuing few days to Yorktown, where they went into
camp and remained until the last of December. On the 29th of December
they left Yorktown for North Carolina, and the following three months were
passed mostly in camp at Caroline City, and St. Helena Island. In
that vicinity a month more was spent in rapid changes of position, bringing
them to Morehead City on the 2d of May, 1863. At this time Major
D. B. White, with Co.'s B, D, and G, was ordered to Fort Macon to perform
garrison duty. Captain Ballard, with Co.'s E, I, and K, was assigned
to the provost guard at Beaufort, and the remaining four, Co.'s A, L, F,
and H, remained at Morehead City, as headquarters, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel
Raulston. Several important raids were made from this point during
the next few months. On the 18th of October the regiment embarked
for Newport News, where they encamped on the same ground occupied by them
in April, 1862. They remained here a month, and then went to Northwest
Landing, about twenty-five miles from Norfolk.
January 1, 1864, the
men who had less than one year to serve were given the opportunity to enlist
for three years and take a furlough of 30 days. On the 23d of February
more than two-thirds of the entire regiment had re-enlisted, and they started
for home, reaching New York on the 29th of February. In Syracuse
the veterans were met by a delegation, were breakfasted, and at four o'clock
reached Oswego. Marching to Doolittle Hall, they were received and
banqueted by the ladies of the city and given a royal welcome by all.
The 81st again left
for the front on the 12th of April 1864, and arrived at Yorktown on the
18th. Here they were assigned to the First Brigade, First Division,
Eighteenth Corps of the Army of the James. May 4 they proceeded to
Bermuda Hundred, whence they marched six miles from the landing and began
the construction of fortifications. On the 9th, while deployed as
skirmishers, they met the troops of Beauregard and drove them from the
field. During the following month the regiment was almost uninterruptedly
engaged in skirmishes and minor battles. At Drurys Bluff, on the
16th of May, 1864, the regiment occupied an important position, and twice
repulsed the enemys charges. On the 1st of June, after having joined
the Army of the Potomac, the 81st went into the bloody battle of Cold Harbor.
On this sanguinary field, on the 2d, the regiment lost over seventy in
killed and wounded. Among the killed were Captains Ballard and Martin,
and Lieut. J.W. Burke, of Co. K. Five other captains were wounded.
At the end of the twelve days in which the regiment was engaged at and
near Cold Harbor, two-thirds failed to answer at roll-call, and an order
for provisional consolidation into four companies was issued. But,
instead of the expected respite, they were marched to Petersburg, and on
the 15th drove the enemy from his first line of works, and participated
in the brilliant and successful charge of the Eighteenth Corps. On
the 16th the regiment supported an assaulting column, and on the 26th received
a charge from the enemy, which they bravely withstood and almost annihilated
the foe. July 10 the 81st returned to the Petersburg trenches.
August 2 they marched to Appomattox River, where they remained until the
26th, when they returned to Bermuda Hundred. In the succeeding battle
of Fort Harrison, the 8lst was the first to plant its flag on the enemy's
works, and nine officers and many privates were killed or wounded.
Captain Rix, Lieutenants Tuttle and Nethway were killed, and Lieutenants
Dolbear and Porter were mortally wounded. During the two days of
the fighting the regiment lost one hundred in killed and wounded.
The regiment next participated in the engagement near Seven Pines on the
29th of August, and thence later returned to Chapins Farm.
On the 5th of November
the regiment was ordered to New York, where it remained during the presidential
election, returning to camp near Richmond. When the Confederate capital
fell the 81st was the first infantry regiment to enter the city.
The regiment was mustered out August 1, 1865.
In recognition of its
gallant services the 8lst was presented with a stand of colors by the War
Department, bearing the inscriptions: Yorktown, Seven Pines, Savage Station,
Malvern Hill, Winton, Violet Station, Kingsland Creek, Drury's Bluff, May
13, 15, 16; Cold Harbor June 1, 2, 3; Petersburg, June 15, 16, and 24,
and July 9 and 30; Fort Harrison (Chapin's Farm), September 29 and 30;
Fair Oaks (2d), October 27, 1864.
Following is a list of the engagements,
sieges, skirmishes and raids in which the 81st took part: Siege of
Yorktown, May 3 1862; Williamsburg, May 5, 1862; Bottom's Bridge, May 11,
1862; Savage Station, May 22, 1862; Fair Oaks, May 30, 1862; Seven Pines,
May 31, 1862; Chickahominy, June 24, 1862; Charles City Cross Roads, June
25, 1862; Malvern Hill, July 1, 1862; siege of Charleston, April 7-10,
1863; raid on Trenton, July 4, 1863; raid on Winton, July 28-30, 1863;
raid on Violet Station, May 9, 1864; Kingsland Creek, May 13, 1864; Drury's
Bluff, May 16, 1864; Cold Harbor, June 1-12, 1864 Petersburg, June 15,
August 26, 1864; Chapins Farm, September 29, 1864; Fair Oaks (2d), October
27, 1864; entered Richmond April 3, 1865.
The One Hundred and
Tenth Regiment - Calls for volunteers, each for 300,000 men for three years,
were made by the President July 2, and August 4, 1862. If the various
States and counties did:not fill their quotas under these calls, a draft
was anticipated, and the people of:Oswego county awoke to the necessity
of prompt and effective action. A military committee of eight persons
was appointed, of which Elias Root was made chairman, the other members
being D. C. Littlejohn, Henry Fitzhugh, Delos DeWolf, Willard Johnson,
T. Kingsford, E. B. Talcott, D. G. Fort, R. K. Sanford, B. E. Bowen, A.
C. Mattoon, and A: F Smith--all prominent and influential citizens.
Recruiting began for
a new regiment in the latter part of July, 1862. The Board of Supervisors
met to provide means to pay the expenses of raising a regiment, and on
July 24 a great meeting was held in Doolittle Hall, at which Charles B.
Sedgwick, of Syracuse, and Sanford E. Church spoke. Cheney Ames was
made commandant of the depot to be established in Oswego, and two recruiting
offices were opened, at one of which Capt. William P. McKinley began recruiting
a company, took and the name of Michael Rickett as the first volunteer
in the regiment. The supervisors adopted a resolution on the 24th
to raise not more than $ 55,000 from which to pay each volunteer $50, while
the State at the same time offered an equal amount. Commissioners
were appointed in each town and again military enthusiasm and activity
prevailed. So rapidly were volunteers secured that the regiment,
numbered the 110th, was mustered in for three years on the 25th of August,
with the following officers:
Colonel, DeWitt C. Littlejohn, Oswego;
lieutenant-colonel, Clinton H. Sage Fulton; major, Charles Hamilton; adjutant,
Harvey D. Talcott, Oswego; quartermaster, Warren D. Smith, Oswego; surgeon,
Allen C. Livingston; Fulton; assistant surgeons, Tobias J. Green, Parish
and Alfred Rice, Hannibal; chaplain, Edward Lord, Fulton; quartermaster-sergeant,
F. G. Comstock, Albion; sergeant-major, B. F. Bailey, Oswego
Line Officers.--Co. A - Captain,
Brainard M. Pratt, Fulton; first lieutenant, Valorus Randall, Fulton; second
lieutenant, Almon A. Wood, Fulton
Co. B - Captain, Vinson L. Garrett,
Albion; first lieutenant, Albert A. Fellows, Pulaski; second lieutenant,
J. Ashpole, Pulaski
Co. C - Captain, O. B. Olmstead,
Orwell; first lieutenant, Yates W. Newton, Sandy Creek; second lieutenant,
A. F. Johnson, Redfield
Co. D - Captain, H. C. Devendorf,
Hastings; first lieutenant, D. D. McKoon, Schroeppel; second lieutenant,
W. S. Bradley, Schroeppel
Co. E - Captain, John Sawyer, Mexico;
first lieutenant, Samuel Nichols, Mexico; Second lieutenant, Wm. A. Smith
Palermo
Co. F - Captain, E. N. Boyd, Hannibal;
first lieutenant, Isaac H. Peckham, Hannibal; second lieutenant, Thomas
Hunter, Sterling, Cayuga county
Co. G - Captain, Wm. P. McKinley,
Oswego; first lieutenant, E. Jerrett, Scriba; second lieutenant, A. B.
Frey, Oswego
Co. H - Captain, John Stevenson,
Oswego; first lieutenant, Charles A. Phillips, Oswego; second lieutenant,
Wm. I. Rasmussen, Oswego
Co. I - Captain, James Doyle, Oswego;
first lieutenant, Thomas Kehoe, Oswego; second lieutenant, E. P. Allen,
Oswego
Co. K - Captain, H. D. Brown, Constantia;
first lieutenant, C. Gardner; Parish, second lieutenant, N. A. Gardner,
Amboy.
The following list shows
the number of men enlisted from the various towns in the county, viz.:
Albion, 48; Amboy, 21; Boylston, 15; Constantia, 5o; Granby, 25; Hannibal,
77; Hastings, 67; Mexico, 56; New Haven, 20; Orwell, 44; Oswego town, 43;
City: First ward, 31; Second ward 23; Third ward, 53; Fourth ward, 4o;
Parish, 29; Palermo, 33; Redfield, 15; Richland, 60; Schroeppel, 35; Sandy
Creek, 24; Scriba, 55; Volney, 100; West Monroe, 11; Williamstown, 9.
Enlisted from Oneida count, 6; from Onondaga, 2; from Cayuga, 30; from
Jefferson and Erie, l each; making a total of 1,025 men.
This regiment left camp
on the evening of August 25, 1862, and under escort of the Regulars from
the fort, the Oswego Guards, German Light Guards, Washington Guards, Fremont
Guards, and Captain McKinlock's company (already enlisted for the succeeding
regiment the 147th), marched to the depot. Business was suspended
and more than 6,000 people assembled to witness the departure of the soldiers.
The regiment proceeded to Baltimore, where they remained in Camp Patterson
about two months, and then embarked for Fortress Monroe, arriving on November
6. Here they were assigned to the Department of the Gulf, for the
expedition under command of General Banks. Going by water to New
Orleans, they were in camp a few weeks and then removed to Baton Rouge.
In March, 1863, they were ordered to Port Hudson, where they were present
at the first bombardment of that place by Farragut's fleet. The attack
upon Port Hudson was suspended for a time, during which the 110th returned
to New Orleans and went into camp opposite the city. Soon afterward
they joined the expedition under General Banks into the Bayou Teche country,
and participated in an engagement at Camp Bisland. After a camp of
ten days on the Red River, the regiment returned to Port Hudson.
On the morning of May 27, 1863, the land forces took their positions and
the siege of Port Hudson began. On the 13th of June General Banks
gave orders for a general assault on the following morning at three o'clock.
In the assaulting column four companies of the 110th, A, B, E, and I, took
part, under command of Major Charles Hamilton. The fight lasted eight
hours and was desperately contested. The 110th was under command
of Col. C. H. Sage, and the six companies stationed on the west side captured
a large number of prisoners; while the decimated ranks of the other four
companies told a pathetic tale of their bravery. At the surrender,
July 9, 1863, the regiment were present.
After the capitulation
the 110th left Port Hudson, encamped a few days opposite New Orleans, and
then embarked for Sabine Pass. Afterward they joined General Banks's
Red River expedition. At the conclusion of this movement they returned
to camp opposite New Orleans whence they proceeded to Fort Jefferson at
the Dry Tortugas, where they remained on garrison duty, having in charge
about 900 prisioners. In August, 1865, the regiment left for home
and was mustered out on the 25th of that month.
Among the members of
the 110th who were killed in action or who died of wounds, were Almon A.
Wood, Co. E, first lieutenant, who died at Berwick Bay, La., May 26, 1863,
from wounds received while in company of the rear guard near Franklin,
La., May 25; John E. Brown, Co. E, killed near Port Hudson, La., June 14,
1863; Elias Spear, Co. E, died a prisoner at Port Hudson from wounds received
June 14, 1863; William Johnson, Co. E, killed near Port Hudson June 14,
1863; Rolan H. Sweet, Co. E, killed at Vermilion Bayou November 11, 1863.
The following died at Tortugas: Hiram Van Auken, Co. F, March 7, 1864;
Alfred Parmenter, Co. D, March 10,1864; Henry Weaver, Co. B, March 18,
1864; James Green, Co. D, March 20, 1864; Augustus Albro, Co. D, March
23, 1864; E. S. Evarts, Co. H, April 29, 1864; Chauncey Cummings, Co. F,
July 18, 1864; Charles Byington, quartermaster-sergeant, August 16, 1864;
G. M. Hoyt, Co. D, August 27, 1864; Henry Wilson, Co. A, August 28, 1864;
Edwin Crosier, Co. E, November 25, 1864; Peter Ferguson, Co. A, December
14, 1864; Joseph Benway, Co. G, April 5. 1865; Robert Moot, Co. F, May
20, 1865. On June 14,1863, Co. E, numbering thirty-six men, and ten
members of Co. A, were detailed as a hand grenade party to charge on the
batteries at Port Hudson in the rear of two lines of skirmishers.
At roll call on the morning of the 15th, Co. E reported sixteen killed,
wounded, and missing. After the surrender of Port Hudson on July
8, two who had been taken prisoners returned, leaving the report three
killed and eleven wounded.
The Soldiers' Relief
Society was organized in Oswego city November 16, 1861, with Mrs. John
E. Lyon, president; Mrs. Henry Fitzhugh vice-president; Miss H. W. Ludlow,
secretary; Mrs. David Mannering treasurer. This society accomplished
a vast amount of good, and worked in harmony with all other efforts for
the relief of the soldiers and their families. In January, 1862,
one hundred and fifty families were receiving aid in the city of Oswego
weekly. The city of Oswego elected a Republican mayor in the spring
of 1862, and the county at large was in general sympathy with the efforts
of the national government to maintain the Union.
The One Hundred and
Forty-seventh Regiment.- It has already been stated that one company had
been recruited for the four regiment from the county before the 110th left
for the front. Recruiting for this regiment was energetically prosecuted.
The draft threatened for August 15, 1862, afterwards postponed to September
3, and again to the 15th, impelled the various towns and the city to redouble
their efforts to escape the consequences and the opprobium of a draft.
Moreover, the president's call for 300,000 volunteers, August 4, to serve
for nine months, gave opportunity for enlistments for a short period though
very little was done under it in this State. War meetings again became
the order, and business was almost at a standstill. Most of the stores
closed during a part of the time each day at four o'clock, so that proprietors
and employees could give their entire attention to recruiting. The
quota of the county was 2,348 under both calls. On the 18th of August
a most enthusiastic meeting was held at Doolittle Hall at which John C.
Churchill spoke, and presented a sword to Col. C. C. Marsh, a native of
Oswego, who had distinguished himself in the West under General Grant.
On the following day a great meeting was held in West Park, at which Dudley
Farling and J. A. Hathway spoke. It was here, that Simeon Bates touched
the right chord when he arose and offered $ 10 each to the first ten men
to enlist from the Fourth Ward; $ 10 to the second ten, until 100 men had
enlisted calling for $ 1,000. Another meeting was held on the following
evening in the East Park. The supervisors also met and adopted measures
to secure requisite legislation to enable them to raise $ 67,400 with which
to continue the payment of $ 50 to each volunteer. During the month
of August, D. C. Littlejohn went into nearlv all the towns of the
county, addressing meetings and exciting great enthusiasm. The result
was wholly gratifying, and what became the 147th regiment was filled without
a draft and mustered into the service on the 23d of September, 1862.
The following were the
field-and staff of the 147th regiment:
Colonel, Andrew S. Warner; lieutenant-colonel:
John G. Butler; adjutant, Dudley Farling; quartermaster, Benjamin F. Lewis,
surgeon, A. S. Coe; assistant surgeons, John T. Stillman, S. G. Place;
chaplain, Harvey E. Chapin
Line Officers. - Co. A -
Captain, John McKinlock; first lieutenant, George Hugunin; second lieutenant,
Edward Greyware
Co. B - Captain, George Harney;
first lieutenant, Patrick Slattery; second lieutenant, A. Judson Dickison
Co. C - Captain, Datus Woodward;
first lieutenant, E. D. Parker; second lieutenant, William R. Potts
Co. D - Captain, Alexander
Hulett; first lieutenant, George A. Sisson; second lieutenant, W. P. Schenck
Co. E - Captain, Elhanan
Seely; first lieutenant, James Coey; second lieutenant, Orson J. Woodward
Co. F - Captain, Cyrus V.
Hartson; first lieutenant, Chauncey L. Gridley; second lieutenant Harvey
Flint
Co. G - Captain, Delos Gary;
first lieutenant, Charles F. Robe; second lieutenant, Volney.J. Pierce
Co. H - Captain, R. W. Slayton;
first lieutenant Abram Conterman; second lieutenant, D. W. C. Matthews
Co. I - Captain, Patrick
Regan; first lieutenant, James A. McKinley; second lieutenant, Daniel McAssy
Co. K - Captain, Nathanial
A. Wright; first lieutenant, Franklin N. Hamlin; second lieutentant, Joseph
Dempsey
Non-Commissioned Staff - Hospital
steward, Charles K Paddock; sergeant-major, H. G. Lee; quartermaster-sergeant,
Henry H. Mellen; commissary-sergeant, Alfred N. Beadle
This regiment, comprising
837 enlisted men, left for the front September 27, via Elmira, Harrisburg
and Baltimore, and arrived at Washington on the 3oth, where it went into
Camp Chase, about two miles from the Long Bridge. On the 3d of October
they were ordered to Tenallytown, three miles north of Georgetown, where
they remained nearly two months at work on the defenses.
Here discontent arose
over protracted work in the trenches; homesickness and fevers set in; and
many were sent to hospital. Harvey Flint, second lieutenant of Co.
F, died of typhoid fever, and several officers were forced to go to the
hospital. November 28 the regiment joined the Army of the Potomac
and marched to Port Tobacco, on the north bank of the Potomac, opposite
Aquia Creek, arriving there December 1, and crossed the river the same
night. Here the regiment was brigaded with the 20th, 21st, and 22d
New Jersey, and the 137th Pennsylvania Regiments. This brigade was
assigned to provost duty on the railroad from Aquia Creek to Falmouth,
to guard the reception of supplies.
On the 13th of December
the 147th witnessed the battle of Fredericksburg, but did not take part
in it. In the first week of January, 1863, the brigade was transferred
to the First Corps, under Major-General Reynolds, and First Division.
On the 30th of January, the regiment having meanwhile been persistently
drilled, they joined Burnside's celebrated "mud march," which preceded
his relief from command in the latter part of January, and the appointment
of General Hooker in his place.
During the months of
February and March, 1863, the following extensive changes were made in
the regiment
Colonel A. S. Warner, resigned
February 4. Lieutenant-Colonel J. G. Butler was commissioned colonel
February 24, 1863. Major Francis C. Miller was commissioned lieutenant-colonel
February 24. George Harney, captain Co. B, was commissioned major February
24
Co. A - Edward Greyware, second
lieutenant, resigned January 8. John F. Box, private, commissioned
second lieutenant February 11.
Co. B - Patrick Slattery, first
lieutenant, was commissioned captain, vice Harney promoted, March 12.
William J. Gillett, first sergeant, commissioned first lieutenant, vice
Slattery promoted, March 24.
Co. C - Captain Datus Woodward,
resigned February 4. E.D. Parker, first lieutenant, was commissioned
captain February 13. Wm. R Potts, second lieutenant, commissioned
first lieutenant, vice Parker promoted, February 13. Henry H. Lyman,
first sergeant, commissioned second lieutenant, vice Potts promoted.
Co. D - Captain Alexander Hulett
resigned February 4. George A. Sisson, first lieutenant, commissioned
captain February 24. W. P. Schenck: second lieutenant, commissioned
first lieutenant February 24. D.G. Vandusen, sergeant.major, commissioned
second lieutenant February 24.
Co. E - Captain Elhanan C. Seely,
resigned February 4. James Coey, first lieutenant, commissioned captain
February 24. O. J. Woodward, second lieutenant, commissioned first
lieutenant February 24. S. J. Taylor, first sergeant, commissioned
second lieutenant February 24.
Co. F - Captain Cyrus V. Hartson,
resigned January 25. Second Lieutenant Horace G. Lee, commissioned
captain February 10. Gilford D. Mace, first sergeant, commissioned
first lieutenant February 24. Charles B. Skinner, second sergeant.
commissioned second lieutenant July 4.
Co. H. - First Lieutenant Conterman,
resigned January 8. D.C. Matthews, second lieutenant, commissioned
February 10, first lieutenant. Luther M. Hays, first sergeant, commissioned
second lieutenant February 10. First Lieutenant D. C. Matthews. resigned
February 24. L. M Hays commissioned first lieutenant March 24.
Cheney D. Barney, sergeant, commissioned second lieutenant March 25.
Quartermaster Lewis,
after a severe illness, was sent to hospital at Georgetown, and soon after
was discharged on a surgeons certificate of disability. Henry H.
Mellen, quartermaster-sergeant, was commissioned quartermaster February
13. Quartermaster Lewis had with heroic persistence, shared the fortunes
of the regiment, against the earnest solicitations of his medical officer
and warmest friends, through two or three attacks of illness, barely escaping
with his life each time. These various changes were necessitated
largely on account of the decimation of the ranks by sickness and death,
as indicated in the following lists given in Johnsons History of Oswego
County, p. 85:
The following died in
hospital in the northern defenses of Washington:
Alfred Lukin, Co. A,
private, November 21, 1862; Chas. A. Brown, Co. B, November 22, 1862; Amos
D. Fuller, corporal, Co. D, November 2, 1862; Nathan Rowley, corporal Co.
D, December 22, 1862; Franklin Lurce, private, Co. H, December 1l, 1862;
Stewart Park, private, Co. H, November 12, 1862; Thomas Kane, private,
Co. E, November 25, 1862; Edwin Robottom, private, Co. E, November 23,
1862; Hamilton M. Wilcox, Co. F, November 3, 1862; George Button, private,
Co. E, December 31, 1862.
The following died in
hospital at Belle Plain and in general hospital during the winter of 1862-63,
and to May 1, 1863:
Thomas Harrington, Co. A,
April 11, 1863; Andrus McChesney, Co A., February 26, 1863; Theodore Dolloway,
Co. B, January 18, 1863; Wm. Delamater, Co. B, January 15, 1863; Joseph
Pilow, Co. B, February 25, 1863; Wm. C. Spain, Co. C, March 19, 1863; Henry
Miller, Co. C, March 5, 1863; Levinus Wait, Co. E; George Edmonds, Co.
C, February 1, 1863; Geo. M. Havens, Co. C, March 7, 1863; John Place,
January 9, 1863; Luke Potter, Co. C, February 12, 1863; Henry Pittsley,
February 12, 1863; Wheaton Spink, Co. C, January 1, 1863; Justus Carey,
Co. D, April 25, 1863; Darius T. Dexter, Co. D, March 10, 1863; Albert
Clemens, Co. D. February 4, 1863; Barnard McOwen, Co. E, April, 1863; Joseph
A. Upton, Co. E, April, 1863 Barton White, Co. E, April, 1863; Orville
Wines, Co. H, April 21, 1863; Jas. Boddy, Co. I, December 23, 1862; Ephraim
Darling. Co. H, January 10, 1863; Henry P. Green, Co. H, April 24, 1863;
Wm. Haight, Co. H, February 17, 1863; Jas. Johnson, Co. H. January 10,
1863; Jas. K. P. Miller, Co. H, April 1, 1863; :Elisha Ozier, Co. H, January
19, 1863; Gilbert Jones, Co. G, February 5, 1863; John Moshiser, Co. G,
March 13, 1863; John Warner, Co. G, April 8, 1863; Jos. F. Munger, Co.
F, January 11, 1863; Henry Wing, Co. F, February 28, 1863; Jas. A. Scribner,
Co. G, January 3, 1863; Jas. Forbes, Co. K, March 23, 1863; Timothy Ryan;
Co. K, March 30, 1863; Daniel Whitney, Co. K, February 22, 1863; Amos Grosbeck
Co. D, January 21, 1863; Alonzo Ellis, Co. E, February 12, 1863; James
M. Geer, Co. E, January 22, 1863; William Lyons, Co. E, February 28, 1863;
George W. Coon. Co. G, April 13, 1863; John H. Coon, Co. G, March, 1863.
On the 3d of April,
1863, the 147th was transferred to the Second Brigade, under General Cutler.
The other regiments in the brigade were the 76th and 95th New York, the
56th Pennsylvania, and the 7th Indiana.
On the 28th of April,
1863, the 147th started on the campaign which terminated with the battle
of Chancellorsville, May 2-4. This regiment was the first to cross
the pontoon bridges after they were laid losing four or five killed and
wounded. On the 2d of May the First Corps was ordered to join Hooker
at Chancellorsville, and the 147th arrived on the field in the morning
of the 3d, in time for the fierce conflict. The regiment remained
on the field two days and fell back with the army, recrossing the river
in the night, and went into camp about three miles below Falmouth.
Here sickness again became prevalent and fatal. George A. Sisson,
of Co. D, a brave officer, died from typhoid fever. Colonel Butler
was taken sick and sent home. He did not return, and the regiment
lost an efficient officer thereby. Lieut. F.N. Hamlin, Co. K, was
sick and sent to hospital and afterwards home. The following died
in hospitals in May and June, 1863; Charles H. McCarty, Co. C, from wounds
received May 1; Wm. H. Robbins, from wounds received May 1; George A. Sisson,
captain Co. D, May 13; Ira A. Sperry, corporal, June 22; David Stey, Co.
D, June 11; Newton Ehle, Co. E, June; Gordon L Smith, Co. H, June 4; David
Wines, Co. H, May 1; Thomas Dunn, Co. I, May 30; James L. Dodd, Co. H,
June 7; Nathan B. Chase, Co. C, June 1; Silas Halleck, Co. G.
On the 12th of June,
1863, the 147th began its march in the memorable Gettysburg campaign, reaching
Bealton Station, on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad on the 14th, whence
the many sick were sent Alexandria. They remained at Centreville
from the 15th to the 18th for needed rest. The Potomac was crossed
on the 26th, and on the 28th, Frederick was reached after a weary march.
The next day the regiment guarded the wagon train to Emmetsburg, twenty-six
miles away, and so approached the field where was to be fought the greatest
battle of modern times. June 29 the First Corps marched to Marsh
Creek and went into camp about four miles from the battlefield. On
the 30th the regiment was mustered for pay, and early in the morning of
July 1 the long roll was sounded for the beginning of the three days conflict.
Of this great struggle we can only briefly note the prominent events with
which the 147th was immediately connected. The First Division was
led by General Reynolds in person, and formed on Seminary Ridge in a grove,
whence it proceeded towards the enemy to a parallel ridge, through which
was a deep railroad cut. This cut divided the brigade in two parts,
the 147th and the 76th on the right. Here the Oswego county soldiers
suffered severe loss, General Reynolds being filled in the first of the
action. The enemy charged through the railroad cut, and the order
came for the brigade to fall back. The order reached the 76th, but
not the 147th, as Lieutenant-Colonel Miller to whom it was given, was wounded
and could not transfer it to his successor, Major Harney. Says Johnson's
History of Oswego County; Major Harney bravely held the regiment in position,
against overwhelming numbers, until Captain Ellsworth, of Wadsworth's staff,
seeing its perilous position, with great personal bravery hastened forward
and ordered Major Harney to fall back. The enemy at this time held
the railroad cut, partially intercepting the regiment's retreat.
It was none too soon to save the regiment from total annihilation or capture.
It had already lost full one-half of its numbers in killed and wounded.
The color-bearer, Sergeant Hinchcliff; had been shot and had fallen upon
his flag. Sergeant Wybourn, Co. I, volunteered to secure it, and
did so amid a storm of bullets; in the heroic act he was slightly wounded.
The regiment rallied under cover of Seminary Hill, but at no time that
day could it afterward muster more than seventy or eighty muskets.
It returned to near its former position after the line was reestablished,
after which the scene of action changed to the northwest of Gettysburg,
where about noon the 147th was again engaged and suffered further casualties,
several of its officers being wounded. The day, as is well known,
closed with the Union forces in retreat. They rallied towards night
on Culp's Hill.
Following is a list
of the killed and a part of the wounded on this bloody day:
The following officers
were killed: Gilford D. Mace, first lieutenant Co. F; D. G. Vandusen,
second lieutenant Co. D; Daniel McAssy, second lieutenant Co. I
The officers wounded
were as follows: F. C. Miller; lieutenant-colonel, severely George Harney,
major, slightly; Captains P. Slattery, Co. B, severely; E. D. Parker; Co.
C, slightly; D. Gary, Co. G, severely; Nathaniel Wright, severely; Lieutenants
Wm. R. Potts, Co. C., severely; Wm. P. Schenck, Co. D, mortally; and Joseph
Dempsey Co. K, slightly.
The following is a
list of non-commissioned officers and men killed in this battle; July 1
1863
Co. A - Charles Cole, Alexander
Leroy, Joseph Lemain, Oliver Legault, Samuel Lesarge, Walter B. Thorp,
Frank Virginia.
Co. B - Corporals Conrad Warner,
Wm. Martin, Michael Doyle, David Hayden, Delos W. Field; Privates Albert
P. Hall, Jas. Mahoney Henry Miller, Stephen Planter, James Sears
Co. C - Allen Morgan corporal, died
July 12, from wounds received July 1; Jos, W. Burr, Franklin Clary, Elias
Hannis, died July 15, from wounds received July 1; Horace B. Hall, Degrass
Hannis, Harlow Mills, Morgan L. Allen.
Co. D - Albert Bartley, John S.
Butler, Joseph W. Diston
Co. E - Samuel Carpenter, Albert
D. Potter, Seth Potter, Simeon Potter, George W. Tryon., David Welch, John
Williams
Co. F - Judson Dolbear, Frank N.
Halsey, Henry B. Mayo, Alvin P. Burch, Johnston. B. Church, Henry F. Morton,
Asa Pettingill, Chauncey Snell, Asa Westcott
Co. G - Peter Shultz, sergeant;
Fred. Rife, Edwin Aylsworth, Peter Zeigler, Joseph Stoutenger, Louis Aingen,
Frederick Ershman, John Mosheiser, Alex. McAmbly, David Rau, Hiram Stowell
Co. I - Martin David, Deglin McGrath,
Dennis McGrath, Richard Judson
Co. K - Jas. Hinchcliff, color-sergeant;
Theophilus R. Barberick, Thomas Banister, James Hudson, sergeant
The losses of the 147th
were over forty killed; two hundred wounded; and about thirty missing.
In his official report
General Doubleday used language that reflects honorably upon the soldiers
from Oswego county, as will be seen in the following extract:
I concur with the
division commanders in their estimate of the good conduct and valuable
services of the following-named officers and men: General Cutler commanding
the Second Brigade, says: "Colonel Hofman, 56th Pennsylvania Volunteers,
Major Harney, 147th New York Volunteers, Captain Cook, 76th New York Volunteers,
deserve special mention for gallantry and coolness; Colonel Fowler, 14th
Brooklyn, for charging the enemy at the railroad cut, in connection with
the 95th New York Volunteers and 6th Wisconsin, by which the 147th New
York Volunteers was released from its perilous position; Lieutenant-Colonel
Miller, commanding the 147th .New York Volunteers, was severely wounded
at the head of his regiment on the 1st instant
.Major Harney, of the 147th
New York Volunteers and Major Pye, of the 95th New York Volunteers, on
assuming command of their respective regiments, did all that brave men
and good soldiers could do, and deserve well for their services.
Sergeant H. H. Hubbard, Co. D, 147th New York Volunteers, was in command
of the provost guard of the brigade, eighteen strong, on the morning of
the 1st instant. He formed the guard on the right of the 76th New
York Volunteers, and fought until the battle was over, losing twelve of
his men. The color sergeant of the 147th New York Volunteers was
killed, and the colors
were caught by Sergt. Wm. A. Wybourn,
of. Co. I, 147th New York Volunteers and brought off the battlefield by
him, notwithstanding he was himself severely wounded.
On the second day of
the battle the 147th were posted on Culp's Hill, and were not engaged until
towards evening, when they made a charge upon the enemy, who had gained
some rude breastworks on the summit of the hill, and drove him out, restoring
the lines.
On the 3d the 147th
continued with the force that held Culp's Hill, one of the most important
points along the line, and on which the enemy repeatedly charged during
the night of the 2d and the day of the 3d, necessitating constant action.
An incident illustrating the desperate valor of the enemy is thus related:
In a charge more determined
and vigorous than usual, after persistent fighting, their line broke; a
number of their men took refuge behind a large rock in front of the 147th,
but it did not wholly protect them from a flank fire from both sides.
They were gradually being picked off by our men. They began to wave
handkerchiefs and give other tokens of surrender. This was seen by
an officer on General Ewells staff at a distance from our right.
He immediately started to ride across our front to arrest it. He
and his orderlies were immediately riddled by bullets.1
The Union army lay on
their arms all night and in the morning of the 4th news was brought that
the enemy had withdrawn. The battle of Gettysburg is considered by
many as the decisive event of the war -- the turning point where began
the downfall of the Confederacy. The losses of the 147th during the
2d and 3d were large, considering their meager numbers. The following
were killed on these two days: John Hart, Co. C; Sergt. Joseph Stuyvesant,
Co. C; Sylvester Taylor, second lieutenant Co. E; Sylvester Quick,
Co. K; Francis Dodd, Co. H, died July 3, from typhoid fever, at Fairfax
Seminary. Lieut. John F. Box, Company A, was wounded and lost an
arm.
The time from July 6,
after the battle of Gettysburg, to July 23, was occupied by the long march
to Warrenton, Va. While at Keedysville, on the 21st a detail of three,
Lieut.-Col. Miller, Capt. James Coey, and Lieutenant Gillett, was sent
to Elmira for recruits to fill the depleted ranks of the regiment.
The First Corps left Warrenton for Warrenton Junction July 25, crossed
the Rappahannock August 2, and after some skirmishing, lay at Rappahannock
Station until September 16; thence marched to near Culpepper and remained
until September 24, and thence to Raccoon Ford on the Rapidan. October
6, 142 recruits were received in the regiment and eighty more on the 9th.
On the 10th the regiment marched to Morgan's Ford, and returned to near
Culpepper in the night. The First Corps formed a part of the retreating
army to Centerville and the entire Army of the Potomac took shelter again
behind Bull Run. On the 16th of October the 147th received 100 more
recruits. The following promotions took place about this time: Sergt.
H. H. Hubbard, to second lieutenant for gallant conduct at Gettysburg;
James A. McKinley, first lieutenant, to captain; Volney J. Pierce, first
lieutenant Co. G, to captain Co. D; Joseph Dempsey, second lieutenant Co.
K, to first lieutenant; Edward Semler, sergeant Co. E, to second lieutenant,
vice Lieutenant Taylor killed at Gettysburg; Sidney Gaylord, sergeant Co.
E, to second lieutenant, James W. Kingsley. sergeant Co. K, to second lieutenant
Co. K.
The following died in
hospitals: George W. Box, Co. C, September 22, 1863; Charles H. Backus,
sergeant Co. D; Levi M. Wallace, Co. E August 18, 1863; William Edmonds,
Co. F, September 17, 1863; Horace Cheever, Co. F, Asa Westcott, Co. F,
July 25, 1863.
October 19, 1863, the
147th and the First Corps advanced through Thoroughfare Gap, and on the
9th of November crossed the Rappahannock, driving the enemy out of their
comfortable quarters and across the Rapidan. They were followed by
the Union forces across the latter river, the First Corps crossing at Germania
Ford. On the 28ththey marched to Robinson's Tavern, in the Wilderness.
There the First Corps charged the enemy and drove them across Mine Run,
where it was expected a battle, would follow; but the weather had meanwhile
become intensely cold, and on the 1st of December the army fell back.
About January 1, 1864, the First Corps moved to Culpepper and went into
winter quarters, where, in an excellent camp, the health of the 147th immediately
improved, the hospitals were emptied, and the winter passed in comparative
enjoyment. During the winter the following promotions took place:
Lieutenant Colonel
F. C. Miller promoted to colonel, November 24, 1863, vice J. G. Butler,
discharged on surgeons certificate of disability; Major G. Harney, promoted
lieutenant-colonel, December 15, vice F. C. Miller, promoted; D. Farling,
adjutant, promoted major, December 15, vice G. Harney, promoted; H. H.
Lyman, second lieutenant, Co C, promoted adjutant, January 12, 1864, vice
Farling, promoted; Joseph Dempsey, first lieutenant, Co. K, promoted captain,
,January 12, 1864; George Hugunin, first.lieutenant Co. A, promoted captain
Co. B; Henry H. Hubbard, second lieutenant Co. D, promoted first lieutenant
Co D, December 24, 1863; again promoted captain, March 24, 1864; Alexander
R. Penfield, promoted to captain December 24. 1863; Nathaniel Wright, restored,
November 30, 1863; William J. Gillett promoted to captain .March 30, 1864;
James W. Kingsley, second lieutenant Co. K, promoted first lieutenant March
30, 1864; James Brown, sergeant Co. B, promoted first lieutenant July 27,
1863; Byron Parkhurst, sergeant Co. G, promoted first lieutenant Co. G
December 24, 1863; Alexander King, sergeant Co. D, promoted second lieutenant.
Co. D, December 24. 1863; again promoted to first lieutenant, Co. D, April
14 1864; Cheney D. Barney, second lieutenant Co. H, promoted first lieutenant
Co. H, February 8, 1864; William A. Wybourn, second lieutenant promoted
first lieutenant, January 23 1864; Lansing Bristol, sergeant Co. D, promoted
second lieutenant Co D, April 14, 1864; Franklin N. Hamlin, restored first
lieutenant Co. K, December 24, 1863: Edwin M. Sperry, sergeant Co. C, promoted
second lieutenant Co. C February 8, 1864; Clark H. Norton, sergeant Co.
H, promoted second lieutenant Co. H, December 7 1863 John Berry, of the
Fourteenth Brooklyn, promoted second lieutenant Co. A, November 24, 1863;
William Kinney, sergeant Co. K, promoted second lieutenant, January 11,
1864; Joel A. Baker, sergeant-major, promoted second lieutenant Co. G,
April 19, 1864.
Following is a list
of those who were killed in battle or died in hospital from Oct. 16, 1863,
to May 4, 1864, of the original organization of the regiment:
Alpheus Austin, Co.
A, captured at Haymarket, Virginia, October 19, died in Andersonville prison;
James Guard, Co. A, died November 3, 1863, at Davids Island, New York;
Israel Barber, died November 8, 1863 of typhoid fever; Daniel Wilson, Co.
B, December 23, 1863; Lucien Gibbs, Co. B, November, 1863, Samuel Delano,
died at Richmond, Virginia, December 2, 1863; Jonathan Ween, Co. B, December
10, 1863; Josiah Farrington, Co. F, November 24, 1863; Ossian Howe, Co.
F, December 15, 1863; Jacob Snider, Co. F, date unknown; Robert N. Baker,
corporal Co. G, November 20, 1863; Decatur Russell, Co. H, November 28,
1863; Isaac Gosline, Co. H, November 27, 1863; John B. McCord, Co. H, February
15, 1864; Elam Seymour, Co. F, January 30, 1864; Benjamin I. Stone, December
20, 1863; Levi Decker, Co. I, November 23, 1863; Nathaniel Covert, Co.
K., January 10, 1864; Andrew Craig, Co. K, December 8, 1863; John Daly,
Co. K, January 18, 1864; John W. Elliott, Co. K, November 17, 1863; Nicholas
McCoy, Co. K, January 8, 1864; Daniel Sharp, Co. K, January 2, 1864; John
Maggerly, Co. D, January 31, 1864, Stephen L. Lacy, Co. E, March 10, 1864;
William Topher, February 25, 1864.
In the spring of 1864
before the opening of the campaign, a re-organization was effected in the
army, by which the First Corps, containing the 147th was merged in the
Fifth Corps, under Major-General Warren, and many other similar changes
were made. General Grant had taken command of all the armies, and
on March 29 he reviewed the Army of the Potomac. On the 5th of May
began the campaign of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania and Petersburg.
On that day the Fifth Corps met the enemy near Mine Run on the Rapidan,
where the whole of the Pennsylvania Reserves were captured, and the 147th
found themselves in a cul de sac, from which they with difficulty escaped.
Many were taken prisoners; Colonel Miller was severely wounded and captured,
and Adjutant Lyman was among the prisoners taken. In the effort to
rally the brigade the loss in the 147th in killed, wounded and prisoners
was large. During the succeeding two days fighting, the regiment
was often actively engaged, and the First Division in the two days fight
lost over half its number. The battle was mostly fought in dense
thickets, and in that respect was almost unique in the annals of war.
After the battle the Union army crossed the fords, and on the morning of
the 7th Grant started with his forces, and about 20,000 wounded in ambulances
and wagons, for Spottsylvania, fifteen miles distant. But Lee reached
there first and fortified his position. On the morning of the 8th
the 147th repelled an attack of the enemy, with considerable loss; and
again on the 10th was engaged until it ran out of ammunition, when it was
relieved. On the 12th the regiment went on the skirmish line at 5
A. M., without breakfast; charged through a thicket to the enemy's works;
but was repulsed. The regiment then went about five miles to the
left to engage in one of the most fiercely contested battles of the war.
Five desperate attacks
were made by Lee's army upon the Union lines, and were repulsed with slaughter
each time. Part of the Fifth Corps, containing the 147th, was moved
up in the evening to aid in holding our position. Every man was given
250 rounds of ammunition and ordered to keep up a constant fire during
the night. In the morning the enemy had disappeared. On the
11th of May the brave General Rice had his thigh shattered by a bullet,
and died in the evening, after its amputation. Lieutenant-Colonel
Harney was slightly wounded the same afternoon. In these several
days of fighting and from sickness in the Wilderness and at Spottsylvania
the losses of the 147th were as follows:
Co. A - Arnold Brown, Benoni Baker,
David Bird, George Bull, William Backus, Job G. Campbell, Abram I. White,
John E Peer May 8; Drisdon Fournier, wounded May 5, died August 16.
Co. B - May 5, Bentley H. Throop;
Simon Barbo, May 12. May 5, wounded Eugene Burlingame, died July 2 1864.
May 5, William Cullen, Allen S. Vorce
Co. C - May 5, Ransom Guinness,
Albert Eaton
Co. D - Thomas Murphy, corporal,
May 8; William Horsford, May 12; John O. Hadley
Co. E - Burr B. Lathrop, May 5;
William Castor, May 5; Roland T Rogers, May 10; Charles Brownell
Co. F - James Brown, first, lieutenant,
died July 1, 1864, from wounds received May 10, 1864, at Spottsylvania
Co. G - May 5, William S. Herrick;
May 5, William Harrison; May 5, Albert June; George W. Snell, May 10
Co. K - Franklin N Hamlin, first
lieutenant, died of wounds received May ;5 1864; Joseph Walker, May 5;
Joseph Ballard, Silas E. Parsons, Daniel Vanderwalker, William Whitehead,
Abram M. Wiburn, Michael Walkenblock
The Fifth Corps now
marched to the North Anna River, reaching it May 24, and from that date
until July 19 was often under fire at the North Anna; Bethesda Church;
and finally acted as train guard on the march to the James River.
The battle of Cold Harbor was fought June 3, but this regiment was not
engaged. The following were killed in battle or died in hospital
from May 22, to June 19:
William Upcraft, Co. A, killed June
l; Christian Field, Co. B, killed at North Anna, May 25; Patrick O'Conner,
Co. B, wounded May 25, died June 14; Orange Beardsley, Co. C, killed May
24; Henry Foster, Co. C, at the battle of Petersburg; Charles Gurnsey,
Co. C; June 18, at the battle of Petersburg; Herbert Gilbert, Co. C, June
17; Philip Stevens, Co. C, June 18; John Fitzgerald, Co. D, killed at the
battle of Bethesda Church, June 2; Sidney C. Gaylord, second lieutenant
Co, E, killed June 18; John L. Bayne, Co, E, June 18; Lewellen Laird, Co.
E, wounded June 18, died June 24; David S. Rice, Co. F, June 18; Edwin
Marshall, Co. G, June 18; John McMurray, Co. G, June 19; Thomas Seagraves,
Co. G, June 19; Wilber H. Wentworth, Col G, June 18; Atwell Winchester,
Co. H, June 19; James A. Castle, Co. H, June 10; Thos. I. Wright, Co. H,
May 28, at Andersonville, Ga; John Mitchell, Co, I, died from wounds received
June 18; John Daly, Co. K, June 18; Samuel Morey and John S. Riley, Co.
K, June 18; Daniel Sanders, Co. K, May 25; Franklin B. Woodruff, Co K,
wounded June 2, died June 11.
In the operations around
Petersburg in the fall of 1864 and spring of 1865 the Fifth Corps performed
important service. On the 18th of August they moved to the left and
captured the Weldon Railroad at the Yellow House, and in the afternoon
advanced a skirmish line toward Petersburg. The 147th lost several
in killed and wounded. The lines were slowly contracting around the
doomed city, and in September another feint was made across the James River,
and the Fifth Corps made an attack on the enemy's line, capturing two forts
recently built. About the last of October the Second, Fifth, and
Ninth Corps advanced three miles to the left to get possession of the Southside
Railroad, the last line of communication leading to Petersburg; excepting
the road connecting Petersburg with Richmond. Here occurred a battle
in which the 147th was actively engaged and suffered the great loss by
capture of Lieutenant-Colonel Harney. By his prompt and efficient
action he had saved the regiment in an emergency from capture, and doubtless
from great loss, and it was not known whether he was killed or captured,
until his appearance after the surrender of Lee. In December the
Fifth Corps was ordered on an extensive raid to the North Carolina line
to destroy the Weldon Railroad. Twenty-five miles of this road were
destroyed.
Upon the return of
the regiment they went into winter quarters; and little was done except
to strengthen the lines, until February 6, 1865.
The following promotions
took place during the last year of the war: James Coey was promoted
to the lieutenant colonelcy, November 15, 1864; Alexander Penfield was
promoted to the majority, November 15, 1864.
The following were
made captains: William J. Gillett, Byron Parkurst, Henry H. Hubbard, William
A. Wybourn, Alexander Ring. Alfred N. Beadle was made quartermaster.
The following were made
first lieutenants: Patrick J. Brown, James W. Kingsley, Richard Esmond,
John N. Beadle, Frank P. Benks, A. Judson Dickison, Lansing Bristol, Samuel
S. Conde, Edward M. Sperry.
The following were
made second lieutenants: John S. McCoy, William Sullivan, William Boyce,
Joseph W. Emblem, and Sidney G. Cook.
On the 5th of February,
1865, the Fifth Corps broke camp and marched to near Dinwiddie Court House,
camping for the night, and next day proceeded to the crossing at Hatcher's
Run. Here was fought the bloody battle of Hatcher's Run in which
the regiment and Fifth Corps lost heavily. Lieutenant-Colonel Coey,
in command of the regiment, was shot in the face. Lieutenant Wybourn
lost a leg; Lieutenant Bristol was killed, and Lieutenant Berry was captured;
Capt. Joseph Dempsey was wounded in the arm, and General Morrow was shot
in the side. On the 8th the regiment returned to its old quarters
for the remainder of the winter.
Following is a list
of those who were killed or died in hospital in the regiment from June
19, 1864, to the close of the war:
Co. B - John S. Kippen, corporal,
killed at, battle of Hatchet's Run, February 6, 1865; Wilson Sanders, July
8, 1864, typhoid fever, Christopher Rising, July 18, in hospital
Co. C - Charles A. Brown, killed
November 24, 1864; Albert Fuller, September 1, 1864, died in hospital;
L. Lawrence, killed February 5, 1865; William Minor, August 11, 1864, died
in hospital; Ansel Orr, died in hospital; Henry Smith, died in hospital.
Co. D - Edw. Topping, died May 11,
1865, of small-pox; Luther Clark, wounded April 1, 1865, at Five Forks,
died April 19; William Cline, died in hospital September 25, 1864; Samuel
Fessenden, wounded April 1, died April 10, 1865; James Nolan, died at home,
August 20, 1864; Asa Radick, killed February 6, 1865.
Co. E - Alfred S. Nichols, killed
April 1, 1865, at Five Forks.
Co. F - James Brown, first lieutenant,
died July 1, 1864, from wounds received at SpottsyIvania.
Co. G - Daniel Densmore, died October
10, 1864, of wounds received May 5, 1864; Sylvanus E. Barker, killed at
the battle of Gravelly Run; Edward Damm, killed in action August 18, 1864;
William Knight, killed in action August 19, 1864; Andrew Morrison, killed
at the battle of Gravelly Run, March 3l, 1865; Charles Brown missing in
action October 1, 1864; John F. Kelley, killed October 1, 1864.
Co. H - Alamander Plumb, killed
June 22, 1864; William H. Morse, died August 30, 1864, in hospital; Daniel
A. Wheeler, died August 23, 1864
Co. I - Horace Chapin, killed June
25, 1864; John Mitchell, killed June 20, l864; Richard Murray, killed July
16, 1864.
Co. K - Lansing Bristol, first lieutenant,
killed February 6, 1865; Richard McGraw, killed August, 19, 1864, at the
battle of the Weldon Railroad; William Fitzpatrick killed August 19, 1864;
Florin Hess, killed August 21, 1864; John F. Roberts, died August 13, 1864,
of wounds received May 5, 1864; Richard White: killed June 25, 1864; Theodore
Whitlock, killed February 6, 1865.
On the morning of March
29, 1865, the Fifth Corps broke camp for its last campaign. It was
joined with Sheridan's command. Near sunset of the first day the
enemy was encountered by the Fifth Corps and a sharp engagement followed.
The 147th had, on February 6, lost its field and staff officers and the
command was given to Colonel Daily. In a drenching rain which continued
till the 31st, the Fifth Corps endeavored to get possession of the White
Oak road and join its left with Sheridan's cavalry. On the morning
of the 31st the enemy massed heavily in front of the corps and made a furious
attack, in which the loss of the 147 was severe. On the night of
the 31st two divisions of the Fifth Corps advanced to join Sheridan, but
the whole corps did not get into position until 4 P. M., by which hour
the enemy had partially fallen back. The corps was formed to swing
around and intercept the enemy's retreat, which it did and captured about
5,000 prisoners. The Confederates were hotly pursued and their general
demoralization quickly followed. After the battle of Five Forks the
pursuit was continued, and no rest was given the retreating enemy until
Appomattox was reached. On the night of April 2, Lee evacuated Richmond
and the Confederacy fell. The Fifth Corps, now under command of General
Griffin, pursued the right flank, with the Second Corps in the immediate
rear. The pursuit continued through the 8th and until the morning
of the 9th, when the Fifth Corps cut off further retreat of the enemy at
Appomattox. Here, hemmed in on three sides, with the gallant Fifth
Corps in front, the whole rebel army in full view, Lee made overtures for
the surrender which followed.
The remainder of the
history of this gallant regiment is soon told. They marched by easy
stages to Richmond, and thence in May to the southern defenses of Washington.
On its way from Appomattox Court House the regiment was joined by Lieutenant-Colonel
Harney, Colonel Miller and Adjutant Lyman, who had been liberated from
rebel prisons. The regiment was mustered out June 7, 1865, and started
for home the next day, reaching Oswego on the 7th of July, having remained
some days in Syracuse. Out of the 837 enlisted men who left Oswego
September 27, 1862, only 147 returned, and several of these were crippled.
The ranks of the regiment had been several times filled during its term
of service, and what were left of these recruits were transferred to other
regiments. Nearly 2,300 names were on the entire muster rolls of
the regiment.
The following members
of the 147th died in rebel prisons:
Co. A - Thomas Barnes, October 4,
1864; Theodore Elliott, September 16, 1864; Moses Shaw, September 10, 1864;
Miles Morgan, September 1, 1864; Wm. Campbell, August 31, 1864; Orrin Kimberly,
July 13, 1864; John Green, August 26, 1864; Robert Hyde, September 14,
1864.
Co. B - Joseph B. Clyens, August
17, 1864; Jacob F. Goodbred, August 28, 1864; Gilbert Sherwood, August
4, 1864, George Walling, August 22, 1864; Francis G. Defendorf, July 13,
1864; Matthew Devine, July 12, 1864; John Garner, July 22, 1864
Co. C - Peter Douglass, October
5, 1864; Lorenzo W. Horton, Morgan L. Allen, jr.
Co. D - Henry Broder, August 26,
1864; James C. Eldred, July 19, 1864; Edgar A. Stratton, October 10, 1864;
William Cline, September 25, 1864; Theo. W. H. Hawley, October 11, 1864
Co. E - John Chambers, August 29,
1864; Reuben Ellis, August 24, 1864; Wm. Haggerty, August 26. 1864; Theo.
Smith, August 24 1864; Ezra C. Jones, October 12, 1864; James Kenny, September
10, 1864; David Smiley, October 9, 1864; Jehiel Weed, at Salisbury, North
Carolina, November 29, 1864; George Yerdon, at Salisbury, North Carolina,
November 29, 1864.
Co. F - Leonard A. Freeman, date
and place unknown; Burr B. Lathrop, Florence, South Carolina; Frederick
Shultz, August 23, 1864, at Andersonville, Georgia; Wm. O. Daniels, sergeant,
November, 1864, at Richmond. Virginia; Ansel Gannon, September 12, 1864,
at Andersonville, Georgia; Charles S. Little, September 20, 1864; A. B.
Randall, September 20, 1864; Michael Trainer, September 12, 1864, Andersonville,
Georgia; Waldo Pouchin, died, after exchange, at Annapolis; Wm. W. Wood,
March 16, 1865, Florence, South Carolina
Co. G. - Harvey D. Merritt, August
18, 1864, Andersonville, Georgia; Cornelius Cramb, date unknown; George
Keiser, September 15, 1864; John Thompson, date unknown; Isaac Washington,
August 18, 1864; John Wetherby, December 1. 1864, Salisbury, North Carolina;.
John Miller, date unknown; John Rigby, December 10, 1864; Garret S. Ayres,
date unknown.
Co. H - Sanford Alsavor, died in
Florence, South Carolina; John Granger, July 10, 1864, at Andersonville,
Georgia; David H. Johnson, December 29, 1864, after exchange at Annapolis;
Thomas Wright, May 28, 1864; Samuel Bowen, July 20, 1864, Andersonville,
Georgia; Wesley Brock, September 18, 1864; James A. Castle, June 10, 1864;
Noah L. Myers, August 7, 1864; James Spoor, July 18, 1864;
Co. I - John Dooley, after exchange,
at Annapolis; Griggs Holbrook, August 22,1864; Joseph Lemoreaux, August
21, 1864; Elijah Chappel October 12, 1864, at Andersonville; John H. Leach,
September 11, 1864
Co. K - Silas B. Taylor, September
29, 1864, Andersonville, Georgia; Jabez E. Spaulding, Co. E, date unknown;
Chas. Jennings, date unknown.
The One Hundred and
Eighty-Fourth Regiment.-- This regiment was constituted of about 200 men
from Madison and Cayuga counties, and the remainder from Oswego county.
Over 1,400 volunteers were recruited for it, and it was authorized by Governor
Seymour upon personal application of Elias Root, of Oswego. It was
generally felt in the summer and autumn of 1864 that, if one more determined
effort was made and the ranks of the armies were kept at the maximum, the
rebellion would soon be crushed. To aid in this work, W. G. Robinson
and William I. Preston held a series of war meetings throughout the county,
assisted by D. G. Fort, Cheney Ames, A. B. Getty, Henry Fitzhugh, and A.
Van Dyck. The hopes that had sometimes flagged and military enthusiasm
that had waned were rekindled and recruiting went on rapidly. The
regiment was mustered into the service during the months of August and
September, 1864.
Following is a list of the regimental
and line officers:
Colonel, Wardwell G. Robinson; lieutenant-colonel,
William P. McKinley; major, W. D. Ferguson; adjutant, Howard M. Smith;
quartermaster, John Dunn, jr.; surgeon, Tobias J. Green; assistant surgeon,
T. Y. Kinnie; chaplain, Jacob Post
Co. A - Captain, Joel S. Palmer;
first lieutenant, C. P. Strong; second lieutenant, M. L. Branch
Co. B - Captain, W. S. Morse; first
lieutenant, J. N. Root; second lieutenant, C. H. Pavey
Co. C - Captain, J. W. Parkhurst;
first lieutenant, George A. Leonard; second lieutenant, Daniel Bothwell
Co. D - Captain, S. R. Town; first
lieutenant, Augustus Phillips; second lieutenant, Joel H. Warn.
Co. E - Captain, John Sheridan;
first lieutenant, J. M. Francis; second lieutenant, J. H Loomis
Co. F - Captain, Wm. Dickinson;
first lieutenant, I. W. Darrow; second lieutenant, S. H. Brown
Co. G - Captain, J. T. Outerson;
first lieutenant, J. H. Grant; second lieutenant, T. W. Smith
Co. H - Captain, H. W. Ramsey; first
lieutenant, G. W. Woodin; second lieutenant, T. M. Watkins
Co. I - Captain, George Wetmore;
first lieutenant, E. F. Morris; second lieutenant, John H. Gilman
Co. K - Captain, S. Scriber; first
lieutenant, M. G. McCoon; second lieutenant, Jerome H. Coe.
Going into service so
late in the war, the history of this regiment is brief. It left Elmira
for the front in September, and proceeded to City Point via Washington,
but later went into camp about two miles from Bermuda Hundred. It
should be stated that four of the companies left Elmira September 14, in
advance of the remainder of the regiment; they were A, B, D, and F.
The active history of the regiment is almost wholly confined to the records
of these companies, and they did not rejoin the main body until just previous
to their discharge. On the 23d of September they marched for Winchester,
halting four days at Harper's Ferry whence they guarded a provision train
to Harrisburg. They participated in the operations of General Sheridan
in the valley of the Shenandoah, marching 104 miles in three days, and
burning and destroying property. They were subsequently ordered to
Martinsburg, and thence again up the valley to Cedar Creek. Early
in the morning of October 19 orders came to fall into line immediately,
and the battle of Cedar Creek followed. At the close of the engagement
the regiment camped on the ground they had left in the morning, with their
ranks lessened by a list of sixteen killed (among them Lieutenant Phillips),
and forty wounded. The four companies were later ordered to Winchester,
where, in works known as Camp Russell, they remained about four weeks,
when they were ordered to City Point, and thence to Harrison's Landing,
and there joined the remainder of the regiment, where it had been in comfortable
quarters meanwhile. The entire regiment remained here several months,
Colonel Robinson acting as post commandant and in charge of the separate
brigade in garrison at Harrison's Landing, Forts Pocahontas and Powhatan,
and Major Ferguson as provost marshal. Later Colonel Robinson with
the regiment was ordered to City Point, and remained there until the 30th
of June, 1865, when he received orders to embark the regiment, which was
done on two steamers, by which they reached Baltimore on the 1st of July.
Thence on the following day they were sent to Elmira. The regiment
was subsequently paid off and mustered out at Syracuse.
Besides the foregoing
regular organizations, Oswego county sent several companies in different
regiments, and many volunteers in squads or individually into numerous
other organizations. Of these, two companies, A and B, commanded
respectively by Captains Cyrus and Simeon Church, were raised in this county
for the 12th cavalry, (Third Ira Harris Guard), which was mustered in
between November 10, 1862 and September 25, 1863. The regiment was
in camp on Staten Island to March, 1863, and after breaking camp March
8, embarked for Newbern, and remained there during the war, in the performance
of much active service. In an action near Tarboro, the Oswego companies
met the enemy and Capt. Cyrus Church was killed in a charge at the head
of his company. Lieutenant Hubbard was wounded and taken prisoner,
and was subsequently killed in March, 1865. Ephraim Mosier, second
lieutenant of Co. A, was taken prisoner and died in Charleston. The
two companies lost twenty men in this charge. Two companies of a
detachment on scouting duty at the battle of Plymouth, April 20, 1864 were
all taken prisoners, and eighty-five men were sent to Andersonville, where
most of them perished. Among the number captured was Lieut. Alonzo
Cooper, now living in Oswego. The regiment was mustered out in July,
1865.
A battery of the First
Light Artillery was recruited in Oswego county, the regiment being mustered
in between August 30 and November 19, 1861. The battery proceeded
to Elmira and thence, about November 1, to Washington. The term of
service of the regiment ended June16, 1865, during which it performed
the duties, assigned to it with honor. Early in May, 1862, while
a portion of the army under General Hooker was engaged, this was one of
the artillery organizations that opened the battle. While forming
for the purpose a number of the Oswego battery were wounded, among them
Lieutenants C. P. Aiken and H. P. Pike. After this battle the regiment
camped near Williamsburg. Near Petersburg, Va., Lieut. Albert N.
Ames, son of Cheney Ames, of Oswego was killed by sharpshooters, September
26, 1864. The list of engagements in which this regiment participated
was as follows: Yorktown, Williamsburg, Seven Pines, Peach Orchard, Savage
Station, White Oak Swamp, Glendale, Malvern Hill, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville,
Gettysburg, Rappahannock Station, Mine Run, Wilderness, Spottsylvania,
North Anna, Tolopotomoy, Bethesda Church, Petersburg, Weldon Railroad,
and Chapel House. The Oswego battery never failed in its long term
to acquit itself with bravery and fortitude.
Three companies of the
24th Cavalry were recruited in Oswego county. This regiment was mustered
into the service in January, 1864, and went out under command of Colonel
William C. Raulston. The regiment left Auburn in February, 1864,
for Washington, where they remained until March, and were then sent to
the front dismounted. The regiment was on picket duty during the
battle of the Wilderness, and its loss was consequently slight. In
the battle of Cold Harbor the regiment supported the 14th Heavy Artillery
and suffered severely. Thirty men of Co. E were taken prisoners and
sent to Andersonville, where most of them died. After this battle
the regiment crossed the James River and marched to Petersburg. On
the 17th of June the grand charge on the enemys lines was led by this
regiment, and the command lost heavily. A similar charge was made
on the following day with like results. Captain Burch, of Co. I,
was killed, and Captains Taylor and Martin wounded. In the engagement
at Peeble's Farm in September, 1864, Colonel Raulston, Captain Thomas and
Lieutenant McGraw were captured and taken to Danville, Va. In an
attempt to escape soon afterward Colonel Raulston was killed. After
participating in the fighting on the Weldon Railroad the regiment received
their horses at Camp Yellow House and joined the mounted troops, under
the brigade commanded by Gen. Henry E. Davies, of New York. In the
spring of 1865 the regiment joined in the general advance of the army and
shared in the trying duties and the glory of the final scenes of the war.
The 24th participated in the grand review at Washington, and was afterwards
consolidated with the 10th Cavalry, and became known as the 1st Provisional
N. Y. Cavalry. The regiment was mustered out at Syracuse, June 19,
1865.
The 21st Battery, known
as the 21st New York Independent Battery, was raised in Oswego county and
mustered into service September 2. 1862. This battery left New York
with the Banks expedition about the middle of December, and arrived at
New Orleans in January, 1863. The commissioned officers who went
out with the battery were: Captain, James Barnes; first lieutenant, Henry
H. Cozzens; second lieutenant, George Potts. At New Orleans the battery
was armed with four three-inch steel guns, and was stationed near that
place until May. It was actively engaged in the siege of Port Hudson
and was stationed at that post for nearly a year after the place surrendered.
On the 7th of April, 1864, one gun, under charge of Lieutenant Potts, was
sent to Baton Rouge, where it was attacked by the enemy and captured with
seven men: Corporals James Campbell and Charles Barnard, and privates
Alonzo Dunham, Charles Dexter, Daniel Robers, jr, John Walker and Moses
Potter; who were sent to Andersonville. February 28, privates Daniel
McSweeney and John S. Cozzens were captured by guerrillas and taken, to
Andersonville, where Cozzens died. Moses Potter died at his home
in Hastings from the effects of his prison life. Lieutenant Cozzens
died in New York, February 18, 1864, and Lieutenant Ports was made senior
lieutenant. Near the close of 1864 the battery was ordered to New
Orleans to refit for service. During the investment of the works
defending that city the battery occupied an exposed position, and John
Wilson was killed on the 27th of March, and John Daly on the 29th.
After the surrender of Mobile the battery was stationed in that city, and
fired a salute on the 4th of July. The battery was mustered out at
Syracuse, September 8, 1865. Of the 212 men who went out with it,
149 returned. Besides the deaths before mentioned, the following
members of the battery died of disease in camp or hospital:
Quartermaster-Sergeant
James Munger, Artificer Jay Jewett, Bugler Aaron Van Antwerp, and Privates
Orvin Bundy, Luther O. Dodge, John Dwyer, Wallace Holden, Henry Shrader,
Timothy Beebe, Horace Benedict, William H. Huested, Adam Sixberry, Jacob
Smith, Elmer P. Burr, William H. Mitchell, Alvin S. Miller, Matthew Thompson,
George H. Millard, Daniel Mayne, George W. Betsinger, Peter Dunham, Michael
Daidy, and Henry Hopkins. John Wilson and John Daily were killed
in action; and twenty-two were discharged for disability on surgeons certificate.
Two companies of the
193d Regiment were recruited in Oswego County. It was mustered into
the service from April 6 to July 6, 1865, and mustered out January 18,
1866. The captains of the Oswego companies were A. H. Preston and
William L. Yeckley. The regiment saw little active service.
Besides these, this county had men in the 15th Engineers, and in the 59th,
93d, 94th, 149th, 186th, 189th Infantry; the 2d, 3d, 4th, 14th, 16th Artillery;
and in. the 7th and 20th Cavalry, while ninety-eight men enlisted in the
Regular army.
At a special meeting
of the Board of Supervisors, held July 24, 1862, the County War Committee
addressed the board, advising that provision be made to pay each volunteer
from the county $ 50, as had been done in other counties. In response
a series of patriotic resolutions were adopted by the board, one of which
authorized petitioning the Legislature for an act under which $ 55,000
might be raised by tax from which to pay $50 to each three years volunteer
in the new (1l0th) regiment then being recruited. On the 20th of
August another special meeting was held to consider measures for encouraging
enlistments under the call of the president of August 4, 1862, the number
of recruits to be raised being about 1,330. A resolution was adopted
similar to the foregoing one in its provisions, except that the amount
raised should be $ 67,400. This sum was to be and was obtained on
promissiory notes signed by the War Committee and members of the Board
of Supervisors, in sums of $ 5,000 each.
At the annual session
in December, 1862, the board, through a special committee, reported a proposed
bill authorizing towns to raise bounty money, which became a law in February,
1863. Another bill was sent to the Legislature, authorizing the supervisors
to issue county bonds for the moneys already raised on promissory notes.
Following is a record of
the number of men drawn in the draft of August 4, 1863, in the towns and
wards of Oswego county, with the number that furnished substitutes, and
the number that served:
City
-- 1st and 3d wards
310
28
6
" -- 2d
" 117
9
2
" -- 4th
" 89
16
3
Oswego (town)
..
.73
6
3
Scriba
..
..
.
78
4
3
Hannibal
..
..
.
74
2
4
Granby
..
.
.
...104
....3
Volney
..
.
164
5
5
New Haven
..
...55
6
1
Palermo
..
..
.
..46
2
3
Schroeppel
..
98
1
3
Mexico
..
.
103
2
2
Hastings
.
.
94
1
3
Sandy Creek
63
1
1
Richland
..
...101
3
1
Albion
..
.
...
50
3
Parish
.
.
.
54
2
West Monroe
.
..
36
..
Boylston and
Redfield
42
3
Orwell
.
..
.
..
27
..
Williamstown
.
..
33
1
Amboy
..
..
.
39
1
Constantia
..
.
75
2
4
_____ __ __
Total
1910 88 57
Out of 1,910 men
drawn, eighty-eight furnished substitutes, and only fifty-seven served;
the remainder all either paid the commutation fee to the government, $
300 each, or were thrown out for physical disability. It was the
last time this kind of an experiment was tried during the war.
Further action in relation
to bounties was not had until the meeting of the Board, November 30, 1863,
when a resolution was offered that a petition be sent to the Legislature,
asking the passage of a law authorizing the board to raise by tax moneys
sufficient to pay each volunteer $ 300 under the then existing call of
the president, and up to the 5th day of January, 1864, and to defray other
necessary expenses connected with raising the quota.
This resolution was
laid over until December 3, when it was withdrawn, and in its stead were
adopted a series of resolutions, which, in brief, established a bounty
of $ 300 to each volunteer "under the impending draft of the 300,000 men"
called for by the proclamation of the president; authorized the county
treasurer to borrow on the countys credit the necessary sum to meet this
demand, not to exceed $ 270,000; and that a committee, consisting of Avery
W. Severance, John H. Woodin, Elias Root, A. P. Grant, Daniel L. Couch,
and B. B. Burt, be appointed to act with the treasurer in carrying out
these arrangements. The quota to be raised at this time was 974 men;
and on the 26th of January, 1864, the board in special session adopted
a resolution that the following lists should be considered as the quota
of the several towns and wards under the call of October 17, 1863; and
the various sums opposite; the amount each town and ward must raise:
| 1 1st and 3d wards |
143
|
$ 42,900
|
| 2 2d ward |
60
|
18,000
|
| 3 4th ward |
45
|
13,500
|
| 4 Oswego town |
39
|
11,700
|
| 5 Scriba |
40
|
12,000
|
| 6 Hannibal |
38
|
11,400
|
| 7 Granby |
51
|
15,300
|
| 8 Volney |
80
|
24,000
|
| 9 New Haven |
29
|
8,700
|
| 10 Palermo |
25
|
7,500
|
| 11 Schroeppel |
49
|
14,700
|
| 12 Mexico |
51
|
15,300
|
| 13 Hastings |
47
|
14,100
|
| 14 Sandy Creek |
31
|
9,300
|
| 15 Richland |
51
|
15,300
|
| 16 Albion |
28
|
8,400
|
| 17 Parish |
29
|
8,700
|
| 18 West Monroe |
20
|
6,000
|
| 19 Boytston and Redfield |
23
|
11,700
|
| 20 Orwell |
15
|
4,500
|
| 21 Williamstown |
19
|
5,700
|
| 22 Amboy |
22
|
6,600
|
| 23 Constantia |
39
|
11,700
|
|
-----
|
---------
|
|
974
|
$ 292,200
|
At a special meeting
held February 11, 1864, at the city clerk's office, the Common Council
of the city acted upon a resolution to provide for raising upon the credit
of the city, for the sole use of the city, money for the payment of bounties
and other incidental expenses, to the amount of $ 60,000, to be paid by
an annual tax of $ 3,000 and interest. This was temporarily laid
on the table.
At a meeting of the
Board of Supervisors, February 12, 1864, resolutions were adopted providing
for the payment of a bounty of $ 300 to each volunteer credited on the
call of February 1, 1864, the sum not to exceed $ 195,000, and the number
of volunteers not to exceed 650. Recruiting progressed until in the
latter part of March, when a special session of the board was held March
30, at which a resolution was adopted providing that $ 60,000 be levied
and appropriated to paying $ 300 to each volunteer to be enlisted to fill
the quotas of the several towns and wards in the county that are now deficient
under all calls of the president to this date."
Again in July, 1864,
after the call of the 18th for 500,000 volunteers, the Board of Supervisors
took prompt action for filling the quota. A special session was held
on the 27th of July, at which a resolution was adopted providing for levying
and collecting $ 330,000, to be made payable in twelve equal annual installments,
beginning in March, 1868, and continuing the bounty of $ 300, at the same
time offering a premium of $ 15 for each volunteer secured.
On the 13th of August,
1864, the Common Council acted upon the matter of filling the quota of
the city, separately from the county, by the adoption of a resolution similar
to that presented in the preceding February, providing for raising $ 52,500
for bounties to volunteers credited to the city. Meanwhile town bounties
had been provided for, so that the volunteers of the period under consideration
received $ 600.
A tabulation of the
quotas made under this call shows that, after deducting the surplus, there
were required 1,219 volunteers in the county, 206 of which number were
wanted in the city.
A special session of
the board was held August 29, at which a committee reported the amount
of the war debt as then existing, provided bounties were paid as then provided
for sufficient volunteers to fill the quotas, to be $1,430,685. An
effort was made at this meeting to add $ 300 to the bounty, but a resolution
was finally adopted, recommending that the towns and wards of the county
pay either by town or private bounty, "a sum sufficient to raise vohmteers
to fill their quotas."
On September 9, Co.D
of the 19th Veteran Corps arrived in Oswego to superintend the threatened
draft, the quota in some of the towns in Madison county, which was then
in this Congressional District, not yet being filled. A telegram
reached the city from Gen. A. S. Diven, of Elmira, to begin the draft on
the 19th of September, which was done, amid a good deal of excitement and
anxiety.
A statement was received
from the provost marshal on the 3d of December, 1864, showing a deficit
of volunteers in the county of eighty-five. No part of this deficit
was in the city, the towns of Mexico (21), Williamstown (13), and Amboy
(29), lacking the larger part of the number. In pursuance of resolutions
adopted at special town meetings, there was a motion made and passed at
a meeting of December 14, 1864, that certain sums be levied upon the various
towns for bounties. This action cleared up the war matters to the
last call of December 19, for 300,000 men. While the news from the
South had been very encouraging to the North during the fall of 1864, there
were many who still believed the end of the rebellion was far away; and
this last call nearly deprived them of all hope. Hundreds of volunteers
had been paid in the neighborhood of $ 1,000 each, and the money had been
raised for that purpose only by the most persistent and untiring efforts.
It was, therefore, thought almost impossible to further impoverish the
county. The city, however, attacked the problem promptly. The
Common Council met on the 27th of December, and authorized a loan of $105,000,
payable in one, two, and three years, and the payment of $ 600 to each
volunteer. A special election was held January 6, to vote upon the
question of paying this amount, and 775 votes were cast in favor, and only
75 against it. About the same time the supervisors met and resolved
to $ 500 for one year volunteers; $ 600 to two years, and $ 700 to three
years men; these sums were afterwards changed to $ 300, $ 500 and $ 700
respectively. The towns held meetings and made requests to the supervisors
to levy the various sums necessary for bounty purposes, and enlistments
proceeded. Major D.Farling and A. B. Getty were appointed recruiting
agents for the First and Third wards, and Capt. C. H. Lewis and D. C. Buel
for the Second and Fourth wards of the city. January 24 a recommendation
was sent to Governor Fenton to the effect that Captain Lewis was a proper
person to raise a new regiment in the district. The quota in the
district was 1,522 and in this county 1,142. This was reduced a little
later by 25 percent, leaving it 857. War meetings were held frequently
and the War Committee held daily sessions. While the credit of the
county was still good, it was found almost impossible to obtain currency
with which to pay the volunteers. The city quota was filled much
more rapidly than in the towns, and when the city had a surplus, which
it did, some of the towns had not a single credit. The draft to fill the
deficiencies began on the 27th of February, when the following figures
from the provost marshal's office showed the numbers to be drawn in the
county: Constantia, 49; Williamstown, 21; Orwell, 12; Redfield, 9;
Boylston, 9; West Monroe, 15; Parish, 25; Albion, 25; Richland, 39; Sandy
Creek, 25; Hastings, 21; Mexico, 47; Schroeppel, 37; Palermo, 23; New Haven,
17; Volney, 60; Granby, 57; Hannibal, 36; Scriba, 19.
The draft passed off
quietly, but before the men drawn could reach the scenes of the war, the
great rebellion was in its dying throes, and few of the drafted men saw
much, if any, actual service.
Following is a statement
of moneys raised and expended for war purposes by the county from April
15, 1861, to December 6, 1865:
For bounties
$ 1,884,300.00
For expenses
51,414.66
---------------- $ 1,935,714.66
For interest on county loans
144,864.08
For principal of county loans
..
140,400.00
For discount on State bonds
8,990.46
-----------------
Total
$ 2,229,969.20
The various towns of
the county, in pursuance of an act passed February 21, 1863, contributed
from first to last the following sums for bounties to volunteers:
| Albion |
$ 11,340.91
|
| Amboy |
11,133.51
|
| Boylston |
5,406.43
|
| Constantia |
22,083.83
|
| Granby |
32,378.93
|
| Hannibal |
8,264.20
|
| Hastings |
26,309.17
|
| Mexico |
2,968.20
|
| Orwell |
7,800.00
|
| Oswego |
1,441.80
|
| Palermo |
1,800.00
|
| Parish |
10,591.30
|
| Redfield |
3,643.25
|
| Richland |
23,751.52
|
| Sandy Creek |
9,294.00
|
| Schroeppel |
9,516.72
|
| Scriba |
2,038.36
|
| Volney |
12,603.33
|
| West Munroe |
7,146.29
|
| Williamstown |
3,922.88
|
Endnotes
1. Johnsons History, p. 90