Skip to main content

Full text of "The "Dutchess county regiment" (150th regiment of New York state volunteer infantry) in the Civil War;"

See other formats 


Gc  M.  H 

973 «74        ! 

N42COO 

1740440 


REYNOLDS  HISTORICAL 
GENEALOGY  COLLECTION 


^LLENCOUWi( 


puBUf„l-;?X'in 


'^^^T833  00823 


519'\ 


THE 

DUTCHESS  COUNTY 
REGIMENT 


<^ '^On^^C^,.^^^     t 


<:?2«.fc--^ 


(^/^tC^^IX..-*,^ 


THE 

"DUTCHESS  COUNTY 
REGIMENT" 

(IoOth   regiment  of  new    YORK  STATE  VOLUNTEER   INFANTRY) 

IN  THE  CIVIL  WAR 

ITS  STORY  AS  TOLD  BY  ITS  MEMBERS 


BASED  UPON  THE  WRITINGS  OF 

REV.  EDWARD  O.   BARTLETT,  D.  D. 


EDITED   BY 

S.  G.  COOK,  M.  D.  AND  CHARLES  E.  BENTON 


PANBURY,    CONN. 
THE    DANBURY     MEDICAL    PRINTING    CO.,     INC. 
1907 


COPYRIGHT,  1907 

BY  WILLIAM  C.   WILE 

Danbury,  Conn. 


THEA.V.HAIOHTl 
PRINTERS 
POUGHKEEPSIE 
NEW  YORK 


1740440 


TO  THOSE  OF  OUR  REGIMENT 
WHO   LOST  THEIR  OWN  LIVES   WHILE  SAVING    OUR 
COUNTRY'S  LIFE  THIS  VOLUME  IS  AFFECTION- 
ATELY DEDICATED  AS  A  TRIBUTE 
TO  THEIR  UNFALTERING 
HEROISM 


PREFACE 

The  surviving  members  of  the  Dutchess  County-  Regi- 
ment have  always  desired  to  have  a  Regimental  History 
written.  The  subject  came  up  at  the  first  reunion  in 
1865,  and  at  nearly  every  subsequent  reunion  since. 

It  was  generally  concluded  that  Major  Smith  (I  like 
to  call  him  "Major")  was  the  proper  person  to  write  it, 
as  it  was  believed  that  he  had  more  data  upon  which  to 
base  the  history  of  the  regiment  than  any  other  member 
of  it.  It  is  also  generally  believed  that  he  did  write  said 
history,  but  that  his  sudden  and  untimely  death  robbed  us 
of  his  very  valuable  manuscripts. 

It  is  thought  probable  that  these  manuscripts  were 
in  one  of  the  many  boxes  that  were  sold  at  auction  soon 
after  his  death,  but  said  box  could  never  be  traced,  al- 
though great  efforts  have  been  made  to  find  it. 

The  matter  drifted  along  until  1899  when  the  subject 
was  brought  up  by  Judge  Gildersleeve,  and  a  resolution 
offered  and  adopted  that  the  history  be  written  and  pub- 
lished in  book  form,  and  the  Rev.  E.  O.  Bartlett,  D.D., 
late  Chaplain  of  the  Regiment,  volunteered  to  undertake 
it,  and  if  the  "Story  of  the  Dutchess  County  Regiment" 
ever  gets  past  the  printer's  hands  and  becomes  a  fixed 
fact,  as  "In  God  we  trust"  it  will,  great  credit  will  be 
due  Dr.  Bartlett  for  his  initiative  work.  No  structure 
can  be  erected  without  a  foundation,  and  he  furnished  the 
basis  which  made  our  final  success  possible. 


viii  PREFACE. 

At  the  Annual  Reunion  in  1902,  or  three  years  later, 
he  presented  the  fruit  of  his  labors  to  the  Association  in 
207  typewritten  pages.  A  motion  was  made  that  this 
be  printed  at  once,  but  objection  was  made  to  this  on  the 
grounds  that  the  Association  did  not  know  what  the 
manuscript  contained,  and  that  no  one  man  could  satis- 
factorily write  the  history,  giving  dates  and  incidents  cor- 
rectly. Thereupon  a  committee  on  review  and  revision 
was  appointed.  I  well  remember  how  hard  I  tried  to 
have  Joseph  H.  Cogswell  appointed  Chairman  of  this 
Committee,  because  he  was  the  ranking  living  line  officer 
of  the  regiment,  was  a  combatant,  and  since  the  war  had 
been  engaged  in  literary  work,  but  against  my  earnest 
protest  he  turned  the  tables  on  me,  and  I  was  made  Chair- 
man, with  George  H.  Williams,  Miles  K.  Lewis,  Perry 
W.  Chapman,  William  R.  Woodin,  William  E.  Gurney 
and  William  S.  Van  Keuren  as  my  associates.  In  1903 
Joseph  H.  Cogswell,  and  the  Hon.  John  I.  Piatt,  an  hon- 
orary member  of  the  Association,  were  added  to  it. 

At  the  time  I  accepted  the  chairmanship  of  the  com- 
mittee I  realized  what  it  meant,  for  I  had  been  chairman 
of  committees  before.  It  meant  that  the  chairman  should 
do  most  of  the  work. 

From  some  of  my  associates  on  the  committee  I  have 
received  valuable  assistance. 

On  receipt  of  Dr.  Bartlett's  manuscript,  I  immediately 
had  a  dozen  typewritten  copies  made,  and  at  once  divided 
it  into  chapters  (which  Dr.  Bartlett  had  failed  to  do), 
apportioning  a  chapter  each  to  some  fifteen  or  twenty  of 
the  members  of  the  old  regiment  for  revision.  In  some 
of  the  chapters  the  Rev.  Doctor  will  look  in  vain  for  the 
familiar  expressions  from  his  own  pen,  for  most  of  them, 


PREFACE.  ix 

in  their  final  form,  are  essentially  the  production  of  those 
whose  names  are  given  as  the  authors. 

About  this  time  Charles  E.  Benton's  book,  "As  Seen 
from  the  Ranks,"  came  into  my  possession,  and  I  recog- 
nized at  once  what  a  valuable  editorial  assistant  he  would 
be  in  this  undertaking.  I  was  not  long  in  securing  his 
co-operation,  and  I  will  here  state  that  his  assistance  has 
been  invaluable.  In  fact,  I  doubt  if  I  would  have  been 
able  to  finish  it  without  his  aid,  inasmuch  as  the  added 
years  were  beginning  to  hang  heavily  upon  me. 

In  looking  up  official  documents  and  records,  J.  H. 
Cogswell,  George  H.  Williams  and  William  E.  Gurney 
have  been  of  great  service.  Cogswell's  compilation  of 
the  Regimental  Roster  relieved  me  of  a  tremendous 
amount  of  work. 

To  those  who  were  prompt  in  sending  in  their  chapters 
and  data  for  Personal  Sketches  (and  even  to  those  who 
sent  them  at  all),  I  hereby  tender  my  grateful  acknowl- 
edgments. 

In  the  circular  letter  I  sent  out  in  December,  1902,  I 
asked  for  diaries.  To  this  there  was  a  liberal  response, 
all  of  which  have  been  useful  in  their  way,  but  my  "Bible 
and  Prayer  Book"  has  been  that  of  Piatt  C.  Curtiss,  late 
Sergeant  of  Co.  I.  His  was  complete,  and  when  differ- 
ences of  opinion  as  to  dates  and  localities  have  arisen  I 
have  turned  to  it  and  have  never  been  disappointed. 

This  will  be  one  of  the  last  of  Regimental  Histories, 
because  such  history  must  of  necessity  be  written  by  one 
or  more  of  its  members,  and  those  who  took  part  in  that 
war  are  fast  passing  away.  Nearly  two  generations  have 
passed  since  the  war  ended.  Year  by  year  memories 
grow  more  Indistinct  or  fade  out  entirely.     Though  last, 


X  PREFACE. 

we  are  hoping  it  will  not  be  regarded  as  least.  So  far 
as  is  known  it  is  entirely  unique  in  its  plan  and  scope.  It 
is  believed  to  be  the  first  regimental  history  with  signed 
chapters  written  by  so  many  different  members  of  the 
regiment.  This  fact,  besides  adding  to  its  value  for 
those  personally  interested,  and  general  readers,  should 
give  it  a  welcome  place  in  all  of  the  public  libraries  of  the 
nation,  and  doubtless  will. 

If  my  surviving  comrades  and  the  families  of  those 
who  have  been  "mustered  out"  are  pleased  with  our 
efforts  I  am  satisfied.  I  am  very,  very  sorry  that  our 
Colonel,  "John  Henry,"  could  not  have  lived  to  have  en- 
joyed reading  it,  as  it  was  a  matter  of  lively  interest  to 
him  during  the  latter  years  of  his  life. 

Stephen  G.  Cook,  M.D. 


CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

Preface    vii 

Chapter  I. 

By  Henry  A.  GUdersJeeve. 

The  Origin  and  Inception  of  the  Civil  War i 

Constitutional  Questions  Involved — Lincoln  and  his  In- 
augural Address — The  South  Precipitated  the  War — Why 
We  Enlisted. 

Chapter  II. 

By  Henry  A.  Gildersleeve. 

Organization  and  Stay  in  Baltimore 8 

The  First  Practical  Step — "Josh  Billings'  "  Resolution — 
Authority  from  Governor  Morgan — War  Meetings  all  over 
the  County — Mustered  into  the  United  States  Service — 
The  Journey  to  Baltimore — Small  Campaigns — Turning  Our 
Faces  Towards  the  Enemy. 

Chapter  III. 

By  JVilliam  E.  Gurney. 

From   Baltimore   to   Gettysburg 21 

Departure  From  Baltimore — Learning  Campaign  Service — 
"Battle  Hymn  of  The  Republic" — Becoming  Part  of  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac — Just  Before  the  Battle. 

Chapter  IV. 

By  Joseph  H .   Cogszvell. 

Battle  of  Gettysburg 28 

Approaching  the  Field — Held  in  Reserve — Entering  the  En- 
gagement— Developing  the  Enemy — "Good  Fighting  Any- 
where"— Those  who  Fell — Pickett's  Grand  Charge — Bury- 
ing the  Dead — The  List. 


xii  CONTENTS. 

Chapter  V. 
By  Charles  E.  Benton. 

PACK 

From    Gettysburg    to    Virginia 40      . 

The  Wreckage  of  Battle— Tragic  Scenes — Following  the 
Enemy — Long  Distance  Marching — Topography  of  the 
Country — Again  Confronting  the  Enemy — Historic  Harper's 
Ferry — Blackberries,  a  Feast  for  the  Gods — Sickness  in 
Camp. 

Chapter  VI. 

By  Piatt  C.  Ciirtiss. 

From  Virginia  to  Tennessee 51 

Traveling  in  Freight  Cars — Mountain  Scenery — Patriotism 
on  the  Way — A  Winter  Guarding  the  Railroad — Murders 
by  Bushwhackers — Taxing  the  Citizens  to  Suppress  It — 
More  Murders — "The  Simple  Life" — Consolidation  of  Army 
Corps — "Fighting   Joe." 

Chapter  VII. 

By  Stephen  G.  Cook. 

From   Normandy  to   Resaca 66 

The  Peculiarities  of  Memory — The  Second  Pleasant  Win- 
ter in  the  Army — The  nth  and  12th  Corps  Consolidated — 
Leaving  Normandy,  Tenn.,  for  a  More  Southern  Trip — 
That  Thunder  Shower — A  Mule  "Potter's  Field" — Lookout 
Mountain — Snake    Creek    Gap — The    Battle    of   Resaca. 

Chapter  VIII. 

By  John  E.  West. 

From  Resaca  to  Kenesaw  Mountain 83 

Difficult  Campaign  to  Record — Pursuing  the  Enemy — "Left 
in  Front !  There'll  Soon  be  a  Fight !" — Battle  of  New 
Hope  Church — Bloody  Assault — Death  of  General  Polk — 
Battle  of  Lost  Mountain — Hot  and  Wet — Bluecoats  and 
Blackberries — Battle  of  Kolli's  Farm — Death  of  Lieutenant 
Gridlcy  and  Others — Pickets'  Protection — Tantalizing  Con- 
fetleratc    Flag — Enemy    Retreats   to    Kenesaw    Mountain. 


CONTENTvS.  xiii 

Chapter  IX. 
By  John  E.  JFest. 

PA^E 

From  Kenesaw  Mountain  to  Peach  Tree  Creek.  ...    97 

We  Lose  a  Battle — "The  Gate  City  of  the  South" — Friend- 
ly Truce  Between  the  Pickets — We  Cross  the  Chattahoochee 
— Battle  of  Peach  Tree  Creek — Straightening  the  Skirmish 
Line— "Who  Calls  Major !"— Contraband  of  War — Hard- 
tack "B.  C." — Surprised  at  Breakfast — Distant  Roar  of 
Battle. 

Chapter  X. 

By  JViUiam  C.  JVile. 

The  Siege  of  Atlanta io6 

Time  Occupied — Organization  of  the  Corps — Its  Officers — 
Hot  Fighting — Intrenching  the  Line — Getting  Social  with 
the  Rebel  Pickets — Exchange  of  Bullet  and  Shell  by  Day, 
and  Music  by  Night — Surprising  the  Rebel  Pickets — De- 
seriters  from  the  Enemy — Moving  on  the  Citj' — Losses 
Sustained. 

Chapter  XI. 

By  JViUiam  C.  JVile. 

Atlanta  Occupied ii8 

Great  Destruction  of  Property  by  the  Enemy — City  Sur- 
renders— The  Town  and  its  Defenses — Regulation  of  Trade 
— Inhabitants  Sent  Away— Sunday  Observance — Foraging 
for  Food — Fighting  off  the  Enemy — Preparations  for 
Abandoning  the  City — Last  Scenes  Spectacular  and  Fas- 
cinating— "As  We  Go   Marching  On." 

Chapter  XII. 

By  JViUiam  H.  Bartktt. 

From  Atlanta  to  Milledgeville 131 

Election  in  Camp — Field  Orders — Reorganization  of  the 
Army — None  But  the  Strongest  Retained — More  Destruc- 
tion of  Property — City  Abandoned — Campaign  of  Labor — 
Course  Taken — Corduroyed  Roads — Freak  "Legislature" — 
Foraging — ^"Uncle  Billy's  Summers" — Skirmishing. 


xiv  CONTENTS. 

Chapter  XIII. 
By  George  H.  JVilliams.  p^ge 

From  MlUedgevIlle  to  Savannah 143 

Leaving  Milledgeville — Fine  Country  and  Fine  Living — 
Tough  Goose — Skirmish,  and  Chickens — Swamps  and  More 
Skirmishing — In  Front  of  Savannali — Capture  of  Steam- 
boat— Fighting  on  Argj-le  Island — Colonel  Ketcham 
Woiindf'd — Cantnre  of  i-ion-  AT^AHister — Hardtack  and 
Home    Letters — Surrender    of    City. 

Chapter  XIV. 

By  Samuel  H.  Paulding. 

From   Savannah   to   Goldsborough 149 

"Obey  Orders" — Enemy  Retreats — Surrender  of  City — 
Pursuit  of  Enemy — Cold  and  Wet — Dry  Inside — Destruc- 
tion of  Railroads — Flooded  Swamps — Corduroyed  Roads — 
Foraging — Battle  of  Av°rnsborough — Death  of  Lieutenant 
Sleight — Battle  of  Bentonville — A  New  Base. 

Chapter  XV. 

By  Miles  K.  Lewis. 

From    Goldsborough   Home 159 

Close  of  the  "Hardest  Campaign" — "Pop"  Williams — 
Assassination  of  the  President — Surrender  of  Lee  and 
Johnston — End  of  the  War — March  to  Washington — Over 
Old  Battlefields — Grand  Review — Home  Reception — En- 
thusiastic   Rejoicing — Pathetic    Scenes — "Good    Bye." 

Chapter  XVI. 

By  Stephen  G.  Cook. 

The  Monument  and  Its  Dedication 169 

How  the  Money  Was  Raised — Description  of  the  Monu- 
ment— Ceremonies  and  Addresses  at  its  Dedication — Speak- 
ers  of  the  Day — Others   Present — Evening  Campfire. 

Chapter  XVII. 

By  Charles  E.  Benton. 

Regimental    Band 177 

How  it  Was  Created — Its  Members — A  Unique  Character 
— Its  Services  in  Battle — Regiment's  Position  Marked  by 
One  of  Its  Members — Band  Men  Wounded — Faithful  to  a 
Variety  of  Duties. 


CONTENTS.  XV 

Chapter  XVIII. 
By  Thomas  E.  Vassar.  p^^^jg 

Reminiscences    183 

Records  of  the  Old  Diai^ — Cheers  and  Tears — Apples  and 
Turkeys  from  Home — Regimental  Debating  Club^Dog  of 
the  Regiment — Campaigning — Battle  Scenes  Both  Ludicrous 
and  Pathetic — Virginia  Camps — Resignation  and  "All 
Hail." 

Chapter  XIX. 

By  Hubbard  F.  Roberts  and  James  H.  Vassar. 

The  Songs  We  Used  to  Sing 197 

"America" — "Glory!  Glory!  Hallelujah!" — '"Red,  White  and 
Blue" — "The  Battle  Cry  of  Freedom"' — "Tramp  !  Tramp ! 
Tramp!" — "Battle  Hymn  of  the  Republic" — "The  Vacant 
Chair" — "Tenting  on  the  Old  Camp  Ground" — "When  John- 
ny Comes  Marching  Home." 

Chapter  XX. 
Personal   Slcetches 217 

John  H.  Ketcham — Alfred  B.  Smith — Henry  A.  Gildersleeve 
— Cornelius  N.  Campbell — ^Thomas  E.  Vassar — Edward  O. 
Bartlett— Stephen  G.  Cook — William  H.  Bartlett — Frank 
V.  B.  Gildersleeve — Stephen  V.  R.  Cruger — Henry  Grid- 
le}' — Cyrus  S.  Roberts — Charles  E.  Benton — Edwin  A. 
Davis — Eugene  M.  Kempton — Miles  K.  Lewis — Albert  B. 
Reed — E.  Nicholas  Shelden — George  Rynus — James  H. 
Vassar — John  A.  Wallace — Andrew  J.  Ostrom — Charles  T. 
Johnson — Matthias  Jois — Levi  Lumb — William  S.  Van 
Keuren — William  E.  Gurney — Julius  O.  Hicks — James  New- 
man— John  M.  Shaw — William  K.  Watson — Joseph  Wooley 
— William  N.  Palmer — Obed  Wheeler — Perry  W.  Chapman 
Samuel  H.  Paulding — James  H.  Rhynders — Jeremiah  Col- 
lins— Charles  E.  Horsfall — Myron  W.  Roberts — John  E. 
West— William  C.  Wile— George  H.  Williams— Platte  M. 
Thorne — James  Banks — Hubbard  F.  Roberts — David  B. 
Sleight— Josiah  H.  Budd— Piatt  C.  Curtiss— Edward  L. 
Florence — Charles  H.  Smith — Isaac  T.  Sweezey — Landon 
Ostrom — Stephen  R.  Tator. 

Chapter  XXI. 

By  Joseph  H.  Cogszvell. 

Roster  of  the  Regiment 345 

Mustered  into  the  United   States   Service  October   11,   1862, 

at 

Camp    Dutchess,    Poughkeepsie,    New    York, 

To   Serve  Three  Years. 


CHAPTER  XX. 


Personal  Sketches. 


PAGE 

John    H.    Ketcham 217 

Henry    A.    Gildersleeve 230 

Edward    O.    Bartlett 243 

Cyrus    S.    Roberts 260 

Eugene    M.    Kempton 270 

E.    Nicholas    Shelden 275 

John    A.    Wallace 283 

Matthias    Jois 290 

William  E.   Gurney 295 

John    M.    Shaw 301 

William  N.  Palmer 305 

Samuel    H.    Paulding 312 

Charles    E.    Horsfall 317 

William    C.    Wile 321 

James    Banks     326 

Josiah   H.    Budd 331 

Charles    H.    Smith 335 

William    R.    Woodin 343 

William    H.    Bartlett 249 

George    T.    Willson 281 

Alfred    B.    Smith 228 

Cornelius    N.    Campbell 237 

Stephen    G.    Cook 245 

Charles    E.    Benton 266 

Miles    K.    Lewis 271 

George    Rynus     278 

Andrew   J.    Ostrom 285 

Levi    Lumb     291 

Julius    O.    Hicks 297 

William    K.    Watson 301 


PAGE 

Obed    Wheeler     306 

James    H.    Rhynders 314 

Myron   W.   Roberts 318 

George    H.    Williams 323 

Hubbard    F.    Roberts 328 

Piatt   C.    Curtiss 333 

Isaac    T.    Sweezey 336 

Stephen    R.    Tator 338 

Henry    Pearce     341 

Frank   V.    R.    Gildersleeve...  252 

Joseph    H.    Cogswell 224 

Thomas    E.    Vassar 240 

Henry    Gridley     257 

Edwin    A.    Davis 268 

Albert    B.    Reed 274 

James    H.    Vassar 279 

Charles    T.    Johnson 286 

William   S.   Van   Kcuren 292 

James    Newman    298 

Joseph  Wooley    303 

Perry   W.    Chapman 309 

Jeremiah    Collins     314 

John    E.    West 318 

Platte    M.    Thorne. 32s 

David    B.    Sleight 3-^9 

Edward    L.    Florence 334 

Landon   Ostrom    337 

Benjamin    S.    Broas 340 

Stcph-cn   V.   R.   Crngcr 254 


The  Dutchess  County  Regiment. 

chapter  i. 

the  origin  and  inception  of  the 
civil  war. 

By  Henry  A.  Gildersleeve. 

Constitutional   Questions    Involved — Lincoln    and    His    Inaugural    Address — The    South 
Precipitated  the  War — Why  We   Enlisted. 

The  attempted  secession  from  the  Union,  of  the  South- 
ern States,  brought  on  the  "  Great  Civil  War"  in  1861. 
The  differences  between  the  North  and  the  South  arose 
over  the  institution  of  slavery.  Mr.  Seward  very  truth- 
fully declared  that  they  constituted  an  "  irrepressible  con- 
flict." The  vast  Western  country  was  rapidly  becoming 
populated;  territories  were  constantly  applying  for  ad- 
mission to  the  Uniqn  as  states,  and  the  slave-holding 
states  seemed  destined  at  an  early  day  to  become  greatly 
in  the  minority.  The  extension  of  slavery  was  the  all- 
absorbing  question  before  the  country. 

An  overwhelming  majority  of  the  Northern  people 
were  opposed  to  further  extension,-  because  they  believed 
slavery  was  wrong.  The  anti-slavery  spirit  of  the  people 
of  the  North  was  a  thorn  in  the  side  of  the  Southern 
brethren,  and  engendered  deep  bitterness  and  severe  re- 
sentment towards  the  North.     Had  the  slaveholders  been 


2  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

satisfied  with  the  retention  of  slavery  in  the  old  slavehold- 
ing  states,  the  North,  as  a  whole,  stood  ready  to  favor  all 
reasonable  legislation  necessary  to  protect  the  South  in  the 
enjoyment  of  its  property  in  slaves. 

It  was  generally  believed,  certainly  in  the  Sou'th,  that 
President  Lincoln  owed  his  nomination  and  election  to 
his  anti-slavery-extension  principles.  His  elevation  to 
the  ofiice  of  Chief  Executive  of  the  nation  was  the  "  last 
straw,"  and  the  Southern  statesmen,  many  of  whom  had 
long  contemplated  the  advisability  of  secession,  believed 
the  time  was  ripe  for  the  move.  They  had  a  very  feeble 
conception  of  the  energy  and  determination  an  attempt 
to  destroy  the  Union  would  arouse  in  the  North. 

It  was  the  claim  of  the  Secessionists  that  the  United 
States  was  a  confederation  of  sovereignties  from  which 
each  might  secede  at  will.  They  maintained  that  the 
right  of  secession  was  vested  in  the  inherent  sovereign 
power  of  each  state.  Moreover,  they  asserted  that  seces- 
sion was  a  legal  right.  They  rested  this  latter  theory 
upon  the  Tenth  Amendment  of  the  Constitution,  which 
provides  that  powers  not  delegated  to  the  United  States 
by  the  Constitution,  nor  prohibited  by  it  to  the  "  States," 
are  reserved  to  the  states  respectively,  or  to  the  people. 

It  is  not  proposed  to  enter  here  upon  a  discussion  of 
the  doctrine  of  "  State  Sovereignty,"  or  the  support  for 
secession  which,  it  was  claimed,  was  afforded  by  the  Con- 
stitution. Regardless  of  all  that  may  be  urged  for  or 
against  the  so-termed  "  lost  cause,"  all  Intelligent  citizens, 
both  North  and  South,  now  understand  the  character  of 
our  political  system,  and  recognize  the  true  legal  order 
of  sovereignty,  as  established  irrevocably  by  the  result  of 
the  appeal  to  arms.     The  momentous  problem  of  sover- 


THE  ORIGIN  AND  INCEPTION  OF  THE  CIVIL  WAR.        3 

eignty  was  solved  upon  the  battlefield.  National  sover- 
eignty triumphed,  and  the  sovereignty  of  the  "  States  " 
became  subordinated  thereto  for  all  time. 

We  think  it  is  true  that  a  majority  of  the  Secession 
leaders  were  sincere  in  the  belief  that  their  case  rested 
in  sound  principles,  and  that  in  undertaking  secession 
they  espoused  a  righteous  cause. 

When  the  purpose  of  the  Southerners  to  dismember 
the  Union  was  realized  at  the  North,  and  it  was  seen  that 
all  efforts  at  compromise  must  fail.  President  Buchanan 
most  unwisely,  under  a  misapprehension  of  the  authority 
he  possessed  as  Chief  Executive  and  the  Commander-in- 
Chief  of  its  Militarv  and  Naval  forces,  took  the  ground 
that  the  Government  was  without  any  legal  power  to 
hold  the  States  together. 

This  was  the  tenor  of  his  first  message  to  Congress 
on  the  conduct  of  the  South,  under  date  of  December 
3,  i860.  He  went  unreasonably  far  in  his  efforts  at 
pacification,  to  avoid  hostilities,  but  subsequently  wiser 
counsels  prevailed. 

In  November,  i860,  Abraham  Lincoln  was  elected 
President  of  the  United  States,  and  on  March  4,  1861, 
he  took  the  oath  of  office.  At  this  time  secession  ordi- 
nances had  been  passed  by  seven  of  the  Southern  States, 
and  the  Confederate  Government  fully  organized.  It 
brought  together  its  forces  with  great  dispatch,  and 
before  the  end  of  March  had  a  greater  military  and 
naval  power  than  the  Federal  Government. 

The  condition  President  Lincoln  had  to  meet  was  one 
of  the  gravest  that  ever  confronted  man.  His  inaugural 
address  was  a  calm,  plain  statement  of  his  intention  to 
preserve  the  Union  and  execute  the  laws  throughout  the 


4  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

whole  country.  He  took  the  ground  that  the  Union  was 
older  than  the  Constitution,  and  that  "  no  state  upon  its 
own  motion  "  could  "  lawfully  get  out  of  the  Union;  that 
resolves  and  ordinances  to  that  effect "  were  "  legally 
void." 

He  affirmed  that,  despite  the  secession  ordinances,  and 
the  formation  of  the  Confederate  Government,  the  Union 
was  still  unbroken;  that  the  laws  of  the  United  States 
were  still  supreme,  and  that  it  was  his  purpose  to  execute 
the  laws  of  the  Union  in  all  the  states. 

Fort  Sumter,  in  Charleston  Harbor,  was  occupied  by 
a  small  garrison  of  Federal  troops  under  command  of 
Major  Anderson.  The  attitude  of  the  South  Carolinians 
had  been  such  as  to  furnish  good  reason  to  apprehend 
an  attack  upon  the  fort.  The  President  sent  reinforce- 
ments and  supplies  to  Fort  Sumter  from  New  York 
on  the  steamer  Star  of  The  West,  and  when  this  vessel 
attempted  to  approach  the  fort,  on  January  9,  1861,  it 
was  fired  upon  by  the  South  Carolinians. 

Unable  to  reach  the  garrison  the  vessel  returned  to 
New  York.  This  firing  upon  United  States  soldiers  on 
the  way  with  supplies,  under  orders  from  the  President, 
was  just  as  much  a  hostile  act  as  the  subsequent  bombard- 
ment of  Fort  Sumter  on  April  12,  1861,  but  so  anxious 
was  the  President  to  bring  about  pacification  that  he 
elected  not  to  regard  the  incident  of  January  9  as  an 
overt  act. 

On  the  afternoon  of  April  11,  1861,  General  Beaure- 
gard, the  Confederate  Commander  at  Charleston,  de- 
manded from  Major  Anderson  the  surrender  of  Fort 
Sumter,  which  was  promptly  declined.  A  second  de- 
mand was  sent  at  about  eleven   o'clock   in   the  evcninir. 


THE  ORIGIN  AND  INCEPTION  OF  THE  CIVIL  WAR.        5 

To  this  demand  Anderson  replied  in  the  early  morning 
of  the  1 2th  and  offered  to  evacuate  upon  certain  condi- 
tions, which  however  proved  unsatisfactory  to  Beaure- 
gard, and  at  twenty  minutes  past  three  on  the  morning  of 
the  1 2th  the  latter  informed  Major  Anderson  that  fire 
would  be  opened  upon  the  fort  by  the  Confederate  bat- 
teries in  one  hour  from  that  time. 

Accordingly,  at  half-past  four  on  the  morning  of  April 
12,  1 86 1,  the  gates  of  fraternal  war  were  formally 
opened.  The  flag  of  the  Union  was  assailed  by  the  Con- 
federate guns  which  hurled  their  missiles  of  death  and 
destruction  upon  the  Federal  fort,  and  on  the  14th  it 
surrendered. 

Thus  the  seceding  "States"  became  the  aggressors, 
and  assailed  the  power  it  was  their  duty  to  obey. 

At  the  end  of  June,  1862,  the  war  had  been  in  prog- 
ress about  fifteen  months,  and  over  eight  hundred  thous- 
and volunteers,  including  three-months  men,  had  entered 
the  military  service  of  the  United  States.  The  actual 
strength  of  the  Federal  army  on  duty  at  this  time  was 
about  five  hundred  thousand  men.  In  the  West  the 
Union  forces  under  Grant,  Buell  and  others,  had  secured 
very  creditable  results.  Shiloh,  Fort  Donelson,  Pitts- 
burg Landing,  Corinth,  and  other  points  of  strategic 
importance  had  been  captured  by  the  Union  armies. 

But  the  general  result  of  the  campaigns  in  Virginia 
was  not  considered  to  reflect  credit  upon  our  army,  and 
In  consequence  thereof  there  was  a  widespread  feeling  of 
dissatisfaction  in  the  North.  Lukewarm  Unionists  and 
Southern  sympathizers  began  to  openly  proclaim  their 
faith  in,  and  announce  their  adherence  to,  the  Southern 
cause.     This  hostile  force  in  our  midst,  too  cowardly  to 


6  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

fight  In  the  open  field,  and  without  an  excuse  for  their 
disloyalty  and  treachery,  retarded  enlistments  at  home, 
encouraged  foreign  Intervention,  and  in  every  way  pos- 
sible gave  support  to  the  South. 

Happily,  this  class  of  citizens,  known  as  "  Copper- 
heads," constituted  a  very  small  portion  of  each  com- 
munity, and  In  no  locality  in  the  Northern  States  was  it 
in  control.  The  Copperheads  were  rarely  in  favor  of 
African  Slavery,  and  as  they  were  generally  opposed  to 
its  extension  their  discreditable  attitude  may  charitably 
be  attributed  to  a  lack  of  patriotic  sentiment,  and  failure 
to  comprehend  the  ground  upon  which  the  liberty  and 
prosperity  of  the  people  rested.  I  do  not  recall  that.  In 
and  around  Dutchess  County,  during  the  early  stages  of 
the  war,  the  question  of  slavery  In  the  South  was  con- 
sidered, or  often  the  topic  of  conversation. 

With  us  the  rally  to  arms  was  not  for  the  purpose  of 
freeing  the  enslaved  negroes,  for  we  did  not  then  appre- 
ciate, what  we  now  see,  that  the  spirit  of  civilization  and 
progress  was  working  for  more  advanced  results  than 
the  establishment  of  the  supremacy  of  the  laws  of  the 
United  States.  The  emancipation  of  a  race,  and  a  better 
civilization,  were  Involved  In  the  struggle.  The  unfortu- 
nate condition  of  the  negro  slaves  had  no  part  in  the 
sentiment  that  actuated  the  Dutchess  County  Volunteers 
at  this  period  of  the  war. 

It  was  proclaimed  that  our  Country's  flag  had  been 
fired  upon  by  Insurgents;  the  power  of  the  Federal 
Government  insolently  defied ;  the  Constitution  violated 
and  the  Union  placed  In  peril.  The  farmers,  mechanics, 
tradespeople,  and  professional  classes,  one  and  all,  rushed 
to  the   support   of  the   Federal  standards,   because   they 


THE  ORIGIN  AND  INCEPTION  OF  THE  CIVIL  WAR.        7 

felt  and  believed  that  the  Union  should  be  preserved,  the 
Governmental  power  maintained  at  all  hazards,  and  that 
in  no  other  way  could  the  general  welfare  of  all  the 
people  be  promoted,  and  the  blessings  of  liberty  secured 
to  themselves  and  their  posterity. 

The  powerful  and  thoroughly  equipped  Army  of  the 
Potomac  was  intrenched  in  works,  vast  in  extent  and  most 
formidable  in  character,  within  sight  of  Richmond,  and 
it  was  confidently  hoped  that  the  battlecry,  "  On  to  Rich- 
mond!" would  soon  be  realized. 

Within  a  few  days  the  remnants  of  that  threatening 
host  were  upon  the  James  River,  thirty  miles  from  Rich- 
mond, seeking  to  recover,  under  the  protection  of  their 
gunboats,  from  the  effects  of  a  series  of  disastrous 
defeats.  This  routing  of  McClellan's  army  thoroughly 
aroused  the  Government  to  the  danger  in  which  the 
country  was  placed,  and  an  earnest  determination  was 
manifested  to  provide  against  its  consequences. 


CHAPTER  11. 

ORGANIZATION  AND  STAY  IN  BALTIMORE. 

By  Henry  A.  Gildersleeve. 

First  Practical  Step — "Josh  Billings'  "  Resolution — Authority  from  Governor    Morgan — 

War  Meetings  All  Over  the  County — Mustered  Into  the  United  States  Service 

— The  Journey  to  Baltimore — Small  Campaigns — Turning  our  Faces 

Towards  the  Enemy. 

On  July  2,  1862,  the  President  of  the  United  States 
issued  a  proclamation  calling  for  three  hundred  thous- 
and men  to  serve   for  three  years,   or   during  the  war. 

In  answer  to  this  call  the  Dutchess  County  Regiment 
was  organized.  The  prompt  response  of  the  Empire 
State,  including  the  loyal  citizens  of  Dutchess  County, 
to  the  proclamation  of  the  President  in  those  dark  days 
of  the  rebellion,  gave  an  impetus  to  enlistments  through- 
out the  whole  North,  and  under  the  call  431,958  volun- 
teers were  mustered  into  the  Federal  Army.  This 
quickly  gathered  new  force  not  only  supplied  great  addi- 
tional strength,  but  improved  the  morale  of  the  armies 
already  in  the  field,  and  gave  to  the  men  in  high  station, 
upon  whom  rested  the  grave  responsibility  of  conducting 
the  war,  the  greatest  confidence  and  encouragement. 

Prior  to  this  large  numbers  of  Dutchess  County  men 
had  enlisted  in  the  Union  armies.  Some  marched  to  the 
front  with  the  20th  New  York  Infantry,  while  others 
followed  the  colors  of  the  128th,  and  still  others  enlisted 


ORGANIZATION  AND  STAY  IN   BALTIMORE.  9 

111  the  48th,  and  in  various  other  New  York  regiments, 
in  the  cavah-y  and  artillery  branches  of  the  service,  as 
well  as  In  the  Infantry. 

Mrs.  Benson  J.  Lossing  took  the  first  practical  step 
toward  the  formation  of  the  new  regiment.  On  Thurs- 
day, the  2 1  St  of  August,  1862,  this  patriotic  lady  caused 
to  be  published  an  appeal  to  the  citizens  for  a  Dutchess 
County  regiment.  Isaac  Piatt,  proprietor  and  editor  of 
the  Poughkeepsie  Eagle,  heartily  endorsed  the  appeal  in 
his  paper  issued  on  the  morning  of  that  day,  and  within 
forty-eight  hours  the  following  young  men  handed  to  A. 
B.  Smith  of  Poughkeepsie,  as  one  of  the  resident  mem- 
bers of  the  General  War  Committee,  requests  to  be  al- 
lowed to  recruit  volunteers  and  enter  the  United  States 
service  in  a  Dutchess  County  regiment. 

The  names  are  Cogswell,  McConnell,  Gildersleeve, 
Titus,  Woodin,  Wickes,  Sweet,  Gridley,  Broas,  Cruger, 
Underwood,  Steenburgh,  Van  Keuren,  Scofield  and 
Tripp. 

Henry  W.  Shaw  (better  known  as  "Josh  Billings"), 
a  member  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  Dutchess 
County,  offered.  In  that  legislative  body,  a  resolution 
drafted  by  Mr.  A.  B.  Smith,  which  was  passed  with 
unanimity  and  alacrity.      It  read  as  follows : 

Resolved,  Tliat  the  County  of  Dutchess  will  pay  fifty  dollars  bounty 
to  each  man  who  will  enlist  in  a  Dutchess  County  regiment,  and  the 
Executive  War  Committee  of  the  County  is  requested  to  procure  per- 
mission from  Governor  Morgan  to  raise  such  a  regiment,  with  camp 
located  at  Poughkeepsie. 

Provided  with  a  certified  copy  of  this  resolution,  and 
letters  of  Introduction  from  Congressman  Baker  and  Mr. 
Justice  Emott,  Mr.  Smith,  under  instructions  from  the 
War  Committee,  Avent  to  Albany  on  August  23rd  and 


10  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

made  application  to  His  Excellency,  Governor  Morgan, 
for  authority  to  recruit  "A  Dutchess  County  Regiment." 
The  application  was  immediately  granted,  and  Mr.  Smith 
returned  with  the  following  authorization: 

To  Hon.  James  Einott, 

Chairman  of  Executive  War 

Committee  of  Dutcliess  County : 
Permission  is  granted  to  your  War  Committee  to  raise  a  Dutchess 
County  Regiment,  with  camp  located  at  Poughkeepsie. 

Edwin  D.  Morgan, 
Hillhouse,  Governor. 

A.  A.  G. 

Previous  to  this  Governor  Morgan  had  appointed  a 
General  War  Committee  for  the  Congressional  District, 
with  Mr.  William  Kelly  of  Rhinebeck  as  Chairman. 
From  this  General  Committee  an  Executive  War  Com- 
mittee had  been  chosen,  consisting  of  James  Emott,  Wil- 
liam Kelly,  Ambrose  Wager,  George  W.  Sterling,  Ben- 
son J.  Lossing,  James  H.  Weeks,  Stephen  Baker,  Joseph 
F.  Barnard  and  John  H.  Ketcham. 

As  soon  as  the  foregoing  authority  was  promulgated 
the  work  of  bringing  into  life,  form,  and  discipline,  the 
Dutchess  County  Regiment,  was  entered  upon  with  great 
activity  and  earnestness.  Not  only  was  the  spirit  of 
patriotism  fully  awakened,  but  home  pride  became  thor- 
oughly aroused  in  the  breasts  of  the  citizens  of  the 
County,  and  martial  enthusiasm  reached  its  climax. 

Many  young  men  who  from  the  first  breaking  out  of 
the  war  felt  inclined  to  enlist,  but  were  restrained  by 
business  engagements  they  could  not  well  forego,  or  by 
home  ties  that  were  painful  to  sever,  had  frequently  de- 
clared that  they  would  join  a  Dutchess  County  regi- 
ment when  such  a  one  should  be  organized. 

That  day  was  now  at  hand,  and  led  on  by  John  H. 


ORGANIZATION  AND  STAY  IN  BALTIMORE.  11 

Ketcham,  who  was  commissioned  Colonel  of  the  regiment, 
the  young  men  of  Dutchess  County,  true  to  their  vows, 
eagerly  enlisted  as  volunteers  for  three  years,  or  the  war, 
in  the  150th  Regiment  New  York.  Volunteer  Infantry. 
The  memories  of  those  days  recall  the  conflicts  between 
love  of  country  and  love  of  kindred;  private  business 
interests  and  public  duty.  Patriotism  triumphed,  and  the 
work  of  recruiting  moved  on  rapidly. 

The  young  leaciers  who  undertook  the  responsibility  of 
securing  enlistments  openeci  up  headquarters  in  various 
sections  of  the  County.  The  days  were  occupied  In  ex- 
plaining to  young  men  contemplating  enlistment  the  ad- 
vantages to  be  gained  by  joining  the  150th;  the  pay,  the 
bounties,  the  chances  of  promotion,  and  the  probable 
time  by  which  the  organization  would  be  completed  and 
move  to  the  scene  of  action.  Each  recruit  received,  when 
accepted  and  sworn  in,  a  bounty  of  fifty  dollars  from  the 
County.  All  able-bodied  men  between  the  ages  of  eigh- 
teen and  forty-five  were  eligible,  and  each  recruit  had  to 
submit  to  a  thorough  surgical  examination  as  to  his 
physical  condition.  Those  under  the  age  of  twenty-one 
were  required  to  produce  the  written  consent  of  parent  or 
guardian. 

The  compensation  of  the  private  was  thirteen  dollars 
per  month,  with  clothing  and  rations.  Clothing  was 
supplied  to  the  amount  of  a  limited  value  each  year,  anci 
for  all  clothing  issued  in  excess  of  this  allowance  the 
value  was  deducted  from  the  soldier's  pay.  Non-com- 
missioned officers  received  more  than  the  privates.  In  pro- 
portion to  their  rank.  Commissioned  officers  received 
higher  compensation  than  enlisted  men,  but  were  obliged 
to  furnish  their  own  clothing,  rations,  and  equipments. 


12  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT, 

The  nights  were  devoted  to  "  war  meetings "  in  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  County,  but  the  larger  gatherings 
were  at  our  general  headquarters  in  Poughkeepsie. 
Frequently  four  and  six-horse  teams  bore  young  soldiers, 
already  in  blue  uniform,  with  banners  flying  and  bands 
playing,  to  meetings  in  the  country  districts  to  secure  en- 
listments. There  was  scarcely  a  place  in  Dutchess 
County,  sufficiently  large  to  support  a  post  office,  that  did 
not  have  its  one  or  more  war  meetings  each  week,  and 
there  were  scenes  of  enthusiastic  gatherings  at  which 
bands  played  patriotic  airs,  while  from  barrels,  stoops, 
wagons,  and  horse-blocks,  orators  harangued  the  assem- 
bled crowds  with  war  speeches  until  the  excitement  ran 
high  and  many  names  were  added  to  the  enlistment  rolls. 

From  the  Sheriff's  Office  in  the  Court  House  In  the 
City  of  Poughkeepsie,  which  was  turned  into  a  Recruit- 
ing Office,  was  displayed  a  banner  bearing  the  following 
words : 

"  Come  in  out  of  the  draft." 

Already  provision  had  been  made  by  the  Government 
to  obtain  men  by  drafting.  In  the  event  of  a  shortage  of 
volunteers,  and  the  significance  of  these  words  was  ap- 
parent, causing  no  little  comment.  To  the  Indifferent 
they  were  a  gentle  reminder  of  what  might  be  expected 
if  a  sufficient  number  of  volunteers  were  not  promptly 
forthcoming,  and  to  those  who  were  anxious  to  enlist, 
but  who  were  restrained  by  relatives  and  friends,  they 
furnished  a  powerful  argument  In  favor  of  consent. 

The  threatened  drafts,  and  liberal  bounties,  un- 
doubtedly brought  some  men  into  the  service,  but  pure 
patriotism    was    generally    the   sole    moving   power,    and 


ORGANIZATION  AND  STAY   IN   BALTIMORE.  13 

especially  was  this  true  of  the  150th  Regiment,  com- 
posed as  it  largely  was,  of  intelligent  and  thoughtful  men. 
They  hastened  to  the  defense  of  their  country  with  a 
spontaneous  impulse  born  of  a  correct  knowledge  of  the 
true  nature  of  the  cause  for  which  they  were  to  suffer 
fatigue,  exposure,  hunger,  thirst,  and  the  perils  of  battle, 
believing  that  their  country's  cause  was  their  personal 
cause,  and  that  the  success  of  the  Union  arms  would  be 
a  victory  for  their  individual  principles. 

The  Union  Volunteers,  generally,  were  not  mere 
machines,  enrolled,  disciplined,  and  ranged  In  living 
palisades  before  the  enemy,  but  they  were  men  with  ideas, 
who  could,  when  occasion  required,  think  and  act  for 
themselves. 

As  we  have  seen,  the  work  of  recruiting  went  briskly 
on.  As  soon  as  eighty  men  were  enrolled  by  any  one 
recruiting  officer,  he  went  to  Albany  and  received  his 
commission  as  Captain,  and  also  received  commissions 
for  First  and  Second  Lieutenants  of  his  own  selection. 
Usually  the  latter  offices  were  promised  beforehand  to 
young  men  who  aided  the  Captain  in  the  enrollment. 
The  Captains  took  rank  according  to  the  date  of  their 
commissions,  and  the  Companies  received  their  alpha- 
betical designation,  commencing  with  "A,"  in  the  order 
in  which  their  respective  Captains  were  commissioned. 

Our  rendezvous  at  Poughkeepsie  was  named  "  Camp 
Dutchess,"  and  was  located  nearly  a  mile  northeast  from 
the  Court  House,  and  just  north  of  the  old  Alms  House 
Farm.  On  that  rocky  side-hill  field  were  built  our  bar- 
racks, of  rough  boards,  and  all  of  us  had  our  meals  in  a 
common  mess-hall.  There  was  but  little  opportunity 
for  drill  and  discipline,  but  the  rudiments  of  a  soldier's 


14  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

duties  were  here  inculcated,  and  some  feeble  notion  ac- 
quired of  the  life  before  us. 

At  this  camp,  on  the  nth  of  October,  1862,  the  Regi- 
ment was  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United  States. 
We  now  realized  that  we  were  real  soldiers,  and  begun 
to  appreciate  the  importance  of  the  step  we  had  taken. 

Our  march  down  Main  Street  that  night,  uniformed 
and  equipped  for  battle,  has  remained  always  in  the 
memory  of  those  who  participated  in  or  witnessed  it. 
Sad  and  painful  were  the  partings;  the  good-byes  were 
said  with  moist  eyes  and  aching  hearts;  but  all  those  who 
were  to  go,  and  those  who  were  to  remain  behind,  bore 
themselves  with  fortitude  and  courage.  We  boarded  the 
steamboat  Oregon,  and  sailed  down  the  Hudson  River 
for  Jersey  City,  where  we  arrived  the  following  day. 

It  was  nearly  night  when  we  took  the  cars  for  Balti- 
more, and  about  midnight  when  we  reached  Philadelphia 
and,  leaving  the  train,  were  marched  to  the  "  Soldiers' 
Retreat,"  for  supper.  This  welcome  hostelry  consisted 
of  an  old  cooper's  shop  near  the  depot,  fitted  up  as  a 
mess-hall,  where  free  meals  were  served  to  soldiers  on 
their  way  to  the  front.  It  was  profusely  decorated  with 
American  flags,  and  in  conspicuous  view  were  portraits 
of  Washington  and  Lincoln. 

This  provision  for  feeding  the  hungry  soldiers  en  route 
was  a  contribution  from  the  patriotic  citizens  of  the 
Quaker  City  in  the  name  of  the  Union  Relief  Associa- 
tion, and  many  an  old  soldier  remembers  it  with  grati- 
tude. Philadelphia  was  not  an  exception  in  this  regard, 
for  similar  nicss-halls  were  provided  in  nearly  all  the  large 
cities  of  the  North.  When  supper  was  over  we  all 
agreed    that    we    had    enjoyed    a    "  square    meal,"    and 


ORGANIZATION  AND  STAY  IN  BALTIAIORE.  15 

officers  and  men,  In  unison,  expressed  their  appreciation 
and  thanks  in  three  rousing  cheers. 

We  renewed  our  journey  at  2  A.  M.,  crossing  the  Sus- 
quehanna by  ferry  (the  river  had  not  then  been  bridged 
at  this  point)  and  arrived  at  Baltimore  Monday  after- 
noon, October  13th.  In  moving  from  the  Northern  to 
the  Southern  station  we  passed  through  the  street  where, 
April  19,  1861,  several  Companies  of  the  6th  Massachu- 
setts Regiment  were  attacked  by  a  mob  that  had  assem- 
bled to  oppose  their  progress.  Four  of  the  soldiers  were 
slain  and  many  of  the  rioters  killed.  In  crossing  a  bridge 
where  the  hottest  of  the  fight  occurred  we  could  still  see 
the  marks  of  the  bullets  on  portions  of  the  structure. 
They  were  the  first  tangible  evidences  we  witnessed  of 
violence  resulting  from  the  war,  and  excited  among  us 
no  little  comment  and  curiosity. 

Baltimore  had  long  been  a  peaceful  city,  and  we  had 
no  reason  to  apprehend  opposition.  Nevertheless,  as  we 
passed  the  spot  where  Union  soldiers  had  been  attacked 
and  killed  while  on  their  way  to  defend  the  Capital,  the 
deep  indignation  we  felt  when,  more  than  a  year  before, 
the  news  of  the  attack  reached  the  North,  again  rose  in 
our  breasts,  and  we  were  seized  with  a  belligerent  spirit 
such  as  we  had  never  before  experienced.  We  almost 
wished  that  some  such  mob  might  assail  us ! 

We  remained  that  afternoon  and  night  on  the  plat- 
forms of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  station.  On 
the  following  day,  September  14th,  we  marched  to  the 
western  suburbs  of  Baltimore,  and  there  established  a 
camp  which  we  named  "  Camp  Millington." 

Later  we  were  assigned  a  permanent  location  at  the 
head  of  Eutaw  Street,  and  there  constructed  comfortable 


16  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

wooden  barracks  which  constituted  our  headquarters  dur- 
ing the  remainder  of  our  stay  in  the  city.  This  we  named 
"  Camp  Belger,"  in  honor  of  Colonel  Belger,  the  Depart- 
ment Quartermaster.  Baltimore  was  included  in  the 
"  Middle  Department "  of  the  Armies  of  the  United 
States,  and  at  the  time  of  our  arrival  was  commanded  by 
the  distinguished  veteran  soldier,   Major-General  Wool. 

General  Wool  was  the  first  olHcer  of  high  rank  to  re- 
view the  regiment.  His  presence  at  our  headquarters 
was  a  matter  of  deep  interest  to  the  command,  and  all 
made  an  earnest  effort  to  appear  well  and  create  a  favor- 
able impression,  and  we  were  greatly  encouraged  by  his 
words  of  commendation.  General  Wool  was  soon  suc- 
ceeded by  General  Schenck,  who  gave  us  our  first  instruc- 
tion in  brigade  drill. 

We  were  willing  and  ambitious,  but  in  our  few  weeks 
of  service  had  acquired  the  simple  rudiments  of  company 
and  regimental  drill  only,  and  possessed  no  knowledge 
of  brigade  movements.  Thanks  to  the  activity  of  field 
officers,  and  their  tactical  book  learning,  each  Captain  re- 
ceived— before  the  order  was  executed — some  explana- 
tion of  what  the  maneuver  was  to  be,  and  we  got  through 
very  creditably. 

Our  long  stay  in  Baltimore  gave  us  an  unusual  oppor- 
tunity for  military  education,  and  we  were  moulded  into 
form  and  discipline  of  the  highest  grade.  A  Regimental 
Band  was  organized  from  the  members  of  the  regiment, 
and  soon  furnished  good  and  inspiring  music  at  our  dress 
parades.  These  parades  were  frequently  attended  by 
large  numbers  of  the  loyal  citizens  of  Baltimore,  who 
applauded  the  precision  and  elegance  of  the  ceremonies. 
At  times  we  were  exercised  in  battalion  drill  in  some  of 


ORGANIZATION  AND  STAY  IN  BALTIMORE.  17 

the  principal  streets  of  the  city.  We  practiced  especially 
on  these  occasions  methods  of  street  fighting,  in  which 
we  became  very  proficient. 

Occasionally  we  witnessed  slight  evidences  of  derision 
from  Baltimore  ladies  of  Southern  sympathies,  but  this 
was  always  more  than  offset  by  marks  of  approval  from 
loyal  citizens.  We  were  invited  to  the  homes  of  some 
of  the  citizens  for  dinners  and  entertainments,  and  re- 
ceived considerable  social  attention.  Several  times  dur- 
ing the  winter  Union  Assemblies  were  given  at  the  Opera 
House,  attended  by  many  of  the  best  families,  and  the 
Union  ofiicers  were  the  principal  guests.  At  these  gather- 
ings we  had  an  opportunity  to  meet  the  ladies  of  Balti- 
more, famed  for  their  refinement  and  beauty,  and  we 
learned  that  their  reputations  were  well  deserved. 

Study  of  the  tactics  and  army  regulations,  drill  and 
guard  duty,  interspersed  with  a  few  social  diversions  of 
the  character  mentioned,  occupied  the  winter.  A  con- 
siderable portion  of  the  time  Company  C  was  detailed  to 
do  guard  duty  at  the  Camden  Station,  occupying  a  house 
immediately  opposite  the  station  and  charged  with  the 
responsibility  of  maintaining  order  among  the  troops 
that  passed  through,  and  in  protecting  Government 
property. 

Steuart's  Hospital,  formerly  the  residence  of  a  Balti- 
more family  of  that  name,  but  now  an  institution  for  the 
care  and  shelter  of  the  sick  and  wounded,  was  also  a  post 
for  which  our  regiment  provided  guard.  Other  points  at 
times  required  the  services  of  our  men. 

Late  in  December  Stuart's  cavalry  were  raiding  In  the 
vicinity  of  Elysville,  twenty  miles  west  of  Baltimore. 
Here  was  a  bridge  over  the  Patapsco  River,  and  the  town 


18  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

also  possessed  a  valuable  cotton  mill.  Company  D, 
under  Captain  Woodin,  was  sent  to  protect  this  prop- 
erty and  remained  on  duty  there  a  few  days,  experiencing 
no  occurrence  worthy  of  notice. 

This  J.  E.  B.  Stuart  of  Confederate  Cavalry  fame, 
commonly  spoken  of  as  "  Jeb "  Stuart,  was  of  another 
family  from  the  Stcuart  family  after  which  our  Baltimore 
hospital  was  named. 

When  the  holiday  season  arrived  we  were  remembered 
by  our  friends  at  home  in  the  form  of  a  bountiful  supply 
of  roasted  turkeys,  and  many  delicacies,  all  of  which  were 
greatly  enjoyed  by  rank  and  file.  We  were  frequently 
visited  in  Camp  Belger  by  relatives  and  friends  from  the 
North.  Some  officers  had  their  wives  or  sisters  in  this 
camp,  and  the  presence  of  this  colony  of  ladies  added 
much  to  the  pleasure  of  the  hours  not  needed  for  military 
duty. 

On  December  9th  the  routine  of  camp  life  was  inter- 
rupted by  a  command  requiring  us  to  make  ready  to 
march  at  a  moment's  notice.  It  was  reported  that  Con- 
federate cavalry  had  crossed  the  Potomac  at  Point  of 
Rocks,  and  that  a  raid  on  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Rail- 
road was  apprehended.  We  proceeded  in  freight  cars 
to  Adamstown,  near  Monocacy  Junction,  but  could  find 
no  enemy,  and  returned  to  Baltimore  after  an  absence  of 
less  than  forty-eight  hours,  with  virgin  swords.  The 
only  blood  shed  was  from  two  opossums  captured  by 
men  on  picket  duty.  The  move  was  an  uneventful  one, 
and  its  only  claim  to  mention  is  that  it  was  our  first  cam- 
paign. 

On  March  20,  1863,  Lieutenant  Bowman  of  Company 
F,  Sergeant  McGill,  Corporal  Ostrandcr,  and  twcKc  pri- 


ORGANIZATION  AND  STAY  IN   BALTIMORE.  19 

vates,  were  detailed  as  a  Provost  Guard  at  Westminster, 
a  small  village  located  about  thirty-three  miles  from  Balti- 
more, on  the  Hagerstown  pike.  Their  duties  consisted 
in  apprehending  deserters,  and  in  detecting  and  suppress- 
ing the  efforts  of  men  hostile  to  the  Union  cause,  who 
were  trying  to  afford  aid  and  comfort  to  the  enemy. 
Lieutenant  Bowman  and  his  men  were  well  received  and 
handsomely  entertained  by  the  loyal  citizens,  and  also 
assisted  by  them  in  the  performance  of  their  duties.  They 
made  many  arrests  and  ascertained  much  valuable  in- 
formation. 

All  went  well  until  June  28th,  when  a  squadron  of  the 
1st  Delaware  Cavalry,  two  hundred  strong,  arrived  and 
quartered  themselves  just  east  of  the  village.  The  fol- 
lowing day,  while  many  of  the  Union  Cavalry  horses 
were  at  the  blacksmith  shops  being  shod,  a  body  of 
Stuart's  cavalry  suddenly  appeared  on  the  west  side  of 
the  village.  No  pickets  had  been  put  out  in  that  direc- 
tion, as  the  approach  of  the  enemy  from  that  quarter 
was  considered  highly  improbable. 

The  Delaware  troopers  that  still  remained  in  camp 
hastily  mounted,  charged  down  the  street  upon  the  ad- 
vancing foe,  and  engaged  them  in  a  hand-to-hand  conflict. 
Meantime,  Lieutenant  Bowman  rallied  his  little  command 
and  undertook  a  flank  movement.  As  the  attacking  party 
proved  to  consist  of  several  thousand  of  Stuart's  veterans, 
the  ambitious  detail  from  the  150th  did  not  get  very  far 
before  it  was  surrounded  and  captured.  Two  of  Bow- 
man's command.  Hooper  of  Company  D,  and  Matthews 
of  Company  C,  made  their  escape.  The  prisoners,  after 
hard  marching  with  little  rest  and  food,  were  paroled  at 
Dov^er,  Pennsylvania,  on  July  ist. 


20  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Before  the  end  of  June  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville 
had  been  fought  and  lost;  Confederate  General  Ewell 
had  begun  his  march  down  the  Shenandoah  Valley;  Mil- 
roy  had  been  defeated  at  Winchester,  and  the  triumphant 
rebel  army,  led  by  General  Robert  E.  Lee,  was  marching 
into  the  State  of  Pennsylvania.  The  most  intense  excite- 
ment and  alarm  prevailed  throughout  the  North,  and  the 
authorities  at  Washington  were  filled  with  fear  and  con- 
sternation. It  seemed  a  question  of  a  few  days  only  when 
the  rebel  host  would  be  sacking  the  cities  of  the  North, 
levying  contributions  upon  its  citizens  and  demanding 
entrance  to  the  Capital  of  the  nation. 

The  principal  streets  of  Baltimore  were  barricaded, 
and  our  regiment  was  distributed  at  different  points  to 
defend  barricades  and  resist  the  approach  of  the  Con- 
federate soldiers.  All  the  horrors  of  civil  war  were 
threatening  the  homes  of  the  men  who  were  defending 
the  Union,  and  the  fate  of  the  nation  seemed  to  rest  with 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  then  under  command  of 
General  Joseph  Hooker,  but  who  was  superseded  in  com- 
mand, before  we  joined  that  army,  by  General  George 
G.  Meade. 

On  June  25,  1863,  with  full  ranks  thoroughly  drilled 
and  disciplined,  in  bright  uniforms  and  with  colors  spot- 
less and  untarnished,  to  the  strains  of  martial  music  the 
Dutchess  County  Regiment  marched  out  of  Camp  Belger 
and  turned  its  face  toward  the  enemy. 


CHAPTER  III. 

FROM   BALTIiMORE  TO   GETTYSBURG. 

By  William  E.  Gurney. 

Departure  from   Baltimore — Learning  Campaign   Service — "Battle  Hymn  of  the  Repub- 
lic"— Becoming  Part  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac — Just  Before  the  Battle. 

On  the  morning  of  June  25,  1863,  all  was  stir  and 
excitement  in  and  around  Belger  Barracks,  in  the  City  of 
Baltimore,  an  excitement  which  was  shared  to  some  extent 
throughout  the  city  itself.  The  different  companies 
which  had  been  doing  guard  duty  at  the  various  hospitals 
and  depots  in  the  city  had  been  ordered  to  assemble  at 
the  barracks,  as  marching  orders  had  been  received,  and 
they  were  to  leave  their  comfortable  quarters  to  go, — 
none  knew  where. 

The  boys  were  very  busy  packing  their  surplus  cloth- 
ing and  keepsakes  that  had  accumulated  during  the  eight 
months  and  more  of  our  stay  in  the  city,  and  the  express 
wagons  came  into  camp  and  were  loaded  with  the  boxes 
and  bundles  that  were  to  be  sent  to  their  Northern  homes. 
The  rank  and  file  were  all  jubilant  at  the  idea  of  duty  at 
the  front,  for  many  of  them  had  begun  to  think  that 
their  full  time  of  enlistment  would  be  spent  in  doing 
guard  duty,  which  was  far  from  being  a  pleasing  thought 
to  the  majority  of  those  composing  the  regiment. 

Little  did  they  realize  what  was  in  store  for  them;  the 
long  and  tedious  marches  through  swamps  and  over 
mountains;  the  bivouac  at  night  without  shelter  to  keep 


22  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

them  from  those  Southern  storms  of  rain  and  wind;  the 
long  and  lonely  nights  spent  on  picket;  and  last  but  not 
least,  the  horrors  of  the  battlefield.  Surely  it  was  all 
for  the  best  that  they  could  not  look  into  the  future  and 
see  that  which  was  awaiting  them. 

About  the  middle  of  the  afternoon,  the  process  of  pack- 
ing having  been  completed,  the  line  was  formed,  and, 
with  the  band  playing  and  the  flags  flying,  the  regiment 
marched  out  of  its  winter  camp  amid  the  cheers  of  many 
who  had  become  friendly  with  its  members  during  their 
long  stay  in  the  city. 

They  made  quite  a  display  as  they  marched  through 
the  streets,  with  their  clean  uniforms  and  bright  guns 
glistening  In  the  sun,  anci  with  their  knapsacks  slung  on 
their  backs; — and  such  knapsacks  as  those  were!  They 
were  packed  so  full  that  they  were  In  danger  of  bursting, 
and  each  had  a  blanket  or  overcoat  strapped  on  top.  I 
doubt  whether  any  regiment  ever  carried  such  loads  be- 
fore or  since;  certainly  not  for  more  than  a  day  or  two. 

The  regiment,  under  command  of  Col.  John  H. 
Ketcham,  soon  left  the  noisy  streets  of  Baltimore  behind 
and  movecl  off  on  the  country  roaci  at  a  good  swinging 
pace,  and  many  were  the  joyous  and  patriotic  songs  that 
floated  over  the  Maryland  hills  and  valleys  on  that  lovely 
June  afternoon.  Before  dark  we  reached  Ellicott's 
Mills,  a  small  town  some  nine  miles  from  Baltlnjore, 
where  we  went  into  camp  for  the  first  night.  Though 
they  had  made  but  a  short  distance,  not  being  accustomed 
to  marching,  the  men  were  tired,  and  many  of  them  had 
already  worn  blisters  on  their  feet,  some  of  which  were 
large  and  painful. 

Near  where  we  camped  for  the  night  a  stream  of  cool, 


FROM  BALTniORE  TO  GETTYSBURG.        23 

clear  water  ran  rippling  through  the  meadow  land,  and, 
in  a  very  short  time  after  the  order  to  break  ranks  was 
given,  the  banks  of  the  stream  were  lined  with  those  who 
were  anxious  to  soak  their  burning  and  blistered  feet  in 
the  cooling  waters  of  that  friendly  stream.  After  relief 
had  been  obtained  for  their  suffering  feet,  the  haversacks 
were  overhauled  and  all  enjoyed  their  frugal  supper  of 
pork  and  hardtack,  washing  it  down  with  army  coffee. 

Blankets  were  then  spread  and  preparations  made  for 
the  night,  which,  however,  proved  not  to  be  the  most 
pleasant  night  of  the  year  for  sleeping  out  of  doors.  A 
shower  came  up  which  lasted  until  nearly  daylight,  and, 
as  few  had  shelter,  they  were  thoroughly  soaked  when 
morning  came.  So  our  first  night's  experience  of  actual 
campaign  life  proved  to  be  rather  disagreeable,  and  it  is 
probable  that  some  of  the  members  of  the  regiment 
wished  themselves  back  In  the  comfortable  quarters  of  the 
old  barracks. 

On  the  26th  the  march  was  continued  westward,  and 
was  marked  by  no  unusual  event,  save  the  grumblings  of 
those  whose  feet  were  in  such  a  condition  that  It  was  pain- 
ful for  them  to  walk.  At  the  close  of  the  following 
day,  June  27th,  after  another  hot  and  tiresome  march, 
the  regiment  reached  Monocacy  Bridge,  and  climbed  to 
the  top  of  a  high  hill,  where  It  remained  over  Sunday, 
the  28th. 

From  this  hill  we  for  the  first  time  caught  sight  of  that 
grand  old  Army  of  the  Potomac.  Across  the  river,  as  far 
as  the  eye  could  reach,  the  hills  seemed  to  be  covered 
with  a  moving  mass  of  soldiers,  together  with  horses, 
army  wagons,  artillery,  and  the  general  pararphernalla  of 
an  army,  with  flags  flying  at  every  quarter. 


24  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Our  men  stood  as  if  spellbound  and  gazed  with  aston- 
ishment at  the  magnitude  of  that  famous  army,  of  which 
they  were  to  become  a  part.  Pen  cannot  describe  the 
feelings  of  those  who  for  the  first  time  beheld  that  great 
body  of  troops,  of  which  they  had  so  often  read,  knowing 
it  was  composed  of  men  who  had  passed  through  many 
a  hard-fought  battle,  and  were  now  engaged  in  the  pur- 
suit of  their  enemy,  who  had  left  the  Old  Dominion  state, 
and  whose  advance  guard  was  at  that  very  moment  in 
Pennsylvania,  threatening  to  burn  and  destroy. 

This  was  the  scene  of  which  it  has  been  said — whether 
truly  or  not  I  do  not  know — that  it  furnished  to  Mrs. 
Julia  Ward  Howe  the  inspiration  from  which  sprang 
that  immortal  song, — "  Battle  Hymn  of  The  Republic." 
It  is  easy  to  believe  that  she  may  have  stood  on  the  crown 
of  some  hill  similar  to  that  on  which  we  were  camped, 
and  there,  as  she  viewed  the  seemingly  endless  processions 
of  armed  hosts,  travel-worn,  dust-covered,  and  mud- 
stained,  but  marching  resolutely  and  resistlessly  onward, 
there  sprung  to  her  lips  the  first  line : 

Mine  eyes  have  seen  the  glory  of  the  coming  of  the  Lord; — 

And  then,  when  darkness  had  closed  in,  and  all  the 
landscape,  away  to  the  distant  horizon  of  the  great  South 
Mountain  range,  was  lit  up  by  myriads  of  campfires, 
did  not  the  heart  and  soul,  rather  than  the  intellect,  re- 
ceive the  inspiration  which  gave  form  to  the  second  verse, 
beginning, — 

I  have  seen  Iliin  in  llio  watcli-fire  of  a  liundrcil  circling  camps, — 

And  again,  as  she  witnessed  in  the  morning  once  more 
that   living,    swaying   column,    crowned   with    its   line   of 


FROM  BALTIMORE  TO  GETTYSBURG.  25 

rifles  gleaming  in  the  dawn,  did  the  sight  furnish  the  in- 
spiration for  the  third  verse?     Listen  to  its  opening: — 

I  liave  read  a  fiery  gospel  writ  in  buniished  rows  of  steel;  — 

As  the  far-reaching  notes  of  the  bugle  echoed  and  re- 
echoed throughout  the  vale,  did  that  give  the  key-note 
to  another  verse? 

He  lias  sounded  fortli  the  trumpet  that  shall  never  call  retreat! 

The  tale  may  have  been  drawn  from  some  one's 
imagination,  but  the  conception  fits  the  scene,  and  one  in 
whose  memory  the  picture  still  gleams  undimmed  can 
easily  believe  that  under  the  stimulus  of  these  great  events 
the  soul  of  the  poet  rose  to  that  glorious  exaltation  in 
which  partisanship  is  eliminated,  anci  she  urges  the  dedica- 
tion of  the  loyal  nation  to  the  higher  cause  of  Humanity, 
giving  expression  to  this  exalted  sentiment  in  the  last  verse. 

In  the  beauty  of  the  lilies  Christ  was  born  across  the  sea, 
With  a  glory  in  His  bosom  that  transfigures  you  and  me. 
As  He  died  to  make  men  holy,  let  us  die  to  make  men  free, 

\Miile  God  is  marching  on. 

She  must  have  witnessed  this,  or  some  like  scene,  to 
have  caught  the  flow  of  that  perfect  refrain, — "  march- 
ing on." 

The  members  of  the  regiment  now  began  to  realize 
the  greatness  of  the  war  in  which  they  were  engaged,  and 
again  they  renewed  their  vows  that  they  would,  if  neces- 
sary, devote  their  lives  to  maintain  the  best  government 
that  was  ever  built. 

On  the  morning  of  June  29th  we  marched  down  the 
hill,  over  the  bridge  which  here  spans  the  Monocacy 
river,  and,  resting  at  the  roadside,  awaited  our  turn  to 
take  our  position  in  the  marching  line.     Along  with  two 


26  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Maryland  regiments  we  had  been  formed  Into  a  brigade, 
which  was  placed  under  command  of  Brig.  Gen.  Henry 
H.  Lockwood,  and  the  brigade  thus  formed  became 
known  as  "  Lockwood's  Independent  Brigade."  It  soon 
took  its  place  in  the  First  Division  of  the  12th  Corps. 

While  the  brigade  was  waiting  by  the  roadside  we 
were  most  unmercifully  guyed  and  blackguarded  by  the 
veterans  of  the  army  as  they  passed  by,  for  carrying  such 
loads  on  our  backs,  but  when  the  time  came  for  the  regi- 
ment to  move  a  great  change  had  taken  place  in  the  men's 
appearance,  for  the  heavy  baggage  that  had  been  lugged 
all  the  way  from  Baltimore  lay  scattered  around  where 
we  had  been  waiting.  No  one  wished  to  retain  anything 
that  was  not  really  indispensable,  and  the  boys  were  now 
stripped  for  the  work  which  was  before  them. 

Thus  lightened  of  their  burdens,  having  had  nearly 
two  days  of  rest,  and  their  feet  relieved  of  much  of  their 
soreness,  they  were  now  able  to  make  a  pretty  good  show- 
ing on  the  road  as  compared  with  the  hardened  veterans 
of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  On  that  memorable  march 
from  Monocacy  Bridge  to  Gettysburg,  we  camped  on 
the  first  night  near  Frederick  City,  the  place  known  as 
the  home  of  the  brave  Barbara  Frietchie.  Here  the  boys 
began  to  show  signs  that  they  were  fast  learning  to  be 
"  veterans,"  for  some  of  them  started  out  foraging  on 
their  own  account,  and  it  Is  believed  that  some  of  the 
officers  as  well  as  the  enlisted  men,  partook  of  a  better 
meal  that  night  than  they  had  been  accustomed  to  having, 
as  a  steady  diet,  for  several  months. 

On  the  night  of  June  30th,  we  were  encamped  near 
Littlestown,  about  twelve  miles  from  Gettysburg.  On 
the  next  day,  July   ist,  the  whole  12th  Army  Corps  was 


FROM  BALTLMORE  TO  GETTYSBURG.        27 

moved  to  the  vicinity  of  Two  Taverns,  a  small  hamlet 
or  cross-roads  near  Littlestown,  and  only  eight  miles  from 
the  field  where  both  the  armies  were  gathering  for  the 
great  struggle. 

While  lying  here,  occasionally  hearing  the  distant  boom 
of  cannon,  we  became  aware  that  the  fight  had  already 
begun,  but  a  few  miles  away,  and  it  was  soon  evident  to 
all  that  the  150th  New  York  Volunteers  was  to  receive  its 
initiation  into  real  battle.  The  brigade  was  formed  and 
made  ready  to  move  when  and  where  it  might  have  orders 
to  go,  and  Colonel  Maulsby,  addressing  his  regiment  of 
Maryland  Volunteers,  told  them  that  they  were  soon  to 
go  into  battle,  and  exhorted  his  men  to  stand  firm  and  do 
honor  to  the  brigade,  none  of  the  three  regiments  having 
yet  been  in  an  engagement. 

Our  own  Colonel  Ketcham,  being  a  man  of  action  rather 
than  of  words,  said  but  little  to  his  men,  but  by  his  looks, 
and  those  of  his  command,  it  was  evident  that  their 
friends  at  home  would  have  no  cause  to  be  ashamed  of 
the  boys  they  had  sent  to  stand  between  them  and  their 
Southern  foes. 

Very  early  in  the  morning  of  July  2nd,  came  the  order 
for  us  to  move,  and  it  was  done  with  a  will.  There  was 
no  thought  given  then  to  sore  feet,  and,  the  line  moving 
out  promptly,  the  distance  between  the  camp  and  the 
battlefield  was  covered  in  a  short  time. 

So  the  "  Dutchess  County  Regiment  "  was  at  last  really 
a  part  of  the  great  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  engaged 
in  the  most  important  battle  fought  during  the  century. 
It  was  a  battle  which  then  seemed  likely  to  decide  the 
fate  of  the  nation, — and  perhaps  it  did. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

BATTLE  OF  GETTYSBURG. 

By  Joseph  H.  Cogswell. 

Approaching   the   Field — Held   in   Reserve  —  Entering  the    Engagement — Developing   the 

Enemy — "Good   Fighting   Anywhere" — Those   Who   Fell — Pickett's 

Grand    Charge — Burying  the   Dead — The   List. 

The  part  borne  by  the  150th  New  York  Vokmteers, 
Colonel  John  H.  Ketcham,  in  the  battle  of  Gettysburg  can 
be  briefly  told.  It  is  not  my  purpose  to  write  a  history 
of  the  battle,  which  is  the  most  celebrated  battle  ever 
fought  on  United  States  soil,  but  only  to  relate  the  modest 
part  borne  by  our  regiment  on  that  occasion.  To  do  this 
I  find  it  will  be  necessary  to  allude  to  the  regiments  with 
whom  we  were  immediately  connected,  and  to  add  a  brief 
description  of  the  culmination  of  the  battle  on  July  3rd, 
known  as  "  Pickett's  Charge."  Those  who  wish  a  report 
that  will  cover  the  whole  field  can  find  their  desire  grati- 
fied by  consulting  the  works  of  hundreds  of  ambitious 
writers. 

My  story  begins  with  the  "  long  roll  "  that  roused  us 
from  our  slumbers  as  we  bivouacked  in  a  piece  of  woods 
eight  miles  south-east  of  Gettysburg,  near  a  place  known 
as  Littlestown,  Thursday,  July  2,  1863.  Scant  time  was 
allowed  for  coffee  and  hardtack,  and  at  3  A.  M.  we  were 
in  line  awaiting  the  order  to  march. 

A  provisional  brigade  had  been  made  up,  consisting  of 
the  I  St  Maryland  Regiment,  Potomac  Home  Brigade, 
Colonel  William  P.  Maulsby ;  the  ist  Eastern  Shore  Mai7- 


BATTLE   OF   GETTYSBURG.  29 

land  Infantry,  Colonel  James  Wallace;  the  2nd  Eastern 
Shore  Infantry,  and  the  150th  New  York  Volunteers. 
These  four  regiments  were  organized  under  the  command 
of  General  Henry  H.  Lockwood,  a  graduate  of  West 
Point  who  had  long  been  in  civil  life,  but  whose  patriot- 
ism was  of  too  fine  a  grain  to  allow  him  to  remain  inactive 
when  his  country  was  imperiled.  Only  three  of  these 
regiments  were  at  Gettysburg  however,  as  the  2nd  Mary- 
land Eastern  Shore  Regiment  was  kept  at  Baltimore,  and 
did  not  receive  orders  to  join  us  until  July  6th.  Upon 
reaching  Gettysburg  we  were  formally  assigned  to  the 
1 2th  Corps,  commanded  by  General  Henry  W.  Slocum, 
(its  corps  badge  being  the  five-pointed  star),  ist  Division, 
commanded  by  General  A.  S.  Williams,  of  which  ours  was 
the  2nd  Brigade,  commanded  by  General  Lockwood. 

At  this  point  let  me  state  that  later,  just  before  we 
crossed  the  Potomac,  the  three  Maryland  regiments  re- 
fused to  leave  the  state,  claiming  that  they  were  "  Home 
Guards,"  and  then  we  were  assigned  to  the  3rd  Brigade, 
ist  Division,  12th  Corps;  our  brigade  commander  being 
General  Thomas  H.  Ruger,  and  our  co-regiments,  from 
four  of  whom  we  never  parted  till  the  end  of  the  war, 
were  the  2nd  Massachusetts,  3rd  Wisconsin,  27th  Indiana, 
13th  New  Jersey  and  107th  New  York.  The  Indiana 
regiment  left  our  brigade  at  Savannah,  Ga.,  January, 
1865.  It  at  once  became  and  continued  to  be  a  matter 
of  pride  with  us  that  our  soldiership  in  every  respect 
should  win  commendation  from  the  seasoned  veterans 
of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

But  to  return  to  our  Littlestown  camp.  Soon  came  the 
order  to  march.  On  the  afternoon  of  the  day  before  we 
had  heard,  for  the  first  time,  hostile  cannonading.     All 


30  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

sorts  of  rumors  had  reached  us,  evolved  mainly  from  the 
inner  unconsciousness-of-the-truth  of  the  narrators.  We 
learned  however,  that  in  the  first  shock  of  battle,  July 
I  St,  Lee's  army  had  forced  our  line  back  with  heavy 
losses,  and  that  our  General  John  F.  Reynolds  had  been 
killed. 

The  forced  march  of  two  hours,  covering  eight  miles, 
was  without  particular  incident,  and  at  5  :oo  A.  M.  we 
really  became  a  part  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  The 
position  to  which  we  were  assigned  placed  us  on  the  ex- 
tension of  the  1 2th  Corps'  line  south  from  Gulp's  Hill, 
with  only  the  cavalry  on  our  right,  which  made  us  the 
extreme  right  of  Meade's  infantry.  All  we  had  to  do 
here  was  to  "  possess  our  souls  in  patience  "  and  wonder 
how  soon  it  woulci  be  our  turn  to  enter  the  fight,  whether 
we  would  come  out  alive  or  be  objects  of  attention  for 
some  "burial  squad;"  and  should  we  "conquer  in  the 
strife!" 

As  the  day  wore  on  the  incidents  of  a  battlefield  were 
wanting  in  our  immediate  vicinity,  but  to  our  left,  and 
along  the  longest  part  of  our  line  from  the  extreme  left 
on  Little  Round  Top  towards  Gettysburg,  which,  as  we 
stood,  was  exactly  in  our  rear,  there  was  an  engagement 
going  on  that  taxed  to  the  utmost  our  veterans  who  were 
confronting  the  Army  of  Virginia. 

Lee  tried  all  day  to  find  a  weak  spot  in  Meade's  armor, 
and  strong  assaults  were  made  at  Gulp's  Hill,  and  along 
the  line  to  Gettysburg.  The  right-centre,  the  centre  and 
the  left-centre  all  were  tested,  but  discomfiture  to  the 
enemy  was  the  result  in  every  case,  until  at  last  Lee 
observed  that  the  3rd  Gorps,  commanded  by  General 
Sickles,  was  somewhat  out  of  position  with  an  inverted 


BATTLE   OF   GETTYSBURG.  31 

"  V  "  shaped  angle  extended  to  the  front.  This  discovery, 
with  an  idea  he  entertained  that  our  extreme  left  at  Round 
Top  had  been  left  unguarded,  induced  him  to  throw  a 
mass  of  soldiers  against  us  there.  i\nd  he  almost 
succeeded! 

The  Peach  Orchard,  the  now  famous  Wheat  Field, 
the  Bloody  Angle,  Devil's  Den  and  Round  Top !  Their 
story  of  deeds  of  heroism  is  safe! 

It  was  conjectured  by  the  Union  commander  that  Lee 
would  at  once  reinforce  his  right  and  make  a  further 
assault  on  our  extreme  left.  Our  troops  at  that  part  of 
the  line  had  about  reached  the  limit  of  soldier-endurance 
and  fresh  forces  were  needed.  They  were  obtained  by 
withdrawing  regiments  from  the  right  and  sending  them 
across  the  field,  a  mile  or  more,  to  the  point  of  danger. 
Our  regiment  was  a  part  of  the  force  so  placed,  and  in 
the  brief  march  which  began  at  6:00  P.  M.  we  saw  for 
the  first  time  the  terrible  and  ghastly  aspect  of  a  battle- 
field. A  few  shells  from  the  enemy's  batteries  flew  over 
our  heads,  but  fortunately  did  us  no  harm. 

When  near  the  end  of  our  march,  which  had  been  by 
the  flank,  we  reached  an  open  space  at  the  north  of  Little 
Round  Top,  and  forming  in  line,  battalion  front,  ad- 
vanced across  the  fields  to  a  point  about  half  a  mile  west 
of  where  the  line  had  been  formed.  The  position  to  w^hich 
the  regiment  advanced  that  night  is  now  indicated  by  a 
granite  marker  near  the  Trostle  house.  The  enemy  had 
fallen  back  upon  the  first  approach  of  reinforcements  and 
were  now  concealed  from  view.  We  neither  saw^  them 
again,  nor  discharged  a  musket,  and  soon  after  nine  o'clock 
took  up  our  line  of  march  to  the  position  which  we  had 
occupied  on  the  right  during  the  day.     Three  pieces  of 


32  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

a  Rhode  Island  battery  which  had  fallen  into  the  enemy's 
hands,  but  were  later  abandoned  by  them,  were  drawn 
off  the  field  by  Companies  B  and  G  of  our  regiment. 

Not  long  afterward  we  regained  our  former  position 
and  found  no  trouble  in  dropping  to  sleep,  but  a  fusillade 
from  some  source  swept  over  our  line  with  a  sharp  sing- 
ing tone,  cutting  branches  and  twigs  overhead.  It 
brought  us  to  our  feet  in  an  instant.  We  expected  that 
something  worse  was  coming,  but  nothing  further  dis- 
turbed us,  and  to  tell  the  truth  I  think  we  were  all  glad 
that  no  more  such  battlefield  reminders  came  through 
the  night;  and  thus  ended  Thursday,  July  2nd,  at  Gettys- 
burg, as  far  as  we  were  concerned. 

We  come  now  to  the  experiences  of  Friday,  July  3rd. 
While  the  extreme  right  of  our  line  had  been  drawn  upon 
so  heavily  the  night  before  to  reinforce  the  left,  as  hereto- 
fore stated,  the  enemy  took  advantage  of  the  fact  and  at 
once  occupied  a  part  of  our  breastworks  at  the  right  of 
Gulp's  Hill,  which  had  been  thrown  up  by  the  12th 
Corps.  A  sharp  fight  in  the  dark  by  the  returning  regi- 
ments to  regain  their  breastworks  was  only  partly  success- 
ful, but  the  necessity  of  restoring  our  broken  line  was  so 
vitally  important  that  arrangements  were  made  during 
the  night  for  an  early  morning  attack. 

Colonel  Hunt,  Meade's  Chief  of  Artillery,  posted  dur- 
ing the  dark  hours  four  batteries  on  an  elevation  and  in  a 
position  to  reach  the  enemy  who  had  made  themselves  at 
home  in  our  breastworks.  At  2  :oo  A.  M,  our  regiment 
was  put  in  motion  and  after  a  short  march  was  halted 
in  line  of  battle  twenty  rods  in  front  of  a  piece  of  woods 
having  dense  underbrush.  Companies  A  and  F,  on  the 
right  of  the  line,  were  ordered  to  deploy  as  skirmishers 


BATTLE   OF   GETTYSBURG.  33 

and  advance  to  the  edge  of  the  woods,  covering  the  regi- 
mental front.  Had  we  known  that  a  few  rods  from  us, 
well  protected  behind  breastworks  in  those  woods,  the 
"  Johnnies  "  were  waiting  for  us,  our  feelings  might 
have  been  different. 

In  an  hour  we  were  ordered  back  and  Colonel  Ketcham 
was  directed  to  place  our  regiment  on  the  left  of  one  of 
the  batteries  I  have  mentioned,  and  in  its  support.  Colonel 
Maulsby's  Marylanders  supported  the  same  battery  on 
the  right.  At  4:30  A.  M.  the  battery,  six  brass  12- 
pounders,  opened,  directing  its  shot  into  the  woods  on 
our  front.  After  a  half  hour,  in  v/hich  the  guns  were 
served  with  great  rapidity,  an  aide  galloped  up  and  im- 
parted an  order  to  General  Lockwood  to  take  one  of  his 
regiments  and  advance  into  the  woods  which  had  been 
so  vigorously  shelled,  and  develop  the  enemy.  As 
Maulsby  was  on  the  right  and  nearest  the  place  indicated, 
the  General  ciirected  him  to  execute  the  order,  and  as 
he  marched  away  the  right  division  of  our  regiment,  five 
companies,  moved  from  its  position  on  the  left  and 
became  the  support  of  the  battery  on  its  right. 

When  the  Marylanders,  who  moved  away  by  the  right 
flank,  reached  the  open  glade  in  front  of  the  woods 
where  our  two  companies  had  been  deployed,  as  before 
stated,  they  formed  in  battalion  front  and  advanced. 
The  shelling  had  ceased.  It  was  a  fine  display.  As  their 
line  was  parallel  to  the  edge  of  the  woods  they  were  all 
out  of  sight  at  once,  and  we  waited  in  dread  suspense,  but 
not  long.  A  thousand  rifles  opened  from  the  contending 
forces,  but  our  men  suffered  the  most,  as  the  enemy  had 
our  captured  breastworks  for  protection. 

Our  wounded  who  were  able  to  come  back  drew  out 


34  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

of  the  woods  and  limped  to  the  rear.  A  regiment  of 
Regulars  charged  the  enemy's  right  flank  at  about  this 
time,  and  soon  the  breastworks  were  retaken  and  our 
line  established  as  it  existed  before  the  troops  were  with- 
drawn the  night  before.  The  loss  to  Maulsby's  men  in 
those  few  minutes  was  24  killed  and  72  wounded.  The 
foe  they  met  was  the  ist  Maryland  Confederate  Volun- 
teers, and  mainly  Baltimoreans. 

By  this  time,  about  6:00  A.  M.,  the  battle  was  joined 
and  pressed  with  more  or  less  vigor  from  our  extreme 
left  at  Round  Top  to  the  village  of  Gettysburg,  and  to 
the  extreme  right,  near  where  we  were.  There  was 
"good  fighting  anywhere,"  as  General  Phil.  Kearney  once 
graphically  described  a  similar  situation,  and  the  impres- 
sion on  the  men  was  as  varied  as  their  several  tempera- 
m.ents.  How  would  they  feel  and  act  under  fire?  We 
were  not  long  in  finding  out,  as  at  once  we  began  march- 
ing by  flank  off  to  the  left.  An  aide  from  some  dfllicer's 
staff  was  our  guide  and  we  turned  to  the  right  from  the 
main  road  into  woods  with  Gulp's  Hill  in  front.  We 
swung  into  battalion  front,  and  when  the  Colonel's  com- 
mand, "Forward,  150th!"  was  given,  we  advanced  at 
double-quick  with  a  rush  and  a  cheer. 

Ours  not  to  reason  why, 
Ours  bnt  to  do  and  die! 

Our  course  of  forty  rods  led  up  over  a  ridge  and  then 
down  a  slope  where  we  found  a  long  line  of  hastily  built 
breastworks  filled  with  soldiers  who  were  pouring  an 
incessant  fire  into  the  valley  below.  We  then  learned 
that  our  duty  was  to  relieve  a  regiment  which  had  been 
on  this  firing  line  two  hours,  and  as  wc  took  its  place 
we  found  it  was  the  ist  Eastern  Shore  Maryland  Infan- 


BATTLE   OF   GETTYSBURG.  35 

try  of  our  brigade,  which  had  arrived  that  morning. 
Our  orders  were  to  load  and  fire  till  relieved,  and  right 
earnestly  was  the  order  obeyed.  It  is  estimated  that  we 
expended  150  rounds  to  a  man.  The  woods  in  our  front 
were  branched  low  and  full  of  undergrowth.  Very 
seldom  was  there  a  living  target  to  be  seen,  but  our 
shots  went  down  into  that  valley  continuously. 

Coming  under  my  own  observation  the  first  man  to 
fall  was  Charles  Howgate  of  Company  A.  He  had  ex- 
hausted his  cartridge  box,  and  gone  back  a  few  rods  to 
get  a  new  supply  from  some  boxes  of  ammunition  which 
had  been  brought  on  to  the  field.  His  position  was  above 
the  le\'el  of  the  breastworks  and  easily  within  range  of 
the  enemy's  fire.  A  gaping  wound  was  torn  through  the 
top  of  his  head.  I  had  time  only  to  reach  him,  grasp 
his  hand  and  speak  to  him,  but  it  was  all  over.  Possibly 
he  never  knew  what  hit  him.     I  hope  so. 

A  little  later  Edward  Tuttle  spoke  to  me,  saying, 
"John  Van  Alstyne  has  got  it!"  and  I  beheld,  close  to 
the  breastworks,  the  stalwart  form  of  that  big,  good 
soldier  sink  slowly  to  the  ground.  A  bullet  had  struck 
him  just  below  the  inner  corner  of  the  eye,  and  his  life- 
blood  gushed  out  in  a  torrent. 

Not  long  afterward  my  youngest  boy,  little  Johnny 
Wing,  of  slight  build  and  not  yet  eighteen,  anci  Levi 
Rust,  one  of  the  oldest  men  in  the  company,  were  killed 
by  the  same  shot.  Johnny  was  squarely  behind  Levi, 
and  they  dropped  almost  instantaneously. 

Privates  Jedidiah  Murphy,  Co.  E;  Barnard  C.  Burnett, 
Co.  G;  William  H.  Barnes,  Co.  I;  and  Tallmadge  Wood, 
Co.  C,  were  the  other  lour  who  drew  the  deadly  blanks. 


36  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

but  I  can  add  no  particulars  of  their  mortal  wounding. 
The  number  wounded  was  23. 

In  about  two  hours  we  were  relieved  and  fell  back  of 
the  woods,  giving  place  to  another  regiment.  Later  we 
again  rallied  on  the  same  rifle  pits  and  poured  our  leaden 
hail  on  "  whom  it  might  concern."  At  one  time  a  squad 
of  four  score  of  the  enemy  displayed  a  flag  of  truce  and 
we  ceased  firing  long  enough  for  them  to  get  over  the 
breastworks  and  join  our  other  prisoners  in  the  rear.  A 
little  before  noon  we  again  fell  back  from  the  trenches, 
being  relieved  by  other  troops,  and  took  our  place  in  the 
reserve  at  the  rear. 

The  grand  climacteric  of  the  day  and  the  battle  was  at 
three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  that  day,  when  Lee 
made  his  mighty  culminating  effort  to  break  our  lines. 
At  one  o'clock  he  had  placed  the  artillery  of  Hill's  and 
Longstreet's  Corps,  115  guns  in  all,  opposite  our  centre, 
and  opened  the  heaviest  and  most  terrific  cannonading 
witnessed  during  the  war.  Our  thin  line  on  Cemetery 
Ridge  was  the  target,  but  many  of  the  shells  flew  over 
the  ridge  and  landed  uncomfortably  near  us.  It  had 
been  alleged  that  Lee's  ammunition  was  defective ;  cer- 
tainly hundreds  of  shells  exploded  high  over  our  heads. 
Colonel  Hunt,  our  Chief  of  Artillery,  says  that  he  could 
muster  only  80  guns  to  oppose  the  115  guns  of  the  enemy. 
He  divined  Lee's  purpose  and  husbanded  his  men  and 
resources,  slackening  his  fire  until  the  enemy's  plan  was 
fully  developed.  At  3:00  P.  M.,  Pickett's  famous 
charge  was  seen  to  be  in  motion. 

Let  no  one  ever  sneer  at  or  try  to  belittle  the  Southern 
soldier.  No  one  will  who  saw  or  has  correctly  under- 
stood this   heroic  movement.      For  a   mile   these   troops 


RATTLE   OF   GETTYSBURG.  37 

had  to  march  under  the  most  galling  fire,  most  of  the 
way  up  a  rising  ground.  They  came  on  in  three  lines, 
15,000  men  in  fine  alignment,  banners  flying,  and  with  a 
fixed  purpose  to  carry  the  day.  The  centre  of  the  2nd 
Corps  was  their  objective  point,  and  when  Hunt  saw 
that  they  were  near  enough  his  guns  opened  on  them. 
Those  in  front  had  a  point-blank  range,  while  those  at 
the  right  and  at  the  left  had  a  partially  enfilading  fire. 
Their  cannon  shots  were  going  over  the  heads  of  our 
infantry  line,  which  was  holding  its  fire. 

But  the  time  came  when  the  enemy  was  near  enough 
to  be  within  easy  range  of  the  infantry,  and  our  thou- 
sands of  rifles  mowed  them  down  by  hundreds  and  hun- 
dreds. Still  they  came  on,  until  they  reached  the  stone 
wall,  behind  which  our  thin  line  met  them  in  a  hand  to 
hand  conflict,  but  could  not,  at  every  point,  withstand  the 
impact,  and  a  few  of  the  charging  force  actually  crossed 
our  line;  but  it  was  unimportant  on  the  general  result. 

Our  infantry  and  batteries  to  the  right  and  left  of  the 
main  body  of  the  enemy  now  delivered  an  enfilading  fire 
which  did  terrible  execution  in  their  ranks.  Pickett's 
brave  men  were  half  a  mile  from  any  support,  and  the 
Confederate  artillery  could  not  be  used  without  inflicting 
as  much  damage  on  their  own  troops  as  on  ours.  To 
retreat  was  as  bad  as  to  advance,  for  a  considerable  part 
of  their  forces,  and  they  became  prisoners.  That  part 
which  could,  fell  back,  but  received  the  attention  of  our 
guns  and  small  arms  until  out  of  range.  The  place  at 
which  our  line  was  broken  is  now  indicated  by  a  sub- 
stantial marker,  and  is  known  as  the  "  High- Water 
Mark  of  the  Rebellion." 

In  anticipation  of  the  possible  needs  of  the  day,  several 


38  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

regiments,  ours  being  one,  were  massed  in  rear  of  the  2nd 
Corps,  and  held  in  reserve.  We  were  protected  by  ris- 
ing ground,  and  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  a  few  thou- 
sand of  the  prisoners  taken  there  marched  to  the  rear. 
The  battle  was  over  and  the  field  won;  but  at  a  fearful 
cost. 

Towards  sundown  we  returned  to  the  right  and  held 
a  part  of  the  breastworks  during  the  night.  We  did  not 
know  that  the  battle  was  ended,  the  troops  being  kept 
alert  as  though  they  might  be  assailed  at  any  minute,  and 
no  vigilance  was  relaxed.  Saturday  morning,  July  4th, 
Colonel  Ketcham  was  ordered  to  take  our  regiment  out  on 
an  exploring  tour  to  find  where  the  enemy  was.  We 
marched  to  the  front,  well  beyond  the  positions  held  by 
the  enemy  on  the  two  previous  days,  and  much  to  our 
delight  found  no  "  Johnnies  "  anywhere.  Lee  had  drawn 
back  his  left  flank,  but  held  his  position  in  front  of  our 
left.  The  day  passed  without  incident,  and  Sunday 
morning,  July  5th,  Lee  was  in  full  retreat  for  the 
Potomac. 

Details  were  made  from  all  the  regiments  to  bury  the 
dead.  As  the  dead  of  the  ist  Maryland  Confederate 
regiment,  whom  Maulsby's  men  met  in  the  morning  of 
July  3rd,  were  brought  out  of  the  woods,  among  them  I 
noticed  a  stalwart  six-footer  with  a  heavy,  short,  black 
beard.  He  had,  even  in  death,  a  look  of  severity  if  not 
of  cruelty.  Just  then  a  squad  of  Maulsby's  men  came 
along  and  one  of  them,  a  little,  stout  chunk  of  a  boy, 
stopped  a  moment,  and,  touching  the  fallen  giant  with 
the  toe  of  his  shoe,  said,  "  You'll  never  kick  me  down 
the  Maryland  Listitute  steps  again!"     Llpon  inquiry,   I 


BATTLE   OF   GETTYSBURG.  39 

learned  that  the  man  just  slain  had  been  Marshal  Henry's 
Chief  of  Police  in  Baltimore  before  the  war. 

A  plat  of  ground  was  subsequently  selected  for  a  Ceme- 
tery, and  much  care  taken  to  designate  the  name  of  every 
soldier  buried  therein,  but  there  are  over  six  hundred 
graves  in  the  plot  marked  "Unknown."  In  1867,  the 
interments  numbered  3,564,  showing  that  nearly  500  of 
those  first  reported  as  wounded  had  been  added  to  those 
killed  in  action.  Should  any  who  visit  Gettysburg  wish 
to  find  the  graves  of  our  men,  the  following  memoranda 
will  aid  them: 
Co.  A,  John  Van  Alstyne,   Grave   20,   Section   B,   New 

York  Plat. 
Co.  A,  John  P.  Wing,  Grave  21,  Section  B,  New  York 

Plat. 
Co.  A,  Levi  Rust,  Grave  9,  Section  C,  New  York  Plat. 
Co.   A,   Charles   Howgate,   Grave    11,   Section   C,   New 

York  Plat. 
Co.   C,   Tallmadge  Wood,   Grave   82,   Section   B,   New 

York  Plat. 
Co.  G,  B.  C.  Burnett,  Grave  10,  Section  C,  New  York 

Plat. 
Co.  E,  Jedidiah  Murphy,  Unknown. 
Co.  I,  William  H.  Barnes,  Unknown. 


CHAPTER  V. 

FROM  GETTYSBURG  TO  VIRGINIA. 

By  Charles  E.  Benton. 

The  Wreckage  of  Battle — Tragic  Scenes — Following  the  Enemy — Long-Distance  Match- 
ing— Topography    of  the    Country — Again   Confronting  the    Enemy — Historic 
Harper's  Ferry — Blackberries,    a  Feast  for  the  Gods — Sickness  in  Camp. 

The  greatest  battle  of  the  greatest  war  of  the  19th 
century  had  been  fought  and  won.  It  was  the  introduc- 
tion of  "  The  Dutchess  County  Regiment  "  to  the  gods 
of  war,  and  the  friends  of  the  organization  had  no  cause 
to  bkish  for  the  manner  in  which  it  had  conducted  itself 
in  the  presence  of  the  new  and  trying  scenes. 

Foot-sore  and  wasted  by  the  forced  marches  and  scant 
rations  of  the  past  week,  worn  with  fatigue  and  loss  of 
sleep  during  the  battle,  and  without  food  for  forty-eight 
hours,  we  awakened  on  the  morning  of  July  4th  to  soon 
hear  the  welcome  news  that  the  enemy  had  retreated  dur- 
ing the  night,  leaving  both  their  dead  and  their  severely 
wounded. 

We  were  on  ground  which  had  been  plowed  from  one 
direction  by  such  of  Lee's  shells  as  had  skipped  over 
Cemetery  Ridge,  and  from  the  other  direction  by  the 
enemy's  fire  from  their  line  which  had  confronted  us  at 
Culp's  Hill  and  Rock  Creek.  On  every  side  was  the 
wreckage  of  battle,  and  many  of  the  wounded  had  not 
received  even  the  first  attention   of  the  surgeons.      Our 


FROM   GETTYSBURG  TO  VIRGINIA.  41 

long  fast  was  soon  broken  by  the  distribution  of  rations, 
which,  during  the  whole  of  our  participation  in  the  battle, 
owing  to  the  fact  that  the  regiment  had  been  so  con- 
stantly under  fire,  the  commissary  had  failed  to  supply 
us  with. 

One  of  the  first  duties  to  which  a  detail  was  assigned 
was  the  burial  of  the  regiment's  dead,  eight  in  number, 
who  were  laid  at  rest  at  the  slcirt  of  the  woods  which 
covered  Gulp's  Hill,  their  graves  being  marked  by  boards 
on  which  the  names,  companies  and  regiment  were  cut. 
But  during  the  year  intervening  before  the  bodies  were 
removed  to  the  National  Cemetery  the  boards  were  prob- 
ably broken  or  lost,  for  only  six  of  the  names  can  be 
found  in  the  New  York  Plat  of  the  Cemetery. 

Another  detail  was  engaged  for  some  two  hours  in 
assisting  to  bury  the  enemy's  ciead,  which  lay  so  thickly 
strewn  in  front  of  the  line  which  our  brigade  held  for 
fiv^e  hours  of  the  previous  day.  From  this  duty  they 
were  relieved,  by  order  of  General  Lockwood,  and  towards 
night  the  regiment  was  marched  some  distance  to  the 
left,  where  it  went  into  camp. 

On  the  following  day,  July  5th,  we  remained  at  this 
place  until  nearly  night,-  when  we  received  marching 
orders.  It  now  became  the  regiment's  duty  to  follow 
along  the  rear  of  the  army,  and  arrest  and  bring  forward 
the  stragglers,  of  which  there  were  always  a  dragging 
trail  in  the  wake  of  the  army.  Besides  the  minority  who 
became  detached  from  their  commands  by  reason  of 
wantonness,  there  were  the  greater  number  who  thus 
lagged  solely  from  their  inability  to  keep  up  in  the  army's 
chase  of  the  retreating  enemy.  Some  were  prostrated  at 
the  side  of  the  road  by  sickness;  some  were  completely 


42  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

exhausted  by  hunger  and  fatigue ;  and  there  were  some  of 
the  less  seriously  wounded  who  were  attempting  to  keep 
their  place  in  the  line  but  could  not. 

Of  these,  the  first  class  were  arrested  and  sent  to  their 
commands  under  guard,  there  to  be  dealt  with  by  their 
own  officers.  But  the  others  had  to  be  provided  for  by 
means  of  wagons  and  ambulances,  so  far  as  possible. 
The  supply  however  was  inadequate,  and  many  were  left 
behind,  and  among  them  were  some  of  our  own  regiment, 
who  joined  us  weeks  afterward.  This  labor  lasted  until 
lo  :oo  P.  M.,  when  we  arrived  at  a  point  near  Littlestown, 
Pa.,  where  we  went  into  camp  for  the  remainder  of  the 
night.  On  the  next  day  we  moved  but  a  few  miles,  and 
again  halted  for  the  night. 

On  July  yth,  we  broke  camp  at  3  :oo  A.  M.,  and  before 
noon  had  made  a  record  for  rapid  long-distance  march- 
ing. Sixteen  miles  was  then  accounted  to  be  a  fair  day's 
march,  in  doing  which  the  troops  were  expected  to  aver- 
age about  two  miles  an  hour.  But  in  a  little  less  than 
nine  hours  from  the  time  at  which  we  had  started  on 
this  day  we  covered  nearly  thirty  miles.  When  it  is  con- 
sidered what  the  regiment  had  previously  undergone,  it 
will  be  seen  that  this  was  a  severe  strain  on  the  powers  of 
the  men.  Fortunately  we  went  but  a  short  distance  in 
the  afternoon,  and  early  encamped  for  the  night. 

It  was  during  this  fatiguing  day  that  the  news  came 
to  us  of  the  surrender  of  Vicksburg  on  July  4th,  the 
very  day  on  which  Lee  had  begun  his  retreat  from  Gettys- 
burg. It  was  wafted  along  the  line  like  a  good  omen, 
as  indeed  it  was,  and  doubtless  added  an  important  factor 
in  sustaining  the  flagging  vitality  of  the  regiment.     Yet 


FROM  GETTYSBURG  TO  VIRGINIA.  43 

of  the  full  significance  of  this  double  victory  on  our 
National  Day,  none  of  us  could  know  at  that  time. 

In  order  for  the  reader  to  understand  the  movements 
of  the  two  armies,  I  will  say  a  few  words  regarding  the 
topography  of  the  country  in  which  we  were  operating. 

Western  Maryland  is  divided  across,  from  north  to 
south,  by  successive  mountain  ranges  of  the  great  Appala- 
chian mountains,  and  between  these  ridges  lie  valleys  of 
some  of  the  finest  farming  lands  in  the  East.  I  remem- 
ber it  as  one  of  the  pleasantest  pastoral  landscapes  that 
I  have  ever  seen,  for  it  was  entirely  lacking  in  the  dead 
uniformity  of  the  Western  farm  scenes.  While  there 
were  wide  stretching  fields  rolling  away  in  the  distance, 
yellow  with  unharvested  wheat,  there  were  also  wooded 
lands,  rocky  ridges,  uplands,  roads  winding  along  pleasant 
streams,  cascades  and  dells,  and  comfortable  homesteads 
nestling  among  the  shade  trees  and  orchards. 

The  mountain  range  lying  immediately  west  of  our 
line  of  march  since  we  left  Gettysburg,  was  South  Moun- 
tain, and  on  its  farther  side  was  Cumberland  Valley, 
famed  throughout  a  century  for  its  fine  farming  lands.  In 
this  valley  was  Lee's  army,  making  the  best  of  its  way 
back  towards  Virginia,  harassed  on  its  rear  and  flanks  by 
our  cavalry,  and  faced  at  every  pass  by  the  infantry. 

On  July  8th,  we  continued  twenty  miles  farther  to  the 
south,  passing  through  Frederick  City  and  Middletown, 
to  Burketsville,  where  we  went  into  camp  for  the  night. 
July  9th  we  moved  towards  the  west,  passing  the  moun- 
tain range  through  Crampton  Gap,  reaching  Rhorersville 
about  noon,  having  come  twelve  miles.  We  were  now  in 
the  Cumberland  Valley,  in  which  Lee's  army  was,  and  in 
our  entrance  we  were  close  to  its  borders,  as  was  indicated 


44  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

by  subsequent  events.  On  the  following  day  we  moved 
southward  again  some  twelve  miles  farther,  reaching  the 
village  of  Smoketown. 

July  iith,  the  regiment  moved  five  miles  farther,  to 
the  village  of  Fairplay,  at  which  place  there  were  indica- 
tions that  we  were  in  the  near  vicinity  of  the  enemy.  At 
one  place  a  line  of  battle  was  formed,  and  skirmishers 
were  thrown  out.  Several  times  during  the  day  they 
were  fired  upon,  but  though  every  one  was  kept  on  the 
qui  vive,  yet  there  was  no  general  engagement.  At  five 
the  next  morning  there  was  another  forward  movement 
for  about  a  mile,  and  again  a  line  of  battle  was  formed. 
In  this  position  the  regiment  remained  until  night,  when 
the  line  fell  back  a  short  distance  and  labored  at  the 
erection  of  breastworks,  working  all  night. 

These  breastworks  ran,  a  portion  of  the  way,  through 
woods  of  heavy  timber,  and  where  this  was  the  case  the 
timber  of  trees  was  largely  used  in  their  construction. 
For  a  considerable  distance  in  our  front  also  the  timber 
was  cut,  and  falling  at  random  it  formed,  with  its  entangled 
branches  and  trunks,  a  formidable  chcvaux-de-frise,  over 
which  it  would  have  been  almost  impossible  for  the  enemy 
to  attack  us.  I  also  noticed  that  there  were  convenient 
gaps  so  arranged  that  masked  batteries  could  easily  en- 
filade an  assaulting  force. 

Morning  found  the  regiment  still  at  work,  and  with 
only  the  pauses  for  meals  the  labor  continued  all  day. 
The  breastworks  thus  hastily  constructed  were  said  to  be 
some  seven  miles  in  length,  with  the  ends  resting  on  the 
Potomac  river,  and  in  their  semicircular  sweep  enclosing 
Lee's  army,  which  was  thought  to  be  crossing  the  river 
under  difficulties,  owing  to  high  water  from  the  late  rains. 


FROM   GETTYSBURG  TO   VIRGINIA.  45 

About  a  mile  in  our  front  we  could  see  the  enemy  build- 
ing similar  defences,  while  between  us  were  the  two 
skirmish  lines,  who  kept  up  a  rapid  firing  during  the  day. 

July  14th,  our  regiment,  with  two  of  the  Maryland 
regiments,  formed  part  of  a  force  which  was  ordered  to 
make  a  reconnoissance.  A  line  was  formed  and  skirmish- 
ers thrown  out,  but  they  moved  only  a  short  distance,  and 
about  the  middle  of  the  afternoon  were  ordered  to  fall 
back  to  the  breastworks  again.  But  about  8  o'clock  in 
the  evening  marching  orders  were  again  received,  and 
this  time  the  regiment  started  on  the  most  trying  march 
of  the  campaign.  The  night  was  intensely  dark,  and  the 
roads,  from  the  rains  and  the  passing  of  armies,  were 
but  swimming  beds  of  water,  and  when  we  attempted  to 
cross  the  fields  the  rich  soil,  if  not  as  deep,  made  a  more 
adhesive  mud.  And  as  if  to  increase  our  discomfort,  the 
elements  now  broke  forth  in  a  furious  night  tempest. 

I  have  not  been  able  to  ascertain  how  far  we  marched 
that  night,  but  it  could  not  have  been  many  miles,  though 
it  was  after  midnight  when  the  regiment  halted.  It 
seemed  to  us,  still  unaccustomed  to  campaigning,  like  an 
irony  of  military  fate  that  at  the  earliest  dawn  we  re- 
traced our  steps  and  marched  back  to  the  breastworks 
we  had  left  on  the  evening  before.  But  in  time  we  be- 
came accustomed  to  such  beyond-understanding  move- 
ments. Yet  now  we  did  not  halt  at  the  breastworks,  but 
continued  in  a  southeasterly  direction,  following  the  gen- 
eral course  of  the  Potomac  river,  and  before  night  we  had 
covered  twenty  miles,  arriving  at  Antietam  Iron  Works. 
Here  the  regiment  remained  until  the  morning  of  the 
following  day,  July  i6th,  when  it  again  took  up  the  line 


46  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

of  march  and  before  noon  reached  the  vicinity  of  Har- 
per's Ferry. 

At  this  point  the  Shenandoah  river,  flowing  in  a  north- 
erly direction  through  Virginia,  joins  the  Potomac. 
Here,  with  united  forces,  the  streams  pass  through  the 
Blue  Ridge  range  of  mountains  in  a  deep  and  picturesque 
gorge,  famed  for  its  romantic  beauty  and  grandeur.  The 
great  mountain  bluff  which  rises  on  the  north  side  of  this 
gorge  is  known  as  Maryland  Heights.  Following  our 
line  of  march  along  the  tow-path  of  the  old  canal  which 
borders  the  river,  we  passed  under  the  towering  heights 
and  around  to  their  southeastern  face.  Here  we  climbed 
to  a  little  side  valley  known  as  Pleasant  Valley,  and  went 
into  camp  near  Sandy  Hook. 

Up  to  this  time  we  had  been  brigaded  with  three 
Maryland  regiments,  which  were,  in  some  sense,  a  kind 
of  State  Militia,  for  they  were  enlisted  to  serve  north  of 
the  Potomac  only.  These  regiments  were  now  to  be  left 
behind,  and  in  the  new  organization  we  became  a  part  of 
the  3rd  Brigade,  ist  Division,  of  the  12th  Army  Corps. 
This  Corps  was  commanded  by  Major-General  Slocum. 
Colonel  Ketcham  was  ordered  to  report  to  General 
Thomas  H.  Ruger,  who  commanded  the  3rd  Brigade, 
and  we  thus  became  an  integral  part  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac. 

Harper's  Ferry  is  a  post  village  situated  on  the  south 
side  of  the  Potomac,  and  on  the  west  side  of  the  Shenan- 
doah where  these  rivers  join.  It  seemed  as  if  nature 
never  intended  the  place  for  a  town,  for  on  this  narrow 
peninsula  the  village,  from  very  necessity,  is  crowded 
together  on  the  steep  sidehill,  and  almost  overhangs  the 
water  fronts.      But  insignificant  as   tbc  place  itself  may 


FROM   GETTYSBURG  TO  VIRGINIA.  47 

appear,  it  is  connected  with  a  tragedy  which  is  ranked 
with  some  importance  among  the  nation's  epochs.  It  was 
the  scene  of  the  only  organized  stand  for  liberty  which' 
the  negro  race  have  ever  made  in  this  country. 

Some  of  us  visited  the  old  engine  house  which  had 
served  John  Brown  as  a  last  fortress,  and  in  which  he 
was  captured.  He  had  knocked  out  bricks  here  and 
there,  forming  embrasures  through  which  he  could  use 
his  muskets.  The  walls  had  been  mended,  but  the  dif- 
ference in  the  color  of  the  bricks  showed  plainly  where 
the  holes  had  been.  The  place  had  passed  through 
scenes  of  camp  and  battle  before  we  came  there,  and  the 
bridge  across  the  Potomac  had  been  destroyed;  but  there 
was  a  pontoon  bridge  in  its  stead,  which,  for  all  army 
purposes,  was  a  fairly  good  substitute. 

July  19th,  the  regiment  again  broke  camp,  feeling  a 
little  restored  by  its  two  days  of  rest,  and  marching  down 
the  hill,  and  again  under  the  overhanging  brow  of  Mary- 
land Heights,  we  took  our  place  in  the  seemingly  endless 
stream  of  men,  horses,  wagons  and  munitions  which  con- 
stituted the  army.  We  crossed  on  the  pontoon  bridge 
to  Harper's  Ferry,  and  skirting  along  the  water  fronts, 
crossed  the  Shenandoah  on  the  old  wooden  bridge,  and 
then  began  the  tiresome  mountain  climb  on  the  southern 
side  of  the  gorge  where  the  river  cleaves  the  Blue  Ridge 
mountains.  After  passing  over  the  mountain  we  skirted 
along  its  eastern  base  until  we  reached  the  vicinity  of 
Hillsdale,  where  the  regiment  halted  for  the  night.  On 
the  following  day  we  moved  some  eleven  miles  further 
and  went  into  camp  near  Snicker's  Gap,  where  the  regi- 
ment remained  three  days. 

The  locality  is  not  a  "  gap  "  in  the  ordinary  sense,  but  is 


48  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

a  dip  In  the  mountain  range,  where  a  road  leads  across  to 
the  Shenandoah  Valley  on  the  other  side.  The  point  Is  a 
place  of  some  strategic  Importance,  and  there  were  evi- 
dences on  every  hand  that  It  had  been  camped  upon  many 
times  before  our  arrival. 

This  rest  was  a  most  fortunate  one  for  the  regiment. 
In  the  condition  the  men  were  reduced  to  by  the  hard- 
ships of  war,  and  into  which  they  had  been  so  suddenly 
plunged.  It  seemed  to  us  that  Dame  Nature  had  espe- 
cially provided  here,  in  advance  of  our  coming,  a  healing 
balm  for  our  woes.  On  the  old  fields  and  hillsides  of 
the  abandoned  plantations  had  sprung  up  a  marvelous 
growth  of  blackberries,  and  they  were  just  then  in  their 
fullest  prime  of  ripeness.  As  may  readily  be  imagined, 
this  delicious  fruit,  with  its  well  known  healing  and  nour- 
ishing qualities,  was  to  us  a  veritable  feast  of  the  gods. 
The  men  roved  over  the  fields,  eating  unlimited  quanti- 
ties; In  fact  they  almost  lived  upon  them  for  a  few  days. 

We  were  now  at  the  western  border  of  that  great 
undulating  slope  which,  beginning  at  the  base  of  the  Blue 
Ridge  mountains,  stretches  away  eastward  to  the  Poto- 
mac river  and  Chesapeake  Bay,  and  over  which  so  much 
active  warfare  had  already  been  conducted  during  the 
previous  two  years.  On  the  morning  of  July  23rd,  the 
regiment  again  took  up  the  line  of  march,  and  passing  to 
the  westward  of  Upperville,  went  towards  Ashby's  Gap; 
then  returning,  came  back  through  Upperville,  and  after 
much  marching  anci  countermarching  at  last  halted,  about 
midnight,  a  few  miles  from  Manassas  Gap. 

But  our  rest  was  short,  for  by  four  in  the  morning  we 
were  again  on  the  road,  and  halted  for  the  next  night 
near   White   Plains.      On   the   next   day,   July    25th,   we 


FROM   GETTYSBURG  TO  VIRGINIA.  49 

marched  through  White  Plains  to  Haymarket,  and  on 
the  following  day  to  Warrenton  Junction,  where  the  regi- 
ment was  detained  for  fiv^e  days.  July  31st  we  moved 
about  sixteen  miles,  reaching  the  Rappahannock  river  at 
Kelley's  Ford,  and  on  the  following  day  crossed  the  river 
on  a  pontoon  bridge.  But  on  August  2nd  the  troops 
were  moved  to  the  north  side  of  the  river  again,  where 
the  regiment  established  a  more  permanent  camp. 

The  site  selected  for  this  camp  was  a  most  unfortunate 
one,  for  there  were  no  good  springs  in  its  immediate 
vicinity.  Though  not  close  to  the  river,  it  was  upon  the 
low  lands  adjoining  it,  and  it  was  peculiarly  subject  to 
the  malarial  fevers  which  infest  the  river  districts  of 
Virginia  during  the  heated  term  of  summer.  This  first 
campaign  of  an  unusually  hot  summer  was  a  very  trying 
one  for  the  men,  and  i»  their  reduced  condition  they  fell 
an  easy  prey  to  malaria,  typhoid  fever  and  dysentery,  and 
the  many  kindred  diseases. 

Some  conception  of  the  extent  of  the  sickness  may  be 
formed  when  it  is  stated  that  of  the  thirty-eight  commis- 
sioned officers  of  the  regiment  there  w^re  presently  but 
seven  who  reported  for  duty,  the  others  being  disabled  by 
reason  of  sickness;  and  a  like,  or  probably  greater,  pro- 
portion of  the  enlisted  men  were  in  a  similar  condition. 
The  hospitals  held  about  250  of  our  members,  but  they 
were  full  to  overflowing.  As  for  the  others,  they  were 
cared  for  In  the  camp  by  their  comrades  as  best  they 
might  be. 

Our  duty  here  consisted  in  guarding  the  ford.  The 
river  at  this  place  has  a  strength  of  current  which  made 
rapid  and  easy  fording  by  a  large  force  somewhat  difficult, 


50  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

hence    it    formed    a    natural    front    for    our   army    there 
encamped. 

After  a  month's  experience  with  these  malarial  low- 
lands, during  which  we  drank  bad  water  most  of  the  time, 
the  regiment  was  removed  a  mile  to  the  rear  and  placed  in 
a  new  camp  situated  on  a  little  hill  of  pines.  It  was  also, 
at  about  this  time,  excused  from  the  most  of  the  army 
duties.  The  sanitary  conditions  of  this  camp  were  much 
better,  and  there  was  soon  a  perceptible  improvement  in 
the  regimental  health.  But  on  September  15th  there  was 
another  forward  movement  of  the  army.  The  regiment 
again  crossed  the  Rappahannock,  and  passing  through 
Stevensburg,  marched  to  Raccoon  Ford  on  the  Rapidan; 
again  encamping  on  low,  swampy  ground.  It  was  now 
engaged  in  doing  picket  duty  until  September  24th,  when 
it  was  again  marched  northward,  reaching  Brandy  Station 
on  the  25th,  where,  for  the  first  time  since  leaving  Balti- 
more, the  regiment  was  paid. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

FROM  VIRGINIA  TO  TENNESSEE. 

By  Platt  C.  Curtiss. 

Traveling  in    Freight  Cars — Mountain    Scenery — Patriotism   on    the    Way — A    Winter 

Guarding  the  Railroad  — IVIurders  by  Bushwhackers — Taxing  the    Citizens 

to    Suppress    It — More    Murders — "The     Simple     Life" — 

Consolidation  of  Army  Corps — "Fighting  Joe." 

At  this  time  great  national  events  were  being  enacted 
in  the  West.  After  Grant's  triumph  at  Vicksburg  some 
of  his  troops  had  been  moved  towards  Lower  East  Ten- 
nessee, but  before  they  had  arrived,  there  had  been 
fought,  just  at  the  time  when  the  "  Dutchess  County 
Regiment  "  was  doing  picket  duty  on  the  Rapidan,  the 
battle  of  Chickamauga.  It  resulted  in  a  defeat  to  our 
army  there  engaged.  Yet  while  the  victory  was  nomi- 
nally with  the  Confederates,  it  had  cost  them  dearly, 
and  proved  to  be  a  barren  victory. 

Sherman  was  now  hurried  forward  from  Vicksburg 
towards  Chattanooga,  Tennessee,  with  reinforcements, 
while  arrangements  were  being  made  to  send  the  nth  and 
1 2th  Corps  from  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  to  the  same 
destination.  In  accordance  with  this  plan  for  the  dis- 
position of  forces,  on  September  27,  1863,  the  "  Dutchess 
County  Regiment,"  then  at  Bealton,  Va.,  some  twelve 
miles  north  of  the  Rappahannock,  loaded  itself  on  a 
freight  train  which  had  been  provided,  and  began  its 
journey  to  its  new  field  of  achievements,  in  the  West. 


52  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

The  cars  were  of  the  box  type,  much  smaller  than  the 
cars  of  to-day,  and  furnished  with  fixed  board  seats  run- 
ning transversely.  About  sixty  men  were  allotted  to  each 
car,  and  by  judicious  stowage  there  was  almost  room 
enough  for  each  man  to  have  a  seat.  These  were  the 
conditions  during  our  waking  hours.  Our  route  was  via 
Washington  and  Harper's  Ferry  and  across  the  Alle- 
ghany mountains  westward. 

The  exhilarating  and  bracing  effect  of  the  mountain 
air  and  bright  sunshine  of  late  September  soon  dispelled 
the  malaria  from  our  systems,  and  we  felt  like  "  Giants 
refreshed  with  new  wine."  And  the  magnificent  moun- 
tain scenery!  I  shall  not  attempt  to  describe  it.  Some- 
times we  skirted  along  the  brow  of  a  precipice  where  one 
might  look  down  a  sheer  thousand  feet  into  a  sea  of  foli- 
age of  variegated  hues,  and  anon  we  plunged  into  the  mid- 
night darkness  of  a  tunnel,  and  then  again  into  the  bright 
sunshine. 

We  were  not  making  schedule  time,  and  often  would 
be  on  the  side-track  for  hours,  thus  having  an  oppor- 
tunity to  boil  coffee  and  fry  bacon.  Of  course  our  com- 
missariat was  looked  after  as  well  as  human  foresight 
could  provide  for,  and  Colonel  Ketcham,  whose  first,  last 
and  constant  thought  was  the  welfare  and  comfort  of  his 
"  boys,"  was  constantly  on  hand  to  cheer  and  encourage 
us  by  his  genial  presence;  yet  there  were  many  deficiencies, 
even  in  our  limited  bill  of  fare. 

As  I  stated  previously,  our  space  in  the  car  allowed 
nearly  room  enough  for  each  man  to  breathe  in,  provided 
all  did  not  breathe  simultaneously,  in  which  event  the  sides 
of  the  car  would  have  been  unable  to  withstand  the  press- 
ure.    Then,    to    revert   to   a   subject   which    I    dread    to 


FROM  VIRGINIA  TO  TENNESSEE.  53 

think  of,  even  after  the  lapse  of  more  than  forty  years, 
I  will  endeavor  to  convey  to  your  minds  an  idea  of  how 
we  slept.  We  just  had  to  sleep.  Even  mountain  scenery 
and  rarefied  air  were  not  everything. 

Tired  Nature's  sweet  restorer  must  have  her  innings, 
and  we  found  by  actual  experiment  that  the  average  man 
required  about  two  and  a  half  or  three  times  more  space 
when  sleeping  in  a  recumbent  position  than  he  did  when 
awake  and  sitting  up.  We  also  discovered  that  when  we 
slept  in  layers  more  than  two  deep,  the  lower  strata 
showed  symptoms  of  discomfort,  and  was  disposed  to 
kick,  and  it  was  no  figurative  "kick"  either. 

Something  had  to  be  done.  To  the  roof  of  the  car! 
That's  the  idea  !  Along  the  centre  of  the  roof  of  the  car 
was  a  plank,  raised  a  couple  of  inches  by  blocks.  Those 
of  us  who  did  not  like  the  accommodations  of  the  dormi- 
tory inside,  could  come  up  to  the  roof  and  have  quarters 
on  top.  Such  of  us  as  went  to  the  roof  to  sleep  (about 
half  of  that  car  load  I  think)  took  the  precaution  to  lash 
ourselves  fast  to  the  plank  of  which  I  hav'e  spoken,  by 
canteen  straps  and  gun-slings,  so  that  Uncle  Sam  would 
not  lose  one  of  his  good  soldiers  during  the  night.  The 
government  owned  us  for  three  years,  and  we  had  no 
right  to  jeopardize  "  Government  property !" 

As  nearly  as  I  can  remember,  we  were  two  or  three 
days  and  nights  in  crossing  the  Alleghany  mountains, 
which  is  sub-divided  into  Blue  Ridge,  Shenandoah,  Poca- 
hontas and  Laurel  Ridge  ranges.  Finally  the  mountains 
came  to  an  end,  and  now  we  were  gliding  down  the  west- 
ern slope  of  the  Alleghanies  into  the  Ohio  Valley.  In 
due  time  we  arriveci  at  the  Ohio  river,  and  crossed  at 
Benwood,    four    miles    below    Wheeling.      Our    journey 


54  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

through  the  states  of  Ohio  and  Indiana  was  marked  by 
such  spontaneous  manifestations  of  patriotism  and  loyalty 
that  we  felt  as  though  we  were  really  back  in  "  God's 
Country  "  again. 

From  every  farm  house,  hamlet  and  town,  "  Old 
Glory  "  greeted  us,  and  more  than  ever  before  taught  us 
that  we  were  soldiers  of  a  country  well  worth  fighting 
for.  The  vast  cornfields  of  these  states,  sometimes  thou- 
sands of  acres  in  extent;  the  flourishing  cities  and  towns, 
with  apparently  uninterrupteci  traffic,  and  the  evidences  of 
material  prosperity  everywhere  visible,  broadened  our  view 
of  our  country's  greatness,  and  proved  to  our  minds  that 
the  resources  of  the  North  were  practically  unlimited. 

At  several  places  we  were  tendered  receptions  by  the 
citizens  en  masse;  notably  at  Xenia,  Ohio,  where  the 
pupils  of  a  young  ladies'  seminary,  arrayed  in  red,  white 
and  blue,  sang  patriotic  airs  and  waved  flags,  and,  best 
of  all,  gave  us  all  we  could  eat  and  drink;  and  at  last 
they  seemed  really  disappointed  that  our  capacity  had  a 
limit. 

Our  route  took  us  through  the  finest  sections  of  Ohio 
and  Indiana,  and  near  the  historic  scene  of  Colonel  George 
Rogers  Clark's  famous  expedition,  which  gained  for  us  the 
great  Northwest  in  the  preceding  century.  Crossing  the 
Ohio  river  again,  at  Jeffersonvllle,  Ind.,  we  landed  at 
Louisville,  Ky.,  on  the  southern  bank  of  the  river.  The 
"  Blue  Grass  ''  region  is  one  of  the  finest  countries  in  the 
world,  and  we  ceased  to  wonder  why  the  pioneer,  Daniel 
Boone,  forsook  civilization  and  chose  it  for  his  home. 

So  we  journeyed  southward  through  the  states  of  Ken- 
tucky and  Tennessee,  with  no  conductor  to  bother  us  about 
our  tickets,  and  never  a  worry  about  our  baggage,  nor 


FROM  VIRGINIA  TO  TENNESSEE.  55 

whether  we  should  be  able  to  connect  with  the  next  train. 
The  principal  source  of  anxiety  and  misgiving  with  the 
soldier  is  whether  his  rations  will  be  forthcoming  at  the 
proper  time,  and  whether  the  paymaster  will  appear  when 
he  is  due. 

We  arrived  in  Tennessee,  where  we  found  conditions 
much  the  same  as  in  Kentucky.  The  capital,  Nashville, 
is  situated  in  a  beautiful  section,  and  the  capitol  building 
was  a  rather  pretentious  edifice,  built  of  Tennessee  marble, 
and  founded  on  a  limestone  ledge  several  acres  in  extent. 
In  time  we  arrived  at  the  Cumberland  Mountains  and 
commenced  their  slow  ascent.  There  were  heavy  grades 
to  be  overcome,  and  it  was  a  repetition,  in  a  lesser  degree, 
of  the  crossing  of  the  Alleghanies.  The  only  difference 
was  that  by  this  time  we  had  become  physically  hardened, 
calloused  and  toughened  to  such  a  degree  that  we  could 
scarcely  detect  the  difference  between  the  hard  and  soft 
sides  of  a  board,  and  could  sleep  anywhere,  everywhere, 
and  at  any  time. 

At  last  we  reached  the  northern  portion  of  Alabama, 
and  it  struck  us  as  a  curious  coincidence  that  the  name 
of  the  state  is  said  to  be  the  Indian  synonym  for  "  Here 
We  Rest."  It  is  a  record  of  fact  which  I  write,  that 
after  we  disembarked  from  our  nine  days'  ride,  it  took 
us  some  time  to  get  the  kinks  out  of  our  legs,  and  get 
into  shape  for  marching. 

But  our  rest  in  Alabama  was  brief.  A  portion  of  our 
Corps  went  on  still  further,  to  where  East  Tennessee 
borders  on  Georgia,  where  they  participated  in  the  battles 
of  Lookout  Mountain  and  Missionary  Ridge,  while  the 
balance  of  the  Corps,  including  our  Division  (the  ist 
Division)    was  sent  back  to  guard  the  railroad  between 


56  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Nashville  and  Chattanooga,  for  it  was  constantly  menaced 
by  the  enemy's  cavalry.  Headquarters  of  the  12th  Army 
Corps,  Major-General  Henry  W.  Slocum  commanding, 
was  established  at  Tullahoma,  Tenn.,  on  the  Nashville  and 
Chattanooga  R.  R.  It  is  in  the  county  of  Coffee,  near 
the  southern  tier  of  counties  which  border  on  Alabama. 

Our  regiment  was  sent  to  Normandy,  seven  miles  north 
of  Tullahoma.  At  Normandy  there  is  a  considerable 
stream,  Duck  River,  a  branch  of  which  is  spanned  at  that 
place  by  a  railroad  bridge  of  some  height  and  length,  and 
it  was  the  special  duty  of  our  regiment  to  guard  this 
structure.  Rising  abruptly  at  the  end  of  the  bridge,  on 
the  southeast,  was  a  hill  some  two  hundred  feet  in  height, 
and  at  the  north  end  of  this  hill  was  an  opening  in  the 
rocks,  which  was  the  entrance  to  a  cave  of  considerable 
extent. 

It  was  said  to  have  been  a  rendezvous  and  hiding  place 
for  guerillas  who  fired  on  passing  trains,  and  as  they  fired 
from  within  the  cave  it  was  impossible  to  determine  where 
the  shots  came  from. 

Opposite  regimental  headquarters  was  an  old  black- 
smith shop,  and  here,  during  the  winter,  religious  ser- 
vices were  held,  and  the  room  was  usually  well  filled. 
Many  of  the  men  were  afflicted  at  this  time  with  scurvy, 
caused  by  a  lack  of  vegetable  food,  and  several  consign- 
ments of  sanitary  stores,  such  as  pickled  onions,  dried 
fruits,  condensed  milk,  vegetables,  etc.,  from  the  Sani- 
tary Commission,  greatly  improved  the  health  of  the 
regiment. 

There  were  also  consignments  from  the  same  source 
of  delicacies  for  such  as  were  in  the  hospital,  and  a  large 
trunk,   filled  with  stockings   and   mittens,   sent   from   the 


FROM  VIRGINIA  TO  TENNESSEE.  57 

Presbyterian  Church  In  Poughkeepsie,  arriving  in  Febru- 
ary, the  contents  were  distributed  among  the  men,  gen- 
erally while  they  were  on  picket  duty.  The  Christian 
Commission  also  contributed  many  comforts,  including 
even  literature  for  the  lads  who  were  lonesome. 

These  two  "  Commissions  "  were  voluntary  organiza- 
tions of  citizens,  by  means  of  which  the  loyal  people  of 
the  North  kept  in  touch  with  the  volunteer  soldiers  of  the 
civil  war.  Their  agents  were  usually  the  Chaplains  of 
the  regiments,  and  through  them  the  armies  in  the  field, 
as  well  as  the  sick  in  the  hundreds  of  hospitals,  were  sup- 
plied with  many  comforts  which  could  not  well  have  been 
furnished  by  the  War  Department. 

There  were  many  of  the  natives  who  led  double  lives. 
Part  of  the  time  they  were  guerillas,  or  "  bushwhackers," 
as  they  were  termed  in  the  army  slang  of  that  day,  and 
at  other  times  they  would  be — apparently — peaceful  citi- 
zens. It  was  found  to  be  difficult  to  fasten  proof  on 
these  marauders,  and  therefore  the  general  in  command 
of  that  department  resolved  to  adopt  heroic  measures  to 
suppress  such  illegitimate  methods  of  warfare,  and  an 
order  for  that  purpose  was  issued  by  Maj.-Gen.  George 
H.  Thomas. 

After  recounting  the  circumstances  of  one  of  the  worst 
instances,  which  the  General  spoke  of  as  "  these  atrocious 
and  cold-blooded  murders,  equaling  in  savage  ferocity 
any  ever  committed  by  the  most  barbarous  tribes  on  this 
continent,"  etc.,  the  order  proceeded  to  direct  that  a 
tax  of  $30,000  should  be  levied  on  the  property  of  rebel 
citizens  living  within  ten  miles  of  where  the  murders 
were  committed,  and  the  money,  when  collected,  divided 
among  the  families  of  the  murdered  men. 


58  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Some  of  these  murderers  were  sub^quently  captured, 
and  were  tried  by  a  Military  Commission  sitting  at  Tulla- 
homa.  They  had  able  lawyers  who  appeared  for  their 
defense,  but  the  evidence  against  them  was  too  conclusive 
to  admit  of  a  doubt,  and  their  conviction  followed.  They 
were  executed  at  Nashville  not  long  after. 

In  pursuance  of  this  order.  General  Slocum  detailed  six 
companies  of  our  regiment,  and  a  squadron  of  cavalry, 
Colonel  Ketcham  in  command,  to  collect  the  tax.  The 
battalion  broke  camp  January  i6,  1864,  and  by  the 
middle  of  the  afternoon  was  well  on  the  way  to  Tulla- 
homa.  The  country  through  which  we  passed  during 
this  first  day  had  no  fences,  and  but  few  cultivated  fields, 
and  was,  for  the  most  part,  thickly  wooded. 

The  companies  reported  at  General  Ruger's  head- 
quarters at  nightfall,  and  preparations  were  made  for  an 
early  start  in  the  morning.  This  portion  of  the  expedition 
consisted,  beside  the  six  companies  of  our  regiment,  of 
which  I  have  spoken,  of  ten  mounted  officers,  four  six-mule 
wagons  and  two  ambulances.  Colonel  Ketcham  remained 
until  the  next  day,  to  bring  up  the  squadron  of  cavalry. 

The  weather,  although  it  was  mid-winter,  was  balmy, 
and  at  mid-day  positively  warm,  and  the  men,  who  were 
in  heavy  marching  order,  perspired  freely,  so  that  fre- 
quent stops  for  rest  were  granted.  On  our  route  we 
passed  a  house  which  was  said  to  have  been  at  one  time 
the  home  of  the  world-renowned  Davy  Crockett,  and  this 
locality  was  the  scene  of  many  of  his  wonderful  feats 
with  gun  and  trap.  The  close  of  the  day  found  the 
expedition  at  Lynchburg,  a  small  village  with  houses  all 
on  the  main  road,  and  with  about  a  dozen  stores,  all 
of  which  however  were  closed. 


FROM  VIRGINIA  TO  TENNESSEE.  59 

The  farmers  were  generally  well  off  in  worldly  goods, 
and  In  making  an  apportionment  of  the  tax,  from  the 
County  Records,  Colonel  Ketcham  found  two  men  in  the 
assessed  district  worth  over  a  million  dollars  each,  and 
five  others  worth  over  a  half  million  each.  The  position 
of  these  men  was  a  trying  one,  and  they  were  to  be  made 
to  feel  the  cost  of  secession  as  they  had  never  felt  it 
before. 

On  the  second  day  out,  the  forage  train  visited  two 
plantations  and  filled  50  army  wagons  with  corn  and  oats, 
and  then  piled  corn  stalks  on  top.  From  another  farm 
there  was  gathered  3,000  bushels  of  oats  and  corn,  and  a 
large  number  of  cattle.  For  all  of  this  property  receipts 
were  given  to  the  owners  by  the  officer  In  command  of 
the  forage  train.  The  battalion  was  on  the  march  by 
8  A.  M.  on  the  following  day,  and  by  noon  had  reached 
Mulberry,  the  County  Seat  of  Lincoln  County.  We  found 
the  stores  closed,  and  most  of  the  houses  deserted,  and 
the  citizens  who  remained  said  that  similar  conditions 
prevailed  throughout  the  state. 

Headquarters  was  established  In  a  well-built  house  of 
brick,  which  stood  in  the  center  of  the  village,  and  Cap- 
tain Cogswell,  of  Co.  A,  occupied  a  house  near  the 
village  church.  There  was  no  sugar  to  be  had,  and 
honey  was  used  to  sweeten  our  coffee,  but  as  there  were 
plenty  of  chickens,  and  some  wild  game,  we  did  not  suffer 
for  lack  of  meat.  On  Sunday,  January  24th,  services 
were  held  by  Chaplain  Bartlett  of  our  regiment,  in  the 
Baptist  Church,  and  he  had  a  large  attendance,  for,  beside 
the  six  companies  of  the  150th,  nearly  one  hundred  of 
the  citizens  attended. 

The  expedition  lasted  two  weeks,  and,  Its  object  having 


60  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

been  satisfactorily  accomplished,  a  return  to  TuUahoma 
was  ordered.  The  return  journey  was  marked  by  the 
murder  of  two  of  our  men  by  the  guerillas  of  that  section. 
George  Lovelace  and  John  Odell  were  leading  horses  a 
short  distance  in  advance  of  the  main  column,  which  was 
moving  leisurely  along  without  the  least  idea  of  danger. 
The  two  men  had  gone  not  over  half  a  mile  ahead,  around 
a  turn  in  the  road  between  the  hills,  when  down  came  a 
squad  of  guerillas  in  front  of  them,  while  another  gang 
came  up  in  their  rear,  all  firing  as  they  closed  in  on  their 
victims.  Both  men  were  killed  outright,  being  shot 
through  the  lungs  in  both  cases,  one  from  the  back  and 
the  other  through  the  breast. 

The  regiment,  alarmed  by  the  fusillade,  hastened  to 
the  spot,  only  to  find  the  two  men  dead,  one  in  the  road- 
way and  the  other  in  a  cornfield  near  at  hand.  Lieut. 
Bowman  gave  chase  with  a  squad  of  cavalry  and  after  a 
pursuit  of  seven  or  eight  miles  succeeded  in  recapturing 
the  horses  and  wounding  several  of  the  guerillas,  and 
finding  two  pairs  of  boots,  and  several  other  articles 
plundered  from  the  bodies  of  our  unfortunate  comrades. 

Their  bodies  were  tenderly  taken  up,  placed  in  the  am- 
bulance, and  brought  sadly  into  camp.  The  next  day  the 
funeral  was  held,  and  the  late  lamented  Captain  Woodin, 
in  a  letter  which  was  published  in  the  Poughkeepsie  Eagle, 
rendered  a  graphic  account  of  the  impressive  ceremonies, 
which  were  of  a  military  character,  conducted  by  Chaplain 
Bartlett;  the  remains  being  escorted  to  the  grave  by  the 
Regimental  Band,  which  played  a  dead  march  for  the 
whole  distance. 

Colonel  Ketcham  having  succeeded  in  collecting  $5,000 
more  than  was  required  by  the  order,  recommended  that 


FROM  VIRGINIA  TO  TENNESSEE.  61 

the  amount  be  equally  divided  between  the  families  of 
these  two  comrades,  and,  his  recommendation  being  ap- 
proved by  the  Government,  the  wiciows  of  Lovelace  and 
Odell  each  received  $2,500. 

Four  of  the  ten  companies  composing  our  regiment 
were  not  stationed  at  Normandy  during  the  winter.  Two 
companies,  I  and  H,  were  detailed  to  guard  a  water  tank 
near  Wartrace,  Tenn.,  where  all  trains  stopped  for  water. 
They  built  there  a  block-house  of  hewn  logs,  for  we  had 
several  men  who  were  carpenters  before  they  became 
soldiers.  The  block-house  was  two  stories  in  height,  the 
upper  story  being  placed  octagonally  upon  the  lower,  so 
that  the  house  had  eight  fronts,  with  loop-holes  for  our 
rifles.  The  timbers  were  eight  inches  square  and  thirty 
feet  in  length,  and  it  cost  us  considerable  labor,  working 
as  we  did  with  poor  and  insufficient  tools,  but  the  result 
was  quite  satisfactory.  Though  we  never  had  occasion 
to  use  the  structure  as  a  defense,  yet  we  did  use  it  as  a 
shelter.  Trains  were  passing  at  all  hours  of  the  day  and 
night,  loaded  with  munitions  and  supplies  for  the  front. 

After  a  few  weeks  of  duty  at  this  place.  Companies  I 
and  G  were  sent  to  guard  the  bridge  which  spanned  the 
Duck  river  near  Wartrace,  Tenn.,  Lieutenant  Undenvood 
being  in  command.  This  bridge  was  an  important  link 
in  the  line  of  communication,  and  its  destruction  would 
have  been  a  serious  affair.  As  soon  as  we  arrived,  we 
set  to  work  building  our  huts  for  shelter  and  warmth, 
using  logs  for  walls,  and  boards  when  we  could  get  them, 
for  the  roofs  and  floors.  Each  hut  had  a  large  fire-place 
and  chimney  constructed  of  stones  and  clay  mortar.  The 
dimensions  of  our  huts  were  about  8x12  feet,  and  they 
were   expected  to  house  five   or  six  men   each.        Rude 


62  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT, 

bunks  were  built  in  tiers  across  the  rear  end,   and  were 
the  principal  part  of  our  furniture. 

Duck  river  runs  through  an  ideal  farming  country,  for 
the  soil  is  fertile  and  the  water  excellent,  while  the  wooded 
portion,  which  was  at  that  time  a  virgin  forest,  included 
a  vast  amount  of  splendid  timber.  Along  the  river  were 
large  tracts  of  level  bottom-lands  covered  with  tall  broom- 
grass  which  afforded  fine  shelter  for  rabbits.  Amuse- 
ments were  not  abundant  then,  and  occasionally,  when 
conditions  were  favorable,  we  would  organize  a  round-up 
of  rabbits.  We  would  surround  a  tract  of  say  fifty  acres, 
and  at  a  given  signal  each  one  of  us  would  move  towards 
a  common  center,  beating  the  grass  with  a  pole,  and  shout- 
ing. As  we  narrowed  the  circle  we  could  see  the  quarry 
jumping  here  and  there  and  the  grass  waving  from  their 
movements,  and  at  its  close  we  were  generally  rewarded 
with  a  good  catch. 

Mails  came  to  us  with  reasonable  regularity,  but  read- 
ing matter  was  scarce  in  camp,  and  the  surrounding  com- 
munity was  by  no  means  of  a  high  literary  character;  in 
fact  it  was  quite  the  reverse.  That  country  was  then 
comparatively  new,  and  hence  was  as  yet  sparsely  settled, 
and  several  conscriptions  by  the  Confederacy  had  robbed 
the  community  of  its  young  and  middle-aged  men,  leaving 
only  the  youths  and  aged  at  home.  The  female  portion 
of  the  remaining  society  were  very  outspoken  in  their 
sentiments  regarding  the  war,  and  firmly  believed  in  the 
justice  and  ultimate  success  of  the  Southern  cause. 

Wartrace  was  a  small  station  on  the  railroad,  and  con- 
sisted, at  the  time  of  which  I  write,  of  a  depot  building, 
a  dozen  houses,  a  couple  of  general  stores  where  goods 
were  sold  or  bartered  for  produce,  a  blacksmith  shop  and 


FROM  VIRGINIA  TO  TENNESSEE.  63 

a  church.  It  was  a  primitive  community,  and  typical  of 
the  rural  districts  of  Tennessee  in  the  6o's.  A  rudely 
constructed  log  cabin,  often  all  in  one  room,  a  few  acres 
of  clearing,  sufficient  to  raise  corn  and  potatoes  to  fatten 
a  few  pigs  and  supply  corn  meal  for  the  making  of  the' 
ever-present  "  corn  pone,"  and,  incidentally,  enough  corn 
for  the  manufacture  of  "  Moonshine  "  whiskey,  which 
was  considered  by  these  people  to  be  one  of  the  prime 
necessities  of  life ;  such  was  the  home  of  the  "  poor  white  " 
of  Tennessee  at  that  time.  Their  wants  were  few,  and 
in  fact  they  were  the  exponents  of  "  The  Simple  Life." 

The  homes  of  the  slave  owners  were  of  a  more  luxuri- 
ant type,  but  gave  evidence  in  their  surroundings  of  a 
measure  of  barbaric  crudeness  of  a  most  lavish  character. 
They  were  in  no  respects  as  good,  nor  as  comfortable 
and  convenient,  as  the  residences  of  the  average  Northern 
farmers. 

The  health  of  the  regiment  was  good  at  that  time, 
very  few  of  its  members  being  in  the  hospital,  which 
argued  well  for  the  efficiency  of  our  medical  and  surgical 
department,  as  well  as  for  the  physical  condition  of  the 
men.  During  the  last  w^eek  in  March,  George  Pinhorn, 
of  Co.  B,  was  assisting  in  the  survey  of  a  road  from 
Tullahoma  to  Shelbyville.  While  he  and  William  Law- 
son  were  eating  their  dinner,  seated  on  a  log  under  a  tall 
tree,  the  wind,  which  was  blowing  hard  at  the  time,  broke 
off  a  large  limb  which  in  its  fall  struck  Pinhorn  on  the 
head  and  caused  his  death;  he  surviving  the  injury  but 
a  few  hours.      Pie  was  buried  at  Tullahoma. 

He  was  a  very  capable  young  man,  and  had,  but  a  short 
time  before,  been  detailed  to  the  Engineer  Corps,  and  it 
was  understood  that  he  was  soon  to  have  been  promoted 


64  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

to  the  rank  of  Captain.  The  same  limb  which  caused 
his  death  also  struck  a  cup  of  coffee  from  the  hand  of 
Lawson,  shattering  the  cup  into  many  fragments,  which 
he  afterward  sent  to  Engine  Company  No.  6,  of  Pough- 
keepsie,  of  which  he  was  a  member,  desiring  that  they 
should  have  a  souvenir  of  his  narrow  escape  from  death 
by  accident. 

At  last  the  month  of  March  had  taken  its  departure 
and  spring  time  had  come  in  the  Sunny  South,  the  buds 
bursting  into  life  after  their  winter  of  sleep.  Rumors 
of  the  coming  campaign,  which  was  to  be,  as  we  fondly 
hoped,  the  finish  of  the  war,  were  thick  in  the  air.  The 
note  of  preparation  was  sounded,  and  the  army  began 
to  make  final  preparations  for  an  active  campaign,  for 
there  was  considerable  vitality  yet  left  in  the  rebellion, 
and  it  died  hard. 

All  deficiencies  in  our  equipment  and  armament  were 
made  good,  and  everything  necessary  for  a  vigorous 
conduct  of  the  advance  into  the  heart  of  the  Confederacy 
was  furnished.  We  firmly  believed  that  the  coming  cam- 
paign would  see  the  national  authority  established  in  all 
the  states  which  had  defied  it.  So  when  marching  orders 
came  on  April  25,  1864,  we  thought  we  could  see  the 
beginning  of  the  end,  and  although  many  of  us  were 
fated  to  fall  upon  bloody  fields  of  battle,  we  were  glad 
when  the  order  was  given,  "  Break  camp  and  he  in  readi- 
ness to  march  for  the  front."  We  marched  for  "  the 
front "  at  the  date  appointed. 

By  General  Order  No.  144,  under  date  of  April  4, 
1864,  the  iith  and  12th  Army  Corps  (ours  was  the 
1 2th)  were  consolidated,  the  new  organization  thus 
formed  being  designated  the   20th  Army  Corps,  having 


FROM  VIRGINIA  TO  TENNESSEE.  65 

the  five-pointed  star  as  its  corps  badge,  and  it  was  placed 
under  the  command  of  Major-General  Joseph  Hooker; 
"  Fighting  Joe,"  as  he  was  familiarly  spoken  of  in  the 
ranks;  and  in  this  corps  we  entered  the  campaign  of  1864 
as  one  of  the  six  regiments  which  composed  the  2nd 
Brigade  of  its  ist  Division,  and  in  it  remained  until  the 
close  of  the  war.  It  was  destined  to  take  us  into  and 
through  the  Confederacy  to  the  Atlantic  coast,  and  north- 
ward through  the  Carolinas  and  Virginia  to  Washington 
again. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

FROM  NORMANDY  TO   RESACA. 

By  Stephen  G.  Cook. 

The  Peculiarities  of  Memory — The  Second  Pleasant  Winter  in  the  Army — The  iithand 
1 2th  Corps  Consolidated — Leaving  Normandy,  Tennessee,  for  a  .More   South- 
ern Trip — That  Thunder  Shower — A  Mule  "Potter's  Field" — 
Lookout    Mountain  —  Snake    Creek    Gap — Tiie 
Battle  of  Resaca. 

Some  one  has  said  that  "  Memories  brighten  as  they 
take  their  flight,"  and  I,  from  personal  experience,  believe 
the  saying  to  be  true.  What  old  soldier  is  there,  as  he 
looks  back  over  a  vista  of  forty  years  and  recalls  the  in- 
cidents of  his  army  service,  who  does  not  linger  with 
fondness  over  the  pleasanter  portions  of  it? 

The  sleeping  on  the  ground  in  the  rain  and  the  cold, 
the  weariness,  the  forced  marches,  the  hunger,  the  battle, 
the  diseases  contracted  and  even  the  wounds  received  are 
only  half  remembered,  but  the  merry  quip,  the  jest,  the 
songs  we  used  to  sing,  and  the  pleasures  of  good  com- 
radeship will  linger  in  our  minds  until  time  for  us  shall 
be  no  more.  Our  memories  at  best  go  back  clearly  but 
a  little  way,  or  if  they  go  back  far,  they  pick  up  here  a 
date  and  there  an  occurrence  half  forgotten,  and  of  those 
remembered  the  pleasantest  are  sure  to  be  much  the 
larger  portion.  We  forget  the  brambles  and  the  thorns 
and  remember  only  the  roses  and  the  wild  flowers  that 
bloomed  along  our  path. 

This  is  my  own  experience,  and  that  of  many  others 


FROM  NORMANDY  TO  RESACA.  67 

with  whom  I  hav^e  conversed  on  this  subject  and  I  behevx 
if  the  memories  of  the  two  hundred  hving  members 
(October,  1905,)  of  the  old  regiment  could  be  tested  it 
would  be  found  that  their  experience  would  correspond 
very  nearly  with  mine ;  another  evidence  of  the  kindness 
of  Divine  Providence. 

As  the  spring  of  1864  opened  the  regiment  could  real- 
ize that  it  had  passed  two  very  pleasant  winters  in  the 
service,  the  first  at  Baltimore,  surrounded  by  the  gaieties 
and  pleasures  of  that  intensely  Union  and  just  as  in- 
tensely Rebel  city,  between  which  conditions  its  inhabi- 
tants were  fairly  divided,  but  even  the  rebel  portion  could 
not  altogether  forget  its  native  hospitality  to  the  "  stran- 
gers within  her  gates,"  and  the  second  winter  at  Nor- 
mandy, Tenn.,  whose  rural  simplicity  was  in  striking  con- 
trast to  the  former,  but  where  we  enjoyed  ourselves  very 
well  in  an  entirely  different  way. 

On  April  4,  1864,  the  nth  and  12th  Army  Corps 
were  consolidated  and  made  the  20th  Corps  by  the  fol- 
lowing order: 

Genoral  Order  No.  144, 

Adjutant  Opnoral's  OfTicc, 
Washington,  D.  C. 
April  4,  18G4. 
Tlie  11th  and  12th  Army   Corps  are   eonsolidated   and  will   be  called 
the  20th  Corps.     Major  Ccn.  J.  Hooker  is  assigned  to  this  command. 

For  weeks  the  camp  was  filled  with  rumors  of  a  cam- 
paign to  the  south  of  us,  with  Atlanta,  Ga.,  as  the  objec- 
tive point.  The  rumors  thickened  as  the  spring  ad- 
vanced. How  they  originated  we  never  knew,  for  it  is 
not  likely  that  the  commanding  generals  gave  out  their 
plans  so  long  in  advance.      On  the  25th  of  April,   1864, 


68  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

the  long-looked-for  order  came,  and  on  Tuesday,  April 
26th,  we  started  upon  our  southern  pilgrimage. 

The  first  day  we  marched  only  to  Tullahoma,  a  dis- 
tance of  seven  miles.  There  we  were  joined  by  the  13th 
N.  J.,  2nd  Mass.  and  27th  Indiana  regiments.  The  3rd 
Wisconsin  and  107th  N.  Y.,  with  whom  we  had  also 
been  brigaded,  were  somewhere  a  short  distance  in  our 
rear,  guarding  a  wagon  train.  These  six  regiments,  from 
this  time  on,  composed  the  2nd  Brigade  of  the  ist  Divis- 
ion of  the  20th  Corps,  to  which  we  were  now  attached, 
under  the  command  of  General  "  Joe  "  Hooker. 

We  remained  at  Tullahoma  until  the  morning  of  April 
28,  1864,  preparing  for  the  work  we  then  instinctively 
knew  was  before  us,  when  we  again  started  on  our  south- 
ern march,  reaching  Decherd,  a  small  town  situated  near 
the  western  base  of  the  Cumberland  mountains,  a  distance 
of  thirteen  miles  from  Tullahoma  by  rail  and  probably 
fifteen  miles  by  the  route  we  took. 

Up  to  this  time  we  had  been  marching  close  to  the 
railroad  over  which  trains  of  sixteen  cars  were  following 
each  other  in  quick  succession  as  they  were  hurried  to 
the  front,  loaded  with  commissary  stores  for  the  army 
at  Chattanooga  and  for  a  reserve  for  the  summer  cam- 
paign. On  the  morning  of  April  29th  we  left  the  rail- 
road and  taking  an  apology  for  a  wagon  road  up  the 
mountain,  reached  the  top  and  that  night  encamped  on 
the  summit  of  the  Cumberland  Mountains,  on  a  broad 
plateau  some  six  or  seven  miles  in  width,  level  as  a  table 
and  heavily  timbered.  This  plateau  is  said  to  extend 
the  whole  length  of  these  mountains  as  though  they  had 
been  planed  down  by  some  tremendous  force  while  they 
were  in  a  more  plastic  condition  than  we  found  them. 


FROM   NORMANDY  TO  RESACA.  69 

During  the  night  we  were  treated  to  one  of  the  most 
terrific  thunder  showers  we  had  up  to  that  time,  or  have 
since,  ever  Hstened  to.  It  seemed  to  say,  "You  midgets 
think  you  are  somewhat  great  on  cannonading !  Just 
hsten  to  what  I  can  do."  We  Hstened.  It  is  a  promi- 
nent fact  that  every  one  of  the  numerous  diaries  in  my 
possession  speaks  of  this  thunder  shower  as  the  most  ter- 
rific in  the  writer's  experience. 

The  next  day,  April  30th,  we  descended  the  eastern 
slope  of  the  mountain,  coming  out  in  the  "  Big  Sequatchie 
Valley."  We  encamped  for  the  night  on  the  banks  of 
Battle  Creek,  noted  as  the  locality  of  many  a  hard-fought 
battle  between  General  Andrew  Jackson  and  the  Indian 
Chief  Wethersford. 

Up  to  this  point  the  country  was  familiar  to  us,  as  in 
the  fall  before  we  had  been  hurried  to  this  place  with  the 
view  of  taking  part  in  the  battle  of  Lookout  Mountain ; 
but  on  our  arrival  here  it  was  learned  that  the  battle 
had  been  fought  and  won,  and  we  were  ordered  back  to 
Normandy,  Tenn.,  to  guard  the  railroad,  or  "  Cracker 
Line  "  as  it  was  more  commonly  called,  and  where  we 
spent  the  winter. 

On  May  ist  about  11  A.  M.  we  reached  Bridgeport, 
Ala.,  which  for  several  months  had  been  the  southern 
terminus  of  the  Nashville  and  Chattanooga  railroad.  We 
had  expected  to  find  it  a  good  sized  town,  at  the  head  of 
steamboat  navigation  on  the  Tennessee  River.  Imagine 
our  surprise,  instead  of  streets,  stores,  dwellings,  churches 
and  hotels,  to  find  not  a  single  house  of  any  kind  except 
the  sheds  the  Government  had  built  to  protect  the  com- 
missary stores. 

This   may  have   been   only   the    railroad   station,    and 


70  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

there  may  have  been  a  "  City  of  Bridgeport  "  hidden 
away  behind  the  numerous  hills  and  mountains  in  the 
vicinity,  but  we  did  not  get  a  glimpse  of  it.  We  did  not 
tarry  there  long  enough  to  ask  many  questions,  but  kept 
right  on  until  about  nine  that  night,  encamping  in  a  wet 
cornfield,  the  atmosphere  of  which  was  pervaded  by  an 
almost  overpowering  smell  of  decaying  flesh.  The  next 
morning  we  found  we  had  encamped  in  a  Potter's  Field 
of  almost  numberless  dead  mules. 

Before  the  capture  of  Lookout  Mountain  by  Gen. 
Hooker's  troops  during  the  November  previous,  a  part 
of  the  railroad  between  Bridgeport  and  Chattanooga  was 
commanded  by  Confederate  guns  on  its  top  and  this 
wagon  roaci  we  were  following  was  the  only  route  for 
conveying  subsistence  to  the  troops  at  Chattanooga,  and 
the  dead  mules  left  by  the  roadside  were  very  numerous, 
and  the  turkey  buzzards  had  not  yet  completed  their 
gruesome  task. 

On  the  night  of  May  2nd  we  encamped  at  Whitesides, 
by  the  side  of  the  railroad  and  well  wedged  in  by  moun- 
tains. We  awoke  in  the  morning  to  find  there  had  been 
quite  a  frost  during  the  night,  the  pools  having  a 
decided  skim  of  ice  on  their  surface  and  the  leaves  on  the 
trees  being  frozen  stiff.  We  thought  this  pretty  good 
for  the  "  Sunny  South  "  in  early  May,  Dutchess  County 
seldom   doing  better. 

During  the  day  of  May  3d  we  crossed  the  nose  of 
Lookout  Mountain,  which  extends  northward  toward 
Chattanooga  and  the  Tennessee  River  like  a  cowcatcher 
on  a  locomotive.  Chattanooga  was  lying  to  the  north, 
seemingly  at  our  feet,  but  really  three  miles  distant. 

The  mountain  itself  rises  a  steep  1800  feet  above  the 


FROM  NORMANDY  TO  RESACA.  71 

river  which  washes  its  northern  base,  and  up  near  the  top 
commenced  a  precipice  thirty  to  sixty  feet  in  height,  re- 
sembHng  the  "  Pahsades  "  on  the  lower  Hudson  River. 
How  General  Hooker's  forces  ever  succeeded  in  driving 
the  rebels  from  the  top  of  this  mountain  seems  unaccount- 
able, but  they  did  and  the  "  Battle  of  Lookout  Mountain  " 
will  forever  be  famous  in  history.  ^'  Nothing  succeeds 
like  success."  Had  it  failed,  it  would  have  been  char- 
acterized as  "  foolhardy."  It  is  sometimes  poetically  re- 
ferred to  as  the  "  Battle  above  the  clouds." 

The  railroad  from  Bridgeport  to  Chattanooga  was  then 
quickly  repaired  and  there  was  no  longer  a  necessity  for 
a  "  Potter's  Field "  of  dead  mules  in  the  valley  lying 
between  them. 

We  encamped  the  night  of  May  3d  on  the  western 
slope  of  Missionary  Ridge  in  a  location  from  which  we 
could  see  the  elaborate  preparations  the  enemy  had  made 
to  give  us  a  cordial  reception.  The  forests  were  leveled 
on  the  western  slope  of  every  hill  to  the  east  of  us,  while 
rifle  pits,  breastworks,  battery  pits  and  forts  sprouted 
forth  in  every  conceivable  position.  All  those  had  been 
abandoned  and  they  were  awaiting  our  coming  a  few 
miles  farther  south,  their  main  army  being  at  Dalton, 
some  twenty-five  or  thirty  miles  to  the  southeast  of  Look- 
out Mountain. 

Somewhere  during  this  march  we  had  our  first  view  of 
General  U.  S.  Grant,  who  afterwards  was  to  figure  so  con- 
spicuously in  the  history  of  the  war  of  the  rebellion.  He 
was  then  known  to  us  as  the  hero  of  Shiloh,  Donelson  and 
Vicksburg. 

The  story  was  then  current  that  a  party  of  temperance 
fanatics  had  called  upon  President  Lincoln  and  informed 


72  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

him  thcit  the  General  was  addicted  to  drinking  too  much 
whiskey  and  asked  for  his  removal.  After  listening  to 
them  the  President  kindly  asked  them  if  they  knew  from 
what  particular  source  he  obtained  it,  adding  that  if  they 
would  inform  him  he  would  send  a  gallon  to  every  Gen- 
eral in  the  army. 

I  have  forgotten  at  which  station  it  was  that,  when  the 
cars  stopped,  he  stepped  out  on  the  rear  platform  of  the 
only  passenger  car  on  the  rear  end  of  a  long  freight  train 
and  quietly  looked  us  over.  The  boys,  recognizing  him 
at  once,  began  to  call  "  Speech!  Speech!  "  With  a  smile 
he  quietly  shook  his  head,  as  much  as  to  say,  "  You  may 
hear  from  me  later  but  not  in  the  way  of  speechmaking." 

We  did  not  know  then  (at  least  I  did  not)  that  he 
had  been  placed  in  command  of  all  the  Union  Armies. 
In  March  he  had  been  summoned  to  Washington  by  Presi- 
dent Lincoln,  with  whom  he  then  had  his  first  interview, 
and  had  received  his  commission  of  Lieutenant-General, 
the  highest  rank  in  the  United  States  Army.  He  had 
come  south  to  Tennessee  and  Georgia  to  confer  with  Gen. 
Sherman,  whom  he  had  placed  in  command  of  the  armies 
now  concentrated  in  and  around  Chattanooga.  From 
later  information  we  learned  that  there  was  to  be  a  gen- 
eral forward  movement  of  the  army  under  General  Meade 
across  the  Rapidan  as  his  centre,  Butler's  army  at  Fort- 
ress Monroe  as  his  left,  and  Sherman's  at  Chattanooga 
as  his  right  wing. 

These  three  armies  were  to  move  simultaneously  and 
the  4th  of  May  had  been  selected  as  the  date.  Up  to 
this  time  there  had  been  no  concert  of  action  between  the 
several  Union  Armies.  Heretofore  General  Lee,  occupy- 
ing  interior  lines,  could   easily   detach   a   portion  of  his 


FROM  NORMANDY  TO  RESACA.  73 

troops  from  one  army  to  assist  another  when  threatened 
with  disaster,  but  a  general  advance  of  all  the  Union  Army 
on  the  same  date  frustrated  a  repetition  of  these  tactics 
on  the  part  of  General  Lee. 

It  is  related  that  when  General  Grant  was  making  one 
of  his  forward  movements  with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
it  was  reported  to  him  that  General  Johnston  had  detached 
General  Longstreet's  Corps  to  assist  General  Lee  in  the 
defence  of  Richmond.  He  telegraphed  General  Sherman 
about  this  report,  and  General  Sherman  telegraphed  back 
this  characteristic  reply,  "  Don't  believe  a  word  of  it. 
I  am  keeping  him  too  busy  down  here." 

In  accordance  with  this  general  plan,  Sherman's  army, 
of  which  our  regiment  had  almost  unconsciously  become 
a  part,  started  from  Chattanooga  and  vicinity  on  May  4, 
1864,  to  try  conclusions  with  General  "Joe"  Johnston's 
army,  whose  headquarters  were  then  at  Dalton,  Ga. 
Between  the  elevations  of  two  great  mountain  ranges,  the 
Cumberland  and  the  Alleghany,  lies  the  valley  of  East 
Tennessee.  The  Tennessee  River  sw^eeps  southward 
throughout  its  length,  and  embraced  in  one  of  its  graceful 
curves  near  the  valley's  southern  extremity  lies  the  town 
of  Chattanooga,  and  from  that  point  the  river  rushes 
away  to  the  west  through  mountain  gorges.  It  was  a 
strategic  point  of  great  value;  "  The  gateway  to  the  Con- 
federacy," as  it  was  termed,  and  our  feet  were  firmly 
planted  in  the  "  gateway,"  never  to  be  forced  out  again. 

To  the  south  and  west  of  Chattanooga  is  a  country 
where  hills,  spurs,  valleys  with  riv^ers,  isolated  peaks, 
with  mountains  both  large  and  small,  are  mingled  to- 
gether in  a  manner  confusing  to  the  student  of  geography, 
and  it  was  among  these  that  the  enemy  had  now — the 


74  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Spring  of  1864 — taken  positions  of  defense.  One  of 
the  mountains,  "  Rocky  Face,"  had  been  tunneled  to  per- 
mit the  passage  of  the  railroad.  The  mountain  itself  was 
known  as  "  Tunnel  Hill,"  while  its  top  was  known  as 
"  Buzzards  Roost,"  names  familiar  to  every  survivor  of 
the  old  regiment,  for  on  and  around  them  occurred  a 
good  deal  of  skirmish  fighting  and  some  severe  battles, 
as  these  positions  were  the  key  to  our  further  advance 
towards  Dalton,  our  first  real  objective  point. 

Between  these  mountainous  spurs  are  several  streams 
winding  their  way  in  a  southerly  direction  towards  the 
Atlantic  Ocean.  Our  Corps  (Hooker's)  was  ordered 
through  "Snake  Creek  Gap"  several  miles  to  the  west 
of  the  railroad  and  terminating  south  of  Dalton.  Here 
we  had  the  distinction  of  seeing  General  Kllpatrlck  of  the 
Cavalry  carried  to  the  rear  wounded,  and  where  I  had 
the  honor  of  taking  off  his  blood-soaked  dressings,  and 
substituting  fresh  ones.  We  thought  a  lot  of  "  Killy  " 
and  were  very  sorry  not  to  have  him  in  front  of  us.  His 
wound  proved  to  be  not  serious  and  a  few  days  later  he 
was  again  at  the  head  of  his  cavalry,  selecting  a  pathway 
for  us  to  the  "  Gate  City,"  as  Atlanta  was  then  and  is  now 
called. 

If  my  memory  plays  me  no  tricks  we  were  one  day  and 
two  nights  In  this  "gap"  without  seeing  a  single  "snake," 
but  during  one  of  the  nights,  owing  to  heavy  rains,  the 
creek  became  a  roaring  torrent,  driving  us  from  Its  im- 
mediate banks  and  causing  us  to  seek  such  shelter  as  we 
could  on  the  adjoining  hillsides.  Memory  still  retains  a 
distinct  recollection  of  the  inconvenience  and  suffering  we 
underwent  that  night  in  the  cold,  pouring  rain,  without 
shelter  or  chance  of  warmth,  but  the  sun  shone  the  next 


FROM  NORMANDY  TO  RE  SAC  A.  75 

day  and  the  miseries  of  "Snake  Creek  Gap  "  were  things 
of  the  past. 

For  some  reason  not  generally  understood,  General 
Sherman  distrusted  our  Corps  Commander,  "  Fighting 
Joe  "  Hooker,  and  during  the  day  we  were  lying  in  this 
"  gap  "  we  had  the  mortification  to  see  General  McPher- 
son's  Corps  march  past  us  to  take  the  initiative  in  the 
attack  upon  Resaca  when  we  should  emerge  onto  the 
plains  south  of  it. 

All  generals  make  mistakes  and  this  was  one  of  General 
Sherman's,  in  selecting  McPherson  to  take  the  command 
instead  of  General  Hooker.  He  practically  admits  this  in 
his  "Personal  Memoirs"  (page  34,  2d  Vol.),  wherein 
he  says,  "  McPherson  startled  Johnston  in  his  fancied 
security,  but  had  not  done  the  full  measure  of  his  work. 
He  had  in  hand  twenty-three  thousand  of  the  best  men 
of  the  Army  and  could  have  walked  into  Resaca  (then 
held  by  a  small  brigade),  or  he  could  have  placed  his 
whole  force  astride  the  railroad  above  Resaca,  and  there 
withstood  the  attack  of  all  Johnston's  Army,  with  the 
knowledge  that  Thomas  and  Schofield  were  on  his  heels. 
Had  he  done  so,  I  am  certain  that  Johnston  would  not 
have  ventured  to  attack  him  in  position  but  would  have 
retreated  eastward  by  Spring  Place,  and  we  should  have 
captured  half  his  army  and  all  of  his  artillery  and  wagons 
at  the  very  beginning  of  the  campaign.  Such  an  oppor- 
tunity does  not  occur  twice  in  a  lifetime,  but  at  the 
critical  moment  McPherson  seems  to  have  been  a  little 
too  cautious." 

Knowing  of  their  intimate  friendship  and  of  his  esteem 
for  McPherson  it  was  not  to  be  expected  that  he  would 
criticise  very  harshly;  hence  the  mildness  of  the  foregoing 


76  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

criticism.  But  had  Hooker  made  such  a  bkinder  he 
would  have  had  him  court  martialed  and  driven  out  of 
the  army  in  disgrace.  Think  for  a  moment  what  this 
would  have  meant  for  us  in  that  Atlanta  campaign;  "  Half 
of  Joe  Johnston's  army  captured,  and  all  his  artillery  and 
wagons,  at  the  very  beginning  of  the  campaign."  Why, 
the  rest  of  the  route  to  Atlanta  would  have  been  a  "  walk 
over,"  and  Oh,  the  time,  the  skirmishing,  the  fighting, 
the  flanking  and  the  lives  it  would  have  saved!  After 
forty  years  to  get  indignant  about  the  blunder  McPherson 
then  made,  is  unseemly,  perhaps,  but  how  can  I  help  it? 
Tennyson  says,  "  There  is  no  fool  like  the  old  fool,"  and 
I  subscribe  to  the  sentiment. 

The  distance  between  Dalton  and  Resaca  is  about  eigh- 
teen miles.  They  are  both  on  the  railroad  leading  from 
Chattanooga  to  Atlanta,  and  at  the  former  place  Gen. 
Johnston  had  concentrated  his  main  army  behind  very 
strong  natural  and  artificial  fortifications  to  await  our 
coming. 

Sherman  in  his  "  Memoirs  "  says  that  the  passage  of 
our  army  through  Snake  Creek  Gap  was  "  a  complete 
surprise  to  the  enemy."  To  a  non-combatant  this  seems 
utterly  incomprehensible.  Further  on  (page  36)  he  re- 
peats the  statement,  "The  movement  through  Snake  Creek 
Gap  was  a  total  surprise  to  him."      (General  Johnston.) 

According  to  the  scale  of  miles  on  the  war  map  in  my 
possession  the  distance  between  Resaca  and  Snake  Creek 
Gap  is,  in  a  straight  line,  about  seven  miles. 

How  a  general  of  Johnston's  acknowledged  ability 
could  allow  an  army  of  twenty-three  thousand  men  to  be 
placed  in  his  rear,  and  on  his  principal  line  of  communica- 
tion  without  his  knowledge   and  to   his   "  complete   sur- 


FROM  NOR^IANDY  TO  RESACA.  77 

prise,"  is  unaccountable.  He  must  have  been  laboring 
under  the  delusion  that  Sherman's  army,  in  order  to  ac- 
complish its  purpose,  must  first  capture  his  extraordinary 
fortified  position  at  Dalton.  The  appearance  of  Hooker's 
and  McPherson's  corps  some  twenty  or  more  miles  in  his 
rear  must  have  been  a  startling  revelation  to  him.  At 
any  rate,  it  caused  him  to  abandon  his  almost  impregnable 
position  at  Dalton  and  to  fall  back  to  Resaca  which  had 
also  been  strongly  fortified  lest  some  unlooked-for  emer- 
gency should  compel  its  occupation.  In  fact,  the  whole 
route  down  to  Atlanta  for  a  hundred  miles  or  more  had 
been  strongly  fortified  in  many  places  in  anticipation  of 
reverses  to  the  Confederate  army. 

As  I  look  back  over  a  vista  of  forty  years  it  seems  to 
me  that  had  General  Johnston  fortified  this  "  gap  "  in  the 
mountain,  a  thousand  men  could  have  held  it  against 
Sherman's  whole  army,  as  the  three  hundred  Spartans  held 
the  pass  of  Thermopylae  against  the  immense  Persian 
Army  of  Xerxes.      Fortunately  for  us  he  did  not  do  it. 

We  emerged  from  "  Snake  Creek  Gap  "  into  "  Sugar 
Valley  "  on  May  9th  and  during  the  next  few  days  were 
shifted  from  place  to  place  as  we  might  be  needed  as  a 
'*  reserve  "  for  the  23d  Corps,  now  in  our  advance. 
Everybody  felt  that  the  prelude  to  a  big  battle  was  being 
played  and  that  it  was  not  far  off.  A  rebel  battery  on 
Buzzard's  Roost  was  belching  away  in  plain  sight  of  us. 
but  as  we  were  beyond  its  range  it  did  not  interest  us 
very  much.  There  was  never  a  day  nor  scarcely  an  hour 
we  did  not  hear  the  roar  of  cannon  or  the  sound  of 
musketry  somewhere  in  our  immediate  vicinity,  but  we 
had  no  part  of  it. 

About  sundown  on  the  14th  heav^y  firing,  both  artillery 


78  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

and  musketry,  was  heard  a  short  distance  In  our  front 
and  we  were  hurried  forward  some  two  or  three  miles 
toward  the  place  from  where  it  emanated.  We  soon 
heard  that  the  rebels  had  made  a  determined  effort  to 
capture  a  battery  (5th  Indiana),  hoping  thus  to  double 
back  our  left  flank,  and  thereby  control  a  very  advan- 
tageous position. 

When  we  arrived  on  the  scene  it  was  just  between  day- 
light and  darkness,  not  so  dark  but  that  the  troops  of 
both  sides  could  be  plainly  seen  from  the  little  eminence 
on  which  I  was  standing,  and  yet  dark  enough  to  see  the 
streams  of  fire  as  they  issued  from  the  musketry  and 
cannon  below  me. 

General  Hooker  and  his  staff  had  ridden  forward  in  ad- 
vance of  the  infantry  and  seeing  at  a  glance  the  perilous 
position  of  the  artillery,  had  dismounted  and  rushed 
among  them,  and  in  emphatic  language  urged  them  to 
stand  by  their  guns.  "Give  them  hell!"  he  shouted, 
"  My  boys  will  be  here  within  five  minutes."  His  "  boys  " 
zvere  there  on  schedule  time,  and  as  the  3d  Brigade  of 
our  division  met  the  advancing  rebels  with  a  volley  of 
musketry  they  halted  in  their  charge  and  then  turned  and 
fled  in  the  utmost  confusion.  It  was  a  small  aftair  on 
our  part  but  from  where  I  stood  it  made  a  picture  that 
is  still  vividly  impressed  on  my  memory. 

The  15th  of  May  was  Sunday,  but  instead  of  listening 
to  "  church-going  bells  "  there  was  the  echo  of  heavy 
cannonading  on  all  sides  of  us.  About  eleven  A.  M. 
there  was  a  council  of  war  held  in  our  immediate  vicinity. 
Besides  General  Sherman,  there  were  Generals  Thomas, 
Hooker,  McPherson,  Howard  (with  but  one  arm). 
Sickles    (with  but  one   leg),    Slocum,    Logan,   Williams, 


FRO^r   NORMANDY  TO  RESACA.  79 

Geary  (afterwards  Governor  of  Pennsylvania),  Davis, 
and  Palmer;  men  whose  fame  covered  the  earth  as  the 
waters  cover  the  sea,  making  the  name  of  the  American 
soldier,  like  the  ancient  Roman,  an  honored  passport 
throughout  the  world.  This  council  was  the  prelude  to 
a  pretty  stubborn  battle  that  afternoon,  although  Gen. 
Grant  in  his  works  alludes  to  it  as  a  "  skirmish."  To 
the  man  who  gets  the  bullet  right,  it  matters  but  little 
whether  it  be  called  a  "  skirmish  "  or  a  "  battle." 

"  Fall  in,  non-combatants  to  the  rear!"  was  the  signal 
that  hot  work  was  near  at  hand.  "  To  the  rear  "  did 
not  mean  much  in  this  Georgia  campaign.  Taking  it  in 
a  too  literal  sense  meant  to  get  lost  or  gobbled  up  as  a 
straggler,  so  that  the  point  was  never  to  lose  the  trail  of 
the  regiment,  no  matter  how  threatening  affairs  at  the 
Iront  might  appear. 

The  regiment  followed  a  lonely  road  through  a  ravine 
for  about  two  miles.  A  hill  between  the  first  line  of 
battle  and  this  ravine  gave  effectual  shelter  during  the 
march,  but  at  the  end  was  an  open  plain  swept  by  a  rebel 
battery.  Over  this  plain  the  ist  Division  marched  in 
two  lines  of  battle,  the  150th  forming  the  left  of  the  front 
line,  to  the  top  of  a  little  hill  that  in  the  morning  had 
been  occupied  by  a  rebel  battery. 

The  three  divisions  of  the  20th  Corps  marched  out  and 
formed  two  lines  of  battle  on  the  plain.  Rebel  shells 
were  exploded  in  their  midst,  causing  great  swaying  back- 
wards and  forwards,  but  when  the  lines  were  formed,  the 
whole  body  of  six  thousand  men  moved  majestically  across 
the  plain  towards  the  enemy,  with  our  regiment  still  on  the 
extreme  left,  to  a  little  hill  crowned  by  a  small  house.  Here 
breastworks  were  hastily  constructed  of  fence  rails  and 


80  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

such  other  things  as  would  stop  a  bullet.  Company  B 
being  thrown  out  as  skirmishers  crossed  a  plain  some 
three  or  four  hundred  yards  wide  and  entering  a  piece  of 
woods  on  its  farther  side,  they  quickly  came  in  contact  with 
the  advancing  rebel  force.  One  of  the  most  vivid  im- 
pressions of  the  war  is  the  remembrance  of  that  company 
of  skirmishers  as  it  emerged  from  the  woods  into  the  open 
plain  in  our  front,  and  their  run  for  life  across  it,  rebel 
bullets  kicking  up  a  dust  as  they  struck  the  ground  all 
around  and  between  them.  Yet,  according  to  the  best  of 
my  recollection,  every  one  of  them  got  back  safely. 

After  the  return  of  our  skirmishers  the  rebels  in  force 
came  out  of  the  woods  on  the  other  side  of  the  plain  op- 
posite our  lines,  and  formed  their  line  of  battle  as  coolly 
as  though  on  dress  parade.  The  order  to  advance  was 
given  and  they  started  for  our  position.  Our  orders 
from  Colonel  Ketcham  were  not  to  fire  until  he  gave  the 
word,  and  fully  one-half  of  the  distance  had  been  trav- 
ersed before  the  order  came.  The  volley  that  followed 
decimated  their  ranks  as  a  staggering  blow,  but  like  the 
brave  men  they  were,  they  closed  up  and  started  for  us 
afresh,  "  Eager  as  love  and  wild  as  hate."  Then  it  was 
"  Load  and  fire  at  will,"  and  the  terrible  fire  we  poured 
into  the  advancing  lines  would  have  quickly  discouraged 
any  soldiers  not  of  American  blood.  They  were  repulsed ; 
but  not  until  their  dead  lay  within  eighteen  feet  of  our 
slender  line  of  breastworks. 

Without  intended  egotism,  I  hope  I  may  be  permitted 
to  say  that  I  was  one  of  the  best  shots  of  the  regiment, 
and  with  the  carbine  the  Union  Ladies  of  Baltimore  had 
presented  to  me  (a  singular  gift  to  a  non-combatant) 
I  entered  a  log  corn-crib  in  our  lines  before  the  attack 


FROM   NORMANDY  TO  RESACA.  "    81 

and  there,  comparatively  safe,  "loaded  and  fired  at  w\\V^ 
until  ordered  out  to  take  care  of  the  wounded.  During 
this  experience  I  saw  advancing  a  man  carrying  a  sword, 
who  turned  and  waved  it  to  his  followers  as  though  urg- 
ing their  advance.  As  he  faced  again,  I  pulled  the 
trigger  of  my  carbine,  and  he  fell  prone,  face  downwards. 

In  the  midst  of  the  severest  part  of  the  fight  I  was 
ordered  to  come  out  of  the  log  corn-crib,  where  I  was 
practically  safe,  to  attend  the  wounded.  The  first  person 
that  met  my  gaze  after  coming  out  was  Adjutant  Cruger, 
who  was  standing  holding  on  to  a  little  tree,  spanning  it 
with  his  hands  above  his  head,  with  blood  pouring  out  of 
his  mouth  in  a  stream.  Without  a  thought  of  the  danger 
I  seized  and  carried  him  behind  the  house  where 
"  Tommy  "  O'Neil  and  another  relieved  me,  and  he  was 
carried  to  a  place  of  safety.  We  believed  then  that  his 
wound  was  fatal  and  it  was  so  reported,  but  after  two  or 
three  months  he  returned  to  us,  seemingly  as  well  as  ever. 

There  were  several  casualties  that  day  but  not  one  of 
them  immediately  fatal.  From  my  diary  of  that  date 
I  find  the  casualties  to  be  as  follows:  Adjt.  S.  V.  R. 
Cruger,  Corporal  George  Stage,  Co.  E;  Benjamin  Watts, 
Co.  E ;  Tolson  Richardson,  Co.  B ;  Thomas  Wright,  Co. 
G;  Benjamin  Harp,  Co.  G;  Amerlcus  Mosher,  Co.  K; 
seven  in  all.  Considering  the  number  of  the  dead  rebels 
who  were  found  lying  in  front  of  our  regiment,  number- 
ing into  the  hundreds,  the  nearest  one  but  eighteen  feet 
from  our  slight  breastworks,  our  loss  was  remarkably 
small. 

After  the  battle  was  over.  Colonel  Ketcham  and  I  were 
going  over  the  field  together  and  when  we  came  to  a 
man  lying  prone  on  his  face  with  arms  extended  and  a 


82  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

sword  clutched  in  his  right  hand,  I  said  to  the  Colonel, 
"  If  I  shot  this  man  he  got  it  right  in  the  centre  of  his 
forehead."  With  his  foot  the  Colonel  turned  the  body 
over,  and,  as  he  saw  the  bullet  wound  in  his  forehead,  his 
only  remark  was,  "Well,  by  Gol!" 

During  the  evening  the  Colonel  and  I  rode  back  to  the 
field  hospital  to  learn  the  condition  of  Adjutant  Cruger 
and  the  other  wounded  of  the  regiment,  and  while  return- 
ing rode  into  a  lively  musket  fire  of  the  enemy,  which 
rattled  around  us  like  the  drops  of  rain  in  an  April  shower. 

In  the  morning  we  found  the  enemy  had  deserted  their 
strongly  fortified  position,  and  the  Battle  of  Resaca  was 
a  thing  of  the  past. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

FROM  RESACA  TO  KENESAW  MOUNTAIN 

By  John  E.  West. 

Difficult  Campaign  to  Record — Pursuing  the  Enemy — "Left  in  Front  !    There'll  Seen  be 
A  Fight  !  "  —  Battle  of  New  Hope  Church— Bloody  Assault  —  Death  of  Gen- 
eral Polk — Battle  of  Lost  Mountain — Hot  and  Wet — Bluecoats  and 
Blackberries — Battle  of  Kolb's  Farm — Death  of  Lieutenant 
Gridley  and  Others — Picket's  Protection — Tan- 
talizing Confederate  Flag — Enemy  Re- 
treats to  Kenesaw  Mountain. 

It  must  be  acknowledged  that  that  portion  of  our  cam- 
paign in  the  summer  of  1864  which  extended  from  the 
Battle  of  Resaca  to  the  time  when  the  army  closed  in 
its  strangling  grip  about  the  City  of  Atlanta,  is  the  most 
difficult  to  follow  in  all  its  details,  and  accurately  record, 
of  any  in  our  time  of  service.  Though  it  lasted  but 
little  more  than  two  months,  yet  during  that  time  the 
conflicting  forces  were  in  close  contact  and  the  fighting 
was  practically  continuous. 

The  armies  were  two  great  giants  engaged  in  desperate 
combat,  constantly  striking  and  sparring,  and  constantly 
shifting  ground  as  the  various  parts  were  moved  to  the 
right  or  left — often  in  the  night — while  Sherman  drove  his 
antagonist  from  point  to  point  with  a  consummate  skill  and 
energy  that  made  the  old-world  military  critics  rub  their 
eyes.  It  has  sometimes  been  compared  to  a  vast  game 
of  chess,  in  which  the  constantly  moving  "  pieces  "  were 
corps,  divisions  and  brigades;  organizations  in  which  in- 


84  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

dividual  regiments  hardly  found  themselves  mentioned  in 
the  official  reports  of  those  kaleidoscopic  movements. 

During  the  month  of  June  it  rained  three-fourths  of 
the  days,  as  shown  by  records  and  letters,  and  many  of 
these  rains  were  heavy  and  continuous,  while  much  of 
July  was  little  better.  Under  these  conditions  the  roads 
and  fields  became  quagmires  which,  combined  with  the  in- 
tense heat  and  humidity  of  that  summer,  would  have 
daunted  any  but  the  most  energetic  of  commanders;  one 
commanding  the  best  army  in  the  world. 

At  this  distance  of  time  the  memories  of  individuals 
cannot  be  implicitly  relied  upon  as  to  all  the  details,  and 
aside  from  the  letters  and  diaries  consulted  recourse  has 
been  had  to  various  histories.  The  best  of  these  for  the 
purpose — because  following  most  closely  the  detailed 
movements  of  the  20th  Corps — is  that  by  Colonel  William 
F.  Fox,  of  the  107th  N.  Y.  (of  our  brigade),  entitled, 
'*  Slocum  and  his  Men,"  and  the  writer  of  this  and  the 
following  chapter  has  made  copious  extracts  from  that 
work,  feeling  sure  that  these  chapters  will  thus  be  of  more 
interest  than  they  would  be  had  they  been  entrusted  en- 
tirely to  my  own  pen. 

The  last  chapter  brought  us  to  the  close  of  the  Battle 
of  Resaca,  and  during  the  night  which  followed  the  enemy 
retreated  while  our  wearied  men  slept,  but  early  on  the 
morning  of  May  i6th  we  were  moving  again,  passing 
through  the  wreckage  of  the  two  days  battle.  Going 
thus  over  the  position  which  had  been  held  by  the  enemy 
we  found  their  dead  scattered  about,  and  the  ground 
strewn  with  clothing  and  broken  guns.  There  was  also 
considerable  captured  property,  consisting  of  artillery  and 
ammunition. 


FROM  RESACA  TO  KENESAW  MOUNTAIN.  85 

We  crossed  the  Conesauga  above  the  town  of  Resaca, 
and  on  the  17th  we  crossed  the  Coosawattee.  These  two 
streams  form  a  junction  near  Resaca,  and  below  the  town 
the  river  is  known  as  the  Oostenaula.  Then,  keeping  to 
the  east  of  the  raih'oad,  we  marched  twenty  miles  to  a 
point  near  Calhoun.  May  i8th  we  moved  to  Spring 
Mills,  a  place  south-east  of  Adairsville,  and  bivouacked 
that  night  on  the  so-called  "  Gravelly  Plateau." 

On  the  19th  the  march  was  continued  over  a  rough 
country  covered  with  dense  woods  and  thickets  of  under- 
brush, and  after  some  lively  skirmishing  we  reached  Cass- 
ville,  where  our  Corps  formed  in  line  within  four  hundred 
yards  of  the  enemy's  breastworks;  but  during  the  night 
the  Confederates  again  retreated. 

The  rapidity  with  which  our  army  repaired  the  badly 
broken  railroads  was  almost  miraculous,  and  has  often 
been  commented  on  by  historians.  We  had  hardly  left 
Dalton  before  trains  WMth  ammunition  and  other  sup- 
plies arriv'ed,  and  while  we  were  skirmishing  at  Calhoun 
the  locomotive's  w^histle  sounded  in  Resaca.  Commencing 
May  2 1  St  our  brigade  was  given  three  days  of  rest  while 
the  railroad  and  telegraph  were  being  repaired.  Baggage 
left  behind  came  forward  to  officers  and  men,  and  neces- 
sary supplies,  at  the  hands  of  smiling  quartermasters  and 
commissaries,  now  found  us.  The  dead  were  buried,  the 
w^ounded  made  more  comfortable,  and  everybody  re- 
ceived and  wrote  letters. 

We  had  marched  and  fought  our  way  eighty-five  miles 
since  leaving  Chattanooga,  and  Atlanta  was  still  fifty- 
three  miles  distant,  while  the  Confederates  had  retreated 
beyond  the  Etowah  River  to  the  AUatoona  Hills. 

On  May  23rd  we  left  Cassville,  crossing  the  Etowah 


86  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

on  a  pontoon  bridge  near  Milam's,  and  bivouacked  that 
night  along  the  Euharlie  and  Raccoon  Creeks.  On  the 
24th,  after  marching  all  day  over  mountain  roads  and 
by-paths,  we  encamped  at  Burnt  Hickory  in  a  heavy  rain 
storm.  On  May  25th,  after  we  had  crossed  Pumpkin 
Vine  Creek  (a  small  stream  presenting  no  impediment  to 
an  army),  orders  were  received  to  turn  back  and  take 
the  road  to  New  Hope  Church,  where  the  skirmishers 
of  the  Second  Division  of  our  Corps  had  developed  the 
enemy  in  force. 

This  place  is  situated  at  the  intersection  of  the  roads 
leading  to  Dallas,  Marietta,  and  Acworth,  four  miles 
northeast  of  Dallas,  and  takes  its  name  from  a  little 
Methodist  meeting-house  built  of  logs  that  stood  there 
then.  As  it  formed  an  important  point,  it  had  been  en- 
trenched by  the  Confederates,  the  country  about  being 
hilly  and  densely  wooded. 

We  had  halted  for  dinner  within  ten  miles  of  Dallas 
when  we  received  orders  to  countermarch  anci  hasten  to 
the  support  of  the  2nd  Division.  As  our  column  moved 
off,  faced  to  the  rear,  the  veterans  in  the  ranks  were  heard 
to  remark, —  "  Left  in  front!  There'll  soon  be  a  fight!  " 
This  was  one  of  the  trite  sayings  and  traditions  of  the 
old  1 2th  Corps,  and  in  this  case  at  least  it  proved  to  be 
a  true  omen.  Recrossing  the  creek  we  marched  rapidly 
for  several  miles  until,  at  5  P.  M.,  we  reached  Geary's 
Division  and  immediately,  without  halting  to  recover 
breath,  went  into  action  on  the  left  of  his  force. 

As  we  now  advanced,  some  of  the  troops  on  the  double- 
quick,  first  the  strong  skirmish  lines  of  the  enemy,  then 
his  reserves,  were  driven  back  a  mile  and  a  half  by  our 
division.      Part  of  the  ground  passed  over  was  covered 


FROM  RESACA   TO  KENESAW  MOUNTAIN.  87 

with  woods  in  which  the  timber  had  been  killed  by  gird- 
ling the  trees,  a  method  of  clearing  often  employed  in 
the  Southern  States  previous  to  the  war.  I  recall  that  on 
this  occasion  the  solid  shot  and  shells  from  the  Con- 
federate batteries  went  crashing  through  the  dead  tops  of 
the  trees,  making  the  broken  limbs  fall  thickly  on  the 
charging  ranks. 

During  this  advance  the  order  came  for  our  brigade 
to  relieve  the  line  in  front  and  take  the  lead,  and  in  exe- 
cuting this  new  movement  the  3rd  Brigade  moved  "  By 
companies  to  the  rear,"  our  brigade  advancing  through 
the  openings  to  the  front.  One  writer  says  of  this  move- 
ment,— "  The  evolution  was  performed  under  fire,  but 
with  steadiness  and  precision." 

The  column  now  pressed  forward  again  through  the 
dense  woods  until  a  sudden  discharge  of  artillery  and 
musketry  ciisclosed  the  main  line  of  the  enemy  strongly 
posteci  behind  formidable  breastworks,  their  position 
having  been  previously  concealed  by  the  foliage  and  thick 
underbrush. 

Our  advancing  regiments  met  this  unexpected  fire  with- 
out flinching,  although  the  men  w^ent  down  by  scores;  but 
they  were  obliged  to  halt.  Yet  we  held,  our  ground  and 
returned  their  fire  as  fast  as  we  could  load  and  fire,  keep- 
ing it  up  until  our  ammunition  was  exhausted  and  we 
were  relieved  by  Knipe's  Brigade.  Thus  ended  the  day, 
and  night  found  us  bivouacked  in  dense  woods,  where  we 
were  exposed,  unprotected,  to  a  drenching  rain;  yet  ever 
and  anon  the  contending  lines  were  lit  up  by  the  lurid  flash 
of  rifles  and  cannon. 

The  2nd  Division,  Geary's,  also  took  part  in  the  charge, 
advancing  to  the  assault  about  6  P.  M.  and  fighting  its 


88  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

way  through  a  storm  of  bullets  and  canister  up  to  the 
very  breastworks  of  the  enemy,  but  was  there  compelled 
to  halt.  A  portion  of  Butterfield's  Division  was  also  in 
it,  relieving  Knipe's  Brigade  and  continuing  the  fighting, 
in  spite  of  the  rain  and  darkness,  far  into  the  night.  Gen- 
eral Geary,  in  his  oflficial  report,  uses  the  following  lan- 
guage concerning  this  action:  "  The  discharges  of  canister 
and  shell  from  the  enemy  were  heavier  than  in  any  other 
battle  of  this  campaign  in  which  my  command  was 
engaged." 

Though  the  attack  was  not  successfully  carried  to  the 
capturing  of  the  enemy's  works,  yet  there  was  no  con- 
fusion in  our  lines,  nor  in  our  own  regiment,  and  no 
falling  back  of  the  charging  columns;  they  did  not  re- 
linquish a  foot  of  the  ground  which  they  had  won.  The 
troops  along  the  farthest  points  of  advance  held  their 
places  during  the  night,  and  threw  up  entrenchments.  No 
regiment  was  long  in  front  of  Johnston's  army  without 
having  virtually  as  good  a  breastwork  as  an  engineer  could 
plan,  for  War,  that  stern  teacher,  had  taught  us  never  to 
halt  in  front  of  the  adversary  without  putting  up  adequate 
defences. 

This  engagement,  at  first  known  as  the  Battle  of  Pump- 
kin Vine  Creek,  but  now  termed  the  "  Battle  of  New 
Hope  Church,"  was  fought  entirely  by  our  Corps,  no 
other  troops  participating.  General  Ruger  says  In  his 
ofiicial  report  of  It  that  the  dead  of  our  brigade  lay  nearer 
the  enemy's  works  than  those  of  any  other  command  on 
the  field. 

The  loss  in  dead,  wounded,  and  missing  in  our  corps 
during  this  engagement  was  1665;  and  of  this  number 
our  own  brigade  lost  361. 


FRO^r  RESACA  TO  KENESAW  MOUNTAIN.  89 

During  the  week  which  followed  we  continued  to  press 
the  rebels  closely  anci  additional  works  were  put  up,  in 
some  of  which  artillery  was  planted.  In  some  portions 
of  these  new  works  they  took  the  form  of  individual  rille- 
pits,  each  being  protected  by  short  logs  placed  in  the  shape 
of  a  "  V,"  with  the  apex  to  the  front.  Day  and  night 
the  forest  echoed  with  the  crack  of  rifles  as  the  opposing 
pickets  plied  their  deadly  work,  the  daily  loss  in  killed 
and  wounded  being  unusually  severe.  Several  times  the 
enemy  made  desperate  assaults  on  these  works  of  ours  in 
the  night,  but  in  each  instance  they  were  beaten  off,  suffer 
ing  heavy  losses  in  their  attempts.  The  soldiers  called 
the  place  "  Hell  Hole,"  and  always  mentioned  it  after- 
ward by  that  title. 

Finding  that  they  could  not  long  withstand  our  en- 
circling lines  here  the  Confederates  abandoned  their  works 
on  the  night  of  June  3rd,  and  concentrated  their  forces 
in  front  of  Marietta.  Here  they  constructed  a  chain 
of  earthworks  from  Kenesaw  Mountain  on  their  right, 
westward  to  Lost  Mountain  on  their  left.  Their  line 
now  ran  in  the  rear  of  Pine  Hill,  or  "  Pin'e  Knob,"  as  it 
was  sometimes  called,  a  steep,  conical  peak  which  was 
occupied  by  them  as  an  outpost  and  point  of  observation, 
its  summit  being  only  about  800  yards  from  our  artillery. 

There  was  an  incident  which  occurred  at  this  locality 
which  has  claimed  some  attention  from  historians,  and 
is  of  interest,  though  not  specifically  a  part  of  the  history 
of  our  regiment. 

On  June  14th  a  group  of  Confecierate  generals,  among 
them  Johnston,  Hardee  and  Polk,  were  standing  on  this 
peak  and  examining,  through  their  field-glasses,  our  lines 
in  the  adjacent  valley.     The  party  was  In  plain  view  of 


90  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

the  troops  In  General  Thomas'  line,  though  not  indi- 
vidually recognizable. 

At  this  moment  General  Sherman  happened  to  be  rid- 
ing along  this  part  of  his  own  line,  and  when  he  dis- 
covered this  group  of  officers  of  the  enemy,  taking  obser- 
vation of  his  works,  he  ordered  that  the  batteries  near  him 
should  train  their  guns  on  the  party  and  lire,  "By  volley." 
General  Sherman  then  continued  his  ride,  but  his  orders 
were  executed  and  at  the  second  discharge  one  of  the 
shells  struck  Confederate  General  Polk  in  the  breast, 
killing  him  instantly. 

Our  artillery,  as  well  as  our  sharpshooters,  made  Pine 
Hill  too  hot  for  the  rebels,  and  they  abandoned  it  that 
night;  the  next  day  it  was  occupied  by  some  of  our  troops. 
June  15th  we  took  up  a  forward  movement,  pushing  to 
and  beyond  this  elevation  until  the  main  line  of  the 
enemy's  works  were  reached,  and  here  we  were  formed 
for  assault;  Geary's  and  Butterfield's  Divisions  being  in 
the  front,  while  ours  was  held  as  a  supporting  column. 

All  was  In  readiness  when,  at  quarter  past  two  In  the 
afternoon,  the  troops  advanced  In  line  of  battle,  encounter- 
ing the  enemy  and  immediately  driving  them  into  their 
entrenchments.  These  works  In  which  they  now  took 
shelter 'had  been  carefully  constructed  in  advance  for  just 
such  an  emergency  as  this,  and  were  unusually  strong. 

Commencing  at  the  bottom  of  the  hill  the  trees  were 
felled,  the  tops  outward  and-  the  limbs  sharply  pointed, 
and  so  up  to  the  top  of  the  hill,  which  was  surrounded 
by  a  deep  ditch,  the  earth  of  which  had  been  thrown 
back,  forming  a  heavy  breastwork  In  front  of  which  was 
a  cJicvaiix-dC'frisc  composed  of  sharpened  stakes  driven 
into  the  embankment  at  an  angle  of  45  degrees,  stretching 


FROM  RESACA  TO  KENESAW  .AIOUNTAIN.  91 

out  over  the  ditch,  so  that  any  of  our  men  attemptnig  to 
jump  tlie  ditch  would  be  impaled  on  these  sharp  points. 

The  earthworks  were  surmounted  by  a  palisade  of 
trunks  of  trees  set  in  the  ground  side  by  side,  with  small 
port  holes  cut  In  them,  so  that  the  marksmen  might  have 
good  protection  from  an  assaulting  force;  the  tops  of 
these  tree-trunks  being  also  sharpened. 

The  writer  afterward  worked  his  way  through  this 
maze  of  entrenchments,  and  it  Is  his  belief  that  one 
thousand  good  men  in  these  works  could  have  held  at  bay 
and  destroyed  five  times  as  many  in  an  attacking  body. 
To  have  assaulted  this  position  in  the  front  would  only 
have  resulted  In  a  useless  loss  of  life.  But  m  the  end 
Sherman's  superior  generalship  made  It  unnecessary  to 
assault  them;  the  rebels  were  glad  to  get  out,  of  their 
own  accord. 

But  so  eager  were  our  troops  that  Geary's  Division  did 
penetrate  the  abattis  in  places,  yet  without  being  able  to 
completely  carry  the  position.  But  the  attacking  lines 
maintained  their  advanced  position  close  under  the  ene- 
my's w^orks,  throwing  up  entrenchments  there. 

This  engagement  near  Pine  Hill,  June  15,  1864,  is 
known  as  the  "Battle  of  Lost  Mountain."  On  the  fol- 
lowing day  our  corps  pressed  the  enemy  strongly  along 
his  whole  front,  with  the  skirmish  lines,  and  with  the  use 
of  artillery,  the  long  line  of  Sherman's  army  now  over- 
lapping the  enemy  on  the  left,  and  on  the  next  day,  June 
17th,  the  Confederates  evacuated  their  w^orks  at  Lost 
Mountain  and  retired  within  their  cicfences  at  Kenesaw 
Mountain. 

Throughout  the  entire  campaign  thus  far  the  troops 
had   suffered  from   the    unusually    prolonged    rains.      It 


92  THE  DUTCHEvSS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

rained  continuously  for  seventeen  days,  and  a  home  letter 
sent  by  one  of  the  boys  mentions  that  there  were  twenty- 
three  consecutive  days  during  which  it  rained  every  day. 
It  not  only  added  to  the  bodily  discomfort,  but  it  made 
the  marching  toilsome,  while  at  the  same  time  the  swollen 
streams  and  mirey  roads  rendered  the  movement  of  artil- 
lery and  wagon  trains  exceedingly  difficult.  There  were 
several  days  in  which,  owing  to  the  absence  of  commis- 
sary trains,  the  men  were  on  scant  rations,  or  for  a  time 
could  get  nothing  at  all  to  eat. 

From  the  17th  to  the  21st  of  June  our  regiment  was  in 
that  portion  of  the  corps  which  was  engaged  In  pushing 
its  way  southward,  extending  the  general  line  In  that 
direction.  There  was  considerable  skirmishing  and  fight- 
ing all  the  way,  and  the  records  show  that  during  this 
time  our  regiment  lost  men  day  by  day,  a  loss  amounting 
in  the  aggregate  to  so  much  that  it  made  serious  Inroads 
on  our  numbers. 

On  the  17th  our  artillery,  under  Major  Reynolds, 
achieved  further  honorable  distinction  at  a  place  known 
as  "Muddy  Creek."  Here  the  13th  New  York  Battery, 
commanded  at  that  time  by  Lieutenant  Bundy,  opened 
at  four  hundred  yards  on  the  enemy's  works,  silencing 
his  guns,  dismounting  two  of  the  pieces  and  knocking  two 
more  of  their  guns  over.  Considerable  loss  was  also  In- 
Hicted  here  on  the  enemy's  infantry,  which  were  In  their 
support. 

At  Noyes'  Creek,  June  19th,  there  was  some  more 
lively  skirmishing,  the  sharpshooters  of  both  sides  doing 
some  effective  work.  On  June  21st  our  corps — the  20th 
— established     itself    along     the     Powder    Springs     and 


FROM  RESACA  TO  KENESAW  MOUNTAIN.  93 

Marietta  road,  about  three  miles  southeast  of  the  latter 
place. 

On  June  2 2d  our  regiment  became  again  involved, 
being  rushed  in,  about  noon,  to  the  right,  while  on  our 
left  was  Geary's — the  2nd  Division — and  here  we  took 
possession  of  an  important  ridge  on  what  was  known  as 
"Kolb's  Farm,"  some  historians  calling  it  "Gulp's  Farm." 
The  ground  in  our  front  here  was  for  the  most  part  open 
fields,  with  heavy  woods  on  the  opposite  ridge,  and  a 
small  ravine  in  the  valley  before  us  and  slightly  to  our 
left. 

The  line  formed  by  the  "Dutchess  County  Regiment" 
was  in  a  second  growth  of  timber,  with  a  rail  fence  at  our 
front,  and  the  troops  at  our  left  were  just  back  of  the 
ridge  and  out  of  sight  of  the  enemy.  In  the  open  ground 
on  the  ridge  to  our  left  was  our  gallant  General  "Fight- 
ing Joe  Hooker,"  and  his  staff,  in  full  view  of  the  enemy's 
skirmishers. 

Near  General  Hooker  was  Winegar's  battery  of  three- 
inch  rifled  cannon,  along  with  Woodbury's  battery  of 
brass  smooth-bores,  anci  they  commanded  all  the  open 
ground  in  our  front.  These  batteries  so  fortunately 
placed  shelled  the  enemv's  skirmish  pits  while  our 
skirmishers  advanced  and  chased  them  into  the  woods. 

We  were  resting  on  the  ground  when  Col.  Ketch  am 
passed  down  the  line  in  his  usual  fatherly  way,  and  his 
quick  eye  detected  the  situation  at  once.  He  immediately 
told  the  men  to  tear  down  the  fence  and  with  that,  and 
anything  else  at  hand,  to  throw  up  breastworks  to  protect 
themselves.  This  caution  of  our  beloved  Colonel  no 
doubt  saved  many  lives  in  our  regiment. 

The  transformation  of  the  rail  fence  into  a  breastwork 


94  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

did  not  take  much  time,  and  when  the  enemy  returned 
later  in  the  day  they  were  doubtless  surprised  to  see  the 
sudden  change.  After  the  breastworks  had  been  erected 
it  was  discovered  that  the  field  in  our  front  contained  a 
fine  lot  of  blackberries,  and  it  was  but  a  moment  before  it 
was  dotted  with  "  blue-coats,"  filling  their  tin  cups  with 
berries. 

The  men  were  very  much  engaged  in  their  new  occupa- 
tion when  Major  Smith  appeared,  shouting, — "  Get  back 
you  '  skallawags  ' !  What  are  you  doing  out  there !  How 
can  we  get  the  Johnnies  out  with  you  there?" 

We  took  the  hint  at  once,  and  in  less  than  the  time  it 
takes  to  tell  the  story  we  were  again  inside  the  works, 
secure  from  the  enemy's  vision.  We  had  hardly  regained 
our  position  when  our  skirmishers,  who  so  gallantly  a 
short  .time  before  haci  driven  the  enemy's  skirmishers  up 
the  opposite  hill  and  into  the  woods,  themselves  came 
running  back  as  though  the  devil  himself  were  after  them. 

The  cause  of  their  hasty  return  was  soon  evidenced. 
Hood's  Confederate  Corps  emerging  from  the  woods  into 
the  open  and  advancing  on  the  double-quick,  forming  in 
three  lines  of  battle  as  they  came  on.  From  our  con- 
cealed position  the  sight  was  an  inspiring  one,  and  our 
attention  was  much  attracted  by  a  gallant  officer  riding 
up  and  down  their  line,  mounted  on  a  w^hite  horse. 

On  they  came  with  a  rush,  advancing  into  the  valley 
and  then  up  the  rise  of  ground  in  our  front  until  we  could 
almost  see  the  whites  of  their  eyes,  when  they  received  such 
a  withering  fire  from  our  line  and  the  two  batteries  at  our 
left  that  they  wavered  and  finally  fell  back  to  the  ravine 
for  shelter,  leaving  the  space  thickly  strewn  with  their 
dead  and  wounded. 


FROM  RESACA  TO  KEXESAW   MOUNTAIN.  95 

We  kept  up  our  fire  untii  our  anuiiunition  was  about 
exhausted,  and,  when  the  men  who  had  been  sent  to  the 
ammunition  train  for  a  fresh  supply  returned  and  reported 
that  they  were  unable  to  find  it,  we  received  orders  to 
cease  firing.  Just  at  this  critical  juncture  there  came  from 
a  Kentucky  regiment  which  was  with  the  23rd  Corps  on 
our  right,  the  welcome  sound  of  those  "  yelping"  repeat- 
ing rifles,  showing  that  that  corps  had  arriveci  and  was 
protecting  our  flank. 

As  soon  as  the  shades  of  night  had  fallen  the  enemy 
commenced  to  remove  their  dead  and  wounded,  continuing 
until  daylight  appeared,  and  even  then  they  were  obliged 
to  leave  many  of  their  dead  on  the  field. 

The  writer  was  one  of  the  "  lucky  "  prize  winners  to 
be  detailed  for  picket  duty  that  night,  within  the  ravine 
where  the  enemy  were  at  work  not  over  one  hundred 
yards  aw^ay.  We  were  detailed  in  groups  of  two,  and 
advanced  about  midway  between  the  lines  upon  a  bare 
side-hill  without  any  protection.  But  we  had  learned  the 
trade  of  war,  and  with  Yankee  pluck  we  immediately 
started  to  dig  a  pit  to  protect  ourselves.  The  ground 
happened  to  be  of  a  sandy  nature,  and  one  with  his 
bayonet  dug  the  earth  loose  Avhile  the  other  scooped  it 
out  with  his  tin  dinner-plate,  heaping  it  up  in  front,  and 
by  daylight  we  had  a  fair-sized  pit  in  which  to  protect 
ourselves.  But  it  was  now  of  no  use,  for  In  the  night 
the  enemy  had  retreated. 

In  this  engagement  First  Lieutenant  Henry  Gridley,  then 
commanding  his  company.  Company  A,  was  killed,  shot 
through  or  near  the  heart,  and  Benjamin  Harp  of  Com- 
pany G,  was  wounded, — his  blood  spurting  on  my  sleev^e, 
— a  wound  from  which  he  died  a  few  days  later.      John 


96  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Simon,  a  member  of  the  regimental  band,  was  also 
wounded  here,  and  he  afterward  died  of  his  wound  in  the 
hospital  at  Chattanooga. 

The  decayed  trunk  of  a  tree,  some  fifteen  feet  high, 
stood  at  about  the  centre  of  the  ravine.  Behind  this  a 
Color-Sergeant  lay,  waving  the  Confederate  flag  in  a  most 
tantalizing  manner.  It  of  course  attracted  the  attention 
of  our  men,  and  hundreds  of  bullets  were  sent  in  that 
direction  in  hopes  of  seeing  it  fall ;  but  it  kept  on  waving 
until  darkness  set  in,  when  the  rebel  forces  withdrew  to 
the  protection  of  their  works,  again  leaving  the  ground 
behind  them  thickly  strewn  with  the  bodies  of  those  who 
had  fallen. 

Our  losses  in  this  action  were  comparatively  slight, 
while  the  casualties  to  the  enemy,  as  reported  by  the  At- 
lanta newspapers,  were  more  than  one  thousand. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

FROM  KENESAW  MOUNTAIN  TO  PEACH 
TREE  CREEK. 

By  John  E.  West. 

We  Lose  a  Battle — "The  Gate  City    of  the  South" — Friendly  Truce  Between  the  Pick- 
ets— We  Cross  the  Chattahoochee — Battle  of  Peach  Tree  Creek — Straight- 
ening the  Skirmish  Line — "Who  Calls   iVIajor!" — Contraband 
of  War— Hardtack  "B    C."— Surprised  at  Break- 
fast -  Distant  Roar  of  Battle. 

The  last  chapter  closed  with  the  Battle  of  Kolb's  Farm. 
This  conflict  was  precipitated  by  the  rebels  assaulting  our 
lines  on  the  right  flank  of  Sherman's  army — that  part  in 
which  we  were — in  the  hope  of  regaining  some  of  their 
lost  positions.  The  result  was,  as  already  stated,  that 
they  lost  heavily  and  gained  nothing,  the  assault  being 
handsomely  repulsed  at  every  point,  and  while  their  loss 
was  severe  ours  was  comparatively  slight. 

The  enemy,  however,  were  so  strongly  fortified,  with 
the  Kenesaw  Mountains  and  their  foot-hills  as  a  salient 
to  their  works  covering  Marietta  and  the  railroad  in  their 
rear,  that  they  were  enabled  to  hold  a  very  long  line  of 
defense,  and  Sherman  could  not  hope  to  make  secure  his 
whole  front  and  at  the  same  time  spare  force  enough  to 
flank  their  strong  position. 

With  this  state  of  affairs  Sherman  now  determined  that 
he  would  try  an  assault  with  his  army,  and  this  he  did 
June  27th  in  a  line  of  battle  some  ten  miles  in  length, 
with  the  result  that  the  assault  fiiled,  entailing  a  heavy 


98  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

loss  on  our  army.      Fortunately  for  us  we  were  not  en- 
gaged in  this  battle,  our  corps  being  held  in  reserve. 

General  Sherman's  next  strategy  was  to  move  a  large 
section  of  his  army  to  his  right,  making  a  wide  sweep 
around  the  enemy's  left  flank,  leaving  their  fortified  posi- 
tions behind  and  aiming  at  the  railroad  in  their  rear. 
This  was  an  entire  success,  and  July  2nd  the  enemy  aban- 
doned all  their  strong  positions  at  and  about  Kenesaw  and 
Marietta,  falling  back  to  the  Chattahoochee  River,  over 
which  their  army  crossed  on  the  9th. 

In  the  general  forward  movement  of  our  army  which  now 
followed  it  was  July  5th  when  we  approached  the  Chat- 
tahoochee River,  and,  going  into  position  on  a  high  ridge 
which  overlooked  the  Confederate  line,  our  men  caught 
their  first  view  of  Atlanta,  "  The  Gate  City  of  the 
South."  The  next  day  we  crossed  Nickajack  Creek,  and 
on  July  9th  our  pickets  advanced  to  the  bank  of  the  Chat- 
tahoochee, where  we  remained  encamped  quietly  for  eight 
days,  giving  a  sorely  needed  rest  to  battle-and-march-worn 
soldiers. 

As  soon  as  the  men  occupied  the  banks  of  the  river 
they  established  friendly  relations  with  the  pickets  on  the 
farther  side.  Our  veterans  who  had  served  in  the  12th 
Corps,  remembering  the  temporary  truces  they  had  ar- 
ranged while  on  the  banks  of  the  Rappahannock  River 
in  Virginia,  now  entered  into  an  agreement  with  their 
opponents  to  suspenci  all  unnecessai^y  firing  on  each  other. 

It  is  related  that  one  day,  while  the  pickets  were  idly 
standing  on  each  side  of  the  river,  a  Confederate  officer 
rode  up  and  ordered  his  men  to  fire  on  the  Yankees  across 
the  stream;  but  the  "Johnnies"  refused  to  violate  their 
agreement.     It  was  further  understood  that  when  hos- 


FROI\I  KENESAW  MOUNTAIN  TO  PEACH  TREE  CREEK.    99 

tilities  were  resumed  on  either  side,  the  first  volley  should 
be  fired  in  the  air. 

The  peaceful  time  that  ensued  was  a  grateful  relief 
from  the  incessant  discharge  of  rifles  on  the  picket  line, 
which  had  been  kept  up  daily  in  one  place  or  another 
since  the  opening  of  the  campaign,  causing  considerable 
loss  of  life.  Were  it  not  for  the  occasional  sound  of  dis- 
tant cannon  there  was  nothing  now  to  remind  us  that  we 
were  still  on  an  active  campaign. 

During  our  truce  with  the  rebel  pickets  along  the  Chat- 
tahoochee the  privilege  of  bathing  in  the  river  was  freely 
accorded  to  both  sides,  and  there  was  also  quite  a  little 
exchange  of  courtesies — as  well  as  of  commodities,  such 
as  cofi^ee  for  tobacco — between  our  boys  and  these  South- 
ern youths.  Warm-hearted,  full  of  fun,  ready  to  give  or 
take  a  joke,  never  harsh  or  ill-tempered,  in  all — except 
uniforms — they  seemed  one  with  ourselves.  But  while  our 
association  with  them  was  in  progress  we  received  orders 
to  march. 

The  next  day  we  crossed  the  Chattahoochee,  at  Pace's 
Ferry,  and  the  third  day  after  crossing  a  portion  of  our 
regiment  took  part  in  the  Battle  of  Peach  Tree  Creek, 
which  was  fought  July  20th.  Some  two  or  three  com- 
panies of  the  regiment  were  crowded  out  of  the  line  of 
battle,  because  of  lack  of  space,  and  forced  to  remain  in  a 
second  line. 

The  difficulty  of  making  an  accurate  and  clear  record 
of  our  formation  in  this  battle  is  evident,  for  historians 
differ  radically  in  their  accounts.  The  writer  of  "  Slocum 
and  His  Men  "  says  that  it  was  formed  with  Knipe's  and 
Robinson's  brigades  in  the  line,  and  Ruger's  (ours)  in  the 
rear.      But  this  would  leave  our  brigade  unengaged,  and 


100  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

if  correct  then  the  150th  was  not  in  the  engagement  at  all. 
But  Colonel  Fox  must  be  in  error  here,  for  diaries,  home 
letters,  and  records,  as  well  as  the  recollection  of  sur- 
vivors, all  agree  that  the  regiment — except  the  Companies 
crowded  out  as  mentioned — was  very  decidedly  in  the 
Battle  of  Peach  Tree  Creek,  and  we  lost  several  men 
there. 

The  musketry  along  the  "  Red  Star  Line,"  as  our  divi- 
sion was  called,  because  its  badge  was  a  red  star,  was 
furious  and  well  sustained.  Some  of  the  men  loaded  and 
fired  so  fast  that  their  rifles  became  overheated;  so  hot 
that  the  barrel  could  not  be  grasped  in  the  soldier's  hand. 
The  historian  of  the  123rd  New  York  says, — "  Corporal 
Smith's  rifle  went  off  while  he  was  in  the  act  of  ramming 
home  the  charge,  and  '  John  '  had  to  hunt  round  and 
find  another  ramrod." 

In  this  engagement  Ward's  Division  took  four  stands 
of  colors  from  the  rebels.  Private  Bulkley,  of  the  136th 
New  York,  captured  the  battle-flag  of  the  31st  Mississippi 
by  knocking  down  the  color-bearer  with  the  butt  of  his 
musket  and  wrenching  the  flag-staff  from  his  hands.  The 
26th  Wisconsin,  of  this  same  division,  bore  off  in  triumph 
the  colors  of  the  33rd  Mississippi,  and  after  three  hours 
of  desperate  fighting  the  enemy  retired,  discomfitted  and 
beaten,  and  as  they  had  so  often  done  before,  leaving 
hundreds  of  their  dead  and  wounded  lying  on  the  ground. 

Of  this  battle  General  Geary,  who  commanded  the  2nd 
Division  of  our  Corps,  said, — "  The  field  everywhere 
bore  marks  of  the  severity  of  the  conflict,  and  recalled  to 
my  mind,  in  appearance,  the  scene  of  the  conflict  fought 
at  Gettysburg.  Not  a  tree  or  bush  within  our  range  but 
bore  the  scars  of  battle."      It  was  in  this  engagement  that 


FROM  KENESAW  MOUNTAIN  TO  PEACH  TREE  CREEK.  101 

Benjamin  Harrison,  afterward  President  of  the  United 
States,  commanded  a  brigade  in  the  3rd  Division  of  our 
Corps,  a  division  at  that  time  commanded  by  General  Wil- 
Ham  T.  Ward. 

Two  of  our  officers,  Lieutenants  Van  Keuren  and  Bar- 
low, were  severely  wounded  here,  and  Corporal  Simon 
P.  Teal  of  Company  G,  who  was  on  the  skirmish  line, 
was  wounded  and  captured.  As  his  name  does  not 
appear  again  in  the  rolls  it  is  probable  that  he  may  have 
died  in  the  enemy's  hands.  Budd  and  Dykeman  of  Com- 
pany I,  were  also  among  the  wounded,  as  was  also  Cor- 
poral Shelden  of  Company  A.  But  this  is  by  no  means 
a  complete  list  of  the  casualties  at  this  battle. 

On  the  morning  of  the  21st  some  of  us,  of  inquisitive 
propensities,  took  a  stroll  over  the  battle-field  in  search  of 
relics.  While  we  were  so  engaged  Colonel  Ketcham  came 
around  and  ordered  every  Company  to  fall  in  for  roll- 
call,  and  every  absentee  was  ordered  for  extra  picket  duty 
that  night.  Although  Sergeant  Murfitt  reported  that  he 
thought  West  was  down  at  the  creek  washing,  it  wouldn't 
work,  and  as  usual  I  "  drew  a  prize,"  spending  the  night 
on  extra  picket  duty. 

Major  Smith  was  Brigade  Officer  of  the  Day,  and 
received  orders  after  dusk  to  straighten  the  line  somewhat, 
which  necessitated  advancing  the  picket  line.  We  were 
at  one  edge  of  a  ravine,  and  on  the  opposite  hill,  in  the 
woods,  we  could  see  the  skirmish  pits  of  the  enemy. 

Major  ordered, — "Forward!"  and  we  went  a  little 
way,  but  as  it  was  dark  and  no  one  knew  whether  the 
enemy  was  in  the  pits  above  us  or  not  it  looked  risky. 
But  now  again  came  the  command, — "  Forward!  " 

Up  the  hill  we  went,  and  at  the  top  we  found  a  road 


102  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

running  parallel  to  the  edge  of  the  woods,  and  beyond 
this  an  open  field;  and  now  we  saw  glimmering  lights  in 
the  distance. 

"  Forward!"  again  came  the  command.  But  presently 
a  still,  small  voice  was  heard  to  murmur, — "  Major!" 

Then  followed  a  silence,  and  presently, — "  Who  calls 
Major?" — was  heard  sounding  in  the  darkness. 

"  Major!  Major!  You're  right  on  the  enemy's  works! 
Let's  fall  back!"  murmured  the  small  voice  again,  and  in 
an  instant  the  order  came  from  the  Major  to  fall  back. 

We  needed  no  second  command,  and  down  the  hill  we 
went  to  our  former  position  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
ravine,  where  we  halted.  In  the  morning,  before  day- 
break, we  were  ordered  forward  once  more  and  forbidden 
to  light  fires  under  any  circumstances.  We  came  to  the 
opening  and  could  see  the  enemy's  works  beyond  the 
clearing,  and  soon  we  were  advancing  again,  the  enegiy 
having  evacuated  the  position  during  the  night.  Then 
we  rushed  into  the  works  and  the  men  hastily  examined 
every  nook  and  corner  in  search  of  tobacco  or  anything 
else  that  they  might  have  left  in  their  hurry.  We  were 
not  allowed  to  rest  more  than  a  few  minutes  at  a  time, 
but  kept  moving,  feeling  our  way  in  the  darkness  as  we 
went. 

We  would  hardly  halt  when  small  fires  would  be  built 
— against  orders  of  course — in  the  hopes  of  being  able 
to  make  a  little  coffee.  But  they  would  hardly  commence 
to  blaze  when  some  of  the  oflicers  (how  mean  it  seemed 
to  us  then!)  would  advance  and  kick  them  out.  Thus 
matters  progressed  until  about  9  A.  M.,  when  we  came 
upon  the  skirmish  pits  of  the  enemy,  located  upon  a  hill, 
the  approach  to  which  was  through  an  open  field  on  the 


FROM  KENESAW  MOUNTAIN  TO  PEACH  TREE  CREEK.  103 

slope.  We  made  a  rush  and  captured  that  hill,  when 
we  were  halted  and  the  Major  returned  to  report  the 
success  of  the  movement. 

Now  on  the  right  of  us,  near  the  road  leading  towards 
Atlanta,  was  a  dwelling,  and  In  the  garden  near  by  was 
a  dead  Confederate,  probably  one  who  had  fallen  before 
our  picket  fire,  and  In  his  possession  was  a  half-peck  of 
freshly  dug  potatoes.  It  did  not  take  long  to  divide  this 
"contraband  of  war"  among  us,  the  potatoes  being  a 
great  prize,  useful  In  warding  off  the  scurvy  which  was 
making  its  appearance  on  account  of  the  long  campaign 
In  which  we  had  salt  meats  most  of  the  time. 

Having  as  yet  had  no  breakfast  we  decided  to  get  one 
at  this  late  hour  by  partaking  of  such  a  repast  as  oppor- 
tunity offered.  In  this  case  consisting  of  army  crackers, 
better  known  as  "  hardtack."  They  were  about  four 
inches  square,  and  consisted  of  flour  and  water  pressed 
and  baked  so  hard  that  only  flour  remained,  and  many 
of  them  bore  the  letters  "  B.  C."  on  their  sides.  These 
were  said  to  be  the  initials  of  the  contractor  who  furnished 
them  to  the  government,  but  on  account  of  their  Infernal 
hardness — and  sometimes  lack  of  freshness — the  boys 
always  Insisted  that  the  letters  referred  to  the  date  of 
their  manufacture. 

But  while  we  were  resting  behind  the  garden  fence  and 
munching  this  primeval  breakfast  food  we  still  kept  watch 
on  the  "  Johnnies  "  In  our  front,  and  we  presently  noticed 
men  running  down  the  side  of  what  appeared  to  be  a  hill 
(but  which  afterward  proved  to  be  the  side  of  a  fort) 
and  disappearing  In  the  ravine.  We  wondered  what  they 
were  doing,  but  had  not  long  to  wait,  for  a  line  of  the 
enemy  came  suddenly  out  of  the  woods  before  us   and 


104  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

began  climbing  over  the  fence  at  the  other  side  of  the 
garden,  probably  not  a  hundred  feet  away. 

This  surprise  caused  active  movements  along  our 
skirmish  line,  but  we  realized  that  they  had  the  upper 
hand  of  us,  and  concluded  it  was  not  a  good  position  to 
remain  in.  After  giving  them  a  volley,  bowling  over 
some  of  them,  we  hastened  to  our  reserve  which  was  along 
the  ridge  across  the  valley  to  our  rear,  each  and  every 
one  for  himself,  and  none  stood  on  the  order  of  going. 

The  writer,  being  somewhat  slower  in  moving,  owing 
to  being  heavily  loaded  with  a  new  blanket  and  the  addi- 
tional load  of  potatoes,  was  a  few  feet  to  the  rear  and 
had  a  good  view  of  his  comrades  in  front,  and  a  good 
laugh  also  as  they  rushed  down  the  green  slope,  throwing 
knapsacks,  etc.,  to  the  ground  to  enable  them  to  cover 
the  space  more  quickly;  for  none  cared  to  be  taken 
prisoner  so  far  from  home. 

But  "  our  friends,  the  enemy,"  had  no  ambition  to 
come  farther  than  the  ridge  from  which  we  had  driven 
them  a  few  hours  earlier,  so  we  lost  none  of  our  men, 
but  all  gathered  on  the  hill  some  two  hundred  yards  in 
the  rear  of  where  we  had  had  our  skirmish,  and  com- 
menced again  to  eat  breakfast.  But  just  at  this  point 
Major  Smith  returned  from  headquarters,  and  seeing  the 
condition  of  affairs  again  ordered  the  skirmishers  to  ad- 
vance, which  we  did,  moving  forward  into  the  valley 
within  one  hundred  yards  of  the  enemy's  skirmish  line. 

The  line  as  it  was  now  arranged  brought  the  writer 
farther  to  the  left  than  he  was  placed  in  the  morning's 
advance,  and  where  he  was  protected  by  woods.  There 
we  lay  quietly  all  the  afternoon,  listening  to  the  raging 
of  the  battle  still  farther  to  the  cast  where  Hood's  corps 


FROM  KENESAW  MOUNTAIN  TO  PEACH  TREE  CREEK.  105 

of  the  enemy  were  trying  to  crush  our  left  flank;  General 
McPherson  being  killed  during  the  afternoon. 

This  engagement  is  known  as  the  "  Battle  of  Atlanta," 
and  was  fought  July  22,   1864. 

Of  this  campaign  in  which  we  were  engaged  General 
Sherman  speaks  as  follows:  "We  had  been  operating  in 
a  country  devoid  of  food  and  forage,  and  were  dependent 
for  supplies  on  a  poorly  constructed  railroad  back  to 
Louisville,  a  distance  of  five  hundred  miles." 

That  it  was  so  highly  successful,  in  spite  of  the  mani- 
fold difliculties  encountered,  is  the  marvel  of  historians. 


CHAPTER  X. 

THE  SIEGE  OF  ATLANTA. 

By  William   C.  Wile. 

Time  Occupied — Organization  of  the  Corps — Its  Officers — Hot  Fighting — Intrenching 

the  Line  —  Getting  Social  with  the  Rebel  Pickets — Exchange  ot  Bullet  and  Shell 

by  Day,  and  Music  by  Night — Surprising  the  Rebel  Pickets — Deserters 

from  the  Enemy — Moving  on  the  City — Losses  Sustained. 

In  determining  the  period  of  time  which  may  properly 
be  allotted  to  that  portion  of  Sherman's  campaign  com- 
monly known  as  "  The  Siege  of  Atlanta,"  we  find  that 
there  is  a  general  consensus  of  opinion  among  several  of 
the  prominent  officers  engaged  on  both  sides,  that  the 
siege  proper  began  on  the  day  following  the  battle  of 
Peach  Tree  Creek,  and  continued  until  the  day  of  the 
occupation  of  the  city  by  our  Corps,  i.  e.,  from  July  21st 
to  September  2,  1864,  a  period  of  forty-two  days. 

Our  regiment,  throughout  the  operations  of  the  siege, 
remained  under  command  of  Colonel  John  H.  Ketcham. 
It  consisted  of  ten  companies,  probably  numbering  at  that 
time  not  more  than  300  men  present  for  duty.  Together 
with  the  five  other  regiments  of  the  brigade,  we  consti- 
tuted the  2nd  Brigade,  under  command  of  General 
Thomas  H.  Ruger,  of  the  ist  Division,  under  command 
of  General  A.  S.  Williams,  of  the  famous  20th  Army 
Corps,  then  under  command  of  Major-General  Joseph 
Hooker. 

General  Hooker  shortly  afterward  became  dissatisfied 


THE  SIEGE  OF  ATLANTA.  107 

over  General  Howard's  appointment  to  the  command  of 
the  Army  of  the  Tennessee  (at  McPherson's  death),  and 
resigned,  July  27th.  On  August  27th,  the  corps  was 
placed  under  command  of  General  Henry  W.  Slocum.  In 
the  interim  (July  27th  to  August  27th),  our  Division 
Commander,  General  A.  S.  Williams,  was  in  temporary 
command  of  the  Corps,  his  place  in  the  Division  being 
filled  during  that  time  by  Brigadier-General  Knipe,  of  the 
I  St  Brigade  of  our  Division. 

General  Hood  had  been  placed  in  command  of  the  rebel 
armies  a  day  or  two  before  the  commencement  of  the  siege, 
having  superseded  General  Joseph  E,  Johnston,  whose 
Fabian  method  of  warfare  during  the  present  campaign 
had  not  met  with  the  approval  of  Jefferson  Davis.  This 
new  commander  was  known  to  us  all  as  a  "  fighter,"  and 
we  thought  we  had  an  abundant  foretaste  at  Peach  Tree 
Creek,  on  July  20th,  of  his  probable  future  policy. 

On  the  day  following  this  battle  our  regiment  remained 
practically  in  the  same  position  that  seven  of  its  ten  com- 
panies had  occupied  during  the  greater  part  of  the  en- 
gagement; i.  e.,  in  the  second  line  of  the  brigade,  in  a 
little  cross-ravine  lying  about  half  a  mile  south  of  the 
creek,  where  we  had  thrown  up  impromptu  breastworks 
the  night  before. 

We  were  engaged  most  of  the  day  burying  our  own, 
as  well  as  some  of  the  enemy's  dead  (who  had  been 
found  lying  on  the  side  of  the  slope  in  our  front),  and  in 
caring  for  the  wounded.  Our  section  of  the  division 
hospital  was  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  in  the  rear  of 
our  line,  within  easy  shelling  distance  of  the  enemy,  but 
out  of  range  because  placed  in  a  ravine  sheltered  by  hills. 
The  sick  and  wounded  were  removed  from  the  field  on 


108  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Stretchers  and  blankets,  by  ambulance  attendants  and 
musicians. 

Friday,  July  22nd,  the  second  day  after  the  battle  of 
Peach  Tree  Creek,  the  enemy  attacked  the  extreme  left 
of  Sherman's  army,  three  and  a  half  miles  east  of  us, 
and  a  severe  battle  ensued,  lasting  four  or  five  hours. 
The  attack  was  eventually  repulsed  and  the  rebels  with- 
drew to  the  city.  It  was  in  this  section,  known  as  the 
"  Battle  of  Atlanta,"  that  the  beloved  McPherson,  Com- 
mander of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  was  killed.  From 
this  time  on,  his  veteran  troops  were  commanded  by 
Major-General  O.  O.  Howard. 

We  took  no  part  in  this  engagement,  but  at  6  o'clock 
the  next  morning,  preceded  by  a  skirmish  line,  moved 
down  Pace's  Ferry  road,  three  miles,  toward  Atlanta. 
At  10  o'clock  on  the  previous  night  the  enemy  had  with- 
drawn from  their  breastworks  in  our  front,  and  fallen 
back  into  the  main  lines  of  their  defences  around  the  city. 

At  noon  we  took  our  position  in  the  second  line  of  the 
Brigade,  about  500  yards  in  front  of  the  enemy's  works. 
By  7  :oo  P.  M.,  our  line  was  permanently  arranged,  the 
right  extremity  of  the  regiment  resting  on  the  railroad, 
and  the  balance  extending  across  the  main  road  running 
from  Marietta  into  Atlanta.  We  were  now  about  a 
mile  northwest  of  the  general  passenger  depot,  and  a 
mile  and  a  half  from  the  heart  of  the  city,  which  we  could 
plainly  discern  in  the  background. 

We  immediately  began  to  intrench  ourselves  in  our  new 
position  on  the  afternoon  of  this  first  day  (July  22nd), 
behind  breastworks  of  slashed  timber  and  lines  of  abattis, 
during  which  we  were  continually  being  shelled  by  the 
rebels  from  several  of  their  batteries.     Many  of  these 


THE  SIEGE  OF  ATLANTy\.  109 

shells  exploded  right  among  the  men  when  working. 
Their  sharpshooters,  too,  tried  to  pick  off  every  man  they 
could  see.  But  our  pickets  were  thrown  out,  skirmish- 
ing as  usual,  and  the  works  were  finished  before  dark, 
though  they  were  made  stronger  during  the  night. 

Excepting  to  advance  our  lines,  August  4th,  to  within 
250  to  300  yards  of  the  enemy's  works,  we  made  no 
change  in  our  position  during  the  entire  siege,  until  August 
25th,  when  we  moved  back  to  the  railroad  bridge  over 
the  Chattahoochee  river,  as  I  shall  describe  later.  For 
five  weeks  we  remained  in  our  trenches,  engaged  prin- 
cipally in  picket  duty.  The  weather  was  intensely  hot 
during  those  mid-summer  days,  and  the  huge  black  flies 
swarmed  down  upon  us,  like  the  locusts  of  Egypt.  The 
nights  were  very  cool.  There  was  not  a  night  during 
the  hottest  weather,  in  the  march  from  the  Chattahoochee 
to  Savannah,  when  two  heavy  woolen  blankets,  covered 
by  an  army  rubber  blanket,  were  more  than  a  comfortable 
covering. 

Ours  was  by  no  means  a  comfortable  place  in  which 
to  spend  the  month  of  August.  Picket  duty  was  of  the 
most  disagreeable  nature.  The  men  stood  in  pits  or  holes 
in  the  ground,  deep  enough  to  protect  their  bodies  and 
enable  then  to  crouch  down  to  avoid  exposure.  This 
position  was  cramped  and  uncomfortable;  but  we  must 
remain,  constantly  vigilant,  in  sun  or  rain,  sick  or  well, 
from  2  o'clock  in  the  morning  until  relieved  twenty-four 
hours  later. 

Within  a  few  yards  of  us  was  the  rebel  picket  line,  and 
unless  a  truce  was  agreed  on,  any  carelessness  of  a  soldier 
was  likely  to  cost  him  his  life.  But  there  were  sometimes 
truces,  and  they  generally  came  about  in  this  way.      A 


110  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

rebel,  tired  of  crouching  in  his  pit,  would  call  out  as 
follows  : 

"  I  say,  Yank  1" 

"Well,  'John  Reb,' what  is  it?" 

"  I'm  goln'  to  put  my  head  out.      Don't  shoot." 

"  Well,  I  won't.      Let's  stretch  our  legs." 

"  All  right." 

Then  for  an  hour  there  would  be  peace,  after  which, 
recalled  to  a  sense  of  duty,  the  cry  would  be, — 

"Time's  up,  Yanks.  Look  out,  we  'ns  's  go'n'  to  shoot. 
Be  keerful." 

"All  right,  Johnnies;  lay  low:" — and  the  vigil  was  on 
again. 

In  this  way,  for  thirty-six  days  and  nights,  the  regi- 
ment with  its  corps  lived  under  the  burning  sun,  the  dews 
of  night,  and  the  rains  that  fell  often  in  that  battle- 
summer  in  Georgia.  The  soil  was  yellow  joint  clay, 
sticky  and  yielding  when  wet,  but  it  cracked,  disintegrated 
and  became  dusty  when  dry.  The  floor  of  the  trench 
was  of  this  clay,  and  under  the  tramp  and  wear  of  so 
many  feet  for  so  many  days,  it  became  as  smoothly  even 
and  firm  as  a  cemented  floor.  The  daily  routine  of  the 
regiment  was  somewhat  as  follows : 

Roll-call  after  breakfast,  at  7  :oo  A.  M.,  roll-call  at 
noon,  and  roll-call  again  at  5  :oo  P.  M.,  when  details 
were  made  for  picket  duty.  Roll-call  again  at  9  :oo 
P.  M.,  then  came  "Taps."  The  picket  guard  was 
awakened  at  2  :oo  A.  M.,  when  the  old  picket  was  re- 
lieved and  returned  to  the  regiment,  the  fresh  one  taking 
its  place. 

If  the  enemy  had  not  succeeded  in  occasionally  blowing 
up   some    portion    of   our   works    with    their   shells,    com- 


THE  SIEGE  OF  ATLANTA.  Ill 

pelling  nightly  repairs  with  shovel  and  pick-axe,  the 
monotony  of  life  would  have  been  even  worse,  for  save 
the  roll-calls  and  picket  duty,  there  was  little  to  do  but 
cook,  eat,  play  cards,  write  letters,  mend  clothes  and  clean 
arms  and  accoutrements. 

One  of  the  pests  that  stayed  with  us  from  early  morn 
till  dewy  eve,  was  the  common  house-fly;  and  he  was  only 
one  of  the  several  breeds  of  pests  that  "stayed  with  us!" 
This  little  torment  swarmed  in  legions,  and  the  legions 
were  myriads.  Sleep  was  impossible  while  daylight 
lasted,  so  persistently  savage  were  they.  One  was  re- 
quired to  keep  a  hand  in  constant  motion  to  ward  off 
their  attacks,  and  all  sorts  of  devices  were  tried  to  get 
a  brief  sleep.  The  men,  during  these  hot  and  sultry 
days  (particularly  they  who  had  been  awake  and  alert  all 
the  previous  night  and  day  on  picket),  desired  to  get  a 
chance  to  sleep  during  the  day,  but  Mr.  Fly  said,  "No!" 
— and  he  was  no  respecter  of  persons. 

As  said  before,  there  was  no  sleep  while  daylight  lasted, 
and  when  night  came  on  there  were  many  alarms,  false 
and  otherwise,  of  an  attack  or  sortie  by  the  enemy.  One 
method  adopted  by  the  boys  to  drive  out  the  fly  was  satis- 
factory to  behold,  if  not  effective  in  results.  It  was  some- 
what as  follows : 

A  party  of  a  half  dozen  or  more  would  contribute 
each  a  spoonful  of  sugar  to  a  mass,  which  was  sprinkled 
in  a  circular  line,  about  two  feet  in  diameter,  on  the 
trench  floor.  The  powder  from  a  few  cartridges  was 
then  sprinkled  on  the  sugar,  and  the  syndicate  waited 
for  the  flies  to  cover  the  line,  which  they  soon  did  in  a 
dense  black  swarm.  Then  a  match  was  applied  to  the 
circle,  and  instantly  the  ground  was  covered  with  a  writh- 


112  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

ing  mass  of  wingless  flies.  Yet  these  wholesale  slaugh- 
ters of  the  winged  tyrants  never  for  a  moment  freed  the 
"Land  of  Nod"  from  their  Invasions. 

After  a  day  of  roaring  turmoil  of  flying  shot  and  shell 
(such  days  were  not  Infrequent),  the  shades  of  night  gen- 
erally brought  rest  and  quiet  to  the  troops  of  both  armies; 
and  when  darkness  had  fairly  settled  down  upon  us,  the 
men  of  the  regiment  came  out  of  the  trenches  and  reclined 
on  the  outer  slopes,  chatting  and  smoking,  while  violin 
and  flute  played  the  sweet  and  plaintive  airs  of  other 
days,  in  other  lands  more  peaceful;  and  then  the  voices 
of  the  men  would  gather  in  strength  and  the  melody  of 
"Annie  Laurie"  was  rifted  on  the  summer  air,  even  as 
it  had  been  In  the  trenches  before  Sevastopol. 

Occasionally  the  band  would  take  a  position  within  the 
works  of  the  battery,  and  give  charming  music,  of  selec- 
tions from  the  great  masters,  without  the  flare  and  flame 
of  cymbal  and  drum.  "  Our  friends,  the  enemy,"  were 
always  sympathetic  listeners.  Evidently  it  was  a  great 
treat  to  them;  for  no  band  was  ever  heard  within  their 
lines,  and  seldom  a  drum,  but  the  bugle,  often. 

In  the  clear  evenings  the  two  lines  bombarded  each 
other  with  song.  The  Union  men  would  sing  the  pa- 
triotic songs  of  the  North,  and  there  were  many  excellent 
voices  among  those  strong-lunged,  strong-hearted  fellows. 
The  rebels  would  listen  until  their  turn  came,  and  then 
pay  us  back  with  "  Dixie,"  "  My  Maryland,"  and  other 
songs  calculated  to  "  fire  the  Southern  heart."  Then  for 
a  time  the  two  lines  would  exchange  ditties  of  love  and 
war,  and  finally  close  with  some  grand  old  sacred  hymn, 
known  to  us  all. 

The  morale  of  our  troops  was  fine,  though  the  same 


THE  SIEGE  OF  ATLANTA.  113 

could  not  be  said  regarding  their  health,  for  complaints 
of  not  feeling  well  were  frequently  heard.  Notwith- 
standing our  situation  in  a  healthy  region  of  the  country, 
with  an  abundance  of  good  water,  the  men  suffered  con- 
siderably from  scurvy,  owing  to  the  limited  amount  of 
vegetable  diet.  Most  of  the  diseases  were  of  a  dietetic 
character.  About  one-third  of  the  men  who  had  started 
with  us  in  April  were  staying  at  the  hospital  during  the 
greater  part  of  the  siege. 

And  all  of  this  time  Sherman  was  slowly  and  gradually 
drawing  his  lines  about  the  city,  feeling  for  the  railroad 
toward  the  South,  which  supplied  the  rebel  army  and 
made  Atlanta  a  place  of  military  importance.  With  the 
exception  of  one  instance  (July  28th),  when  he  made  an 
abortive  attack  on  the  right  of  our  main  army,  Confederate 
General  Hood  remained  entirely  on  the  defensive  within 
his  lines  of  works  around  the  city,  at  an  average  distance 
of  a  mile  and  a  half.  But  our  cannon-shot,  passing  over 
this  line,  must  have  eventually  destroyed  the  town.  We 
understood,  too,  that  there  was  no  forage  in  the  city  at 
all,  that  the  horses  of  the  enemy  were  being  fed  on  small 
patches  of  green  corn.  It  was  the  general  belief  that 
Hood's  army  could  not  stand  the  bombardment  many 
days  longer. 

On  one  occasion,  August  13th,  after  a  heavy  artillery 
fire  from  our  guns,  a  big  fire  broke  out  in  the  city  about 
II  o'clock  at  night;  bells  ringing  and  cries  of  "fire" 
being  plainly  audible  to  us.  The  fire  grew  larger  during 
the  night  and  continued  until  daylight.  Again,  the  next 
day,  the  fire  broke  out  shortly  after  dark  and  lasted  about 
three  hours,  affording  a  fine  spectacle  from  our  vantage 
ground. 


114  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

At  this  time  the  picket  line  of  our  division  was  occupy- 
ing a  low  hill  known  as  "burnt  houses"  (where  we  had 
succeeded  in  burning  some  outbuildings  in  a  brilliant  sortie 
made  July  27th),  situated  about  150  yards  in  advance 
of  the  original  position  of  our  regiment,  and  not  more 
than  200  yards  distant  from  the  enemy's  front  and  from 
one  of  their  two  forts  on  the  Marietta  road.  This  hill 
had  been  occupied  by  the  enemy's  picket,  but  was  captured 
by  a  detachment  from  our  brigade  a  fortnight  before. 

At  break  of  day,  on  the  morning  of  July  30th,  our 
picket  line,  supported  by  the  2nd  Massachusetts,  was  ad- 
vanced to  the  ridge,  surprising  the  enemy  and  taking  a 
number  of  prisoners.  The  position  was  one  of  great  im- 
portance to  the  rebels,  as  was  evidenced  by  their  efforts 
all  day  to  regain  it.  Our  pickets  were  plainly  to  be  seen 
by  us  as  they  immediately  began  to  throw  up  a  line  of  rail 
breastworks,  during  the  progress  of  which  they  were 
seriously  annoyed  by  the  enemy's  sharpshooters  and  the 
fire  from  their  fort  and  redoubts.  The  latter  was  fre- 
quently silenced  by  the  men  of  the  2nd  Massachusetts, 
whose  accurate  fire  through  the  embrasures  rendered  the 
artillery  useless.  The  moment  their  fire  slackened,  how- 
ever, the  enemy  quickly  took  advantage  of  the  opportunity 
to  fire  grape-shot  into  the  ranks  of  our  troops.  But  in 
spite  of  all  the  enemy  could  do  to  hinder  us,  the  works 
were  pushed  to  completion  and  the  position  held. 

In  consequence  of  our  picket  line  having  gained  posses- 
sion of  this  desirable  position,  a  few  days  later,  August 
4th,  we  advanced  the  line  of  our  regiment  50  yards  and 
began  to  throw  up  works,  which  we  continued  to 
strengthen  nearly  every  day  during  the  remainder  of  the 
siege.     The   same    closing-in   movement   was   general   at 


THE  SIEGE  OF  ATLANTA.  115 

this  time  at  all  points  of  the  besieging  circle.  We  were 
steadily  tightening  our  grip  about  the  city. 

We  were  now  within  250  yards  of  the  enemy's  line, 
which  we  could  see  was  covered  by  a  strong  breastwork, 
in  front  of  which  was  an  abattis,  chcvaiix-dc-frise  and 
wooden  palisade.  The  enemy's  fort  (up  the  road)  was 
occupied  by  their  infantry,  the  embrasures  of  the  fort 
being  filled  with  sand  bags,  and  several  redoubts  and 
rifle-pits  were  close  at  hand.  As  we  lay  within  rifle  range 
of  these  works,  the  fire  of  their  sharpshooters  became 
very  annoying.  From  this  time  on,  the  duty  was  as  try- 
ing to  the  troops  as  experience  during  an  ordinary  battle. 
It  was  generally  admitted  that  the  position  occupied  by 
our  regiment  was  one  of  the  most  hazardous  of  any 
around  the  city. 

It  was  at  about  this  time  that  desertions  from  the 
enemy  became  frequent.  On  the  night  of  the  big  fire, 
already  referred  to  (August  13th),  a  rebel  officer  found 
his  w^ay  into  our  lines  and  gave  an  account  of  the  situation 
of  affairs  in  the  city,  which  we  listened  to  with  no  little 
interest  and  curiosity.  This  man  was  Captain  Jordon, 
Commander  of  Company  G,  36th  Ala.  Infantry,  in  Gen- 
eral A.  P.  Stewart's  division  of  Hood's  old  corps.  He  said 
that  the  rebel  soldiers  felt  that  there  was  no  longer  any 
chance  of  success,  and,  although  they  would  fight  desper- 
ately if  attacked  in  their  works,  they  w^ould  refuse  to 
make  a  general  charge. 

He  was  confident  that  if  the  men  could  be  made  to 
know  how  they  would  be  treated  after  coming  over,  the 
majority  of  Hood's  soldiers  would  desert  him;  and  that 
If  the  practice  of  the  picket  lines  agreeing  to  a  truce  for 
a  few  hours  at  a  time  was  encouraged,  a  great  many  men 


116  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

would  desert  every  day.  Their  men  had  great  confidence 
in  the  honor  of  our  soldiers,  and  a  proposition  to  cease 
firing  was  at  once  accepted.  It  was  during  one  of  these 
armistices  along  the  picket  lines  that  he  questioned  oui 
pickets  as  to  the  kind  of  treatment  he  would  receive  if 
he  deserted,  and  was  told  that  he  would  be  sent  to  the 
North. 

The  rebel  captain  Informed  us  that  their  men  were 
taught  our  government  would  force  them  into  the  army 
as  soon  as  they  came  over.  He  had  been  looking  for 
a  chance  to  desert  during  the  whole  campaign,  and  im- 
proved the  opportunity  when  told  he  would  be  sent  to 
the  North  and  allowed  to  stay  there.  He  added  that 
their  rations  consisted  of  bacon  and  corn  bread,  occasion- 
ally beef,  and  often  the  men  of  his  company  would  eat 
a  day's  supply  at  one  meal,  and  then  not  be  satisfied.  He 
said  that  one-third  of  the  men  in  their  trenches  were  kept 
up  all  night,  and  that  at  3  o'clock  the  whole  force  was 
ordered  under  arms  until  daylight. 

The  position  of  our  regiment  remained  unchanged  until 
the  night  of  August  25th,  when,  with  the  brigade  and 
clivision,  we  were  ordered  to  move  back  towards  the  Chat- 
tahoochee river,  to  guard  the  railroad  communication  and 
protect  Sherman's  supplies,  then  well  up.  Up  to  that 
time  we  had  lost  about  thirty  men  In  the  trenches,  from 
sickness  and  casualties. 

At  2  :oo  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  August  26th,  we 
resumed  the  march  and  took  up  our  position,  early  In 
the  forenoon,  on  the  south  side  of  the  Chattahoochee  river, 
near  the  railroad  bridge,  and  at  once  began  the  construc- 
tion of  breastworks.  Here  our  corps,  under  the  command 
of  General   Slocum,    remained,   strengthening  the   works 


THE  SIEGE  OF  ATLANTA.  117 

with  abattis  and  covering  the  bridge  across  the  river  at 
this  point,  during  the  movement  of  Sherman's  main  army 
(with  the  other  live  corps)  to  the  south  and  west  of  At- 
lanta, where,  at  Jonesborough,  twenty-six  miles  below  the 
city,  he  succeeded,  at  the  end  of  August,  in  gaining  con- 
trol of  the  Macon  railroad;  this  being  the  line  by  which 
the  rebels  had  obtained  their  supplies.  This  was  the 
finishing  stroke. 

At  4  o'clock,  Friday  afternoon,  September  2nd,  we 
received  orders  to  move  on  Atlanta,  the  enemy  having 
evacuated  the  city  the  previous  night  or  early  that  morn- 
ing. Four  hours  later  the  20th  Corps  entered  the  city 
from  the  north  and  west,  and  took  possession  of  the  rebel 
works. 

The  casualties  of  our  regiment  during  the  summer's 
campaign,  from  April  28th  to  September  2nd,  had  been 
I  officer  and  18  men  killed;  4  officers  and  83  men 
wounded,  and  one  man  missing.  Total,  107.  In  his 
official  report,  made  out  a  few  days  later,  Colonel  Ketcham 
has  this  to  say  of  our  behavior: 

"During  the  long  and  fatiguing  campaign  through 
which  we  have  just  passed,  my  officers  and  men  faithfully 
performed  their  duties,  promptly  and  cheerfully  complied 
with  every  order,  and  at  all  times  evinced  an  anxiety  and 
eagerness  to  meet  and  fight  the  enemy." 


CHAPTER  XL 

ATLANTA  OCCUPIED. 

By  William  C.  Wile. 

Great  Destruction  of  Property  by  the  Enemy — City  Surrenders — The  Town   and  Its  De- 
fences— Regulation  of  Trade — Inhabitants  Sent  Away — Sunday  Observance — 
Foraging  for  Food — Fighting  Off  the  Enemy — Preparations  for  Aban- 
doning the  City — Last  Scenes  Spectacular  and   Fascinating 
— "As  We  Go  Marching  On." 

In  dispatching  to  Jefferson  Davis  the  dispiriting  intel- 
hgence  of  his  evacuation  of  Atlanta,  Confederate  General 
Hood  declared  that  it  was  not  the  loss  of  the  city  itself  he 
cared  so  much  about;  he  dreaded  more  the  demoralizing 
effect  on  his  troops  of  again  turning  their  backs  on  the  foe. 
But  he  considered  it  necessary,  after  General  Sherman 
had  gained  a  footing  on  the  Southern  railroad,  to  put 
the  Confederate  forces  between  the  Union  army  and  the 
town  of  Andersonville,  which  was  only  about  ninety  miles 
farther  south. 

At  this  place  were  fully  34,000  Federal  prisoners,  and 
he  feared  that  a  sudden  cavalry  raid  from  the  Union  army 
would  succeed  in  releasing  these  men,  "who  could  easily 
be  furnished  with  arms,"  he  said,  "and  turned  loose  to 
devastate  the  surrounding  country."  He  therefore  sug- 
gested to  Davis  that  the  prisoners  be  removed  to  some 
other  locality,  so  that  he  should  feel  free  to  move  his  army 
into  Tennessee  and  take  the  initiative  against  General 
Sherman  by  severing  his  communication  with  the  North. 


ATLANTA  OCCUPIED.  119 

His  advice  was  acted  upon,  and  before  October  ist  all 
the  prisoners  were  taken  from  the  prison  pens  of  Macon 
and  Andersonville,  and  confined  near  Charleston  and 
Savannah. 

General  Hood  was  particularly  incensed,  at  the  time  of 
the  evacuation  of  Atlanta,  because  of  the  necessity  at 
the  last  moment,  of  destroying  several  million  dollars' 
worth  of  ordnance  stores.  He  had  given  ample  notice  to 
his  chief  quartermaster  to  move  a  train  of  seven  engines 
and  8 1  cars,  already  placed  in  position  at  the  depot  for 
that  purpose,  but  this  gentleman  chanced  to  imbibe  too 
freely  of  liquid  stores,  and  neglected  to  perform  the  im- 
portant duty.  As  a  consequence  the  Confederate  rear- 
guard,— Loring's  division  of  Stewart's  corps, — was 
obliged,  before  leaving,  to  blow  up  the  several  car-loads 
of  ammunition,  small  arms,  stores,  etc.,  and  spike  a  splen- 
did battery  which  had  just  arrived  from  England. 

The  sound  of  these  loud  and  repeated  explosions  came 
to  our  ears  at  Chattahoochee,  eight  miles  away.  The 
booming  was  first  heard  about  i  o'clock  in  the  morning 
of  September  2nd.  It  was  even  heard  at  our  main  army, 
at  Jonesborough,  25  miles  from  the  city.  Large  fires 
were  also  visible,  and  occasionally  brilliant  flashes  would 
light  up  the  heavens  in  that  direction.  The  indications 
pointed  to  the  destruction  of  magazines.  Early  in  the 
morning  therefore  reconnoitering  parties  were  sent  out 
from  our  corps  towards  Atlanta,  to  find  out  the  meaning 
of  all  this  disturbance.  The  only  regiment  from  our 
brigade  to  be  ordered  out  on  this  service  was  the  107th 
New  York. 

At  I  o'clock  that  afternoon  a  courier  brought  the  fol- 
lowing dispatch  from  General  Ward  of  the  3rd  Division, 


120  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

who  led  the  reconnoissance : — "The  city  authorities  have 
surrendered  to  my  reconnoitering  party,  and  my  troops 
now  occupy  Atlanta."  At  8  o'clock  that  evening,  at  the 
head  of  the  20th  Corps,  we  entered  with  banners  flying 
and  bands  playing,  and  took  possession  of  the  city  without 
firing  a  gun. 

No  word  can  describe  the  sensations  of  that  hour. 
Since  May  5th  we  had  been  in  one  constant  struggle  or 
skirmish  with  the  enemy.  For  the  previous  seven  weeks 
the  Union  army  had  battled  before  earthen  walls,  making 
apparently  little  impression,  and  almost  always  within 
musket  range  of  the  enemy's  main  lines.  It  was  the  com- 
monly expressed  opinion  of  men  and  officers,  during  the 
siege,  that  an  assault  would  be  simply  slaughter.  We 
were  more  than  grateful,  therefore,  to  the  Confederate 
Commander-in-Chief  when  he  vacated  the  city  and  pro- 
ceeded afterward  to  carry  out  just  such  a  plan  as  General 
Sherman  said  he  would  have  commanded  him  to  do,  had 
he  the  power. 

Atlanta  at  this  time  was  a  city  of  about  12,000  in  size, 
second  in  the  state  to  Savannah.  Situated  most  favorably 
on  the  rolling  ground  that  separates  the  waters  flowing 
into  the  Gulf  from  those  emptying  into  the  Atlantic,  it 
had  not  only  become  the  most  important  railroad  centre 
in  the  state,  but  was  the  chief  entrepot  of  trade  between 
the  Western  and  the  Atlantic  and  Gulf  states.  It  was 
the  principal  manufacturing  town  in  the  South,  and  had 
become  the  seat  of  various  governmental  works  of  the 
Confederacy.  There  were  many  machine  shops,  maga- 
zines, arsenals,  foundries  and  public  stores  here.  Though 
Milledgeville  was  the  state  capital,  Atlanta  was  a  place 
of  greater  military  importance. 


ATLANTA  OCCUPIED.  121 

Ten  years  after  the  war  the  city  had  not  only  been 
rebuilt,  but  had  doubled  in  wealth  and  population,  and 
to-day  it  is  one  of  the  largest  cities  in  the  South,  having 
a  population  of  over  90,000.  It  became  the  state  capital 
three  years  after  the  war,  upon  the  occasion  of  the  recon- 
struction of  the  state  and  the  adoption  of  its  new  consti- 
tution. 

At  the  time  of  our  occupation  it  had  many  beautiful 
houses  fronting  on  wide  streets,  as  well  as  large  brick 
blocks  of  stores,  warehouses  and  factory  buildings.  But 
everywhere  was  visible  the  sad  work  done  by  the  artillery, 
for  during  the  two  previous  months  shells  had  been 
bursting  day  and  night  over  the  town.  At  the  depot 
were  the  charred  remains  of  what  was  estimated  to  have 
been  seventeen  million  dollars'  worth  of  ammunition, 
which  had  been  burned  and  exploded  the  night  before. 

The  city  was  surrounded  by  elaborate  earthworks,  from 
fifteen  to  twenty  feet  high,  and  as  they  were  within  the 
city  itself  none  of  the  residential  portions  were  safe  from 
the  wandering  shells  which  sometimes  skipped  over  them. 
In  every  dooryard  was  a  hole  dug  in  the  earth,  with  a 
bank  in  front,  where  the  family  took  refuge  during  the 
shelling.  The  houses  which  had  been  struck  by  shells 
looked  as  if  they  had  been  wrecked  by  an  earthquake. 

For  the  most  part  the  inhabitants  professed  to  be  very 
glad  to  see  our  soldiers,  and  some  of  them  brought  out 
tobacco  in  large  quantities,  which  was  eagerly  purchased 
by  the  men.  Possibly  these  cash  sales  had  something  to 
do  with  the  cordial  welcome  which  they  professed !  Sev- 
eral bakeries  were  opened  and  ciid  a  brisk  business,  asking 
a  dollar  for  a  medium-sized  loaf  of  bread,  and  the  same 
for  a  pie  with  a  crust  like  shoe  leather.    The  tobacco  how- 


122  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

ever  was  cheap.  What  cost  at  the  sutler's,  during  the 
siege,  from  ten  to  fifteen  dollars,  was  now  procured  for 
a  pound  of  coffee.  But  this  sort  of  trade  continued  for 
only  a  day  or  two.  As  soon  as  it  was  warranted  by  orders 
from  General  Sherman  the  Union  soldiers  took  posses- 
sion of  the  bake-houses  and  everything  was  sold  at  a  fair 
price  and  of  a  fair  quality. 

On  the  evening  of  our  entrance  into  the  city — Friday, 
September  2nd — our  regiment  marched  across  and  took 
position  in  the  abandoned  rebel  breastworks  on  the  east 
side,  our  right  resting  upon  the  Decatur  road.  On  the 
next  day  suitable  quarters  were  erected  by  the  men,  which 
within  a  week  were  made  more  comfortable  and  uniform. 
The  officers  had  wall  tents,  and  at  the  rear  large  fire-places 
were  built. 

On  the  first  Sunday,  September  4th,  the  sun  rose  bright 
and  warm,  but  a  chilly  north  wind  sent  clouds  of  dust 
through  the  encampment,  which  proved  very  annoying  to 
our  chaplain,  as  it  rendered  open  air  service  quite  im- 
possible. He  made  an  attempt  to  secure  the  First  Presby- 
terian Church  near  by,  but  we  found  ourselves  too  busy 
to  attend  the  meeting,  and  it  was  given  up.  It  became 
the  custom  afterward,  however,  for  the  chaplains  to  take 
turns  in  preaching  in  the  various  churches,  usually  to  large 
audiences  of  soldiers.  During  the  week,  too,  meetings 
were  held  every  night;  first  a  sermon  and  then  a  prayer 
meeting.  The  thirty  chaplains  of  our  Corps  formed  an 
association  during  our  stay  in  the  city,  and  met  on  Mon- 
days in  the  Baptist  Church.  They  afterward  drew  up 
a  paper  and  forwarded  it  to  President  Lincoln,  thanking 
him  for  the  special  privileges  accorded  them. 

On  the  Monday  following  several  buildings  were  set 


ATLANTA  OCCUPIED.  123 

on  fire  by  some  irresponsible  persons,  and  General  Slocum 
offered  $500  reward  for  the  detection  of  the  incendiaries. 

September  6th  General  Sherman,  with  the  main  forces, 
marched  up  from  below  the  city,  and  the  three  armies 
were  assigned  their  respective  positions.  On  the  colors 
of  every  battery,  corps  and  regiment,  the  word  "  Atlanta  " 
was  to  be  seen  conspicuously  inscribed.  The  Army  of  the 
Cumberland,  consisting  of  the  4th,  14th,  and  20th  Corps, 
under  General  Thomas,  occupied  the  rebel  works  about  the 
city.  The  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  under  General  Howard, 
was  grouped  about  East  Point,  nearly  three  miles  below 
the  city,  while  the  Army  of  the  Ohio,  under  General  Scho- 
field,  encamped  at  Decatur,  three  miles  east  of  us. 

All  day  long  the  last-named  troops  were  marching  past 
our  lines  and  out  on  the  Decatur  road.  Just  before  noon 
General  Sherman  himself,  accompanied  by  his  staff,  rode 
past.  In  the  afternoon  Kilpatrick's  cavaliy  passed  by, 
the  general  seeming  the  very  impersonation  of  a  dashing 
soldier. 

Two  days  later,  September  8th,  the  people  of  Atlanta 
were  notified  that  they  must  make  speedy  preparations  to 
leave  the  city.  All  who  were  committed  to  our  cause 
were  to  be  sent  to  the  North,  while  the  rebel  families 
were  to  be  sent  to  the  South ;  arrangements  being  made  to 
transport  the  latter,  under  a  flag  of  truce,  to  the  care  of 
Confederate  General  Hood,  thirty  miles  below,  who  would 
attend  to  their  further  removal.  The  town  was  to  be 
thoroughly  policed,  and  no  citizen  allowed  to  take  quarters 
there.  No  traders,  manufacturers  or  sutlers  could  settle, 
under  pain  of  arrest  and  of  being  put  to  work  on  the 
defenses. 

This  order  raised  a  storm  of  reproaches  from  the  Con- 


124  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

federate  civil  and  military  authorities.  General  Hood,  in 
one  of  his  letters  to  General  Sherman  on  the  subject,  ac- 
cused him  of  practicing  "needless  cruelty,  unprecedented  in 
the  annals  of  civilized  warfare."  Three  days  after  the  issu- 
ance of  the  order  the  general  also  received  a  lengthy  re- 
monstrance from  the  mayor  and  two  councilmen  (who  had 
been  left  in  the  city),  begging  him  to  reconsider  his  un- 
wise fiat  in  regard  to  sending  the  people  away.  They 
said — and  It  was  probably  true — that  many  of  the  poorer 
classes  had  no  place  to  go  to,  and  would  be  obliged  to 
live  in  barns  or  out  of  doors.  There  were  sick  and  preg- 
nant members  of  some  families,  who  must  be  left  behind 
without  proper  care  and  attention.  The  surrounding 
country  was  already  overrun  Avith  fugitives  who  had  fled 
from  in  front  of  the  Union  army  on  its  way  to  Atlanta. 
"The  order  was  unjust."  "  It  was  impracticable."  "  It 
would  lead  to  much  suffering,  as  winter  was  approaching," 
etc.,  etc. 

We  felt  sorry  for  some  of  the  families;  still  we  knew 
well  enough  that  our  general  had  a  good  and  sufficient 
reason  for  adopting  such  a  course,  and  we  believed  that 
he  was  right  in  remaining  firm.  He  told  the  mayor  and 
his  two  assistants  that  it  was  not  a  question  of  "  hu- 
manity," in  the  narrow  sense  they  regarded  It,  but  that 
a  nation  was  involved,  in  which  millions  of  people  outside 
of  Atlanta  were  to  be  thought  of.  He  reminded  them 
that  "war  Is  cruelty,"  not  popularity  seeking,  and  that 
If  they  wanted  peace  they  and  their  relatives  must  stop 
tvar.  He  could  not  divulge  his  plans  to  them  by  giving 
the  true  reasons  for  the  order,  but  the  moment  they  cried 
"  Quarter,"  he  would  share  his  last  cracker  with  them. 

Throughout  the  entire  month  of  September    (during 


ATLANTA  OCCUPIED.  125 

most  of  which  time  there  was  a  truce  between  the  two 
armies  in  regard  to  the  exchange  of  prisoners),'  we  re- 
mained quietly  in  our  encampment  resting  from  the 
fatigues  of  active  mihtary  service,  and  some  of  the  de- 
serving officers  were  allowed  to  go  home  on  a  furlough. 
The  railroad  was  employed  to  its  utmost  capacity  in  bring- 
ing forwarci  supplies  and  recruits.  Every  day  cars 
(averaging  150)  came  loaded  with  crackers  replenishing 
our  stores  of  food  at  the  rate  of  a  million  rations  a  day. 
The  expiration  of  the  terms  of  service  of  many  of  the 
men  occurred  at  this  time,  and  the  recruits  that  came  in 
towards  the  end  of  the  month  were  heartily  welcomed. 
Forty-nine  men  were  added  to  our  regiment,  and  190  to 
the  3rd  Wisconsin,  and  this  was  a  fair  index  of  the  whole 
army. 

On  Sundays  business  was  stopped  and  all  stores  and 
public  buildings  closed,  in  accordance  with  orders  from 
Colonel  William  Coggswell  of  the  2nd  Massachusetts 
Regiment,  who  was  Commandant  of  the  Post.  On  the 
other  days  of  the  week  we  merely  had  drills,  roll- 
calls,  guard  mount  and  dress  parade.  September  19th 
we  raised  a  flag  pole  and  ran  up  the  garrison 
flag.  Next  day  the  150th  took  a  prominent  part 
in  the  review  of  our  division  by  General  Slocum. 
We  had  paraded  for  this  purpose  two  days  be- 
fore, but  the  review  was  prevented  by  rain.  The 
principal  event  in  store  for  us  at  this  time  was  the  arrival 
of  the  U.  S.  Paymaster  with  his  iron  safe,  when  we  re- 
ceived the  long-looked-for  and  much-needed  greenbacks. 
It  was  over  eight  months  since  our  regiment  had  been 
paid,  and  the  appearance  of  this  gentleman  was  hailed 
with  delight. 


126  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

During  the  month  of  October  affairs  took  a  decided 
change,  and  our  duties  became  more  active.  On  the  ist  the 
startHng  intelligence  was  received  that  the  enemy's  cavalry 
and  infantry  were  seen  crossing  the  Chattahoochee  near 
Powder  Springs,  20  miles  below  the  railroad  bridge, 
marching  northward.  General  Sherman  at  once  ordered 
Wagner's  Division  of  the  4th  Corps,  and  Morgan's  Divi- 
sion of  the  14th  Corps,  to  Chattanooga,  and  Corse's 
Division  of  the  15th  Corps  back  to  Rome,  Ga.,  to  pro- 
tect our  communications.  Three  days  later  he  put  in 
motion  the  17th  and  23rd  Corps,  with  the  remainder  of 
the  4th,  14th  and  15th  Corps,  towards  Smyrna,  which  he 
accompanied  in  person,  determining  to  keep  an  eye  on  the 
movements  of  Confederate  General  Hood.  Our  army 
commander.  General  Thomas,  had  already  been  sent  to 
Nashville  (reaching  there  October  3rd),  to  take  command 
of  the  troops  at  that  place. 

General  Slocum,  with  the  20th  Corps  (to  which  we  be- 
longed), was  left  behind  to  guard  Atlanta,  and  it  at  once 
became  necessary  to  construct  a  new  line  of  works,  such 
as  could  be  manned  by  a  smaller  garrison.  It  is  true  that 
the  several  corps  which  had  gone  in  pursuit  of  General 
Hood  had  left  behind  with  us  large  detachments  and  a 
good  part  of  their  trains,  great  and  small,  men  and  animals 
about  equal  in  numbers  to  those  of  our  own  corps 
(13,000)  ;  yet  as  the  men  were  chiefly  convalescents  and 
unarmed,  these  detachments  were  more  of  a  hincirance 
than  a  help,  since  comparatively  few  of  them  could  be 
put  to  work  on  the  new  fortifications. 

On  the  evening  of  October  4th  we  were  removed  to  the 
northwest  side  of  the  city,  taking  up  our  position  in  the 
old   rebel   earthworks,    in   front  of  the  position  we  had 


ATLANTA  OCCUPIED.  127 

occupied  during  the  siege.  Our  regiment  was  posted 
on  the  right  of  the  brigade,  near  the  large  fort  on  the 
Marietta  road,  and  here  for  the  ensuing  fortnight  we 
were  busily  engaged  in  strengthening  the  old  outer  lines, 
by  slashing  and  abattis,  and  working  hard  on  the  new 
inner  chain  of  defences,  forts  and  rifle-pits,  which  by  the 
way,  were  never  completed.  From  our  single  regiment 
from  80  to  100  men  were  detailed  every  day  on  these 
works,  which  were  being  constructed  under  the  direction 
of  Captain  O.  M.  Poe,  Chief  Engineer. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  here  that,  before  the  railroad 
was  cut,  early  in  October,  by  Confederate  General  Hood's 
army  moving  northward,  the  supplies  for  both  men  and 
beasts  in  the  city  had  been  quite  sufficient.  Now  however, 
though  measures  had  been  taken  to  graze  the  animals, 
the  forage  supply  became  limited,  and  it  was  soon  found 
necessary  to  organize  large  foraging  parties  to  be  sent 
out  under  guard  to  the  neighborhood  of  South  and  Yellow 
rivers,  several  miles  beyond  Decatur. 

Four  expeditions  of  this  kind  were  made  up,  all  of 
which  were  eminently  successful,  bringing  back,  on  an 
average,  650  wagon  loads  of  corn  and  fodder,  besides 
supplies  consisting  of  cattle,  sheep,  poultry,  sweet  pota- 
toes, syrup,  etc.  Though  some  show  of  opposition  was 
made  by  the  enemy's  cavalry,  not  a  wagon  train  was  lost. 
The  commanders  of  these  expeditions,  Geary,  Robinson., 
Dustin  and  Carman,  were  highly  commended  for  their 
skill,  in  the  report  of  General  Williams;  as  was  also 
Colonel  Garrard,  commanding  the  cavalry  brigade  which 
went  with  each  expedition. 

Our  regiment,  with  the  rest  of  the  brigade,  accompanied 
two  of  these  expeditions.        On  the   first  one    (October 


128  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

iith),  we  went  in  conjunction  with  a  brigade  from  the 
2nd  Division,  the  whole  being  under  command  of  General 
Geary.  We  started  out  at  five  o'clock  in  the  morning 
and  marched  to  Flat  Rock  Shoals,  a  distance  of  i8  miles. 
The  next  day  we  crossed  the  Shoals,  turned  to  the  right  a 
few  miles  farther,  where  the  men  of  our  regiment  helped 
to  load  200  wagons  of  corn.  On  the  following  day, 
October  13th,  we  filled  the  balance  of  our  wagons,  125 
in  number,  and  returned  with  the  train  of  500  wagons 
loaded  with  corn  and  oats  to  within  six  miles  of  the  city, 
and  there  halted,  it  being  about  three  hours  after  mid- 
night. At  1 1  :30  the  next  forenoon  we  continued  the 
march  and  arrived  at  Atlanta  at  2  P.  M.,  after  an  absence 
of  four  days. 

On  the  other  expedition  we  were  gone  three  days, 
October  22nd,  23rd  and  24th,  This  time  the  party  was 
led  by  our  new  brigade  commander.  Colonel  Ezra  A.  Car- 
man, assisted  by  Colonel  Dustin,  with  three  brigades  from 
the  3rd  Division,  and  two  batteries.  The  advance  sec- 
tion of  the  expedition  (sent  out  the  day  before)  had  been 
closely  threatened  by  the  enemy's  cavalry,  and  we  were  sent 
to  Colonel  Dustin's  assistance.  We  went  in  light  march- 
ing order  to  Latimer's,  beyond  Lithonia,  forty  miles  east 
of  Atlanta,  and  returned  two  days  later  with  a  train  of 
800  wagon  loads,  without  accident. 

We  now  remained  quietly  in  camp  until  Tuesday, 
November  ist,  when  we  received  orders  to  prepare  for 
active  campaign  service,  at  an  hour's  notice,  after  Novem- 
ber 4th.  We  at  once  began  to  ship  to  the  rear  all  sur- 
plus baggage,  provisions  and  forage  that  had  been  col- 
lected, machinery  of  repair  shops,  heavy  siege  guns,  use- 
less wagons,   inmates  of  field  hospitals,  members  of  the 


ATLANTA  OCCUPIED.  129 

Sanitary  and  Christian  Commissions,  the  indisposed  and 
the  refugees.  Every  locomotive  and  car  on  the  Chat- 
tanooga and  Atlanta  railroad  was  employed  in  this  work, 
and  in  return  the  trains  brought  in  furlough  men  and 
recruits. 

November  9th  early  in  the  morning,  two  brigades  of 
rebel  cavalry  with  a  light  battery,  supposed  to  be  led  by 
General  Wheeler,  approached  the  city  and  opened  fire  with 
artillery  upon  the  front  of  the  2nd  Division,  just  at  our 
left.  They  undertook,  with  dismounted  men,  an  assault 
on  our  lines  along  the  McDonough  road,  evidently  think- 
ing we  were  evacuating  Atlanta.  They  were  soon  re- 
pulsed by  General  Geary's  Division,  and  drew  off,  leaving 
a  few  of  their  dead  and  wounded  on  the  ground  in  our 
front. 

Thinking  to  intercept  the  enemy's  movements,  our  bri- 
gade, under  command  of  Colonel  Carman,  was  sent  out  at 
10  o'clock  that  forenoon  to  overtake  them.  We  marched 
rapidly  down  to  Turner's  Ferry  on  the  Chattahoochee, 
then  across  to  the  Sandtown  road;  but  the  rebels  had 
eluded  us  and  fled  to  Jonesborough.  We  came  back  to 
the  city  in  the  evening,  having  marched  about  twenty 
miles. 

Our  brigade,  which  previously  consisted  of  six  regi- 
ments, now  contained  but  five.  We  had  lost  the  27th 
Indiana  which  had  become  so  much  reduced  from  various 
causes  that,  on  November  5th,  its  remaining  119  men 
were  consolidated  with  the  70th  Indiana,  of  the  ist 
Brigade,  3rd  Division.  The  five  regiments  of  our  bri- 
gade were  all  present  (on  the  outskirts  of  the  city) ,  on  the 
night  of  November  14th,  except  the  2nd  Massachusetts, 
which  had  been  left  behind,  with  certain  other  troops. 


130  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

to  assist  Chief  Engineer  Poe  in  destroying  public  prop- 
erty in  the  city ;  churches  and  private  dweUings  being  left 
unmolested. 

A  heavy  mist  hung  over  the  encampment.  Fires  were 
lighted  in  every  direction.  Soon  the  air  was  filled  with 
a  dense  smoke  from  the  numerous  fires  made  of  wet  pine 
brush.  This  the  fog  and  dense  woods  prevented  from 
blowing  away,  and  our  eyes  became  literally  fountains  of 
tears.  It  was  fairly  suffocating,  and  the  only  relief  to 
be  had  was  in  lying  flat  on  the  ground  and  thus  getting 
a  little  breath  of  air.  In  the  morning  the  blankets  were 
wet,  not  from  rain,  but  from  the  heavy  fog  and  dew. 

There  was  something  intensely  exciting  in  this  isolation 
of  ourselves  from  the  rest  of  the  world,  and  during  that 
last  night  through  we  gazed  with  fascination  upon  the 
forked  columns  of  fire  extending  high  in  the  air  above  the 
burning  buildings  of  the  city. 

On  Sunday  morning,  November  15th,  at  5:30  o'clock, 
the  last  reveille  was  heard  in  Atlanta.  A  dark  pall  of 
smoke,  like  a  vast  mourning  garment,  hung  over  the 
desolate  and  half-burned  city,  as  columns  of  troops  moved 
out  on  every  road  to  the  eastward,  with  the  long,  swinging 
stride,  and  rifles  carried  at  a  "  right  shoulder  shift," 
singing, — 

John  Brown's  body  lies  mouldering  in  the  grave, 
As  we  go  marching  on. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

FROM   ATLANTA  TO   MILLEDGEVILLE. 

By  William  H.  Bartlett. 

Election  in  Camp — Field  Orders— Reorganization  of  the  Army — None  but  the  Strongest 
Retained — More  Destruction  of  Property — City  Abandoned— Campaign  of  La- 
bor— Course  Taken — Corduroyed    Roads — Freak    "Legislature" — 
Foraging — "Uncle  Billy's  Bummers" — Skirmishing. 

Soon  after  the  capture  of  Atlanta,  Confederate  Gen- 
eral Hood,  who  had  retreated  south  with  his  army,  started 
by  a  northerly  route  towards  Tennessee,  with  the  evident 
intention  of  cutting  our  line  of  communications  and  thus 
compelling  a  precipitate  retreat  of  all  of  Sherman's  forces. 
Leaving  our  Corps,  the  20th,  to  guard  Atlanta,  Sherman 
took  all  of  his  other  forces  and  endeavored  to  frustrate 
the  design  of  the  enemy.  After  several  ineffectual  at- 
tempts to  catch  up  with  or  intercept  him,  he  gave  up  the 
chase,  and  telegraphed  General  Grant  that  he  had  sent 
General  Thomas's  army,  and  several  divisions  of  other 
corps,  to  look  after  General  Hood,  and  believed  that,  with 
such  reinforcements  as  could  be  hurried  to  Nashville  from 
the  West  and  North,  Thomas  could  check-mate  his  adver- 
sary, and  perhaps  annihilate  his  army.  At  any  rate. 
General  Sherman  did  not  propose  to  let  Hood  detain  his 
army  there,  and  thus  spoil  the  "fine  winter  campaign" 
which  he  had  planned  for  himself. 

Therefore,  leaving  Hood  to  the  tender  mercies  of  our 
own  good  General  Thomas,  Sherman  withdrew  from  his 


132  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

pursuit,  and  once  more  collected  his  remaining  forces  in 
and  around  Atlanta.  Up  to  this  time  very  few  if  any 
of  us — probably  no  one  but  General  Sherman  himself ,  and 
the  small  circle  of  generals  who  shared  his  confidential 
plans — knew  what  was  to  be  our  destination.  Some  con- 
jectured that  we  were  to  be  swung  off  to  the  east  through 
North  Carolina,  and,  entering  Virginia,  help  General 
Grant  to  destroy  the  armies  of  Confederate  General  Lee. 
Others  again  that  Macon  or  some  city  of  the  Gulf — or 
perhaps  Augusta,  Ga., — would  be  our  objective  point.  If 
any  one  guessed  it  would  be  Savannah,  he  did  not  com- 
municate it  to  his  comrades  of  the  line  untjl  he  left  Mil- 
ledgeville,  after  which  time  our  destination  was  trans- 
parent. 

As  election  approached,  especial  arrangements  were 
made  whereby  the  soldiers  in  the  field  could  vote.  The 
ballots  were  placed  in  sealed  envelopes,  and  were  by  due 
authority  conveyed  to  the  various  polls  where  the  soldiers 
would  have  been  entitled  to  vote  if  they  had  been  at 
home,  and  there  the  envelopes  were  opened  and  the  votes 
counted.  By  this  election  in  which  the  regiment  took 
part, — and  in  which  some  of  the  boys  cast  their  first  vote, 
having  reached  their  majority  since  enlisting, — Abraham 
Lincoln  was  a  second  time  elected  to  the  presidency,  and 
Colonel  Ketcham,  in  command  of  our  regiment,  was 
elected  a  member  of  Congress. 

The  last  week  of  the  army  in  Atlanta  was  one  of  antici- 
pation. Rumors  were  flying  thick  and  fast  as  to  the  time 
set  for  our  departure,  as  well  as  to  our  mysterious  destina- 
tion. On  November  8th  General  Sherman  issued  the 
following : 


FROM  ATLANTA  TO  MILLEDGEVILLE.  133 

SPECIAL  FIELD  ORDER,  No.  119. 

I'he  general  commanding  deems  it  proper  at  this  time  to  inform  the 
officers  and  men  of  the  14th,  15th,  17th  and  20th  Corps,  that  he  has 
organized  them  into  an  army  for  a  special  purpose,  well  known  to  the 
War  Department  and  to  General  Grant.  It  is  sufficient  for  you  to 
know  that  it  involves  a  departure  from  our  present  base,  and  a  long 
and  difficult  march  to  a  new  one.  All  the  chances  of  war  have  been 
considered  and  provided  for,  as  far  as  human  sagacity  can.  All  he 
asks  of  you  is  to  maintain  that  discipline,  patience  and  courage  which 
have  characterized  you  in  the  past;  and  he  hopes,  through  you,  to 
strike  a  blow  at  our  enemy  that  will  have  a  material  effect  in  pro- 
ducing what  we  all  so  much  desire,  his  complete  overthrow.  Of  all 
things,  the  most  important  is,  that  the  men,  during  marches  and  in 
camp,  keep  their  places  and  do  not  scatter  about  as  stragglers  or 
foragers,  to  be  picked  up  by  a  hostile  people  in  detail.  It  is  also  of 
the  utmost  importance  that  our  wagons  should  not  be  loaded  with 
anything  but  provisions  and  ammunition.  All  surplus  servants,  non- 
combatants,  and  refugees,  should  go  to  the  rear,  and  none  should  be 
encouraged  to  encumber  us  on  the  march.  At  some  future  time  we 
will  be  able  to  provide  for  the  poor  whites  and  blacks  who  seek  to 
escape  the  bondage  under  which  they  are  now  suffering.  With  these 
few  simple  cautions,  he  hopes  to  lead  you  to  acliievements  equal  in 
importance  to  those  of  the  past. 

By  order  of  Major-General  W.  T.  Sherman, 

L.  M.  Dayton,  Aide-de-Gamp. 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  execution  of  this  order  involved 
"  a  departure  from  our  present  base  and  a  long  and  diffi- 
cult march  to  a  new  one;"  and  that  was  all  the  clue  we 
had  to  the  future. 

His  army  at  that  time  consisted  of  four  Army  Corps, 
the  14th,  15th,  17th,  and  20th.  Of  these  the  15th  was 
divided  into  four  divisions,  the  others  having  three  divi- 
sions each.  The  corps  were  grouped  in  two  "  wings," 
as  they  were  termed:  the  right  wing  and  the  left  wing. 
The  right  wing,  composed  of  the  15th  and  17th  Corps, 
was  under  command  of  General  O.  O.  Howard,  and  the 
left  wing,  composed  of  the  14th  and  20th  Corps,  was 
under  command  of  General  H.  W.  Slocum. 


134  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Our  regiment  belonged  to  the  2nd  Brigade,  which  was 
commanded  at  first  by  General  Ruger,  and  afterward  by 
Colonel  Hawley  of  the  3rd  Wisconsin.  This  brigade  was 
a  part  of  the  ist  Division  which  was  commanded  by  Gen- 
eral N,  J.  Jackson,  and  this  division  was  one  of  the  three 
divisions  which  constituted  the  20th  Corps,  commanded 
by  General  A.  S.  Williams.  Our  brigade  included,  beside 
our  own  regiment,  the  2nd  Massachusetts,  3rd  Wisconsin, 
107  New  York,  and  13th  New  Jersey;  five  regiments  of 
infantry.  The  cavalry,  which  constituted  a  corps  by  itself, 
was  commanded  by  General  Judson  Kilpatrick. 

The  strength  of  the  army,  as  ofiicially  reported  on 
November  loth,  consisted  of  55,329  of  the  infantry, 
5,063  of  the  cavalry,  and  1,812  of  the  artillery  service; 
in  all  62,204  officers  and  men.  Every  preparation  that 
human  ingenuity  could  devise  with  the  means  at  hand 
had  been  made,  and  especially  so  as  to  the  artillery  and 
wagon  trains.  Each  gun,  caisson  and  forge  was  drawn 
by  eight  horses,  the  2,500  wagons  had  each  six  mules,  and 
the  600  ambulances  had  two  horses  each.  Every  soldier 
of  the  infantry  carried  on  his  person  forty  rounds  of  am- 
munition, and  in  the  wagons  were  enough  cartridges  to 
make  up  200  rounds  per  man.  The  wagons  also  carried 
200  rounds  of  assorted  ammunition  for  each  of  the  guns 
in  the  artillery. 

In  addition  to  the  generous  amount  of  ammunition 
stored  in  the  wagons,  they  also  carried  about  twenty  days' 
rations  for  the  army,  and  there  was  a  good  supply  of  beef 
cattle  to  be  driven  along  on  the  hoof.  So  say  the  official 
reports,  but  some  of  us  would  like  to  know  what  became 
of  all  the  food,  for  we  got  terribly  hungry  before  Savan- 
nah was  captured. 


FROM  ATLANTA  TO  MILLEDGEVILLE.  135 

On  the  night  of  November  14,  1864,  a  large  force 
of  men  had  leveled  the  great  Atlanta  railroad  depot, 
round-house,  and  the  machine  shops  of  the  Georgia  rail- 
road, and  fire  was  applied  to  the  wreck.  One  of  these 
machine  shops  had  been  used  by  the  Confederates  as  an 
arsenal,  and  in  it  was  stored  a  vast  quantity  of  shot  and 
shell,  some  of  which  proved  to  be  loaded,  and  the  night 
was  made  hideous  by  the  bursting  of  the  bombs.  There 
were  many  narrow  escapes  from  death  by  this  fusillade 
caused  by  the  fire,  but,  as  far  as  I  can  recall,  there  were 
no  casualties. 

Some  of  us  thought  we  were  being  bombarded  by  some 
newly  concentrated  rebel  army.  At  any  rate,  the  environ- 
ments of  the  last  night  which  we  spent  in  Atlanta  were 
not  conducive  to  sleep,  and  when,  on  the  morning  of  the 
15th,  we  had  started  on  our  long  march,  we  were  not 
as  much  refreshed  as  we  would  have  been  save  for  this 
careless  firing  of  buildings  which  contained  explosives. 
Meantime  the  destruction  of  the  city  haci  been  going  on, 
with  the  burning  of  public  buildings  and  other  property 
that  was  liable  to  be  of  use  to  the  Confederacy,  such  as 
cars,  engines,  houses  and  machine  shops.  As  the  fire  ex- 
tended to  the  other  buildings  it  made  a  brilliant  sight  in 
the  night. 

The  different  bodies  of  troops  which  were  to  comprise 
the  army  when  we  left  Atlanta,  were  brought  together, 
and  on  their  arrival  all  were  submitted  to  a  careful  exam- 
ination by  the  surgeons,  and  those  who  were  not  deemed 
fit  to  stand  a  long  campaign  were  sent  to  the  North,  as 
it  was  intended  that  the  army  for  such  an  unusual  cam- 
paign should  consist  of  selected  and  able-bodied  men  only. 
Here  was  an  entirely  new  army,  selected  from  men  who 


136  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

were  already  seasoned  to  hardship,  and  In  efficiency  its 
equal  has  never  been  seen  on  this  continent — or  any  other. 
It  was  to  be  cut  loose  from  all  connection  with  its  base, 
and  compelled  to  subsist  on  the  country  which  it  was  to 
traverse. 

The  citizens  were  all  ordered  to  leave  the  city,  and 
transportation  to  either  the  North  or  the  South — as  they 
might  elect — was  furnished  by  the  army.  I  turn  to  my 
diary  and  find  that  the  last  train  left  for  the  North  on 
November  12,  1864,  the  tearing  up  of  the  railroad  tracks 
commencing  immediately;  our  brigade  being  sent  back 
three  miles  to  assist,  where  our  regiment  tore  up  and  de- 
stroyed about  one  mile  of  track.  The  rails  were  then 
torn  from  the  ties,  when  the  ties  were  piled  in  heaps  and 
the  rails  being  laid  on  the  piles,  fire  was  applied.  When 
the  rails  were  red-hot  they  were  taken  out  and  bent  in  such 
a  way  that  they  could  not  be  used  again.  When  we 
learned  that  the  last  mail  was  about  to  be  sent  North, 
we  embraced  the  opportunity  to  write  home  once  more, 
as  we  could  not  know  when  we  should  have  another 
chance,  nor  when  we  could  again  hear  from  our  friends 
in  the  far  North.  At  last  all  railroad  and  telegraphic 
communications  were  severed,  and  as  no  more  supplies 
were  to  be  had,  we  must  thenceforth  depend  on  the 
country. 

The  campaign  which  followed  achieved  such  a  strategic 
success  that  it  seems  sure  of  posthumous  fame  in  both 
history  and  song,  being  known  in  the  former  as  "  Sher- 
man's march  to  the  Sea,"  and  in  the  latter  as  Marching 
Through  Georgia. 


FROM  ATLANTA  TO  MILLEDGEVILLE.  137 

Bring  the  good  old  bugle,  boys,  we'll  sing  another  song — 
Sing  it  with  a  spirit  that  will  start  the  world  along — 
Sing  it  as  we  used  to  sing  it,  fifty  thousand  strong. 
While  we   were  marching  through  Georgia. 

Orders  from  General  Sherman  were  to  the  effect  that 
Corps  Commanders  were  given  power  to  destroy  mills, 
cotton  gins,  and  buildings  when  it  was  deemed  necessary 
or  advisable.  When  the  army  was  not  molested  the  de- 
struction of  property  was  not  permitted,  but  should  the 
army  be  molested  by  the  obstruction  of  roads  or  the  de- 
struction of  bridges,  then  the  Corps  Commanders  were 
to  destroy  property  in  proportion  to  the  obstruction  made. 

While  the  right  wing,  under  General  Howard,  followed 
the  railroad  in  a  southerly  direction  towards  Jonesbor- 
ough,  the  left  wing,  under  General  Slocum,  led  off  to  the 
east,  by  Decatur  and  Stone  Mountain,  toward  Madison. 
Sherman  says  of  this  movement,  "  These  divergent  lines 
designed  to  threaten  both  Macon  and  Augusta  at  the 
same  time,  so  as  to  prevent  a  concentration  of  troops  at 
our  intended  destination,  or  'objective,'  which  was  Mil- 
ledgeville,  the  capital  of  Georgia,  distant  southeast  about 
one  hundred  miles." 

So  complete  was  the  deception  that  the  several  diaries 
kept  by  members  of  our  regiment  all  assert  that  our  des- 
tination was  Augusta,  Georgia,  170  miles  distant.  It 
was  Sherman's  intention  that  both  wings  of  his  army 
should  traverse  the  distance  between  Atlanta  and  Mil- 
ledgeville  in  seven  days,  or  at  a  rate  of  about  fifteen  miles 
a  day. 

Much  has  been  written  regarding  the  burning  of  At- 
lanta, some  claiming  that  it  was  an  act  of  inhumanity,  and 
others  that  it  was  a  military  necessity.     As  a  matter  of 


138  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

fact,  Sherman  ordered  that  all  public  property  which  was 
likely  to  be  of  use  to  the  enemy,  be  burned;  this  was  a 
legitimate  part  of  the  war.  But  beyond  this  nothing  in 
the  city  was  destroyed  save  such  buildings  as  were  burned 
by  accident.  War  is  not  one  of  the  gentle  arts,  but — as 
General  Sherman  forcibly  reminded  Hood  in  one  of  their 
exchange  of  letters — "War  is  cruelty;  you  can  not  refine 
it." 

The  war  was  forced  upon  the  government,  and  we 
make  no  apologies  for  its  successful  prosecution  by  the 
loyal  North ;  nor  do  we  consider  it  becoming  in  those  who 
precipitated  it,  and  would  not  permit  of  any  other  solu- 
tion of  the  difficulties  involved,  to  complain,  when  it 
came,  that  "It  hurts." 

November  15,  1864,  we  were  early  in  line,  and,  catch- 
ing the  spirit  of  the  day,  set  fire  to  our  remaining  camp 
impedimenta  and  the  little  huts  we  had  constructed  to 
live  in.  Soon  we  marched  out  of  the  city  eastward,  and 
in  a  short  time  reached  the  village  of  Decatur,  at  which 
place  as  we  paused  for  a  rest,  we  gazed  at  the  rolling 
smoke  of  the  burning  city  which  blackened  the  western 
sky.  It  will  be  appropriate  to  quote  here  from  a  letter 
which  one  of  the  boys  wrote  home  after  we  had  reached 
Savannah. 

"Our  first  day's  march  brought  us  to  Stone  Mountain, 
and  here  our  whole  brigade  went  on  picket  for  the  night. 
We  spent  the  next  day  in  destroying  railroads,  and  so 
began  our  second  day's  march  after  sundown,  and  finished 
it  in  time  to  eat  breakfast  and  begin  the  third  day's 
march." 

The  reader  will  discover  by  this  pithy  extract  the  chief 
characteristic  of  the  campaign  now  begun;  it  was  more  a 


FROM  ATLANTA  TO  MILLEDGEVILLE.  139 

campaign  of  labor  than  it  was  of  fighting.  Stone  Moun- 
tain is  eighteen  miles  from  Atlanta,  and  takes  its  name 
from  a  remarkable  granite  peak  which,  rising  a  thou- 
sand feet  above  the  surrounding  country,  forms  a  striking 
feature  where  the  horizon  outline  is  otherwise  low  or 
gently  undulating. 

By  the  night  of  the  third  day  from  Atlanta  we  reached 
Covington,  and  though  we  went  into  camp  at  a  late  hour 
in  the  night,  we  were  aroused  for  an  early  start  the  next 
morning,  and  did  not  make  camp  again  until  nine  in  the 
evening.  On  November  19th,  we  passed  through  the 
town  of  Madison,  a  fine  type  of  the  old  Southern  town 
of  ante  helium  days,  and  it  was  there  that  some  Southern 
newspapers  were  picked  up,  and  in  them  we  found  the 
news  of  Lincoln's  re-election.  At  this  place  our  course 
was  changed  and  we  moved  southward  toward  Milledge- 
ville. 

There  now  began  one  of  those  autumnal  downpours 
of  rain,  which  with  the  peculiar  mixture  of  clay  and  quick- 
sands which  constitute  the  soil  of  Georgia,  would  have 
defeated  anything  but  a  selected  and  seasoned  army  under 
the  most  energetic  of  commanders.  On  the  20th  and 
2 1  St  the  roads  were  very  bad,  but  by  dint  of  corduroying 
with  rails,  and  dragging  wagons  out  of  mud-holes  by 
ropes,  we  managed  to  fetch  most  of  them  through.  We 
passed  through  Eatonton  on  the  21st,  and  on  the  22nd 
reached  Milledgeville,  which  was  then  the  state  capital, 
in  the  afternoon.  As  our  brigade  was  on  the  lead  that 
day,  we  were  escorted  through  the  town  by  the  regimental 
band,  which  played  Yankee  Doodle  for  the  edification  of 
the  remaining  inhabitants,  and,  crossing  the  Oconee,  went 
into  camp  two  miles  beyond.     On  the  23rd  we  remained 


140  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

in  this  camp,  and  the  weather  was  very  cold,  water  freez- 
ing in  pools  all  day. 

The  American  soldier  can  defy  hardships  of  all  descrip- 
tion, but  he  must  sometimes  express  his  intense  apprecia- 
tion of  the  humorous.  This  was  well  illustrated  here, 
for,  learning  that  the  governor,  legislators,  and  all  of  the 
state  officials,  had  fled  from  the  town,  a  group  of  officers 
one  of  whom  was  Captain  Woodin  of  our  regiment,  took 
possession  of  the  Hall  of  Representatives,  elected  a 
Speaker,  and  constituted  themselves  the  "  Legislature  of 
the  State  of  Georgia."  A  proposition  to  repeal  the  ordi- 
nance of  secession  resulted,  after  a  playful  debate,  in  its 
repeal  by  a  fair  vote. 

The  Atlanta  campaign  had  confined  our  army  so  long 
to  a  diet  of  hard  bread  and  salt  meat  that  it  had  become 
greatly  infested  by  scurvy.  Under  the  conditions  of  this 
campaign,  however,  we  met  with  a  welcome  change,  and 
soon  after  leaving  Atlanta  we  secured  fresh  food  in  abun- 
dance, and  it  was  "  manna  to  our  cracker-and-salt-pork- 
wasted  stomachs  and  scurvy-infested  bodies." 

Foraging  was  one  of  the  duties  to  be  performed  by 
each  regiment,  for  in  this  way  the  army  was  to  be  sup- 
plied with  food.  Details  of  from  five  to  ten  men  from 
each  company  of  the  regiment  were  made,  and  the  body 
thus  formed  was  always  placed  under  the  command  of  a 
commissioned  officer.  It  would  take  a  road  parallel  to 
the  one  on  which  the  regiment  was  moving,  and  would 
visit  the  farm  houses,  which  got  pretty  well  ransacked, 
and  sometimes  burned  by  the  stragglers  who  followed  on 
after  the  regular  foragers.  Everything  in  the  line  of 
food  material  was  gathered  together,  to  be  delivered  to 
the  regiment  when  the  foragers  returned  to  it.     There 


FROM  ATLANTA  TO  MILLEDGEVILLE.  141 

was  a  great  variety  of  provisions,  sheep,  poultry,  cattle, 
sweet  potatoes,  bacon,  etc.,  and  sometimes  wagons,  with 
horses  or  mules,  were  used  to  draw  the  forage  to  the  road 
on  which  the  main  line  of  march  was  made. 

As  these  independent  bodies  of  foragers  were  new  in 
army  organization,  straightway  a  word  must  be  created 
to  fit  the  article,  and  presently  the  new  order  of  men  were 
known  as  "Bummers;"  or  sometimes  it  was  made  more 
explicit  by  calling  them  "  Uncle  Billy's  Bummers."  In 
plundering  plantations,  It  sometimes  happened  that  wines 
and  liquors  were  found,  and  when  that  was  the  case  it 
was  liable  to  add  somewhat  to  the  gayety  of  the  party. 
In  addition  to  the  foraging  thus  done  by  the  regular 
details,  there  was  also  some  done  by  Individuals  on  their 
own  account. 

The  writer  had  an  experience  as  a  "  Bummer,"  and 
though  it  was  two  months  after  this  campaign  In  Georgia, 
at  the  time  when  we  were  marching  through  the  Carollnas, 
I  will  give  it  here  as  a  sample  of  that  kind  of  experience. 
I  was  ordered  by  the  colonel  commanding  the  regiment 
to  take  command  of  one  hundred  men  who  had  been  de- 
tailed from  the  regiment,  and  forage  after  food  for  the 
army.  We  started  In  the  morning  as  soon  as  It  was  light 
enough  to  see  the  road,  and,  branching  off  to  one  side, 
took  a  course  parallel  to  the  one  the  main  line  was  on. 
After  getting  some  distance  from  the  army,  and  while 
marching  along  at  a  deliberate  pace,  our  attention  was 
attracted  by  the  sound  which  had  become  so  familiar  in 
the  previous  campaign;  the  "  Zip  "—"  Whiz  "—"  Th  " 
— "  Zip,"  of  passing  bullets.  They  came  pretty  close, 
some  of  them  striking  the  trees  near  us,  and  isolated  from 


142  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

the  army  as  we  were,  the  surprise  was  not  a  pleasant  one 
to  us. 

I  ordered  a  skirmish  line  sent  out  at  once,  and  it  im- 
mediately took  the  aggressive  so  effectually  that  the 
enemy's  squad  were  driven  for  some  distance,  and  at  last 
fled  from  our  vicinity,  leaving  the  field  clear.  When  we 
were  relieved  from  their  presence,  we  had  arrived  at  a 
large  plantation  which  must  have  been  the  property  of 
some  wealthy  planter,  and  as  the  main  army  had  not  yet 
reached  the  place,  we  found  cattle  and  hogs,  and  a  large 
store-house  filled  with  hams  and  bacon;  also  corn  meal, 
flour,  etc.  The  cattle  were  slaughtered  and  cut  in  pieces, 
hogs  were  killed  and  cut  in  the  same  manner,  and  as  we 
had  now  reached  a  point  the  army  would  pass,  we  were 
in  readiness  as  they  came  along  at  sunset,  to  replenish 
the  Commissary  Department.  The  reader  can  imagine 
the  smiles  of  the  boys  as  they  carried  pieces  of  pork  and 
beef  on  their  bayonets. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

FROM  MILLEDGEVILLE  TO  SAVANNAH. 

By  George  H.  Williams. 

Leaving  Milledgeville — Fine    Country  and  Fine   Living — Tough    Goose — Skirmish,   and 

Chickens — Swamps  and  More  Skirmishing — In  Front  of  Savannah — Capture  of 

Steamboat — Fighting  on  Argyle  Island — Colonel  Ketcham  Wounded 

— Capture  of  Fort  McAllister — Hardtack  and   Home 

Letters — Surrender  of  City. 

The  20th  Army  Corps,  to  which  the  150th  Regiment 
of  New  York  Volunteers  belonged,  left  Milledgeville 
November  24,  1864, — a  pleasant  morning  it  was, — and 
marched  in  a  southeasterly  direction  over  fair  roads  in  the 
direction  of  Savannah. 

For  a  long  distance  the  country  was  fine  and  the  boys 
were  enabled  to  gather  all  the  sweet  potatoes  they  needed 
and  as  hogs  were  plentiful  we  lived  "  tip-top  "  until  well 
towards  the  coast,  where  we  struck  the  swamps  and  pine- 
lands,  and  where  eatables  were  scarce  and  difficult  to  pro- 
cure; so  very  often  the  boys  would  have  to  lie  down  at 
night  tired,  and  with  an  empty  stomach. 

I  recall  that  one  afternoon  my  tent-mate.  Sergeant 
George  Bierce,  got  a  large  goose,  and  we  were  thinking 
of  what  a  fine  supper  we  would  have  from  him.  When 
we  halted  for  camp  that  night  we  picked  our  goose  and 
started  boiling  it  in  the  kettle.  After  what  seemed  a 
reasonable  time  Sergeant  Bierce  examined  the  prize  and 
reported  him  "tough;"  so  we  kept  the  pot  boiling,  until 
I  was  so  sleepy  and  tired  that  I  lay  down  and  went  to 


144  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

sleep,  leaving  Bierce  still  watching  the  boiling  pot.  When 
I  arose  in  the  morning  he  said  that  the  goose  was  still 
tough;  so  we  again  started  it  boiling  and  kept  it  up  until 
about  the  time  to  march,  when  we  tried  to  eat  him,  but 
it  was  of  no  use. 

He  was  still  tough;  so  tough  that  we  were  disgusted 
with  him  and  threw  him  away;  ate  a  potato  or  two,  and, 
calling  it  supper  and  breakfast,  fell  in  and  marched  away. 
Judging  from  our  efforts  at  cooking  the  fowl,  we  agreed 
that  he  must  have  been  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  the 
state. 

After  leaving  Milledgeville  we  occasionally  saw  Con- 
federate cavalry,  and  when  approaching  Sandersville  they 
showed  themselves  in  some  force,  so  that  our  Brigade 
was  deployed  and  advanced,  driving  them  from  the  town 
with  little  loss  to  ourselves.  While  skirmishing  with 
them  a  portion  of  the  line  advanced  through  the  back 
yards  of  the  residences,  and  occasionally  one  of  our  boys 
would  drop  out  of  line  and  nab  a  chicken,  wring  its  neck, 
and  be  back  in  his  place  in  the  ranks  so  quickly  as  hardly 
to  be  missed,  for  the  fighting  was  not  very  severe. 

After  leaving  Sandersville  some  time  was  spent  in  the 
work  with  which  we  had  become  familiar;  that  of  tearing 
up  and  destroying  railroad  track,  after  which  the  march 
towards  Savannah  was  resumed,  the  enemy  making  very 
little  opposition. 

When  we  reached  Monteith  Swamp,  a  few  miles  from 
Savannah,  we  found  that  the  rebels  had  fortified  the  road, 
and  had  a  battery  or  two  in  position  to  command  it.  Our 
division  was  halted  and  deployed  to  make  the  attack, 
as  we  were  in  front  that  day  (our  regiment  being  on  the 
right  of  the  line),  and  we  turned  out  of  the  road  and 


FROM  MILLEDGEVILLE  TO  SAVANNAH.  145 

made  our  way  through  the  swamp ;  the  men  jumping  from 
one  bog  to  another,  and  often  faUing  in  the  mud  and 
water  up  to  their  hips;  the  enemy  searching  the  swamp 
with  shells  at  the  time. 

So  between  mud,  water,  shells,  and  skirmishing,  we 
had  a  very  unpleasant  advance,  but  just  before  we  were 
ready  to  make  the  assault  the  3rd  Brigade  of  our  divi- 
sion (which  had  advanced  over  better  ground)  charged 
forward  and  captured  the  position,  and  when  we  emerged 
from  the  swamp  we  saw  the  flags  of  the  6ist  Ohio,  and 
31st  Wisconsin  of  the  brigade,  waving  over  the  redoubt. 

We  encamped  for  the  night  near  at  hand,  and  the  next 
morning  resumed  the  march  toward  Savannah,  arriving 
in  front  of  the  city,  being  halted  there  by  its  defenses; 
the  artillery  of  which  opened  a  vigorous  shell  fire.  We 
deployed  immediately,  our  corps  being  on  the  left  of 
Sherman's  army.  We  skirmished  there  three  or  four 
days,  losing  a  few  men;  one  of  the  wounded  being  Ser- 
geant Isaac  T.  Swezey  of  Company  I,  who  lost  his  leg 
in  consequence  of  the  wound. 

While  operating  in  front  of  Savannah  a  detachment 
of  our  regiment,  under  Captain  Henry  A.  Gildersleeve, 
captured  a  Confederate  steamer  which  had  on  board 
Colonel  Clinch  of  General  Hardee's  staff.  At  high  water 
in  the  river,  at  the  approach  of  the  Confederate  gunboats, 
the  steamer  was  burned. 

There  being  very  little  chance  to  forage  here  eatables 
were  very  scarce,  and  the  boys  had  sometimes  to  tighten 
their  belts  in  place  of  eating  a  meal. 

December  i6th  our  brigade  was  transferred  over  to 
Argyle  Island,  one  of  those  broad  delta  islands  in  the 
Savannah  river.     It  lies  opposite  the  city,  and  on  it  at 


146  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

that  time  was  a  considerable  rice  plantation,  and  a  large 
rice  mill.  There  were  dikes  over  which  we  marched  and 
behind  which  we  lay,  at  high  water  in  the  river,  when  the 
Confederate  gunboats  came  up  to  shell  us.  On  one 
occasion  they  succeeded  in  wounding  several  of  our  men, 
and  in  burning  the  rice  mill. 

We  here  had  plenty  of  very  fine  fresh  rice  to  eat,  but 
for  a  time  we  had  no  salt,  and  even  fresh  rice,  if  without 
salt,  is  not  to  be  recommended  for  a  steady  diet.  But 
the  right  of  our  army  soon  captured  Fort  McAllister 
and  immediately  got  in  communication  with  the  fleet.  A 
few  days  after  this  rations  were  issued,  which  was  about 
the  first  we  had  seen  since  leaving  Atlanta.  Hardtack, 
bacon  and  coffee  were  old  friends,  and  were  keenly 
relished. 

While  we  were  on  the  island  our  colonel,  John  H. 
Ketcham,  joined  us  again,  and  while  the  brigade  (part  of 
which  had  crossed  to  the  South  Carolina  shore)  were 
skirmishing  with  the  Confederates,  he  was  severely 
wounded.  It  was  certainly  hard  luck  for  him,  as  he  had 
only  rejoined  his  command  a  short  time  before,  and  was 
"knocked  out"  about  the  first  time  afterward  that  he 
came  under  fire. 

The  colonel  was  greatly  beloved  by  the  members  of 
his  regiment,  and  much  sorrow  was  expressed  on  his 
account;  the  more  so  as  at  the  time  it  was  rumored  that 
his  wound  might  be  fatal,  and  all  hated  to  lose  him. 

While  our  brigade  was  still  on  the  island  the  Confed- 
erates evacuated  the  city,  crossing  over  to  the  South  Caro- 
lina side  with  their  troops,  and  blowing  up  and  destroy- 
ing the  gunboats  in  the  river;  when  the  2nd  Division  of 
our  corps  under  General  Geary  advanced  into  the  city, 


FROM  MILLEDGEVILLE  TO  SAVANNAH.  147 

which  was  surrendered  to  his  advance  brigade  by  its 
Mayor. 

After  the  capture  of  the  city  our  brigade  was  brought 
back  to  the  Georgia  side  of  the  river,  and  I  vividly  re- 
member the  crossing.  It  was  a  cold  day  about  Christ- 
mas, a  cold  northwest  wind  was  blowing — making  the 
water  in  the  river  very  low — and  the  only  means  for 
crossing  was  one  or  two  old  flatboats.  The  men  were 
obliged  to  wade  through  the  water  out  to  the  boats  to 
be  ferried  across  the  channel,  then  jump  out  into  the 
water  and  wade  to  the  Georgia  shore,  and  though  this 
took  place  so  many  years  ago  I  still  have  a  very  realistic 
recollection  of  how  cold  that  water  was. 

When  we  finally  got  across  large  fires  were  built  and 
the  boys  stood  around  them,  warming  themselves  and  dry- 
ing their  clothing,  after  which  we  marched  to  a  locality 
northwest  of  the  city  and  encamped  in  a  grove  of  live- 
oaks.  Here  we  remained  for  some  time,  while  new 
clothes,  shoes,  etc.,  were  issued  to  us.  The  men  bathed, 
washed,  and  generally  cleaned  up,  and  again  looked  to 
be  what  they  really  were,  good  soldiers;  for  to  tell  the 
truth  our  recent  campaign  of  about  two  months  with 
hardly  a  rest,  had  made  havoc  with  clothes  and  equip- 
ments. We  also  here  received  our  letters  and  papers 
from  home,  having  heard  nothing  from  there  since  leav- 
ing Atlanta. 

Savannah  we  found  to  be  a  fine  city  of  that  day,  and  in 
its  broad  streets  a  review  of  Sherman's  army  was  held. 
The  Pulaski  monument  was  also  an  object  of  interest  to 
us,  as  it  recalled  the  memory  of  that  gallant  soldier  who 
lost  his  life  in  the  Revolution.  Passes  were  given  to 
the  men  so  freely  that  all  were  enabled  to  visit  points 


148  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

of  interest  in  and  about  the  city;  one  thing  being  a  Con- 
federate blockade-runner  which  had  slipped  through  our 
fleet  in  the  darkness  of  the  night,  and  come  up  to  the 
city,  not  knowing  that  it  had  been  captured  by  our  army. 

Of  course  in  the  morning  it  found  itself  lying  under 
the  guns  of  one  of  our  batteries,  and  was  obliged  to  im- 
mediately surrender. 

We  also  got  large  quantities  of  oysters  and  fish  from 
the  river  near  the  city,  which  helped  out  the  army  rations 
beautifully,  and  the  regiment  was  once  more  In  fine  mettle 
for  another  campaign,  which  was  soon  to  begin. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

FROM   SAVANNAH  TO  GOLDSBOROUGH. 

By  Samuel  H.  Paulding. 

"Obey  Orders" — Enemy  Retreats — Surrender  of  City — Pursuit  of  Enemy — Cold  and  Wet 
— Dry    Inside! — Destruction    of  Railroads — Flooded    Swamps — Corduroyed 
Roads — Foraging — Battle  of  Averasborough — Death  of  Lieuten- 
ant Sleight — Battle  of  Bentonville — A  New  Base. 

One  of  the  first  things  a  soldier  has  to  learn  is  to 
"  obey  orders."  I  have  practically  been  "  ordered  "  to 
write  a  chapter  for  the  forthcoming  volume  of  the  his- 
tory of  our  old  regiment,  and  I  will  "  obey  "  to  the  best 
of  my  ability. 

By  the  aforesaid  order,  I  am  to  take  up  the  story 
"  From  Savannah  to  Goldsborough."  By  December 
17,  1864,  General  Sherman  had  the  City  of  Savannah 
so  far  invested  that  he  made  a  demand  upon  General 
Hardee  to  surrender,  which  was  promptly  declined.  Find- 
ing that  there  was  still  one  avenue  of  escape  open  to 
Hardee  he  visited  Hilton  Head  to  secure  the  services  of 
General  Foster  and  his  command,  and  to  throw  his  forces 
across  the  Charleston  road  and  thus  close  the  last  avenue 
of  escape  for  General  Hardee  and  his  forces,  leaving  an 
order  that  no  attack  should  be  made  during  his  absence. 
From  this  distance  this  order  was  one  of  the  few  mistakes 
General  Sherman  made  as  a  military  leader. 

During  the  night  of  December  20  (1864),  the  move- 
ment of  troops  and  wagons  across  a  pontoon  bridge  from 


150  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Savannah  to  the  South  Carolina  side  were  distinctly  heard 
by  the  troops  nearest  this  bridge,  and  it  was  instinctively 
known  that  General  Hardee  was  evacuating  Savannah. 
After  the  rumbling  of  wagons  had  ceased  General  Geary, 
Commander  of  the  3rd  Division  of  the  20th  Corps, 
ordered  his  pickets  forward  along  "  the  Augusta  road  in 
the  darkness  of  a  moonless  night  and  entered  Savannah 
at  four-thirty  (4:30)  A.  M.,  December  21st.  On  reach- 
ing the  city  limits  they  were  met  by  the  Mayor  and  a 
delegation  of  citizens  bearing  a  flag  of  truce,"  and  the 
city  was  formally  surrendered  to  the  Union  forces. 

During  the  four  weeks  (more  or  less)  that  we  re- 
mained near  Savannah,  our  regiment  was  never  camped 
within  the  city  limits,  but  the  distance  was  so  short  and 
passes  were  so  freely  given,  that  whether  encamped  within 
the  city  or  without  made  but  little  difference  to  us. 
Especially  as  we  had  been  allowed  to  build  very  com- 
fortable houses  10  feet  long,  8  feet  wide  and  5  feet 
high  at  the  sides,  with  the  materials  found  in  an  adjacent 
and  well-stored  brickyard,  and  from  the  boards  of  de- 
serted buildings. 

We  remained  in  these  comfortable  quarters  until  Jan- 
uary 17  (1865),  when  we  marched  through  the  City  of 
Savannah  and  crossed  the  Savannah  River  at  10  A.  M. 
to  the  South  Carolina  side  as  a  beginning  to  the  new 
campaign  to  the  North. 

We  marched  some  six  or  seven  miles  and  camped  near 
Hardeeville,  on  the  Savannah  and  Charleston  R.  R. 
About  this  time  Major  Smith  received  his  commission  as 
lieutenant-colonel.  With  the  exception  of  a  few  days 
he  had  been  in  command  of  the  regiment  since  it  left  At- 
lanta.    Colonel  Ketcham  was  on  his  way  North  in  con- 


FROM  SAVANNAH  TO  GOLDSBOROUGH.  151 

sequence  of  the  severe  wound  he  had  received  on  Argyle 
Island. 

During  January  19th  and  20th  it  rained  incessantly, 
and  as  we  were  without  shelter,  our  clothing  and  blankets 
were  continually  saturated  for  nearly  forty-eight  (48) 
hours.  Notwithstanding  we  were  suffering  from  the  cold 
and  wet  on  the  outside,  our  throats  were  very  dry  and 
hot. 

I  remember  that  during  the  second  day  of  the  rain,  our 
adjutant,  Captain  Cruger,  came  to  see  me.  Like  the 
rest  of  us  he  was  saturated  with  the  rain  and  shivering 
with  the  cold.  He  had  not  fully  regained  his  strength 
from  the  terrible  wound  he  had  received  at  Resaca.  He 
told  me  he  felt  very  badly  and  asked  me  if  I  had  any 
"commissary"  (a  name  given  to  the  whiskey  supplied 
by  the  Government),  or  knew  where  he  could  get  a  little. 
I  told  him  I  had  none  of  it  with  me  and  the  only  thing 
of  the  kind  I  knew  of  was  a  little  peach  brandy  I  had  in 
my  grip  in  the  headquarters  wagon,  but  I  didn't  know 
where  that  was. 

I  gave  him  my  key  and  told  him  if  he  could  find  it  he 
would  be  welcome  to  it.  He  took  the  key  and  started 
on  a  voyage  of  discovery.  The  next  day  he  returned 
the  key,  and  said  be  believed  the  drink  he  obtained  had 
saved  his  life. 

Quite  a  long  time  afterwards,  I  think  it  was  near  Golds- 
borough,  I  found  that  there  was  just  enough  left  in  the 
flask  to  save  another  life,  that  of  your  humble  servant. 

With  one  other  incident  in  this  connection  I  will  close 
the  subject  and  leave  the  question  to  scientists  as  to 
whether  "  Alcohol  is  a  food,"  or  simply  a  stimulant  and 
intoxicant. 


152  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

It  happened  the  day  of  our  march  to  Averasborough. 
We  all  remember  that  march  in  the  rain  and  cold,  high 
wind,  until  some  time  after  midnight.  I  had  a  working 
squad  called  a  "  detail  "  under  my  command  making 
corduroy  roads.  It  was  March  15  (1865),  and  I  was 
wet,  cold  and  feeling  pretty  blue,  when  a  brigadier-gen- 
eral, commanding  one  of  the  brigades  in  our  division, 
came  out  to  inspect  the  work,  and  complimented  me  for 
doing  so  well  on  such  a  bad  day.  I  thanked  him  for  this 
expression  of  his  opinion,  and  told  him  I  had  had  a  pretty 
hard  day  of  it.  He  told  me  if  I  would  go  back  with  him 
to  his  quarters  he  would  furnish  me  with  that  which  in 
his  opinion  I  most  needed.  Well!  I  do  not  suppose  any 
old  soldier  would  have  thought  of  arguing  against  such  a 
proposition  coming  from  such  a  source.  It  is  needless 
to  say  I  went  with  him  and. my  life  was  saved  again. 

For  thirty  or  forty  miles  up  the  northerly  side  of  the 
Savannah  River  our  line  of  march  was  nearly  parallel 
to  it  and  transports,  convoyed  by  gunboats,  constituted 
our  base  of  supplies. 

Thus  far  it  had  been  made  to  appear  that  our  corps 
(the  20th)  was  making  Augusta  its  objective  point,  while 
the  17th  Corps  was  pointing  towards  Charleston,  at  both 
of  which  places  the  Confederates  had  gathered  all  the 
forces  they  could  to  defend  them.  But  this  was  a  ruse 
of  "  Uncle  Billy's  "  to  keep  the  way  clear  over  the  course 
he  really  had  selected. 

We  left  Robertsville  on  February  2nd  and  until  February 
I  ith  we  worked  our  way  slowly  towards  Augusta,  tearing 
up  and  destroying  the  railroads  leading  to  that  place. 
This  was  done  by  a  file  of  men,  perhaps  a  hundred  (per- 
haps five  hundred)   in  number,  lining  up  beside  the  road 


FROM   SAVANNAH   TO   GOLDSBOROUGH.  153 

and  turning  over  a  section  of  the  road  as  long  as  the  file 
of  men.  The  rails  were  then  separated  from  the  ties,  the 
latter  set  on  fire,  and  the  rails  piled  on  and  heated  until 
they  became  red-hot,  and  then  taken  and  wound  around 
the  nearest  tree  or  telegraph  pole,  and  given  a  peculiar 
twist  which  renders  them  useless  forever  after. 

According  to  the  best  of  my  memory  we  destroyed 
over  thirty  miles  of  this  railroad,  and  until  we  were 
within  about  fifty  miles  of  Augusta.  Right  here  I  will 
say  that  the  course  pursued  to  this  railroad  was  adopted 
to  all  those  we  crossed  between  Savannah  and  Golds- 
borough,  thus  making  railroad  communications  between 
the  extreme  east  and  the  middle  west  impossible. 

The  last  village  I  can  remember  in  or  near  which  we 
encamped  while  destroying  the  railroad  was  named 
Branchville,  from  which  on  February  iith  we  started 
across  the  country  for  Columbia,  the  capital  of  South 
Carolina,  distant  "  As  the  crow  flies  "  about  seventy-five 
miles  and  near  which  we  arrived  on  February  17th, 
Our  regiment  did  not  pass  through  the  city,  but  a  mile 
or  two  to  the  right  of  it,  therefore  whoever  was  re- 
sponsible for  starting  the  fire  that  nearly  destroyed  it, 
no  one  may  accuse  the  150th  of  doing  it. 

There  are  numerous  small  rivers  between  the  Savannah 
and  the  City  of  Columbia.  Owing  to  its  being  the  rainy 
season,  they  were  all  too  deep  to  be  forded,  and  as  all 
the  bridges  had  been  destroyed  in  our  advance  we  had 
to  cross  them  on  pontoons. 

The  marshes  or  swamps  were  also  very  numerous,  and 
retarded  our  progress  much  more  than  the  rivers  did. 
Some  of  them  were  several  miles  in  length  (or  breadth) 
with  the  mire  in  places  so  soft  that  a  fox  would  have 


154  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

had  hard  work  to  have  crossed  them  without  getting  stuck 
in  the  mud. 

In  order  that  our  regiment  (and  Corps)  could  traverse 
these  the  route  had  to  be  corduroyed.  A  corduroy  road 
is  made  by  felling  trees,  cutting  them  into  suitable  lengths 
(usually  about  12  feet,  as  I  remember),  laying  them  side 
by  side  across  the  proposed  route,  thus  forming  a  very 
rough  roadway.  Over  this  the  cavalry  and  Infantry 
marched  and  the  ambulances,  baggage  wagons,  artillery 
wagons  with  their  heavy  caissons,  and  all  other  vehicles 
attached  to  a  great  army,  were  drawn,  almost  exclusively 
by  mules.  From  my  experience  and  observation,  I  be- 
lieve the  mule  is  the  surest  footed  animal  living. 

A  team  of  six  mules  (driven  with  one  line)  would 
take  any  one  of  these  heavily  laden  vehicles  (averaging 
at  least  two  tons  each)  across  these  corduroys,  stepping 
from  log  to  log  with  accuracy,  seldom  making  a  mistake. 

It  seems  hardly  worth  while  to  follow  the  daily  course 
of  the  regiment  in  its  march  to  Columbia.  One  day  was 
as  much  like  another  as  "  two  peas  in  the  same  pod;"  all 
stormy,  cold  and  disagreeable,  although,  if  I  remember 
rightly,  we  did  have  one  or  two  fair  days  out  of  the 
seven. 

February  i8th  we  lay  in  camp  all  day  in  the  vicinity 
of  Columbia,  but  at  dark  took  up  our  line  of  march  again. 
Our  next  objective  point  proved  to  be  Fayetteville,  N.  C, 
about  eighty  miles  above  Wilmington,  N.  C,  at  the  head 
of  steamboat  navigation,  on  the  Cape  Fear  River. 

As  Fort  Fisher,  the  key  to  Wilmington,  had  been 
captured  several  weeks  before  we  expected  to  find  there  a 
new  base  of  supplies.  In  this  we  were  not  disappointed. 
In  our  march  from  Savannah  thus  far  our  principal  sub- 


FROM   SAVANNAH   TO   GOLDSBOROUGH.  156 

sistence  was  from  our  foragers.  When  we  started 
from  Sav^annah  we  had  twenty  days'  rations,  and 
seven  days'  forage  in  our  wagon  trains.  As  it  had 
taken  us  nearly  two  months  to  make  the  journey  we  had 
to  live  off  the  country,  if  we  lived  at  all,  and  we  did  and 
lived  fairly  well  too.  The  distance  from  Columbia  to 
Fayetteville  in  a  straight  line  is  about  one  hundred  and 
fifty  miles,  and  by  the  route  we  took  was  probably  over 
two  hundred  miles. 

The  obstacles  we  encountered  on  this  long  march  were 
very  similar  to  those  we  encountered  between  Savannah 
and  Columbia;  rivers  to  pontoon,  marshes  to  corduroy, 
cold  spring  rains  to  soak  us,  and  cold  winds  to  dry  us 
again.  The  nights  as  I  remember  them  were  worse  than 
the  days,  sleeping  or  trying  to  sleep  on  the  wet  ground 
was  not  pleasant.  We  thought  ourselves  in  luck  when 
we  could  recline  against  a  big  tree  and  thus  pass  the  night. 
As  I  look  back  to  this  march  I  sometimes  wonder  that 
any  of  us  lived  through  it,  but  as  I  remember,  there  was 
but  very  little  severe  sickness.  Several  times  on  the 
march  the  rebels  attempted  to  check  our  advance,  but 
we  brushed  them  aside,  usually  very  easily. 

We  reached  Fayetteville  on  the  nth  of  March  at  9 
P.  M.  and  remained  in  camp  all  the  next  day,  during 
which  we  heard  the  whistle  of  a  steamboat  down  the 
river,  and  as  it  was  the  first  Union  vessel  to  arrive  since 
the  fall  of  Fort  Fisher,  the  sound  was  very  pleasant.  It  was 
the  occasion  of  much  cheering.  It  brought  us  among  other 
things,  letters  from  home,  the  first  we  had  received  since 
leaving  Savannah,  nearly  two  months  before. 

We  did  not  tarry  long  at  Fayetteville.  We  broke 
camp   on   the    13th,   crossed   the    Cape   Fear   River   and 


156  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Started  for  Goldsborough.  The  swamps  and  rivers  in 
our  course  to  this  place  were  fully  as  difficult  to  cross  as 
they  had  been  since  we  left  the  Savannah  River.  Besides 
these,  several  times  before  reaching  Averasborough,  we 
were  confronted  by  the  Confederate  forces  in  quite 
formidable  numbers.  General  "  Joe "  Johnston,  who 
opposed  us  from  Chattanooga  to  Atlanta,  had  been  rein- 
stated and  had  gathered  considerable  remnants  of  the 
army  he  formerly  commanded,  and  which  had  been  so 
nearly  exterminated  under  General  Hood  by  General 
Thomas  at  Nashville,  had  united  his  force  with  that  of 
General  Hardee  and  together  they  opposed  our  progress 
toward  our  destination  in  every  conceivable  way. 

It  Is  hard  work  to  whip  an  enemy  when  you  have  to 
pontoon  a  river  and  corduroy  a  road  that  leads  up  to  the 
fortifications,  but  we  did  it  without  any  serious  loss  until 
we  came  to  Averasborough.  Here  the  enemy  had  chosen 
a  very  strong  position  between  two  rivers  to  prevent  being 
flanked,  and  had  thoroughly  fortified  it  and  which  had  to 
be  taken  before  we  could  proceed. 

The  first  intimation  we  had  of  this  was  on  March  15th, 
when  an  orderly  came  riding  back  and  informed  us  that 
General  Kilpatrick's  cavalry  had  met  the  enemy  in  force 
a  few  miles  in  advance,  and  was  being  sorely  pressed. 
Our  corps  had  orders  to  go  to  his  relief.  This  was  about 
8  P.  M.,  and  we  started  again  but  did  not  reach  General 
Kilpatrick's  lines  until  long  after  midnight. 

By  6  A.  M.  on  the  i6th  we  were  in  line  of  battle  and 
fought  nearly  all  day.  It  was  the  longest,  and  in  some 
respects,  the  hardest  engagement  our  regiment  was  ever 
in.     It  lasted  from  just  after  daylight  until  three  or  four 


FROM   SAVANNAH   TO   GOLDSBOROUGH.  157 

o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  some  nine  or  ten  hours  of  steady 
fighting. 

It  was  during  this  battle  that  Lieutenant  Sleight  was 
killed.  He  was  one  of  the  most  loved,  respected  and 
best  liked  officers  in  the  regiment  and  his  death  was 
mourned  by  everyone  who  knew  him.  We  buried  him 
the  next  morning  in  a  garden  attached  to  a  house  used 
as  a  hospital,  from  which  in  due  course  of  time  he  was 
removed  and  buried  in  a  cemetery  near  his  birthplace  in 
Dutchess  County. 

During  the  night  of  the  i6th  the  enemy  "skedaddled" 
and  the  battle  of  Averasborough  was  over.  In  history, 
it  will  not  go  down  as  a  very  important  one,  but  It  was  a 
very  important  one  to  Sherman's  army.  General  Grant 
In  his  memoirs  does  not  mention  it  at  all,  but  General 
Sherman  in  his,  gives  it  three  or  four  pages. 

The  conditions  were  these: — the  rations  for  the  men 
and  the  forage  for  the  animals  were  very  nearly  ex- 
hausted, and  there  was  no  time  to  be  lost  In  getting  to  a 
new  base  of  supplies,  the  nearest  being  Goldsborough. 
An  army  without  rations  or  forage  Is  of  very  little  ac- 
count. 

On  March  i8th  we  started  again  for  Goldsborough. 
Heretofore  our  course  lay  almost  due  north,  but  now  It 
was  due  east. 

On  the  19th  the  enemy  attempted  to  stop  the  14th 
Corps  In  our  advance  at  Bentonvllle,  and  our  regiment 
was  among  the  number  that  helped  to  dislodge  them  and 
brush  them  out  of  our  way.  By  the  orders  of  General 
Sherman  our  fight  was  mostly  on  the  defensive,  as  he 
was  very  anxious  that  Johnston's  army  should  be   held 


158  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

at  this  point  until  some  of  the  other  corps  of  his  com- 
mand should  capture  Goldsborough. 

On  the  morning  of  March  20th  we  found  the  enemy 
had  deserted  Bentonville  and  we  started  again  for  Golds- 
borough,  which  we  entered  on  the  24th,  after  heavy 
skirmishing  a  considerable  portion  of  the  way. 

Colonel  Fox  in  his  history  of  "  Slocum  and  his  Men  " 
says,  "  From  Savannah  to  Goldsborough  the  trains  of 
the  20th  Corps  moved  four  hundred  and  fifty-six  miles, 
as  recorded  by  the  odometers,  three-fifths  of  which  miles 
had  to  be  corduroyed.  In  addition  to  this  arduous  task, 
and  the  labor  of  lifting  wagons  that  were  mired  or  over- 
turned, the  men  in  the  20th  destroyed  thirty-two  miles 
of  railroad  along  their  route." 

He  also  gives  the  names  of  the  towns  the  Corps  passed 
through.  "  From  Robertsville  by  way  of  Lawtonville, 
Blackville,  Allendale,  Buford's  Bridge,  Big  and  Little 
Salkehatchie  Rivers,  Graham's  Station,  Duncan's  Bridge, 
South  and  North  Forks  of  Edisto  River,  Jones'  Cross 
Roads,  Columbia  Cross  Roads,  Lexington,  Saluda  River, 
Oakville,  Broad  and  Little  Rivers,  Winnsborough, 
Catawha  River,  Hanging  Rock,  Chesterfield  Court  House, 
Great  Pedee  River,  and  Cheraw  in  South  Carolina;"  and 
by  way  of  Fayetteville,  Cape  Fear  River,  Averasbor- 
ough.  Black  River,  Bentonville,  Neuse  River  to  Golds- 
borough. 

Nearly  all  of  these  names  will  sound  very  familiar  to 
the  ears  of  the  surviving  members  of  the  old  regiment. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

FROM  GOLDSBOROUGH  HOME. 

By  Miles  K.  Lewis. 

Close  of  the  "Hardest  Campaign" — "Pop"  Williams — Assassination  of  the   President — 
Surrender  of  Lee  and  Johnston — End  of  the  War — March  to   Washington — 
Over  Old  Battlelields — Grand  Review — Home  Reception — Enthusi- 
astic Rejoicing — Pathetic  Scenes — "Good  Bye." 

The  war  was  now  practically  at  an  end  as  far  as  the 
Dutchess  County  Regiment  was  concerned,  though  we 
did  not  know  it  at  the  time.  The  long  winter  campaign, 
without  access  to  any  base  of  supplies,  had  given  us  a 
worn  and  ragged  appearance,  but  our  physical  condition, 
though  somewhat  reduced  by  the  hardships  endured,  was 
better  at  this  time  than  our  clothing,  as  we  had  fed  on 
the  best  that  the  Carollnas  afforded; — though  that  was 
none  too  good. 

In  the  sixteen  or  eighteen  days  of  camp  which  followed 
we  received  the  supplies  of  clothing,  etc.,  and  enjoyed  a 
much-needed  rest  from  what  has  been  called  "  The  longest 
and  hardest  campaign  In  the  entire  history  of  the  war." 
We  were  then  in  communication  with  Newbern,  N.  C, 
quite  an  army  being  there  assembled,  Including  the  14th, 
15th,  17th,  20th,  23rd,  24th,  and  25th  Army  Corps. 

It  was  here  that  Captain  Woodin,  and  others  that 
left  us  at  Atlanta,  joined  us  again.  It  was  here  also  that 
our  Corps,  the  20th,  hitherto  a  part  of  the  left  wing  in 
Sherman's  army,   was,  under  a  new   adjustment,  placed 


160  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGlMEIsIT. 

in  that  which  was  now  designated  as  the  "Army  of 
Georgia,"  with  General  Joseph  A.  Mower  in  command; 
its  ist  Division,  whose  emblem  was  the  Red  Star,  being 
placed  under  command  of  General  A.  S.  Williams; — 
"Pop"  Williams,  as  he  was  affectionately  referred  to  in 
the  ranks. 

Some  one  has  said,  "It  is  difficult  to  reconcile  this 
treatment  of  General  Williams  with  any  sense  of  fairness, 
honesty,  or  justice."  He  had  commanded  the  20th 
Army  Corps  from  Atlanta  to  the  sea,  and  from  Savannah 
to  Goldsborough,  as  well  as  at  Antietam  and  Gettysburg, 
with  signal  ability.  As  a  brigadier-general  he  outranked 
every  officer  in  that  army,  and  his  commission  as  briga- 
dier bore  even  date  with  that  of  General  Sherman  himself. 

He  had  never  missed  a  battle,  or  been  absent  from  the 
army  on  any  campaign,  and  on  every  battlefield  where 
his  troops  were  engaged  he  had  displayed  striking  ability 
and  had  achieved  marked  success.  Never  was  a  mistake 
laid  to  his  charge.  But  he  entered  no  word  of  complaint, 
nor  made  a  sign  of  dissatisfaction,  but  cheerfully  assumed 
command  of  his  old  division,  with  which  his  name  had 
been  so  long  honorably  associated. 

Referring  to  my  diary  again  I  find  the  following 
entry: 

"April  9th — The  greater  part  of  this  army  expects 
to  leave  this  base  to-morrow  morning  at  daylight.  The 
orders  are  to  have  in  haversack  ten  days'  rations  of  coffee 
and  sugar,  three  of  hardtack,  five  of  salt,  and  three  of 
salt  meat,  with  fifteen  days'  rations  in  the  wagons." 

On  April  12th,  when  near  Smithfield,  North  Carolina, 
we  received  the  news  of  Lee's  surrender  to  General 
Grant's  army.     Our  army  was  frantic  with  joy,  and  one 


FROM  GOLDSBOROUGH  HOME.  161 

would  have  supposed  from  Its  actions  there  had  been  a 
general  order  issued  to  "Do  as  you  please."  It  cer- 
tainly was  a  day  of  rejoicing,  for  we  felt  that  the  cruel 
war  was  near  its  end,  and  we  were  the  victors.  But 
what  a  change  soon  after!  Joy  turned  to  sorrow  by  the 
sad  news  of  the  assassination  of  our  noble  President! 
During  this  day  we  marched  about  fifteen  miles. 

April  13th  the  bugle  sounded  the  "Fall-in"  call  about 
four  in  the  morning.  This  was  followed  by  rapid  march- 
ing, and  we  reached  Raleigh,  North  Carolina,  about  two 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  finding  the  U.  S.  Cavalry  in 
possession  of  the  city.  Through  several  days  following 
this  the  weather  was  very  sultry,  and  we  were  kept  con- 
stantly on  the  qui  vive  by  flying  rumors  about  flags  of 
truce,  and  negotiations  for  the  surrender  of  the  enemy's 
forces  under  Johnston. 

April  15th  we  moved  at  7  A.  M.,  but  were  soon 
ordered  back  to  camp  again.  After  many  rumors  and 
counter-rumors,  and  the  rejection  at  Washington  of  the 
first  articles  of  surrender,  it  at  last  became  definitely 
known  that  Johnston  had  actually  surrendered,  having 
accepted  the  same  terms  from  General  Sherman  that  Gen- 
eral Grant  had  accorded  to  Robert  E.  Lee. 

April  29th  a  general  order  was  read  at  dress  parade 
that  the  14th,  15th,  17th,  and  20th  Army  Corps  should 
proceed  to  Washington  to  be  mustered  out  of  the  service. 
Soon  after  this  we  left  Raleigh  for  Richmond,  a  distance 
of  170  miles,  which  we  marched  in  nine  days,  making 
camp  near  the  latter  city.  May  iith  we  crossed  the 
James  River,  passed  Libby  Prison,  Castle  Thunder,  and 
other  places,  all  of  which  we  viewed  with  a  far  different 
interest  than  many  of  our  boys  did  in  days  gone  by.     Wc 


162  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

halted  about  five  miles  from  Richmond  after  passing 
through  it,  and  this  camp  was  visited  by  a  terrific  thunder 
storm. 

We  soon  continued  our  march  towards  Washington, 
stopping  betimes  at  some  of  the  old  battlefields  so  noted 
in  Virginia,  On  the  battlefield  of  Spottsylvania  Court- 
house we  saw  thousands  of  skeletons  of  the  unburied 
soldiers  who  fell  in  that  battle  a  year  before.  Then  we 
marched  over  the  battlefield  of  Chancellorsville,  where 
we  halted  a  few  hours,  giving  those  of  our  troops  who 
had  fought  there  in  1863  an  opportunity  to  go  over  the 
ground  again.  May  19th  we  arrived  near  Alexandria, 
Virginia,  having  marched  twelve  hundred  miles  since 
leaving  Chattanooga,  Tennessee. 

Now  the  whole  army  was  busy  preparing  for  the  grand 
and  final  review.  May  23rd  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
occupied  in  marching  past  the  reviewing  stand,  and  on 
the  following  morning  we  crossed  the  Potomac  on  the 
famous  long  bridge  and  formed  near  the  Capitol,  and 
at  a  given  signal  moved  forward  for  review. 

Who  were  the  men  who  were  now  to  be  reviewed,  and 
for  the  last  time?  They  were  the  men  who  had  escaped 
the  shot  and  shell;  they  were  the  men  who  had  not  suc- 
cumbed to  sickness;  they  were  the  men  who  had  defied 
fatigue.  They  were  the  survivors  of  war's  terrible  sift- 
ing.    What  an  army  that  was ! 

Charles  E.  Benton,  in  his  book  entitled,  "  As  Seen 
From  the  Ranks,"  refers  to  that  review  in  the  following 
passage : 

"  Column  after  column  passed  the  reviewing  stand, 
not  with  the  quick  and  mincing  steps  of  militia,  but  with 
that  far-reaching,  swinging  stride  which  had  carried  its 


FROM  GOLDSBOROUGH  HOME.  163 

men  around  and  through  and  over  the  Confederacy,  from 
the  Mississippi  to  the  Atlantic,  and  northward  to  Wash- 
ington again. 

"As  the  artillery  rolled  along  Pennsylvania  Avenue  its 
rumbling  seemed  the  long-drawn  echoes  of  the  innumerable 
conflicts  of  the  years  gone  by.  The  cavalry,  with  horses' 
manes  clipped  to  the  crest,  rode  stirrup  to  stirrup  with 
an  alignment  as  perfect  as  that  of  infantry,  and  many  a 
nicked  and  stained  sabre  was  carried  proudly  to  shoulder 
that  day. 

"Then  followed  the  ambulances,  with  the  old  blood- 
stained stretchers  hanging  on  their  sides,  anti  the  rumbling 
of  their  wheels  seemed  like  a  vast,  ghostly  procession 
of  the  shrieks  and  groans  of  that  great  host  of  suffering 
ones,  representatives  of  the  nation's  blood  sacrifice,  who 
had  ridden  in  them,  many  of  them  to  their  last  resting- 
places." 

After  the  army  had  passed  in  review  we  went  into 
camp  about  five  miles  north  of  the  city,  and  some  descrip- 
tion of  our  life  in  that  camp  is  given  in  the  following 
letter  of  Captain  William  R.  Woodin  to  the  Pough- 
keepsie  Daily  Eagle,  and  published  in  the  issue  of  June  6, 
1865,  of  that  paper: 

Camp  150th,  Near  Washington,  D.  C,  June  1,  1865. 

Editors,  The  Eagle: — The  distinguished  heroes  who  make  up  the 
military  organization  known  as  the  loOtli  New  York  State  Volunteers 
were  in  a  sadly  demoralized  condition  a  few  days  ago,  and  to  see 
t,he  mournful  qountenances  of  officers  and  men  would  have  meltetl 
a  heart  of  stone;  all  because  the  order  for  muster-out  of  "Uncle 
Samuel's  "  service  failed  to  put  in  an  appearance. 

They  had  read  the  announcements  in  your  papers  of  preparations 
for  their  reception  at  home,  and  the  idea  that  these  delightful  matters 
were  to  be  missed  was  enough  to  break  the  heart  of  every  man. 

Saturday  evening,  when  glad  tidings  of  great  joy  came  into  camp, — 


164  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

that  the  necessary  order  for  muster-out  had  arrived, — the  150th  was 
herself  again.  What  hilarity!  What  cheers!  Our  neighbors,  the 
3rd  Wisconsin,  and  2nd  Massachusetts,  must  have  thought  that  the 
usually  sedate  boys  from  the  Empire  State  were  indulging  in  a  spree 
of  the  first  magnitude. 

We  were  intoxicated  with  the  thought  of  being  allowed  to  return 
to  the  homes  and  to  the  friends  we  left  three  weary  years  ago,  and 
when  the  men  wrapped  themselves  in  their  old  blankets  under  their 
shelter  tents  that  night  and  listened  to  "Home,  Sweet  Home,"  from 
the  band,  while  the  stars  twinkled  and  danced  above  them  as  if 
they  too  were  glad  the  war  was  finished  and  the  soldiers  were  going 
home,  many  a  rough  and  perhaps  hardened  man  honestly  thanked 
God  for  His  goodness,  while  happy  tears  crept  down  his  cheeks  as 
he  dreamed,  with  his  eyes  wide  open,  of  the  loved  ones  waiting  for 
him  under  the  old  roof. 

It  is  one  thing  to  talk  about  home  when  you  have  never  been 
away  from  it  under  circumstances  which  not  only  prevented  your 
return  when  you  wished  to  do  so,  but  gave  you  good  reason  to  doubt 
whether  you  ever  would  return,  and  it  is  quite  another  matter  to 
Avander  thousands  of  miles  away  with  nothing  to  console  you  in 
the  midst  of  trials  and  dangers  but  the  memory  of  that  "  Dearest 
spot  on  earth,"  and  many  a  poor  fellow  has  learned  through  sad 
experience  how  poor  an  estimate  he  once  placed  on  home,  and  father 
and  mother. 

Tliere  was  a  special  order  issued  in  our  case,  allowing  us  to  get 
out  of  the  service,  while  other  regiments,  whose  terms  expired  about 
the  time  of  ours,  were  kept  in,  which  we  appreciate  and  will  remember 
with  many  other  favors  received  from  our  old  colonel,  John  Henry 
Ketcham,  and  if  our  friends  realize  a  very  large  amount  of  pleasure  by 
the  return  of  the  150th  they  can  thank  him  for  it  in  a  large  measure. 

w.  R.  ^^^ 

We  were  discharged  from  the  United  States  service 
June  8,  1865,  near  Washington,  D.  C. 

Homeward  bound,  we  arrived  in  New  York  City  June 
9th,  and  came  up  the  Hudson  River  on  the  steamer  Mary 
Benton.  Shall  we  ever  forget  the  scene  which  met  our 
eyes  on  arriving  at  the  landing  in  Poughkeepsie,  and  the 
mass  of  people  that  were  waiting  to  greet  us,  striving 
with  each  other  as  to  who  should  be  the  first  to  extend 


FRO^r  GOLDSBOROUGH  HOME.  165 

the  welcome  hand.  We  were  marched  to  the  "Soldiers' 
Rest,"  where  we  broke  ranks  and  scattered. 

Those  of  us  whose  homes  were  near  were  not  long  in 
getting  to  them,  and  many  of  those  whose  homes  were 
in  the  extreme  eastern  part  of  the  county,  some  twenty- 
five  or  thirty  miles  distant,  at  once  continued  their 
"Tramp — Tramp — Tramp" — towards  them;  and  they 
were  all  back  to  Poughkeepsie  on  the  morning  of  the  1 2th, 
for  the  grand  reception. 

The  following,  concerning  the  manner  in  which  we 
were  received  in  our  home  city,  the  same  from  which  we 
had  marched  to  the  seat  of  war  three  years  before,  is 
from  the  Poughkeepsie  Daily  Eagle  of  June  13,  1865  : 

THE  GREAT  RECEPTION. 
50,000   People   iii   the   City. 

June  12,  1SG5,  will  henceforth  be  a  great  day  in  the  annals  of  the 
City  of  Poughkeepsie  and  of  Dutchess  County,  being  that  on  which 
the  150th  Regiment  of  New  York  Volunteers  was  formally  received 
on  its  return  home  from  the  war  which  crushed  out  the  great  rebellion. 

Decidedly  the  great  attraction  of  the  day  was  the  noble  150th 
Regiment  itself,  and  never  before  did  any  organization  so  completely 
take  up  the  attention  of  the  masses  as  did  the  brave  veterans.  War- 
worn in  appearance,  their  faces  browned  by  Sbutliern  suns,  their 
steady,  measured  step,  the  expression  of  their  countenances,  every 
one  of  them  seeming  to  exclaim,  "  I  have  dared  to  do  all  that  becomes 
a  man,"  was  a  picture  never  to  be  witnessed  again  in  the  streets  of 
this    city. 

Every  inch  of  ground  over  which  they  moved  was  consecrated  by 
their  tread.  Thousands  of  bouquets  were  hurled  from  windows  and 
house-tops  at  the  regiment  in  every  street  they  passed  through,  and 
the  enthusiasm  along  the  route  as  the  regiment  passed  was  unequalled. 
Qld  men  wept  tears  of  joy  at  the  sight.  Tire  procession  was  the 
largest  ever  gotten  up  in  this  city. 

The  scenes  along  the  route  were  amusing,  laughable,  entertaining, 
and  sometimes  thrilling.  At  the  residence  of  the  Mayor  the  children 
of  the  public  schools,  dressed  in  holiday  attire,  were  assembled  on 
the  wall  running  from  the  railroad  bridge  to  the  river.  The  regiment 
halted  while  the  children  sang  songs,  after  which  they  presented  each 


166  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

of  the  noble  fellows  with  a  bouquet  of  flowers.  This  was  a  beautiful 
sight,   and   many   in   the   ranks   shed   tears. 

All  along  the  line  of  march  little  tokens,  consisting  of  llowers, 
handkerchiefs,  ribbons,  gloves,  rings,  etc.,  were  presented  to  the  soldiers 
as  they  filed  past.  At  the  difi'erent  semiiiaries  the  pupils  were  grouped 
in  artistic  style,  and  at  each  of  these  institutions  singing  took  place, 
and  floral  tributes  were  handed  to  the  regiment.  In  front  of  East- 
man's College  the  rank  and  file  partook  of  light  refreshments  gotten 
up  for  the  occasion  by  the  Professor,  and  here  also  floral  gifts  were 
handed  out.  All  along  the  line  of  march  there  were  conveniences 
provided   for  the  thirsty. 

The  scene  on  Main  Street  was  one  never  to  be  forgotten,  and  every 
available  place  was  occupied  by  the  lookers-on.  Gayly  dressed  women 
crowded  the  windows,  while  those  of  the  sterner  sex  had  to  satisfy 
themselves  with  squatting  on  the  house-tops,  in  trees,  and  on  awning 
posts,  and  every  available  place  was  filled.  From  Water  Street  to 
Red  Milk  there  was  one  vast  sea  of  humanity. 

On  the  sidewalks  the  jam  and  crush  was  indescribable,  and  many 
were  the  groups  of  yoimg  ladies  dressed  in  white  and  covered  with 
gay  ribbons  and  garlands,  who  saluted  the  war-worn  heroes  as  they 
passed,   with   songs   and   waving   of   handkerchiefs    and   flags. 

A  touching  scene  occurred  on  Main  Street,  near  Washington  Street, 
where  one  of  the  maimed  veterans  of  the  regiment  was  greeted  in 
a  most  sorrowful  manner  by  a  young  lady  dressed  in  deep  mourning. 

"  Mary,"    said    the    soldier,    "  where    is    INIother  ? " 

"  Dead,    Jamie ;    dead,"    was    the    reply. 

We  could  not  bear  to  linger  on  the  spot,  for  the  poor  fellow  burst 
into    tears    and   stood   imcovered,   a   picture   of   utter   desolation. 

There  were  hundreds  of  mottoes  displaj-ed  along  the  line.  Among 
them   were   the   following: 

"  The    150th    has    never    known    defeat. 

Its   battle    cry    is    '  Ever   Onward,' 

Its    watchword   '  No   Retreat.'  " 

"  Welcome    Old    Dutchess'    honored    sons." 

"  Old  Dutchess  greets  the  145th  New  York  State  Volunteers  as 
her   adopted    sons." 

"  We    arc    proud    of    your    achievements." 

"  Well   done,  brave   boys !      History  will   do  you   justice." 

"  We    greet   the    living    and   mourn    the    dead." 

"  I'nion."      "  Peace."      "  Grant."      "  Sherman." 

At  tlie  park  in  Mansion  Square  a  large  stand  had  been  erected, 
on  which  was  seated  Eastman's  Band,  the  speakers,  and  otliers.  On 
the  arrival  of  the  procession  the  150th  was  drawn  up  in  line  in 
1'innt    <if    tlie    stand,    and,    after   stacking    their    arms,    were    formally 


FROAI  GOLDSBOROUGH  HOME.  167 

welcomed  back  to  their  homes  in  an  eloquent  address  by  Judge  Emott. 
Colonel  Smith  responded  to  Judge  Emott's  address  of  welcome,  and 
General  Ketcham  being  loudly  called  for,  responded  with  a  touching 
speech.  Captain  Woodin  also  addressed  the  regiment  and  citizens 
in  his  usual  off-hand  manner. 

After  the  addresses  were  over  a  committee  of  ladies  stepped  forward 
and  were  presented  with  the  tattered  flags  of  the  regiment,  which 
were   given  to   it   when   it   left  for   the   seat  of   war. 

This  was  a  thrilling  part  of  the  program.  Here  were  the  sacred 
emblems  which  had  been  carried  victoriously  through  the  storm  of 
battle  for  three  years,  tattered  and  torn  into  shreds,  but  returned  with 
not  a  single  stain  of  disgrace  upon  them.  Never  have  they  been 
trailed  i^  the  dust  by  an  insolent  foe.  The  same  ladies  which  pre- 
sented them  in   18G2   received  them  to-day. 

The  presentation  scene  itself,  without  the  truly  affecting  remarks 
which  accompanied  it,  brought  tears  to  the  eyes  of  himdreds,  and 
strong  men,  as  they  thought  of  the  loved  ones  who  had  fallen  amid 
the  crash  of  shot  and  shell  while  protecting  those  colors,  bowed  their 
heads  in  sorrow  for  the  moment  and  dropped  a  tear  to  the  memory 
of  the  departed. 

At  the  conclusion  some  one  proposed  three  cheers  for  "  Something 
to  eat,"  and  they  were  heartily  given,  and  responded  to  by  actual 
business.  The  tables  literally  groaned  with  the  weight  of  good  things 
with  which  they  were  heaped.  There  was  plenty  to  eat,  and,  as  a 
lady  humorously  expressed  it  after  all  had  gotten  through, — "  Deai 
me  sakes, — how  much  is  left!  "  The  day's  celebration  was  ended  by 
a   grand   Di'ess   Parade   of   the    150th. 

In  the  foregoing  extract  from  the  Eagle  the  reception 
of  the  regiment  by  its  friends  and  loyal  neighbors  is 
well  described,  and  the  scenes  there  depicted  are  brought 
vividly  to  the  minds  of  those  who  witnessed  or  took  part 
in  them,  but  what  can  I  say  of  the  parting  which  inevitably 
followed  the  disbanding  of  the  regiment? 

For  three  long  years  we  had  been  as  brothers  on  the 
weary  march,  the  battlefield  and  camp,  sometimes  divid- 
ing our  last  hardtack,  caring  for  the  dead  and  dying,  or 
sharing  a  blanket  as  we  lay  sleeping  on  the  cold  ground. 
"We  drank  from  the  same  canteen!" 

We   were    received    with    loving   embraces    by    father, 


168  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

mother,  brother,  sister,  or  wife  and  children,  and  listened 
to  the  heartfelt  thanksgiving  of  grateful  ones  for  our 
safe  return.  But  there  were  other  welcomes  too,  in  sad 
voices,  from  those  whose  tearful  eyes  told  us  that  tlicir 
dear  ones  had  not  returned  to  receive  this  welcome,  but 
were  left  In  that  vast  bivouac  of  the  dead  which  held  so 
many  of  our  number. 

To  these  bereaved  ones  the  greater  deference !  We 
had  endured  the  hardships,  it  is  true,  but  we  had  been 
permitted  to  safely  return.  War's  most  awful  tragedies 
were  in  the  homes,  rather  than  on  the  bnttle^elds. 

With  trembling  voice  the  last  "Good-bye"  is  spoken, 
and  we  separate  and  disappear  in  the  walks  of  civil  life. 


MONUMENT    AT   GETTYSBURG 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

THE   MONUMENT  AND   ITS   DEDICATION. 

By  Stephen  G.  Cook. 

How  the  Money  was  Raised — Description  of  the  Monument — Ceremonies  and  Addresses 
at  its  Dedication — Speakers  of  the  Day — Others  Present — Evening  Campfire. 

In  1887  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  New  York 
appropriated  $1,500  to  each  of  the  regiments  and  bat- 
teries from  that  state  which  were  engaged  at  the  battle 
of  Gettysburg,  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  a  monument 
on  that  historic  battlefield. 

Many  of  the  members  thought  this  sum  insufficient 
to  erect  a  suitable  monument  for  the  Dutchess  County 
Regiment,  and  especially  was  this  the  opinion  of  Colonel 
A.  B.  Smith,  who  wanted  the  monument  to  represent  a 
"  Tower  of  Strength,"  and  largely  through  his  endeavors 
$3,000  more  were  added  to  the  state's  $1,500.  The 
monument  cost  $4,400  and  the  marker  near  the  Trostle 
House  cost  $100. 

"  It  is  a  strong  and  aggressive  tower,  with  the  deeds 
of  its  defenders  recorded  on  its  outer  walls,  and  is  a 
most  fitting  memorial  for  such  an  historic  spot.  It  ex- 
presses, in  a  symbolic  way,  the  cause  which  this  and  all 
other  Union  regiments  were  organized  to  defend  on  so 
many  hard-fought  battlefields." 

It  has  "  from  base  to  battlemented  cap,  a  height  of 
twenty-five  feet,  with  a  base  of  ten  feet  square  and  a 
weight  of  over  seventy  tons." 


170  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

It  was  designed  by  George  E.  Bissell  of  Mt.  Vernon, 
N.  Y.,  and  the  contractors  were  Van  Wyck  &  Collins  of 
Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. 

On  the  17th  of  September,  1889,  seventy-six  members 
of  the  old  regiment  and  ninety-three  of  their  friends  met 
around  the  base  of  the  monument  to  witness  the  cere- 
monies of  its  dedication. 

The  address  of  welcome  was  delivered  by  General  John 
H.  Ketcham  in  which  he  said,  "  It  is  with  mingled  emo- 
tions of  pleasure  and  sadness  that  I  welcome  you  to-day, 
and  invite  you  to  join  in  the  ceremonies  that  have  been 
deemed  appropriate  for  our  celebration. 

"  As  your  comrade,  rather  than  as  your  colonel,  of 
twenty-six  years  ago,  I  ask  you  to  assist  in  commemorating 
the  occasion  which  first  brought  us  to  this  beautiful  spot. 
In  those  days,  and  long  before  them;  before  we  ever 
dreamed  of  war  as  a  possibility  in  our  favored  land,  we 
were  most  of  us  neighbors  and  friends;  born  and  reared 
in  one  of  the  finest  counties  in  our  great  state,  on  the 
banks  of  our  noble  Hudson.  When  the  summons  came 
to  serve  our  beloved  country,  we  started  as  one  man, 
animated  by  a  common  impulse  of  devotion  to  duty;  with 
a  common  ambition  to  do  our  very  best  to  make  for  our 
home  regiment  a  record  second  to  that  of  none  In  the 
service.  Where  all  were  noble  and  true  soldiers,  there 
was  little  need  of  rule,  and  little  thought  of  rank. 

"  We  cherish  tenderly  and  proudly  the  memory  of  each 
of  our  devoted  band  who  fell  here.  History  and  this 
enduring  granite  will  tell  our  children's  children  of  their 
heroism  and  valor.  But  these  remnants  of  our  once 
bright  and  beautiful  colors  speak  to  us  loudly,  not  only  of 
those  whom  we  are  met  to-day  to  honor,  but  of  others  as 


THE  MONUMENT  AND  ITS  DEDICATION.  171 

gallant  and  great  as  they,  who  afterwards  perished  on 
many  other  well-fought  fields.  We  think  of  them 
reverently  and  affectionately  and  of  others  who  came  not 
here  to-day,  who  have  one  after  another  fallen  by  the 
way,  whose  services  to  our  regiment  and  their  country 
we  remember  with  profoundest  gratitude.  Nor  do  we 
forget  the  loved  ones  who  stayed  at  home  to  work  and 
pray  for  us;  the  wives,  and  mothers,  and  sisters  who 
labored  in  camp  and  hospital  unremittingly,  many  of 
whom  hav^e  gone  to  their  reward." 

Upon  concluding  his  address  General  Ketcham  called 
upon  the  Rev.  E.  O.  Bartlett,  D.D.,  late  chaplain  of  the 
regiment,  to  offer  his  dedicatory  prayer  in  which  he  said : 

"  We  praise  Thy  name  for  Thy  great  mercy  in  preserv- 
ing our  lives  during  these  years  to  enjoy  the  fruits  and 
honors  of  a  peace  won  by  periling  all  for  country,  and 
that,  after  the  lapse  of  a  quarter  of  a  century.  Thou 
dost  permit  these  veterans,  these  soldiers  of  the  Union, 
to  come  back  to  these  blood-stained  hills  and  fields  to 
dedicate  this  noble  monument  to  the  memory  of  the  brave 
men  who  here  poured  out  their  blood  upon  the  aitar  of. 
their  country. 

"  We  consecrate  this  monument  to  Thee,  Thou  God 
of  nations,  who  hast  so  marvelously  guided  and  blessed  us 
in  the  past,  leading  our  forefathers,  like  Israel  of  old, 
to  a  land  abounding  in  riches.  We  praise,  laud  and 
adore  Thy  holy  name,  that  7  hou  didst  bring  forth  a  man 
from  the  people  and  of  the  people  to  be,  like  Moses  and 
Joshua,  a  worthy  leader  of  a  mighty  host.  At  his  call 
Thou  didst  put  it  into  the  hearts  of  thousands  and  hun- 
dreds of  thousands  to  take  their  lives  in  their  hands, 
leaving  their  homes  and  the  comforts  and  emoluments  of 


172  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

civil  life,  to  go  forth  to  war,  that  liberty  and  union  might 
not  perish  .at  the  bidding  of  those  who  would  build  an 
empire  upon  the  corner  stone  of  human  bondage. 

"  We  beseech  Thee  that  these  granite  stones  and 
bronzed  letters  may  tell  our  children  and  all  coming  gen- 
erations not  only  of  brave  and  true  men  who  here  fought 
in  the  defense  of  their  country,  but  that  all  these  monu- 
ments may  speak  of  Thee  and  Thy  righteous  judgments, 
that  Righteousness  Exalteth  a  Nation,  but  Sin  is 
A  Reproach  to  Any  People." 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  prayer  the  monument  was  un- 
veiled by  Miss  Ethel  B.  Ketcham,  the  only  daughter  of 
the  general. 

It  was  then  presented  to  the  "  Battlefield  Memorial 
Association,"  by  Colonel  Alfred  B.  Smith,  who  said: 

"  It  has  been  erected  by  the  surviving  members  of  the 
150th  Regiment,  New  York  Volunteers,  and  their  friends 
in  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y.,  as  a  tribute  of  respect  to  the 
memory  of  those  who  gave  their  lives  in  heroic  defence 
of  our  country  on  this  field  twenty-six  years  ago,  as  also 
an  enduring  memorial  of  the  valor  of  those  who  escaped 
the  perils  of  war,  and  a  fitting  expression  of  the  patriotism 
of  old  Dutchess  and  the  Empire  State.  It  is  composed  of 
thirteen  massive  stones,  emblems  of  national  birth,  unity 
and  stability. 

"  Here  we  stood  six  hundred  strong,  shoulder  to 
shoulder,  riveted  to  these  rocks  by  loyal  love  to  the  Union 
and  the  government  of  our  fathers. 

"  So  the  massive  stones  of  this  monument,  reared  one 
above  the  other,  are  significantly  appropriate,  each  hold- 
ing the  other  in  place,  representing  a  tower  of  invincible 
strength.        They   also   fitly   typify   the   unity,    love    and 


THE  MONUMENT  AND  ITS  DEDICATION.  173 

mutual  respect  which  characterized  officers  and  men  of 
this  regiment. 

"  May  this  monument  endure  fore\er  as  a  symbol  of 
that  fraternity,  inspiring  courage,  loyalty  and  true  man- 
hood, which  are  the  life-blood  of  the  republic  and  its 
only  warrant  for  existence." 

The  acceptance  of  the  monument  by  the  chairman  of 
the  committee  was  followed  by  the  oration  of  the  day, 
delivered  by  Judge  Henry  A.  Gildersleeve. 

His  remarks  besides  being  very  eloquent  were  replete 
with  historic  allusions  to  the  principles  on  which  the  foun- 
dation of  this  government  was  laid,  and  the  liberty  and  jus- 
tice on  which  it  rests.  He  called  attention  to  the  fact  that 
"  while  from  other  fields  may  be  gathered  as  appalling 
records  of  slaughter  by  contending  armies,  Gettysburg 
was  the  most  decisive  in  its  results,  and  in  history  will 
be  the  most  conspicuous. 

"  On  the  escutcheon  of  nations,  written  with  the  blood 
of  heroes,  France  has  her  Austerlitz,  England  her 
Waterloo,  and  the  United  States  her  Gettysburg. 

"  It  was  a  victory  that  Insured  the  prosperity  of  the 
Federal  Union ;  made  permanent  the  establishment  of 
Republican  Government  among  the  nations  of  the  earth; 
cast  off  the  fetters  of  three  million  bondsmen  and  abol- 
ished slavery  In  America  forever." 

These  ringing  words  were  also  heard,  anci  thrilled  the 
hearts  of  his  hearers,  "  I  can  forgive  the  Southern  rebel 
for  taking  up  arms  against  the  Union,  grasp  him  warmly 
by  the  hand  and  call  him  brother;  but  a  Northern  copper- 
head,— well,  God  may  have  mercy  on  him,  but  I  cannot." 

Here  is  another  interesting  extract  from  his  oration : 

"Do  you  remember  our  camp  on  the  hill  near  Monocacy 


174  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Bridge,  from  which  point  we  first  saw  a  portion  of  the 
great  Army  of  the  Potomac  of  which  we  read  so  much? 
For  the  first  time  we  saw  them  bivouac,  and  hstened  to 
the  music  from  their  brigade  bands  as  it  pealed  forth 
upon  the  air  on  that  still  and  solemn  night.  What  a 
spectacle  for  a  recruit  to  look  upon !  We  were  amazed 
at  the  length  of  the  wagon  trains  and  batteries  of  artillery 
as  they  filed  into  the  valley  below  us  and  went  into  park 
for  the  night.  Thousands  of  camp  fires  lighted  up  the 
region  around,  and  we  stood  spellbound  at  the  sight  of 
the  vast  enginery  of  war  that  was  before  us.  It  was 
in  this  camp,  inspired  by  this  spectacle,  we  first  imbibed 
the  true  spirit  of  war  and  nerved  ourselves  for  the  trying 
scenes  we  knew  we  must  encounter,  and  desperate  deeds 
which  were  before  us." 

It  has  been  said  that  it  was  on  this  hill  that  Julia  Ward 
Howe  caught  the  inspiration  for  the  glorious  song,  "  The 
Battle  Hymn  of  the  Republic,"  the  first  line  of  which 
reads : 

"  Mine  eyes  liave  seen  the  glory   of  the  coining  of  the  Lord." 

Whether  this  be  true  or  not  it  was  a  scene  calculated  to 
inspire  just  such  a  poem  as  she  wrote.  It  seems  to  me  that 
its  vividness  has  not  faded  a  particle  from  my  mind  in 
the  forty-five  years  that  have  since  elapsed,  and  probably 
will  not  until  death  has  terminated  all  memories. 

Judge  Gildersleeve  closed  his  oration  with  these 
memorable  words : 

"  We  dedicate  this  monument  to  the  memory  of  Ameri- 
can soldiers,  who  with  their  life's  blood  wrote  a  law  upon 
the  statute  book  of  the  United  States,  declaring  that  '  He 
who  bears  arms  in  a  war  having  for  its  object  the  dissolu- 


THE  MONUMENT  AND  ITS  DEDICATION.  175 

tion  of  the  Union  is  guilty  of  treason.'  Alas,  that  the 
mortal  remains  of  Gridley,  Marshall,  Welling,  Sleight, 
Sweet,  Stone,  Odell,  Lovelace,  Palmeteer,  Story,  and 
others  of  the  regiment  who  were  sacrificed  upon  their 
country's  altar,  cannot  rest  beneath  this  mass  of  granite, 
so  well  calculated  to  withstand  the  ravages  of  time,  and 
thus  have  their  burial  places  and  their  names  perpetuated 
throughout  the  ages  to  come.  The  love  of  kinsmen  and  the 
loyalty  of  affectionate  comrades  anci  friends  have  done 
for  them,  as  we  have  here  to-day  for  those  who  sleep 
beneath  this  monument,  all  that  human  hands  can  do  to 
fittingly  mark  their  graves  and  keep  their  memories  green. 
There  is  no  difference  in  degree;  time  will  place  all  upon 
a  common  level.  What  are  these  monuments  to  which 
we  point  with  pride?  Some  day  they  must  crumble  into 
dust.  No  matter  how  high  and  strong  we  build  the 
fortresses  of  stone  over  and  around  the  martyred  dead; 
we  might  build  their  granite  bases  as  broad  as  the  pyra- 
mids and  make  their  shafts  touch  heaven,  yet  there  would 
be  higher  monuments  and  stronger  fortresses  built  of 
the  hearts  of  loyal  Americans." 

The  orator  of  the  day  was  followed  by  several  other 
speakers,  all  of  whom  were  interesting  and  entertaining. 
Among  the  speakers  were  Benson  J,  Lossing,  LL.D., 
the  historian.  General  H.  H.  Lockwood,  the  commander 
of  the  Brigade  to  which  we  had  been  attached.  Colonel 
W.  B.  Maulsby  of  the  ist  Potomac  Home  Brigade,  Cap- 
tain W.  R.  Woodin,  Captain  Obed  Wheeler  and  Captain 
S.  V.  R.  Cruger. 

Mrs.  E,  O.  Bartlett,  the  wife  of  the  Chaplain,  read  a 
spirited  poem  composed  by  Wallace  Bruce,  entitled, 


176  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

"  ON  GUARD, 
The  150TH  Regiment  at  Gettysburg," 

after  which  the  services  were  concluded  by  Chaplain  E.  O. 
Bartlett  who  pronounced  the  benediction,  and  the  monu- 
ment was  dedicated. 

At  the  impromptu  and  informal  campfire,  called  at 
"  Spring  Hotel  "  by  General  A.  B.  Smith  after  the  dedica- 
tion ceremonies  had  been  performed,  several  interesting, 
eloquent  and  touching  speeches  were  made  by 

Rev.  E.  L.  Allen, 
Rev.  W.  F.  Hatfield, 
General  A.  B.  Smith, 
Dr.  S.  G.  Cook, 
Adjutant  W.  H.  Bartlett, 

and  several  others  whose  names  I  cannot  recall. 

Captain  Woodin  recited  a  poem  entitled,  "Those 
Beautiful  Hands,"  soon  after  which  the  campfire  was 
extinguished  and  the  next  morning  we  left  for  our  several 
homes  never  as  a  body  to  meet  again  on  that  battlefield. 


m- 

K  - 

c 

0( 

oi 

mjf. 

K 

\    UMPI 

'X 

>< 

t— 4 

t_| 

w 

X,>T' 

^ 

""""' 

H 

CHAPTER  XVII. 
REGIMENTAL  BAND. 
By  Charles  E.  Benton. 

How  It  Was  Created — Its  Members — A  Unique  Character — Its  Service  in  Battle — Regi- 
ment's Position  Marked  by  One  of  Its  Members — Band  Men  Wounded 
— Faithful  to  a  Variety  of  Duties. 

The  members  of  the  regimental  band  were  not  enlisted 
as  musicians,  for  the  military  law  at  that  time  gave  no 
place  in  the  regimental  organization  for  a  band,  but  it 
was  made  up  of  men  detailed  from  the  different  com- 
panies for  that  purpose.  It  was  formed  while  the  regi- 
ment was  at  Camp  Dutchess,  but  some  of  the  members 
who  were  at  first  detailed  for  that  service  were  not  re- 
tained in  it,  but  were  replaced  by  others. 

Stephen  H.  Stephenson,  of  Company  B,  was  the  leader 
at  first,  but  while  we  were  in  Baltimore  he  was  returned 
to  his  company,  and  James  H.  Vassar,  of  Company  A, 
\vas  made  the  leader,  serving  in  that  capacity  to  the  close 
of  the  war.  Stephenson  was  afterward  detailed  as  divi- 
sion bugler.  About  the  time  of  leaving  Baltimore  the 
following,  as  I  recall,  were  members  of  the  regimental 
band: 

From  Company  A,  James  H.  Vassar,  Charles  E.  Ben- 
ton, Miles  K.  Lewis,  Edwin  A.  Davis,  Charles  S. 
Chichester,  and  George  Ingraham;  from  Company  B, 
Henry  Ritter,  John  E.  Cavanagh,  Francis  C.  Green, 
Timothy  T.    Beach,    John   Smithson,    Samuel  H.    Cable, 


178  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

and  Charles  B.  Hopkins;  from  Company  C,  James  Smith; 
from  Company  F,  Richard  L.  Knight,  Jefferson  Cham- 
plain,  and  John  Simon;  from  Company  H,  John  Collin; 
from  Company  K,  Amos  T.  Lilly. 

Hubbard  F.  Roberts  was  drum  major  or  "Principal 
Musician,"  as  he  was  officially  styled,  and  the  drummers 
of  the  regiment  were  enlisted  as  drummers.  John  Collin 
was  an  English  boy,  but  the  others  were  American  born, 
with  the  exception  of  John  Simon,  usually  known  as 
"Simmons,"  who  enlisted  with  us  at  Baltimore. 

Simon  was  something  of  a  character  In  his  way,  and 
deserves  more  than  passing  mention.  He  was  born  In  the 
Province  of  Normandy,  France,  of  a  family  of  means 
and  social  position.  While  attending  a  German  Univer- 
sity he  became  involved  in  an  affair  which  finally  ended 
in  a  duel.  One  day,  in  one  of  his  rare  confidential  moods, 
he  opened  his  clothing  and  showed  me  the  long  sword-scar 
on  his  breast,  which  testified  that  the  duel  had  been  some- 
thing more  than  the  fiasco  that  German  University  duels 
usually  are.  Either  the  duel,  or  the  quarrel  which  led 
up  to  it,  resulted  in  a  break  with  his  family,  and  after  a 
while  he  entered  the  French  army.  He  finally  came  to 
this  country  and  enlisted  as  a  musician  In  our  regular 
army,  where  he  served  more  than  twenty  years. 

This  I  suppose  was  from  lack  of  anything  better  to  do, 
for  his  education  was  not  complete  enough  to  be  worth 
much  as  a  bread  winner,  and  with  the  instinct  of  French 
aristocracy  he  heartily  despised  manual  labor.  He 
always  seemed  to  consider  his  life  to  be  somewhat  of  a 
failure,  notwithstanding  his  undoubted  natural  abilities, 
and  the  experience  soured  a  naturally  wholesome  disposi- 
tion. 


REGIMENTAL   BAND.  179 

On  the  same  day  on  which  Lieutenant  Gridley  was 
killed  Simon  was  struck  in  the  knee  by  a  bullet.  He  was 
sent  back  to  the  hospital  at  Chattanooga,  where  he  was 
told  that  it  would  be  necessary  to  amputate  his  leg  in 
order  to  save  his  life.  But  life  already  seemed  to  him  to 
have  been  a  failure,  and  the  offer  to  be  passed  on  into  old 
age,  a  cripple  depending  on  charity,  was  rejected  with 
scorn,  and  as  he  was  permitted  to  make  his  choice  the 
operation  was  not  performed,  and  he  died  of  the  wound. 

Near  Acworth,  Georgia,  in  the  summer  of  '64,  another 
member  of  the  band,  Edwin  A.  Davis,  received  two 
painful  wounds,  but  they  did  not  prove  fatal. 

The  band  included  in  its  membership  many  who  had 
played  in  bands  at  home,  and  though  at  first  its  music 
was — just  possibly — not  of  the  highest  order,  yet  it  was 
at  least  as  good  for  music  as  the  regiment's  drill  was  for 
drill,  and  as  time  went  on  the  spirit  of  organization  which 
pervades  everything  in  military  life  perfected  them  both 
for  their  respective  duties,  and  our  band  attained  to  the 
reputation  of  being  an  excellent  military  band. 

As  soon  as  we  began  campaign  work  in  the  field  it  was 
reduced  in  numbers  by  sickness,  and  before  reaching 
Virginia  several  were  sent  back  to  hospitals.  Of  these 
Smith  and  Lilly  never  returned  to  us.  As  with  the  regi- 
ment, the  band's  first  experience  of  battle  was  at  Gettys- 
burg. They  did  not  all  remain  together  here,  for  the 
members  were  detailed  to  different  places. 

On  the  first  day — the  second  day  of  the  battle — some 
were  detailed  as  stretcher-bearers,  and  accompanied  the 
regiment  when  it  went  to  the  relief  of  the  ist  Minnesota, 
near  Little  Round  Top,  just  at  sun-down  that  day,  and 
with  that  advance   followed  on  over  the  ground  which 


180  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

had  been  so  grimly  held  by  that  now  historic  regiment. 
It  was  the  wounded  from  that  regiment  which  they 
worked  so  late  in  carrying  off  the  field  that  night,  for 
our  own  regiment  did  not  lose  any  men  there.  A  group 
of  the  band  men  were  so  busy  at  that  task  that  they  did 
not  know  when  the  regiment  was  recalled  to  the  right  of 
the  line,  which  was  some  time  in  the  night. 

At  three  in  the  morning  the  first  of  the  enemy's  shots 
just  skimmed  over  them,  sending  them  in  hasty  search 
for  the  regiment,  which  after  a  time  they  found,  now 
supporting  a  battery  near  the  Baltimore  pike.  Early 
in  the  forenoon  of  that  day  a  field  hospital,  with  Surgeon 
C.  N.  Campbell  of  our  regiment  in  charge,  was  estab- 
lished at  the  old  stone  barn  on  the  Baltimore  pike,  directly 
to  the  rear  of  where  the  regiment  was  engaged  with  the 
enemy,  while  another  field  hospital,  under  charge  of 
First  Assistant  Surgeon  S.  G.  Cook  of  our  regiment,  was 
established  a  little  farther  south,  but  equally  near  the 
brigade.  Some  of  the  band  served  in  these  hospitals, 
while  some  were  detailed  to  the  12th  Corps  hospital  some 
distance  farther  south. 

Part  of  this  service  was  rendered  in  going  to  the  line 
of  battle  and  assisting  the  wounded  back  to  the  hospitals, 
and  on  one  occasion  several  of  the  band,  by  direction  of 
the  Colonel,  gathered  the  dead  of  the  regiment  and  laid 
them  side  by  side  some  distance  back  of  the  breastworks. 
It  is  probable  that  Colonel  Kctcham's  thoughtfulness  in 
having  this  done,  even  while  the  battle  was  raging,  pre- 
vented any  of  our  dead  from  being  lost  in  the  general 
confusion  among  so  many  dead. 

Thus  between  field  hospital  service,  and  frequent  trips 
to  bring  out  the  wounded  from  the  line  of  battle,  many 


REGIMENTAL  BAND.  181 

of  them  were  engaged  until  the  regiment  was  withdrawn 
from  that  position,  being  replaced  by  other  troops. 

An  incident  of  some  interest  in  connection  with  this 
battle  is  the  fact  that  on  the  morning  after  its  close  Edwin 
A.  Davis,  a  member  of  the  band,  carved  in  the  bark  of 
a  thrifty  oak  tree  near  the  southern  slope  of  Gulp's  Hill 
this  inscription : 

Co.  A. 
150  N.  Y. 

The  tree  stands  near  the  marker  which  indicates  the 
right  of  our  regimental  line  when  it  held  that  position 
for  five  hours  on  July  3,  1863,  and  now,  more  than  forty 
years  afterward,  the  inscription  still  shows  distinctly. 

Now  we  again  took  up  our  routine  of  duties  with  the 
regiment  until  we  reached  Virginia,  where  we  lost,  for  a 
time,  several  more  members  by  sickness.  The  western 
journey  and  the  Tennessee  trampings  followed,  as  related 
at  length  in  other  chapters  of  this  volume,  until  we  at 
last  settled  down  for  the  winter  at  Normandy,  Tennessee, 
where  we  were  rejoined  by  some  who  had  been  sent  to 
hospitals. 

At  both  Resaca  and  New  Hope  Church  (the  latter 
being  known  at  the  time  as  the  "  Battle  of  Pumpkin  Vine 
Creek  ")  the  band  was  with  the  regiment  when  it  entered 
the  engagements,  and  did  good  service  in  carrying  back 
the  wounded.  After  the  battle  of  New  Hope  Church 
some  of  us  were  detailed  to  assist  in  the  field  hospital 
near  at  hand,  and  as  the  hostilities  continued  we  worked 
there  about  a  week.  Each  day  the  ambulance  train  was 
sent  with  its  loads  of  suffering  humanity  twenty  miles 
back,  to  Kingston,  to  which  point  the  railroad  was  then 
rebuilt. 


182  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

At  the  end  of  a  week  the  enemy  had  been  routed  from 
about  there,  and  the  ambulances  were  loaded  with  the 
last  of  the  wounded  that  were  still  alive,  that  field  hospi- 
tal having  been  broken  up.  On  this  last  trip  I  was  one 
of  the  detail  to  care  for  the  wounded  on  the  way,  and 
almost  the  last  sight  that  met  my  eyes  as  I  left  the  deserted 
pine  grove,  was  a  pile,  as  high  as  the  table,  of  legs  and 
arms  whose  rightful  owners  never  saw  them  again. 

Throughout  all  the  campaigns  of  the  regiment  the  band 
continued  to  share  its  fortunes,  and  this  outline  account 
will  give  the  reader  something  of  an  idea  of  the  kind  of 
services  which  it  rendered,  beside  those  of  furnishing 
music,  for  in  time  of  battle  it  was  never  required  to  fur- 
nish music. 

Its  members  were,  as  a  whole,  faithful  to  their  duties, 
and  in  addition  to  this  performed  much  voluntary  ser- 
vice which  was  not  strictly  required  of  them  as  duties. 
This  was  the  more  noteworthy,  inasmuch  as  they  served 
without  that  stimulus  to  extra  effort  which  the  others  felt 
in  the  hope  of  a  better  position  in  reward  for  heroic  ser- 
vice; they  were  on  the  payrolls  as  privates,  without  any 
possibility  of  receiving  promotion. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

REMINISCENCES. 

By  Chaplain  Thomas  E.  Vassar. 

Records  of  the  Old  Diary — Cheers  and  Tears — Apples  and   Turkeys  from  Home  —  Regi- 
mental   Debating    Club— Dog    of  the   Regiment —  Campaigning — Battle 
Scenes  both  Ludicrous    and   Pathetic —Virginia   Camps — 
Resignation  and  "All  Hail." 

I  have  diaries  of  1862  and  1863,  and  they  are  fairly 
well  preserved,  but  the  entries  are  meagre,  and  as  many 
of  them  are  in  pencil,  they  are  naturally  growing  dim. 
Memory,  however  tenacious,  cannot  be  implicitly  de- 
pended on  at  the  end  of  forty  years,  and  so  my  contri- 
butions toward  the  history  of  the  150th  must  be  limited, 
and  may,  in  some  particulars,  prove  to  be  inexact. 

It  must  furthermore  be  remembered  that  my  connec- 
tion with  the  regiment  covered  but  a  third  of  its  existence, 
but  if  a  few  fragments  from  the  memoranda  or  remem- 
brances of  the  past  will  help  perpetuate  the  memory  of 
old  times  and  incidents  I  gladly  say  to  my  surviving  com- 
rades, "Such  as  I  have  I  give  thee." 

If  any  statement  shall  seem  irrelevant,  or  incorrect,  my 
former  associates  will  charitably  say,  "Our  old  chaplain 
nods;  his  mind  meanders,  and  he  easily  forgets." 

I  will  quote  occasionally  from  the  old  diaries.  Under 
date  of  Saturday,  October  i  i ,  1862,  this  record  appears : — 
"About    dusk     the     150th    moved    down    Main    Street, 


184  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Poughkeepsle,  and  amid  cheers  and  tears,  and  waving  of 
flags,  took  the  steamer  Oregon  for  New  York." 

No  one  in  the  ranks  on  that  long-ago  autumn  evening 
has  forgotten,  or  will  forget,  that  starting  for  the  front. 
Every  part  of  Dutchess  County  was  represented  in  the 
throngs  that  reached  from  Smith  Street  to  the  steamboat 
wharf.  If  the  parting  scenes  ot  that  night  could  be 
reproduced  the  picture  would  be  highly  prized. 

"Monday,  October  13th — Reached  Baltimore  at  11 
o'clock  P.  M.  Slept  on  the  station  platform  the  balance 
of  the  night."  What  a  soft  bed  those  depot  planks 
made!  Maryland  mud,  such  as  we  found  later,  was 
easier  to  lie  in. 

"Friday,  November  7th — Woke  up  and  found  it 
snowing  heavily;  Camp  Millington  fairly  buried  by  night. 
The  boys  went  around  shivering  and  asking, — '  How  is 
this  for  the  Sunny  South?'  " 

"Thursday,  November  iith — Mrs.  Ketcham  arrived 
in  camp."  A  brief  note  this,  but  it  announced  the  coming 
of  a  woman  who,  to  many  a  member  of  the  regiment, 
and  especially  the  sick,  was  afterward  as  kind  as  a  mother 
or  an  elder  sister,  and  whom  not  a  few  still  remember 
admiringly  and  gratefully. 

"Sunday,  November  i6th — Dedicated  our  new  meet- 
ing tent."  This  tent  was  purchased  with  money  con- 
tributed by  a  dozen  or  more  churches  of  Dutchess  County. 
We  had  many  excellent  meetings  in  it  'till  the  severest 
weather  of  winter  came,  when  wc  had  to  abandon  it  for 
warmer  quarters.  Tt  was  finally  lost  during  the  Gettys- 
burg campaign. 

"  Thanksgiving  Day, November  27th — Received  eleven 
barrels  of  apples  from  home;  one  for  each  company,  and 


REMINISCENCES.  185 

one  for  the  field  and  staff."  These  were  sent  us  by  a 
Mr,  Potter,  of  LaGrange,  if  my  memory  is  not  at  fault. 
The  same  thoughtful  man  sent  the  128th  New  York 
Regiment  a  like  token  of  regard  and  remembrance.  I 
doubt  if  he  ever  fully  knew  of  the  gratitude  and  gladness 
inspired  by  his  generous  gift. 

"Wednesday,  December  31st — Regiment  ordered  to 
Adamstown,  Md.,  to  repel  a  reported  invasion  by  the 
enemy." 

We  did  not  discover  so  much  as  a  single  "  Johnny," 
but  as  we  were  near  Harper's  Ferry  some  of  us  got  per- 
mission to  visit  that  historic  spot.  In  one  small  room 
of  a  very  dilapidated  hotel  six  beds  were  placed,  and  in 
those  beds,  between  sheets  that  bore  the  imprint  of  many 
previous  lodgers,  a  score  or  so  were  packed  like  sardines 
in  a  box. 

■  New  Year's  Day  of  1863  was  spent  there  in  visiting 
famous  localities.  When  we  got  back  to  Camp  Belger 
we  found  that  several  boxes  of  turkeys  had  arrived  from 
home.  They  had  been  intended  for  our  Christmas 
dinner,  but  they  were  so  late  in  getting  to  our  cook-house 
and  the  mess-table  that  a  rather  ancient  odor  hung  about 
the  fowls,  and  their  flavor  was  not  absolutely  fine. 
Turkeys  however  are  such  rare  rations  in  camp  that  the 
indisputable  evidences  of  their  antiquity  were  overlooked. 

"Wednesday,  January  14,  1863 — In  our  regimental 
debating  club  at  night  we  discussed  the  question, — '  JVoiild 
it  be  zvise  to  arm  the  negroes  in  our  zvar? '  Decided  in  the 
affirmative  by  an  immense  majority." 

The  above  record  from  my  diary  indicates  that  the  men 
of  the  150th  grappled  with  a  tremendous  problem  before 


186  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Congress  did,  and  that  they  settled  It  while  the  legisla- 
tors fought  shy. 

"Tuesday,  January  20th — Had  a  number  of  Dutchess 
County  guests  at  our  camp  to-day." 

Among  the  number  that  I  recall  as  visiting  us  at  dif- 
ferent times  were  Benson  J.  Lossing,  the  historian;  John 
Thompson,  wife  and  daughter;  John  G.  Parker;  Mrs. 
H.  C.  Smith  and  son;  the  wife  of  Major  Smith,  with 
their  son  and  daughter;  the  wife  of  Captain  Broas;  the 
wife  of  Lieutenant  Underwood;  the  Misses  Wickes,  and 
others  of  Poughkeepsie ;  Colonel  Rundall,  Gail  Borden 
and  wife,,  Edward  Gridley  and  the  Misses  Mygatt  of 
Amenia;  Orrin  Wakeman  of  Millerton;  the  father  of 
Lieutenant  Titus,  and  the  parents  of  Lieutenant  S.  V.  R. 
Cruger.  These  names  recur  to  me,  but  doubtless  there 
were  many  more. 

One  funny  incident  occurs  to  me  in  connection  with 
the  visit  of  Mr.  Parker.  Among  our  men  was  one  whom 
I  will  call  "Billy  B."  although  really  he  was  not  "Billy" 
anybody.  Now  "Billy"  was  not  a  total  abstainer.  In- 
deed, he  never  abstained  if  there  was  a  chance  to  do  the 
other  thing.  The  day  before  Mr.  Parker's  visit  "Billy" 
had  spent  a  few  hours  in  Baltimore,  and  having  a  few 
"shin-plasters"  in  his  pocket  he  came  back  to  camp  slightly 
cbted,  and  "whooped  'er  up"  pretty  loud.  The  conse- 
quence was  that  he  slept  that  night  on  the  downy  pillows 
of  the  guard-house,  and  in  the  morning  was  set  up  on  a 
barrel  in  camp  to  do  penance. 

Now  "Billy"  and  Mr.  Parker  were  old  acquaintances, 
and  naturally  enough  the  offender  did  not  care  to  have 
Mr.  Parker  see  him  mounted  on  such  a  pedestal.  Long 
before    Mr.     Parker    spied    "Billy"     he    was    spied    by 


REMINISCENCES.  187 

"Billy,"  and  as  the  visitor  approached  the  unfortunate 
victim  of  his  environment  just  threw  the  cape  of  his  over- 
coat about  his  head,  and  Mr.  Parker  passed  the  curiously 
masked  figure,  unaware  that  it  was  his  old  friend  and 
acquaintance  who  had  thus  so  modestly  veiled  his  face. 

In  my  official  capacity  I  was  sometimes  called  upon  to 
perform  the  ceremony  at  marriages,  and  the  memory  of 
one  of  these  occasions  clings  to  me  as  that  of  one  of  the 
comedies  of  the  war,  though  it  may  well  have  been  far 
from  that  character  to  those  most  interested. 

One  of  our  German  boys  became  enamored  with  a  rosy- 
cheeked  Rosina,  living  in  an  alley  of  Baltimore.  Early 
one  morning  he  came  for  me  to  go  down  town  with  him 
and  speak  the  words  that  should  make  the  maiden  fair  a 
soldier's  wife,  and  render  her  lover's  joy  complete.  On 
reaching  the  rather  unimposing  residence  of  the  bride  she 
was  nowhere  to  be  found. 

The  minister  and  groom  were  ready,  but  the  third 
party  in  the  transaction  was  not  to  be  seen,  and  very 
obviously  this  caused  a  serious  hitch.  "Mart,"  how- 
ever, was  not  to  be  thwarted  in  his  purposes  by  such  a 
trifling  circumstance,  so  bidding  the  chaplain  be  seated 
he  said,  "You  shust  vait;  I  fin's  her!"  The  "wait" 
seemed  interminable,  but  before  noon  the  pair  appeared 
and  were  made  one. 

Then  it  was  discovered  that  while  the  wedding  cake 
was  ready  to  be  cut,  the  wine  to  wash  it  down  had  not 
been  ordered.  The  newly  made  husband  started  out  in 
quest  of  it,  and  during  this  second  "still  hunt"  the  parson 
thought  it  a  favorable  time  to  depart.  Whether  the  cup 
that  cheers   finally   got   there  the  undersigned   saith   not, 


188       THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

but  the  fee  surely  didn't,  and  the  job  performed  was  ap- 
parently as  short-lived  as  the  sunshine  of  that  April  day. 

When  the  regiment,  sixty  days  later,  marched  for  the 
last  time  down  Madison  Avenue,  Rosina  thought  it  a 
good  time  to  dissolve  the  partnership.  Soldiers  were 
too  uncertain  supporters  to  tie  to,  and  it  was  not  best  to 
risk  any  chances  while  available  matrimonial  timber  was 
close  at  hand; — so  the  young  wife  seemed  to  reason.  I 
am  not  certain  whether  the  husband  marched  up  Main 
Street  with  the  regiment  in  the  summer  of  ^6^,  but  if  he 
did  the  wife  was  evidently  not  with  him. 

From  a  missing  woman  to  a  missing  brute  may  be  con- 
sidered quite  a  leap,  but  do  the  boys  remember  that  big 
brindle  dog  the  regiment  adopted  in  Baltimore,  so  curi- 
ously marked,  and  which,  all  over  the  camp,  was  such 
a  pet?  He  was  tattooed  like  a  Modoc  Indian,  or  the 
Ancient  Mariner,  and  how  he  clung  to  the  command  and 
followed  its  fortunes !  The  last  that  I  ever  heard  of  him 
was  during  the  second  day's  fight  at  Gettysburg.  Did  he 
fall  among  the  dead  men  that  littered  those  plains  and 
slopes,  and  did  his  blood  with  theirs  crimson  the  trampled 
sod?     We  never  knew. 

"Friday,  June  26th — Marched  through  rain  and  mud 
to  Poplar  Springs,  The  distance  was  said  to  be  twenty- 
seven  miles.  I  never  saw  men  so  exhausted,  and  at  inter- 
vals I  put  several  of  them  on  my  horse  and  walked  by 
the  side.  When  shoes  and  stockings  were  pulled  off  at 
night  I  saw  great  strips  and  patches  of  skin  come  off  the 
feet."  ■      I    -,1     i 

This  brief  extract  from  the  diary  gives  a  glimpse  of 
the  second  day  out  from  Baltimore,  and  what  a  picture 
it  is  of  the  regiment's  introduction  to  service  in  the  field! 


REMINISCENCES.  189 

"Sunday,  June  28th — Very  little  like  Sunday,  though 
we  did  hold  one  brief  service.  All  day  the  roads  were 
one  mass  of  moving  men,  and  at  night  every  hillside 
gleamed  with  camp-fires." 

"Tuesday,  June  30th — Joined  the  12th  Army  Corps 
at  Frederick  City,  and  started  with  it  for  Gettysburg, 
making  twenty  miles  before  night." 

That  day's  march  was  memorable.  It  lay  along  high- 
ways bordered  with  wheatfields  and  orchards  exactly  such 
as  Whittier  afterward  pictured  in  his  "Barbara  Frietchie." 
On  one  of  the  hills  where  the  regiment  halted  for  a  few 
moments  Colonel  Ketcham  looked  over  the  country  and 
then,  turning  to  the  men  nearest  to  him,  said,  "  It  would 
be  hard  to  beat  that  in  Dutchess  County." 

"Wednesday,  July  ist — Made  sixteen  miles  and  got 
within  eight  miles  of  Gettysburg.  As  we  were  lying 
down  for  the  night  orders  came  to  move  at  midnight." 

An  hour  or  more  after  midnight  we  fell  into  line,  and 
silently  as  a  company  of  shadows  the  men  got  into  their 
places,  with  not  a  joke,  not  a  laugh,  and  not  a  snatch  of 
song.  Word  reached  us  that  the  fight  had  begun,  that 
General  Reynolds  had  been  killed,  our  forces  worsted, 
and  that  the  whole  Army  of  the  Potomac  was  hurrying 
to  the  field. 

"  Thursday,  July  2nd — Halted  near  Round  Top,  and 
Little  Round  Top,  at  sunrise,  meeting  loads  of  half-crazed 
women  and  children  escaping  from  their  homes.  We  did 
not  get  into  the  battle  until  afternoon,  when  we  were 
ordered  to  the  support  of  the  3rd  Corps,  which  was  hard 
pushed." 

Little  Round  Top  was  very  quiet  when  we  passed  it 
in  the  early  morning,  but  before  sundown  it  belched 
flame  like  a  veritable  volcano. 


190  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Let  me  mention  one  humorous  occurrence  just  here. 
Sometime  in  the  early  hours  of  the  day,  and  before  the 
action  had  become  general,  I  was  lying  with  the  regiment 
in  a  wheat  field.  The  grain  had  been  cut,  and  with  some 
of  the  sheaves  for  pillows  we  were  talking  or  drowsing. 
All  of  a  sudden  there  came  screeching  over  our  heads 
a  shell  that  buried  itself  a  rod  or  two  away,  and  sent  up 
earth  and  stone  like  a  water-spout. 

It  was  the  enemy's  salute  to  the  150th,  and  in  its 
immediate  vicinity  there  was  such  an  exhibition  of  flutter- 
ing coat-tails  as  is  rarely  witnessed.  It  might  be  a  bit 
of  exaggeration  to  say  that  we  made  a  quarter  of  a  mile  in 
a  single  minute,  but  the  action  was  surely  swift.  We  got 
more  used  to  that  sort  of  thing  before  night. 

"  Friday,  July  3rd — Got  into  battle  early.  I  helped 
our  surgeons  to  care  for  the  wounded  in  an  old  stone 
barn  on  the  Baltimore  pike,  and  kept  at  it  until  night." 

"  Saturday,  July  4th — Was  busy  during  the  forenoon 
in  labelling  our  dead,  and  preparing  them  for  burial.  I 
was  so  tired  at  night  that  I  fancy  I  could  have  slept  right 
through  a  fight." 

Connected  with  the  Gettysburg  battle  are  a  number  of 
details  that  abide  in  memory  still,  and  it  may  be  that  a 
few  of  them  are  worth  mentioning.  Possibly  they  im- 
pressed me  more  than  they  would  others  because  I  saw 
no  other  important  action,  while  many  of  the  comrades 
witnessed  and  participated  in  engagements  scarcely  less 
famous.  The  first  of  the  events  is  of  a  comic  nature, 
and  yet  it  happened  during  that  terrific  cannonade  on  the 
afternoon  of  the  last  day  of  the  fight. 

Standing  in  front  of  the  old  barn  previously  mentioned 
were  a  half  dozen  or  more  ambulances  waiting  to  carry 


REMINISCENCES.  191 

the  wounded  away  to  hospitals  beyond  the  battle  lines. 
When  the  thundering  and  pounding  of  those  two  or  three 
hundred  cannons  grew  hot  and  heavy  the  ambulance 
drivers  tried  to  get  their  teams  away  to  a  more  sheltered 
spot.  But  anybody  who  has  been  used  to  the  handling 
of  a  mule  knows  that  it  is  the  perversest  animal — some 
men  excepted — that  travels. 

Cries,  blows,  and  curses  did  not  stir  the  brutes  an  inch. 
They  only  laid  back  their  long  ears  and  vigorously  em- 
ployed their  heels.  But  when  they  got  ready  to  go  they 
went;  and  such  a  going!  No  circus  antics  were  ever  so 
mirth-provoking.  Amid  that  terrific  rain  of  death  men 
roared  with  laughter  as  the  ambulances  went  rattling 
down  the  hill  in  John  Gilpin  style. 

Two  or  three  days  earlier  than  this  I  saw  a  rather 
hungry  night.  Some  fellow  who  had  not  the  fear  of 
God  before  his  eyes  borrozved  my  haversack  and  forgot  to 
return  it.  The  said  haversack  had  been  filled  with  a 
loaf  of  bread,  a  bit  of  ciried  beef,  and  a  dozen  boiled 
eggs,  which  I  had  purchased  of  a  kind  German  woman 
on  the  road.  Of  course  when  it  was  thus  stocked  it  was 
something  of  a  temptation,  and  another,  who  was  perhaps 
hungrier,  captured  it  when  the  owner  was  not  on  guard. 

In  this  condition  of  affairs,  and  when  my  prospect  of 
going  to  bed  supperless  was  better  than  the  prospect  that 
some  have  of  reaching  heaven,  I  scented  something  like 
broiled  chicken  coming  from  the  outskirts  of  the  camp. 
Now  the  odor  of  broiled  chicken  is  seldom  disagreeable, 
but  it  is  especially  captivating  when  one's  stomach  is  in 
danger  of  collapse.  Starting  out  to  investigate  I  found 
two  or  three  of  my  good  friends  gathered  about  a  fine 
looking  fowl  that  they  were  putting  where  it  would  do 


192  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

the  most  good,  and  they  diabohcally  suggested  that  I 
should  step  up  and  have  a  bite. 

They  indignantly  resented  my  insinuation  that  some- 
body beside  the  heir  to  my  haversack  had  been  breaking 
the  eighth  commandment.  Steal  a  rooster !  Not  they ! 
They  had  borrowed  this  one  from  a  farmer  who  had  a 
lot  to  spare !  Just  then  it  did  take  some  pluck,  or  some- 
thing else,  to  say  "  No."  If  those  tempters  chance  to 
,  read  this  story  of  their  seductive  solicitations  I  wish  them 
to  give  me  credit  for  the  act  of  self-denial. 

Here  is  a  painful  reminiscence;  almost  too  harrowing 
perhaps  to  be  mentioned,  although  it  refers  to  times  so 
far  in  the  past.  It  belongs  to  that  sultry  sundown  of 
July  2nd,  and  a  peach  orchard  was  the  place. 

Our  regiment  had  been  helping  regain  the  ground  and 
retake  the  guns  which  Sickles  had  lost  during  the  after- 
noon. We  were  pushing  over  ground  littered  with  the 
wounded,  the  dying  and  the  dead,  and  my  horse,  not  yet 
become  accustomed  to  such  sights,  stopped  short.  Dis- 
mounting I  tied  him  to  a  tree,  proposing  to  follow  on 
foot.  Hardly  was  I  out  of  the  saddle  than  those  nearest 
me,  who  were  least  injured,  began  their  pitiful  cries  for 
help.      "Water!    Water!    Chaplain;    for    God's    sake!" 

This  was  the  cry  on  every  side.  Seeing  a  small  house 
a  fourth  of  a  mile  away  I  ran  toward  it,  hoping  to  fill  a 
few  canteens  and  furnish  some  relief.  I  found  a  well 
there,  but  it  was  absolutely  surrounded  with  wounded 
men,  some  of  whom  must  evidently  have  crawled  thither 
on  their  hands  and  knees.  Some  that  could  stand  had 
so  drained  the  well  that  what  now  came  up  was  so 
thickened  with  mud  as  to  be  of  the  consistency  of  cream; 


REMINISCENCES.  193 

but  even  these  nauseous  driblets  were  clamored  for  with 
passionate  agony. 

I  stood  beside  that  same  well  in  the  summer  of  1902^ 
when  Nature  all  around  was  robed  in  her  fairest  hues  and 
forms,  and  very  vividly  stood  out  that  summer  night  of 
thirty-nine  years  earlier,  when  the  heavens  were  lit  with 
trailing  fire,  the  soil  around  drenched  with  blood,  and 
the  air  rent  with  shrieks  and  groans. 

On  this  hunt  for  water  I  lost  my  regiment,  and  did  not 
find  it  again  till  nearly  midnight.  Here  is  another  well- 
remembered  incident,  though  I  hardly  know  to  what  class 
it  belongs. 

Late  in  the  afternoon  of  July  4th  Charles  E.  Benton, 
Albert  B.  Reed,  and  perhaps  some  others  with  them, 
came  to  me,  saying  that  they  had  found  a  dead  soldier 
near  a  fence  between  Gulp's  Hill  and  the  Baltimore  pike, 
and  did  not  know  whether  he  was  a  member  of  our  regi- 
ment or  not.  He  was  lying  there  all  by  himself,  and 
they  wished  me  to  go  and  see  him.  Some  thoughtful 
survivor  had  drawn  a  covering  over  the  dead  man's  face 
to  protect  it  from  discoloration  under  the  hot  summer  sun. 

Turning  the  covering  down  we  looked  on  a  countenance 
utterly  unknown,  but  singularly  impressive  in  all  its  lines. 
Death  had  not  marred  a  feature;  if  carved  in  marble 
they  could  hardly  have  been  more  fair.  It  was  the  ex- 
pression on  the  face  however  that  fixed  all  our  eyes.  It 
was  not  triumph;  that  could  be  seen  on  other  brows.  It 
was  not  peace;  one  often  sees  that  when  death  has  done 
its  work.  There  was  no  trace  of  earthly  passion  in  the 
half-closed  eyes,  but  there  was  such  a  smile  as  one  would 
imagine  might  have  been  caught  if  a  glimpse  of  some- 


194  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

thing  bright  on  beyond  had  gleamed  on  the  dying  vision 
as  mortahty  was  swallowed  up  in  life. 

Perhaps  it  is  mere  conjecture  on  my  part,  but  I  believed 
then,  and  I  believe  now,  that  our  fellow-soldier  glimpsed 
an  opening  heaven  when  his  call  came.  Some  will  declare 
this  all  imagination,  but  those  who  stood  over  the  dead 
man  that  Independence  Day  saw  a  look  that  was  not  of 
earth,  and  Mr.  Benton  evidently  is  referring  to  the  same 
incident  on  page  ^6,  in  "As  Seen  From  the  Ranks." 
Why  should  anyone  who  has  faith  in  immortality  ques- 
tion my  interpretation  of  this  expression? 

At  dusk  Saturday  evening  I  found  that  our  regimental 
dead,  and  twice  as  many  more  of  our  brigade,  yet  lay 
unburied.  I  had  gathered  them  up  and  labelled  them 
early  in  the  day.  On  reporting  this  to  General  Lock- 
wood  he  gave  me  a  detail  of  twenty-one  men,  with  a  re- 
quest that  I  would  superintend  the  interment.  After  a 
long  hunt  for  picks  and  shovels  we  got  at  the  job.  The 
graves  were  dug  in  a  bit  of  thinly-wooded  ground,  not 
far,  I  think,  from  where  our  regimental  monument  now 
stands.  I  am  not  positive  as  to  the  precise  location,  for 
in  none  of  my  later  visits  to  Gettysburg  have  I  been  able 
to  fix  upon  the  spot. 

It  was  so  dark  that  we  required  light  to  do  the  work, 
and  there  was  no  way  of  getting  it  excepting  by  building 
a  fire  out  of  the  dead  twigs  and  branches;  but  the  blaze 
drew  on  us  an  occasional  shot  from  Confederate  sharp- 
shooters. The  gruesome  and  somewhat  dangerous  task 
was  not  finished  until  midnight.  As  the  bodies  had  been 
lying  out  in  the  fierce  summer  heat  from  twenty-four  to 
forty-eight  hours  their  condition  can  be  imagined;  It  need 
not  be  described. 


REMINISCENCES.  1?5 

When  these  and  other  bodies  were  removed  to  the 
National  Cemetery  the  autumn  following  but  two  of  the 
regimental  dead  that  we  buried  were  missing,  and  the 
head-board  inscriptions  I  had  so  hastily  penciled  were 
all  distinct  enough  to  read.  I  lay  down  that  night  between 
two  dying  men,  so  utterly  fagged  out  that  I  could  hardly 
have  tramped  a  mile  further.  I  will  quote  a  little  more 
from  the  old  diary.  It  is  of  the  time  when  we  were  at 
or  near  Williamsport,  Md. 

"Sunday,  July  12th — Preached  in  the  morning,  and 
all  of  us  expected  that  before  night  another  big  fight 
would  begin." 

"Thursday,  July  i6th — Found  my  horse  so  used  up 
that  I  had  to  leave  him  on  a  farm  by  the  way.  Pushed 
on  with  the  rest  to  Sandy  Hook,  having  passed  by  the 
Antietam  battlefield." 

"Wednesday,  July  22nd — Fields  around  fairly  covered 
with  blackberries.  The  boys  would  gather  a  cupful  in 
five  minutes." 

I  wonder  if  any  of  the  pickers  remember  what  quanti- 
ties they  brought  into  camp  in  their  caps,  or  just  under 
their  blouses !  About  these  days  several  farmers  com- 
plained to  Colonel  Ketcham  that  his  men  were  milking 
their  cows  out  in  the  pasture  lots  once  an  hour.  Very 
likely  some  of  them  did  it;  they  Were  simply  getting 
back  to  infantile  operations. 

I  wonder  whether  Colonel  Ketcham  ever  forgot  send- 
ing two  of  the  boys  with  a  dollar  bill  to  get  him  a  canteen 
of  milk  somewhere  in  this  region!  This  farmer  proved 
to  be  a  modern  Shylock,  and  when  he  saw  the  dollar 
he  took  the  whole  of  it  for  the  two  quarts.  An  angry 
squad,    on   hearing   of   the   transaction,    interviewed   the 


196  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

same  farmer  within  an  hour,  and  left  every  pan  in  his 
cellar  as  clean  as  if  a  cat  had  licked  it.  In  this  way  they 
just  about  evened  up  the  account. 

"  Monday,  July  27th — Received  two  mails,  and  sent 
one  out;  our  first  direct  communication  with  home  for 
nearly  three  weeks." 

It  can  easily  be  imagined  what  excitement  this  fact 
stirred  in  camp.  Not  quite  as  much  as  a  battle,  it  is  true, 
perhaps  a  trifle  less  than  the  arrival  of  the  paymaster, 
but  the  coming  of  the  mail-bag  was  the  next  thing. 

"Friday,  July  31st — Camped  near  Kelley's  Ford,  on 
the  Rappahannock.  The  heat  is  terrible,  and  the  water 
supply  the  scantiest  and  poorest.  I  am  seriously  unwell 
here,  and  have  not  left  my  tent  for  days." 

"  Saturday,  August  8th — My  resignation  as  Chaplain 
of  the   150th  is  accepted." 

Along  with  Adjutant  Thompson  I  started  for  home, 
but  got  as  far  only  as  Baltimore,  and  there  gave  up  and 
went  into  a  hospital,  where  I  lay  for  some  days.  On 
Wednesday,  August  19th,  I  went  to  Kearneyville  for  my 
horse,  and  then  left  for  New  York,  which  I  reached  on 
Friday,  the  21st.  I  here  straightened  out  all  my  accounts 
with  the  government,  receiving  my  pay,  and  at  night  was 
again  in  Amenia,  my  home,  after  an  absence  of  nearly 
eleven  months. 

Thus  ended  my  connection  with  the  "  Dutchess  County 
Regiment,"  and  my  army  experience.  To  the  survivors 
of  the  old  command  I  send  all  good  wishes,  and  the 
"All  Hail "  of  the  great  future  of  a  country  they  helped 
to  save. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

THE  SONGS  WE  USED  TO  SING. 

Selected  by 
Hubbard  F.  Roberts  and  James  H.  Vassar. 

America— Glorj'  !  Glory  I  Hallelujah  !— Red,  White  and  Blue— The  Battle  Cry  of  Free- 
dom— Tramp  !  Tramp  !  Tramp  ! — Battle  Hymn  of  the  Republic — The  Vacant 
Chair — Tenting  on  the  Old  Camp  Ground — When  Johnny  Comes 
Marching  Home — Song  of  the  Camp — Kingdom  Coming 
— Annie  Laurie — Star  Spangled  Banner — When 
this  Cruel  War  Is  Over. 

AMERICA. 

My  country,  'tis  of  thee, 
Sweet  land  of  liberty. 

Of  thee  I  sing; 
Land  where  my  fathers  died ! 
Land  of  the  Pilgrim's  pride! 
From  ev'ry  mountain  side 

Let  freedom  ring! 

My  native  country,  thee, — 
Land  of  the  noble  free, — 

Thy  name  I  love; 
I  love  thy  rocks  and  rills. 
Thy  woods  and  templed  hills : 
My  heart  with   rapture   thrills. 

Like  that  above. 


198  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Let  music  swell  the  breeze, 
And  ring  from  all  the  trees 

Sweet  freedom's  song: 
Let  mortal  tongues  awake; 
Let  all  that  breathe  partake; 
Let  rocks  their  silence  break, — 

The  sound  prolong. 

Our  fathers'  God  to  Thee, 
Author  of  Liberty, 

To  Thee  we  sing : 
Long  may  our  land  be  bright 
f  With  Freedom's  holy  light; 

!^  Protect  us  by  Thy  might. 

Great  God,  our  Kingl 

GLORY!  GLORY!  HALLELUJAH! 

John  Brown's  body  lies  a-mould'ring  in  the  grave, 

John  Brown's  body  lies  a-mould'ring  in  the  grave, 

John  Brown's  body  lies  a-mould'ring  in  the  grave, 

His  soul  is  marching  on. 

Chorus. 

Glory!  Glory!  Hallelujah! 

Glory!  Glory!  Hallelujah! 

Glory!  Glory!  Hallelujah! 

His  soul  is  marching  on. 

The  stars  of  heaven  are  looking  kindly  down. 
The  stars  of  heaven  are  looking  kindly  down. 
The  stars  of  heaven  are  looking  kindly  down, 
On  the  grave  of  old  John  Brown. 
Chorus.     Glory !  etc. 


THE  SONGS  WE  USED  TO  SING.  199 

He's  gone  to  be  a  soldier  in  the  army  of  the  Lord, 
He's  gone  to  be  a  soldier  in  the  army  of  the  Lord, 
He's  gone  to  be  a  soldier  in  the  army  of  the  Lord, 
His  soul  is  marching  on. 
Chorus.     Glory!  etc. 

John  Brown's  knapsack  is  strapped  upon  his  back, 

John  Brown's  knapsack  is  strapped  upon  his  back, 

John  Brown's  knapsack  is  strapped  upon  his  back, 

His  soul  is  marching  on. 

Chorus.     Glory!  etc. 

His  pet  lambs  will  meet  him  on  the  way, 
His  pet  lambs  will  meet  him  on  the  way. 
His  pet  lambs  will  meet  him  on  the  way. 
And  they'll  go  marching  on. 
Chorus.     Glory!  etc. 

We'll  hang  Jeff  Davis  to  a  sour  apple  tree. 
We'll  hang  Jeff  Davis  to  a  sour  apple  tree. 
We'll  hang  Jeff  Davis  to  a  sour  apple  tree. 

As  we  go  marching  on. 

Chorus.     Glory!  etc. 

RED,  WHITE  AND  BLUE. 

O  Columbia,  the  gem  of  the  ocean, 

The  home  of  the  brave  and  the  free, — 
The  shrine  of  each  patriot's  devotion, — 

A  world  offers  homage  to  thee; 
Thy  mandates  make  heroes  assemble, 

When  Liberty's  form  stands  in  view; 
Thy  banners  make  Tyranny  tremble. 

When  borne  by  the  Red,  White  and  Blue. 


200  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Chorus. 
When  borne  by  the  Red,  White  and  Blue, 
When  borne  by  the  Red,  White  and  Blue ; 
Thy  banners  make  Tyranny  tremble. 
When  borne  by  the  Red,  White  and  Blue. 

When  war  waged  its  wide  desolation. 

And  threaten'd  the  land  to  deform. 
The  ark  then  of  Freedom's  foundation, — 

Columbia, — rode  safe  thro'  the  storm; 
With  her  garlands  of  vict'ry  around  her, 

When  so  proudly  she  bore  her  brave  crew, 
With  her  flag  proudly  floating  before  her. 

The  boast  of  the  Red,  White  and  Blue. 

Chorus. 
The  boast  of  the  Red,  White  and  Blue, 
The  boast  of  the  Red,  White  and  Blue; 
With  her  flag  proudly  floating  before  her, 
The  boast  of  the  Red,  White  and  Blue. 

The  wine  cup,  the  wine  cup  bring  hither, 

And  fill  you  it  true,  to  the  brim ; 
May  wreaths  they  have  won  never  wither. 

Nor  the  star  of  their  glory  grow  dim; 
May  the  service  united,  ne'er  sever. 

But  they  to  their  colors  prove  true ; 
The  Army  and  Navy  forever  1 

Three  cheers  for  the  Red,  White  and  Blue. 

Chorus. 
Three  cheers  for  the  Red,  White  and  Blue ! 
Three  cheers  for  the  Red,  White  and  Blue ! 
The  Army  and  Navy  forever! 
Three  cheers  for  the  Red,  White  and  Blue  1 


THE  SONGS  WE  USED  TO  SING.  201 

THE  BATTLE  CRY  OF  FREEDOM. 

Yes,   we'll  rally   round  the   flag,   boys,   we'll   rally   once 
again, 
Shouting  the  battle  cry  of  Freedom, 
We  will  rally  from  the  hillside,  we'll  gather  from  the 
plain, 
Shouting  the  battle  cry  of  Freedom. 

Chorus. 
The  Union  forever!     Hurrah,  boys.  Hurrah! 
Down  with  the  traitor,  up  with  the  star ! 
While  we  rally  round  the  flag,  boys,  rally  once  again. 
Shouting  the  battle  cry  of  Freedom. 

We  arc  springing  to  the  call  of  our  brothers  gone  before. 

Shouting  the  battle  cry  of  Freedom, 
And  we'll  fill  the  vacant  ranks  with  a  million   freemen 
more. 

Shouting  the  battle  cry  of  Freedom. 

Chorus. 
The  Union  forever!     Hurrah,  boys.  Hurrah! 
Down  with  the  traitor,  up  with  the  star! 
While  we  rally  round  the  flag,  boys,  rally  once  again. 
Shouting  the  battle  cry  of  Freedom. 

We  will  welcome   to  our  numbers  the   loyal,   true   and 
brave. 

Shouting  the  battle  cry  of  Freedom, 
And  altho'  they  may  be  poor  not  a  man  shall  be  a  slave, 

Shouting  the  battle  cry  of  Freedom. 


202  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Chorus. 
The  Union  forever  !     Hurrah,  boys,  Hurrah ! 
Down  with  the  traitor,  up  with  the  star! 
While  we  rally  round  the  flag,  boys,  rally  once  again. 
Shouting  the  battle  cry  of  Freedom. 

So  we're  springing  to  the  call,  from  the  East  and  from 
the  West, 
Shouting  the  battle  cry  of  Freedom, 
And  we'll  hurl  the  rebel  crew  from  the  land  we  love  the 
best. 
Shouting  the  battle  cry  of  Freedom. 

Chorus. 
The  Union  forever!      Hurrah,  boys.  Hurrah! 
Down  with  the  traitor,  up  with  the  star! 
While  we  rally  round  the  flag,  boys,  rally  once  again. 
Shouting  the  battle  cry  of  Freedom. 

TRAMP!  TRAMP!  TRAMP! 

The  Prisoner's  Hope. 
In  the  prison  cell  I  sit. 
Thinking,  Mother  dear,  of  you. 
And  our  bright  and  happy  home  so  far  away. 
And  the  tears, — they  fill  my  eyes. 
Spite  of  all  that  I  can  do, 
Though  I  try  to  cheer  my  comrades  and  be  gay. 

Chorus. 
Tramp!  Tramp!  Tramp!  The  boys  are  marching! 
Cheer  up,  comrades,  they  will  come. 

And  beneath  the  starry  flag  we  shall  breathe  the  air  again, 
Of  the  free-land,  in  our  own  beloved  home. 


THE  SONGS  WE  USED  TO  SING.  203 

In  the  battle-front  we  stood 

When  their  fiercest  charge  they  made, 

And  they  swept  us  off,  a  hundred  men  or  more. 

But  before  we  reached  their  Hnes 

They  were  beaten  back,  dismayed, 

And  we  heard  the  cry  of  vict'ry  o'er  and  o'er. 

Chorus. 
Tramp !  Tramp !  Tramp  !  The  boys  are  marching ! 
Cheer  up,  comrades,  they  will  come. 

And  beneath  the  starry  flag  we  shall  breathe  the  air  again. 
Of  the  free-land,  in  our  own  beloved  home. 

So  within  the  prison  wall 

We  are  waiting  for  the  day 

That  shall  come  to  open  wide  the  oaken  door. 

And  the  hollow  eye  grows  bright, 

And  the  poor  heart  almost  gay, 

As  we  think  of  seeing  home  and  friends  once  more. 

Chorus. 
Tramp  !  Tramp  !  Tramp  I  The  boys  are  marching ! 
Cheer  up,  comrades,  they  will  come, 

And  beneath  the  starry  flag  we  shall  breathe  the  air  again. 
Of  the  free-land,  in  our  own  beloved  home. 

BATTLE  HYMN  OF  THE  REPUBLIC. 

By  Julia  Ward  Howe. 

Melody— ''Glory!  Glory!  Hallelujah!" 

Mine  eyes  have  seen  the  glory  of  the  coming  of  the  Lord; 
He  is  tramping  out  the  vintage  where  the  grapes  of  wrath 
are  stored; 


204  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

He  has  loosed  the  fearful  lightning  of  His  terrible  swift 
sword. 

His  truth  Is  marching  on. 

Chorus. 
Glory!  Glory  1  Hallelujah! 
Glory!  Glory!  Hallelujah! 
Glory!  Glory!  Hallelujah!  .  . 

His  truth  is  marching  on. 

I  have  seen  Him  In  the  watch-fires  of  a  hundred  circling 

camps ; 
They  have  builded  Him  an  altar  in  the  evening  dews  and 

damps; 
I  can  read  His  righteous  sentence  by  the  dim  and  flaring 

lamps. 

His  day  is  marching  on. 

Chorus. 


Glory 
Glory 
Glory 


Glory 
Glory 
Glory 


Hallelujah! 
Hallelujah ! 
Hallelujah ! 


His  day  Is  marching  on. 

I  have  read  a  fiery  gospel  writ  In  burnished  rows  of  steel; 
"As  ye  deal  with  my  contemners,  so  with  you  my  grace 

shall  deal; 
Let  the  Hero,  born  of  woman,  crush  the  serpent  with  his 

heel, 

Since  God  is  marching  on." 

Chorus. 

Glory!   Glory!  Hallelujah! 

Glory!   Glory!  Hallelujah! 

Glory!  Glory!  Hallelujah! 

Since  God  is  marching  on. 


THE  SONGS  WE  USED  TO  SING.  205 

He  has  sounded  forth  the  trumpet  that  shall  never  call 

retreat  1 
He  is  sifting  out  the  hearts  of  men  before  His  judgment 

seat. 
Oh,  be  swift,  my  soul,  to  answer  Him !     Be  jubilant,  my 

feet! 

Our  God  is  marching  on. 

Chorus. 
Glory!  Glory!  Hallelujah! 
Glory!  Glory!  Hallelujah! 
Glory!  Glory!  Hallelujah! 
Our  God  is  marching  on. 

In  the  beauty  of  the  lilies  Christ  was  born  across  the  sea, 

With  a  glory  in  His  bosom  that  transfigures  you  and  me. 

As  He  died  to  make  men  holy,  let  us  die  to  make  men  free, 

While  God  is  marching  on. 

Chorus. 
Glory!  Glory!  Hallelujah! 
Glory!  Glory!  Hallelujah! 
Glory!  Glory!  Hallelujah! 
While  God  is  marching  on. 

THE  VACANT  CHAIR. 

We  shall  meet,  but  we  shall  miss  him, 

There  will  be  one  vacant  chair; 
We  shall  linger  to  caress  him 

While  we  breathe  our  evening  prayer. 
When  a  year  ago  we  gathered, 

Joy  was  in  his  mild  blue  eye, 
But  a  golden  cord  is  severed. 

And  our  hopes  in  ruin  lie. 


206       THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Chorus. 
We  shall  meet,  but  we  shall  miss  him, 

There  will  be  one  vacant  chair; 
We  shall  linger  to  caress  him 

While  we  breathe  our  evening  prayer. 

At  our  fireside,  sad  and  lonely. 

Often  will  the  bosom  swell. 
At  remembrance  of  the  story. 

How  our  noble  Willie  fell; 
How  he  strove  to  bear  our  banner 

Thro'  the  thickest  of  the  fight. 
And  uphold  our  country's  honor 

In  the  strength  of  Manhood's  might. 

Chorus. 
We  shall  meet,  but  we  shall  miss  him. 

There  will  be  one  vacant  chair; 
We  shall  linger  to  caress  him 

While  we  breathe  our  evening  prayer. 

True,  they  tell  us,  wreaths  of  glory 

Ever  more  will  deck  his  brow. 
But  this  soothes  the  anguish  only, 

Sweeping  o'er  our  heart-strings  now. 
Sleep  to-day,  O  early  fallen. 

In  thy  green  and  narrow  bed; 
Dirges  from  the  pine  and  cypress 

Mingle  with  the  tears  we  shed. 

Chorus. 
We  shall  meet,  but  we  shall  miss  him, 

There  will  be  one  vacant  chair; 
We  shall  linger  to  caress  him 

While  we  breathe  our  evening  prayer. 


THE  SONGS  WE  USED  TO  SING.  207 

TENTING  ON  THE  OLD  CAMP  GROUND. 

We're  tenting  to-night  on  the  old  camp  ground, 

Give  us  a  song  to  cheer 
Our  weary  hearts,  a  song  of  home, 

And  friends  we  love  so  dear. 

Choj'us. 
Many  are  the  hearts  that  are  weary  to-night. 

Wishing  for  the  war  to  cease; 
Many  are  the  hearts  that  are  looking  for  the  right. 

To  see  the  dawn  of  peace. 
Tenting  to-night!    Tenting  to-night! 
Tenting  on  the  old  camp  ground ! 

We're  tenting  to-night  on  the  old  camp  ground. 

Thinking  of  days  gone  by; 
Of  the  loved  ones  at  home,  that  gave  us  the  hand, 

And  the  tear  that  said  "  Good-bye." 

Chorus. 
Many  are  the  hearts  that  are  weary  to-night. 

Wishing  for  the  war  to  cease; 
Many  are  the  hearts  that  are  looking  for  the  right. 

To  see  the  dawn  of  peace. 
Tenting  to-night !    Tenting  to-night ! 
-  Tenting  on  the  old  camp  ground ! 

We're  tired  of  war,  on  the  old  camp  ground. 

Many  are  dead  and  gone. 
Of  the  brave  and  true  who've  left  their  homes. 

And  others  been  wounded  long. 


208  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Chorus. 
Many  are  the  hearts  that  are  weary  to-night, 

Wishing  for  the  war  to  cease; 
Many  are  the  hearts  that  are  looking  for  the  right, 

To  see  the  dawn  of  peace. 
Tenting  to-night !    Tenting  to-night ! 
Tenting  on  the  old  camp  ground! 

We've  been  fighting  to-day  on  the  old  camp  ground. 

Many  are  lying  near; 
Some  are  dead  and  some  are  dying, 

While  many  are  in  tears. 

Chorus. 
Many  are  the  hearts  that  are  weary  to-night, 

Wishing  for  the  war  to  cease; 
Many  are  the  hearts  that  are  looking  for  the  right. 

To  see  the  dawn  of  peace. 
Dying  to-night !     Dying  to-night ! 
Dying  on  the  old  camp  ground ! 

WHEN  JOHNNY  COMES  MARCHING  HOME. 

When  Johnny  comes  marching  home  again. 

Hurrah !  Hurrah ! 
We'll  give  him  a  hearty  welcome  then, 

Hurrah !  Hurrah ! 
The  men  will  cheer,  the  boys  will  shout. 
The  ladies,  they  will  all  turn  out, 

And  we'll  all  feel  gay 

When  Johnny  comes  marching  home. 


THE  SONGS  WE  USED  TO  SING.  209 

The  old  church  bell  will  peal  with  joy. 

Hurrah !  Hurrah ! 
To  welcome  home  our  darling  boy, 

Hurrah !  Hurrah ! 
The  village  lads  and  lassies  say, 
With  roses  they  will  strew  the  way. 

And  we'll  all  feel  gay 

When  Johnny  comes  marching  home. 

Get  ready  for  the  Jubilee, 

Hurrah  1  Hurrah! 
We'll  give  the  hero  "  Three  times  three," 

Hurrah !  Hurrah ! 
The  laurel  wreath  is  ready  now. 
To  place  upon  his  loyal  brow. 

And  we'll  all  feel  gay 

When  Johnny  comes  marching  home. 

Let  love  and  friendship,  on  that  day, 

Hurrah !  Hurrah ! 
Their  choicest  treasures  then  display, 

Hurrah !  Hurrah ! 
And  let  each  one  perform  some  part. 
To  fill  with  joy  the  warrior's  heart, 

And  we'll  all  drink  stone  blind 

When  Johnny  comes  marching  home. 

SONG  OF  THE  CAMP. 

"  Give  us  a  song,"  the  soldiers  cried. 

The  outer  trenches  guarding, 
When  heated  guns  of  the  camps  allied 

Grew  weary  of  bombarding: 


210  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

The  dark  Redan,  in  silent  scoff, 
Lay  grim  and  threatening  under, 

And  the  tawny  mound  of  the  Malakoff, 
No  longer  belch'd  its  thunder. 

There  was  a  pause.     A  guardsman  said: 

"  We  storm  the  forts  to-morrow : 
Sing  while  we  may,  another  day 

Will  bring  enough  of  sorrow." 
They  lay  along  the  battery's  side. 

Below  the  smoking  cannon : 
Brave   hearts    from    Severn   and    from    Clyde, 

And  from  the  banks  of  Shannon. 

They  sang  of  love,  and  not  of  fame ; 

Forgot  was  Britain's  glory; 
Each  heart  recalled  a  different  name, 

But  all  sang  "Annie  Laurie," 
Voice  after  voice  caught  up  the  song, 

Until  its  tender  passion 
Rose  like  an  anthem,  rich  and  strong. 

Their  battle-eve  confession. 

Dear    girl,    her    name    he    dared    not    speak, 

But  as  the  song  grew  louder, 
Something  upon  the  soldier's  cheek 

Washed  off  the  stains  of  powder. 
Beyond  the  darkening  ocean  burned 

The  bloody  sunset's  embers. 
While  the  Crimean  valleys  learned 

How  English  love  remembers. 


THE  SONGS  WE  USED  TO  SING.  211 

And  once  again  a  fire  like  hell 

Rained  on  the  Russian  quarters, 
With  scream  of  shot  and  burst  of  shell, 

And  bellowing  of  the  mortars ! 
And  Irish  Nora's  eyes  are  dim. 

For  a  singer  dumb  and  gory : 
And  English  Mary  mourns  for  him 

Who  sang  of  "Annie  Laurie." 

Sleep,  soldiers,  sleep !  in  honored  rest, 

Your  truth  and  valor  wearing: 
The  bravest  are  the  tenderest, 

The  loving  are  the  daring. 


KINGDOM  COMING. 

Say,  darkies,  hab  you  seen  old  massa, 

Wid  de  muffstash  on  his  face, 
Go  long  de  road  some  time  dis  mornin'. 

Like  he  gwine  to  leab  de  place  ? 
He  seen  a  smoke,  way  up  de  ribber, 

Whar  de  Linkum  gumboats  lay; 
He  took  his  hat,  an'  lef  berry  sudden. 

An'  I  spec  he's  run  away ! 

Chorus. 
De  massa  run?  ha,  ha! 

De  darkey  stay  ?  ho,  ho ! 
It  mus'  be  now  de  kingdom  comin', 

An'  de  year  ob  Jubilo ! 


2l2  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

He  six  foot  one  way,  four  foot  tudder, 

An'  he  weigh  tree  hundred  pound, 
His  coat  so  big,  he  couldn't  pay  de  tailor. 

An'  it  won't  go  half  way  round. 
He  drill  so  much  dey  call  him  Cap'n, 

An'  he  get  so  drefful  tann'd, 
I  spec  he  try  an'  fool  dem  Yankees 

For  to  tink  he's  contraband. 

Chorus.     De  massa  run,  etc. 


De  darkies  feel  so  lonesome  libbing 

In  de  log  house  on  de  lawn, 
Dey  move  dar  tings  to  massa's  parlor 

For  to  keep  it  while  he's  gone; 
Dar's  wine  an'  cider  in  de  kitchen, 

An'  de  darkies  dey'll  hab  some ; 
I  spose  dey'll  all  be  cornfiscated, 

When  de  Linkum  sojers  come. 

Chorus.     De  massa  run,  etc. 

De  oberseer  he  makes  us  trouble. 

An'  he  dribe  us  round  a  spell; 
We  lock  him  up  in  de  smoke-house  cellar, 

Wid  de  key  trown  down  de  well. 
De  whip  is  lost,  de  han'cuff  broken. 

But  de  massa  '11  hab  his  pay; 
He's  old  enough,  big  enough,  ought  to  know  better, 

Dan  to  went  an'  run  away. 

Chorus.     De  massa  run,  etc. 


THE  SONGS  WE  USED  TO  SING.  213 

ANNIE  LAURIE. 

Maxwelton's  banks  are  bonny,  where  early  falls  the  dew ; 
And  'twas  there  that  Annie  Laurie  gave  me  her  promise 

true, 
Gave  me  her  promise  true,  and  ne'er  forget  will  I, 
But  for  bonnie  Annie  Laurie,  I'd  lay  me  down  and  die. 

Her  brow  is  like  the  snow-drift,  her  throat  is  like  the 

swan; 
Her  face  is  as  the  fairest  that  e'er  the  sun  shone  on, 
That  e'er  the  sun  shone  on;  and  dark  blue  is  her  e'e; 
And  for  bonnie  Annie  Laurie,  I'd  lay  me  down  and  die. 

Like  dew  on  the  gowan  lying  is  the  fa'  o'  her  fairy  feet. 
And  like  winds  in  summer  sighing,  her  voice  is  low  and 

sweet; 
Her  voice  is  low  and  sweet,  and  she's  a'  the  world  to  me. 
And  for  bonnieAnnie  Laurie,  I'd  lay  me  down  and  die. 

THE  STAR-SPANGLED  BANNER. 

O !  Say  can  you  see  by  the  dawn's  early  light 

What  so  proudly  we  hailed  at  the  twilight's  last  gleam- 
ing? 
Whose  broad  stripes  and  bright  stars  through  the  peril- 
ous fight. 
O'er  the  ramparts  we  watch'd  were  so  gallantly  stream- 
ing; 
And  the  rocket's  red  glare,  the  bomxb's  bursting  in  air, 
Gave  proof  through  the  night  that  our  flag  was  still  there. 
O,  say,  does  the  star-spangled  banner  yet  wave 
O'er  the  land  of  the  free  and  the  home  of  the  brave  ? 


214  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

On  the  shore  dimly  seen  through  the  mist  of  the  deep, 
Where's  the  foe's  haughty  host  in  dread  silence  reposes, 

What  is  that  which  the  breeze  o'er  the  towering  steep, 
As  it  fitfully  blows,  half  conceals,  half  discloses? 

Now  it  catches  the  gleam  of  the  morning's  first  beam. 

In  full  glory  reflected,  now  shines  on  the  stream. 

'Tis  the  star-spangled  banner!     O,  long  may  it  wave 
O'er  the  land  of  the  free  and  the  home  of  the  brave. 

And  where  is  that  band  who  so  vauntingly  swore 
That  the  havoc  of  war  and  the  battle's  confusion, 

A  home  and  a  country  should  leave  us  no  more? 

Their  Blood  has  washed  out  their  foul  footstep's  pol- 
lution. 

No  refuge  could  save  the  hireling  and  slave 

From  the  terror  of  flight,  or  the  gloom  of  the  grave. 
And  the  star-spangled  banner  in  triumph  doth  wave 
O'er  the  land  of  the  free  and  the  home  of  the  brave. 

O,  thus  be  it  ever,  when  freemen  shall  stand 

Between  their  loved  homes  and  the  war's  desolation; 

Blessed  with  vict'ry  and  peace,  may  the  heaven-rescued 
land 
Praise  the  Power  that  hath  made  and  preserved  us  a 
nation. 

Then  conquer  we  must,  when  our  cause  it  is  just. 

And  this  be  our  motto, — "  In  God  is  our  trust!  " 
And  the  star-spangled  banner  in  triumph  shall  wave 
O'er  the  land  of  the  free  and  the  home  of  the  brave. 


THE  SONGS  WE  USED  TO  SING.  215 

WHEN  THIS  CRUEL  WAR  IS  OVER. 

Dearest  love,  do  you  remember, 

When  we  last  did  meet. 
How  you  told  me  that  you  loved  me, 

Kneeling  at  my  feet? 
Oh !  how  proud  you  stood  before  me 

In  your  suit  of  blue. 
When  you  vowed  to  me  and  country 

Ever  to  be  true ! 

Chorus. 
Weeping  sad  and  lonely, 

Hopes  and  fears,  how  vain ! 
Yet  praying. 
When   this   cruel   war   is   over. 

Praying  that  we  meet  again ! 

When  the  summer  breeze  is  sighing 

Mournfully  along; 
Or  when  autumn  leaves  are  falling, 

Sadly  breathes  the  song. 
Oft  in  dreams  I  see  thee  lying 

On  the  battle  plain, 
Lonely,  wounded,  even  dying. 

Calling  but  In  vain. 

Chorus.     Weeping,  etc. 

If  amid  the  din  of  battle 

Nobly  you  should  fall. 
Far  away  from  those  who  love  you, 

None  to  hear  you  call, — 


216  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Who  would  whisper  words  of  comfort? 

Who  would  soothe  your  pain? 
Ah!  the  many  cruel  fancies 

Ever  in  my  brain. 

Chorus.     Weeping,  etc. 

But  our  country  called  you,  darling — 

Angels  cheer  your  way ; 
While  our  nation's  sons  are  fighting, 

We  can  only  pray. 
Nobly  strike  for  God  and  liberty, 

Let  all  nations  see 
How  we  love  the  starry  banner. 

Emblem  of  the  free. 

Chorus.     Weeping,  etc. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

PERSONAL  SKETCHES. 

JOHN  HENRY  KETCH  AM. 

1832-1906. 
By  Henry  B.  Ketcham. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  at  Dover  Plains, 
New  York,  on  December  21,  1832,  the  second  son  of 
John  M.  and  Eliza  A.   (Stevens)  Ketcham. 

The  family  is  descended  from  old  English  stock,  and 
the  first  authentic  record  of  it  in  the  colonies  is  of  the 
John  Ketcham  who  emigrated  to  this  country  with  the 
Pilgrim  Fathers,  and  whose  descendants  subsequently 
settled  in  Connecticut.  From  there  John  Ketcham's 
descendants  migrated  to  the  south  shore  of  Long  Island, 
and  there  is  an  authentic  record  that  the  grandfather  of 
John  H.  Ketcham  lived,  at  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary 
War,  at  or  near  Babylon.  In  the  latter  part  of  that 
century  he  moved  to  the  Harlem  Valley  and  founded 
a  general  store,  which  was  continued  until  the  time  of 
his  death  in  1872. 

It  was  here  that  John  H.  Ketcham  was  born  and 
married,  and  in  this  little  community  he  reared  and  edu- 
cated his  children.  His  early  life  was  that  common  to 
the  country  boy  of  his  time.  He  attended  the  District 
School  and  did  chores  about  the  place,  the  hardships  en- 


218  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

countered  at  the  formative  period  of  his  hfe  being  never 
lost  upon  him.  They  showed  later  when  he  had  risen  to 
a  conspicuous  place  in  the  State  and  Nation,  and  his  un- 
failing courtesy  and  kindly  sympathy  for  others  who  came 
to  him  for  aid  won  him  many  friends. 

In  addition  to  the  meagre  advantages  of  the  District 
School  John  H.  Ketcham  attended  the  Amenia  Seminary, 
then  a  noted  academy  in  a  section  where  educational 
advantages  were  few,  and  subsequently  for  one  winter 
attended  the  Suffield  Academy  at  Suffield,  Conn.,  and  one 
year  at  Worcester  Seminary,  at  Worcester,  Mass.  These 
comparatively  meagre  advantages  were  supplemented  by 
reading  at  night  when  the  farm  work  was  over;  but  very 
largely  his  education  was  acquired  in  the  broad  school  of 
human  experience. 

Upon  leaving  Worcester  Seminary  he  formed  an  asso- 
ciation in  connection  with  his  older  brother,  William,  and 
acquired  a  farm  which  the  two  brothers  worked  together. 
Upon  this  farm  there  was  located  a  marble  quarry  which 
was  subsequently  developed  and  made  one  of  the  leading 
industries  of  the  neighborhood. 

His  townsfolk  early  recognized  in  John  H.  Ketcham 
qualities  of  industry  and  capacity  for  leadership,  and  in 
November,  1853,  before  he  had  attained  his  21st  birth- 
day, he  was  chosen  to  represent  the  Town  of  Dover  in 
the  Board  of  Supervisors  at  the  County  Seat.  So  well 
and  so  faithfully  was  this  work  done  that  in  the  fall  of 
1854  he  was  re-elected,  and  while  still  a  member  of  this 
Board  he  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  State  Legislature, 
being  re-elected  in  the  following  year. 

In  1857,  and  while  but  twenty-five  years  of  age,  he  was 
the  unanimous  choice  of  his  party  for  the  State  Senate, 


JOHN  HENRY  KETCHAM.  219 

and  was  chosen  by  a  substantial  plurality,  being  at  that 
time  one  of  the  youngest  men  who  had  ever  been  a  mem- 
ber of  that  body.  So  satisfactory  was  his  service  to  his 
constituency,  and  so  devoted  was  he  to  their  interests, 
that  he  was  unanimously  re-nominated  and  re-elected  in 

1859- 

During  his  service  in  the  State  Legislature  the  business 

of  the  marble  works  and  of  the  farm  was  continued  and 
It  prospered.  After  the  outbreak  of  the  War  of  the 
Rebellion,  and  upon  the  second  call  of  President  Lincoln 
for  volunteers,  John  H.  Ketcham  was  appointed  by  Edwin 
D.  Morgan,  the  War  Governor  of  New  York,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  War  Committee  for  Dutchess  and  Columbia 
Counties. 

Among  his  associates  on  this  Committee  were  Benson 
J.  Lossing,  noted  as  a  historian,  and  James  Emmott,  then 
a  Justice  of  the  New  York  Supreme  Court.  All  through 
the  summer  of  1862  John  H.  Ketcham  labored  incessantly 
with  the  work  entrusted  to  him,  and  In  the  fall  of  that 
year,  with  his  characteristic  zeal  and  energy,  he  had  com- 
pleted his  quota  with  picked  men,  representing  the  best 
and  most  Intelligent  citizenship  of  the  entire  County. 

Of  this  regiment,  which  was  designated  the  150th  New 
York  State  Volunteers,  John  H.  Ketcham  was  unani- 
mously chosen  Colonel.  It  may  truthfully  be  said  that  he 
was  utterly  without  military  experience  and  training,  but 
he  was  devoted  unceasingly  to  perfecting  himself  In 
military  tactics,  and  night  after  night  busied  himself  In 
study.  The  departure  of  the  regiment  from  Pough- 
keepsle  for  the  front  was  an  event  long  to  be  remembered, 
the  ladles  of  Dutchess  County  presenting  it  with  a  set  of 
colors. 


220  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

The  first  order  called  for  its  presence  in  Baltimore,  and 
here  in  the  winter  of  1862  and  '63  the  regiment  was  en- 
camped, and  during  that  entire  winter  Mrs.  Ketcham  was 
present  and  endured  the  privations  and  discomforts  of 
camp  life,  thus  giving  companionship  to  her  husband,  and 
comfort  and  encouragement  to  those  of  the  regiment  who 
were  privileged  to  meet  with  this  rare  and  gifted  woman. 
For  more  than  two  years  following  the  muster  of  the 
regiment  into  the  United  States  service  Colonel  Ketcham's 
life  was  merged  in  that  of  the  organization  which  he  so 
ably  commanded,  and  the  various  events  of  that  period 
are  recorded  in  other  chapters  of  this  book. 

It  was  on  Argyle  Island,  in  the  Savannah  River,  near 
Savannah,  that  General  Ketcham,  who  had  by  this  time 
been  promoted  for  conspicuous  gallantry,  received  a 
wound  which  threatened  his  life.  While  standing  upon 
earthworks  which  had  been  thrown  up  as  a  protection 
to  his  command  a  bullet  struck  him  in  the  right  thigh, 
within  six  inches  of  the  trunk,  and  it  was  the  opinion  of 
the  surgeon  that  amputation  was  the  only  means  of  saving 
his  life.  But  with  pluck  and  bravery  General  Ketcham 
declined  to  permit  the  amputation,  and  it  is  said  of  him 
he  remarked  that  if  necessary  he  would  rather  die  than 
have  his  leg  removed.  After  six  weeks  in  the  hospital 
he  was  able  to  be  moved  to  New  York,  but  from  the 
effects  of  this  wound  he  never  entirely  recovered,  and  he 
did  not  join  his  command  again  in  active  campaign 
service. 

While  at  Atlanta,  Ga.,  he  had  been  promoted  to  be 
Brigadier-General  by  Brevet,  and  subsequently,  for  con- 
spicuous bravery,  to  the  rank  of  Brevet  Major-General. 
When  he  was  finally  mustered  out  of  the  service  it  was 


JOHN  HENRY  KETCHAM.  221 

with  full  rank  of  Brigadier-General  in  the  volunteer 
service. 

While  still  at  the  front  with  his  Corps  in  Georgia,  he 
was  nominated  for  the  38th  Congress,  and  was  elected 
by  a  large  majority.  He  was  subsequently  re-nominated 
and  elected  consecutively  to  the  39th,  40th,  41st,  and 
42nd  Congresses,  and  was  unanimously  re-nominated  for 
membership  in  the  43rd.  This  was  in  1872,  the  year  of 
the  memorable  Greeley  campaign,  and  the  Democrats 
had  placed  in  opposition  to  him  at  this  election  Hon. 
John  O.  Whitehouse,  of  Poughkeepsie.  The  struggle 
throughout  the  then  13th  Congressional  District  of  New 
York  was  one  famous  in  the  annals  of  State  politics,  and 
General  Ketcham  suffered  his  first  and  only  defeat;  being 
beaten  in  the  District  by  a  plurality  of  something  like 
eight  hundred  votes. 

General  Grant,  who  was  at  that  time  President,  ap- 
pointed him  a  Commissioner  of  the  District  of  Columbia. 
His  colleagues  were  ex-Governor  William  Dennison  of 
Ohio,  and  the  Hon.  Henry  T.  Blow  of  Missouri.  Gen- 
eral Ketcham  was  quick  to  see  the  possibilities  of  material 
development  of  the  Nation's  capital,  and  to  the  task  of 
beautifying  and  remodeling  the  city  he  gave  his  best 
energy  and  unremitting  labor. 

At  the  conclusion  of  his  four  years'  term  Washington 
streets  had  been  largely  repaved  with  asphalt,  dozens  of 
small  parks  had  been  created,  and  the  local  government 
had  been  placed  on  a  sure  and  firm  foundation.  Upon  Gen- 
eral Ketcham's  retirement  from  this  post  he  received 
many  letters  of  commendation  from  the  leading  citizens 
of  the  District,  expressing  regret  at  his  resignation,  and 
testifying  to  the   ability,   industry,   and  thoughtful   con- 


222  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

sideration  manifested  by  him  in  the  faithful  discharge  of 
his  duties,  and  he  was  the  guest  of  honor  at  a  banquet 
given  him  in  commemoration  of  these  services. 

General  Ketcham  was  recalled  to  serve  his  District  in 
the  45th  Congress,  and  was  subsequently  re-elected  to  the 
46th,  47th,  48th,  49th,  50th,  51st,  and  52nd  Congresses, 
when,  owing  to  impaired  health,  he  declined  a  unani- 
mous nomination  which  had  been  tendered  him  by  the 
people  of  the  District. 

In  1894  he  again  entered  Congress,  and  was  subse- 
quently re-elected  to  the  56th,  57th,  58th,  and  59th  Con- 
gresses, and  was  the  unanimous  choice  of  his  party  for  re- 
election to  the  60th  Congress  when  death  came  on 
November  4,  1906.  In  point  of  the  length  of  service 
he  was  the  dean  of  both  branches  of  the  National  Legis- 
lature, having  broken  the  record  for  long  service. 

Perhaps  no  other  man  in  the  public  life  of  his  time  had 
so  strong  and  warm  a  hold  upon  his  constituents  as  did  the 
subject  of  this  sketch.  For  nearly  fifty  years  he  had  been  in 
their  service  and  they  had  honored  him  as  no  other  man 
had  ever  been  honored  in  the  National  Legislature. 
Nineteen  times  they  had  nominated  him  as  their  repre- 
sentative in  Congress,  and  no  vote  had  ever  been  cast 
against  him  in  any  convention. 

It  was  his  highest  ambititon  to  serve  his  District  faith- 
fully and  well,  irrespective  of  party  affiliations,  and  many 
are  the  incidents  now  told  of  his  generosity  and  of  the 
sacrifices  that  he  made  in  the  interests  of  his  constituents. 
He  was  a  man  of  warm  impulses  and  of  a  tender  and 
generous  nature,  always  ready  to  help  a  friend  or  do  a 
kind  act  for  a  neighbor,  and  he  was  known  far  and  beyond 
the  confines  of  his  native  State. 


JOHN  HENRY  KETCH  AM.  223 

Early  in  his  Congressional  life  he  became  deeply  in- 
terested in  the  postal  service,  and  for  many  years  was  a 
member  of  the  committee  of  postal  officers  and  post 
routes  in  the  National  House.  It  was  he  who  secured 
for  the  employees  in  the  postal  service  fifteen  days'  vaca- 
tion each  year,  with  pay,  and  he  was  largely  instrumental 
in  the  legislation  which  has  resulted  in  the  free  rural  de- 
livery service  throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  this 
land. 

His  native  State  honors  him,  and  with  good  reason,  for 
he  was  one  of  her  best  products;  a  manly,  noble  man  in 
all  the  relations  of  life,  and  one  who  in  his  remarkable 
public  career  maintained  himself  throughout  with  dignity, 
propriety,  iind  honor.  The  people  of  the  21st  Congres- 
sional District,  to  a  man,  mourn  his  loss  and  realize  that 
the  void  created  by  his  death  is  one  which  it  is  impossible 
to  fill. 

In  his  domestic  relations  General  Ketcham  had  been 
most  fortunate  and  happy.  On  February  4,  1858,  he  was 
married  to  Augusta  A.  Belden,  daughter  of  William  H. 
and  Sarah  A.  Belden,  and  of  this  union  four  children 
were  born:  Augusta  A.,  Henry  B.,  Charles  B.,  and  Ethel 
B.;  the  latter  three  of  whom,  together  with  his  widow, 
survive  him. 

Of  these  his  son,  Henry  B.  Ketcham,  was  married 
September  12,  1889,  to  Sallie  Bray  Holman,  daughter  of 
Samuel  K.  Holman  of  Englewood,  N.  J.,  and  they  have 
three  children,  Henry  H.,  Katherine  H.,  and  John  B. 
Ketcham. 

His  other  son,  Charles  B.  Ketcham,  was  married  in 
1900   to    Suzanne    Brightson,    daughter    of    George    E. 


224  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Brightson  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  and  they  have  two  sons, 
Howard  and  Gordon. 

JOSEPH  HUBERT  COGSWELL. 

Personal  Narrative. 

"  He  was  born,  he  Hved,  he  served,  he  died."  That 
is  about  all  there  is  to  one's  history.  Fortunately  for  me, 
"  the  curtain  has  not  been  rung  down  "  on  the  last  act. 
I  would  fain  let  the  few  words  above  stand  for  my 
"  Personal  Narrative,"  but  in  an  evil  hour,  at  one  of  our 
reunions,  I  proposed  that  Dr.  Cook,  our  (never-more- 
than-now)  esteemed  comrade  and  former  assistant  sur- 
geon, take  charge  of  the  necessary  work  in  bringing  out 
our  regimental  history.  So  when  he  lays  down  the  law 
to  me  in  the  following  words,  which  I  quote  from  one  of 
his  recent  letters, — "  It  does  not  matter  why  I  want  your 
personal  sketch,  but  I  want  it  and  want  it  badly,  and  must 
have  itl"  what  can  I  do  but  comply? 

I  was  born  in  a  log  house  in  Brighton,  Monroe  County, 
N.  Y.,  September  2,  1828,  in  what  is  now  a  part  of 
the  city  of  Rochester,  but  I  do  not  remember  the  "  log 
house,"  as  it  soon  gave  place  to  a  frame  structure.  My 
father  was  Samuel  Olmstead  Cogswell,  of  Richmond, 
Berkshire  County,  Mass.,  from  which  place  he  emigrated 
per  Erie  Canal  in  1827,  carting  his  belongings  to  Albany. 
He  was  the  seventh  in  descent  from  John  Cogswell,  an 
English  emigrant  who  settled  near  Ipswich,  Mass.,  in 
1635.  A  part  of  the  one  thousand  acres  given  him  in  con- 
sideration of  his  establishing  a  woolen  mill,  was,  in  1892, 
held  by  one  of  his  descendants,  Edward  E.  Cogswell, 
and    quite    a    pretentious    mansion    was    then    existing. 


JOSEPH   HUBERT  COGSWELL.  225 

although  175  years  old,  of  which  I  have  a  good  picture. 

My  grandfather  Cogswell  and  three  of  his  brothers 
were  Revolutionary  soldiers,  one  of  whom  got  his  baptism 
of  blood  at  Bunker  Hill.  My  mother  was  Sarah  Eliza 
Bloss,  who  was  seventh  in  descent  from  the  emigrant 
Edmund  Bloss,  1634,  and  from  the  emigrant  John  Went- 
worth,  1639.  Her  father  entered  the  service  in  1776, 
while  in  his  17th  year,  serving  through  the  war.  He  was 
the  oldest  son  of  the  family.  His  father  died  of  camp 
fever  while  with  the  army  then  in  Westchester  County, 
New  York.  As  this  recruit  for  the  Revolutionary  Army 
marched  away  from  home,  carrying  his  Hintlock  musket, 
all  the  family  gathered  at  the  dooryard  gate  to  say 
"  Good-bye,"  and  his  mother's  parting  injunction  was, — 
"Joe,  don't  you  get  shot  in  the  back!" 

My  great-grandfather  Kennedy  and  four  of  his  sons 
were  of  the  Minute  Men  of  Milton,  Mass.,  and  "  got 
into  the  game  "  or  "  scrap  "  at  Concord  and  Lexington. 
To  give  an  insight  to  the  character  of  the  colonists  of  the 
Revolutionary  period,  and  to  show  not  only  how  patriotic 
but  how  religious  their  women  were,  when  the  Minute 
Men  of  Milton  got  their  marching  orders  at  this  time 
they  rallied  at  the  public  house  kept  by  my  great-grand- 
father, Andrew  Kennedy.  As  they  gathered,  their 
mothers  and  sisters  came  to  see  them  off.  When  about 
to  start  the  absence  of  Mrs.  Kennedy  was  commented  on, 
but  she  soon  appeared,  calm  and  self-possessed.  At  once 
some  anxious  wife  and  mother  said  to  her,  "  How  can 
you  compose  yourself  when  we  are  all  so  anxious?  Don't 
you  know  you  may  never  see  your  husband  and  sons 
again?"  Instantly  she  replied,  "It  is  all  right!  I  have 
been   in  the  saddle  room  praying.      They  will   all  come 


226  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

back  in  safety."  And  they  did.  Possibly  heredity  had 
something  to  do  with  my  entering  the  service,  obeying, 
not  the  "  Call  of  the  Wild,"  but  the  "  Call  of  the  War." 

I  attended  a  district  school  and  the  Clover  Street 
Seminary  in  my  native  town  till  1847,  when  I  went  to 
learn  the  printing  trade  in  Rochester,  and  "  stuck  type  " 
for  nearly  two  years,  then  taught  school  a  while,  read 
law  a  while  (not  enough  to  hurt  me  I  hope!)  and  ex- 
ploited a  store  and  saw-mill  for  a  year  and  a  half  in 
Oswego  County,  New  York.  I  spent  a  few  months  m 
Wisconsin  early  in  1853,  looking  after  the  interests  of  a 
Rochester  nursery  firm.  The  next  three  years  I  taught 
school  in  Clover  Street  Seminary,  and  carried  on  farming 
as  a  "  side  line."  In  June,  1858,  I  went  to  Poughkeepsie 
to  represent  the  nursery  of  H.  E.  Hooker  &  Co.,  of 
Rochester,  N.  Y.,  and  followed  this  business  until  the 
summer  of  1862,  when,  on  August  15th,  I  was  author- 
ized by  the  Adjutant-General  of  the  State  to  "  Enroll 
Volunteers."  This  was  the  first  direct  "authorization" 
to  enlist  men  for  the  regiment.  Joining  with  Henry 
Gridley  of  Amenia,  who  had  just  graduated  from  Am- 
herst College,  and  James  P.  Mabbett  of  the  Town  of 
Washington,  our  efforts  culminated  in  the  muster  of  Com- 
pany A,  Monday,  September  8,  1862,  at  Albany,  N.  Y., 
with  eighty-three  men  and  three  officers,  as  may  be  seen 
by  the  roll.  My  muster  into  the  United  States  service 
as  Captain  of  Company  A,  was  on  October  10,  1862. 
For  subsequent  promotions  see  the  roll  of  Company  A. 
From  the  same  source  time  and  place  of  muster-out  can 
be  found. 

From  September  14,  1865,  to  July  i,  1883,  I  was  one 


JOSEPH   HUBERT  COGSWELL.  227 

of  a  firm  which  published  the  Titusville  (Pa.)  Morning 
Herald.  May  8,  1869,  I  was  appointed  postmaster  of 
Titusville  by  President  Grant,  and  by  successive  re- 
appointments served  till  March  31,  1886,  when  President 
Cleveland,  probably  thinking  seventeen  years  was  long 
enough  for  a  Republican  to  sell  postage  stamps  and  issue 
money  orders,  appointed  a  staunch  Democrat  in  my  place. 
For  the  next  six  years  I  was  employed  by  the  Standard  Oil 
Co.,  and  the  Tidewater  Oil  Co.,  being  located  during  the 
last  half  of  the  time  in  Boston.  Since  January  i,  1894, 
I  have  carried  on  an  insurance  and  real  estate  agency  in 
Titusville. 

On  August  16,  1853,  I  was  married  to  Julia  E. 
Brewster,  at  Clover  Street  Seminary,  before  mentioned. 
Our  three  children  are  all  living.  My  wife  died  May 
II,  1903.  Had  she  lived  three  months  and  five  days 
longer  we  should  have  rounded  out  fifty  years  of  married 
life.  Many  of  the  regiment  will  recall  her  devotion  to 
the  sick  in  our  hospital  at  Belger  Barracks  in  the  winter 
of  1862-63.  "A  prudent  wife  is  from  the  Lord."  The 
wife  who  stayed  at  home  and  cared  for  the  children 
during  the  war  period,  torn  with  suspense,  wracked  with 
anxiety,  fearing  dire  tidings  with  every  issue  of  the  morn- 
ing paper,  pursuing  the  humdrum  affairs  of  every-day  life, 
was  the  cross-bearer,  burden-bearer,  the  ever-watchful, 
always-suffering,  heroine  of  the  war. 

I  have  not  been  able  to  attend  many  of  our  annual  re- 
unions, as  the  distance  of  a  round  trip  was  a  thousand 
miles,  aggregating  sometimes,  w^hen  I  did  attend,  more 
miles  than  was  covered  by  all  the  other  officers  present. 
As  our  numbers  decrease  those  remaining  should  draw 
closer  together,  greetings  should  be  heartier,   the  hand- 


228  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

grip  of  friendship  firmer,  and  the  farewells  deeper  and 
more  tender.  May  we  all  hear  at  life's  close  the  plaudit, 
"  Well  done,  good  and  faithful  servant." 

ALFRED  BAKER  SMITH. 

By  Stephen  G.  Cook. 

Alfred  B.  Smith  was  born  at  Massena,  St.  Lawrence 
County,  N.  Y.,  November  17,  1825.  His  grandfather 
served  as  a  soldier  in  the  French,  Indian  and  Revolution- 
ary Wars,  and  his  father  also  served  his  country  as  a 
private  in  the  War  of  18 12-14.  The  boy  was  born 
and  passed  his  early  days  on  a  farm,  from  which  the 
native  timber  was  yet  to  be  cleared.  He  was  the  eldest 
of  twelve  children,  and  much  of  his  youth  was  spent  in 
aiding  his  father  to  cultivate  the  farm.  In  winter  he 
attended  the  district  school,  and  later  managed  to  enter 
Union  College,  from  which  he  was  graduated  at  the  age 
of  twenty-six,  expecting  to  adopt  teaching  as  his  profes- 
sion. In  1852  he  became  Instructor  of  Mathematics  at 
College  Hill,  the  famous  Poughkeepsie  school  of  which 
Charles  Bartlett  was  the  head.  While  thus  employed, 
he  studied  law  in  the  office  of  James  Emott,  and  when  the 
latter  became  a  judge,  he  resigned  his  position  at  College 
Hill  to  enter  into  a  law  partnership  with  Matthew  Hall, 
now  practising  in  Albany.  Later,  he  was  associated  with 
Leonard  B.  Sackett,  which  partnership  continued  for  a 
quarter  of  a  century,  and  was  only  terminated  by  death. 

In  1862  our  late  companion  was  largely  instrumental 
in  raising  a  Dutchess  County  Regiment,  known  as  the 
150th  New  York  Volunteers,  of  which  Governor  Morgan 
commissioned  him  major.     In  October  the  command  took 


ALFRED  BAKER  SMITH.  229 

the  field,  and  from  that  time  until  June,  1865,  he  was 
constantly  with  his  regiment.  From  Gettysburg,  where 
the  150th  received  its  first  baptism  of  fire,  to  Bentonville, 
fought  nearly  two  years  later,  he  was  ever  the  same  brave 
and  faithful  soldier,  performing  his  duty  in  the  many 
intervening  engagements  of  the  Tennessee  and  Atlanta 
campaigns,  also  participating  with  his  regiment  as  a  por- 
tion of  the  20th  Corps,  in  the  famous  march  of  Shemian 
from  Atlanta  to  the  Sea :  through  South  and  North  Caro- 
lina and  in  the  memorable  grand  review  of  the  Union 
Armies  in  Washington  at  the  close  of  the  war.  During 
this  period  of  military  service  he  was  successively  pro- 
moted to  the  rank  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  and  Colonel  of 
the  regiment,  and,  later,  Brigadier-General  by  Brevet. 

General  Smith  filled  many  public  positions  in  Pough- 
keepsie.  He  w^as  appointed  postmaster  by  President 
Johnson,  and  for  thirty  years  was  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  Education,  in  which  he  always  displayed  a  deep  in- 
terest, being  particularly  proud  of  his  work  as  a  Commis- 
sioner of  Education.  He  also  served  for  several  years 
as  a  director  of  the  Poughkeepsie  Lyceum,  and  for  a 
single  year  as  a  recorder  of  the  city.  General  Smith  was 
originally  a  Democrat  in  politics,  but  in  1854,  with  eleven 
other  men,  he  withdrew  from  that  party,  organizing  the 
Republican  party  of  Dutchess  County.  The  little  com- 
pany were  called  "  The  Twelve  Apostles."  While 
cherishing  pride  in  his  army  career,  and  greatly  enjoying 
his  nine  years'  membership  in  the  Loyal  Legion,  he  at 
once  entered  upon  the  duties  of  citizenship,  pursuing  its 
peaceful  ways  for  three  decades  with  dignity,  and  winning 
the  respect  of  his  fellow  citizens.  He  was  an  enthusias- 
tic  Republican   and  a   conspicuous   figure   at   conventions 


230       THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

and  other  meetings  of  the  party.  One  of  the  latest  ap- 
pearances in  public — perhaps  the  very  last — was  to  intro- 
duce in  the  Opera  House,  at  the  recent  anniversary  of 
Eastman  College,  General  John  B.  Gordon,  of  Georgia, 
on  which  occasion  he  spoke  eloquently  of  the  gallant 
soldier  of  the  South,  who  was  his  opponent  in  the  Civil 
War. 

When  General  Smith  settled  in  Poughkeepsie,  he  soon 
became  an  active  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and 
it  was  while  giving  out  a  hymn  at  an  evening  prayer  meet- 
ing that  the  sudden  summons  came,  and  in  a  moment  his 
gentle  spirit  passed  away.  He  was  buried  from  the 
church,  of  which  he  was  the  senior  elder,  and  his  funeral 
was  probably  the  largest  that  ever  took  place  in  Pough- 
keepsie, The  remains  were  viewed  during  two  hours  by 
thousands  of  people,  and  were  escorted  to  the  cemetery 
by  the  19th  Separate  Company.  Three  volleys  were  fired 
over  the  grave,  and  taps  were  sounded  by  the  bugler  of 
Hamilton  Post.  One  son,  Matthew  J.  M.  Smith,  sur- 
vives him. 

HENRY  ALGER  GILDERSLEEFE. 

Henry  Alger  Gildersleeve,  son  of  Smith  J.  and  Rachel 
(Alger)  Gildersleaye,  was  born  on  his  father's  farm  in 
the  township  of  Clinton,  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y.,  August 
I,  1840.  He  was  educated  at  the  district  school  at 
Shultzville,  near  his  home,  the  Hudson  River  Institute, 
at  Claverack,  N.  Y.,  and  at  College  Hill,  Poughkeepsie, 
N.  Y.  In  1857  he  taught  district  school  in  Bull's  Head 
District,  Town  of  Clinton.  He  intended  to  enter  Union 
College,  but  before  he  could  carry  out  this  plan  the  Civil 
War  called  him  to  military  life. 


HENRY  ALGER  GILDERSLEEVE.  231 

When  the  Dutchess  County  Regiment  was  organized 
he  recruited  a  Company — 114  men  in  all — received  his 
commission  as  Captain  of  Company  C,  the  color  company, 
on  September  17,  1862,  and  was  mustered  in  with  the 
regiment  October  iith.  Captain  Gildersleeve  served 
with  the  regiment  in  Baltimore,  and  participateci  in  the 
battle  of  Gettysburg  and  the  subsequent  campaign  in 
Maryland  and  Virginia.  He  was  then  ordered  on  special 
duty  and  rendered  important  services  in  New  York  and 
Albany  in  organizing  recruits  and  drafted  men  and  for- 
warding them  to  the  several  departments  of  the  army. 

In  June,  1864,  he  applied  to  be  sent  back  to  his  regi- 
ment, then  with  Sherman  on  his  advance  towards  Atlanta. 
In  response  to  this  application  he  received  an  order  direct- 
ing him  to  conduct  a  train  load  of  soldiers  from  New 
York  to  Nashville,  Tenn.  On  arriving  in  Nashville  and 
turning  over  his  command,  he  received  a  special  order 
placing  him  in  charge  of  fifteen  hundred  beef  cattle,  with 
instructions  to  drive  them  to  Sherman's  army,  wherev-er 
It  could  be  found.  One  hundred  veteran  soldiers  and 
twenty  herdsmen  were  placed  under  his  command  for 
the  accomplishment  of  this  somewhat  hazardous  under- 
taking. Nothing  more  serious  occurred  than  several 
startling  alarms,  and  In  about  two  w^eeks'  time  the  herd 
was  turned  over  to  the  Chief  Commissary,  "  all  present 
or  accounted  for,"  and  In  good  condition,  near  Kenesaw 
Mountain,  Georgia.  From  this  time  until  the  close  of 
the  war  Captain  Gildersleeve  continued  to  serve  in 
Sherman's  army. 

He  was  made  Provost  Marshal  of  the  ist  Division 
of  the  20th  Army  Corps,  on  the  staff  of  General  Williams, 
where  the  duties  were  delicate,  responsible  and  arduous. 


232  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Later  on  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Major  of  his 
regiment,  the  i50th  New  York  State  Volunteers,  and  in 
March,  1865,  was  breveted  Lieutenant-Colonel  United 
States  Volunteers,  by  President  Lincoln,  "  for  gallant  and 
meritorious  services  in  the  campaigns  of  Georgia  and  the 
Carolinas."  In  forwarding  this  commission  to  Colonel 
Gildersleeve  Governor  Fenton,  of  New  York,  sent  with 
it  a  highly  complimentary  letter. 

At  the  age  of  25  he  now  began  his  civil  career  by 
choosing  the  profession  of  the  law.  In  the  fall  of  1865 
he  took  a  seat  in  the  office  of  Henry  W.  Johnson,  41 
Wall  Street,  then  a  prominent  lawyer  in  New  York  City, 
and  at  the  same  time  attended  the  Columbia  College  Law 
School.  Prof.  Theodore  W.  Dwight,  then  at  the  head 
of  this  institution,  took  a  special  interest  in  the  young 
soldier  student,  as  he  showed  in  a  letter  written  in  1875 
to  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  reunion  at  Utica,  N.  Y. 
In  May,  1866,  Colonel  Gildersleeve  passed  the  regular 
examination,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  of  the  Second 
Department,  at  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.  From  this  time 
until  his  election  to  the  Bench  in  1875,  he  was  a  hard- 
working and  successful  law^yer  in  New  York  City.  Always 
conspicuous  for  good  judgment  and  impartiality,  he  Avas 
frequently  named  as  referee  by  litigants,  and  in  that 
capacity  disposed  of  many  important  cases. 

While  devoting  his  attention  to  the  duties  of  his  pro- 
fession, Colonel  Gildersleeve  did  not  lose  his  interest 
in  military  matters.  In  1870  he  was  chosen  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  of  the  1 2th  Regiment  of  the  National  Guard  of 
the  State  of  New  York,  and  the  same  regiment  chose  as 
Major,  S.  V.  R.  Cruger,  formerly  his  brother  officer  in 
our    Dutchess    County    Regiment.     During   the    Orange 


HENRY  ALGER  GILDERSLEEVE.  233 

riots  in  New  York  City  in  1871,  Colonel  Gildersleeve 
had  command  of  the  12th  Regiment,  which  was  assigned 
to  the  defense  of  the  State  Arsenal  at  35th  Street  and 
7th  Avenue. 

Soon  after  entering  the  National  Guard,  Colonel 
Gildersleev'e  was  deeply  impressed  by  the  ignorance  of 
the  guardsmen  in  the  practical  use  of  their  rifles.  To 
remedy  this  state  of  affairs.  Colonel  Gildersleeve  helped 
to  organize  the  Na-tional  Rifle  Association  of  America, 
the  object  of  which  was  "  to  encourage  rifle  practice  and 
to  promote  a  system  of  aiming  drill  and  target  firing 
among  the  National  Guard."  Of  this  association  Colonel 
Gildersleeve  was  one  of  the  incorporators  and  directors, 
and  for  years  he  devoted  much  time  and  energy  to  its 
service  as  secretary,  and  later  as  president. 

It  was  on  the  range  of  this  association  at  Creedmoor, 
while  preparing  himself  to  instruct  his  regiment  in  rifle 
practice,  that  he  acquired  the  skill  in  marksmanship  which 
soon  made  him  famous.  Possessing  in  a  high  degree  the 
natural  qualifications  of  good  eyesight,  rare  nerve,  excel- 
lent judgment  and  application,  he  soon  succeeded  in  carry- 
ing off  many  prizes  in  various  competitions.  In  1S74  he 
first  came  into  national  prominence  as  a  rifleman  by  his 
work  as  a  member  of  the  American  Rifle  Team  in  its  first 
contest  with  the  Irish  team  at  Creedmoor.  This  exciting 
match  the  Americans  won  by  a  narrow  margin. 

Gildersleeve's  work  in  this  great  contest  had  shown 
that  he  was  in  the  foremost  rank  of  marksmen.  When, 
in  the  following  year,  it  was  decided  to  send  a  party  of 
riflemen  to  Great  Britain,  and  give  the  Irish  a  return 
match,  he  was  unanimously  chosen  captain  of  the  team. 
The  party  sailed  from  New  York  on  the  S.  S.  "  City  of 


234       THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Chester,"  of  the  Inman  Line,  June  5,  1875.  They  were 
received  in  Dubhn  with  genuine  Irish  enthusiasm,  and 
entertained  with  warm  and  generous  hospltahty.  The 
match  came  off  at  Dollymount  on  June  29th  in  the 
presence  of  twenty  thousand  spectators,  and  resulted  in 
a  pronounced  victory  for  the  Americans.  The  American 
riflemen  also  took  part  in  competitions  in  England  and 
Scotland,  and  won  many  individual  victories  in  brilliant 
style. 

Colonel  Gildersleeve's  management  of  the  expedition, 
his  public  speeches,  and  his  individual  skill  in  all  the  con- 
tests were  eminently  satisfactory  to  the  members  of  his 
party,  and  to  his  countrymen  at  home.  The  victory 
stirred  the  American  people  to  great  manifestations  of 
joy,  and  the  team  were  received,  on  their  arrival  in  New 
York,  with  demonstrations  befitting  the  return  of  heroes 
from  a  successful  war. 

Colonel  Gildersleeve  in  1876  embodied  the  lessons  of 
his  experience  in  a  book  entitled.  Rifles  and  Marksman- 
ship, which  obtained  wide  circulation.  Governor  Dix 
offered  him  the  position  of  General  Inspector  of  Rifle 
Practice  in  the  State  of  New  York,  but  he  declined  the 
proffered  honor. 

Meanwhile  he  continued  active  service  in  the  National 
Guard.  In  October,  1874,  he  had  been  chosen  Assistant 
Adjutant-General  and  Chief  of  Staff  in  the  ist  Division 
in  this  State,  with  the  rank  of  Colonel.  He  was  later 
elected  Colonel  of  the  9th  Regiment,  but  refused  the 
honor,  preferring  to  remain  Assistant  Adjutant-General. 
This  latter  position  he  held  for  more  than  twelve  years. 
When  the  National  Guard  organization  in  New  York 
City  was  reduced  to  a  brigade,  Colonel  Gildersleeve  was 


HENRY  ALGER  GILDERSLEEVE.  235 

placed  on  the  list  of  reserves,  and  thus  ended  his  active 
military  life. 

His  long  and  honorable  judicial  career  began  in  1875, 
when  he  was  elected  Judge  of  the  Court  of  General  Ses- 
sions in  the  city  of  New  York  by  a  large  majority,  running 
considerably  ahead  of  the  rest  of  his  ticket.  For  four- 
teen years  he  sat  on  the  Bench  of  that  Court,  disposing 
of  over  15,000  criminal  cases  of  every  kind  and  descrip- 
tion ;  in  that  immense  number  only  two  of  his  decisions 
were  reversed  by  a  higher  court.  In  1889  his  term  of 
office  expired,  and  he  was  renominated  for  the  same  posi- 
tion, but  owing  to  political  changes  he  was  defeated  by  a 
very  small  majority.  He  consequently  returned  to  the 
practice  of  law.  This  defeat,  however,  proved  very 
fortunate,  in  opening  for  him  the  way  to  a  higher  court. 

In  May,  1891,  Governor  Hill  appointed  him  to  fill  a 
vacancy  in  the  Superior  Court  of  the  city  of  New  York; 
and  in  the  following  November  he  was  elected  to  the 
same  position  for  a  full  term  of  fourteen  years  by  a  very 
substantial  majority.  In  January,  1896,  however,  upon 
the  abolition  of  the  Superior  Court,  he  was  transferred 
by  provisions  of  the  amended  Constitution  to  the  Supreme 
Court  of  the  State  of  New  York,  to  serve  the  remainder 
of  the  term  for  which  he  had  been  elected  to  the  former 
Superior  Court. 

Gifted  naturally  with  a  judicial  temperament,  and  aided 
by  his  long  experience  on  the  Bench,  he  has  performed 
the  work  of  this  position  with  such  efficiency,  fairness, 
dignity  anti  courtesy  that  he  has  won  the  sincere  respect 
and  confidence  of  the  entire  Bar.  Justice  Gildersleeve 
has  presided  over  every  variety  of  trial  known  to  our 
State  Courts,  and  the  law  books  contain  many  hundreds 


236  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

of  his  judicial  opinions.  In  1905,  when  his  term  in  the 
Supreme  Court  expired,  he  was  nominated  by  the  Demo- 
cratic party  and  endorsed  by  the  Citizens'  Union,  and 
also  by  the  Bar  Association  of  the  City  of  New  York. 

He  was  re-elected  by  a  very  large  majority,  and  con- 
tinues to  serve  as  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the 
State,  and  is  the  presiding  Justice  of  the  Appellate  Term 
in  the  First  Department. 

Justice  Gildersleeve  still  keeps  up  his  interest  in  out- 
door sports.  He  enjoys  fishing  and  hunting,  and  is  a 
well-known  golf  player.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Garden 
City  Golf  Club,  the  Oakland  Golf  Club,  the  Country 
Club  of  Westchester,  the  Robbins  Island  Hunting  Club, 
the  New  York  Athletic,  the  Manhattan  and  the  National 
Democratic  Clubs.  He  is  an  agreeable  public  speaker, 
and  his  services  in  this  capacity  are  in  much  demand. 

April  14,  1868,  he  was  married  to  Virginia  Crocheron, 
of  New  York  City.  They  have  two  children,  Alger 
Crocheron  and  Virginia  Crocheron. 

CORNELIUS  N.  CAMPBELL. 

By  Stephen  G.  Cook. 

Cornelius  N.  Campbell  was  born  in  the  town  of  Ame- 
nia,  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y.,  just  north  of  the  line  of 
the  town  of  Dover,  on  July  7,   1825. 

Although  he  has  frequently  referred  to  incidents  in  his 
early  life,  when  in  conversation  with  me,  they  are  not 
clearly  enough  recalled  to  be  incorporated  in  a  work  of  this 
kind.  It  will  suffice  to  say  that  his  was  like  the  ordinary 
story  of  most  country-born  boys,  excepting  that  a  lady 
of  means  very  early  in  his  life  took  great  interest  in  his 


CORNELIUS   N.   CAMPBELL,  237 

welfare,  because  of  which  he  escapeci  the  early  privations 
of  those  similarly  situated.  His  education  was  received 
from  the  district  school  in  the  vicinity  of  his  residence 
and  rounded  out  at  the  Amenia  Seminary. 

He  graduated  from  the  Medical  Department  of  the 
New  York  University  A.  D.  1850  when  he  was  25  years 
old.  For  several  years  he  practiced  his  profession  In  the 
towns  of  Dover  and  Pawling  (Dutchess  County),  and 
then  moved  to  the  town  of  Stanford,  where  he  soon 
gained  an  immense  practice,  and  here  he  was  when 
selected  for  Surgeon  of  the  150th  Volunteer  Infantry. 

In  i860  he  and  "Pat"  Mclntyre  engaged  In  the 
freighting  business  at  Rhinebeck.  This  lasted  a  year  or 
two,  but  was  not  a  financial  success.  Neither  of  them 
could  be  considered  good  business  men.  As  a  conse- 
quence, the  inevitable  soon  happened  and  the  doctor  re- 
turned to  the  town  of  Stanford  to  practice  his  profession. 

For  thirty-five  years  the  life  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  and  that  of  the  writer,  ran  along  In  parallel  lines 
in  professional  and  military  friendships,  without  a  single 
discord, — without  one  unpleasant  word  or  deed  to  mar  its 
perfect  harmony. 

In  these  remarks  it  seems  proper  that  I  should  speak  of 
him  first  (briefly),  as  a  practicing  physician,  second,  as 
a  military  surgeon,  and  third  as  a  man, — as  a  comrade 
and  as  a  friend. 

As  a  physician  his  career  was  a  success  from  the  start, 
and  added  years"  only  served  to  Increase  the  confidence  of 
the  community  he  served. 

He  was  not  a  respecter  of  persons,  or  rather,  he 
respected  all  persons  alike.  A  call  to  the  poor  man's 
humble  home  and  to  the  rich  man's  mansion,  coming  to 


238  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

him  simultaneously,  the  chances  were  that  he  would  visit 
the  poor  man  first. 

Perhaps  his  success  as  a  practitioner  of  medicine  de- 
pended largely  upon  the  influence  he  carried  with  him 
into  the  homes  of  his  patients.  A  marked  characteristic 
was  his  optimism,  and  this  condition  he  carried  with  him 
into  the  sick  room,  where  he  imparted  new  aspirations 
into  the  minds  of  his  patients.  He  filled  them  with  an  air 
of  hope  and  left  them  with  that  feeling  predominating. 
This  is  frequently  half  the  battle  in  medical  cases. 

As  a  surgeon  both  in  civil  and  military  practice  he 
ranked  among  the  first  In  his  profession.  He  fully  ap- 
preciated the  value  of  a  limb  or  any  fraction  thereof,  as 
well  as  of  a  life.  If  he  erred  at  all,  it  was  on  the  side  of 
conservatism,  and  conservative  surgery  is  as  commendable 
for  what  it  refrains  from  doing  as  for  what  it  does. 

Now,  what  shall  be  said  of  him  as  a  man — a  comrade 
and  a  friend? 

Here  the  English  language  seems  defective.  It  is  in- 
adequate to  give  a  character  and  tone  to  his  transcendent 
qualities. 

From  life's  sunrise  until  life's  sunset  he  filled  life's  cup 
to  the  brim.  Not  that  he  was  entitled  to  any  extraordi- 
nary credit  for  so  doing  either,  for  he  was  so  constituted 
that  he  could  not  help  it;  could  not  help  being  kind; 
could  not  help  being  true;  could  not  help  being  honorable; 
could  not  help  being  just. 

To  those  only  having  a  casual  acquaintance  and  seeing 
him  with  merriment  in  his  eyes,  jocularity  on  his  lips 
and  badinage  in  his  speech,  It  might  never  occur  to  them 
but  that  this  was  all, — that  the  froth  and  bubbles  on  the 
goblet's  brim  was  all  the  goblet  contained;  but  one  puff 


CORNELIUS    N.   CAMPBELL.  239 

of  generous  appeal,  and  lo !  the  froth  and  bubbles  were 
gone,  and  we  find  the  goblet  filled  with  all  the  qualities 
that  go  to  make  up  life's  poetry,  beauty,  sympathy,  gen- 
erosity and  manliness.  We  who  knew  him  so  well  found 
underneath  the  froth  and  the  bubbles  a  vein  of  admirable 
wit  and  humor,  united  with  and  welded  to  an  excellent 
understanding,  rare  reasoning  powers,  a  retentive  memory, 
an  indefatigable  industry,  a  dauntless  courage;  and  with 
it  all  there  was  a  light  in  his  eye;  there  was  music  in  his 
voice;  there  was  a  grasp  in  his  hand,  and  a  cheerfulness  in 
his  speech  that  lifted  the  burdens  from  the  shoulders  of 
the  unfortunate,  and  cheered  the  pathway  of  the  afflicted. 

As  the  prince  of  innocent  pleasantry  his  memory  will 
linger  in  our  hearts  like  a  sweet  song  too  soon  closed; 
like  a  banquet  too  soon  ended;  like  a  beautiful  picture 
over  which  too  soon  the  curtain  falls. 

Blow  off  the  froth  and  the  bubbles  from  the  goblet's 
brim,  and  you  would  have  found  underneath  a  character 
as  firm  as  a  rock,  brilliant  as  a  star;  artless  as  a  child,  and 
as  pure  as  a  woman. 

He  had  been  endowed  by  his  Creator  with  a  keen  sense 
of  humor,  but  thank  God  he  nev^er  used  it  as  a  caustic; 
never  burned  you  with  it;  never  stabbed  you;  never  used 
it  to  hurt  your  feelings;  never  to  start  a  tear. 

This  life  has  ample  facilities  for  developing  tears,  and 
he  who  can  and  will,  with  his  wit  and  humor,  drive  them 
away  is  our  friend. 

He  died  near  Christmas  time  in  December,  1889,  in 
the  65th  year  of  his  age.  The  days  then  were  very  short 
and  the  nights  very  long.  It  was  a  long  anci  dreary 
night  for  his  friends  when  they  learned  that  life  for  him 
was  no  more. 


240  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIAIENT. 

For  a  long  time  it  seemed  to  me  very  difficult  to  think 
of  getting  along  in  this  world  without  the  presence  in  it 
somewhere  of  Cornelius  N.  Campbell.  We  had  had  him 
with  us  so  long  that  he  was  as  much  a  part  of  existence 
as  any  other  ray  of  pure  sunshine  that  streams  into  the 
dark  and  troubled  places  of  life  to  cheer,  to  brighten, 
and  to  bring  wholesomeness  and  health  and  happiness. 

The  writing  of  this  sketch  has  been  for  me  a  labor  of 
love,  and  recalled  to  my  mind  some  of  the  pleasantest 
incidents  of  a  long  life,  and  as  the  Queen  of  Sheba  said  of 
King  Solomon,  "  The  half  has  not  been  told."  "  His 
life  was  gentle;  and  the  elements  so  mixed  in  him,  that 
Nature  might  stand  up  and  say  to  all  the  world,  This  was 
a  man." 

THOMAS  E.  VASSAR. 

Thomas  Edwin  Vassar,  son  of  William  and  Mary 
(Hageman)  Vassar,  was  born  at  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y., 
December  3,  1834.  His  grandfather,  Thomas  Vassar, 
came  to  Poughkeepsie  in  1797,  when  the  population  of 
the  place  was  barely  five  hundred.  The  Vassars  were 
originally  French  Huguenots.  They  fled  to  England  to 
escape  religious  persecution,  and  there  the  elder  Thomas 
was  born.  He  and  his  younger  brother,  James,  landed 
in  America  in  the  autumn  of  1796.  James  was  the 
father  of  Matthew  who  more  than  sixty  years  afterward 
founded  Vassar  College. 

Thomas  E.  Vassar  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  his  native  city,  and  began  his  business  life  as  a  dentist 
there.  Later  he  chose  the  ministry  as  his  calling  and 
was   ordained   to   that   office    in   the    Baptist    Church   of 


THOMAS  E.  VASSAR.  241 

Poughkeepsie.        Of   that    church   his    family    had   been 
members  since  its  organization. 

When  the  civil  war  broke  out  Mr,  Vassar  was  pastor 
of  the  Baptist  Church  at  Amenia,  Dutchess  County, 
N.  Y.,  and  his  acquaintance  with  Colonel — now  General — 
John  H.  Ketcham  led  to  his  selection  as  the  first  chaplain 
of  the  150th  regiment. 

His  church  at  Amenia  declined  to  receive  his  resigna- 
tion as  pastor  of  it,  but  finally  consented  to  grant  him 
one  year's  leave  of  absence,  and  he  went  out  with  the 
regiment  in  October,  1862.  In  the  experiences  of  the 
regiment  he  participated  until  the  autumn  following  the 
Gettysburg  campaign,  but  when  the  iith  and  12th  Army 
Corps  were  sent  to  the  Western  army  he  resigned,  as  he 
had  promised  his  church  to  do,  and  returned  to  Amenia. 
His  later  pastorates  have  been  at  Lynn,  Mass.,  Fleming- 
ton  and  Newark,  N.  J.,  and  Kansas  City,  Mo.  At  the 
end  of  forty-five  years  of  continuous  service  as  pastor  he 
retired  from  the  active  duties  of  his  calling  and  is  now 
residing  at  Elizabeth,  N.  J. 

On  the  nth  of  October,  1861,  Mr.  Vassar  was 
married  to  Tamma,  daughter  of  Phineas  K.  Sackett,  of 
Stanford,  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y.,  and  on  the  first  anni- 
versary of  the  marriage  he  started  with  the  regiment  for 
the  seat  of  war.  He  has  four  children  living.  One  son 
is,  like  the  father,  a  Baptist  pastor.  One  is  an  electrical 
engineer;  one  daughter  is  married,  and  one  is  still  with 
the  parents  in  the  home.  The  eldest  child  was  born  while 
the  150th  lay  in  Belger  Barracks  at  Baltimore. 

In  1882,  Madison — now  Colgate — University,  at 
Hamilton,  N.  Y.,  conferred  on  Mr.  Vassar  the  honorary 
degree  of  D.D. 


242  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

For  a  man  now  seventy-two  years  old  Dr.  Vassar  is 
well  preserved  and  vigorous.  His  life  work  was  well 
chosen,  for  he  was  endowed  by  his  iVIaker  with  superior 
gifts; — talents  that  have  not  been  hid  in  a  napkin.  By 
his  studious  life  of  industry  he  has  become  not  only  a 
successful  preacher,  but  also  a  most  accomplished  orator. 
As  a  "  supply  "  for  vacant  pulpits  he  keeps  almost  con- 
stantly engaged,  and  in  gatherings  of  old  soldiers,  and 
especially  on  Memorial  Day,  he  is  often  called  to  speak. 
His  lecture  entitled  "  The  Battle  of  Gettysburg "  has 
been  delivered  In  scores  of  places  In  the  East  and  West, 
and  is  still  frequently  called  for  although  half  a  lifetime 
lies  between  the  present  and  that  famous  fight. 

During  his  various  pastorates  he  has  received  some  two 
thousand  persons  into  the  membership  of  the  churches 
served,  has  married  nearly  seven  hundred  couples,  has 
attended  more  than  a  thousand  funerals,  has  served  on 
many  boards  of  religious  and  educational  societies,  and 
has  aicied  In  raising  something  like  half  a  million  dollars 
for  different  departments  of  benevolent  work. 

His  uncle,  John  E.  Vassar,  everywhere  known  as 
"  Uncle  John,"  was  an  agent  of  the  American  Tract 
Society,  and  while  working  In  that  capacity  during  the 
war  often  found  his  way  within  the  lines  of  the  "  Dutchess 
County  Regiment."  Thousands  of  the  boys  in  blue  re- 
member tenderly  even  yet  his  tireless  efforts  and  his  in- 
terest in  their  behalf.  Chaplain  Vassar  wrote  the  story 
of  "  Uncle  John's  "  useful  life,  and  the  book  is  belic\ed 
to  have  had  more  than  a  hundred  thousand  readers. 

James  H.  Vassar,  a  brother  of  Chaplain  Vassar,  was 
band  leader  In  the  150th,  and  a  sketch  of  him  is  given 
elsewhere  In  this  history. 


EDWARD   OTIS    BARTLETT.  243 

ED  WARD  OTIS  BARTLETT. 

"  Plant  tliere  some  Box  or  Pine, 
Something  that  lives  in  Winter,  and  call  it  mine!" 

Rev.  Edward  Otis  Bartlett  was  born  in  Utica,  N.  Y., 
February  i8,  1835,  the  son  of  Joseph  and  Mary  Ann 
(Otis)  Bartlett.  He  is  of  the  eighth  generation  in  this 
country,  for  his  paternal  ancestor,  Robert  Bartlett,  came 
over  in  the  Ami,  the  second  vessel  of  the  Pilgrim  Colony 
to  arrive  in  America. 

In  1840  his  father,  Joseph  Bartlett  removed  to  Pough- 
keepsie,  establishing  there  the  Poughkeepsie  Cracker 
Bakery,  now  conducted  by  his  youngest  brother,  William 
O.  Bartlett. 

Edward  O.  Bartlett's  preparatory  studies  were  In  the 
Poughkeepsie  Collegiate  Institute,  now  known  as  River- 
view  Academy,  where  in  1885  he  delivered  the  semi- 
centennial address,  and  was  elected  president  of  the 
Alumni  Association. 

He  entered  Union  College,  N.  Y.,  In  1856,  receiving 
the  degree  of  A.  B.  in  1859,  the  Master's  degree  in  1862, 
and  D.D.  In  1889.  He  Is  a  member  of  the  Phi  Beta 
Kappa  and  Kappa  Alpha  Greek  letter  societies.  In  his 
senior  year  he  was  president  of  his  class,  which  numbered 
138  members. 

After  graduating  he  became  principal  of  the  College 
Hill  School,  jointly  with  Otis  Bisbee.  In  September, 
1863,  he  was  drafted  under  President  Lincoln's  call  for 
300,000  men,  and  was  appointed  Chaplain  of  the  150th 
New  York  Volunteers,  being  mustered  Into  the  service  and 
enrolled  in  the  regiment  (which  then  had  its  headquarters 
at  Normandy,  Tenn.),  November  20,  1863. 


244  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

He  accompanied  the  regiment  on  the  march,  and  from 
the  time  of  his  enrollment  was  present  on  the  field  in  all 
the  engagements  in  which  it  participated.  He  was 
present  at  the  Grand  Review  in  Washington  at  the  close 
of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 

After  the  war  he  was  first  settled  over  a  church  at 
South  Deerfield,  Mass.,  then  at  Providence,  R.  I., 
where  he  was  married,  November  28,  1868,  to  Anna 
Jane,  the  youngest  daughter  of  ex-Mayor  Amos  C. 
Barston. 

Both  at  South  Deerfield  and  at  Providence  there  were 
large  accessions  to  the  churches  over  which  he  presided, 
at  the  former  place  one  hundred  and  thirty-nine  being 
added  in  less  than  a  year.  In  1873  he  was  called  to  the 
First  Church  of  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  to  succeed  the  celebrated 
Dr.  John  Todd.  In  1887  he  accepted  a  call  to  the 
Academy  Avenue  Congregational  Church  in  Providence, 
R.  I.,  where  he  remained  until  he  retired  from 
the  ministry  in  1895. 

In  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  Chaplain  Bartlett 
has  been  honored,  first  joining  that  organization  by  ad- 
mission to  Slocura  Post,  No.  10,  Department  of  Rhode 
Island,  from  which  he  was  elected  in  1868  to  be  the 
first  Department  Chaplain  of  that  State.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Rhode  Island  Soldiers'  and  Sailors' 
Historical  Society,  and  of  the  Sons  of  the  American 
Revolution. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bartlett  has  been 
blessed  by  the  birth  to  them  of  seven  children,  two 
daughters  and  five  sons,  as  follows :  Josiah,  born  Febru- 
ary 2,  1870;  Edward  Otis,  born  August  10,  1871,  married 
January    19,    1897,    to   Louise   Ward    Chapin;    Emeline 


STEPHEN  GUERNSEY  COOK.  245 

Barston,  born  April  30,  1873,  married  September  9, 
1906,  to  Prof.  John  Nolen;  Dwight  Kellog,  born  March 
18,  1876,  married  January  2,  1902,  to  Maud  Orr;  Louise 
Stevens,  born  December  16,  1877;  Clarence  Barston, 
born  May  23,  1879,  married  June  9,  1903,  to  Jane 
Barnaby;  Le  Roy,  born  December  17,  1880,  married 
August  29,  1905,  to  Mae  Bowie  Franklin. 

The  daughters  are  graduates  of  Vassar  College,  at 
Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  the  elder  three  of  the  sons  are 
graduates  of  Brown  University,  at  Providence,  R.  I., 
while  the  youngest,  Le  Roy,  graduated  in  1905  at  the 
United  States  Military  Academy,  West  Point,  N.  Y., 
and  has  been  commissioned  Second  Lieutenant  of  the  6th 
Battery  of  Field  Artillery,  now  stationed  at  Fort  Sam 
Houston,  Texas.  In  May,  1906,  he  was  appointed 
Judge-Advocate  of  the  United  States  troops  located  at 
that  point. 

STEPHEN  GUERNSEY  COOK. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  In  the  town  of 
Stanford,  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y.,  on  the  ist  day  of 
July,   1 83 1. 

His  parents'  names  were  Seth  Trowbridge  and  Eliza- 
beth  (Clark)    Cook. 

From  the  hill  on  which  the  house  stood  In  which  he 
was  born  can  be  seen  points  In  the  States  of  Massachusetts 
and  Connecticut;  therefore  he  came  near  being  by  birth  a 
New  England  Yankee. 

The  circumstances  surrounding  his  early  years  were 
not  over  promising.  At  the  age  of  eight  his  family 
moved  from  Dutchess  to  Broome  County,  N.  Y.,  a  few 
miles   above   Binghamton,    on   the   westerly   side   of  the 


246  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Chenango  River,  where  his  father  purchased  a  farm  with 
a  small  equity  and  a  large  mortgage. 

For  two  years  everything  went  on  nicely,  when  a  ter- 
rible accident  happened  to  his  father  which  incapacitated 
him  for  labor  for  years  afterward,  and  from  which  he 
never  fully  recovered. 

The  support  of  the  family  then  devolved  upon  his 
mother  and  himself,  as  the  products  of  the  farm  with 
hired  labor  would  scarcely  net  enough  to  pay  the  taxes 
and  the  interest  on  the  mortgage.  His  mother  used  to 
card  the  wool  by  hand,  spin  and  dye  the  yarn,  weave 
the  cloth,  and  make  all  the  clothing  worn  by  the  family. 
She  was  a  skillful  weaver,  and  earned  considerable  sums 
of  money  at  her  loom. 

At  the  early  age  of  ten,  he  had  become  quite  skillful  in 
handling  horses,  and  was  employed  by  the  neighboring 
farmers  as  a  driver  of  horses  for  all  the  uses  that  noble 
animal  was  called  upon  to  do.  For  this  he  was  paid  a 
shilling  (i2^  cents)  per  diem  and  his  board.  It  seems 
very  insignificant  pay  at  this  distance,  but  a  "  shilling  " 
then  would  buy  very  nearly  as  much  as  a  half  dollar  will 
now. 

The  Chenango  Canal,  extending  from  Binghamton  to 
Utica,  was  then  in  full  operation,  and  during  the  season 
of  his  twelfth  year  he  was  employed  as  a  driver  of  the 
horses  of  one  of  the  canal  boats  plying  between  the 
before-named  towns.  The  distance  as  he  now  remembers 
it  is  a  little  over  one  hundred  miles,  and  the  round  trip, 
together  with  loading  and  unloading,  took  just  a  week. 
For  this  work  he  was  paid  six  dollars  per  month,  with 
board  and  lodging,  every  cent  of  which  was  given  to  his 
mother. 


STEPHEN  GUERNSEY  COOK.  247 

In  the  fall  of  that  year,   1843,  ^^^  Inevitable  came  to 
pass.     In  those  times  farms  were  not  paid  for  by  hired* 
labor,  and  his  father's  went  the  usual  way,  by  foreclosure. 
Enough  was  saved  from   the  wreck  to  take  the   family 
back  to  Dutchess  County. 

From  this  time  on  everything  went  more  desirably. 
He  attended  the  district  school  (Tallmadge  Dl-strict), 
both  summer  and  winter  terms  until  he  was  fifteen  years 
old.  After  that  he  worked  summers  and  attended  school 
Vv^Inters  until  the  fall  of  1846,  when,  with  the  money 
earned  by  himself,  he  entered  Amenia  Seminary,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  with  high  honors  In  1850,  paying 
his  way  by  money  earned  In  various  occupations  during 
the  summer  vacations.  There  are  miles  of  stone  walls 
still  standing,  "  laid  "  by  him  during  these  vacations. 

In  the  fall  of  the  latter  year  (1850),  he  commenced 
as  a  school  teacher  In  the  town  of  Washington  (Dutchess 
County),  near  what  Is  now  known  as  Mlllbrook,  but  then 
known  as  "  Washington  Four  Corners "  and  "  Hart's 
Village."  Here  he  spent  four  happy  years,  and  left  It 
reluctantly  to  take  up  the  study  of  medicine,  being  gradu- 
ated with  honors  on  March  9,  1857,  from  the  Medical 
Department  of  the  New  York  University. 

As  a  practicing  physician  he  spent  one  year  at  Hart's 
Village,  and  two  years  at  Verbank.  He  then  moved  to 
Bangall  Lane,  as  It  was  then  called,  and  probably  still  is, 
where  he  resided  until  he  joined  the  150th  Regiment  in 
September,  1862. 

For  a  time  there  was  a  friendly  rivalry  between  him 
and  Dr.  Campbell  as  to  which  should  be  surgeon,  and 
which  first  assistant  surgeon,  each  party  having  warm 
supporters.     This  rivalry  was  soon  settled  when  It  reached 


248  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Colonel  Ketcham,  who  selected  Dr.  Campbell,  with  whom 
he  had  long  been  acquainted.  He  made  a  wise  choice. 
Dr.  Cook  was,  however,  the  acting  surgeon  of  the  regi- 
ment during  considerably  more  than  half  of  the  time 
of  his  service,  as  Dr.  Campbell's  recognized  popularity 
and  skill  as  a  surgeon  caused  him  to  be  detailed  as  a 
Brigade  or  Division  surgeon  almost  constantly. 

After  the  war  he  took  up  the  practice  of  his  profession 
In  New  York  City  where  he  soon  gained  a  fairly  lucrative 
practice. 

In  1872  he  was  appointed  a  trustee  of  the  public  schools 
of  the  Eighth  Ward  of  New  York  City.  After  serving 
his  term  of  five  years,  he  was  re-appointed  for  another 
five-year  term,  but  was  forced  to  decline  it  on  account 
of  the  pressing  needs  of  other  duties. 

In  September,  1873,  he  was  appointed  a  Surgeon  of 
Police,  and  In  January,  1884,  was  elected  President  of 
the  Board  of  Surgeons,  and  Chief  Surgeon,  by  his  col- 
leagues, which  position  he  still  holds,  having  been  elected 
annually  since  that  date,  without  a  dissenting  voice. 

In  1883  he  was  elected  a  trustee  of  the  West  Side 
Savings  Bank.  In  1887  he  was  appointed  chairman  of 
the  Executive  Committee,  which  position  he  held, until 
January,  1896,  when  he  was  elected  president  of  the 
bank,  a  position  he  still  holds.  Under  his  administration 
of  its  affairs  the  bank  has  prospered  beyond  all  precedent. 

About  1873  he  was  elected  a  member  of  E.  A.  Kimball 
Post,  No.  100,  Department  of  New  York,  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic,  and  was  elected  Commander  of  It  for 
four  consecutive  years,  and  has  declined  repeated  offers 
of  re-election.  He  has  been  a  delegate  to  the  Depart- 
ment Encampment  for  the  past  twenty  years,  and  still  Is. 


WILLIAM  H.  BARTLETT.  249 

In  1888  he  was  elected  by  the  Department  Encampment 
the  Medical  Director  of  the  Department. 

In  1857  he  married  Caroline  A.  Pond,  the  daughter 
of  Nelson  A.  and  Amanda  Pond  of  the  town  of  Wash- 
ington, Dutchess  County,  who  died  in  1872.  Two  chil- 
dren were  the  result  of  this  marriage,  both  of  whom  are 
now  dead. 

In  1876  he  married  Mary  C.  Hackett,  a  principal  of 
one  of  the  public  schools  of  the  city  of  New  York,  by 
whom  he  has  three  children,  two  daughters  and  a  son, 
all  living.  Their  names  are :  Cora,  Jane,  and  Stephen  Jr. 
Cora  was  married,  November  22,  1905,  to  Joseph  Rowan, 
and  on  the  same  date  her  sister  Jane  was  married  to 
Joshua  F.  Tobin. 

WILLIAM  H.  BARTLETT. 

William  H.  Bartlett  was  born  in  the  town  of  Amenia, 
Dutchess  County,  N,  Y.,  on  February  14,  1839. 

He  was  the  second  son  of  William  S.  and  Jane 
(Reynolds)   Bartlett. 

He  received  his  education  at  the  district  school  and 
later  at  the  Amenia  Seminary,  which  he  attended  for  four 
years,  leaving  It  in  1859  to  go  as  clerk  in  a  hardware  store 
In  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  where  he  remained  until  the  break- 
ing out  of  the  war  In  1861,  and  where  he  saw  some  of 
the  first  regiments  depart  for  the  seat  of  war,  particularly 
the  Brooklyn  14th. 

During  the  year  1861  he  returned  to  Amenia  and 
accepted  a  position  In  the  general  store  of  Lawrence  & 
Taylor. 

When  the  Dutchess  County  Regiment  was  organizing 
he  enlisted  in  Company  A,  September  5,  1862,  and  was 


250  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

mustered  in  as  Corporal  with  the  regiment  October  ii, 
1862. 

He  served  until  the  close  of  the  war  having  been  mus- 
tered out  with  his  regiment  June  8,  1865.  He  was  pro- 
moted Sergeant,  January  2,  1863;  Second  Lieutenant, 
March  2,  1865;  First  Lieutenant  and  Acijutant,  April 
9,   1865. 

An  incident  occurred  in  Baltimore  which  showed  how 
Death's  call  may  be  avoided  without  serious  injury.  One 
of  the  guards  on  duty  in  the  rear  of  his  tent  allowed  some 
one  to  handle  his  gun  without  knowing  it  was  loaded, 
with  the  usual  result.  The  bullet  entered  the  side  of  his 
tent  in  line  with  his  head,  but  its  course  was  deflected  by 
an  inkstand  standing  on  a  shelf,  resulting  in  covering  him 
with  ink,  and  the  loss  of  a  piece  of  skin  from  the  end  of 
his  nose,  giving  him  a  striking  realization  of  what  it 
might  have  been. 

He  was  but  twenty-three  years  of  age  and  the  blood 
of  young  life  was  tingling  with  expectation  for  some 
unusual  experience,  which  was  satisfied  at  Gettysburg, 
when  he,  with  the  rest  of  his  comrades,  received  their 
first  baptism  of  fire. 

At  the  battle  known  as  that  of  "  Gulp's  Farm  "  where 
Lieutenant  Henry  Gridley,  Company  A,  was  killed,  he 
received  a  wound  of  his  right  hand,  which  although  severe 
fortunately  did  not  shatter  any  of  his  bones.  His  wound 
was  dressed  by  Dr.  S.  G.  Cook  just  in  the  rear  of  the  line 
of  battle,  and  he  was  directed  to  go  to  the  rear  which  he 
found  about  as  dangerous  as  to  remain  at  the  front  be- 
cause of  the  numerous  rebel  bullets,  but  by  selecting  the 
protection  of  one  large  tree  after  another  he  got  to  a 
place  of  safety  without  further  mishap. 


WILLIAM  H.  BARTLETT.  251 

Having  to  carry  his  arm  In  a  sling  he  was  unfit  for 
active  duty  and  was  detailed  to  escort  the  body  of  Lieu- 
tenant Gridley  to  his  former  home,  but  owing  to  the  ex- 
tremely hot  weather  this  scheme  was  abandoned.  The 
body  was  burled,  the  grave  was  carefully  marked,  and  it 
was  brought  home  after  the  war  was  over. 

Although  unable  to  use  his  right  hand  he  remained 
with  the  regiment  until  on  July  25,  1864,  he  was  made 
Acting  Sergeant-Major.  While  acting  in  this  capacity, 
one  morning  while  "  mounting  guard  "  he  lost  the  heel 
of  one  of  his  shoes  which  was  torn  off  by  a  rebel  bullet, 
making  the  third  tangible  "  close  call  "  he  had  during 
the  war,  the  first  being  his  nose  at  Baltimore,  the  second 
his  hand  at  Gulp's  Farm,  and  the  third  his  foot  near 
Atlanta. 

On  his  return  to  civil  life,  after  a  short  season  of 
rest,  he  formed  a  copartnership  with  Henry  S.  Ghapman 
under  the  firm  of  Ghapman  &  Bartlett,  his  father,  Wil- 
liam S.  Bartlett,  having  bought  the  store  building  from 
Dr.  L.  W.  Stanton  for  his  son. 

They  superseded  Messrs.  Lawrence  and  Taylor  and  for 
several  years  conducted  a  successful  business  in  drugs, 
hardware  and  groceries. 

In  1873  Mr.  Ghapman  sold  out  his  interest  to  Dr. 
Isaac  N.  Mead  and  the  firm  became  Bartlett  &  Mead. 

In  1888  he  sold  his  interest  to  Horace  B.  Murdock  and 
formed  a  company  for  the  manufacture  of  brick  in  the 
village  of  Amenia. 

He  represented  the  town  of  Amenia  In  the  Board  of 
Supervisors  for  two  years  and  In  1891  he  was  unani- 
mously  nominated    for   sheriff   of   Dutchess   Gounty   and 


252  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

elected.     He  served  the  three-year  term  with  credit  to 
himself  and  the  satisfaction  of  his  constituents. 

In    1898   he  was  appointed  postmaster  of  Amenia,   a 
position  he  still  (1906)  holds. 

FRANK  V.  B.  GILDERSLEEVE. 

Frank  Van  Buren  Gildersleeve, — a  younger  brother  of 
Henry  A.  Gildersleeve,  noticed  elsewhere  in  this  history — 
was  born  November  11,  1842,  in  the  town  of  Clinton, 
Dutchess  County,  N.  Y.  He  enlisted  in  Company  C  of 
our  regiment  September  i,  1862,  was  immediately  ap- 
pointed Hospital  Steward  of  the  regiment,  and,  serving 
in  that  capacity  through  all  the  campaigns  in  which  it 
took  part  until  the  close  of  the  war,  was  mustered  out 
June  8,  1865. 

Soon  after  the  war  he  began  the  study  of  medicine, 
attending  lectures  at  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  the  Medical  De- 
partment of  Amherst  College,  and  at  the  Medical  Depart- 
ment of  the  University  of  New  York,  graduating  from 
the  latter  in  1866. 

Soon  after  his  graduation  Dr.  Gildersleeve  contracted 
with  the  government  to  serve  as  Acting  Assistant  Sur- 
geon, and  was  immediately  ordered  to  Charlotte,  N.  C, 
there  to  take  charge  of  a  hospital  in  the  Department  of 
Freedmen  and  Refugees,  and  which  also  included  one 
Company  of  the  8th  United  States  Infantry.  He  served 
in  that  capacity  until  the  fall  of  1867,  when  he  went  from 
there  to  Helena,  Mont.  From  that  place  he  moved  to 
Los  Angeles,  Cal.,  arriving  in  February,  1868,  and  from 
there  to  San  Francisco,  where  he  again  entered  into  a 
contract  with  the  government  to  serve  as  Acting  Assistant 
Surgeon,  this  time  of  the  2nd  United  States  Artillery. 


FRANK   V.    B.    GILDERSLEEVE.  253 

In  this  service  he  went  with  Battery  F  to  Alaska,  sail- 
ing in  May,  1868,  for  the  Island  of  Kadiak,  where  a 
fort  was  established.  At  this  Post  he  remained  a  year, 
and  was  then  ordered  to  accompany  a  detachment  of  his 
regiment  to  St.  Paul's  Island,  in  the  Behring  Sea,  where 
the  fur-bearing  seals  were  to  be  protected.  He  remained 
there  one  year,  when  that  Post  was  abandoned  and  he  was 
ordered  back  to  San  Francisco,  where  he  remained  on 
duty,  sometimes  traveling  with  the  troops  to  remote  Posts 
in  Oregon  and  Arizona. 

In  the  summer  of  1872,  while  at  Fort  Yuma,  he  re- 
signed from  the  service  and  began  the  practice  of  his 
profession  in  the  city  of  San  Francisco.  After  a  private 
practice  of  two  years  Dr.  Gildersleeve  returned  to  Ari- 
zona, where  he  was  appointed  agent  of  the  Walapi 
Indians,  a  branch  of  the  Apache  Tribe,  at  Beal  Springs, 
Arizona.  He  remained  in  charge  of  these  Indians  for 
two  years,  and  then  went  to  Tombstone,  Arizona,  where 
he  practiced  medicine  two  more  years.  From  there  he 
removed  to  Petaluma,  Cal.,  and  practiced  medicine  there 
four  years. 

At  the  end  of  that  time  he  gave  up  his  residence  in  the 
far  West,  and  removed  to  New  York  City.  Here  he 
entered  into  a  contract  with  the  builders  of  the  new  Cro- 
ton  Aqueduct,  to  give  medical  and  surgical  attendance 
to  the  men  in  their  employ,  and  he  continued  in  that 
service  until  the  work  was  completed. 

After  this  he  entered  into  another  contract  of  a  similar 
kind,  this  time  with  the  parties  engaged  in  constructing 
tunnels  and  other  works  for  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Co. 
His  especial  duty  in  this  service  (in  which  he  is,  at  the 
present  time  of  writing,  engaged)   is  to  care  for  the  men 


254  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

employed  in  digging  the  tunnels  under  the  Hudson  and 
East  Rivers  for  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad. 

In  1888  Dr.  Gildersleeve  was  married  to  Chlorinda 
Castro,  and  one  son,  Frank  A.,  and  one  daughter,  Mary 
Celestine,  have  been  born  to  them. 

STEPHEN  VAN  RENSSELAER  CRUGER. 

By  Stephen  G.  Cook. 

Stephen  Van  Rensselaer  Cruger  was  born  in  New  York 
City,  May  9,  1844.  He  was  descended  by  both  paternal 
and  maternal  ancestors  from  the  oldest  Dutch  families 
^settling  in  the  State  of  New  York.  His  ancestors  came 
from  Holland  early  in  the  seventeenth  century,  and  John 
Cruger,  his  great-grandfather,  was  the  first  mayor  of 
New  York  City.  His  grandfather,  also  named  John 
Cruger,  was  the  first  president  of  the  Chamber  of 
Commerce. 

His  grandfather  on  his  mother's  side  was  Stephen  Van 
Rensselaer,  of  Albany,  who  was  at  one  time  Lieutenant- 
Governor  of  the  State. 

He  received  his  elementary  education  at  home,  and  at 
the  age  of  fourteen  was  sent  to  Europe  for  a  University 
course.  When  but  eighteen  years  of  age,  he  came  home 
to  volunteer  in  the  defense  of  his  country. 

He  was  at  once  given  a  commission  as  First  Lieutenant 
in  Company  F  of  the  150th  New  York  Volunteers,  not- 
withstanding the  fact  that  he  was  barely  old  enough  to 
enter  the  service.  '  He  was,  however,  of  powerful  build, 
standing  over  six  feet  in  height  and  had  the  general 
appearance  of  more  mature  years. 

His  regiment  was  assigned  to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 


STEPHEN  VAN  RENSSELAER  CRUGER.      255 

in  1863,  In  time  to  take  a  prominent  part  In  the  battle  of 
Gettysburg,  where  his  gallantry  and  daring  while  under 
fire  attracted  the  attention  of  his  superior  officers. 

The  following  month  he  was  rewarded  by  being  pro- 
moted to  Adjutant  of  his  regiment.  In  the  spring  of 
1864  his  regiment  was  transferred  to  the  20th  Army 
Corps,  then  under  the  command  of  General  Hooker,  and 
forming  a  part  of  General  Sherman's  command. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  campaign  beginning  at  Chat- 
tanooga and  ending  at  Atlanta,  during  the  short,  sharp 
and  decisive  engagement  known  as  the  battle  of  Resaca, 
he  was  wounded  three  times.  The  first  bullet  struck  him 
near  the  top  of  the  left  breast  and  came  out  at  the  outer 
edge  of  the  left  shoulder  blade,  causing  a  profuse  hem- 
orrhage from  the  mouth.  While  being  carried  from  the 
field  a  bullet  struck  him  in  the  right  shoulder,  tearing 
away  his  epaulette  and  inflicting  quite  a  severe  wound, 
while  another  caused  a  slight  wound  of  the  left  leg. 
From  the  position  of  the  two  wounds  in  the  upper  part 
of  his  chest,  together  with  the  loss  of  blood  by  the  mouth, 
I  had  then  no  doubt  In  my  mind  but  that  the  bullet  had 
gone  directly  through  the  top  of  his  left  lung,  and  I 
reported  him  as  "  mortally  wounded."  I  now  believe 
that  the  bullet  was  deflected  from  its  course  by  striking 
a  rib,  passed  partly  around  the  body  under  the  skin,  and 
made  its  exit  at  a  point  nearly  opposite  the  point  of  en- 
trance, and  that  the  hemorrhage  was  caused  by  the  con- 
cussion of  the  rib  against  the  lung.  Either  way,  it  was 
a  close  call,  and  after  being  sent  to  the  rear  no  one  in 
the  regiment  ever  expected  to  see  him  alive  again.  But 
they  were  happily  disappointed.  After  being  honorably 
discharged  by  the  Secretary  of  War,  who  believed  him  to 


256  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

be  too  severely  wounded  to  be  of  any  further  service  to 
the  government,  and  after  his  wounds  had  thoroughly 
healed,  he  applied  for  and  was  given  his  old  position  as 
Adjutant.  He  was  absent  somewhat  less  than  four 
months.  He  was  wounded  in  May,  1864,  and  rejoined 
his  regiment  in  September,  in  time  to  take  part  in  the 
famous  "  March  to  the  Sea,"  and  continued  with  it  until 
it  was  discharged  in  June,  1865. 

His  horse  was  shot  under  him  at  the  battle  of  Averas- 
borough,  but  he  was  not  wounded  again.  He  was  pro- 
moted to  Captain,  November  18,  1864,  and  breveted 
Major  "  for  gallant  and  meritorious  conduct  during  the 
campaign  through  Georgia  and  the  Carolinas." 

At  the  close  of  the  war,  he  entered  upon  a  business 
career  and  soon  developed  remarkable  executive  ability. 
He  became  manager  of  numerous  estates,  and  had  com- 
plete charge  of  the  real  estate  interests  of  the  Trinity 
Church  corporation.  He  still  retained  his  interest  in 
military  matters,  however,  and  became  actively  identified 
with  the  New  York  National  Guard,  and  was  made 
Colonel  of  the  12th  Regiment.  He  brought  that  organ- 
ization up  to  a  high  standard  of  efficiency,  but  was  com- 
pelled to  resign,  owing  to  the  pressure  of  business  which 
prevented  him  giving  his  command  the  necessary  attention. 

He  was  elected  a  trustee  of  the  Mutual  Life  Insurance 
Company  in  1883,  and  also  became  connected  in  positions 
of  trust  with  other  large  corporations. 

In  1888  he  was  nominated  for  Lieutenant-Governor  on 
the  ticket  with  Hon.  Warner  Miller,  and  though  defeated, 
he  made  a  very  creditable  showing. 

He   was   identified   with   no   less   than   thirteen   clubs, 


HENRY  GRIDLEY.  257 

among  which  were  the  Union  League  and  Republican 
Clubs  of  this  city. 

He  was  appointed  a  park  commissioner  by  Mayor 
Strong  in  1895,  and  was  elected  president  of  the  Park 
Board.  He  was  sent  as  a  delegate  to  the  Republican 
National  Convention  in  1896,  and  was  an  ardent  sup- 
porter of  McKinley's  nomination. 

He  married  Miss  Juliette  Storrow,  a  grandniece  of 
Washington  Irving  and  a  beautiful  and  accomplished 
young  lady,  who  has  since  won  distinction  In  the  literary 
world  under  the  nom  de  plume  of  "  Jullen  Gordon." 

At  the  time  of  her  husband's  death  she  was  in  Europe, 
and  he  was  making  the  necessary  business  preparations  to 
join  her.      He  left  no  children. 

HENRY  GRIDLEY. 
By  Charles  E.  Benton. 

Henry  Gridley  was  born  September  17,  1836,  in 
Amenia,  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y.  He  was  the  eldest 
son  of  Noah  and  Emeline  (Reed)  Gridley.  His  father 
was  a  large  owner  of  real  estate,  and  extensively  engaged 
in  the  mining  and  manufacture  of  iron,  and  Henry's 
early  years  were  passed  in  strenuous  activity.  In  the  schools 
on  the  one  hand,  and  on  the  other  hand  In  giving  assist- 
ance in  the  various  branches  of  his  father's  complex  busi- 
ness activities. 

He  received  his  education  at  first  in  the  public  schools, 
but  later  at  the  Amenia  (New  York)  Seminary,  at  which 
Institution  he  was  prepared  for  college,  entering  Amherst 
(Massachusetts)  College  In  1858. 

Upon  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  In  1861,  It  was  with 
difficulty   that   he   could   be   prevailed  with   to   stay  and 


258  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

complete  his  course.  He  did,  however,  complete  the 
course,  and  graduated  with  honors  in  1862,  being  presi- 
dent of  his  class,  and  a  general  favorite  with  both  the 
faculty  and  his  classmates. 

He  returned  to  his  home  in  June,  finding  the  community 
well  awakened  by  the  floodtide  of  patriotism  then  spread- 
ing over  the  country,  and  when  Mrs.  Lossing's  appeal  for 
the  formation  of  a  Dutchess  County  Regiment  was  pub- 
lished in  the  Poughkeepsie  Eagle,  Henry  Gridley  was  one 
of  the  first  to  respond,  requesting  of  the  General  War 
Committee  which  had  been  appointed  by  the  Governor, 
permission  to  recruit  volunteers  and  enter  the  United 
States  service  in  a  Dutchess  County  Regiment. 

Permission  was  granted,  and,  in  cooperation  with 
Joseph  H.  Cogswell  of  Poughkeepsie,  he  immediately  en- 
tered upon  the  work.  The  company  thus  raised  event- 
ually became  Company  A  of  the  150th  New  York  State 
Volunteer  Infantry,  of  which  Joseph  H.  Cogswell  was 
commissioned  Captain,  Henry  Gridley  First  Lieutenant, 
and  James  P.  Mabbett  Second  Lieutenant. 

Entering  the  service  with  the  regiment  Lieutenant 
Gridley  passed  unscathed  through  the  battle  of  Gettys- 
burg, but  in  Virginia  he  was  stricken  down  by  the  malarial 
fever  of  the  country,  from  which  he  barely  escaped  with 
his  life. 

Upon  his  recovery  he  again  joined  the  regiment,  fol- 
lowing its  fortunes  and  activities  until  June  22,  1864. 
This  was  during  the  close  and  constant  fighting  of  Sher- 
man's army  on  the  memorable  Atlanta  campaign.  On 
this  particular  day  a  fierce  assault  was  made  on  our  line 
by  Confederate  General  Cleburn's  Division. 

The  attack  was  handsomely  repulsed,   but  Lieutenant 


HENRY  GRIDLEY.  25D 

Gridley,  who  was  in  command  of  his  company  at  the 
time,  fell,  pierced  by  a  shot  which  passed  very  near  his 
heart,  killing  him  instantly.  He  was  standing  in  the  line 
at  the  time,  and  had  directed  GoUenbeck — a  member  of 
his  company — to  fire  at  the  tall  Confederate  color-bearer. 
GoUenbeck  did  so,  bringing  him  down,  and  it  was  just  as 
Lieutenant  Griciley  was  commending  him  that  he  was 
struck  by  the  fatal  bullet,  the  first  of  the  regiment's  com- 
missioned officers  to  be  killed  in  battle. 

In  his  home  life  Henry  Gridley  was  widely  known  in 
business  circles,  and  was  greatly  respected  for  his  thor- 
oughgoing business  abilities,  as  well  as  for  a  certain  in- 
tegrity of  character  which  was  expressed  in  what  he  did, 
rather  than  in  what  he  said. 

His  patriotism  was  of  the  purest  type,  and  in  eagerly 
choosing  hardship  and  chances  of  battle  In  behalf  of  his 
country's  defense  he  was  not  prompted  by  selfish  love  of 
adv^enture,  for  he  was  of  a  quiet-loving  and  retiring  dis- 
position, and  the  ostentatious  side  of  military  life  had  no 
attractions  for  him.  He  knew  that  he  was  leaving  all 
behind  at  the  very  threshold  of  a  most  promising  career, 
and  he  gave  his  services  promptly  and  gladly. 

The  same  integrity  and  purity  of  character  which  won 
the  respect  of  his  home  community  also  won  recognition 
in  the  regiment,  and  alike  among  his  fellow  officers 
and  among  the  enlisted  men  of  his  company  his  death 
was  sincerely  mourned. 

At  the  time  of  his  death  Lieutenant  Gridley  was  buried 
on  the  field,  but  after  the  war  his  father  brought  the 
remains  home  and  laid  them  In  the  family  plot,  in  the 
South  Amenia  Cemetery,  where  the  members  of  that 
family  circle  are  now  all  at  rest. 


260  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

CYRUS  SWAN  ROBERTS. 

Mr.  Roberts  was  born  in  Sharon,  Conn.,  August  23, 
1 84 1,  and  was  the  eldest  of  his  parents'  five  children; 
four  sons  and  one  daughter.  His  father  was  Virgil  B. 
Roberts,  a  grandson  of  Captain  Samuel  Roberts  who 
served  during  the  war  of  the  Revolution  as  Captain  of  the 
9th  Company,  i8th  Regiment  of  Connecticut  Militia. 
His  mother,  Harriet  Rachel  (Swan)  Roberts,  was 
descended  through  several  lines  of  ancestors  from  mem- 
bers of  the  Mayflower  Colony. 

Mr.  Roberts  received  his  education  in  the  district 
schools  of  his  native  town,  and  at  the  Stratford  Academy, 
Stratford,  Conn.,  with  the  intention  of  entering  college, 
which,  however,  pecuniary  reasons  prevented.  The  years 
1859  and  i860  were  spent  as  a  clerk  in  country  stores  in 
Sharon,  Conn.,  and  in  Millerton,  N.  Y.  In  April,  1861, 
he  became  a  law  student  in  the  oflice  of  his  maternal  uncle, 
the  late  Cyrus  Swan,  Esq.,  of  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. 

Soon  after  the  attack  on  Fort  Sumter,  S.  C,  he  be- 
came a  member  of  the  Ellsworth  Grays,  a  local  military 
organization  formed  in  Poughkeepsie  for  the  study  of 
military  tactics,  and  exercise  in  military  drill.  It  is  worthy 
of  note  that  of  the  sixty-five  members  of  that  organization 
more  than  forty  subsequently  served  during  the  war. 

Early  In  May,  1862,  a  call  for  three-months  service 
was  made  on  the  militia  of  the  states,  and  May  20,  1862, 
he  joined  Company  A,  22nd  Regiment  of  New  York 
Militia,  and  left  the  same  evening  from  New  York  City 
for  Baltimore,  Md.,  where  the  regiment  was  mustered 
into  the  United  States  service  May  28,  1862.  From  that 
day  his  life  has  been  the  life  of  a  soldier; — a  soldier  who 
has  served  his  country  well  on  many  fields. 


CYRUS   SWAN   ROBERTS.  261 

Early  in  June  his  regiment  was  ordered  to  Harper's 
Ferry,  where  it  remained  in  camp  until  the  expiration  of 
its  term  of  service,  when  it  was  ordered  to  New  York 
City  and  there  mustered  out  September  6,  1862, 

The  same  day  on  which  he  was  discharged  from  that 
regiment  he  enlisted  in  Company  A,  150th  New  York 
Volunteers,  and  was  mustered  into  the  service  with  the 
regiment  as  Sergeant-Major.  On  the  iith  of  October, 
1862,  he  left  with  it  for  Baltimore,  Md.,  and  here  he  was 
on  duty  until  May,  1863  (having  in  the  mean  time, 
February  13,  1863,  been  commissioned  Second  Lieuten- 
ant), when  he  was  detailed  as  Assistant  Commissary  of 
Musters  for  the  3rd  Division,  8th  Army  Corps,  and 
reported  at  Charleston,  Kanawha  County,  W.  Va.  He 
remained  on  duty  with  the  division  under  command  of 
Brigadier-Generals  Scammon,  Duffie  and  Crook,  taking 
part  in  several  expeditions  against  the  enemy  in  West 
Virginia,  and  also  against  the  command  of  General  Mor- 
gan during  his  raid  north  of  the  Ohio  River. 

During  this  period  he  was  many  times  under  fire  in 
affairs  with  the  enemy,  of  relatively  small  importance, 
up  to  the  end  of  April,  1864,  when  he  served  as  aide-de- 
camp for  General  Crook  in  his  expedition  against  the  Con- 
federate forces  on  the  Virginia  and  Tennessee  Railroad. 
He  took  part  in  several  affairs  between  advanced  and  rear 
guards,  and  on  May  9,  1864,  in  the  battle  of  Cloyd 
Mountain,  and  in  subsequent  engagements  at  the  New 
River  Bridge,  May  10,  1864,  and  affairs  of  less  im- 
portance at  Blacksburg,  Va.,  May  nth,  at  the  Salt  Sul- 
phur Springs,  at  Union  and  the  Greenbrier  Rivers  on  the 
return  of  the  expedition  to  Lewisburg,  West  Va. 

About  June  i,   1864,  he  served  with  General  Crook's 


262  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

command  in  his  expedition  to  Staunton,  Va.,  where  he 
joined  with  the  command  of  General  Hunter  in  his  move- 
ment against  Lynchburg;  took  part  in  affairs  at  Middle 
River,  battle  of  Hot  Springs,  and  Buffalo  Gap,  en  route 
to  Staunton,  and  at  Lexington,  Va.,  and  near  the  Peaks 
of  Otter,  en  route  from  Staunton  to  Lynchburg. 

At  the  battle  of  Lynchburg  he  was  severely  wounded, 
June  17,  1864.  But  his  convalescence  was  rapid,  and  he 
joined  General  Crook's  command  which  had  again  taken 
the  field  at  Harper's  Ferry  about  the  middle  of  July,  and 
was  operating  in  connection  with  the  6th  Army  Corps 
against  the  forces  of  Confederate  General  Early.  On 
July  1 8th  he  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Snicker's  Ford 
on  the  Shenandoah,  and  on  the  22nd  and  23rd  of  the 
same  month  was  engaged  in  several  attacks  on  outposts, 
and  on  the  24th  in  the  severe  battle  at  Kernstown  between 
the  troops  of  the  Department  of  West  Virginia  under 
General  Crook,  and  those  of  General  Early's  command. 

He  was  with  the  rear  guard  during  the  retreat  from 
W^inchester  and  took  part  in  a  sharp  action  at  Martins- 
burg  July  25th,  where  General  Early's  pursuit  was 
checked.  He  also  accompanied  the  troops  under  General 
Sheridan  in  the  movement  from  Harper's  Ferry  up  the 
Shenandoah  Valley  in  August,  1864,  and  was  slightly 
wounded  in  the  leg  in  an  affair  between  advanced  and 
rear  guards  near  Middletown.  He  was  engaged  in  a 
severe  action  between  troops  under  General  Crook  and 
General  Kershaw's  division  of  Longstreet's  Corps  near 
Berryville  during  the  latter  part  of  August,  and  in  the 
battles  of  Opequan  (Winchester),  September  19th,  and 
Fisher's    Hill,    September    22,    1864.     For    both    these 


CYRUS   SWAN   ROBERTS.  263 

actions  he  received,  for  his  gallant  conduct  and  service, 
brevet  commissions. 

He  accompanied  his  command  in  the  advance  up  the 
Shenandoah  Valley  to  Harrisonburg,  and  October  19, 
1864,  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Cedar  Creek,  or  Middle- 
town.  This  battle  finished  the  campaigns  of  1864,  and 
he  then  accompanied  General  Crook,  who  had  been  as- 
signed to  command  the  Department  of  West  Virginia,  to 
Oakland,  Md.,  as  aide-de-camp.  January  i,  1865,  he 
was  promoted  to  First  Lieutenant  in  his  own  regiment. 

The  latter  part  of  March,  1865,  reported  to  General 
Crook  at  City  Point,  Va.,  he  having  been  assigned  to 
command  the  2nd  Cavalry  Division  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  and  served  with  it  in  General  Sheridan's  opera- 
tions. In  this  service  he  took  part  in  the  battles  around 
Dinwiddie  Court  House,  March  29th,  30th,  and  31st, 
at  Five  Forks  April  ist,  at  Jettersville  April  5  th,  at 
Sailors'  Creek  April  6th,  at  Farmville  April  7th,  and  at 
Appomattox  Court  House  April  9,  1865.  He  continued 
to  serve  with  General  Crook,  who  was  in  command  of  the 
Cavalry  Corps,  until  early  in  June,  when  he  joined  his 
regiment,  and  was  mustered  out  of  the  service  with  it 
June  8,  1865. 

June  22,  1865,  Lieutenant  Roberts  was  appointed  Cap- 
tain and  Aide-de-Camp,  and  accompanied  General  Crook 
to  Wilmington,  N.  C,  where  he  remained  on  duty  until 
December  7,  1865,  when  he  was  mustered  out  of  the 
volunteer  service. 

On  May  11,  1866,  he  was  appointed  Second  Lieuten- 
ant in  the  regular  army,  being  assigned  to  the  17th  United 
States  Infantry,  and  in  the  September  following  he  re- 
ported  for  duty   at   Newport   Barracks,    Ky.,   where   he 


264  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

organized  a  company  for  his  regiment,  and  proceeded  with 
it  to  Galveston,  Tex.  He  served  in  command  of  his  com- 
pany until  July,  1867,  when  he  was  detailed  on  the  staff  of 
Brevet  Major-General  Griffin.  His  service  in  Galveston, 
Tex.,  was  during  the  yellow  fever  epidemic  in  August, 
September,  and  October,  1867,  during  which  General 
Griffin,  nine  officers,  and  a  large  number  of  the  men  of  his 
regiment  died  from  the  fever. 

About  January  i,  1868,  he  was  appointed  as  Aide-de- 
Camp  for  Brevet  Major-General  Reynolds,  and  served 
with  him  until  he  was  relieved  from  command  by  Brevet 
Major-General  Canby,  with  whom  he  served  as  Adjutant- 
General  and  disbursing  officer,  "  Bureau  Refugees  and 
Freedmen,"  until  his  assignment  to  the  command  of  the 
1st  Military  District. 

He  joined  his  regiment  at  Richmond,  Va.,  in  April, 
1869,  and  served  with  it  in  Virginia  until  April,  1870, 
when  it  was  ordered  to  Dakota  Territory.  He  was  de- 
tailed as  Aide-de-Camp  for  Major-General  Crook  in 
August,  1880,  and  served  with  him  in  the  Department 
of  the  Platte  until  August,  1882,  when  he  accompanied 
him  to  Arizona.  Here  he  served  as  Adjutant-General 
of  the  troops  in  the  field  during  the  Indian  troubles  of 
1885  and  1886  (the  Geronimo  campaign).  Upon  the 
relief  of  General  Crook  from  the  command  of  the  De- 
partment of  Arizona  he.  asked  for  and  received  orders  to 
join  his  regiment  at  Fort  D.  A.  Russell,  Wyoming,  in 
August,  1886,  and  served  with  it  until  the  summer  of 
1888,  when  he  was  detailed  as  Aide-de-Camp  for  Major- 
General  Crook,  and  served  with  him  until  his  death  in 
March,  1889,  at  Chicago,  111. 

In  December  and  January,  1890  and  1891,  he  served 


CYRUS   SWAN   ROBERTS.  265 

In  the  Sioux  Indian  campaign  ("  Ghost  Shirt  ")  troubles. 
In  1894  his  regiment  was  ordered  for  station  at  Colum- 
bus Barracks,  Ohio,  where  he  remained  on  duty  with  It 
until  the  war  with  Spain.  In  May,  1898,  he  was  ap- 
pointed Lieutenant-Colonel  and  Assistant  Adjutant-Gen- 
eral of  Volunteers,  and  assigned  to  duty  with  the  2nd 
Army  Corps,  where  he  served  as  Adjutant-General  of  the 
Corps  until  the  end  of  August,  when  he  resigned  his 
volunteer  commission  and  took  command  of  his  regiment 
at  Montauk  Point,  L.  I. 

In  August,  1899,  he  was  assigned  to  duty  as  Adjutant- 
General  and  Judge-Advocate  of  the  Department  of  Texas. 
He  served  In  these  capacities  until  July,  1901,  when, 
having  been  promoted  Colonel  2nd  United  States  Infan- 
try, he  was  ordered  to  join  his  regiment  in  the  Philippines. 
He  reached  Manila  in  August  and  was  assigned  to  station 
at  Lucena,  Tayabas  Province,  where  he  was  In  command 
of  his  regiment  and  the  district  until  his  regiment  was 
ordered  to  Manila  and  he  was  placed  In  command  of  the 
city  and  garrison  of  Manila.  In  August,  1903,  Colonel 
Roberts  was  promoted  Brigadier-General,  United  States 
Army,  and  upon  his  own  request  was  retired  after  more 
than  forty  years  of  active  service. 

January  31,  1870,  he  married  Nannie  R.  Duval, 
daughter  of  Thomas  H.  Duval,  United  States  District 
Judge,  Western  District  of  Texas.  As  the  issue  of  this 
marriage  there  were :  Charles  Duval,  now  Captain  United 
States  Army,  born  June  18,  1873;  Cyrus  Swan,  Jr.,  born 
May  II,  1876,  died  November  19,  1903;  and  Laura  P., 
wife  of  First  Lieutenant  Tilman  Campbell,  United  States 
Artillery  Corps,  born  October  12,  1882. 


266  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

CHARLES  EDWARD  BENTON. 

The  youngest  child  of  William  and  Betsey  (Reed) 
Benton,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  September  1 1, 
1 84 1,  on  the  farm  in  Amenia,  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y., 
to  which  his  grandfather,  Caleb  Benton,  came  in  1794. 

On  his  father's  side  he  is  descended  from  Edward  Ben- 
ton, who  came  to  New  England  in  1638,  and  his  mother's 
American  paternal  line  begins  with  Captain  John  Reed, 
one  of  Cromwell's  officers  who  found  it  expedient,  upon 
the  restoration  of  the  throne  in  1660,  to  leave  the  land  of 
his  birth  and  come  to  New  England,  What  education 
Mr.  Benton  had  was  received  at  the  public  schools,  at 
the  Amenia  Seminary,  in  Amenia,  N.  Y.,  and  at  the 
Dutchess  County  Academy  in  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. 

September  6,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Company  A  of  the 
Dutchess  County  Regiment,  reaching  Camp  Dutchess 
with  the  Amenia  contingent  which  came  to  the  regiment 
with  First  Lieutenant  Henry  Gridley.  Soon  after  this  a 
regimental  band  was  formed  by  detailing  men  from  the 
ranks  for  that  service,  and  Mr.  Benton  was  included  in 
that  detail. 

Thereafter  his  service  with  the  regiment  was  in  that 
capacity,  with  the  exception  of  three  months  during  the 
summer  of  1864,  when  he  was  detailed  for  service  in  a 
receiving  hospital  at  Kingston,  Ga.  When  this  hospital 
was  discontinued  he  was  returned  to  the  regiment,  with 
which  he  served  to  the  close  of  the  war. 

His  father  died  in  May,  1865,  and  upon  the  settle- 
ment of  the  estate  Mr.  Benton  purchased  the  home  farm. 
This  he  afterward  sold  to  his  brother  Myron,  and  for 
a  year  worked  a  hired  farm.      In   1870  he  purchased  a 


CHARLES  EDWARD  BENTON.  267 

dairy  farm  in  Sharon,  Conn.,  and  made  that  his  residence 
until  1 89 1,  when  he  retired  from  activ^e  business  and 
removed  to  New  Bedford,  Mass.  During  his  residence 
in  Sharon  he  served  his  town  in  various  public  offices, 
and  was  for  many  years  a  member  of  the  Town  School 
Board. 

He  became  interested  in  the  Grange  movement,  believ- 
ing it  to  be  an  institution  well  calculated  for  bettering 
the  conditions  of  farmers  and  their  families,  and  it  was 
through  his  efforts  that  Webutuck  Grange  No.  86,  of 
Sharon,  Conn.,  was  organized.  This  was  the  first  Grange 
to  be  organized  in  that  part  of  the  country,  and  he  served 
as  its  Master  until  the  year  of  his  removal  from  the  town. 

He  is  also  an  enthusiastic  Grand  Army  man,  and  was 
Commander  of  John  M.  Gregory  Post,  No.  59,  Depart- 
ment of  Connecticut.  He  has,  in  his  later  home,  served 
as  Commander  of  R,  A.  Peirce  Post,  No.  190,  Depart- 
ment of  Massachusetts. 

Mr.  Benton  has  sometimes  found  relaxation  by  turn- 
ing from  the  plow  to  the  pen,  and  has  from  time  to  time 
contributed  to  various  periodicals,  on  a  rather  wide  range 
of  subjects.  In  1902  G.  P.  Putnam's  Sons,  of  New  York 
and  London,  published  a  book  from  his  pen,  entitled, 
"As  Seen  From  the  Ranks,"  which  received  favorable 
recognition  from  the  press  of  this  country  and  of  Eng- 
land. 

This  book  is  in  no  wise  a  history,  but  is  a  sketch  of 
personal  observations  and  impressions,  aiming  to  give 
faithful  pen  pictures  of  the  scenes  of  the  war  as  those 
scenes  appeared  to  a  youth  who  was  serving  in  the  ranks. 

A  later  publication  of  his  is  a  piece  of  family  history, — 
"  Caleb  Benton  and  Sarah  Bishop :  Their  Ancestors  and 


268  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Their  Descendants,"  issued  from  the  press  of  The  A.  V. 
Haight  Company,  of  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. 

Mr.  Benton  has  been  twice  married;  first,  October  6, 
1870,  to  Clara  Rogers  Foster,  of  Southampton,  N.  Y. 
She  died  in  1872,  leaving  an  infant  daughter  who  fol- 
lowed her  mother  a  few  months  later.  June  3,  1875, 
he  was  married  to  Harriet  Maria  Drown,  of  New  Bed- 
ford, Mass.,  by  whom  he  has  one  daughter,  Harriet  Jack- 
son Benton. 

EDWIN  A.  DAVIS. 

Edwin  A.  Davis,  son  of  Nelson  and  Adeline  (Austin) 
Davis,  was  born  September  28,  1841,  in  the  town  of 
Stanford,  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y.,  and  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  there.  Endowed  with  a  native 
mechanical  talent,  as  soon  as  his  school  days  were  ended 
he  sought  employment  in  those  lines  until  his  enlistment, 
September  15,  1862,  in  Company  A  of  our  Dutchess 
County  Regiment.  He  was  an  excellent  musician,  and 
when  the  regimental  band  was  organized  he  was  detailed 
as  a  member  of  it,  and  served  in  that  capacity  to  the  close 
of  the  war,  when  he  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 

After  his  discharge  he  worked  as  locomotive  engineer 
and  fireman  until  1872,  then  for  five  years  as  engineer  in 
the  New  York  Fire  Department.  After  that  he  held 
positions  as  master  mechanic  in  a  furnace  in  Millerton, 
N.  Y.,  with  the  Iron  Cliff  Company,  of  Negaunee,  Mich., 
in  Chester  Rolling  Mills,  at  Chester,  Pa.,  in  Crozer  Iron 
Company,  at  Roanoke,  Va.,  in  Buffalo  Furnace  Company, 
at  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  with  Lowmoor  Iron  Company,  in  Vir- 
ginia, and  in  the  American  Wire  and  Steel  Company,  of 
Pittsburgh,  Pa.     In   1903   Mr.  Davis  went  to  Cuba  as 


EDWIN  A.  DAVIS.  269 

Master  Mechanic  for  the  Garagua  &  Lacorba  Railroad, 
after  which  he  was  offered  and  accepted  a  position  under 
the  government,  and  is  now  employed  as  machinist  in  the 
Navy  Yard  at  Washington. 

In  1870  Mr.  Davis  was  married  to  Emma  T.  Powers, 
of  Amenia,  N.  Y.,  daughter  of  Gaylord  and  Abigail 
(Watts)  Powers,  and  seven  children  have  been  born  to 
them,  as  follows:  Edna,  now  Mrs.  Albert  Norton;  Ed- 
ward W. ;  Ella,  now  Mrs.  Harry  Witsell;  Caroline, 
now  Mrs.  Harold  Holman;  Lillie,  now  Mrs.  Charles 
Hollins;  Frank,  and  Chester  H. 

Of  incidents  in  connection  with  his  service  in  the  regi- 
ment Mr.  Davis  recalls  that  at  Gettysburg  he,  like  other 
members  of  the  regimental  band,  was  called  to  assist  the 
Medical  Department,  and  in  that  capacit}^  was  detailed 
for  service  at  the  12th  Corps  Field  Hospital.  Among 
the  ghastly  scenes  there  the  one  thing  which  most  im- 
pressed his  boyish  memory  was  a  pile  of  severed  legs  and 
arms  from  amputations;  a  pile  which  was  as  high  as  the 
amputation  table  itself.  Not  until  four  days  after  the 
battle  was  he  released  from  this  labor,  and  then  he  was 
ordered  to  report  promptly  to  his  regiment. 

He  started  off  on  foot  in  company  with  Corporal 
George  T.  Willson  of  Company  A,  who  was  recovering 
from  a  wound  received  at  Gettysburg,  and  together  they 
tramped  for  four  days,  until  they  overtook  the  regiment 
near  Williamsport,  Md.,  where  the  army  was  confront- 
ing the  retreating  enemy  who  were  getting  back  across  the 
Potomac  at  that  point,  and  at  Falling  Waters,  a  few 
miles  below. 

They  were  both  in  a  foot-sore  and  starving  condition 
when  they  reached  the  regiment,  for  they  had  subsisted 


270  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

mainly  on  such  nourishment  as  they  could  obtain  by 
shelling  out  heads  of  wheat  and  swallowing  the  kernels, 
and  the  sharp  stone-gravel  of  those  famous  stone  pikes 
of  Maryland  had  sorely  wounded  their  feet  after  blisters 
had  made  the  wearing  of  shoes  impossible. 

Nearly  a  year  later,  near  Acworth,  Ga.,  Mr.  Davis 
was  wounded.  At  the  time  this  occurred  there  was  a 
flank  movement  attempted  by  the  enemy,  by  which  the 
regiment  was  subjected  to  a  fire  which  came  partly  from 
one  side  and  the  rear.  A  rifle-ball  took  a  piece  of  skin 
from  his  thigh,  and  at  the  same  time  a  buck-shot,  or 
pistol-ball,  penetrated  his  left  hand.  The  wounds, 
though  for  a  time  painful  and  crippling,  did  not  compel 
him  to  leave  the  army,  and  he  continued  with  the  regi- 
ment, taking  his  part  in  the  various  duties  which  the  mem- 
bers of  the  band  were  called  upon  to  perform. 

EUGENE  MOTT  KEMPTON. 

Eugene  Mott  Kempton,  Company  A,  was  born  August 
II,  1862,  in  Robertsville,  S.  C.  His  parents  were  the 
Rev.  George  Kempton,  D.D.,  of  Stono,  S.  C,  and  Sarah 
E.  Mott  of  Hamilton,  N.  Y.  He  came  north  when  about 
three  years  of  age. 

Was  a  pupil  in  the  New  Brunswick,  N.  J.,  high  school, 
and  later  spent  about  two  years  in  Madison  University, 
Hamilton,  N.  Y.,  but  because  of  poor  health  gave  up 
his  plan  of  a  classical  education,  and  took  a  business 
course  at  Crittenden's  Commercial  College,  Philadelphia, 
Pa.,  graduating  in  April,  1861.  After  graduating  he 
secured  employment  as  clerk  and  bookkeeper  in  a  store 
in  Amenia,  N.  Y.,  and  while  working  there  enlisted  Sep- 


MILES  K.  LEWIS.  271 

tember  6,  1862,  with  Lieutenant  Henry  Gridley.  Was 
mustered  into  United  States  service  with  the  regiment  Oc- 
tober II,  1862.  Was  appointed  a  Corporal,  September  20, 
1863,  and  held  that  position  until  mustered  out  with  the 
regiment  June  8,  1865.  Was  detailed  at  regimental  head- 
quarters as  clerk  soon  after  Gettysburg,  remaining  there 
until  muster-out.  Returned  to  work  in  the  Amenia  store 
in  1867,  and  in  1872,  by  grace  of  General  Ketcham,  was 
appointed  postmaster  at  Amenia,  retaining  that  position 
until  1893,  a  term  of  21  years,  during  nearly  the  whole  of 
which  time  he  was  Town  Clerk  of  the  town.  From  1895 
to  1905  was  employed  in  the  Civil  Service  of  New  York 
State  at  Albany  until  forced  because  of  poor  health  to 
resign.  Married  in  1870  to  Mary  Culver  Davis  of 
Amenia,  N.  Y.,  resulting  in  births  of  George  R.,  Jessie 
D.,  and  Jeannette  M.,  all  living  at  this  time. 

MILES  K.  LEWIS. 

Mr.  Lewis  was  born  in  Sharon,  Litchfield  County, 
Conn.,  August  15,  1842,  the  third  son  of  Miles  B.  and 
Maria  H.  (Kelsey)  Lewis.  He  is  a  worthy  representa- 
tive of  New  England  stock,  and  fairly  illustrates  the 
sort  of  material  that  went  into  the  rank  and  file  of  the 
armies  that  defended  the  country  in  its  time  of  need. 

He  received  his  education  at  the  public  schools — noted 
for  their  excellence — of  his  native  town,  and  at  the  early 
age  of  fifteen  left  the  parental  roof  to  begin  life  on  his 
own  account.  His  first  service  was  as  a  clerk  in  the  store 
of  George  Conklin  in  Amenia,  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y., 
in  which  service  he  remained  until  the  spring  of  1862, 
when  he  accepted  an  excellent  position  with  the  firm  of 


272  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Seward,  Vail  &  Haight,  merchant  tailors,  in  Poughkeepsie, 
N.  Y. 

The  summer  which  followed  saw  the  discouraging  lack 
of  progress  of  our  armies  answered  by  a  rising  tide  of 
patriotism  all  over  the  country,  which  bid  defiance  to 
disaster,  and  when,  in  the  autumn  of  that  year,  the 
"  Dutchess  County  Regiment  "  was  being  organized  at 
Poughkeepsie  Mr.  Lewis  responded  to  his  country's  call. 
He  enlisted  September  ii,  1862,  as  a  private  in  Company 
A  of  that  regiment. 

Upon  the  formation  of  the  regimental  band  he  was 
detailed  to  service  in  that  organization,  for  he  is  a  talented 
musician,  and  served  with  it  until  mustered  out  with  the 
regiment.  The  only  time  he  was  absent  from  it  was  when 
he  was  sick  with  the  fever  in  Virginia;  a  sickness  which 
very  nearly  cost  him  his  life.  But  he  was  able  to  join  us 
during  the  time  of  our  winter  camp  in  Tennessee,  and 
shared  the  fortunes  of  the  regiment  from  that  time  on. 

Upon  returning  to  civil  life,  he  at  first  entered  a  gen- 
eral store,  with  John  M.  Case  and  Theodore  Wing,  at 
Dover  Plains,  N.  Y.  But  in  January,  1866,  upon  the 
solicitation  of  the  parents  and  brother  of  the  lamented 
Lieutenant  Henry  Gridley  (who  was  killed  in  battle  at 
the  head  of  his  company  near  Marietta,  Ga.),  he  opened 
a  general  store  at  Wassaic,  N.  Y.,  a  business  which  at  this 
writing  he  still  conducts. 

In  addition  to  this  he  was  for  fifteen  years  connected 
with  the  New  York  Condensed  Milk  Co.,  which  has  a 
factory  at  that  place,  as  bookkeeper  and  cashier.  At  the 
same  place  also  N.  Gridley  &  Son  conducted  an  extensive 
and  complicated  business  which  included  an  iron  mine 
and  furnace,  as  well  as  a  large  amount  of  farm  and  wood 


MILES  K.  LEWIS.  273 

land,  and  other  real  estate  interests.  After  the  death  of 
both  Mr.  Gridley  and  his  son  Edward,  who  were  the  only 
members  of  the  firm,  the  Court  appointed  Mr.  Lewis  to 
be  receiver  of  the  firm,  and  in  that  capacity  he  conducted 
its  extensive  affairs  and  closed  them  up  satisfactorily. 

He  was  also  appointed  administrator  of  the  estate  of 
Noah  Gridley,  and,  with  Charles  E.  Benton,  was  execu- 
tor of  the  estate  of  Noah  Gridley's  widow,  Mrs.  Emeline 
Gridley.  All  of  these  large  properties  were  managed 
with  a  skill  and  success  which  showed  Mr.  Lewis  to  be 
endowed  with  an  excellent  business  ability,  as  well  as 
with  an  integrity  which  won  the  confidence  of  all  who  had 
dealings  with  him. 

For  eight  successive  years  he  was  the  unanimous  choice 
of  his  town  as  its  representative  in  the  Board  of  Super- 
visors at  the  county  seat,  and  as  a  member  of  the  Board 
was  chairman  of  important  committees.  One  of  these 
was  that  through  whose  recommendation  the  office  of 
sheriff  was  made  a  salaried  ofl'ice,  as  it  always  should  be. 
Another  was  the  committee  appointed  on  the  equalization 
of  taxes  throughout  the  county.  He  was  also  secretary 
of  the  committee  which  had  in  charge  the  building  of  the 
new  county  court  house  and  jail,  and  in  his  own  town  he 
is  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Health. 

Mr.  Lewis  was  married  at  Amenia,  October  24th, 
1867,  to  Julia  C,  daughter  of  Lester  and  Margaret 
(Scott)  Reed,  and  four  children  have  been  born  to  them: 
Emma  G.,  wife  of  Edwin  Tanner,  Nina  R.,  wife  of 
Albert  Hicks,  Alice  R.,  wife  of  William  Scott,  and 
Roland  C.  Lewis. 


274  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

ALBERT  BANISTER  REED. 

By  Charles  E.  Benton. 

Albert  B.  Reed  was  one  of  those  heroes  whose  service 
in  the  field  was  short,  and  in  his  case  it  ended  in  the  too 
frequent  tragedy,  but  it  is  fitting  that  at  least  this  brief 
tribute  to  a  worthy  member  should  find  a  place  in  the 
regiment's  history. 

He  was  the  son  of  Newton  Reed — author  of  "Early 
History  of  Amenia" — and  Ann  (Van  Dyck)  Reed;  his 
grandfather,  Ezra  Reed,  having  four  grandsons  in  Com- 
pany A  of  our  regiment. 

While  his  father's  ancestry  was  entirely  from  the  early 
English  colonists,  his  mother's  was  of  a  prominent  Dutch 
family  which  early  settled  on  the  Hudson,  and  this  youth 
bore  in  his  own  person  an  excellent  composite  of  those 
two  races  which  have  played  such  a  part  in  the  making 
of  this  country. 

The  fire  of  Albert  B.  Reed's  patriotism  was  a  pure 
flame,  undimmed  by  any  thought  of  self  seeking,  and  it 
was  fully  recognized  by  his  friends  when  he  enlisted  to 
carry  a  rifle  at  the  age  of  seventeen  that  his  motives  were 
beyond  question.  Among  his  officers  he  was  soon  known 
as  one  whose  courage  and  honesty  were  always  to  be 
relied  on. 

Soon  after  enlistment  he  was  appointed  Corporal, 
being  marked  for  further  advancement  as  opportunity 
should  offer.  He  passed  through  the  Gettysburg  cam- 
paign unscathed,  but  in  Virginia  fell  a  victim  to  the  fever 
which  invaded  the  camp  in  the  lowlands  of  the  Rappa- 
hannock. His  father  was  sent  for,  and  arrived  just  as 
the  regiment  was  about  to  be  moved  farther  south.     The 


EDGAR  NICHOLAS  SHELDEN.  ,  275 

sick  of  the  regiment  were  sent  back  in  the  cars,  and  Albert 
died  in  his  father's  arms  before  reaching  Alexandria. 

He  was  a  boy  to  be  loved  for  his  many  charming  per- 
sonal qualities,  as  well  as  on  account  of  his  noble  Christian 
character,  and  short  as  was  his  service  doubtless  his  influ- 
ence is  more  far-reaching  than  can  easily  be  reckoned. 

"  The  heroism  of  personality  is  an  unspent  force,  which 
always  registers  gain  somewhere." 

EDGAR  NICHOLAS  SHELDEN. 

Edgar  N.  Shelden,  son  of  Nicholas  and  Rachel  Maria 
(Swift)  Shelden,  was  born  at  Deposit,  Delaware  County, 
N.  Y.,  July  25,  1842.  The  family  removed  to  Dutchess 
County,  N.  Y.,  where  he  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools,  and  for  a  time  attended  the  Friends' 
School  in  the  Town  of  Washington,  in  that  county. 

Early  in  life  he  became  an  earner,  for  his  father  died, 
and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  Mr.  Shelden  went  to  work  on  a 
farm,  continuing  in  that  employment  until  he  entered 
the  army.  He  enlisted  in  Company  A  of  our  regiment 
at  Baltimore,  April  8,  1863,  and  was  soon  made  a 
Corporal. 

Of  war's  moving  adventure  and  hair-breadth  escapes 
"  Our  Nick  "  had  his  full  share,  through  all  of  which  he 
bore  himself  so  well  that  he  won  the  confidence  of  those 
under  whom  he  serv^ed,  and  became  known  as  one  who 
could  be  relied  on  in  all  circumstances. 

At  the  battle  of  Gettysburg  his  service  was  with  the 
regiment  during  the  battle,  and  after  its  close  he  was 
one  of  the  detail  which  was  placed  in  charge  of  Chaplain 
Vassar,  charged  with  the  duty  of  searching  the  field  for 


276  .     THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

our  dead,  and  he  says  that  the  Chaplain  is  entitled  to  the 
greatest  credit  for  his  faithful  service  in  that  connection. 

Included  in  the  detail  were  some  members  of  the  ist 
Maryland  Potomac  Home  Brigade — which  was  brigaded 
with  us — and  when  they  reached  the  place  near  Spangler's 
Spring  at  which  this  regiment  had  met  the  ist  Maryland 
Confederate  Regiment  a  first  lieutenant  of  our  Mary- 
land Regiment  found  among  the  enemy's  slain  his  own 
brother, — a  first  lieutenant  in  the  enemy's  Maryland  regi- 
ment. He  was  mortally  wounded,  and  died  soon  after 
being  found  by  his  brother.  This  and  the  many  other 
terrible  sights  met  with,  Mr.  Shelden  says,  revealed  more 
of  the  dreadful  earnestness  and  tragedy  of  the  war  than 
any  other  experience  which  he  passed  through  at  the  front. 

From  this  time  his  service  continued  with  the  regiment 
until  the  siege  of  Atlanta.  On  July  20,  1864,  while  the 
regiment  was  stationed  near  Peach  Tree  Creek,  our 
pickets  advanced  and  captured  some  of  the  enemy's  out- 
posts. During  this  action  Mr.  Shelden  was  wounded  by 
the  bursting  of  a  shell  from  one  of  the  enemy's  siege  guns, 
a  piece  of  the  shell  striking  him  in  the  side  and  loosening 
several  of  his  ribs.  While  he  was  being  carried  on  a 
stretcher  to  the  rear  the  bullets  at  one  time  came  so  thick 
that  the  men  carrying  him  dropped  the  stretcher  to  the 
ground. 

But  he  was  finally  removed  to  the  rear,  where  he  was 
cared  for  by  the  surgeons  of  the  regiment,  and  was 
eventually  sent,  with  other  wounded  men,  to  the  hospital 
at  Chattanooga.  He  recovered  from  his  wound  and 
joined  the  regiment  again,  reaching  it  just  in  time  to  take 
part  in  the  famous  "  March  to  the  Sea." 

Not   long   after   his    return   to   the   regiment  he   was 


EDGAR  NICHOLAS  SHELDEN.  277 

detailed  for  service  at  General  Slocum's  headquarters, 
where  he  was  employed  in  carrying  dispatches  to  the 
commandants  of  the  various  Divisions  of  Sherman's 
army.  He  continued  in  the  discharge  of  this  responsible 
and  sometimes  hazardous  duty  until  the  close  of  the  war, 
when  he  rode  in  the  grand  review  at  Washington  with 
the  mounted  men  attached  to  General  Slocum's  head- 
quarters. 

Of  his  service  in  connection  with  headquarters  he 
recalls  many  stirring  incidents.  One  of  these  was  in  the 
night  after  the  day  in  which  there  was  a  slight  stampede 
in  the  14th  Army  Corps,  near  Bentonville,  N.  C.  Mr. 
Shelden,  with  Colonel  Asmussen,  General  Slocum's  Chief 
of  StafF,  was  sent  with  dispatches  from  General  Slocum 
to  General  Sherman.  The  night  was  dark  and  the  rain 
fell  in  torrents,  and  to  reach  the  place  they  were  obliged 
to  swim  their  horses  across  a  deep  river.  They  at  last 
found  General  Sherman  (covered  with  a  poncho  and  sit- 
ting by  his  campfire)  and  delivered  to  him  the  dispatches. 
After  reading  them  General  Sherman  said,  "  Tell  Slocum 
to  hold  his  line  and  I'll  'tend  to  them  as  soon  as  it's  light." 
The  events  of  the  following  day  proved  that  General 
Sherman  made  good  his  promise  to  "  'tend  to  them." 

With  his  errand  accomplished  Mr.  Shelden  returned  to 
his  command,  which  he  reached  just  before  dawn.  Soon 
after  this  one  of  the  headquarters  escort  was  wounded, 
and  he  was  sent  to  the  rear  for  an  arnbulance.  Imme- 
diately on  his  return  Colonel  Asmussen  said, — "  Shelden, 
I  want  you  to  go  and  have  the  scouts  report  to  me  at 
once,  as  to  what  is  in  front  of  us." 

Putting  spurs  to  his  horse,  "  Nick "  dashed  up  the 
road;  but  the  enemy's  pickets  had  discovered  the  move- 


278  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

ment,  and  they  Immediately  opened  a  rattling  fire  on  him. 
His  horse  Instinctively  recognized  the  danger,  and  of  his 
own  accord  sprang  Into  the  woods  at  the  side  of  the  road. 
Fortunately  he  was  not  hit,  and  he  succeeded  in  finding 
the  scouts,  in  the  place  where  they  were  carefully  con- 
cealed from  the  enemy,  and  delivered  his  message. 

Upon  his  return  Colonel  Asmussen  turned  to  his  men 
and  said,  "There;  I  told  you  I  had  one  man  I  could 
depend  upon." 

But  "  Nick's  "  quick  reply  was, — "  Not  If  I  had  known 
what  was  ahead  of  me.  Colonel!  " 

Returning  to  civil  life  Mr,  Shelden  was  appointed  to 
a  responsible  position  in  the  United  States  Customs  Service 
at  New  York,  a  work  in  which  he  is  still  employed. 

November  3,  1873,  he  was  married  In  New  York  City 
by  the  Reverend  W.  H.  Boole  to  Nora  Augusta,  daughter 
of  Benjamin  W.  and  Nancy  Ann  (Andreys)  Way,  and 
two  sons,  William  Boole  and  Obed  Wheeler,  have  been 
born  to  them. 

GEORGE  RYNUS. 

George  Rynus  was  born  in  the  town  of  Unionvale, 
Dutchess  County,  N.  Y.,  on  October  23,  1841,  although 
he  has  spent  most  of  the  sixty-five  years  of  his  life  in  the 
town  of  Washington,   Dutchess  County. 

His  father's  name  was  Mimard  W.  Rynus,  who  was 
born  in  the  city  of  Poughkeepsie,  and  was  a  soldier  in 
the  War  of  18 12.  His  mother's  maiden  name  was  Eliza 
Dutcher,  who  was  also  born  in  the  city  of  Poughkeepsie. 

He  enlisted  September  i,  1862,  at  Washington,  N.  Y., 
and  was  mustered  in  as  private  of  Company  A  October 
10,   1862,  was  promoted  Corporal  December   19,   1863, 


JAMES  H.  VASSAR.  279 

and  made  Sergeant  April  24,  1865  ;  mustered  out  with  his 
company  June  8,   1865. 

He  was  married  November  30,  1873,  to  Mary  Brei- 
bun.  They  have  one  daughter,  Mattie  Adele,  who  mar- 
ried Adelbert  F.  Coolcingham.  They  also  have  two 
grandchildren. 

JAMES  H.  VASSAR. 

James  Hervey  Vassar  was  the  third  and  youngest  son 
of  William  and  Mary  (Hageman)  Vassar,  and  was 
born  at  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  October  20,  1839.  He 
was  named  for  his  great-uncle,  James,  the  father  of  the 
founder  of  Vassar  College,  so  widely  known.  The  great- 
uncle  died  while  his  namesake  was  still  a  babe.  Thomas 
and  James  Vassar  were  the  first  of  the  line  to  cross  the 
Atlantic,  and  the  names  of  both  brothers  were  perpetuated 
by  boys  in  William  Vassar's  home. 

Another  son  of  William  was  called  after  his  maternal 
grandfather,  Adrian  Hageman  (sometimes  written 
"  Hegeman  "),  an  uncle  of  the  man  who  established  the 
now  widely  known  drug  business  of  Hegeman,  Clark  & 
Co.,  of  New  York  City.  This  brother  too  was  a  soldier 
of  the  Civil  War,  and  an  officer  on  the  staff  of  General 
N.  P.  Banks.  He  died  in  the  service  at  Point  Isabel, 
Texas.  The  eldest  son,  Thomas,  first  Chaplain  of  our 
regiment,  is  mentioned  elsewhere  in  this  history. 

James  H.,  like  his  brothers,  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Poughkeepsie,  and  began  working  for  himself 
in  the  manufacturing  establishment  of  Hotchkiss  &  Sons 
at  Sharon,  Conn.,  when  about  nineteen  years  of  age. 
While  there  employed  he  heard  the  call  to  arms  that  so 


280  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Stirred  many  youth,  and  enlisted  in  Company  A  of  the 
Dutchess  County  Regiment, 

He  was  somewhat  proficient  in  music,  and  that  fact  led 
to  his  being  detailed  to  serve  as  leader  of  the  regimental 
band,  and  in  this  capacity  he  continued  until  his  regiment 
was  mustered  out  at  the  close  of  the  war.  In  the  old 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  later  in  all  of  Sherman's 
famous  campaigns,  from  Chattanooga  to  the  sea,  and 
northward  to  Washington,  he  shared  in  all  the  toils  and 
triumphs. 

On  returning  home  and  falling  into  the  pursuits  of 
peace  he  was  offered  a  position  in  the  United  States  Treas- 
ury at  Boston,  and  here,  in  different  capacities,  he  has  held 
a  place  for  more  than  forty  years.  For  two  decades  or 
more  his  office  has  been  that  of  specie  clerk,  and  on  the 
coin  question  he  is  now  an  expert,  and  conceded  to  be  one 
of  the  best  authorities  of  the  land. 

In  1870  he  married  Etta,  daughter  of  Hon.  George 
M.  Rice,  of  Worcester,  Mass.,  one  of  the  leading  busi- 
ness men  of  that  city,  and  a  prominent  member  of  the 
upper  house  of  the  Massachusetts  Legislature.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Vassar  have  one  daughter,  Mary  W.,  a  graduate  of 
Boston  University.  Their  summer  home  is  at  Lynn,  but 
commonly  their  winters  are  spent  in  Boston. 

Mr.  Vassar  is  still  hale  and  hearty,  and  bids  fair  to 
round  out  a  half  centui-y  of  civil  service,  beside  the  mili- 
tary service  rendered  to  his  land.  Practically  about  all 
his  days  have  been  given  to  the  public  interests  of  the 
country  that  he  calls  his  own. 


GEORGE  THERON  WILLSON.  281 

GEORGE  THERON  JVILLSON. 

George  T.  Willson  was  born  in  the  town  of  North 
East,  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y,,  on  February  3,   1837. 

His  father's  name  was  Theron,  and  his  mother's  name 
was  Eliza  (Colhns)  Willson. 

His  education  was  received  at  the  District  School 
located  on  his  father's  farm,  Warren  Institute  (Conn.), 
and  at  Amenia  Seminary. 

After  leaving  school  he  worked  upon  his  father's  farm 
until  eighteen  years  of  age  when  he  went  as  clerk  in  the 
general  store  of  L.  D.  Hedges  at  Pine  Plains,  where  he 
remained  two  years,  when  he  went  back  to  the  farm  and 
remained  there  until  his  father's  death,  which  occurred 
in  January,  1862. 

He  enlisted  in  the  Dutchess  County  Regiment  on  Sep- 
tember 5th  and  was  mustered  in  as  Corporal  of  Com- 
pany A,  October  11,  1862. 

He  followed  the  general  fortunes  of  the  regiment  until 
the  capture  of  Atlanta,  when  he  was  detailed  in  the 
Quartermaster's  Department  of  the  First  Division  of  the 
20th  Corps,  where  he  remained  until  the  close  of  the  war. 

At  the  battle  of  Gettysburg  on  July  3,  1863,  while  we 
were  defending  the  line  on  Culp's  Hill,  he  was  struck  in 
the  forehead  by  some  kind  of  a  missile,  probably  a  spent 
bullet,  which  fractured  the  external  tablet  of  the  skull, 
and  knocked  him  down  unconscious.  Supposing  him  to 
have  been  killed,  some  of  his  comrades  carried  him  behind 
a  large  tree  in  close  proximity  to  our  line,  where  he  was 
left  for  dead.  Later,  he  was  carried  back  to  the  field 
hospital  and  laid  among  the  rows  of  the  dead. 

He  thinks  it  must  have  been  about  2  A.  M.  when  he 


282  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

recovered  consciousness,  and  seeing  the  surgeons  at  their 
gruesome  work  upon  the  wounded  amid  the  blood  and 
uncertain  light,  and  not  knowing  where  he  was,  he  fainted 
and  did  not  again  recover  until  it  was  broad  daylight, 
when  he  again  awoke  to  find  himself  partly  covered  with 
the  arms  and  legs  the  surgeons  had  amputated  and  thrown 
near  him.  His  wound  proved  to  be  not  as  serious  as  at 
first  it  was  thought  it  was,  and  in  a  few  days  he  was  back 
again  doing  full  duty. 

Dr.  S.  G.  Cook,  who  had  been  detailed  to  give  tem- 
porary surgical  aid  to  the  wounded  on  the  field,  was  kept 
informed  by  his  stretcher  bearers  of  those  that  had  been 
killed.  Among  the  names  so  reported  to  him  were  those 
of  John  Van  Alstyne,  John  Wing,  Levi  Rust,  Jedediah 
Murphy,  Tallmadge  Wood  and  others.  In  addition  to 
those  so  reported  to  him  was  the  name  of  George  T. 
Willson,  and  he  sent  his  name  in  as  among  the  killed, 
and  it  was  so  published  in  some  of  the  papers. 

After  the  war  he  engaged  in  the  speculation  of  cattle 
and  horses,  traveling  extensively  through  the  western 
parts  of  this  state,  Ohio,  Illinois,   Indiana  and  Canada. 

In  1888  he  engaged  in  the  lumber,  coal,  and  feed  busi- 
ness, to  which  later  was  added  the  manufacture  of  brick, 
in  partnership  with  L.  F.  Eaton,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Willson  &  Eaton.  It  is  now  one  of  the  most  prosperous 
firms  in  Eastern  Dutchess. 

He  was  married  September  13,  1876,  to  Emma  Darke, 
by  whom  he  had  four  children,  three  of  whom,  Charles 
T.,  Georgiana  and  Lee  D.,  are  now  living. 


JOHN  A.  WALLACE.  283 

JOHN  A.  WALLACE. 

John  Alva  Wallace  was  born  in  Hyde  Park,  Dutchess 
County,  N.  Y.,  February  ii,  1842,  and  is  the  son  of 
David  and  Gertrude  Wallace.  He  received  his  educa- 
tion at  the  public  schools  of  New  York  City,  the  Strat- 
ford (Connecticut)  Academy,  and  Williams  College, 
Williamstown,   Mass. 

While  a  student  at  Williams  College  he  enlisted,  dur- 
ing a  vacation,  in  Company  A  of  the  21st  Regiment, 
N.  G.  N.  Y.  S.,  under  Captain  R.  R.  Hayman,  June  27, 
1863,  and  was  discharged  August  6,  1863,  by  reason  of 
expiration  of  term  of  service.  April  16,  1864,  he  again 
enlisted,  this  time  in  Company  A,  150th  New  York  State 
Volunteers,  and  was  sent  to  Hart's  Island,  N.  Y.,  where 
he  remained  on  detailed  service  until  he  connected  with  the 
regiment  at  Raleigh,  N.  C,  just  in  time  to  start  with  it 
for  home. 

Having  reported  to  his  company  he  was  again  detailed 
for  service,  in  the  Topographical  Engineer  Corps,  and 
served  in  that  Corps  until  Washington  was  reached,  when 
he  was  transferred  to  the  60th  New  York  Veteran  Vol- 
unteers, where  he  served  until  mustered  out  of  the  service 
at  Ogdensburg,  N.  Y.,  July  31,  1865. 

After  being  mustered  out  he  engaged  in  school  teaching 
in  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y.,  for  a  year  or  so,  and  in  1867 
he  entered  the  chief  engineer's  office  of  the  Brooklyn 
Navy  Yard,  where  he  served  as  a  clerk  until  1873,  when 
he  moved  to  Chester,  Pa.,  and  entered  the  employ  of  the 
late  John  Roach,  as  timekeeper  in  the  well-known  Roach 
shipyard  in  that  city. 

In  187 1,  having  been  appointed  postmaster  of  Chester, 


284  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

he  left  the  shipyard  and  entered  on  his  duties  as  post- 
master of  that  city.  While  so  engaged  he  organized  the 
Chester  Times  Publishing  Company,  which  bought  the 
Chester  Times,  and  acted  as  editor  and  manager  of  the 
paper  until  1887,*  when  he  bought  the  paper  and  became 
its  sole  owner.  In  1891  he  sold  a  half  interest  in  the 
paper  to  William  C,  Sproule,  forming  a  copartnership 
under  the  name  Wallace  &  Sproule,  and  the  paper  is  still 
published  by  that  firm. 

For  two  years  Mr.  Wallace  was  half  owner  in  the 
Trenton  (N.  J.)  Times,  and  edited  and  managed  that 
paper,  but  a  flattering  offer  having  been  made  for  it,  it 
was  accepted  and  the  paper  sold  to  its  present  owners. 
In  May,  1902,  he  was  again  appointed  to  the  postmaster- 
ship  of  Chester,  Pa.,  and  was  reappointed  for  another 
term  by  President  Roosevelt  on  June  5,   1906. 

Besides  his  active  and  successful  business  career,  Mr. 
Wallace  has  been  vitally  in  touch  with  the  social  and 
religious  life  of  the  community  In  which  he  has  lived,  to 
a  degree  rarely  excelled.  The  barest  mention  of  the  posi- 
tions he  has  held  in  various  societies  and  organizations 
for  the  betterment  of  mankind  gives  one  glimpses  of  a 
life  both  active  and  useful;  a  life  largely  devoted  to  the 
welfare  of  the  public. 

He  is  a  member  and  ex-president  of  the  Chester  Board 
of  Trade,  has  served  as  president  of  the  City  Council, 
and  president  of  the  Chester  Water  Board,  is  president 
of  the  Chester  Heights  Camp  Meeting  Association, 
president  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Trinity  M.  E. 
Church,  vice-president  of  the  Chester  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  a 
trustee  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Hospital  of  Phila- 
delphia, superintendent  of  Trinity  M.  E.  Sunday  School, 


ANDREW  J.   OSTROM.  28S 

director  in  the   Cambridge  Trust   Company  of  Chester, 
a  member  of  the  Board  of  Church  Extension  of  the  M. 

E.  Church,  and  a  member  of  Chester  Lodge  No.   236, 

F.  &  A.  M.,  Chester  No.  258,  R.  A.  M.,  and  Chester 
Commandery  No.  66.,  K.  T. 

He  was  married  to  Emeline  Coyle  of  Poughkeepsie 
in  May,  1864,  and  they  have  five  children,  as  follows: 
Mrs.  J.  Frank  Kitts,  Sharon  Hill,  Pa.,  Frank  Wallace, 
foreman  in  Government  Printing  Office  at  Washington, 
D.  C,  Robert  Wallace,  of  Hamilton,  Ohio,  Mrs.  Rich- 
ard G.  La  Domus,  of  Hannibal,  Mo.,  and  Miss  Sarah 
Gertrude  Wallace,  of  Chester,  Pa, 

ANDREIF  J.  OSTROM. 

Andrew  J.  Ostrom  was  born  July  21,  1833,  in  the 
town  of  Hyde  Park,  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y. 

His  education  was  limited  to  about  three  years  in  the 
district  schools  in  his  neighborhood.  At  the  age  of  twelve 
he  entered  upon  the  duties  of  a  farmer's  boy,  and  never 
again  lived  under  the  paternal  roof  as  many  days,  putting 
them  altogether,  as  there  are  in  a  year.  He  was  born  of 
humble  parents  of  limited  means.  He  divided  his  time 
between  farming  and  teaming,  and  in  the  year  1862  he 
enlisted  in  Company  B,  150th  N.  Y.  Volunteers,  at  the 
age  of  thirty  years. 

He  was  mustered  into  Company  B  as  First  Sergeant, 
September  5,  1862,  as  Second  Lieutenant  April  26, 
1863,  and  as  First  Lieutenant  October  21,  1864.  He 
participated  in  all  the  battles,  skirmishes  and  marchings 
of  the  regiment  throughout  its  whole  course,  and  came 
home  without  a  scratch,  and  was  mustered  out  with  his 
company  June  8,   1865,  near  Washington,  D.  C. 


286  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

With  all  the  hardships,  privations  and  dangers  a  soldier 
has  to  endure,  he  found  in  the  midst  of  them  incidents 
at  which  he  had  to  laugh.  The  following  is  one  of  sev- 
eral he  relates :  At  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  Creek,  July 
20,  1864,  in  the  thickest  of  the  fight  Augustus  Phillips,  a 
brave  and  good  soldier,  was  loading  and  firing  as  rapidly 
as  any  of  the  boys  when  a  bullet  struck  his  knapsack,  went 
through  and  struck  a  frying-pan  attached  to  it.  The 
rattling  of  it  was  enough  to  scare  any  one.  He  dropped 
his  gun  and  howled,  "  Lieutenant,  I  am  shot,  I  am  shot!  " 
The  lieutenant  said,  "  Shut  up,  you  damn  fool,  you  make 
too  much  noise  to  be  shot!  "  and  he  went  at  it  again  as 
though  nothing  had  happened. 

CHARLES  T.  JOHNSON. 

Charles  T.  Johnson  was  born  in  Wayne  County,  N.  Y., 
June  30,  1843,  where  he  lived  with  his  parents  until  his 
ninth  year,  when  the  family  moved  to  Poughkeepsie,  where 
they  had  previously  resided.  The  father  of  Charles  was 
Daniel,  an  only  child — the  son  of  a  shipmaster — born  in 
Middletown,  Conn.,  while  his  mother,  Susan  (Tibbitts) 
Johnson,  was  of  Beekmanville,  N.  Y.  Into  the  family 
of  which  Charles  was  a  member  eight  children  were  born, 
— three  daughters  and  five  sons, — Charles  being  next  to 
the  youngest. 

Every  one  of  these  five  sons  enlisted  during  the  war, 
but  for  family  reasons  two — the  oldest  and  youngest — 
were  induced  to  remain  at  home.  Daniel,  Jr.,  John  J. 
and  Charles  T.  entered  the  active  service,  the  two  first 
enlisting  in  Company  K  of  the  48th  Regiment  New  York 
Volunteers  early  in  1861.  Daniel  was  killed  on  the  top 
of  Fort  Wagner  in  Charleston  Harbor,  S.  C,  during  a 


CHARLES  T.  JOHNSON.  287 

night  attack  thereon  July  i8,  1863,  and  John  J.  severely 
wounded  at  the  same  time,  and  later,  in  1864,  more  seri- 
ously wounded  at  the  battle  of  Cold  Harbor,  Va.,  from 
the  effects  of  which  he  died  a  few  weeks  subsequent  in 
Washington,  D.  C. 

Mr.  Johnson  enlisted  August  13,  1862,  being  then 
nineteen  years  of  age,  served  as  private  and  Corporal 
in  Company  B  of  the  Dutchess  County  Regiment  till  the 
close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment, 
having  taken  part  in  every  engagement  in  which  it  par- 
ticipated, without  serious  sickness;  never  having  a  fur- 
lough, or  being  absent  a  day,  and  never  receiving  an 
important  wound  while  in  the  service. 

While  the  regiment  was  at  Baltimore,  Md.,  he  was 
on  permanent  detail  as  one  of  the  guards  at  General 
Schenck's  headquarters;  at  Gettysburg  helped  to  draw 
off  the  guns  of  a  battery  near  the  famous  "  Peach 
Orchard"  on  the  night  of  July  2d,  when  they  were  about 
to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy  after  every  horse  had 
been  killed,  the  guns  being  still  so  hot  from  use  that 
they  nearly  burned  the  bare  hands;  was  on  the  outer 
vedette  line  of  skirmishers  the  night  the  Confederate 
army  crossed  the  Potomac  some  two  weeks  later,  and 
with  one  of  his  company  was  in  the  line  they  abandoned 
a  half  hour  later;  was  on  the  skirmish  line  at  the  battle 
of  Resaca,  Ga.,  May  15,  1864;  at  New  Hope  Church, 
May  25th  following,  was  hit  with  a  spent  ball  (which 
fortunately  came  through  a  comrade's  coffee-pot  first)  ; 
was  on  the  skirmish  line  at  the  battle  of  Kolb's  Farm, 
June  22,  1864,  the  day  that  Lieutenant  Gridley  was 
killed. 

For   the    hazardous   work    of   the    skirmish   line    Mr. 


288  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Johnson  seems  to  have  been  a  favorite  choice  with  his 
officers,  and  on  the  night  when  Sherman's  army  fell  back 
in  front  of  Atlanta  to  a  point  on  the  Chattahoochee  river 
he  was  one  of  the  outer  vedettes,  and  was  the  last  to 
leave  the  line  on  the  left  of  the  Marietta  Pike,  and  at 
the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  Creek,  July  20,  1864,  which 
was  one  of  the  numerous  conflicts  in  front  of  Atlanta, 
one  of  the  enemy's  bullets  cut  a  lock  of  hair  from  over 
his  right  ear. 

Previous  to  the  war  Mr.  Johnson  had  attended  the 
public  schools  and  served  an  apprenticeship  at  the  print- 
ing business,  but  at  the  time  of  enlistment,  because  in  need 
of  change  to  a  less  sedentary  form  of  employment,  was 
in  the  stove  and  tin  business,  and  was  at  the  same  time  a 
member  of  a  military  company, — the  Montgomery 
Guard, — all  of  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. 

After  the  war  he  traveled  as  a  commercial  drummer 
in  the  stationery  business  for  an  Albany  firm,  then  returned 
to  the  printing  business  for  a  year  in  New  York  City, 
after  which  he  was  for  about  two  years  engaged  on  State 
printing  in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  going  from  there  to  New  Paltz, 
Ulster  County,  N.  Y.,  at  the  request  of  an  association, 
to  establish  the  Netv  Paltz  Independent,  which  he  printed 
for  three  years.  From  New  Paltz  he  returned  to  Pough- 
keepsie and  for  a  year  and  a  half  was  foreman  for  the 
Poughkeepsie  Daily  News.  Since  February,  1873,  with 
the  exception  of  three  years  and  eight  months  (when  back 
in  Poughkeepsie,  where  he  was  employed  as  proofreader 
in  the  office  of  A.  V.  Haight),  he  has  been  in  the  Gov- 
ernment Printing  Office  at  Washington,  where  he  is  now 
— July,   1906 — a  proofreader.     He  is  still  in  the  enjoy- 


CHARLES  T.  JOHNSON.  289 

ment  of  good  health,  thanks  to  an  abstemious  and  regular 
life,  never  having  used  tobacco  or  alcoholic  liquors. 

June  30,  1868,  Mr.  Johnson  was  married  to  Phebe 
A.  Roberts,  of  Poughkeepsie,  daughter  of  John  Roberts 
(formerly  of  Ulster  County)  and  Lavinia  (Weed)  of 
Orange  County,  both  of  New  York.  To  them  were  born 
eight  children,  all  dying  in  infancy  except  the  first 
daughter,  who  is  now  Mrs.  Frederick  DeLamater,  of 
Poughkeepsie  (they  have  one  son),  and  Charles  T.,  Jr., 
the  second  son,  who  is  a  clerk  in  the  Department  of  Justice, 
Washington.  He  married  Octavia  Reeves  Rucker,  of 
Missouri,  the  daughter  of  a  Confederate  soldier,  and  they 
have  one  daughter.  They  reside  at  Mt.  Ranier,  Md., 
one  of  Washington's  suburban  villages. 

All  the  families  connected  with  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  date  back  to  old  colonial  times.  From  Charles 
T.  Johnson's  paternal  grandmother  connection  is  traced 
back  to  General  Charles  Lee  of  Revolutionary  fame,  and 
through  his  maternal  grandmother  to  the  Tibbitts  line, 
one  of  Dutchess  County's  early  families.  His  wife, 
Phebe  A.  (Roberts),  traces  back  on  her  mother's  side 
to  no  less  than  five  or  six  members  of  the  Weed  family 
who  were  soldiers  on, the  side  of  the  colonists  in  the  Revo- 
lutionary War;  some  drawing  pensions  for  such  service  as 
late  as  1841.  The  father's  progenitors,  being  closely 
allied  to  the  Quaker  Church,  though  some  of  the  earliest 
residents  of  Ulster  County,  seem  to  furnish  no  Revolu- 
tionary history  obtainable. 

The  wife  of  Charles  T.  Johnson,  Jr.,  traces  connection 
to  the  Wade  Hampton  family  of  South  Carolina,  and 
also  with  a  Revolutionary  War  history  of  noteworthy 
honor.     The  DeLamater  family.  Into  which  the  daughter 


290  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

of  Mr.  Johnson  married,  has  been  for  many  years  a  family 
well  known  in  the  upper  portion  of  Ulster  County,  where 
some  of  them  still  make  their  home.  They  also  possess 
a  most  creditable  history  for  army  service  with  the 
colonists  during  the  Revolutionary  War. 

MATTHIAS  JOIS. 

Matthias  Jois  was  born  in  Baden,  Germany,  February 
24,  1 83 1,  the  son  of  Frank  and  Mary  Jois,  and  received 
his  education  in  his  native  country.  Coming  to  America 
when  twenty-three  years  of  age  he  settled  in  Dutchess 
County,  New  York,  finding  employment  on  the  farms, 
and  this  has  been  his  occupation  both  before  and  since  the 
war. 

In  1858  he  was  a  member  of  Wade  Van  Steenberg's 
Company  of  Rhinebeck  Militia.  When  the  Civil  War 
broke  out  he  promptly  enlisted  under  the  first  call  for 
volunteers,  for  the  term  of  three  months,  and  was  hon- 
orably discharged  at  the  expiration  of  his  term  of 
enlistment. 

April  19,  1862,  he  again  volunteered,  this  time  enlist- 
ing as  a  private  in  Company  B  of  the  150th  New  York 
Volunteers,  and  was  mustered  into  the  United  States  ser- 
vice with  the  regiment.  He  was  a  faithful  soldier,  fol- 
lowing the  fortunes  of  his  regiment  in  all  its  campaigns, 
and  being  mustered  out  with  it  at  the  close  of  the  war. 

While  the  regiment  was  doing  guard  duty  in  Tennessee 
during  the  winter  of  i863-'64  he  had  an  attack  of 
*'  night  blindness,"  or  "  moon  blindness,"  as  it  is  some- 
times called,  which  clung  to  him  for  about  three  months. 

It  was  the  first  case  the  surgeon  of  the  regiment  had 
ever  seen,  and  he  was  incredulous  as  to  its  reality  until 


LEVI  LUMB.  291 

he  put  the  unfortunate  soldier  through  a  very  severe  test; 
a  test  which  proved  conckisively  that  he  could  not  see 
at  all  in  the  night,  and  he  was  therefore  excused  from 
night  duty  for  about  three  months. 

In  i860  Mr.  Jois  was  married  to  Catharine  Eighmey, 
and  seven  children  have  been  born  to  them,  as  follows: 
Frederick,  Francis,  Lansing,  Ellsworth,  Mary,  Caroline, 
and  Ethel.  Of  these  Frederick  and  Francis  have  died, 
while  the  others  are  still  living. 

In  the  1904  Report  of  the  Adjutant-General  of  the 
State  of  New  York  Mr.  Jois'  name  is  carried  as 
"  Matthias  Joos." 

LEVI  LUMB. 

Levi  Lumb  was  born  in  England,  October  5,  1839. 
His  parents  were  John  and  Elizabeth  (Beaumont)  Lumb. 

He  came  to  this  country  with  his  parents  when  he  was 
three  years  old,  and  the  family  located  at  Poughkeepsie, 
N.  Y.  Here  he  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  the 
city,  and  after  leaving  school  he  learned  the  trade  of  sash 
and  blind  making.  He  continued  to  work  at  this  trade 
until  August  13,  1862,  when  he  enlisted  in  Company  B 
of  the  150th  New  York  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  he 
served  in  that  company  with  honor,  sharing  in  all  the 
marchings  and  fightings  of  the  regiment  until  the  end 
of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  of  the  service  June  20, 
1865. 

He  then  went  into  the  business  of  sash  and  blind  mak- 
ing in  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Swart,  Lumb  &  Brother,  which  continued  a  number  of 
years,  when  he  withdrew  from  the  firm  and  started  a  fac- 
tory in  his  own  name,  which  proved  a  gratifying  success. 


292  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT.  j 

About  1 90 1  he  retired  from  the  business,  which  was  con- 
tinued by  his  sons. 

Mr.  Lumb  was  married  October  16,  1876,  to  Emma 
Childs,  and  from  this  union  four  children,  two  sons  and 
two  daughters,  were  born.  He  died  January  18,  1905, 
at  Tarpon  Springs,  Fla.,  where  he  was  staying  for  his 
health. 

Mr.  Lumb  was  a  member  of  Hamilton  Post,  G.  A.  R., 
located  at  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  and  was  much  beloved 
by  his  comrades.  He  always  took  an  active  interest  in 
the  annual  reunions  of  the  old  regiment.  He  was  a  much 
respected  citizen  of  the  city  in  which  he  had  spent  nearly 
the  whole  of  his  life,  and  was  especially  appreciated  by 
his  business  associates,  among  whom  he  bore  an  enviable 
reputation  for  integrity  and  stability  of  character. 

WILLIAM  S.  FAN  KEUREN. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  June  29,  1840,  at 
Pleasant  Plains,  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y.,  the  son  of 
Benjamin  I.  and  Mary  A.  (Barnum)  Van  Keuren.  His 
father  was  also  a  native  of  Dutchess  County,  being  born 
in  the  Town  of  Pleasant  Valley,  but  his  mother  was  born 
in  Salisbury,  Conn. 

His  father  was  a  farmer,  but  our  soldier-to-be  left  the 
farm  at  the  early  age  of  seventeen  and  entered  upon  a 
mercantile  career,  which  he  followed  until  the  breaking 
out  of  the  civil  war. 

In  July,  1 86 1,  Mr.  Van  Keuren  enlisted  as  a  private 
in  the  44th  New  York  Volunteer  Infantry,  serving  with 
that  regiment  until  October,  1862.  During  that  time 
he   met  with  considerable   experience   in  what  was  then 


WILLIAM  S.  VAN  KEUREN.  293 

termed  the  "  Peninsular  Campaign,"  under  General 
McClellan,  and  was  actively  engaged  with  his  regiment 
in  the  battles  of  Hanover  Court  House,  Gain's  Mill, 
and  Malvern  Hill. 

From  Harrison's  Landing  he  was  detailed  as  one  of  a 
squad  to  go  to  Poughkeepsie  to  procure  recruits  for  his 
regiment.  But  the  project  of  filling  up  the  old  regiments 
by  enlisting  new  men  for  them  was  not  entirely  successful, 
and  the  Government  abandoned  it,  and  took  up  instead 
the  plan  of  forming  new  regiments.  It  was  at  this 
juncture  that  Van  Keuren  was  offered  the  position  of  First 
Lieutenant  in  Company  H  of  the  Dutchess  County  Regi- 
ment, which  he  accepted.  This  commission  bore  rank 
from  September  27,  1862. 

Coming  thus,  an  already  seasoned  veteran  wise  in  the 
ways  of  war,  he  was  a  valuable  acquisition  to  our  regi- 
ment in  its  formative  period,  and  he  proved  to  be  one  of 
its  highly  valued  members. 

From  that  time  the  life  of  the  organization  was  his 
life,  until  July  20,  1864,  when,  at  the  battle  of  Peach 
Tree  Creek  in  front  of  Atlanta,  he  was  severely  wounded, 
a  bullet  passing  through  both  thighs.  During  the  cam- 
paigns which  immediately  followed  this  he  was  at  home, 
being  prostrated  by  his  wounds  and  unfit  for  duty.  As 
soon  as  he  was  able  he  reported  to  the  hospital  at  Nash- 
ville, Tenn.,  and  was  just  in  time  to  be  one  of  a  Provi- 
sional Brigade,  which  was  placed  under  command  of 
General  Benjamin  Harrison,  afterward  President  of  the 
United  States. 

In  this  command  he  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Nashville, 
when  General  George  H.  Thomas  so  thoroughly  defeated 
Confederate   General   Hood,   pursuing   the    demoralized 


294  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

remnants  of  his  force  as  far  south  as  Huntsville,  Ala. 
With  a  portion  of  this  brigade  Lieutenant  Van  Keuren 
spent  the  winter  of  1864  and  1865  at  Dalton,  Ga. 

Early  in  February,  1865,  he  was  sent,  with  a  large 
detachment  of  Sherman's  men,  to  rejoin  that  command, 
reaching  it  in  March,  at  Goldsborough,  N.  C,  and  then 
learning  that  during  his  absence  he  had  been  promoted  to 
Adjutant  of  the  regiment;  said  promotion  to  date  from 
November  18,   1864. 

Immediately  upon  reaching  Goldsborough  he  was  de- 
tailed as  Aide-de-Camp  on  the  staff  of  Brigadier  General 
Barnum,  then  in  command  of  the  3d  Brigade  of  the  2d 
Division  of  the  20th  Army  Corps.  He  was  promoted  to 
Captain  of  Company  C  of  our  regiment,  with  rank  from 
March  2,  1865,  serving  with  that  rank  until  mustered  out 
with  the  regiment. 

Thus  he  ended  an  honorable  and  strenuous  career  as 
a  volunteer  soldier  in  defense  of  his  country,  a  service 
which  covered,  practically,  the  whole  time  of  the  war, 
the  hardest  war  of  the  century  in  this  or  any  other  coun- 
try. Then  he  turned  his  energies  and  talents  to  winning 
the  victories  of  peace. 

Captain  Van  Keuren  became  engaged  once  more  in 
mercantile  lines,  and  then  in  the  mercantile  marine,  and 
for  a  quarter  of  a  century  served  as  captain  of  several 
different  steamers  plying  on  the  Hudson  river,  viz. :  The 
"City  of  Kingston,"  the  "City  of  Springfield,"  the  "  D.  S. 
Miller,"  the  "City  of  Catskill,  and  the  "William  F. 
Romer." 

During  1895,  1896  and  1897  he  was  a  member  of  the 
New  York  Legislature,  and  in  that  capacity  formulated 
the  Navigation  Law,  which  passed  the  New  York  Legis- 


WILLTA^I   E.   GURNEY.  295 

lature  in  1897,  becoming  operative  in  June  of  that  year. 
He  was  also  appointed  to  one  of  the  inspectorships,  a 
position  which  he  still  holds. 

Captain  Van  Keuren  was  marrieci,  October  30,  1867, 
to  Margaret  A.  Swaim,  the  ceremony  being  at  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church  in  Highland  Falls,  Orange  County, 
N.  Y.,  and  of  this  union  two  children  have  been  born; 
Horace  Barnum,  born  September  13,  1868,  and  Willard, 
born  September  i,  1870,  both  of  whom  survive. 

rriLLIAM  E.  GURNEY. 

William  E.  Gurney  was  born  in  the  town  of  Stanford, 
Dutchess  County,  N.  Y.,  September  10,  1839.  His 
parents  were  Henry  H.  and  Rachel    (Arnold)    Gurney. 

Like  so  many  others  of  that  day,  he  obtained  his  entire 
education  at  the  public  schools,  supplemented  by  private 
study,  attending  the  district  school  as  soon  as  he  became 
of  school  age,  both  summers  and  winters,  and  later  while 
helping  on  the  farm  in  the  summer  attended  school  dur- 
ing the  winter;  never  attending  any  but  the  district  school 
of  his  town.  He  thus  secured  an  education  that  enabled 
him  to  obtain  a  teacher's  certificate,  and  taught  two  terms; 
one  being  in  the  same  school  where  he  was  educated. 

On  January  10,  1 861,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Kate  L. 
Cornelius,  a  daughter  of  one  of  his  nearest  neighbors, 
and  five  children  hav^e  been  born  to  them,  one  son  and 
four  daughters.  Of  these  the  daughters  are  living,  but 
the  son  died  in  1869.  The  following  spring  he  left  the 
farm  where  he  was  born,  and  worked  for  farmers  in  that 
vicinity  until  September  4,  1862,  when  he  enlisted  in 
Company  C,  150th  New  York  Volunteers,  for  three  years 
or  during  the  war. 


296  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

He  left  Poughkeepsie  with  the  regiment  October  ii, 
1862,  and  was  never  absent  from  it  for  more  than  twenty- 
four  hours  at  a  time  until  it  returned  in  June,  1865,  not 
having  seen  any  member  of  his  family  during  that  time. 

After  his  discharge  he  was  engaged  in  the  Rogers  Axle 
Factory  at  Stanfordville,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was  employed 
nearly  two  years,  but  had  to  give  it  up,  as  it  did  not  agree 
with  him  to  work  indoors.  Again  he  worked  on  farms 
until  October,  1869,  when  he  removed  with  his  family  to 
Poughkeepsie  and  engaged  in  the  milk  business,  which  he 
followed  four  years ;  then  he  sold  that  out  and  worked  in 
a  meat  market  one  year.  He  was  then  appointed  on  the 
Poughkeepsie  police  force,  where  he  served  four  years. 

His  next  venture  in  business  was  trucking  and  express, 
which  he  followed  successfully  until  the  spring  of  1891, 
when  he  sold  that  business  out,  and  July  ist  was  appointed 
a  clerk  in  the  Poughkeepsie  postoffice  under  John  I.  Piatt, 
postmaster,  and  has  served  under  postmasters  F.  Has- 
brouck,  F.  Halsted,  and  I.  W.  Sherrill,  being  still  so 
employed. 

It  is  significant  of  the  high  esteem  in  which  Mr.  Gurney 
is  held,  and  of  his  well-known  trustworthiness  and  stability 
of  character,  that  during  his  whole  service  in  the  regiment 
he  was  never  absent  from  duty,  was  never  in  the  guard- 
house or  hospital,  that  during  his  fifteen  years  of  service 
in  the  postoffice  department  not  a  mark  has  been  recorded 
against  him,  and  that  during  his  membership  in  Hamilton 
Grand  Army  Post,  of  Poughkeepsie,  he  has  filled  in  suc- 
cession every  office  in  the  Post,  and  has  for  several  years 
been  one  of  its  delegates  to  the  Department  Encampment. 

He  is  an  enthusiastic  worker  also  in  the  Regimental 
Association.     The  first  reunion  of  the  regiment,  held  in 


JULIUS  O.  HICKS.  297 

1887,  was  greatly  owing  to  his  endeavors.  He  has  held 
the  position  of  president  of  the  Association  since  the  death 
of  General  A.  B.  Smith  in  1896,  and  now  holds  that  posi- 
tion. He  is  also  an  active  member  of  the  Officers'  Asso- 
ciation of  the  regiment. 

It  is  only  just  to  say  of  him  that  no  worthy  comrade 
ever  applies  to  him  that  does  not  receive  such  aid  and 
sympathy  as  he  is  able  to  give. 

JULIUS  O.  HICKS. 

Julius  O.  Hicks,  son  of  Bartlett  and  Lorinda  (Mcln- 
tyre)  Hicks,  was  born  August  31,  1842,  in  the  Town  of 
Milan,  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y.  He  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools,  and  early  obtained  employ- 
ment on  the  farms. 

Mr.  Hicks  enlisted  as  a  private  August  29,  1862,  in 
Company  C  of  our  regiment,  but  was  later  promoted,  first 
to  Corporal,  then  to  Sergeant.  But  his  military  experi- 
ence was  by  no  means  without  adventure.  He  was  one 
of  the  unfortunate  squad  uncier  command  of  Lieutenant 
Bowman,  which  was  captured  by  Stuart's  Confederate 
cavalry  near  Westminster,  Md.,  in  the  latter  part  of 
June,  1863.  After  some  hard  marching — and  hard  fast- 
ing— they  were  paroled  and  released,  and  Mr.  Hicks 
rejoined  the  regiment  in  Virginia. 

May  25,  1864,  near  Dallas,  Ga.,  he  was  wounded.  It 
was  at  the  battle  now  known  as  the  "  Battle  of  New  Hope 
Church,"  and  the  wound  proved  so  severe  that  he  never 
joined  the  regiment  again.  He  was  first  sent  to  a  hospital 
at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  thence  to  New  Albany,  Ind.,  and 
finally  transferred  to  the  Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  from 
which  he  was  discharged  July   13,    1865. 


298  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Since  the  war  Mr.  Hicks  has  followed  various  employ- 
ments, having  now  been  for  some  ten  years  a  painter  in 
the  United  States  Navy  Yard  at  New  York. 

He  was  married  in  1868  to  Fannie  Fero,  who  died, 
childless,  in  1870.  In  1889  he  was  again  married,  this 
time  to  Sarah  Waineright,  who  died  in  1891,  leaving 
one  son,  Lester  W. 

JAMES  NE^VMAN. 

James  Newman  was  born  in  New  Bavaria,  Germany, 
July  23,  1845.  His  father's  name  was  George  M.  New- 
man and  his  mother's  name  was  Feronika  (Seither) 
Newman. 

He  attended  school  in  his  native  village  until  thirteen 
years  of  age,  and  was  then  employed  in  the  wine  business 
until  the  age  of  fifteen,  when  he  emigrated  to  America  in 
a  sailing  vessel,  landing  in  New  York  City,  July,  1859. 
Here  he  bound  himself  out  (a  not  uncommon  custom  at 
that  time),  to  learn  cigar  making,  with  John  Paul  Orth 
at  No.  113  West  Broadway,  where  he  remained  about 
one  year. 

When  the  war  broke  out  in  1861  he  enlisted  in  the 
Anderson  Zouaves,  but  was  prevented  from  going  to  the 
front  by  his  guardian,  as  his  term  of  apprenticeship  had 
not  expired  and  he  was  not  yet  of  legal  age.  He  then 
ran  away,  coming  to  the  town  of  Stanford,  Dutchess 
County,  whence  he  enlisted  August  2 2d  in  Company  C, 
and  was  mustered  in  with  his  regiment  October  11,  1862. 
In  order  to  make  his  enlistment  valid  his  age  had  to  be 
given  as  eighteen,  when,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  he  was  but 
a  month  over  seventeen.  He  had  been  caught  once  and 
brought  back  because  the  enlistment  papers  showed  he 


JAIME S    NEWMAN.  299 

was  not  old  enough,  and  he  was  determined  this  should 
not  happen  again. 

Though  young  and  impulsive  he  made  an  excellent 
soldier.  There  was  no  battle  or  skirmish  his  regiment 
was  ever  in  that  he  was  not  found  in  his  place  in  the 
ranks.  On  several  occasions  his  impulsive  bravery  led 
him  into  dangerously  thrilling  situations,  which  if  done 
by  officers  of  higher  rank  would  have  been  rewarded  by 
immediate   promotion. 

During  the  march  from  Atlanta  to  the  Sea,  down 
through  Georgia  and  up  through  the  Carolinas,  when  the 
army  had  to  subsist  principally  upon  the  surrounding 
country,  he  was  noted  as  a  daring  and  successful  forager, 
and  through  his  efforts  and  those  of  his  associates,  the 
Dutchess  County  Regiment  seldom  went  hungry. 

Arriving  near  Savannah,  provisions  became  very  scarce. 
Company  C  was  detailed  to  go  out  foraging.  They  went 
back  three  or  four  miles  and  turned  to  the  right.  After 
coming  out  of  the  woods  there  was  a  swamp  in  front  of 
them,  and  the  officer  in  charge  did  not  want  to  go  across 
as  he  thought  the  enemy  were  on  the  other  side.  James 
Newman  started  to  go  across  alone,  but  when  about  half 
way  a  comrade  named  William  Palmatier  called  out, 
"  Hold  on,  Jimmie,  I'll  go  with  you."  He  called, 
"  Come  on,"  as  loud  as  he  could  so  if  the  rebels  were 
there  they  would  fire  at  him  and  give  him  a  chance  to 
discover  their  location  and  numbers.  After  getting 
across  the  swamp  they  saw  a  very  nice  plantation  on  the 
Georgia  side  of  the  Savannah  river.  They  called  to 
Company  C  to  come  on.  Of  course  they  did  so,  and  all 
went  down  to  the  house.      It  was  a  very  nice  place,  with 


300  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

rows  of  live  oak  trees  on  either  side  of  the  drive  leading 
to  the  house.      It  looked  like  paradise. 

While  they  were  engaged  in  getting  sweet  potatoes  and 
foraging  in  the  house  the  steamer  "  Ida  "  came  up  the 
river.  Lieutenant  Furey  called,  "  Fall  in,  there  is  a  boat 
coming  up  the  river!"  "Col."  Florence  and  some  of 
the  boys  ran  toward  the  dyke.  It  is  not  known  that  any  ran 
back.  He  thinks  the  whole  company  ran  along  the  river, 
and  as  the  boat  came  along  some  one  fired.  The  boat 
turned  and  ran  aground.  They  hoisted  the  white  flag. 
The  boat  was  fast  to  the  ground,  but  they  made  no  show 
of  surrendering,  and  as  they  were  a  little  afraid  of  the 
enemy  they  fired  again.  This  time  they  hoisted  the  red 
(hospital)  flag.  Company  C  waited  a  short  time,  then 
fired  again,  and  after  that  they  began  to  make  a  show  of 
surrendering  and  let  a  boat  down.  Colonel  Clinch  of 
the  Rebel  Army  with  one  colored  servant  were  the  only 
people  on  the  boat,  and  the  colored  man  said  the  delay 
was  caused  by  the  Colonel's  taking  time  to  tear  and  burn 
all  papers. 

After  coming  over  in  the  boat,  William  Brower  and 
James  Newman  took  them  to  Slocum's  headquarters  and 
reported  the  capture  of  the  boat.  The  boat  was  burned, 
however,  while  they  were  delivering  their  prisoners. 

Hearing  the  firing,  the  cavalry  came  over  after  Colonel 
Clinch  and  the  colored  man  had  landed,  and  disputed  their 
rights,  and  were  going  to  take  the  spurs  off  the  Colonel's 
boots,  but  Captain  Gilderslceve  interfered  and  they  took 
their  prisoners  safely  to  Slocum's  headquarters,  spurs 
and  all. 

After  the  war  he  settled  in  the  village  of  Amenia,  where 


JOHN  M.   SHAW.  301 

he  still  keeps  a  store  of  sporting  goods,  generously  supple- 
mented by  a  full  line  of  cigars,  tobacco  and  candies. 

JOHN  M.  SHAJV. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  October  19,  1845, 
in  Clinton,  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y.,  the  son  of  John  and 
Helen  Shaw.  His  education  was  obtained  at  the  public 
schools  of  his  town,  and  after  completing  his  studies  he 
began  life  for  himself  by  hiring  out  to  work  on  a  farm. 

He  enlisted  October  3,  1862,  and  was  mustered  into 
Company  C  of  the  150th  New  York  Volunteers,  to  carry 
a  rifle  in  the  ranks,  before  he  was  seventeen  years  old. 
That  his  service  was  efficient,  even  at  what  we  usually 
speak  of  as  a  "  tender  age,"  is  indicated  by  the  fact  that 
he  was  in  time  promoted,  first  to  Corporal,  then  to  Ser- 
geant. He  shared  the  fortunes  of  the  regiment,  through 
hardship  and  battle,  until  its  muster-out  in  June,   1865. 

After  his  discharge  from  the  regiment  he  removed  to 
Connecticut  and  there  followed  the  mason's  trade  about 
seven  years.  He  later  accepted  the  responsible  position 
of  foreman  at  the  Goodwin  Brothers'  Pottery  Co.,  at 
Elmwood,  Conn.,  and  in  this  position  he  is  still  employed, 

Mr.  Shaw  was  married  in  1870  to  Hattie  C.  Dann,  of 
South  Salem,  N.  Y.,  and  the  union  has  been  blessed  by 
the  birth  of  five  children. 

JFILLIAM  K.  JVATSON. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  at  Oxford,  Mass., 
in  1833,  ^"d  was  the  youngest  son  of  William  K.  and 
Lucretia  Watson.  The  family  soon  removed  from  there, 
and   he   received   his  education   in   the  public  schools   of 


302       THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Middletown,  Conn.  In  time  he  removed  to  Missouri, 
and  while  in  that  state  assisted  in  organizing  the  Polk 
County  Rangers,  an  organization  that  served  with  the 
United  States  Army  during  the  Kansas  troubles  prior  to 
the  Civil  War.  While  a  resident  of  Massachusetts  he 
was  a  member  of  the  National  Guard  of  Boston.  Later 
he  was  a  resident  of  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  and  was  there 
a  member  of  the  Ellsworth  Grays,  attached  to  the  21st 
Regiment  of  the  New  York  State  Militia. 

He  enlisted  in  Company  C  of  our  Dutchess  County 
Regiment  at  Poughkeepsie,  September  9,  1862,  and  when 
enrolled  was  by  occupation  a  tailor.  He  served  as  Cor- 
poral and  Sergeant  with  the  regiment  until  wounded,  and 
was  finally  discharged  from  the  service  June  20,  1865, 
while  in  a  hospital  at  Troy,  N.  Y. 

Among  the  incidents  of  his  service,  Mr,  Watson  recalls 
an  unpleasant  experience  at  the  battle  of  Kolb's  Farm  In 
Georgia,  during  the  summer  of  1864,  When  the  rebels 
made  their  sudden  assault  he  was  out  on  the  skirmish  line 
and  narrowly  escaped  capture,  being  so  beaten  out  with 
fatigue  when  at  last  he  reached  the  regiment  that  he  fell 
down  exhausted. 

It  was  at  Averysborough  that  he  received  the  wound 
which  put  him  out  of  action,  and  he  remembers  that  the 
stretcher-bearers  who  carried  Lieutenant  Sleight's  lifeless 
form  from  the  field  also  carried  him  to  the  rear  at  the 
same  time.      Of  this  experience  he  writes  as  follows : 

"  I  have  not  forgotten  the  hail  of  bullets  around  us  as 
we  were  borne  from  the  field,  and  was  very  grateful  when 
we  at  last  reached  a  place  of  safety,  as  the  danger  is  more 
courageously  endured  when  one  is  actually  engaged  in 
the  fight." 


JOSEPH  WOOLEY.  303 

He  also  recalls  the  capture  at  that  battle,  by  the 
cavalry,  of  Colonel  Rhett,  a  member  of  the  distinguished 
Southern  family  of  that  name,  and  of  the  profound  dis- 
gust of  that  member  of  the  Southern  chivalry  on  finding 
himself  a  captive  among  the  despised  "  Yankees." 

Mr.  Watson  was  married  In  1856  to  Sarah  Matilda 
Slack,  and  they  have  had  six  children,  one  of  whom  has 
died.  Of  the  other  five,  one  Is  living  in  Missouri,  near 
the  place  his  family  evacuated  In  i860,  just  in  time  to 
escape  the  rebel  hordes  which  devastated  that  state  during 
the  war,  marauding  and  plundering  all  classes  of  citizens, 
for  the  Confederate  General  Price  passed  through  the 
place  with  his  army  soon  after  they  left. 

Mr.  Watson  is  now  residing  at  Zanesville,  Ohio. 

JOSEPH  JFOOLEY. 

Mr.  Wooley  was  born  In  1842,  in  Unionvale,  N.  Y., 
being  the  son  of  WInthrop  and  Catharine  Wooley.  He 
received  his  education  at  the  public  schools,  and  upon 
leaving  home  chose  farming  for  a  livelihood,  following 
the  occupation  until  the  fall  of  1862. 

Then,  In  answer  to  the  call  for  volunteers  to  go  to  the 
front,  he  enlisted  In  Company  C  of  our  regiment,  under 
Captain  Henry  A.  GUdersleeve.  The  regiment  shows  no 
better  record  than  his,  for  he  never  left  it  a  day,  was  never 
absent  from  duty,  and  he  was  never  wounded  or  in  a 
hospital. 

When  he  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment,  June  8, 
1865,  he  went  to  Amenia,  N.  Y.,  and  there  entered  the 
employ  of  Chapman  &  Bartlett  in  a  hardware,  agricul- 
tural Implement,  and  drug  store.  After  six  years  with 
the  firm  he  removed  to  Wassalc,  N.  Y.,  in  1874,  and  has 


304  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

since  then  filled  an  important  position  in  the  factory  of 
the  New  York  Condensed  Milk  Company,  being  one  of 
its  most  valued  and  trustworthy  employees. 

September  I o,  1862,  he  was  married  to  Mary  J.  Shaw, 
and  five  children  have  been  born  to, them,  as  follows: 
Fred  S,,  Warren,  Edward  B.,  Clayton  L.,  and  Bertha  E. 

When  asked  for  some  incidents  of  camp  or  campaign 
service,  something  of  a  personal  nature,  he  gave  the  fol- 
lowing from  memory: 

"  Being  at  Chattahoochee  Bridge,  near  Atlanta,  Ga., 
on  the  morning  of  August  31,  1864,  two  companies  of 
our  regiment.  Company  C  being  one  of  them,  were 
ordered  out  on  a  reconnoissance.  We  left  there  at  six 
in  the  morning  and  advanced  two  miles.  Lieutenant  Van 
Keuren  of  Company  K  was  then  ordered  to  take  ten  men 
and  hold  a  by-road  leading  to  the  main  road,  so  that  the 
rebels  should  not  flank  the  remainder  of  our  force,  which 
had  advanced  two  miles  ahead  of  us  to  find  out  the 
position  of  the  enemy. 

"  I  was  one  of  that  detail,  and  we  had  not  been  there 
very  long  before  we  heard  the  rattle  of  horses'  hoofs,  and 
of  cavalry  sabres.  I  said  to  the  Lieutenant,  '  Do  you 
hear  that  noise?  ' 

"  He  replied,   '  Yes.      Keep  still  and  lie  down.' 

"  Presently  Luman  Place,  of  my  company,  asked  if  he 
could  go  and  get  some  water.  Lieutenant  said,  '  Go,  but 
be  very  still,  and  hurry  back.' 

"  He  had  not  gone  more  than  three  hundred  feet  from 
us  when  we  heard  some  one  call  out, — 'Halt!  Halt! 
you  Yankee!     Surrender!    Come  here,  sir;  come  quick!  ' 

"  We  immediately  knew  that  they  were  rebels,  and  that 
Luman  was   a   prisoner.      My   heart  went  pit-a-pat,   for 


WILLIAM   W.   PALMER.  305 

then  I  began  to  realize  our  position,  knowing  there  was 
a  rebel  force  within  a  stone's  throw  of  us,  and  not  know- 
ing how  large  it  was,  nor  how  distant  our  two  companies 
were. 

"Lieutenant  ordered  us  not  to  fire  until  he  gave  the 
word,  and  when  we  did  fire  to  immediately  holler  out, — 
'  Surrender!  '  to  the  rebels.  We  remained  in  that  position 
about  three  hours,  when  our  two  companies  fell  back  and 
joined  us.  You  can  imagine  how  relieved  we  felt  at  their 
arrival." 

There  are  many  other  incidents  which  Mr.  Wooley 
delights  to  recall  as  he  lives  over  again  in  his  imagination 
the  three  years  spent  in  the  service  of  his  country  as  a 
volunteer. 

JFILLIAM  W.  PALMER. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  the  Town  of 
North  East,  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y.,  June  2,  1844,  the 
son  of  Martin  C.  and  Elsie  M.    (Babcock)    Palmer. 

He  was  a  farmer's  lad,  receiving  his  education  in  the 
public  school,  and  when  our  regiment  was  being  organ- 
ized he  had  just  reached  the  military  age  of  eighteen. 
He  enlisted  September  6,  1S62,  in  Company  D,  and 
served  with  it  to  the  close  of  the  war,  when  he  was 
mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 

The  fact  that  during  his  whole  term  of  service  he  was 
never  absent  from  the  regiment,  and  was  never  absent 
from  duty,  is  a  worthy  record,  and  indicates  that  "  blood 
will  tell."  His  great-grandfather,  Gilbert  C.  Palmer, 
was  a  veteran  of  the  Revolutionary  War,  his  grandfather, 
Hughson  Palmer,  was  a  veteran  of  the  War  of  18 12, 
while  his  father,  Martin  C.  Palmer,  served  in  the  Civil 


306  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

War,  dying  in  1892  from  the  effects  of  wounds  received 
at  Berrysville,  Va. 

For  many  years  Mr.  Palmer  has  resided  at  Millerton, 
N.  Y.,  where  he  finds  employment  as  a  carpenter.  Upon 
the  organization  at  that  place  of  a  Grand  Army  Post  it 
was  through  his  influence  that  it  was  named  the  "  Henry 
Gridley  Post,"  in  honor  of  our  first  commissioned  officer 
to  be  killed  in  battle.  For  several  years  he  has  been 
commander  of  that  Post. 

Mr.  Palmer  was  married  in  1873  to  Caroline  R. 
Bishop,  and  three  children  have  been  born  to  them,  of 
whom  one,  Elsie  M.,  is  now  living,  making  her  home 
with  her  father. 

OBED  WHEELER. 
By  Stephen  G.  Cook. 

Obed  Wheeler  was  born  .  in  the  Town  of  Dover, 
Dutchess  County,  N.  Y.,  November  15,  1841.  His 
father,  Thomas  Wheeler,  a  prosperous  farmer  and  cattle 
dealer,  was  born  in  the  same  town  in  18  14.  This  branch 
of  the  Wheeler  family  came  from  Connecticut  about  the 
middle  of  the  last  century,  and  were  noted  for  their 
enterprise   and  thrift. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  passed  the  years  of  his  boy- 
hood at  the  paternal  home,  dividing  his  time  between  the 
local  district  school,  and  the  farm,  and  pleasures  of  the 
rod  and  gun,  in  the  last  two  of  which  he  was  an  acknowl- 
edged expert. 

In  1858  he  entered  the  Amenia  Seminary,  at  Amenia, 
N.  Y.,  at  that  time  an  institute  of  learning  of  consicierable 
reputation,  where  he  was  prepared  for  Yale  College, 
which  he  entered  in   i860,  and  where  the  breaking  out 


OBED   WHEELER.  307 

of  the  war  found  him  In  1861.  For  a  time  he  hesitated 
between  his  patriotism  and  his  intense  desire  to  complete 
his  education,  but  when,  in  1862,  President  Lincoln  issued 
the  call  for  300,000  more  volunteers,  he  hesitated  no 
longer.  The  organization  of  the  150th  had  taken  its 
initial  start,  and  he  joined  it  at  once  and  was  appointed 
First  Lieutenant  of  Company  E. 

He  entered  it  almost  a  boy,  fresh  from  his  books,  and 
returned  with  it  a  man  with  a  force  of  character,  intel- 
lectual status,  and  personal  magnetism,  that  made  his 
regimental  associates  not  only  respect,  but  love  him.  Just 
the  date  of  his  promotion  to  a  captaincy  I  am  unable  to 
recall,  and  it  does  not  much  matter,  because  for  all  prac- 
tical  purposes   he  was   always   captain   of  his   company. 

He  was  in  command  of  his  company  when  the  regiment 
left  Baltimore  in  June,  1863,  to  join  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  and  was  In  command  throughout  the  Gettys- 
burg campaign,  where  he  and  the  regiment  received  their 
first  baptism  of  fire.  From  that  time  to  the  close  of  the 
war,  in  and  through  the  battles  of  Gettysburg,  Resaca, 
Dallas,  Kulp's  Farm,  Peach  Tree  Creek,  Atlanta,  the 
March  to  the  Sea,  Savannah,  Averysboro,  and  Benton- 
ville,  he  was  present  and  in  command  of  his  company, 
without  losing  a  day  by  reason  of  sickness  or  from  any 
other  cause. 

While  a  soldier  he  was  never  foolhardy,  yet  he  pos- 
sessed that  true  courage  which  prompted  and  sustained 
him  In  the  execution  of  all  orders  from  his  superior 
officers,  and  to  do  his  full  duty  as  It  was  given  him  to 
understand  it. 

His  courage  was  never  doubted  by  friend  or  foe.  He 
never  ordered  his  men  to  do  what  he  would  not  dare  to 


308  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

do   himself,   nor  go  where  he  would  not  dare   to   lead 
them. 

A  prominent  trait  of  his  character  as  a  commanding 
officer  of  a  company  was  his  persistent  efforts  to  provide 
for  the  general  welfare  of  his  men.  Every  article  in 
the  way  of  rations  and  clothing  that  the  Quartermaster  or 
Commissary  Departments  furnished  must  be  so  distributed 
that  his  company  received  its  full  and  exact  share,  or  else 
there  was  sure  to  be  trouble  in  the  camp,  and  the  same 
paternal  and  watchful  care  over  the  welfare  of  his  men 
during  the  war  was  continued  after  he  and  they  returned 
to  civil  life. 

Possessing,  as  he  did,  a  bountiful  supply  of  this  world's 
goods,  his  whole-souled,  generous  nature  would  not  permit 
him  to  allow  any  old  comrade,  and  especially  one  from 
his  own  company,  to  suffer  for  the  necessaries  of  life,  and 
many  an  old  soldier  in  New  York  City,  and  all  up  through 
the  Harlem  Valley,  mourns  his  death,  not  only  as  a  com- 
rade gone,  but  also  as  a  friend  whose  willing  heart  and 
ready  hand  were  ever  prompt  to  supply  their  needs. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  he  became  again  as  completely 
the  civilian  as  though  he  had  never  led  men  into  "  the 
deadly  breach,"  heard  the  "  rattle  of  musketry  all  along 
the  line,"  or  the  booming  of  hostile  cannon.  And  yet 
he  never  ceased  to  regard  the  years  he  had  served  as  a 
soldier  as  the  most  important  and  interesting  years  of  his 
life.      (What  old  and  true  soldier  does  not?) 

To  the  end  of  his  existence  it  was  his  delight  to  gain 
the  companionship  of  some  one  of  his  old  comrades  and 
recount  the  thrilling  incidents  of  their  army  lives,  dur- 
ing which  they  had  shared  common  dangers,  and  when 
at  last  he  realized  that  in  the  battle  of  life  Death  was 


OBED  WHEELER.  300 

about  to  be  proclaimed  the  victor,  he  composed  himself 
on  his  couch  and  exclaimed:  "Well,  let  me  die  like  a 
soldier." 

During  his  funeral  services  at  the  Murray  Hill  Hotel 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Paxton,  his  lifelong  and  intimate  friend,  in 
eloquent  words,  and  by  way  of  contrast,  drew  word  pic- 
tures of  two  men,  of  which  the  following  is  a  brief  sum- 
mary, to  wit: 

"  When  the  room  was  entered  by  one  the  light  seemed 
a  little  dimmer,  the  atmosphere  a  little  heavier;  the  pet 
dog  glanced  at  him  uneasily,  and  retreated  to  a  safer  dis- 
tance, the  children  ceased  their  play  and  began  to  gather 
together  their  toys,  while  men  conversed  in  undertones 
and  with  evident  restraint.  This  was  the  non-magnetic 
man,  the  negative  pole  of  the  battery. 

"  But  when  the  other  entered  the  room  he  brought  the 
sunshine  with  him,  the  air  at  once  seemed  fuller  of  ozone 
and  oxygen,  the  pet  dog  bounded  with  delight  to  greet 
him,  and  children  shouted  their  welcome,  while  men  vied 
with  each  other  in  the  heartiness  of  their  salutations;  and 
this  man  was  Obed  Wheeler." 

If  a  thousand  of  his  sorrowing  and  surviving  friends 
were  asked  what  they  thought  of  him,  the  unvarying 
answer  would  be:  "One  of  the  best  fellows  that  ever 
lived." 

Immediately  after  the  close  of  the  war  he  took  up  his 
residence  in  New  York  City,  where  he  was  elected  to 
the  Stock  Exchange,  and  where  he  remained  a  prosperous 
member  until  he  died. 


310  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

PERRY  W.  CHAPMAN. 

Perry  Wheeler  Chapman  was  born  In  Dutchess  County, 
N.  Y.,  in  that  portion  of  the  Town  of  Dover  which  is 
known  as  South  Dover,  March  27,  1841.  His  parents 
were  Richard  and  Sarah  (Wheeler)  Chapman.  He 
received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  his  town, 
where  he  was  the,  schoolmate  and  personal  friend  of  Obed 
Wheeler,  who  also  became  an  officer  in  our  regiment,  and 
even  in  their  boyhood  studies  and  sports  they  showed  a 
taste  for  military  life,  little  dreaming  that  they  were  them- 
selves to  take  part  in  the  greatest  of  modern  war  dramas. 

At  the  early  age  of  fifteen  Mr.  Chapman  was  engaged 
in  assisting  to  build  the  first  telegraph  line  which  was 
installed  in  that  part  of  the  country,  and  after  its  com- 
pletion he  went  to  New  York  City  to  learn  telegraphy. 
He  soon  acquired  the  art,  and  followed  it  for  several 
years,  part  of  the  time  in  Iowa,  then  the  border  of  civili- 
zation. For  a  year  he  was  engaged,  with  his  father 
and  brother,  in  the  restaurant  business  at  Pawling,  N.  Y., 
but  in  1 861  again  accepted  a  position  as  telegraph  oper- 
ator, this  time  at  Dover  Plains. 

In  1862,  when  the  organization  of  the  Dutchess 
County  Regiment  was  begun,  Mr.  Chapman,  associated 
with  Andrus  Brant  and  Obed  Wheeler,  recruited  men  for 
a  company,  and  upon  its  completion  they  were  mustered  in 
as  the  officers  of  Company  E;  Brant  as  Captain,  Wheeler 
as  First  Lieutenant,  and  Chapman  as  Second  Lieutenant. 
Captain  Brant  resigned  December  18,  1863,  when  Hieu- 
tenant  Wheeler  was  promoted  to  his  position,  and  Mr. 
Chapman  was  then  made  First  Lieutenant  of  the  com- 
pany, his  commission  bearing  date  January  16,  1864,  with 
rank  from  December  18,    1863.      In  addition  to  this  he 


PERRY  W.  CHAPMAN.  311 

was  brevetted  Captain,  and  afterward  Major,  in  1865. 
He  served  to  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out 
with  the  regiment. 

April  13,  1864,  Mr.  Chapman  was  married  to  Ann, 
daughter  of  Charles  G.  and  Maria  (Chapman)  Thomas, 
and   six  children   have   been   born  to   them,    as   follows: 

Cora  Louisa,  now  Mrs.  George  A.  Daniels,  Frank  S., 
who  died  in  infancy,  Gilbert  Thomas,  William  Ross,  mar- 
ried to  Cadelia  A.  Burgess,  Emma  Dodge,  now  Mrs. 
Charles  T.  Schieman,  and  Fred  Wheeler  Chapman. 

Mr.  Chapman's  service  in  the  war  was  with  the  regi- 
ment until  April,  1864,  when  he  was  sent,  along  with 
Captain  Cogswell  and  Lieutenant  Humeston,  on  recruit- 
ing service,  with  headquarters  at  Poughkeepsie,  and  it 
was  while  there  that  he  was  married.  But  the  honey- 
moon was  brief,  for  General  Grant  soon  issued  an  order 
for  all  on  detached  service  to  report  at  once  to  their 
regiments. 

After  the  fall  of  Atlanta  he  was  detailed  for  a  short 
time  on  the  train  guard,  but  October  6,  1864,  he  received 
an  order  to  report  to  the  commandant  of  the  brigade, 
with  forty  men  from  the  regiments  of  the  brigade  as  a 
Pioneer  Corps,  of  which  he  was  placed  in  command. 
This  made  Lieutenant  Chapman  a  member  of  General 
Ruger's  staff,  and  he  at  once  became  one  of  the  official 
"  family  "  at  brigade  headquarters. 

His  duties  in  this  new  field  of  service  were  laborious 
and  trying,  but  so  satisfactorily  were  they  performed  that 
he  was  retained  in  this  position  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
In  recounting  his  experiences  in  this  work,  Mr,  Chapman 
modestly  gives  a  great  deal  of  creciit,  for  the  accomplish- 
ment of  the  tasks  assigned  to  him,  to  his  faithful  assistant. 


312  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Sergeant  Charles  E.  Brewer,  of  Company  B,  who  had 
a  real  genius  for  bridge  building  and  the  like  work. 

Since  the  war  Mr.  Chapman  has  followed  various  occu- 
pations, sometimes  in  the  far  West,  and  a  portion  of  the 
time  in  New  York.  At  the  present  time,  1906,  he  is 
engaged  in  business  at  Pawling,  N.  Y. 

SAMUEL  H.  PAULDING. 

Samuel  H.  Paulding  was  born  January  21,  1828,  in 
the  Town  of  Hyde  Park,  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y. 

His  father's  name  was  Levi  and  his  mother's  name 
Hannah  (Griffin)   Paulding. 

He  received  his  education  in  the  district  schools  near 
which  his  father  resided,  which  he  attended  some  nine 
or  ten  years.  On  leaving  school  he  went  to  learn  the 
coopering  trade,  or  how  to  make  barrels,  casks  and  kegs. 
He  followed  that  business  from  1846  to  1862,  and  left 
it  to  join  the  150th  Regiment,  in  which  he  was  enrolled 
September  6,  1862,  and  was  mustered  in  as  First  Sergeant 
of  Company  F,  October  11,  1862.  Fie  was  promoted 
as  Second  Lieutenant  of  Company  H  April  9,  1863,  ^^'^ 
as  First  Lieutenant  of  Company  F  July  21,  1864,  and 
when  he  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment  he  was  in 
command  of  Company  A.  The  records  show  that  he 
came  of  good  fighting  stock.  His  grandfather,  John 
Paulding,  was  a  major  in  the  War  of  1760,  known  as 
the  French  and  Indian  War.  It  seems  that  his  grand- 
father and  General  Washington  became  quite  friendly, 
both  being  members  of  the  Episcopal  Church.  Together 
they  started  a  series  of  prayer  meetings  in  camp,  and  kept 
up  their  friendship  as  long  as  they  both  lived. 

General  Washington  visited  him  at  his  home  in  Dutchess 


SAMUEL  H.   PAULDING.  313 

County,  during  the  War  of  the  Revokition,  and  he  has 
often  heard  his  old  aunts  brag  of  eating  at  the  table  with 
General  Washington.  His  old  home  still  goes  by  the 
name  of  "  Paulding's  Manor." 

His  grandfather  had  three  sons  in  the  Revolutionary 
War,  and  one  of  them  was  taken  prisoner  near  Tarry- 
town,  and  he  wrote  some  very  funny  things  that  happened 
while  he  was  a  prisoner.  They  are  still  treasured  up  in 
the  family.  The  Paulding  who,  with  Williams  and  Van 
Wart,  captured  Major  Andre  at  Tarrytown  was  a  rela- 
tive of  his  father. 

His  mother's  father  came  from  Wales,  and  some  of 
his  relatives  were  soldiers  in  that  country,  and  he  has  a 
crest  of  one  of  them,  which  he  thinks  it  is  quite  an  honor 
to  possess.  His  grandfather  Griffin  also  served  in  the 
Revolutionary  War  as  Second  Lieutenant  in  a  Westchester 
County  regiment,  and  he  has  certain  knowledge  that  he 
drew  a  pension  during  the  last  years  of  his  life. 

After  his  term  of  service  was  over  he  went  back  to  the 
coopering  business,  which  he  started  for  himself  in  the 
spring  of  1850,  and  continued  it  until  August,  1905,  when 
his  place  of  business  was  destroyed  by  fire,  and  thinking 
he  had  enjoyeci  business  long  enough  to  take  a  rest,  he 
and  his  wife  moved  to  Staatsburgh,  where  they  are  still 
living  and  enjoying  themselves  as  chicken  farmers. 

On  September  24,  1851,  he  married  Mary  F.  Russell, 
daughter  of  Captain  Isaac  F.  Russell,  of  Rhinebeck,  N.  Y. 
They  have  had  three  children,  of  whom  two  are  living, 
John  Linden,  born  August  23,  1856,  and  Charles  Henry, 
born  January  20,  1868. 


314  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

JAMES  H.  KHYNDERS. 

James  H.  Rhynders  was  born  in  the  Town  of  Clinton, 
Dutchess  County,  N.  Y.,  April  15,  1846,  the  son  of 
Stephen  and  Jane  Ann  Rhynders.  His  education  was 
received  at  the  public  schools,  after  which  he  followed 
farming  for  an  occupation. 

He  enlisted  at  Poughkeepsie,  January  21,  1864,  before 
he  was  eighteen  years  of  age.  He  was  mustered  in  as  a 
private,  in  Company  F  of  our  regiment,  and  succeeded  in 
holding  that  rank  until  he  was  discharged  on  the  6th  day 
of  June,  1865,  from  a  hospital  in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  where 
he  had  been  sent  in  consequence  of  a  wound  in  the  left 
arm,  received  in  North  Carolina  on  March  21,  1865, 
while  engaged  with  the  enemy  on  the  skirmish  line. 

After  he  was  discharged  and  had  fully  recovered  from 
the  effects  of  the  wound  he  again  returned  to  the  occupa- 
tion of  farming,  which  he  still  follows. 

On  the  6th  of  September,  1870,  he  was  married  to 
Minerva  E.  Pink,  by  whom  he  has  two  sons,  both  now 
grown  to  manhood. 

JEREMIAH  COELINS. 

"  Jerry  "  was  one  of  our  drummer  boys,  and  though 
one  of  the  youngest  members  of  the  regiment  he  managed 
somehow  to  have  a  more  varied  experience  and  see  more 
adventure  in  the  course  of  his  service  than  some  who  were 
older. 

Born  of  Irish  parentage,  October  20,  1846,  he  lacked 
a  month  of  being  sixteen  years  old  when  he  enlisted,  Sep- 
tember 15,  1862,  in  Company  G  of  the  Dutchess  County 
Regiment,  from  the  Town  of  Dover.      His  service  in  the 


JEREMIAH  COLLINS.  315 

war  was  not  by  any  means  limited  to  "  the  pounding  of 
the  sheepskin,"  for  drummer  boys  were  considered  avail- 
able material  for  all  sorts  of  service. 

At  one  time  he  acted  as  orderly  for  Chaplain  Bartlett 
when  he  visited  some  of  the  Southern  towns.  At  Atlanta 
he  was  detailed  to  attend  to  the  regiment's  mail,  and  thus 
for  a  time  he  was  attached  to  headquarters.  Many  times 
he  was  detailed  to  accompany  the  foraging  expeditions 
which  supplied  the  regiment  with  food  while  going  from 
Atlanta  to  the  Sea,  and  again  in  the  two  months  of  active 
campaigning  In  the  Carolinas,  from  Savannah,  Ga.,  to 
Raleigh,  N.  C.  Through  It  all  he  carried  the  daring  and 
reckless  spirit  of  boyhood,  with  the  hardihood  of  a  man, 
and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment  at  the  close  of 
the  war. 

Mr.  Collins  was  married  October  25,  1868,  at  St. 
John's  Church,  New  York,  to  Adelaide  Ellen  Francis, 
and  the  blessing  Invoked  upon  Abou  Ben  Adhem, — "  may 
his  tribe  increase," — has  been  theirs,  for  eleven  children 
have  been  born  to  them,  of  which  five  are  living.  The 
eldest,  Cornelius,  took  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Laws 
at  Columbia  Law  School.  He  has  been  a  member  of 
the  New  York  Assembly,  and  at  one  time  First  Assistant 
Attorney-General  of  New  York  City.  At  present  he  Is 
practicing  law  in  New  York.  The  other  children,  though 
not  In  law,  are  doing  equally  well. 

Soon  after  the  war  Mr.  Collins  was  appointed  news 
agent  on  the  New  York,  New  Haven  &  Hartford  Rail- 
road. In  1883  he  was  appointed  captain  in  the  Street 
Cleaning  Department  of  New  York,  and  three  years  later 
was  advanced  to  a  position  in  the  Fire  Department.     He 


316  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

is  now  serving  as  a  court  officer  in  the  Supreme  Court 
of  the  State  of  New  York. 

Being  asked  for  some  reminiscences  of  a  personal 
nature,  Mr.  Collins  has  related  many  such,  indicating 
that,  owing  probably  to  his  extreme  youth  in  the  service, 
the  experience  of  war  stamped  his  memory  with  a  greater 
vividness  and  clearness  than  it  did  with  the  older  men. 
Lack  of  space  forbids  us  from  including  all,  interesting 
though  they  are. 

One  of  these  happened  at  Gettysburg,  and  at  this  dis- 
tance of  time  it  seems  like  a  little  comedy  enacted  in  the 
midst  of  that  great  tragedy.  During  the  progress  of  the 
battle  a  wagon  loaded  with  provisions  was  hit  by  a  shell, 
scattering  the  hardtack  in  the  road.  It  will  be  recalled 
that  most  of  the  regiment  were  entirely  without  food  dur- 
ing their  participation  In  that  battle,  and  Mr.  Collins 
adds, — "  There  was  a  wild  scramble  for  the  hardtack, 
and  my  drumhead,  having  developed  a  hole  as  a  result  of 
the  constant  beating  it  had  received,  made  an  excellent 
receptacle  for  them,  and  I  was  able  to  get  such  a  number 
in  the  drum  before  being  stopped  by  the  Provost  Guard 
that  I  was  quite  popular  among  my  comrades  for  a  time." 

At  the  battle  of  Resaca,  "  Jerry  "  picked  up  a  cavalry 
revolver  and  belt,  just  what  he  had  wished  for,  for  he 
could  carry  It  without  its  Interfering  with  his  drum. 
Some  months  later  he  was  foraging  w-Ith  "  Sherman's 
Bummers,"  and  being  suddenly  confronted  by  a  body  of 
the  enemy,  this  same  revolver  stood  him  In  good  stead, 
enabling  him  to  "  hold  them  up  "  until  he  could  escape. 

But  upon  trying  to  find  his  own  command  he  discovered 
that  he  was  cut  off  by  the  rebel  cavalry.  After  many 
adventures,  swimming  his  horse  through  a   river  at  one 


CHARLES  E.  HORSFALL.  317 

place,  he  at  last  succeeded  in  joining  his  comrades,  and 
with  them  attacked  and  defeated  the  rebel  cavalry,  the 
horse  which  he  rode  being  slightly  wounded  in  the 
encounter. 

Upon  their  return  to  the  regiment  they  were  received 
with  joy,  for  they  had  been  given  up  as  lost.  Colonel 
A.  B.  Smith  was  specially  glad  at  their  return,  for  it  was 
his  horse  which  "  Jerry  "  had  been  riding  that  day.  It 
appears  that  they  were  helped  out  of  this  scrape  by  the 
timely  arrival  of  some  of  Kilpatrick's  cavalry  during 
the  engagement,  or  they  might  not  have  gotten  off  so 
fortunately. 

CHARLES  E.  HORSFALL. 

Mr.  Horsfall  was  born  May  5,  1837,  at  Marlborough, 
N.  Y.,  on  the  banks  of  the  Hudson,  the  son  of  Joseph 
and  Elizabeth  Horsfall.  He  was  educated  at  the  public 
schools  of  Poughkeepsie,  where  he  learned  the  trade  of 
carriage  maker,  an  employment  which  he  has  since  fol- 
lowed, both  before  and  after  the  war. 

He  enlisted  September  27,  1862,  in  Company  G  of  the 
150th  New  York  Volunteers,  in  which  he  was  afterward 
promoted  to  sergeant.  He  followed  the  fortunes  of  the 
regiment,  taking  part  in  all  its  activities,  until  the  close 
of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  it. 

Mr.  Horsfall  has  been  twice  married;  first  in  1858  to 
Mary  E.  Doughty,  and  two  children  were  born  to  them. 
She  died  in  1867,  and  on  September  8,  1869,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Sarah  A.  McCuUock.  From  this  union  four 
children  were  born. 

Of  his  personal  experiences  in  the  war  he  recalls  that 
he  was  one  of  the  storming  party  that  in  the  dense  fog 


318  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

of  an  early  morning  surprised  and  captured  a  portion  of 
the  rebel's  picket  line  in  front  of  Atlanta ;  a  strategic  point 
which  was  held  until  the  city  fell  into  our  hands. 

He  recalls  also  the  events  in  Georgia  and  the  siege  of 
Savannah, — he  being  a  part  of  the  detail  that  skirmished 
with  the  retreating  foe  on  Argyle  Island, — as  well  as 
the  campaigning  in  the  Carolinas,  and  the  battles  of 
Averysborough  and  Bentonville. 

MYRON  W.  ROBBINS. 

Mr.  Robbins  was  born  in  Caton,  Steuben  County, 
N.  Y.,  July  15,  1845,  the  son  of  James  and  Lydia  Rob- 
bins,  where  he  was  educated  in  the  district  school  until 
he  reached  the  age  of  sixteen,  when  he  began  working  at 
lumbering. 

He  was  too  young  at  the  beginning  of  the  war,  but 
enlisted  September  13,  1864,  in  Company  G  of  our  regi- 
ment, serving  with  it  until  the  close  of  the  war. 

He  was  married  March  5,  1868,  to  Emma  J.  Wellman, 
and  they  have  three  children,  Adah  M.,  Benjamin  E., 
and  Carlton  A. 

Since  the  war  Mr.  Robbins  has  spent  a  portion  of  the 
time  In  farming,  but  at  present  his  residence  is  at  Corn- 
ing, N.  Y.,  where  he  is  a  dealer  in  agricultural  implements, 
etc.,  filling  an  active  place  in  his  community;  so  active 
indeed  that  he  is  too  much  occupied  with  what  he  is  doing 
to  send  us  many  particulars  of  what  he  has  done. 

We  learn,  however,  that  for  many  years  he  has  repre- 
sented his  town  at  the  county  seat,  still  holding  that  posi- 
tion, and  that  he  has  held  various  other  town  offices. 
Being  a  public-spirited  citizen  he  has  had  a  keen  interest 
in  the  success  of  the  Steuben  7\gricultural  Society,  of  which 


JOHN  E.  WEST.  319 

he  is  a  member,  being  one  of  its  executive  committee  and 
president  of  the  society. 

JOHN  E.  IVEST. 

John  Edward  West  was  born  in  the  Town  of  Rockland, 
Sullivan  County,  N.  Y.,  November  5,  1842,  which  at 
that  time  was  a  wilderness  and  where  the  wolves  scratch- 
ing at  the  door  of  the  cabin  at  night  made  life  interesting. 

His  parents  were  William  Moses  and  Mary  Ann 
(Losee)  West. 

A  few  months  later  the  family  removed  to  Pough- 
keepsle,  N.  Y.,  their  former  residence,  which  place  he  has 
always  claimed  as  his  residence. 

In  early  childhood  he  was  considered  of  frail  constitu- 
tion, and  was  not  allowed  to  go  to  school  until  nearly 
seven  years  of  age. 

He  received  a  common  school  education,  and  was  one 
of  the  class  that  assisted  in  the  organization  of  the  original 
Poughkeepsie  High  School. 

Generally,  he  not  only  kept  his  studies  well  in  hand, 
but  also  kept  his  teachers  guessing  what  mischief  he  was 
planning. 

At  the  age  of  seventeen,  tiring  of  school,  and  preferring 
mechanical  work  to  the  professional,  he  left  school  to 
work  for  his  father  in  a  chair  factory,  where  he  was 
found  at  the  opening  of  the  war. 

It  was  not  till  September,  1862,  that  he  could  prevail 
upon  his  father  to  consent  to  his  enlisting.  He  enlisted 
at  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  September  19,  1862,  In  Com- 
pany G,  150th  New  York  State  Volunteers,  and  was  mus- 
tered into  the  United  States  Volunteer  Service  October  1 1, 
1862. 


320  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

He  was  mustered  out  of  the  service  as  a  private,  the 
same  as  he  enhsted.  He  preferred  the  independence  of 
the  private  to  the  insecure  position  of  a  "  non-com."  with 
chances  of  being  reduced  to  the  ranks  for  some  derehction 
of  duty. 

He  was  on  the  skirmish  hne  that  drove  in  the  enemy's 
pickets  in  front  of  Atlanta,  and  came  near  being  captured, 
and  later  when  the  enemy  came  out  in  force,  and  drove  our 
lines  back  on  August  22,   1864. 

On  leaving  Atlanta  in  Sherman's  March  to  the  Sea,  he 
was  selected  as  one  of  the  detail  from  Company  G  on  the 
regimental  forage  detail. 

After  leaving  Savannah  for  the  march  through  South 
Carolina  and  North  Carolina  he  was  again  detailed  on 
the  regimental  forage  squad.  On  March  19,  1865,  his 
party  found  themselves  surrounded  at  Bentonville,  N.  C, 
by  about  200  of  the  enemy's  scouts  under  Captain  Shan- 
non, and  although  there  were  only  fifteen  or  sixteen  in  his 
party,  they  succeeded  in  holding  the  enemy  at  bay  (after 
killing  Captain  Shannon)  until  succor  arrived  in  the  shape 
of  two  comrades — "  Pete  "  Houghtaling  and  Theodore 
RLvrnf? — who  had  been  sent  back  to  camp  to  secure  addi- 
tional force  to  guard  them  through  the  night,  while  they 
ran  a  grist  mill;  but  on  their  return  with  orders  to  get  to 
camp  the  best  way  they  could  they  packed  up  and  stole 
their  way  between  the  enemy's  pickets,  swam  the  river 
and  reached  camp  about  midnight. 

He  was  mustered  out  of  the  service  with  his  regiment 
near  Washington,  D.  C,  June  8,  1865,  on  account  of  the 
close  of  the  war. 

After  the  close  of  the  war  he  took  a  course  in  a  business 
college — then  returned  to  work  with  his  father,  where  he 


WILLIAM   CONRAD   WILE.  321 

remained  a  couple  of  years,  going  to  New  York  and 
Brooklyn  to  sell  their  manufactures. 

Later,  he  served  as  salesman  in  New  York  City  in  a 
furniture  store,  later  on  as  salesman  in  a  Poughkeepsie 
shoe  store,  then  as  a  canvassing  agent  for  county  direc- 
tories for  several  years.  In  November,  1875,  he  received 
the  appointment  of  clerk  in  the  railway  mail  service, 
which  he  has  held  over  thirty  years  and  still  holds,  and 
in  which  he  has  traveled  over  1,700,000  miles,  or  an 
average  of  150  miles  every  day  of  the  year. 

The  ride  alone  would  be  sufficient  to  use  up  many  men. 
It  is  his  pride  that  during  his  two  years  and  eight  months 
in  the  army,  and  over  thirty  years  in  the  railway  mail 
service,  he  has  never  met  with  any  serious  injury,  which 
he  ascribes  to  the  fact  that  he  was  born  on  Friday. 

WILLIAM  CONRAD  WILE. 

William  Conrad  Wile,  late  of  Company  G,  150th  New 
York  Volunteers,  was  born  at  Pleasant  Valley,  Dutchess 
County,  N.  Y.,  January  23,  1847.  When  he  enlisted,  he 
was  fifteen  years  old,  scant,  and  was  the  baby  of  the  regi- 
ment— the  youngest  man  carrying  a  musket.  His  father 
was  the  Reverend  Benjamin  Franklin  Wile,  who,  for 
thirty-nine  years,  was  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
at  Pleasant  Valley,  and  when  the  regiment  was  mustered 
out  in  Poughkeepsie  in  1865,  he  told  the  boys  that  if  any 
of  them  wanted  to  get  married  at  any  time  to  come  to  him 
and  he  would  marry  them  free  of  charge.  Quite  a  num- 
ber of  them,  we  are  told,  accepted  this  offer. 

Young  Wile's  elementary  education  was  mostly  in  the 
public  schools,  finished  at  the  seminary  at  Cornwall,  N.  Y., 
which  was  conducted  by  E.  P.  Roe,  the  author,  and  at 


322  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

College  Hill,  Poughkeepsie,  which  was  made  famous  by 
Bisbee  and  Warring. 

In  1870  he  graduated  with  the  degree  of  M.  D.  from 
the  Medical  Department  of  the  University  of  New  York. 
For  twenty-one  years  he  has  been  the  editor  of  the  New 
England  Medical  Monthly.  Center  College,  Kentucky, 
later  conferred  on  him  the  honorary  degree  of  A.  M., 
and  later  the  Rutherford  College,  North  Carolina,  the 
degree  of  LL.D.  He  has  been  president  of  the  American 
Medical  Editors'  Association,  vice-president  of  the  Ameri- 
can Medical  Association,  vice-president  of  the  Connecticut 
State  Medical  Society,  twice  president  of  the  Fairfield 
County  (Conn.)  Medical  Society,  and  also  president  once 
of  the  Danbury  Medical  Society.  Is  now  consulting  sur- 
geon to  the  Danbury  (Conn.)  Hospital.  He  has  been 
medical  director  three  times  of  the  Department  of  Con- 
necticut, Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  and  was  elected 
surgeon-general  of  that  organization  a  few  years  ago  in 
Washington. 

His  life  has  been  an  extremely  busy  one,  and  he 
modestly  asserts  that  he  has  prospered  beyond  his  merits. 
He  is  prominent  in  Masonry,  being  a  Knight  Templar, 
Mystic  Shriner,  and  Scottish  Rite  of  the  3 2d  Degree. 

His  mother  was  Betty  Wile,  a  woman  very  active  in 
the  work  of  the  church  with  which  her  husband  was 
connected. 

He  enlisted  in  1862  at  the  time  the  regiment  was  mus- 
tered in  at  Poughkeepsie.  He  went  in  as  a  private,  and 
came  out  as  a  private.  His  history  is  very  simple — one 
of  a  boy  trying  to  do  his  duty  as  well  as  he  knew  how. 
He  was  stricken  with  typho-malarial  fever  on  the  Rappa- 
hannock river,  shortly  after  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  and 


GEORGE  H.  WILLIAMS.  323 

transferred  to  Fairfax  Seminary  Hospital,  where  he 
remained  until  convalescent,  and  thence  transferred  to  the 
Convalescent  Camp  at  Alexandria,  Va.  Full  recovery 
to  health  finds  him  again  with  the  regiment,  with  which 
he  went  with  Sherman  to  the  Sea.  History  does  not 
record  that  he  shirked  his  duty  any  more  than  the  other 
boys;  that  he  was  not  a  chronic  knocker,  and  only  kicked 
when  patience  was  exhausted.  That  he  was  obedient  and 
dutiful,  records  pretty  fully  show.  That  he  was  not  pro- 
moted was  due  to  the  fact  that  he  was  nothing  but  a  kid 
from  the  start  to  finish.  On  the  battlefield  he  did  not 
play  hookey  unless  he  got  a  real  good  chance.  He  could 
ram  the  cartridges  down  into  his  old  Springfield  rifle  until 
the  bore  got  choked.  In  short,  his  life  was  that  of  the 
ordinary  soldier  trying  to  do  his  duty. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  he  was  mustered  out  with  the 
regiment,  and  then  commenced  the  study  of  medicine,  sub- 
sequently practicing  his  profession  up  to  ten  years  ago, 
when  natural  infirmities  shut  him  out.  In  1871  he  was 
married  to  Eliza  Scott  Garrison,  of  New  York,  who  bore 
him  one  child,  Alice  Buckley  Wile.  His  wife  died  in 
188 1,  and  in  1887  he  married  Hattie  Adele  Loomis,  of 
New  Haven,   Conn. 

Dr.  Wile,  at  this  writing,  is  sixty  years  old. 

GEORGE  H.  WILLIAMS. 

George  H.  Williams  was  born  September  16,  1844,  at 
Chestnut  Ridge,  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y.  His  father 
was  Gerome  Williams;  his  mother  was  Catherine,  whose 
name  before  her  marriage  was  Catherine  Emigh. 

He  lived  at  his  birthplace  until  April  i,  i860,  when, 
with  his  father's  family,  he  moved  to  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y., 


324       THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

which  has  been  his  place  of  residence  ever  since.  He 
attended  the  schools  in  his  native  place,  then  took  a  course 
at  Eastman  College  in  Poughkeepsie,  after  which  he  began 
to  prepare  himself  for  entering  Yale  College,  but  Sep- 
tember 2  2,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Company  G,  150th  Regi- 
ment, New  York  State  Volunteers,  and  served  with  it 
until  the  end  of  the  war,  when  he  was  mustered  out  with 
the  regiment.  He  was  a  Corporal  at  first,  but  was  later 
promoted  to  Sergeant  of  his  company,  and  held  that  posi- 
tion when  discharged  in  June,  1865. 

He  was  at  the  battles  of  Gettysburg  and  Resaca,  and  on 
the  March  to  the  Sea,  and  in  the  Carolina  campaign  of 
Sherman's  army,  and  participated  in  the  Grand  Review  at 
Washington  at  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  wounded 
in  the  right  arm  at  Dallas,  Ga.,  and  again  slightly 
wounded  near  Golgotha,  Ga. 

After  his  return  he  studied  law  in  his  father's  office  at 
Poughkeepsie,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  that  city 
May  18,  1866,  and  has  ever  since  practiced  there.  He 
was  city  chamberlain  of  his  city  in  1875  and  1876,  and 
deputy  collector  of  U.  S.  Internal  Revenue  during  most 
parts  of  President  Cleveland's  two  administrations. 

After  his  return  from  service  with  the  Dutchess  County 
Regiment  he  joined  the  21st  Regiment,  N.  G.  S.  N.  Y., 
and  held  various  offices,  and  when  the  regiment  was  mus- 
tered out,  was  its  Lieutenant-Colonel. 

He  is  a  member  of  Poughkeepsie  Lodge,  No.  266, 
F.  &  A.  M.,  King  Solomon's  Council,  No.  31,  R.  &  S.  M., 
Poughkeepsie  Commandery  No.  43,  K.  T.,  and  Mecca 
Temple,  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine.  He  is  a  past 
chancellor  of  Armor  Lodge,  No.  107,  K.  of  P.,  and  past 


PLATTE   MARVIN   THORNE.  325 

commander  of  D.  B.  Sleight  Post,  No.  331,  G.  A.  R.     He 
Is  also  a  governor  of  the  Dutchess  Club. 

He  is  and  has  been  secretary  of  the  Veteran  Association 
of  the  150th  Regiment  from  its  formation,  and  secretary 
of  its  Officers'  Association  since  October  11,  1886. 

PLATTE  MARVIN  THORNE. 
By  Mary  E.  Thorne. 

My  brother,  the  late  Platte  M.  Thorne,  was  born  in 
the  Town  of  Pleasant  Valley,  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y., 
May  II,  1837,  and  was  the  son  of  Edgar  and  Eliza  Ann 
(Smith)  Thorne. 

During  his  infancy  the  family  removed  to  a  farm  in 
the  same  county,  near  what  is  now  known  as  Van  Wag- 
ner's Station,  and  there  his  boyhood  was  spent,  and  there, 
in  the  district  school,  he  laid  the  foundation  of  his  educa- 
tion. Later  he  attended  the  Dutchess  County  Academy 
at  Poughkeepsie,  then  and  for  many  years  conducted  by 
Prof.  William  McGeorge. 

After  his  school  life  was  completed  he  went  to  New 
York  City,  where  he  found  employment  in  a  book  store, 
but  when,  in  1855,  his  father  was  elected  surrogate  of 
Dutchess  County,  with  his  office  at  Poughkeepsie,  Platte 
became  a  clerk  in  that  office.  At  the  expiration  of  his 
father's  term,  Platte  returned  to  New  York,  where  he 
this  time  went  into  business  for  himself. 

But  when,  in  the  summer  of  1862,  steps  were  being 
taken  to  organize  the  150th  New  York  Volunteers,  he 
disposed  of  his  business  and  made  arrangements  to  enter 
the  service.  He  was  enrolled  September  27,  1862,  as 
Captain   of  Company  H,  of  that  regiment,   a   company 


326  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

which  had  been  recruited  for  him  by  Mr.  Edward 
Crummey. 

His  service  was  not  continuous  with  it,  for  a  portion 
of  the  time  he  was  a  member  of  General  Slocum's  staff, 
a  position  which  made  necessary  his  absence  from  his  own 
command.  He  was  brevetted  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and 
May  26,  1865,  was  appointed  Assistant  Inspector-General 
of  the  Army  of  Georgia,  serving  in  that  capacity  until  he 
was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment,  June  8,  1865. 

Soon  after  the  disbandment  of  the  150th  he  accepted 
a  commission  in  the  regular  army,  where  he  rose  to  the 
rank  of  captain.  On  December  14,  1892,  while  sta- 
tioned at  Detroit,  Mich.,  he  had  a  fall  which  resulted  in 
a  broken  hip ;  an  injury  from  which  he  never  fully  recov- 
ered. He  afterward  served  for  a  time  in  a  recruiting 
office  in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  but  in  March,  1896,  retired  from 
the  service.  He  died  at  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  March  16, 
1897. 

Platte  M.  Thorne  was  married  in  June,  1869,  to  Susan 
Nickerson,  and  six  children  have  been  born  to  them,  as 
follows : 

Roberta,  born  at  Fort  Totten,  Dak.,  April  13,  1870, 
now  the  wife  of  Captain  Thomas  N.  Moody  of  the  20th 
U.  S.  Infantry;  Percy,  born  at  Fort  Sully,  Dak.,  June  4, 
1 871;  Marvin,  born  at  Fort  Sully,  Dak.,  September  20, 
1872;  Noma,  born  at  Fort  McKavett,  Tex.,  November 
2,  1880;  Roslin,  born  at  Fort  Lyon,  Colo.,  December  4, 
1882,  and  Gordon,  born  at  Fort  Lyon,  Colo.,  March  7, 
1884. 

Platte  M.  Thorne  is  survived  by  his  wife  and  all  of  his 
children. 


JAMES   BANKS.  327 

JAMES  BANKS. 

James  Banks  was  an  English  boy,  being  born  October  2, 
1839,  in  Bradford,  Yorkshire,  England;  the  son  of  Wil- 
liam and  Ellen  Banks.  He  received  his  education  at  the 
day  school,  and  at  the  Mechanic's  Institute  in  the  even- 
ings, until  the  age  of  seventeen,  when,  in  1856,  he  emi- 
grated to  the  United  States. 

On  arriving  in  New  York  he  went  first  to  Glenham,  in 
Dutchess  County,  and  through  the  aid  of  Mr.  Stern,  man- 
ager of  the  factory,  he  bound  himself  as  an  apprentice  to 
the  firm  of  Leonard  &  Clark,  builders  of  lathes  and 
planers,  in  Moodna,  Orange  County,  N.  Y.  In  the 
winter  of  1859  he  came  to  Newburgh,  N.  Y.,  where  he 
w^as  employed  by  Mr.  Corwin. 

While  there  employed  a  position  in  Mexico  was  offered 
to  him,  as  machinist  and  engineer  for  the  Valle  Cillo 
Sih'er  Mining  Company,  and  having  accepted  It  he  left 
New  York  in  June,  i860,  for  the  mines,  where  he 
remained  two  years. 

He  returned  to  this  country  in  1862,  just  in  time  to 
meet  and  absorb  the  spirit  of  patriotism  which  was  sweep- 
ing over  the  North  then,  and  at  New  York  enlisted,  Sep- 
tember 5,  1862,  In  the  145th  New  York  Volunteers, 
Colonel  William  Allen  commanding  the  regiment.  In 
this  regiment  he  took  an  active  part  In  the  battles  of 
Chancellorsville  and  Gettysburg,  being  a  corporal  in 
Company  D. 

In  January,  1864,  the  remainder  of  the  145th  was  dis- 
banded, and  he  was  transferred  to  the  150th  New  York 
Volunteers,  becoming  a  corporal  in  Company  H,  in  which 
he  served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  being  mustered  out 
with  the  regiment. 


328  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

After  the  war  he  again  followed  his  trade  as  a  machin- 
ist, and  in  that  capacity  he  has  worked  for  some  of  the 
most  prominent  tool  and  engine  builders  in  Newburgh, 
N.  Y.,  Newark,  N.  J.,  and  Philadelphia,  Pa.  Of  late 
years  he  has  been  employed  by  the  government  at  the 
Brooklyn  Navy  Yard. 

Mr.  Banks  was  married  at  Newburgh,  N.  Y.,  in  1866, 
to  Mary  L.  Clearwater,  and  five  children  have  been  born 
to  them. 

HUBBARD  F.  ROBERTS. 

Hubbard  Fowler  Roberts  was  born  in  the  Town  of 
Union  Vale,  Dutchess  County,  I^.  Y.,  October  15,  1837. 
His  father,  the  Rev.  Philetus  Roberts,  was  a  clergyman 
of  the  "  Christian "  denomination,  and  well  known 
throughout  Dutchess  and  Columbia  Counties.  His 
mother  was  Maria  Fowler,  daughter  of  Hubbard  and 
Christina  (Miller)  Fowler,  also  of  Union  Vale. 

Mr.  Roberts'  early  education  was  received  in  the  dis- 
trict schools  of  this  county,  and  he  afterward  attended 
Starking  Seminary,  in  Yates  County,  N.  Y.,  completing 
his  studies  at  Antioch  College,  Yellow  Springs,  Ohio. 
Previous  to  the  Civil  War  he  was  employed  as  clerk  in 
stores  at  Stanfordville  and  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  and 
after  his  marriage  he  engaged  in  farming. 

He  enlisted  September  8,  1862,  as  a  private  in  Com- 
pany H,  of  our  regiment,  and  was  mustered  into  the 
United  States  service  with  it.  When  the  regimental  band 
was  formed  he  was  detailed  as  Drum  Major,  or  "  Princi- 
pal Musician,"  as  the  official  title  was,  and  served  in  that 
capacity  throughout  the  entire  service  of  the  regiment. 
While  the  regiment  was  in  Baltimore  that  first  winter  he 


DAVID  B.  SLEIGHT.  329 

was  offered  a  commission  as  Second  Lieutenant  of  his 
company,  but  declined  in  favor  of  John  Fitzpatrick,  the 
First  Sergeant  of  the  company. 

He  was  discharged  from  the  service  with  the  regiment 
at  the  close  of  the  war,  and  since  then  has  been  principally 
engaged  in  railroad  and  express  business. 

In  1858  Mr.  Roberts  was  married  to  Emma  Josephine 
iVrnold,  daughter  of  Archibald  H.  R.  and  Catherine 
M.  E.  Arnold,  of  Stanford,  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y. 
She  died  in  1889,  and  in  1893  he  married  Emily  Hill 
McCoull,  daughter  of  David  and  Emily  McCoull,  of 
Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.  By  the  first  marriage  there  were 
three  children :  Edward  Arnold,  Charles  Lent,  and  Her- 
bert Francis  Roberts,  of  whom  the  last  named  is  the  only 
one  now  living. 

DAVID  B.  SLEIGHT. 
By  John  L  Platt. 

David  B.  Sleight  was  born  May  i,  1838,  of  a  promi- 
nent family,  being  the  son  of  Peter  R.  and  Catharine 
(Barnes)   Sleight,  of  Lagrange,  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y. 

He  entered  the  regiment  October  6,  1862,  being  mus- 
tered on  that  date  as  Second  Lieutenant  of  Company  L 
In  1863  he  was  promoted  to  First  Lieutenant,  with  rank 
to  date  from  November  25th  of  that  year.  During  Sher- 
man's campaigns  of  1864  and  1865,  from  Chattanooga 
and  Atlanta  to  the  Sea  and  through  the  Carolinas,  he 
commanded  his  company.  He  was  killed  in  battle  near 
Averysborough,  N.  C,  March  16,  1865,  i^  almost  the 
very  last  conflict  of  the  war. 

He  was  a  young  man  whose  connections,  whose  per- 


330  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

sonal  qualities  and  whose  prospects  gave  unusual  promise 
of  a  happy  and  useful  life.  In  the  sermon  preached  at 
his  funeral,  when  his  body  had  been  brought  home  after 
the  war,  Rev.  Sumner  Mandeville  said  of  him : 

"  Few  have  fallen  in  this  bloody  strife  so  endeared  to 
the  hearts  of  friends,  so  beloved  by  all  who  knew  him. 
He  was  one  of  the  few  whose  characters  are  so  lovely, 
whose  ways  are  so  winning  that  they  are  universally  loved 
and  esteemed.  There  is  here  and  there  one  such  respect- 
ing whom  no  amount  of  eulogy  seems  misplaced.  They 
seem  to  be  examples  to  the  world  of  those  excellencies  of 
which  human  nature  by  the  grace  of  God  is  capable,  and 
all  feel  their  death  to  be  a  public  calamity." 

This  was  entirely  true,  for  Lieutenant  Sleight  was  held 
in  the  highest  esteem  by  all  who  knew  him  before  he  went 
into  the  military  service  of  his  country,  and  his  death 
was  a  shock  to  the  whole  community  in  which  he  had 
lived. 

He  was  active  in  seconding  the  effort  to  raise  a  regiment 
in  Dutchess  County,  and  the  company  to  which  he  was 
attached  was  made  up  largely  of  his  neighbors  and  fel- 
low-citizens, nearly  every  member  of  it  being  personally 
acquainted  with  its  officers.  His  record  is  a  part  of  that 
of  the  regiment,  for  he  was  with  it  during  its  entire  fight- 
ing career.  When  it  was  supposed  that  all  danger  was 
practically  over  and  he  and  his  associates  were  about  to 
march  home,  when  his  friends  and  relatives  were  count- 
ing the  days  ere  he  should  be  with  them  again,  he  was 
suddenly  stricken  down. 

During  nearly  two  years  of  almost  constant  fighting 
and  marching  he  had  not  received  the  slightest  wound. 
The  fight  at  Averysborough  was  the  very  last  one  in  which 


JOSIAH  H.  BUDD.  331 

his  regiment  was  engaged,  and  one  of  the  very  last  bullets 
that  was  fired  stmck  him,  causing  almost  immediate  death. 
He  calmly  gave  a  few  directions  in  regard  to  his  effects, 
and  died  while  being  borne  from  the  field  by  his  men. 

The  high  regard  in  which  he  was  held  by  his  friends 
and  associates  in  the  regiment  was  well  expressed  in  a 
series  of  resolutions  adopted  at  a  meeting  of  the  officers 
of  the  regiment  which  was  held  soon  after  his  death  at 
Goldsborough,N.C.  Lieutenant-Colonel  A.  B.  Smith  was 
chairman  of  that  meeting,  while  Captain  Obed  Wheeler 
was  its  secretary.  Captain  William  R.  Woodin  was 
chairman  of  the  committee  appointed  to  draft  the  resolu- 
tions, which  were  unanimously  accepted  by  the  meeting. 

All  who  came  in  contact  with  Lieutenant  Sleight 
recognized  that  he  was  a  brave  man  and  a  good  officer, 
representing  in  a  worthy  manner  in  his  own  personality 
those  qualities  of  the  race  which  count  for  elevation  of 
character  and  a  betterment  of  the  world,  and  though  he 
never  made  a  public  profession  of  religion,  yet  those 
that  were  nearest  to  him  felt  the  influence  of  his  sincere 
Christian  character. 

JOSIAH  H.  BUDD. 

Josiah  H.  Budd  was  born  September  ii,  1842,  the 
son  of  William  H.  and  Ellen  M.  (Rogers)  Budd.  He 
was  born  in  the  Town  of  North  East,  in  Dutchess  County, 
N.  Y.,  so  very  near  the  border  of  Connecticut  that  he 
narrowly  escaped  being  a  Yankee.  From  there  the  family 
removed  to  Manchester  in  the  same  county,  and  finally 
to  Poughkeepsie;  he  receiving  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  those  towns. 


332  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

He  seems  to  have  come  of  a  military  stock,  his  grand- 
father having  been  a  soldier  in  the  Mexican  War,  and  his 
father's  only  brother  a  soldier  in  our  regular  army,  though 
the  latter  died  just  as  the  Civil  War  broke  out.  Mr.  Budd 
was  in  Poughkeepsie  when  the  Dutchess  County  Regi- 
ment was  organized,  and  enlisted  September  6,  1862,  In 
Company  I. 

He  served  with  the  regiment  until  the  action  at  Peach 
Tree  Creek,  July  20,  1864,  when  he  was  one  of  seventy- 
five  men  who  volunteered  for  a  hazardous  task,  and  they 
being  placed  under  command  of  Captain  Scofield  went 
into  action.  In  the  engagement  which  followed  Mr. 
Budd  was  cut  off  from  the  rest  of  the  company,  but,  shoot- 
ing the  rebel  color-bearer  at  close  range,  he  ran  to  a 
wooded  ravine,  under  cover  of  which  he  finally  escaped 
to  our  own  line  again.  But  he  was  not  unscathed,  for  a 
shot  struck  his  rifle,  shattering  the  stock  and  lock,  and 
soon  afterward  another  bullet  plowed  through  his  left 
leg.  Though  crippled  he  finally  managed  to  join  his 
company,  where  he  had  been  reported  as  having  been 
taken  prisoner. 

He  was  sent  back  to  the  hospitals,  first  at  Chattanooga 
and  then  at  Nashville,  but  did  not  recover  in  time  to 
join  the  regiment  on  its  subsequent  campaigns.  He  was 
finally  mustered  out  at  Albany,  N.  Y.,  June  12,   1865. 

Since  the  war  Mr.  Budd  has  taken  a  course  in  East- 
man's Business  College  at  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  after 
which  he  followed  clerking  for  a  time,  but  eventually 
entered  the  grocery  business.  In  1877  he  was  married 
to  Gertrude  E.  Standford,  of  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y., 
daughter  of  Thomas  and  Ann  E.  (West)  Standford,  and 
four  sons  have  been  born  to  them :     Fred  R.,  married  to 


PLATT  C.  CURTISS.  333 

Mabel  DeVoe,  Frank  S.,  married  to  Mary  E.   Stengel, 
Harvey  W.,  and  Warren  H. 

Mrs.  Budd's  father  was  also  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  War. 
At  the  present  time,  1906,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Budd,  with  their 
two  unmarried  sons,  reside  at  Matteawan,  N.  Y. 

PLATT  C.  CURTISS. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  the  Town  of 
Stanford,  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y.,  December  4,  1836, 
of  good  patriotic  stock,  his  father  being  a  veteran  of  the 
War  of  18 1 2,  anci  both  his  grandfathers  having  served 
with  honor  in  the  War  of  Independence,   1776-1783. 

Piatt  C.  Curtiss  attended  the  district  schools,  and  also 
several  terms  at  the  Amenia  Seminary,  in  Amenia,  N,  Y., 
and  previous  to  the  war  he  was  engaged  in  farming. 
Enlisting  in  our  regiment  September  19,  1862,  in  Com- 
pany I,  as  a  private,  and  mustered  into  the  United  States 
service  with  the  regiment,  he  was  promoted  to  Corporal, 
and  subsequently  to  Sergeant. 

He  was  wounded  in  the  head  at  the  battle  of  Kolb's 
Farm,  near  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Ga.,  June  22,  1864,  and 
was  in  the  hospital  at  Jeffersonvllle,  Ind.,  nearly  four 
months,  returning  to  his  regiment  in  time  to  follow  the 
fortunes  of  Sherman's  army  in  that  memorably  triumph- 
ant march,  "  from  Atlanta  to  the  Sea."  He  has  always 
regarded  that  grand  strategic  movement  as  one  of  the 
greatest  events  of  the  whole  war,  and  the  one  that  did 
the  most  toward  breaking  the  backbone  of  the  Confed- 
eracy, often  saying  that  he  was  proud  of  the  fact  that  he 
was  one  of  the  men  that  participated  in  that  famous 
march. 


334  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

The  twenty  miles  between  Kenesaw  Mountain  and 
Atlanta,  Ga.,  are  the  only  ones  that  were  not  marched  by 
him,  he  being  absent  in  the  hospital,  disabled  by  his 
wound,  at  that  time.  He  was  mustered  out  with  the  regi- 
ment, and  his  complete  diary,  kept  during  the  war,  has 
been  of  more  use  to  the  editors  of  this  history  than 
any  other  reference  book  in  completing  the  story  of 
the  Dutchess  County  Regiment,  and  more  than  all  other 
reference  books  combined. 

Since  the  close  of  the  war  Mr.  Curtiss  has  been  con- 
tinuously engaged  in  the  trucking  business  in  New  York 
City.  January  4,  1868,  he  was  married  to  Josephene 
Field,  who  died  January  11,  1906.  He  has  four  chil- 
dren, Josephine  L.,  Lotta  A.,  LeRoy  F.,  and  Harold  C. 

Mr.  Curtiss  looks  forward  with  pleasure  to  the  annual 
reunion  of  the  survivors  of  his  regiment,  and  is  proud  to 
meet  his  comrades  in  arms,  yet  realizing  that  there  is  a 
profound  depth  of  pathos  in  the  fact  that  in  the  course 
of  natural  events  these  reunions  will  soon  cease,  and  the 
last  survivor  will  soon  have  been  "  mustered  out." 

EDIFARD  L.  FLORENCE. 

Edward  L.  Florence  was  born  in  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y., 
April  8,  1842,  the  son  of  G.  W.  and  Caroline  H.  (Smith) 
Florence.  He  received  his  education  at  the  public  schools 
of  Washington  and  Union  Vale,  in  the  same  county,  his 
father  having  removed  to  those  towns. 

He  enlisted  August  30,  1862,  in  a  company  which  was 
never  completed,  and  for  that  reason  was  transferred  to 
Company  I  of  the  150th  New  York  Volunteers,  in  which 
company  he  served  as  private  and  corporal  until  the  close 
of  the  war,  being  mustered  out  of  the  service  June  20, 


CHARLES  H.  SMITH.  335 

1865,  at  Albany,  N.  Y.  The  experience  of  Mr.  Florence 
in  the  war  was  for  the  most  part  the  experience  of  the 
regiment,  for  he  was  in  all  of  its  battles  except  that  of 
New  Hope  Church,  at  which  time  he  was  confined  by 
sickness  in  the  hospital  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn. 

Just  before  he  enlisted  he  was  married  to  Mary  J. 
Kown,  of  Lansingburg,  N.  Y.,  and  six  children  have  been 
born  to  them :  Frederick,  George,  Frank,  William,  Anna 
Caroline,  and  Chester  E.  The  eldest  of  these,  Frederick, 
died  in  childhood,  but  the  others  are  living. 

CHARLES  H.  SMITH. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  January  22,  1835, 
in  the  Town  of  Washington,  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y., 
the  son  of  Joseph  and  Susan  (Marshall)  Smith.  After 
completing  his  education  at  the  district  schools  of  that 
town  he  followed  the  occupation  of  farming. 

The  romantic  ardor  of  patriotism  which  played  such  a 
large  part  in  the  organization  of  the  Dutchess  County 
Regiment,  was  well  illustrated  in  Mr.  Smith's  case.  Sep- 
tember 5,  1862,  while  plowing  in  the  field,  he  was  accosted 
by  two  friends,  Seneca  Humeston  and  Gilbert  Seaman, 
who  told  him  they  were  about  to  enlist,  and  asked  him  to 
join  them.  Like  Cincinnatus  of  the  Roman  Republic, 
and  Israel  Putnam  of  a  later  Republic,  Mr.  Smith  left  his 
plow  standing  in  the  furrow  and  responded  to  his  coun- 
try's call.  The  party  of  three  was  soon  joined  by  two 
more  friends,  George  Sackett  and  Piatt  C.  Curtiss,  and 
the  five  drove  together  to  Poughkeepsie,  where,  on  the 
day  following,  they  enlisted  in  Company  I  of  our  regiment. 

Mr.  Smith  was  immediately  made  a  corporal  in  the 
company,    and   afterwards   promoted,    first,    January    18, 


336  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

1863,  to  Sergeant,  and  January  i,  1864,  to  First  Ser- 
geant, and  May  12,  1865,  to  Second  Lieutenant,  with 
rank  from  April  i,  1865. 

His  record  of  service  in  the  war  is  bound  up  in  the 
record  of  the  regiment,  for  he  was  a  part  of  it,  and  was 
with  it  from  the  march  down  Main  street,  Poughkeepsie, 
in  1862  to  the  return  march  up  the  same  street  in  1865. 
That  his  service  was  faithful  and  efficient  is  evidenced  by 
his  successive  promotions. 

Soon  after  the  war  he  went  to  New  York  City,  at  first 
engaging  in  the  grocery  business,  which  he  followed  until 
1870,  since  which  time  he  has  been  engaged  in  teaming. 

In  1866  Mr.  Smith  returned  to  his  native  town  in 
search  of  a  wife,  and  in  April  of  that  year  was  married 
to  Elizabeth  T.,  daughter  of  Jeremiah  and  Hannah 
Sherman.     They  have  one  son,  Luman  W.  Smith. 

ISAAC  T.  SJVEEZEY. 

Isaac  T.  Sweezey  was  born  in  Newtown,  Queens 
County,  N.  Y.,  April  18,  1845.  He  was  the  son  of 
John  and  Sally  Ann  (Titus)  Sweezey.  In  1853  the 
family  moved  to  Dutchess  County,  settling  on  a  farm  in 
the  Town  of  Washington,  and  here  our  comrade  grew 
to  manhood,  or  rather  to  his  later  boyhood,  for  he  was 
but  a  boy  when  he  enlisted. 

His  education  was  received  at  the  public  schools,  being 
completed  at  the  Nine  Partners  Boarding  School,  and  at 
the  age  of  seventeen,  August  30,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  the 
Dutchess  County  Regiment  and  was  mustered  in  as  Cor- 
poral in  Company  I. 

Until  December  13,  1864,  he  was  with  his  company, 
sharing  in  all  of  its  marches  and  battles,  but  on  that  date, 


LANDON  O STROM.  337 

while  skirmishing  with  the  enemy  in  front  of  Savannah, 
he  was  shot  through  the  left  thigh,  and  the  wound  proved 
so  severe  that  amputation  was  resorted  to  in  order  to 
save  his  life. 

Though  incapacitated  by  the  loss  of  his  limb  from 
further  activity  in  the  field,  his  gallant  service  was  recog- 
nized by  his  being  promoted  to  Sergeant,  and  he  was 
afterward  brevetted  First  Lieutenant.  He  was  finally 
discharged  from  the  service  at  the  Ira  Harris  General 
Hospital  at  Albany,  N.  Y.,  July  20,  1865. 

After  his  discharge  he  entered  the  business  college  of 
Bryant  &  Stratton  at  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  and  after  a 
brief  course  received  an  appointment  to  a  clerkship  in 
the  New  York  Custom  House.  At  present  he  is  chief 
clerk  of  the  second  division  in  the  collector's  ofiice.  He 
has  been  continuously  in  the  customs  service  for  over 
forty  years. 

February  16,  1869,  Mr.  Sweezey  was  married  to  Mary 
E.  Pinkham,  of  La  Grange,  N.  Y.,  and  two  children  have 
been  born  to  them:  Edwin  C,  now  a  civil  engineer  in 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  and  Robert  C,  who  is  practicing  law  in 
New  York  City. 

LANDON  O STROM. 

Landon  Ostrom  was  born  January  12,  1838,  at  Rhine- 
beck,  N.  Y.,  the  son  of  John  G.  Ostrom,  from  which  place 
he  enlisted  September  5,  1862,  in  Company  K  of  the 
Dutchess  County  Regiment,  serving  to  the  close  of  the 
war,  when  he  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He 
was  mustered  in  as  First  Sergeant  of  his  company,  and 
September  16,  1864,  was  commissioned  Second  Lieu- 
tenant of  Company  F,  with  rank  to  date  from  July  30th 


338  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

of  that  year,  vice  Samuel  H.  Paulding  promoted,  and  it 
speaks  well  for  his  ability  and  faithfulness  that  he  was 
deemed  worthy  to  be  promoted  to  the  position  of  com- 
missioned officer. 

Soon  after  his  discharge  he  went  to  San  Francisco,  Cal., 
a  part  of  the  company  which  accompanied  General  Hal- 
leck  at  that  time.  After  three  months'  stay  there  he 
returned  to  Rhinebeck.  He  is  a  carriage  maker,  a  trade 
which  he  still  works  at. 

In  January,  1868,  Mr.  Landon  was  married  to  Annie 
Baker,  and  ten  children  have  been  born  to  them,  of  whom 
five  are  now  living,  Mrs.  Ostrom  also  having  died.  Two 
of  his  sons  were  in  the  late  Spanish-American  War,  and 
one  of  them  was  wounded  at  one  of  the  very  first  battles. 
Both  of  them  were  honorably  discharged  at  the  close  of 
the  war,  and  one  of  them  has  since  enlisted  in  the  navy. 

STEPHEN  R.  TATOR. 

Mr.  Tator  was  born  in  the  Town  of  Rhinebeck, 
Dutchess  County,  N.  Y.,  March  29,  1839,  the  son  of 
Edward  and  Margaret  A.  Tator.  He  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools,  after  which  he  learned  the 
mason's  trade.  He  has  not  been  a  "  rolling  stone,"  but 
has  steadfastly  applied  himself  to  the  work  nearest  at 
hand  to  be  done,  having  been,  with  the  exception  of  the 
time  spent  in  the  army,  a  life-long  resident  of  his  native 
town. 

He  enlisted  September  9,  1862,  in  Company  K  of  the 
150th  New  York  Volunteers,  was  mustered  into  the 
United  States  service  with  the  regiment,  served  with  it 
continuously  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered 
out  with  it  June  8,  1865.     He  also  had  a  younger  brother, 


STEPHEN  R.  TATOR.  339 

Frank,  who  served  in  Company  C  of  the  128th  New  York 
Vokinteers.  After  the  war  he  again  took  up  his  trade 
and  has  followed  it  ever  since. 

Mr.  Tator  is  married,  and  sev^en  children,  three  sons 
and  four  daughters,  have  been  born  to  him,  of  whom  five 
survive.  Margaret  is  now  Mrs.  C.  O.  Emory,  and 
Dora  A.  is  Mrs.  W.  T.  Jones.  Of  the  three  sons,  Wil- 
liam H.  and  Stephen  A.  are  following  the  vocation  of 
masons,  while  Charles  S.  is  a  Presbyterian  clergyman. 
The  latter  served  in  the  Spanish-American  War. 

Speaking  of  himself  as  a  mason,  Mr.  Tator  says: 
"  Once  during  the  war  did  I  take  up  a  trowel  for  the  sake 
of  construction  in  the  midst  of  war's  destruction,  and  that 
was  at  Atlanta,  Ga.  I  say  '  trowel,'  but  it  was  a  piece 
of  board  whittled  into  shape.  The  job  was  a  chimney  for 
the  Colonel's  '  shack.'  This  crude  piece  of  work  might 
aptly  be  called  the  beginning  of  the  South's  '  material 
reconstruction.'  " 

Once  during  his  service  he  was  under  arrest  for  refus- 
ing— on  principle — to  carry  whiskey  for  the  company 
commander,  but  later  he  was  released  and  his  action  sus- 
tained by  the  commander  of  the  regiment. 

Though  somewhat  broken  in  health  by  the  hardships 
of  his  army  life,  yet  he  does  not  regret  having  obeyed  the 
patriotic  impulse  which  led  him  to  enlist.  He  recalls 
the  conflict  at  Gettysburg  as  well  as  the  ghastly  scenes 
after  the  close  of  the  battle,  where  he  assisted  in  burying 
the  dead,  as  well  as  many  other  tragic  scenes,  but  like 
most  old  soldiers,  after  the  passing  of  nearly  half  a  cen- 
tury he  is  more  fond  of  relating  the  humorous  incidents 
of  the  war. 


340  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

BENJAMIN  STAGG  BROAS. 
By  Catharine  Titus  Broas. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  the  City  of 
Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  September  21,  1837,  the  son  of 
WiUiam  and  Catharine   (Field)   Broas. 

His  primary  education  was  received  in  private  schools, 
and  later  he  attended  the  school  for  young  men  on  Col- 
lege Hill, — as  it  was  then  and  is  still  called, — in  Pough- 
keepsie. This  school  was  afterward  discontinued,  and  the 
property  with  its  beautiful  surroundings  has  since  been 
presented  to  the  city  for  a  park  by  Smith  Brothers,  a 
prominent  business  firm  of  the  town, 

Mr.  Broas'  business  before  the  war  was  that  of  a  dry 
goods  merchant,  but  when,  August  21,  1862,  an  appeal 
for  a  Dutchess  County  Regiment  was  published  in  the 
Poughkeepsie  Eagle,  he  was  one  of  fifteen  patriotic  young 
men  who  at  once  gave  in  their  names  to  Governor  Mor- 
gan's War  Committee,  with  the  request  that  they  be  per- 
mitted to  recruit  volunteers  and  enter  the  service.  His 
proffered  services  were  accepted,  and  he  was  mustered  into 
the  regiment  as  Captain  of  Company  I. 

Captain  Broas  passed  unscathed  through  the  battle  of 
Gettysburg,  but  the  hardships  of  that  and  the  Virginia 
campaign  bore  heavily  on  him,  bringing  on  a  sickness 
which  finally  caused  his  discharge  for  disability,  at  Tulla- 
homa,  Tenn.,  November  25,   1863. 

After  a  time  he  again  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits, 
and  later  became  a  broker.  He  was  married,  April  19, 
1859,  to  Catharine  Titus,  of  Washington,  Dutchess 
County,  N.  Y.,  and  one  child,  Mary  Titus  Broas,  was 
born  to  them.  She  was  married  in  1887  to  Rupert  B. 
Thomas,  now  residing  in  Flushing,  N.  Y.,  and  they  have 


HENRY  PEARCE.  341 

four  children:     Rupert  B.,  Gerald  P.,  Katharine  R.,  and 
Ina  M. 

Captain  Broas  died  September  22,  1896,  at  Pough- 
keepsie,  N.  Y. 

HENRY  PEARCE. 
By  Stephen  G.  Cook,  M.  D. 

Henry  Pearce  was  born  in  the  Town  of  Pawling,  N.  Y., 
November  i,  1833.  He  received  his  education,  first  at 
the  public  schools  of  Pawling,  and  later  at  the  Michigan 
University  at  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.,  from  which  he  gradu- 
ated with  the  degree  of  M.  D.  in  1857.  He  practiced 
medicine  two  years  in  Pennsylvania,  and  then  returned  to 
his  native  town,  where  he  met  with  good  success  in  the 
practice  of  his  chosen  profession. 

Upon  the  organization  of  the  Dutchess  County  Regi- 
ment in  the  autumn  of  1862  he  joined  it,  being  mustered 
in  as  Assistant  Surgeon.  Once  we  were  a  part  of  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac  it  did  not  take  the  Medical  Depart- 
ment of  the  1 2th  Corps  long  to  ascertain  that  he  was  a 
\tvy  skillful  surgeon,  and  at  Gettysburg  he  was  placed 
in  charge  of  one  of  the  operating  tables  at  the  Field  Hos- 
pital, with  the  customary  number  of  assistants,  some  of 
whom  outranked  him.  This  was  a  great  honor,  as  such 
detail  is  usually  given  only  to  those  of  full  rank. 

In  the  autumn  of  1863,  after  crossing  the  Cumberland 
Mountains  as  the  regiment  was  en  route  towards  Look- 
out Mountain,  and  while  crossing  a  small  stream,  his  horse 
fell,  injuring  his  right  knee  so  badly  that  he  had  to  be 
sent  back  on  the  cars  to  TuUahoma,  Tenn.  From  this 
injury  he  never  recovered. 


342  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

After  remaining  under  treatment  a  few  months  he  was 
detailed  to  a  military  hospital  at  Albany,  N.  Y.,  where  he 
remained  until  April  7,  1864,  when  he  was  discharged  for 
disability,  though  he  remained  there  in  some  capacity  until 
several  months  after  the  close  of  the  war.  He  then 
returned  to  Pawling  and  resumed  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession, which  he  continued  until  within  a  few  months  of 
his  death. 

For  many  years  of  this  time  he  was  the  chief  consulting 
physician  and  operating  surgeon  for  Eastern  Dutchess 
County  and  the  Harlem  Valley. 

Becoming  satisfied  that  his  knee  would  never  be  better, 
and  that  it  would  be  a  continual  source  of  danger  to  his 
life,  he  gathered  at  his  residence  a  few  of  the  most  noted 
surgeons  of  Dutchess  County  (of  which  Dr.  Campbell  was 
one) ,  for  the  purpose  of  having'his  leg  amputated.  After 
a  consultation  it  was  a  question  with  them  whether  the 
disease  of  the  knee  could  not  be  cured.  They  expressed 
this  opinion  to  him,  when  he  made  this  characteristic  reply : 

"  Gentlemen,  I  did  not  send  for  you  for  the  purpose  of 
devising  means  to  save  my  leg,  but  to  amputate  it  and 
relieve  me  of  my  suffering.  I  know  more  about  that  leg 
than  you  do.     Take  it  off." 

The  leg  was  amputated,  but  this  did  not  relieve  him. 
A  neuralgic  affection  developed  in  the  severed  nerve,  which 
gave  severe  pain,  seemingly  located  in  the  heel  of  the 
amputated  foot,  and  this  made  the  remainder  of  his  life 
miserable,  requiring  the  strongest  narcotics  to  hold  it  in 
check.  To  the  non-professional  reader  the  location  of 
this  pain  may  seem  ridiculous,  but  similar  phenomena  have 
been  well  attesteci  in  many  cases. 

At  the  first  reunion  after  the  death  of  Dr.  Campbell, 


WILLIAM  R.  WOODIN.  343 

when  several  had  expressed  their  lament  at  his  loss,  Dr. 
Pearce  was  called  upon,  which  call  became  so  pronounced 
that  he  had  to  respond.  He  arose  finally  and  said:  "I 
don't  know  why  you  should  call  on  me,  for  you  all  know 
very  well  what  I  thought  of  Dr.  Campbell," — and  then 
took  his  seat. 

Some  accounted  Dr.  Pearce  to  be  cynical  in  disposition, 
for  he  was  blunt  of  speech  and  captious  in  his  opinions, 
despising  cant  and  hypocrisy  wherever  they  were  found, 
but  those  who  knew  him  most  intimately  learned  that 
beneath  his  rough  address  he  was  warm  of  heart  and  true 
as  steel. 

He  was  married  three  times,  first  to  Sarah  Hall,  second 
to  Augusta  M.  Stark,  and  third  to  Julia  E.  Travis,  byt 
his  only  surviving  child  is  George  S.  Pearce,  M.  D.,  the 
son  of  his  second  wife. 

WILLIAM  R.  JVOODIN. 

By  George  H.  Williams. 
William  R.  Woodin  was  born  at  Pine  Plains,  N.  Y., 
June  26,  1839.  He  went  to  school  at  the  old  Dutchess 
County  Academy,  and  then  to  Trinity  College  at  Hart- 
ford, Conn.,  where  he  graduated,  and  then  after  studying 
law  in  the  xA^lbany  Law  School  came  to  Poughkeepsie  to 
enter  upon  his  practice.  But  before  getting  settled  as  a 
lawyer  he  entered  upon,  and  went  through  an  experience 
on  a  more  stirring  field  that  was  the  most  important  of  his 
life.  He  heard  the  call  for  men  to  defend  the  Union, 
and  when  it  was  determined  to  raise  a  Dutchess  County 
Regiment,  he  enlisted  himself,  and  went  into  the  business 
of  raising  recruits  with  such  energy  and  success  that  upon 
the  organization  of  the  150th  Regiment  he  was  placed 
at  the  head  of  Company  D  and  went  to  the  front. 


344  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

The  privations  of  the  camp,  the  toils  of  the  march, 
and  the  perils  of  the  battle  could  not  break  nor  change 
his  buoyant  temperament.  From  the  departure  of  the 
regiment  till  its  return  again,  he  took  up  most  faithfully, 
and  performed  the  task  of  keeping  himself  and  his  com- 
rades in  touch  with  the  people  at  home,  by  writing  a  series 
of  letters  to  the  Eagle.  There  was  hardly  a  week  with- 
out one  and  they  were  often  more  frequent.  They  were 
always  sprightly,  spirited,  full  of  wit  and  humor,  and  with 
never  a  dull  or  a  despairing  line.  Probably  no  series  of 
articles  ever  published  in  this  county  were  read  with  such 
absorbing  interest,  for  they  told  in  the  most  graphic  style 
how  the  boys  at  the  front  fared,  what  they  were  doing, 
how  they  felt,  what  they  had  to  undergo,  their  trials,  their 
triumphs  and  their  hopes. 

It  was  no  wonder  that  when  he  returned  he  was  received 
with  acclaim  and  accorded  a  high  place  in  the  favor  and 
esteem  of  his  neighbors.  He  was  in  request  as  a  political 
speaker,  and  delighted  many  an  audience  and  many  a 
social  circle  with  his  reminiscences  and  his  wit.  But  he 
aspired  only  to  success  In  his  chosen  profession,  and  asked 
for  no  office  but  that  of  district  attorney,  to  which  he  was 
twice  elected,  serving  with  ability  and  success  for  six  years, 
and  afterwards  as  city  attorney.  He  was  a  Republican, 
a  leader  among  men  of  his  party,  and  there  was  probably 
no  other  member  of  the  bar  whose  voice  was  more  fre- 
quently heard  In  public  or  with  more  satisfaction  to  those 
who  heard  him. 

He  died  May  29,  1903,  mourned  for  by  all  who  knew 
him,  leaving  a  widow  and  two  daughters,  the  Misses 
Mary  and  Dorothy. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

By  Joseph  H.  Cogswell. 
ROSTER     OF     REGIMENT. 


EXPLANATION  OF  THE   ROSTER. 

In  order  to  abbreviate  the  Roster  and  still  give  all  the 
material  facts  of  every  soldier's  record,  it  will  be  under- 
stood that  after  each  name  follows  age,  date  of  enlist- 
ment, residence  and  rank,  but  "  private  "  is  understood 
when  no  rank  is  mentioned. 

Unless  otherwise  stated,  each  soldier  mustered  in  and 
out  with  the  rank  of  "  private." 

Companies  A  and  B  were  mustered  into  the  United 
States  service  for  three  years  at  Camp  Dutchess,  Pough- 
keepsie,  N.  Y.,  Friday,  October  lo,  1862,  and  the  other 
eight  companies  and  field  and  staff,  Saturday  October  11, 
1862,  for  same  period.  Those  who  were  mustered  in  at 
other  times  will  be  specifically  stated. 

On  December  9,  1863,  the  145th  New  York  Volunteers 
was  broken  up  and  its  enlisted  men,  in  part,  were  trans- 
ferred to  the  150th  New  York  Volunteers,  but  not  reach- 
ing us  till  January  4,  1864.  A  reference  mark  thus, 
(Z)  indicates  that  they  joined  us  at  that  time.  Unless 
stated  otherwise  they  originally  mustered  into  the  United 


346  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

States  service  for  three  years,  September  ii,  1862,  at 
Staten  Island,  N.  Y. 

If  a  (*)  follows  a  name  it  means  "  mustered  out  with 
regiment  June  8,  1865,  near  Washington,  D.  C."  Where 
the  muster-out  was  otherwise  the  facts  will  be  given. 

Soldiers  marked  (X)  were  transferred  to  the  60th 
Nevv^  York  Volunteers,  June  8,  1865,  to  serve  out  term 
of  enlistment. 

Abbreviations:      "V.  R.  C."  Veteran  Reserve  Corps. 
"  D.  F.  D."  Discharged  for  disability. 

The  Roster  is  divided  into  sixteen  parts,  as  follows : 

Staff. 

Captain  Cogswell. 
"        McConnell. 
"        Gildersleeve. 
"       Woodin. 

Brant. 
"        Green. 
"       Wickes. 
"        Thorne. 

Broas. 
"        Scofield. 

12.  List   of   officers   with   rank   at   entry    and   close   of 

service,   arranged  alphabetically. 

13.  List  of  officers  promoted  or  appointed,  in  rotation 

after  original  muster-in. 

14.  Peculiarities  of  official  service  and  fatalities. 

15.  Fatal    casualties;    killed   and    died   of   wounds,    ar- 

ranged by  companies. 

16.  Deaths  from  disease  in  field  or  hospital,  arranged 

by  companies. 


I. 

ir^iel 

d  ar 

2. 

Co. 

A. 

3- 

Co. 

B. 

4- 

Co. 

C. 

5- 

Co. 

D. 

6. 

Co. 

E. 

7- 

Co. 

F. 

8. 

Co. 

G. 

9- 

Co. 

H. 

10. 

Co. 

I. 

1 1. 

Co. 

K. 

ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  347 

No.   I. 

FIELD  AND  STAFF. 

Mustered  into  the  United  States  Service, 

Saturday,  October   ii,   1862, 

at  camp  dutchess,  poughkeepsie,  n.  y., 

To  serve  three  years. 

With  changes  to  muster-out. 

Colonels. 

Ketcham,  John  Henry. — Age,  30  years.  Enrolled 
October  9,  1862,  at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  three  years; 
mustered  in  as  Colonel,  October  11,  1862;  wounded  in 
action,  December  20,  1864,  near  Savannah,  Ga. ;  dis- 
charged, March  2,   1865. 

Commissioned  Colonel,  November  3,  1862,  with  rank 
from  October  9,  1862,  original.  Brevet  Brigadier-Gen- 
eral, U.  S.  Volunteers,  January  12,  1865,  and  Brevet 
Major-General  of  U.  S.  Volunteers,  March  13,  1865. 

Smith,  Alfred  B. — March  24,  1865.  See  Majors  and 
Lieutenant-Colonels.  * 

Lieutenant-Colonels. 

Bartlett,  Charles  G. — Captain,  Twelfth  U.  S.  Infantry; 
mustered  in  as  Lieutenant-Colonel,  September  29,  1862; 
discharged,  December  31,  1864,  for  promotion  to  Colonel, 
One  Hundred  and  Nineteenth  Infantry,  U.  S.  Colored 
Troops,  and  Inspector-General,  Department  of  the  Ohio; 
prior  service  as  Sergeant,  Co.  F.,  Seventh  New  York 
Militia,  and  Captain,  Fifth  New  York  Volunteer  Infantry. 

Commissioned  Lieutenant-Colonel,  November  3,  1862, 
with  rank  from  September  29,  1862,  original. 


348  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Smith,  Alfred  B. — November  30,  1864.  See  Majors 
and  Colonels. 

Cogswell,  Joseph  H. — April  22,  1865.  Brevet  Colonel 
N.  Y.  Volunteers.     See  Captain  Co.  A  and  Major.* 

Majors. 

Smith,  Alfred  Baker. — Age,  36  years.  Enrolled  Sep- 
tember 24,  1862,  at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  three  years; 
mustered  in  as  Major,  October  11,  1862;  as  Lieutenant- 
Colonel,  January  i,  1865;  as  Colonel,  April  24,  1865. 

Commissioned  Major,  November  3,  1862,  with  rank 
from  October  9,  1862,  original;  Lieutenant-Colonel, 
November  30,  1864,  with  rank  from  September  6,  1864, 
vice  C.  G.  Bartlett  promoted  Inspector-General,  U.  S.  A.; 
Colonel,  April  12,  1865,  with  rank  from  March  2,  1865, 
vice  J.  H.  Ketcham  resigned. 

Commissioned  Brevet  Brigadier-General  U.  S.  Volun- 
teers. 

Cogswell,  Joseph  H. — September  6,  1864.  See  Cap- 
tain Co.  A,  Majors  and  Lieutenant-Colonels. 

Gildersleeve,  Henry  A. — March  2,  1865.  See  Cap- 
tain Co.  C. 

Brevet  Lieutenant-Colonel  U.  S.  Volunteers. 

Adjutants. 

Thompson,  William. — Age,  22  years.  Enrolled  Au- 
gust 30,  1862,  at  Albany,  to  serve  three  years;  mustered 
in  as  First  Lieutenant  and  Adjutant,  September  i,  1862; 
discharged  for  disability,  August  6,   1863. 

Commissioned  First  Lieutenant  and  Adjutant,  Novem- 
ber 3,   1862,  with  rank  from  August  30,   1862,  original. 

Cruger,  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer. — September  21,  1863. 
See  First  Lieutenant  Co.  F,  and  Captain  Co.  A. 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  349 

Van  Keuren,  William  S. — November  14,  1864.  See 
First  Lieutenant  Co.  H,  and  Captain  Co.  C. 

Roberts,  Cyrus  S. — March  2,  1865,  not  mustered. 
See  First  Lieutenant  Co.  K. 

Bartlett,  William  H. — "Acting,"  not  mustered.  See 
Second  Lieutenant  Co.  A, 

Quartermasters. 

Gaylord,  George  R. — Age,  46  years.  Enrolled  Au- 
gust 29,  1862,  at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  three  years;  mus- 
tered in  as  First  Lieutenant  and  Quartermaster,  September 
I,  1862;  discharged,  March  9,  1863.  Brevet  Captain 
U.  S.  Volunteers, 

Commissioned  First  Lieutenant  and  Quartermaster, 
November  3,  1862,  with  rank  from  August  29,  1862, 
original. 

Smith,  Henry  C. — Age,  33  years.  Enlisted  Septem- 
ber 5,  1862,  at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  three  years;  mus- 
tered in  as  private,  Co.  H,  September  13,  1862;  promoted 
Quartermaster-Sergeant,  October  10,  1862;  mustered  in 
as  First  Lieutenant  and  Quartermaster,  April  i,   1863.* 

Commissioned  First  Lieutenant  and  Quartermaster, 
May  17,  1863,  with  rank  from  April  i,  1863,  vice  G.  R. 
Gaylord  resigned.  Brevet  Captain  N.  Y.  Volunteers  and 
U.  S.  Volunteers. 

Surgeon. 

Campbell,  Cornelius  N. — Age,  37  years.  Enrolled  at 
Albany,  to  serve  three  years,  and  mustered  in  as  Surgeon, 
August  29,   1862.* 

Commissioned  Surgeon,  November  3,  1862,  with  rank 
from  August  29,  1862,  original. 


850  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Assistant  Surgeons. 

Cook,  Stephen  G. — Age,  31  years.  Enrolled  at 
Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  three  years,  and  mustered  in  as 
Assistant  Surgeon,  September  12,  1862;  discharged  for 
disability,  October  19,   1864. 

Commissioned  Assistant  Surgeon,  November  3,  1862, 
with  rank  from  September  12,  1862,  original;  re-commis- 
sioned, declined  assistant  surgeon,  December  20,  1864, 
with  rank  from  December  17,  1864,  vice  H.  Pearce 
resigned. 

Pearce,  Henry. — Age,  29  years.  Enrolled  October  6, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  three  years;  mustered  in 
as  Assistant  Surgeon,  October  11,  1862;  discharged  for 
disability,  April  7,  1864. 

Commissioned  Assistant  Surgeon,  November  3,  1862, 
with  rank  from  October  6,   1862,  original. 

Hamill,  Alexander. — Age,  21  years.  Enrolled  at 
Goldsborough,  N.  C,  to  serve  three  years,  and  mustered 
in  as  Assistant  Surgeon,  March  26,  1865.* 

Commissioned  Assistant  Surgeon,  January  31,  1865, 
with  rank  from  January  30,  1865,  vice  S.  G.  Cook 
resigned. 

Chaplains. 

Vassar,  Thomas  Edwin. — Age,  27  years.  Enrolled  at 
Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  three  years,  and  mustered  in  as 
Chaplain,  October  11,  1862;  discharged  for  disability, 
August  6,   1863. 

Commissioned  Chaplain,  November  3,  1862,  with  rank 
from  October  11,  1862,  original. 

Bartlett,  Edward  O. — Age,  30  years.  Enrolled  Octo- 
ber 20,  1863,  at  Tullahoma,  Tenn.,  to  serve  three  years; 
mustered  in  as  Chaplain,  November  20,  1863.* 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  351 

Commissioned  Chaplain,  November  13,  1863,  with 
rank  from  October  20,  1863,  vice  T.  E.  Vassar  resigned. 

NON-COMMISSIONED  STAFF. 

Sergeant-Majors. 

Roberts,  Cyrus  S. — October  11,  1862.  See  Co.  K  and 
Co.  A. 

Wattles,  William. — February   13,    1863.      See  Co.  A. 

Van  Keuren,  Benjamin. — March  31,  1865.  Promoted 
Second  Lieutenant,  Co.  K,  April  i,  1865.     See  Co.  C. 

Quai'termaster  Sergeants. 

Smith,  Henry  C. — October  10,  1862.  See  Quarter- 
masters. 

Case,  John  M. — Age,  30  years.  Enrolled  September 
6,  1862,  at  Dover,  to  serve  three  years;  mustered  in  as 
private,  Co.  E,  October  11,  1862;  promoted  Commissary 
Sergeant,  October  20,  1862,  Quartermaster  Sergeant, 
April  I,  1863.* 

Commissioned  Brevet  Second  Lieutenant. 

Commissary  Sergeants. 

Case,  John  M. — October  20,  1862,  See  Quarter- 
master Sergeants. 

Weeks,  Chauncey  A. — Age,  22  years.  August  30, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie ;  promoted  Commissary  Sergeant, 
November  i,   1863.*  ^ 

Hospital  Steward. 
Gildersleeve,    Frank. — Age,    19   years.     Enlisted  Sep- 
tember I,  1862,  at  Clinton,  to  serve  three  years;  mustered 
in  as  private,  Co.  C,  September  6,   1862,  and  promoted 
Hospital  Steward,  same  date.* 


352  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Principal  Musician. 

Roberts,  Hubbard  F. — Age,  24  years.  Enlisted  Sep- 
tember 8,  1862,  at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  three  years; 
mustered  in  as  Principal  Musician,  October   11,   1862.* 

No.  2. 

COMPANY  A. 

Mustered  into  the  U.  S.  service,  for  three  years,  at 
Camp  Dutchess,  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  Friday,  October 
10,  1862. 

Captains. 

Cogswell,  Joseph  H. — Age,  34  years.  Enrolled  Sep- 
tember 8,  1862,  at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  three  years; 
mustered  in  as  Captain,  Co.  A,  September  10,  1862;  as 
Major,  January  i,  1865;  as  Lieutenant-Colonel,  April 
24,   1865. 

Commissioned  Captain,  November  3,  1862,  with  rank 
from  September  8,  1862,  original;  Major,  November  30, 
1864,  with  rank  from  September  6,  1864,  vice  A.  B. 
Smith  promoted;  Lieutenant-Colonel,  April  22,  1865, 
with  rank  from  March  2,  1865,  vice  Alfred  B.  Smith 
promoted.     See  Majors  and  Lieutenant-Colonels. 

Cruger,  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer. — See  First  Lieuten- 
ant Co.  F,  from  which  company  he  was  promoted  as 
Captain^ of  Co.  A,  November  18,  1864.* 

First  Lieutenants. 

Gridley,  Henry. — Age,  25  years.  Enrolled  at  Pough- 
keepsie, to  serve  three  years,  and  mustered  in  as  First 
Lieutenant,  Co.  A,  September  8,  1862;  killed  in  action, 
June  22,   1864,  at  Culp's  Farm,  Ga. 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  353 

Commissioned  First  Lieutenant,  November  3,  1862, 
with  rank  from  September  8,  1862,  original. 

Wattles,  William. — Age,  22  years.  Enrolled  August 
30,  1862,  at  Amenia,  to  serve  three  years;  mustered  In 
as  private,  Co.  A,  September  4,  1862;  promoted  First 
Sergeant,  October  10,  1862;  Sergeant-Major,  February 
13,  1863;  mustered  in  as  Second  Lieutenant,  Co.  A, 
January  i,  1864;  as  First  Lieutenant,  October  25,  1864.* 

Commissioned  Second  Lieutenant,  November  25,  1863, 
with  rank  from  November  7,  1863,  vice  J.  P.  Mabbett 
promoted;  First  Lieutenant,  September  16,  1864,  with 
rank  from  June  22,  1864,  vice  H.  Gridley  killed  in  action. 
Brevet  Captain,  U.  S.  Volunteers. 

Second  Lieutenants. 

Mabbett,  James  P. — Age,  21  years.  Enrolled  at 
Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  three  years,  and  mustered  in  as 
Second  Lieutenant,  Co.  A,  September  8,  1862;  as  First 
Lieutenant,  Co.  C,  December  10,  1863;  wounded  in 
action.  May  25,  1864,  at  Dallas,  Ga.;  discharged  for 
disability,  October  4,  1864.      See  Co.  C  Roll. 

Commissioned  Second  Lieutenant,  November  3,  1862, 
with  rank  from  September  8,  1862,  original;  First  Lieu- 
tenant, November  25,  1863,  with  rank  from  November  7, 
1863,  vice  E.  P.  Welling  deceased. 

Bartlett,  William  H. — Age,  23  years.  Enrolled  Sep- 
tember 5,  1862,  at  Amenia,  to  serve  three  years;  mustered 
in  as  Corporal,  Co.  A,  October  10,  1862;  promoted  Ser- 
geant, January  2,  1863  ;  wounded  in  action,  June  22,  1864, 
at  Culp's  Farm,  Ga.  Mustered  in  as  Second  Lieutenant, 
Co.  A,  March  2,  1865;  as  First  Lieutenant  and  Acting 
Adjutant,  April  9,  1865.* 


354  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Commissioned  Second  Lieutenant,  November  30,  1864, 
with  rank  from  September  6,  1864,  vice  J,  C.  Smithe  pro- 
moted; Acting  Adjutant,  April  22,  1865,  with  rank  from 
March  2,  1865,  vice  C.  S.  Roberts  not  mustered. 

Wattles,  William. — Commissioned  November  7,  1863. 
See  First  Lieutenants. 

First  Sergeants. 

Wattles,  William. — From  October  10,  1862,  till  ap- 
pointed Sergeant-Major,  February  13,  1863,  vice  Roberts 
promoted. 

Smithe,  J.  Curtis. — Age,  26  years,  September  5,  1862, 
at  Amenia.  Sergeant,  October  10,  1862;  First  Sergeant, 
January  29,  1863,  vice  Wattles  promoted  Sergeant-Major. 
See  Co.  C  Roll. 

Memo.  William  H.  Bartlett  was  Acting  Orderly  Ser- 
geant from  July,  1863,  to  August,  1864,  while  Orderly 
Sergeant  Smithe  was  serving  on  detail  at  Hart's  Island, 
New  York  Harbor. 

Fish,  Ira. — Age,  22  years.  Enlisted  September  6, 
1862,  at  Amenia,  to  serve  three  years;  promoted  Corporal, 
December  26,  1862;  Sergeant,  June  5,  1863;  First  Ser- 
geant, April  24,  1865.* 

Sergeants. 

Borden,  John  G. — Age,  18  years.  September  5,  1862, 
at  Amenia;  mustered  in  as  Sergeant,  Co.  A,  October  10, 
1862;  discharged,  April  22,  1864,  for  promotion  as  Sec- 
ond Lieutenant  of  Co.  D,  Forty-seventh  N.  Y.  Infantry. 

Chichester,  Charles  S. — Age,  19  years.  September  5, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie ;  mustered  in  as  Sergeant,  Co.  A, 
October  10,  1862;  returned  to  ranks,  January  21,  1863; 
mustered  out  June  30,  1865,  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 


ROSTER  OF  REGniENT.  355 

Reed,  William. — Age,  22  years.  September  6,  1862, 
at  Amenia;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  Co.  A,  October  10, 
1862;  promoted  Sergeant,  May  i,  1864;  mustered  out, 
May  20,  1865,  while  in  Hospital  No.  i,  at  Chattanooga, 
Tenn. 

Rodgers,  Milo  D. — Age,  21  years.  September  5, 
1862,  at  Amenia;  promoted  Corporal,  June  11,  1864; 
Sergeant,   March   i,    1865.* 

Rynus,  George. — Age,  20  years.  September  i,  1862, 
at  Washington ;  promoted  Corporal,  December  19,  1863; 
Sergeant,  April  24,   1865.* 

Tuttle,  Edward  S. — Age,  24  years.  September  2, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  October 
10,  1862;  promoted  Sergeant,  February  11,  1863; 
wounded,  November  10,  1864,  at  Atlanta,  Ga.;  mustered 
out  with  detachment,  June  20,  1865,  at  Albany,  N.  Y. 

Corporals. 

Bennett,  John  J.^-Age,  30  years.  September  3,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  Co.  A,  October 
10,  1862;  returned  to  ranks,  March  19,  1863;  promoted 
Corporal,  February  24,   1865.* 

Dye,  Thomas. — Age,  38  years.  September  5,  1862, 
at  Amenia;  promoted  Corporal  prior  to  April,  1864.* 

Hall,  Abiah  B. — Age,  23  years.  September  16,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  promoted  Corporal,  April  24,    1865.* 

Kempton,  Eugene. — Age,  20  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  Amenia;  promoted  Corporal,  September  22, 
1863.* 

Mead,  Isaac  N. — Age,  21  years.  September  5,  1862, 
at  Amenia;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  Co.  A,  October  10, 
1862;  transferred  to  Fifth  N.  Y.   Cavalry  as  Hospital 


356  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Steward,  December  25,  1862;  promoted  Assistant  Sur- 
geon, January   12,   1865. 

Palmer,  Isaac  N. — Age,  23  years.  September  18, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie ;  promoted  Corporal,  January  21, 
1863;  wounded  In  action.  May  25,  1864,  at  Dallas,  Ga.* 

Reed,  Nathan  W. — Age,  18  years.  September  5,  1862, 
at  Amenia;  promoted  Corporal,  May  i,   1864.* 

Reed,  Albert  B. — Age,  17  years.  September  6,  1862, 
at  Amenia;  promoted  Corporal,  November  10,  1862; 
died  of  typhoid  fever,  September  16,  1863,  on  hospital 
train  from  Bealton  Station  to  Alexandria,  Va. 

Sheldon,  Nicholas. — Age,  21  years.  April  8,  1863,  at 
Baltimore;  promoted  Corporal,  August  21,  1863; 
wounded  In  action,  July  20,  1864,  at  Atlanta,  Ga.;  re- 
turned to  ranks,  February  24,  1865;  promoted  Corporal, 
March  I,   1865.X 

Stone,  Henry  L. — Age,  18  years.  August  2,  1862,  at 
New  York  City;  private,  Co.  A,  145th  N.  Y.  Volunteers; 
promoted  Corporal,  April  15,  1864;  killed  In  action,  June 
II,  1864,  near  Marietta,  Ga.Z 

Vassar,  James  H. — Age,  23  years.  September  6,  1862, 
at  Amenia;  mustered  In  as  Corporal,  Co.  A,  October  10, 
1862;  returned  to  ranks  voluntarily,  November  10, 
1862.* 

Van  Alstyne,  John. — Age,  34  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  Amenia;  promoted  Corporal,  June  i,  1863; 
killed  In  action,  July  3,  1863,  at  Gettysburg,  Pa. 

Willson,  George  T. — Age,  24  years.  September  5, 
1862,  at  Amenia;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  October  10, 
1862;  was  wounded  at  Gettysburg,  then  serving  as  Color 
Corporal.* 

Wilson,    Nelson    C. — Age,    20   years.       September   5, 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  357 

1862,  at  Amenia  ;  promoted  Corporal,  February  24,  1863  ; 
D.  F.  D.,  August  6,  1863. 

Alusiciaiis. 

Ingraham,  George. — Age,  27  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  Amenia;  mustered  in  as  Musician,  October  10, 
1862.* 

Jones,  Charles  H. — Age,  15  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  mustered  in  as  Musician,  Co.  A, 
October  10,  1862;  D.  F.  D.,  September  14,  1863,  at 
Washington,  D.   C. 

ir  a  goner. 

Lake,  Piatt  V. — Age,  39  years.  September  3,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  mustered  in  as  Wagoner,  Co.  A,  Octo- 
ber 10,  1862;  D.  F.  D.,  September  22,  1863,  at  Wash- 
ington,  D.  C. 

Privates. 

Andrews,  Chester  A. — Age,  38  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  Amenia.* 

Bagley,  John. — Age,  44  years.  October  6,  1862,  at 
Poughkeepsie;  D.  F.  D.,  June  17,  1864,  at  Columbus, 
Ohio. 

Bartlett,  Julian  C. — Age,  22  years.  September  27, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  D.  F.  D.,  August  21,  1863,  at 
hospital,  Annapolis,  Md. 

Bates,  Amos  T. — Age,  36  years.  September  6,  1862, 
at  Amenia.* 

Bates,  Jeremiah  H. — Age,  27  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  D.  F.  D.,  September  27,  1863,  at 
Washington,  D.  C. 

Benham,    Thomas. — Age,    33    years.      December   23, 


358  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

1863,  at  Amenia,  and  mustered  in  as  private,  December 
28,  1863;  captured,  October  13,  1864,  near  Atlanta,  Ga.; 
paroled,  no  date;  died  of  fever,  April  i,  1865,  while  on 
furlough  at  Amenia,  N.  Y. 

Bennitt,  Ransom. — Age,  21  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie ;  deserted,  February  4,  1863,  at 
Baltimore,  Md. 

Benton,  Charles  E. — Age,  20  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  Amenia.* 

Bidwell,  Hurbert. — Age,  18  years.  August  9,  1862, 
at  New  York  City;  145th  N.  Y.  Volunteers;  mustered  out, 
July  II,  1865,  at  Washington,  D.  C,  while  in  hospital  at 
Fairfax  Seminary,  Va.Z 

Birdsall,  Sebury. — Age,  35  years.  September  5,  1862, 
at  Amenia.* 

Blinn,  Peter. — Age,  42  years.  September  4,  1862,  at 
Washington;  promoted  Corporal,  June  i,  1863;  returned 
to  ranks,  April  15,   1864.* 

Boughton,  James  A. — Age,  40  years.  October  8, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  promoted  Corporal,  August  21, 
1863;  returned  to  ranks,  February  24,  1865;  promoted 
Corporal,  March  i,  1865;  returned  to  ranks  and  dis- 
chargeci,  no  ciates. 

Braman,  Hamilton. — Age,  31  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  Amenia.* 

Brundage,  David. — Age,  23  years.  September  13, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  deserted,  November,  1863,  at 
hospital.  New  York  City. 

Buckley,  Benjamin. — Age,  44  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  Amenia;  discharged,  May  19,  1865,  at  hospital, 
Louisville,  Ky. 

Bullis,  Thomas  (i). — Age,  45  years.     September  29, 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  359 

1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  D.  F.  D.,  November  19,  1863,  at 
Baltimore,  Md. 

Burns,  Peter. — Age,  26  years.  September  i,  1864,  at 
Fishkill,  to  serve  one  year.* 

Burroughs,  Benjamin  S. — Age,  29  years.  September 
25,  1862,  at  Pleasant  Valley;  absent,  sick  In  hospital  at 
muster-out. 

Carey,  James. — Age,  32  years.  July  25,  1862,  New 
York  City,  145th  N.  Y.  Volunteers.Z* 

Carlow,  James  L. — Age,  45  years.  August  30,  1862, 
at  Washington.* 

Cass,  John. — Age,  20  years.  September  5,  1862,  at 
Poughkeepsie;  wounded  in  action,  March  16,  1865;  died 
of  his  wounds,  March  17,  1865,  at  First  Division,  20th 
Army  Corps  Hospital,  Averasboro,  N.  C. 

Chamberlain,  Horatio  S. — Age,  24  years.     September 

5,  1862,  at  Amenia.* 

Chamberlain,  William  C. — Age,  28  years.     September 

6,  1862,  at  Amenia;  D.  F.  D.,  March  25,  1864,  ^t  hos- 
pital, Washington,  D.  C. 

Chamberlin,  Willis  D. — Age,  38  years.  September  30, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  killed  in  action,  August  23,  1864, 
at  Atlanta,  Ga. 

Chambers,  Benjamin. — Age,  22  years.  September  12, 
1864,  at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year.* 

Coggins,  Thomas. — Age,  30  years.  August  18,  1862, 
at  New  York  City;  private,  Co.  A,  145th  N.  Y.  Volun- 
teers.*Z 

Coller,  John. — Age,  38  years.  September  5,  1862,  at 
Amenia.* 

Connolly,  Martin. — Age,  26  years.  July  12,  1864,  at 
Poughkeepsie.X 


360  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Conroy,  James. — Age,  i8  years.  August  7,  1862, 
New  York  City;  Co.  A,  145th  N.  Y.  Volunteers.Z* 

Coughlin,  Michael. — Age,  21  years.  September  6, 
1864,  at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year;  sentenced  by  a 
court  martial  to  make  up  time  lost  by  desertion. X 

Creed,  John. — Age,  18  years.  August  26,  1862,  at 
New  York  City;  Co.  A,  145th  N.  Y.  Volunteers. *Z 

Dailey,  Michael. — Age,  27  years.  September  2,  1862, 
at  Washington;  deserted,  February  16,  1863,  at  Balti- 
more, Md. 

Davis,  Edwin. — Age,  19  years.  September  15,  1862, 
at  Amenia;  wounded  in  action,  June  22,  1864,  at  Culp's 
Farm,  Ga.* 

Davis,  John. — Age,  23  years.  August  30,  1862,  at 
Amenia.* 

Divine,  Alexander. — Age,  23  years.  August  19,  1862, 
at  New  York  City;  private,  Co.  A,  145th  N.  Y.  Volun- 
teers.Z* 

Dewey,  Fred  F. — Age,  42  years.  September  5,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  transferred  to  Co.  C,  March  25,  1863, 
and  Nicholas  Hickey  taken  In  his  place.* 

Dooley,  Martin. — Age,  22  years.  September  i,  1862, 
at  Washington;  discharged,  November  6,  1862,  to  enlist 
in  Battery  L,  Fifth  U.  S.  Artillery. 

Dutcher,  Aaron. — Age,  17  years.  August  30,  1862, 
at  Amenia;  wounded  In  action.  May  25,  1864,  at  Dallas, 
Ga.* 

FItzpatrick,  Michael. — Age,  23  years.  August  30, 
1862,  at  Amenia.* 

Fowler,  Caleb  G. — Age,  22  years.  September  12, 
1864,  at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year;  captured.  No- 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  361 

vember,  1864;  paroled,  no  date;  died  of  disease,  February 
23,   1864,  at  Savannah,  Ga. 

Frear,  Peter. — Age,  27  years.  October  7,  1862,  at 
PoLighkeepsie ;  transferred  to  Co.  F,  Sixtieth  Infantry, 
June  8,  1865,  to  make  up  time  lost  by  desertion. 

Gillespie,  Moses. — Age,  22  years.  September  6,  1862, 
at  Amenia;  deserted,  February  i,  1863,  at  Baltimore,  Md. 

Goings,  Andrew. — Age,  27  years.  October  22,  1863, 
at  Decherd,  Tenn.;  deserted,  June  9,  1864,  in  the  field, 
near  Pine  Hill,  Ga. 

Gollenbeck,  John  B. — Age,  23  years.  Enlisted  August 
28,  1862,  at  Washington,  D.  C* 

Gordon,  William. — Age,  28  years.  August  19,  1862; 
Co.  A,  145th  N.  Y.  Volunteers.* 

Griffin,  Charles  E. — Age,  28  years.  September  5, 
1862,  at  Amenia.* 

Hackett,  William. — Age,  19  years.  October  18,  1864, 
at  Kingston,  to  serve  one  year.X 

Harris,  Howard. — Age,  18  years.  September  14, 
1864,  at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year.* 

Hart,  John. — Age,  18  years.  August  22,  1862,  at 
Amenia;  killed  while  on  picket,  June  24,  1864,  near 
Marietta,  Ga. 

Hickey,  Nicholas. — Age,  44  years.  September  9, 
1862,  at  Stanford;  transferred  from  Co.  C  to  Co.  A, 
March  25,  1863;  deserted,  June  3,  1863,  at  Baltimore, 
Md. 

Hoftaling,  John  L. — Age,  31  years.  August  21,  1862, 
at  Amenia. X 

Horton,  Edward. — Age,  34  years.  August  28,  1862, 
at  Washington;  transferred  to  Co.  F,  Tenth  Regiment, 
V.  R.  C,  August,  1863. 


362  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Howgate,  Charles. — Age,  45  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie ;  killed  in  action,  July  3,  1863,  at 
Gettysburg,  Pa. 

Jackson,  George  H. — Age,  20  years.  June  25,  1863, 
at  Amenia;  joined  regiment  at  Baltimore,  Md.X 

Jones,  Henry  L. — Age,  28  years.  August  20,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  deserted,  May  20,  1863,  at  Baltimore, 
Md. 

Jones,  Lewis. — Age,  18  years.  January  18,  1865,  at 
Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year.X 

Jones,  Lyman  H. — Age,  38  years.  September  2,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie.* 

Kenyon,  Franklin. — Age,  21  years.  May  7,  1864,  at 
Pawling;  deserted,  July  8,  1864,  in  the  field  near  Pine 
Hill,  Ga. 

Lewis,  Miles  K. — Age,  19  years.  September  6,  1862, 
at  Amenia,* 

Lee,  Seneca  S. — Age,  25  years.  August  29,  1862,  at 
Poughkeepsie;  mustered  in  as  Sergeant,  October  10,  181^  ; 
deserted  from  hospital,  May  20,  1863,  at  Baltimore,  Md. 

Lyman,  Jr.,  James. — Age,  24  years.  September  5, 
1862,  at  Amenia;  wounded  in  action,  July  31,  1864,  at 
Atlanta,  Ga.;  absent  since,  In  hospital,  and  at  muster-out 
of  company. 

Maguire,  Patrick. — Age,  33  years.  September  13, 
1862,  at  Washington;  deserted,  February  6,  1863,  at 
Baltimore,  Md. 

McCloskey,   Thomas. — Age,    21    years. — , 

1862,  at  New  York  City;  private,  Co.  A,  145th  N.  Y. 
Volunteers;  absent,  sick  in  hospital,  since  October,  1864, 
at  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  and  at  muster-out  of  company. Z 

McDonald,    James. — i\ge,     19    years.      September    5, 


ROSTER  OF  REGKvIENT.  363 

1862,  at  Washington;  discharged,  November  6,  1862,  to 
enlist  in  Battery  L,  Fifth  U.  S.  Artillery. 

McDowell,  Joseph  W. — Age,  44  years.  September  2, 
1862,  at  Washington;  transferred  to  V.  R.  C,  September 
1,   1863. 

McNeil,  William. — Age,  20  years.  January  24,  1863, 
at  Baltimore, X 

Miller,  Hanson. — Age,  18  years.  September  2,  1864, 
at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year.* 

Morey,  John. — Age,  43  years.  August  30,  1862,  at 
Washington;  D.  F.  D.,  April  7,  1863. 

O'Neil,  Thomas. — i\ge,  39  years.  September  2,  1862, 
at  Washington.* 

Ostrom,  William  E. — Age,  37  years.  September  15, 
1862,  at  Amenia;  transferred  to  V.  R.  C,  February  15, 
1864. 

Ostrum,  William  H. — Age,  35  years.  October  4, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie.* 

Odell,  Samuel  C. — Age,  16  years.  April  18,  1863,  at 
Washington. X 

Odell,  Wilson  A. — Age,  44  years.  August  30,  1862, 
at  Washington;  died  of  disease,  September  21,  1864,  at 
hospital.  Fort  Rosecrans,  Murfreesboro,  Tenn. 

Pell,  Francis. — Age,  23  years.  October  i,  1862,  at 
Poughkeepsie.* 

Place,  James  L. — Age,  40  years.  August  28,  1862,  at 
Washington.* 

Rosell,  George  H. — Age,  28  years.  August  28,  1862, 
at  Washington,  N.  Y. ;  deserted,  February  2,  1863,  at 
Baltimore,   Md. 

Roberts,  Cyrus  S. — Age,  21  years.  September  5,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  promoted  Sergeant-Major,  October  11, 


364  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

1862,  and  became  Second  Lieutenant,  Co.  K,  February 
13,  1863.      (For  full  record,  see  Co.  K.  Roll.) 

Rosell,  Obed. — Age,  24  years.  August  21,  1862,  at 
Amenia;  wounded  on  picket,  June  19,  1864;  mustered  out 
with  detachment,  June  20,  1865,  at  Albany,  N.  Y. 

Rust,  Levi. — Age,  45  years.  August  30,  1862,  at 
Washington,  N.  Y. ;  killed  in  action,  July  3,  1863,  at 
Gettysburg,  Pa. 

Salisbury,  William  E. — Age,  25  years.  April  25, 
1864,  at  Amenia,  and  mustered  in  as  private,  Co.  A, 
April  25,   1 864.x. 

Shaw,  John. — Age,  22  years.  September  3,  1862,  at 
Poughkeepsie ;  promoted  Corporal,  March  19,  1863; 
deserted,  May  20,  1863,  at  Baltimore,  Md. 

Shutter,  James. — Age,  19  years.  May  3,  1864,  at 
Hyde  Park;  deserted,  May  10,  1865. 

Smith,  John  H. — Age,  20  years.  September  5,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  died,  August  26,  1863,  at  hospital  in 
Washington,  D.  C. 

Sterling,   Thomas. — Age,    19   years.       September    19, 

1864,  at  Albany,  to  serve  one  year.* 

Swart,  Isaac  H. — Age,  26  years.  September  7,  1864, 
at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year.* 

Thompson,  John. — Age,  43  years.  September  15, 
1862,  at  Amenia;  deserted,  February  i,  1863,  at  Balti- 
more, Md. 

Thompson,   John   H. — Age,    22   years.     January   25, 

1865,  at  Kingston. X 

Traver,  John. — Age,  39  years.  September  9,  1862,  at 
Poughkeepsie;  deserted,  November  26,  1862,  at  Balti- 
more, Md. 


ROSTER  OF  REGHIENT.  365 

Tucker,  James  H. — Age,  22  years.  February  13, 
1864,  at  New  York  City.X 

Valentine,  William. — Age,  23  years.  October  9,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie ;  deserted,  October  12,  1862,  at  Rahway, 
N.J. 

Van  Demark,  John  M. — Age,  44  years.  April  19, 
1864,  ^t  Red  Hook;  mustered  out,  July  11,  1865,  at 
Washington,  D.  C,  while  in  Sickles'  Hospital,  Alexan- 
dria, Va. 

Van  Dyke,  George  H. — Age,  18  years.  August  30, 
1862,  at  Hyde  Park;  mustered  out  with  detachment,  June 
20,  1865,  at  Albany,  N.  Y. 

Van  Keuren,  Robert. — Age,  28  years.  September  5, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  transferred  to  Co.  C,  Ninth  Regi- 
ment, V.  R.  C,  September  26,  1863;  mustered  out  with 
detachment,  July  21,  1865,  at  Washington,  D.  C. 

Van  Wagner,  Theodore  F. — Age,  18  years.  April  19, 
1864,  at  Poughkeepsie. X 

Wallace,  J.  Alva. — Age,  21  years.  April  16,  1864,  at 
Hyde  Park,  to  serve  three  years. X 

Webster,  George. — Age,  39  years.  August  15,  1864, 
at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year.* 

Welch,  Patrick. — Age,  22  years.  April  19,  1864,  at 
Fishkill.X 

Wilson,  George. — Age,  22  years.  October  9,  1862,  at 
Poughkeepsie;  deserted,  October  12,  1862,  at  Rahway, 
N.J. 

Wing,  John  P. — Age,  19  years.  August  30,  1862,  at 
Amenia;  killed  in  action,  July  3,  1863,  at  Gettysburg,  Pa. 

Winters,  Andrew  J.— Age,  20  years.  September  i, 
1862,  at  Amenia;  died  of  disease,  August  16,  1863,  at 
hospital,  Baltimore,  Md. 


366  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Westmiller,  Luther. — Age,  29  years.  September  13, 
1864,  at  FIshkill,  to  serve  one  year.* 

Westmiller,  Peter. — Age,  18  years.  September  2, 
1862,  at  Poiighkeepsie.* 

Whaley,  James  E. — Age,  18  years.  January  11,  1864, 
at  Washington. X 

Whaley,  William  H. — Age,  18  years.  August  27, 
1862,  at  Washington.* 

Wheeler,  Charles. — Age,  26  years.  August  25,  1862, 
at  Washington;  deserted,  February  2,  1863,  at  Baltimore, 
Md. 

Wheeler,  Seth. — Age,  44  years.  October  8,  1862,  at 
Stanford;  transferred  to  V.  R.  C,  April  6,  1864. 

Winans,  Henry  C. — Age,  22  years.  August  25,  1862, 
at  Washington;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  October  10, 
1862;  returned  to  ranks,  December  19,  1863;  wounded 
in  action,  June  11,  1864,  near  Pine  Hills,  Ga.;  died  of  his 
wounds,  June   12,   1864,  at  hospital,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

No.  3. 

COMPANY  B. 

Mustered  into  the  U.  S.  service,  for  three  years,  at 
Camp  Dutchess,  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  Friday,  October 
10,  1862. 

Captains. 

McConnell,  Robert. — Age,  28  years.  Enrolled  at 
Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  three  years,  and  mustered  in  as 
Captain,  Co.  B,  September  10,  1862;  dismissed,  Decem- 
ber 16,  1863  ;  dismissal  revoked  and  restored  to  command, 
January  20,  1864;  discharged,  October  20,  1864. 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  367 

Commissioned  Captain,  November  3,  1862,  with  rank 
from  September  8,   1862,  original, 

Tripp,  Robert  C. — September  6,  1864.  See  Second 
Lieutenants.* 

First  Lieutenants. 

Johnson,  Albert. — Age,  31  years.  Enrolled  at  Pough- 
keepsie,  to  serve  three  years,  and  mustered  in  as  First 
Lieutenant,  Co.  B,  September  8,  1862;  discharged,  April 
25,   1863,  at  Baltimore,  Md. 

Commissioned  First  Lieutenant,  November  3,  1862, 
with  rank  from  September  8,    1862,  original. 

Tripp,  Robert  C. — April  25,  1863.  See  Second  Lieu- 
tenants. 

Ostrom,  Andrew  J. — November  30,  1864.  See  Sec- 
ond Lieutenants.* 

Second  Lieutenants. 

Tripp,  Robert  C. — Age,  23  years.  Enrolled  at  Pough- 
keepsie,  to  serve  three  years,  and  mustered  in  as  Second 
Lieutenant,  Co.  B,  September  8,  1862;  as  First  Lieuten- 
ant, April  26,  1863;  as  Captain,  October  21,  1864. 

Commissioned  Second  Lieutenant,  November  3,  1862, 
with  rank  from  September  8,  1862,  original;  First  Lieu- 
tenant, December  7,  1863,  with  rank  from  April  25,  1863, 
vice  B.  J.  Hevenor,  not  mustered;  Captain,  November 
30,  1864,  with  rank  from  October  20,  1864,  vice  Robert 
McConnell,  discharged. 

Ostrum,  Andrew  J. — Age,  30  years.  Enrolled,  Au- 
gust 13,  1862,  at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  three  years; 
mustered  in  as  First  Sergeant,  Co.  B,  September  5,  1862; 
mustered  in  as  Second  Lieutenant,  April  26,  1863;  as 
First  Lieutenant,  October  21,  1864. 


368  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Commissioned  Second  Lieutenant,  December  7,  1863, 
with  rank  from  April  25,  1863,  vice  R.  C.  Tripp  pro- 
moted; First  Lieutenant,  November  30,  1864,  with  rank 
from  September  6,  1864,  vice  R.  C.  Tripp  promoted 
Captain. 

McGill,  John. — Age,  26  years.  October  i,  1862,  at 
Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  three  years;  mustered  in  as  Ser- 
geant, Co.  F,  October  11,  1862;  promoted  First  Sergeant, 
July  27,  1864;  mustered  in  as  Second  Lieutenant,  Co.  B, 
October  21,  1864.* 

Commissioned  Second  Lieutenant,  November  30,  1864, 
with  rank  from  September  6,  1864,  vice  C.  S.  Roberts 
promoted. 

First  Sergeants. 

Ostrum,  Andrew  J. — October  10,  1862.  See  First 
Lieutenants. 

McGill,  John. — July  27,  1864.  See  Second  Lieu- 
tenants. 

Lee,  Frank  K. — Age,  20  years.  August  13,  1862,  at 
Poughkeepsie;  mustered  in  as  Sergeant,  Co.  B,  October 
10,  1862;  promoted  First  Sergeant,  January  i,  1864.* 

Sergeants. 

Ferdon,  William  B. — Age,  26  years.  September  5, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie,  and  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  Co. 
B,  October  10,  1862;  promoted  Sergeant,  July  13,  1864.* 

Brooks,  William. — Age,  28  years.  August  13,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  October  10, 
1862;  promoted  Sergeant,  April  i,  1865.* 

Brewer,  Charles  E. — Age,  26  years.  September  4, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  mustered  out,  May  31,  1865,  at 
McDougall  Hospital,  Fort  Schuyler,  N.  Y.  Harbor. 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  369 

Endicott,  George. — Transferred  from  Co.  A,  145th 
N.  Y.  Volunteers,  January  4,  1864,  as  a  Sergeant.* 

Corporals. 

Cronk,  Silas  H. — Age,  25  years.  August  13,  1862,  at 
Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  three  years;  mustered  in  as  Cor- 
poral, Co.  B,  October  10,  1862;  mustered  out  with  com- 
pany, June  8,  1865,  near  Washington,  D.  C* 

Longenbine,  Jacob. — Age,  21  years.  August  14,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  Co.  B,  Octo- 
ber 10,  1862.* 

Corwin,  George  W. — Age,  22  years.  August  13, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  promoted  Corporal  prior  to 
April,    1864.* 

Mitchell,  Samuel. — Age,  26  years.  August  13,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie ;  promoted  Corporal  prior  to  April, 
1864.* 

Osborn,  Levi  J. — Age,  18  years.  September  5,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  promoted  Corporal  prior  to  April,  1864; 
wounded  in  action.  May  25,  1864,  at  Dallas,  Ga.* 

Timmins,  John. — Age,  19  years.  September  6,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  promoted  Corporal  prior  to  October, 
1864.* 

Brazier,  James. — Age,  19  years.  August  13,  1862,  at 
Poughkeepsie;  promoted  Corporal,  April   i,   1865.* 

Nuttal,  William. — Age,  21  years.  August  14,  1862,  at 
Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. ;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  Co.  B, 
October  10,  1862  ;  mustered  out  June  17,  18(^5,  at  Albany, 
N.  Y. 

Musicians. 

Dahn,  John. — Age,   15  years.     September  8,   1862,  at 


370  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Poughkeepsie ;  mustered  in  as  Musician ;  deserted,  Decem- 
ber 3,  1862,  at  Baltimore,  Md. 

Davidson,  Samuel  A. — Age,  17  years.  February  8, 
1863,  at  Baltimore,  Md. ;  mustered  in  as  Musician,  Feb- 
ruary 8,  1863;  mustered  out.  May  30,  1865,  at  McDou- 
gall  Hospital,  N.  Y.  Harbor. 

Holdredge,  Elisha. — Age,  41  years.  August  13,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  mustered  in  as  Musician,  Co.  B.,  Octo- 
ber 10,  1862;  D.  F.  D.,  January  8,  1864,  ^t  Point  Look- 
out, Md. 

fVagoner. 

Conwoy,  William. — Age,  25  years.  September  20, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  mustered  in  as  Wagoner,  Octo- 
ber 10,  1862;  deserted,  February  17,  1863,  at  Baltimore, 
Md. 

Privates. 

Albertson,  John  B. — Age,  45  years.  October  10, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  mustered  out,  June  10,  1865,  at 
Louisville,  Ky. 

Adlum,  William. — Age,  28  years.  August  21,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  captured  at  South  River,  Ga.,  October 
18,  1864;  paroled  at  Florence,  S.  C,  December  13,  1864; 
mustered  out,  June  19,  1865,  at  Annapolis,  Md. 

Bailey,  Chauncey. — Age,  37  years.  August  4,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  wounded  in  action,  July  20,  1864,  at 
Peach  Tree  Creek,  Ga. ;  mustered  out,  June  26,  1865, 
at  Louisville,  Ky. 

Baker,  Smith. — Age,  21  years.  September  29,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  transferred  to  Battery  I,  Fifth  U.  S. 
Artillery,  November  4,  1862. 

Beach,  James. — Age,  19  years.     September  2,  1864,  at 


ROSTER  OF  REGTMENT.  371 

Germantown,  to  serve  one  year;  died,  P^ebruary  25,  1865, 
at  hospital,  Savannah,  Ga. 

Beach,  Timothy  T. — Age,  19  years.  August  13, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  Octo- 
ber 10,  1862;  returned  to  ranks  prior  to  April  30,  1863.* 

Bierman,  John. — Age,  30  years.  August  15,  1862,  at 
Poughkeepsie.* 

Bradley,  Charles  H. — Age,  23  years.  September  30, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  transferred  to  Two  Hundred  and 
Forty-third  Company,  First  Battalion,  V.  R.  C,  March 
15,  1865,  and  mustered  out  with  detachment,  June  26, 
1865,  at  Washington,  D.  C. 

Buyce,  James. — Age,  19  years.  September  5,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie.* 

Cable,  Samuel  H. — Age,  25  years.  September  15, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie.* 

Campbell,  Joel. — Age,  27  years.  September  i,  1864, 
at  Poughkeepsie.* 

Cannon,  Charles  H. — Age,  26  years.  September  9, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  deserted,  November  17,  1862,  at 
Baltimore,  Md. 

Cannon,  William  H. — Age,  18  years.  August  13, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  deserted  November  17,  1862,  at 
Baltimore,   Md. 

Carey,  John. — Age,  17  years.  September  9,  1862,  at 
Poughkeepsie;  died,  September  i,  1863,  at  hospital,  Bal- 
timore, Md. 

Cavanagh,  John. — Age,  22  years.  September  8,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie.* 

Chambers,  James  M. — Age,  43  years.  August  7, 
1862,    at   Poughkeepsie;   wounded   in   action,   August   2, 


372  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

1864,  near  Atlanta,   Ga.;  died,   December  28,    1864,   at 
Joe  Holt  Hospital,  Jeftersonville,  Ind. 

Collins,  William. — Age,  30  years.  August  13,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  Co.  B,  October 
15,  1862;  returned  to  ranks,  no  date.* 

Cook,  John  N. — Age,  18  years.  September  2,  1864, 
at  New  York  City,  to  serve  one  year.* 

Cramsie,  James. — Age,  19  years.  August  23,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  deserted.  May  16,  1863,  at  Baltimore, 
Md. 

Crozier,  Isaac. — Age,  26  years.  September  i,  1864, 
at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year;  mustered  out,  June  9, 

1865,  at  McDougall  Hospital,  N.  Y.  Harbor. 
Decker,  Andrew. — Age,  19  years.    August  4,  1864,  at 

Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year.* 

Develin,  John. — Age,  29  years.  August  18,  1862,  at 
Poughkeepsie;  deserted,  December  11,  1862,  at  Balti- 
more, Md. 

Deyo,  Orlando. — Age,  22  years.  September  27,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie.* 

Doherty,  Edward. — Age,  28  years.  August  18,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie.* 

Doyle,  James. — Age,  29  years.  September  10,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  deserted,  January  10,  1863,  at  Balti- 
more, Md. 

Egans,  Charles  F. — Age,  21  years.  At  Poughkeepsie; 
transferred  to  Battery  L,  Fifth  U.  S.  Artillery,  Novem- 
ber 4,   1862. 

Farley,  Johnson. — Age,  36  years.  October  10,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie.* 

Ferdon,  John  J. — Age,  44  years.     October  10,   1862, 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  373 

at  Poughkeepsie;  deserted,  February  20,   1863,  at  Balti- 
more, Md. 

Fetter,  William. — Age,  19  years.  August  22,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  deserted,  March  17,  1863,  at  Baltimore, 
Md. 

Filkins,  John  H. — Age,  30  years.  August  23,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  transferred  to  Battery  L,  Fifth  U.  S. 
Artillery,  November  4,   1862. 

.  Fleischhauer,  Anthony. — Age,   28  years.     August  26, 
1864,  at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year.* 

Gilmor,  John. — Age,  33  years.  October  10,  1862,  at 
Poughkeepsie.* 

Green,  Francis  C. — Age,  33  years.  October  2,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie.* 

Hannah,  John. — Age,  28  years.  September  10,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie ;  promoted  Corporal  and  returned  to 
ranks,  no  dates;  deserted.  May  9,  1863,  at  Baltimore,  Md. 

Harris,  Lyman  P. — Age,  27  years.  September  12, 
1864,  at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year;  mustered  out, 
June  6,  1865,  at  Washington,  D.  C,  while  in  Fairfax 
Seminary  Hospital,  Alexandria,  Va. 

Hewett,  George  W. — Age,  18  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  wounded  in  action,  July  20,  1864, 
before  Atlanta,  Ga.;  captured,  March  19,  1865,  near 
Bentonville,  N.  C;  paroled,  no  date;  mustered  out,  June 
13,   1865,  at  Camp  Parole,  Annapolis,  Md. 

Hoerhold,  William. — Age,  28  years.  August  26, 
1864,  at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year;  died  of  suicide, 
October  20,   1864,  at  Atlanta,  Ga. 

Holdredge,  William. — Age,  37  years.  September  8, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  transferred  to  Battery  L,  Fifth 
U.  S.  Artillery,  November  4,  1862. 


374  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Holtlcer,  John. — Age,  i8  years.  September  3,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie.* 

Hopkins,  Charles  B. — Age,  21  years.  September  5, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie.* 

Hopkins,  Chester  C. — Age,  28  years.  September  i, 
1864,  at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year;  D.  F.  D.,  April 
24,  1865,  at  Main  Street  Hospital,  Covington,  Ky. 

Johnson,  Charles  T. — Age,  19  years.  August  13, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  Co.  B, 
October  10,  1862;  returned  to  ranks  prior  to  December, 
1864.* 

Jones,  Adney  H. — Age,  24  years.  September  18, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie.* 

Jones,  Alonzo  V. — Age,  21  years.  September  14, 
1864,  at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year.* 

Jones,  Benjamin. — Age,  18  years.  September  3,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie.* 

Jones,  Egbert. — Age,  21  years.  September  6,  1862,  at 
Poughkeepsie;  deserted,  July  2,  1863,  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.; 
apprehended,  and  again  deserted,  May  23,  1865,  while 
awaiting  trial. 

Jones,  Hugh. — Age,  35  years.  August  13,  1862,  at 
Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  three  years;  deserted.  May  24, 
1864,  at  Bridgeport,  Ala. 

Jones,  Thomas  C. — Age,  30  years.  August  15,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  wounded  in  action.  May  25,  1864,  at 
Dallas,   Ga.* 

Jones,  Valentine. — Age,  25  years.  August  18,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie.* 

Jones,  William  H. — Age,  25  years.  August  13,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie.* 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  375 

Joos,  Matthias. — Age,  32  years.  August  19,  1862,  at 
Poughkeepsle.* 

Kane,  Hugh. — Age,  30  years.  September  5,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsle;  deserted,  February  9,  1863,  at  Balti- 
more, Md. 

Kihlmire,  Valentine. — Age,  21  years.  August  15, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsle;  mustered  in  as  Sergeant,  Co.  B, 
October  10,  1862;  returned  to  ranks,  July  13,  1864.* 

Lawrence,  John. — Age,  44  years.  July  29,  1862,  at 
Poughkeepsle;  D.  F.  D.,  November  22,  1864,  at  Sedley 
Hospital,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

Lawson,  William  P. — Age,  23  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsle.* 

Lumb,  Levi. — Age,  22  years.  August  13,  1862,  at 
Poughkeepsle;  promoted  Corporal  prior  to  April,  1863; 
returned  to  ranks,  April,  1864;  mustered  out,  June  20, 
1865,  at  Albany,  N.  Y. 

Lynett,  John. — Age,  25  years.  September  16,  1862,  at 
Poughkeepsle;  deserted,  March  17,  1863,  at  Baltimore, 
Md. 

Lyttle,  Samuel. — Age,  29  years.  September  15,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsle;  deserted,  March  23,  1863,  at  Baltimore, 
Md. 

Maccay,  Alonzo. — Age,  37  years.  August  13,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsle.* 

McBride,  James. — Age,  25  years.  September  6,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsle;  D.  F.  D.,  November  10,  1864,  at 
Atlanta,  Ga. 

McCann,  James. — Age,  28  years.  September  2,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsle;  deserted,  February  15,  1863,  ^^  Balti- 
more, Md. 

McKenney,   James   R. — Age,    24  years.     August   27, 


376  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

1864,  at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year;  wounded  In 
action,  March  16,  1865,  at  Averasboro,  N.  C;  mustered 
out,  May  18,  1865,  at  McDougall  Hospital,  Fort  Schuy- 
ler, N.  Y.  Harbor. 

McLaughling,  Richard. — Age,  40  years.  September  i, 
1864,  at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year.* 

McNeil,  William  H. — Age,  31  years.  August  13, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie.* 

Mosher,  William. — Age,  25  years.  September  3, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie,* 

Muldrey,  John. — Age,  18  years.  August  22,  1862,  at 
Poughkeepsie;  deserted.  May  16,  1863,  at  Baltimore,  Md. 

Mulholland,  Henry. — Age,  39  years.  August  18, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie.* 

Murgatroyd,  Benjamin  W. — Age,  27  years.  Septem- 
ber 6,  1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  deserted,  November  27, 
1862,  at  Baltimore,  Md. 

Murgatroyd,  Thomas. — Age,  32  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  deserted,  October  30,  1862,  at 
Baltimore,  Md. 

Murter,  James. — Age,  25  years.  September  20,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  promoted  Corporal  prior  to  April, 
1863;  returned  to  ranks,  no  date;  wounded  in  action,  Feb- 
ruary I,  1865,  near  Robertsville,  S.  C;  absent  since,  at 
McDougall  Hospital,  Fort  Schuyler,  N.  Y.  Harbor,  and 
at  muster-out  of  company. 

Myers,  Frederick. — Age,  34  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  D.  F.  D.,  August  13,  1863,  at 
Washington,  D.  C. 

Noyes,  Simeon  F. — Age,  18  years.  August  15,  1864, 
at  Hyde  Park,  to  serve  one  year.* 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  377 

O'Neil,  Owen. — Age,  33  years.  August  18,  1862,  at 
Poughkeepsie.* 

Ostrom,  John  H. — Age,  38  years.  December  22, 
1863,  at  Poughkeepsie;  mustered  out,  July  i,  1865,  at 
McDougall  Hospital,  N.  Y.  Harbor. 

Ostrum,  George  E. — Age,  20  years.  August  15,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  discharged,  April  11,  1863,  by  order  of 
general  court  martial,  at  Fort  Henry,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Palmer,  John. — Age,  22  years.  September  12,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie. X 

Phillips,  Augustus. — Age,  18  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie.* 

Pierce,  Seth. — Age,  18  years.  August  18,  1862,  at 
Poughkeepsie.* 

Pinhom,  George. — Age,  41  years.  iVugust  26,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  died,  March  28,  1864,  In  hospital  at 
Tullahoma,  Tenn.,  from  Injuries  received  by  the  falling 
of  a  tree. 

Richardson,  Folsom. — Age,  18  years.  March  5,  1863, 
at  Baltimore,  Md. ;  wounded  In  action.  May  15,  1864,  at 
Resaca,  Ga.;  died  of  his  wounds,  August  8,  1864,  ^^  Cum- 
berland Hospital,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Rion,  Bartholomew. — i^ge,  39  years.  September  3, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  deserted,  April  3,  1863,  at  Balti- 
more, Md. 

RItter,  Henry. — Age,  18  years.  September  13,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie.* 

Rodgers,  Joseph. — Age,  26  years.  October  12,  1864, 
at  Jamaica,  to  serve  one  year;  never  joined  reglment.X 

Shafer,  Nelson  P. — Age,  23  years.  August  13,  1862, 
at  Rhinebeck;  transferred  to  V.  R.  S.,  June  15,  1864. 

Shaw,  Gilbert  H. — Age,  23  years.     August  5,   1862, 


378  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

at  Rhinebeck;  captured,  November  i8,  1864,  near  Madi- 
son, Ga. ;  paroled,  no  date.* 

Simmons,  Stephen. — Age,  38  years.  September  5, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie ;  killed  in  action,  July  20,  1864,  at 
Peach  Tree  Creek,  Ga. 

Smithson,  John. — Age,  27  years  September  13,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie.* 

Snyder,  George. — Age,  25  years.  August  10,  1864, 
at  Poughkeepsie-,  to  serve  one  year;  captured,  November 
18,  1864,  near  Madison,  Ga. ;  paroled,  no  date.* 

Stephenson,  Stephen  H. — Age,  39  years.  August  20, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie.* 

Stroker,  John  H. — Age,  26  years.  August  13,  1864, 
at  East  Fishkill,  to  serve  one  year;  captured,  November 
18,  1864,  near  Madison,  Ga.;  paroled,  no  date;  sick  in 
hospital  at  Columbus,  Ohio;  mustered  out,  June  2,  1865, 
at  Tripler  Hospital. 

Swarthout,  Charles  M. — Age,  23  years.  September  5, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie.* 

Sykes,  George. — Age,  22  years.  September  6,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  deserted,  November  17,  1862,  at  Balti- 
more, Md. 

Tator,  Edward. — Age,  21  years.  August  2,  1862,  at 
Poughkeepsie;  transferred  to  Battery  L,  Fifth  U.  S. 
Artillery,  November  4,  1862. 

Todd,  David  P. — Age,  37  years.  September  9,  1864, 
at  Albany,  to  serve  one  year.* 

Toometh,  James  H. — Age,  18  years.  September  2, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie.* 

Tripp,  Joseph  F. — Age,  20  years.  October  6,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  deserted,  January  7,  1863,  at  Baltimore, 
Md. 


ROSTER  OF  REGLMENT.  379 

Wallin,  William  J. — Age,  i8  years.  August  26,  1864, 
at  Albany,  to  serve  one  year;  killed,  March  17,  1865,  on 
the  skirmish  line  near  Averasboro,  N.  C. 

Weaver,  Charles. — Age,  21  years.  September  5,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie.* 

Weaver,  Henry. — Age,  19  years.  September  18,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie.* 

Weishaupt,  Adam. — Age,  36  years.  August  11,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie.* 

Welch,  James. — Age,  18  years.  September  4,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  wounded  in  action,  May  25,  1864,  at 
Dallas,  Ga.* 

Werner,  Xavier. — Age,  38  years.  July  19,  1864,  at 
Poughkeepsie. X 

Whalen,  Michael. — Age,  28  years.  September  11, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  deserted,  February  9,  1863,  at 
Baltimore,  Md. 

Williams,  James. — Age,  33  years.  August  18,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  D.  F.  D.,  January  27,  1864,  ^t  Point 
Lookout,  Md. 

No.  4. 

COMPANY  C. 

Mustered  into  the  U.  S.  service,  for  three  years,  at 
Camp  Dutchess,  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  Saturday,  Octo- 
ber  II,    1862. 

CaptaUis. 

Gildersleeve,  Henry  A. — Age,  22  years.  Enrolled  at 
Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  three  years,  and  mustered  in  as 
Captain,  Co.  C,  September  17,  1862;  as  Major,  May  11, 
1865. 


380  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Commissioned  Captain,  November  3,  1862,  with  rank 
from  September  17,  1862,  original;  Major,  April  22, 
1865,  with  rank  from  March  2,  1865,  vice  J.  H.  Cogs- 
well promoted. 

Van  Keuren,  William  S. — April  22,  1865;  Brevet 
Major  N.  Y.  Volunteers,  October  17,  1865.  See  First 
Lieutenant,  Co.  H.* 

First  Lieutenants. 

Welling,  Edgar  P. — Age,  24  years.  Enrolled  at 
Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  three  years,  and  mustered  in  as 
First  Lieutenant,  Co.  C,  September  17,  1862;  died  of 
typhoid  fever,  October  21,  1863,  at  TuUahoma,  Tenn. 

Commissioned  First  Lieutenant,  November  3,  1862, 
with  rank  from  September  17,  1862,  original. 

Hicks,  Henry  J. — Age,  24  years.  Enrolled,  August 
28,  1862,  at  Stanford,  to  serve  three  years;  mustered  in 
as  private,  Co.  C,  September  15,  1862;  promoted  Ser- 
geant, April  20,  1863;  First  Sergeant,  June  i,  1864; 
Second  Lieutenant,  no  date;  mustered  in  as  First  Lieuten- 
ant, Co.  C,  March  27,  1865.* 

Commissioned  Second  Lieutenant,  November  21,  1864, 
with  rank  from  October  4,  1864,  vice  F.  Mallory  pro- 
moted; First  Lieutenant,  January  20,  1865,  with  rank 
from  December  i,   1864. 

Second  Lieutenants. 

Marshall,  Rowland  H. — Age,  25  years.  Enrolled  at 
Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  three  years,  and  mustered  in  as 
Second  Lieutenant,  Co.  C,  September  17,  1862;  died,  Sep- 
tember 12,  1863,  at  hospital,  Georgetown,  D.  C. 

Commissioned  Second  Lieutenant,  November  3,  1862, 
with  rank  from  September  17,  1862,  original. 


ROSTER  OF  RECxniENT.  381 

Smithe,  J.  Curtis. — Age,  26  years.  Enrolled  Septem- 
ber 5,  1862,  at  Amenia,  to  serve  three  years;  mustered  in 
as  Sergeant,  Co.  A,  October  10,  1862;  promoted  First 
Sergeant,  January  20,  1863;  mustered  in  as  Second  Lieu- 
tenant, Co.  C,  April  24,   1865.* 

Commissioned  Second  Lieutenant,  September  16,  1864, 
with  rank  from  June  22,  1864,  vice  W.  Wattles  pro- 
m.oted;  First  Lieutenant,  commission  cancelled,  November 
30,  1864,  with  rank  from  September  6,  1864,  vice  Robert 
G.  Mooney  resigned. 

First  Sergeants. 

Story,  Henry  W. — Age,  28  years.  August  29,  1862, 
at  Clinton;  mustered  in  as  First  Sergeant;  killed  in  action, 
May  25,  1864,  at  Dallas,  Ga. 

Brower,  William  H. — Age,  21  years,  September  6, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie ;  promoted  Corporal,  prior  to 
April  30,  1864;  Sergeant,  October  4,  1864;  First  Ser- 
geant,  March  27,    1865.* 

Sergeants. 

Osborn,  Charles  H. — Age,  27  years.  September  5, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  Co.  C, 
October  11,   1862;  promoted  Sergeant,  June  i,  1864.* 

Wallace,  Philip  H. — Age,  1,^  years.  September  30, 
1862,  at  Clinton;  promoted  Corporal  prior  to  April  30, 
1864;  Sergeant,  February  15,  1865.* 

Shaw,  John  M. — Age,  18  years.  October  3,  1862,  at 
Clinton;  promoted  Corporal,  June  i,  1864;  Sergeant, 
March  27,   1865.* 

Briggs,  William  B. — Age,  26  years.  August  29,  1862, 
at  Stanford;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  October  11,  1862; 


382  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

returned  to  ranks,  June  i,  1864;  promoted  Corporal,  Oc- 
tober 4,   1864;  Sergeant,  April  i,   1865.* 

Corporals. 

Giraud,  Frederick. — Age,  25  years.  September  5, 
1862,  at  Pleasant  Valley;  promoted  Corporal,  prior  to 
April,  1863;  returned  to  ranks,  February  11,  1865.* 

Williamson,  Peter  S. — Age,  18  years.  September  26, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  promoted  Corporal,  prior  to 
April  30,   1863.* 

Williams,  Alfred. — Age,  21  years.  September  3,  1862, 
at  Pleasant  Valley;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  Co.  C,  Octo- 
ber II,  1862;  returned  to  ranks,  prior  to  April,  1864; 
promoted  Corporal,  February  15,  1865.* 

Worden,  Rensselaer. — Age,  19  years.  August  29, 
1865,  at  Stanford;  promoted  Corporal,  February  15, 
1865.* 

Watson,  William  K. — Age,  29  years.  September  9, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  mustered  in  as  Sergeant,  October 
II,  1862;  returned  to  ranks,  February  19,  1864;  pro- 
moted Corporal,  November  22,  1864;  wounded  in  action, 
March  16,  1865,  at  Averasboro,  N.  C;  mustered  out, 
June  20,   1865,  at  Albany,  while  in  hospital  at  Troy. 

Neuman,  James. — Age,  18  years.  August  23,  1862, 
at  Stanford;  promoted  Corporal,  March  27,  1865.* 

Hicks,  Julius. — Age,  21  years.  August  29,  1862,  at 
Clinton;  promoted  Corporal,  prior  to  April,  1864; 
wounded  in  action,  May  25,  1864,  near  Dallas,  Ga.;  trans- 
ferred to  Co.  G,  Eleventh  Infantry,  V.  R.  C,  January  10, 
1865;  discharged  as  Sergeant,  July  13,   1865. 

Mathews,  Henry. — Age,  25  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  Clinton;  promoted   Corporal,  April,    1864.* 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  383 

Brovver,  Theodore  H. — Age,  i8  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsle ;  promoted  Corporal,  April  i, 
1865.* 

Musicians. 

Bush,  Walter  R. — Age,  17  years.  September  4,  1862, 
at  Rhinebeck;  mustered  in  as  Musician,  October  11, 
1862.* 

McDowell,  William  H. — Age,  18  years.  August  28, 
1862,  at  Stanford;  mustered  in  as  Musician,  October  11, 
1862.* 

ff^agoner. 

Swartout,  John. — Age,  43  years.  September  6,  1862, 
at  Clinton.* 

Privates. 

Ackert,  William. — Age,  18  years.  September  12, 
1862,  at  Stanford.* 

Allen,  Smith  P. — Age,  19  years.  September  2,  1862, 
at  Pleasant  Valley;  died,  February  9,  1865,  at  hospital. 
Savannah,  Ga. 

Ames,  William  O. — Age,  21  years.  October  11,  1864, 
at  Kingston,  to  serve  one  year;  died,  January  25,  1865,  at 
hospital.  Savannah,  Ga. 

Baker,  Lewis. — Age,  29  years.  February  12,  1863,  at 
Baltimore,  Md. ;  deserted,  May  15,  1863,  ^^  Belger  Bar- 
racks, Baltimore,  Md. 

Barber,  Theodore. — Age,  18  years.  August  29,  1862, 
at  Clinton;  mustered  out  with  detachment,  June  20,  1865, 
at  Albany,  while  in  hospital  at  Troy,  N.  Y. 

Bartholomew,  Hiram. — Age,  21  years.  March  14, 
1865,  at  Fishkill,  to  serve  one  year;  mustered  out,  July 


384  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

20,  1865,  at  Washington,  D.  C,  while  in  Augur  Hos- 
pital, Alexandria,  Va. 

Bradley,  John  C. — Age,  19  years.  September  9,  1862, 
at  Pleasant  Valley;  deserted,  no  date. 

Bradley,  Darwin  E. — Age,  25  years.  September  5, 
1862,  at  Clinton;  deserted,  November  3,  1862,  at  Balti- 
more, Md. 

Briggs,  John. — Age,  38  years.  August  29,  1862,  at 
Stanford.* 

Brown,  John  H, — Age,  25  years.  February  20,  1863, 
at  Baltimore,  Md.;  wounded  in  action,  July  20,  1864,  at 
Peach  Tree  Creek,  Ga.X 

Brundage,  John  B. — Age,  24  years.  September  29, 
1862,  at  East  Fishkill;  deserted,  December  31,  1862,  at 
Baltimore,  Md. 

Brown,  William  D. — Age,  22  years.  January  20, 
1865,  at  New  York  City;  never  joined  regiment.X 

Bullls,  Thomas  (2). — Age,  46  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  Stanford.* 

Cady,  Edmund. — Age,  20  years.  September  10,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsle.* 

Cady,  George  S. — Age,  21  years.  August  12,  1864, 
at  Poughkeepsle,  to  serve  one  year.* 

Cammel,  Dennis. — Age,  29  years.  September  29, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsle;  deserted,  July  2,  1863,  at  Gettys- 
burg, Pa. 

Cash,  William. — Age,  38  years.  September  29,  1862, 
at  Stanford;  deserted,  April  10,  1863,  at  Baltimore,  Md. 

Closs,  Christian. — Age,  41  years.  September  6,  1862, 
at  Clinton;  died  of  diarrhea,  September  12,  1864,  at 
Chattanooga,  Tenn. 

Curry,  William  H. — Age,  34  years.    August  29,  1862, 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  385 

at  Washington;  absent,  sick  since  October  17,  1864,  and 
at  muster-out  of  company. 

Davenport,  Charles. — Age,  33  years.  April  28,  1864, 
at  Fishkill.X 

Dewey,  Frederick  F. — Age,  42  years.  September  5, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie ;  transferred  from  Co.  A  to  Co.  C, 
March  25,  1863;  captured  in  action,  November  19,  1864; 
paroled,  no  date;  mustered  out  with  company,  June  8, 
1865,  near  Washington,  D.  C* 

Duffy,  Thomas. — Age,  23  years.  August  5,  1864,  at 
Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year;  captured  while  foraging, 
October  23,  1864;  paroled,  no  date.* 

Dunbar,  George  Washington. — Age,  37  years.  Sep- 
tember 2,  1862,  at  Stanford;  discharged  in  1863. 

Edwards,  George  C. — Age,  21  years.  September  17, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  deserted,  October  10,  1862. 

Evans,  James. — Age,  20  years.  January  7,  1865,  at 
New  York  City;  mustered  out  with  detachment,  May  8, 
1865,  at  Hart's  Island,  N.  Y.  Harbor. 

Fangmann,  Charles. — Age,  29  years.  April  20,  1863, 
at  Baltimore,  Md. ;  deserted.  May  17,  1863,  at  Baltimore, 
Md. 

Finlayson,  Alexander  J. — Age,  25  years.  July  30, 
1865,  at  New  York  City;  Sergeant,  Co.  D,  145th  N.  Y. 
Volunteers;  returned  to  ranks,  October  4,  1864;  absent, 
on  detached  service,  with  Brigadier-General  Granger, 
since  April  22,  1864,  and  at  muster-out  of  company. Z 

Florence,  Charles. — Age,  18  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  Pleasant  Valley.* 

Foster,  Edward. — Age,  18  years.  August  29,  1862, 
at  Hyde  Park;  no  further  record. 

Foster,  Frederick. — Age,  21  years.     August  31,  1864, 


386  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year;  mustered  out,  May 
29,  1865,  at  McDougall  Hospital,  Fort  Schuyler,  N.  Y. 
Harbor. 

Free,  Daniel  H. — Age,  39  years.  September  5,  1862, 
at  Clinton.* 

Gibson,  David, — August  29,  1862,  at  Hyde  Park,  and 
deserted  prior  to  muster-in  of  company. 

Gilbert,  Casper. — Age,  34  years.  January  13,  1865, 
at  Union  Vale;  mustered  out  with  detachment.  May  8, 
1865,  at  Hart's  Island,  N.  Y.  Harbor. 

Gimbert,  Robert  B. — Age,  18  years.  August  6,  1864, 
at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year.* 

Goldsboro,  Harrison. — Age,  22  years.  April  15,  1863, 
at  Baltimore,  Md. ;  deserted.  May  26,  1863,  ^^  Balti- 
more, Md. 

Grant,  Franklin  M. — Age,  22  years.  September  5, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie.* 

Griffin,  Patrick. — Age,  24  years.  September  13,  1862, 
at  Stanford.X 

Gurney,  William  E. — Age,  23  years.  September  3, 
1862,  at  Stanford;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  Co.  C,  Octo- 
ber II,  1862;  returned  to  ranks  prior  to  April,  1864.* 

Haford,  Edwin  R. — Age,  22  years.  January  i,  1865, 
at  Washington,  to  serve  one  year;  mustered  out  with  de- 
tachment. May  8,  1865,  at  Hart's  Island,  N.  Y.  Harbor. 

Hill,  William. — Age,  place,  date  of  enlistment,  and 
muster-in  as  private,  Co.  C,  not  stated. X 

Hoag,  Perlee. — Age,  37  years.  September  i,  1862,  at 
Clinton;  wounded  in  action.  May  25,  1864,  at  Dallas, 
Ga.* 

Holmes,  Joseph  W. — Age,   30  years.     September  4, 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  387 

1862,  at  Clinton;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  Co.  C,  October 
II,   1862;  returned  to  ranks,  February  12,   1865.* 

Horton,  Nathaniel. — Age,  22  years.  August  8,  1864, 
at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year.* 

Hubbell,  Albert  W. — Age,  19  years.  September  29, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  deserted,  October  11,  1862,  at 
Camp  Dutchess,  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. 

Hughes,  George. — Age,  28  years.  January  5,  1865, 
at  La  Grange,  to  serve  one  year.X 

Hull,  Abram  N. — Age,  23  years.  October  4,  1862,  at 
Stanford;  deserted,  December  19,  1862,  at  Baltimore, 
Md. 

Husted,  Orville. — Age,  27  years.  December  17,  1863, 
at  Albany;  deserted  to  the  enemy,  July  9,  1864,  i^ 
Georgia. 

Husted,  Reuben  A. — Age,  21  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  Stanford.* 

Jones,  Cleanvater. — Age,  20  years.  September  ii, 
1862,  at  Clinton.* 

Jones,  William. — Age,  34  years.  August  30,  1862,  at 
Pleasant  Valley.* 

Knapp,  Albert. — Age,  21  years.  August  30,  1862,  at 
Stanford.* 

Lattin,  Smith  A. — Age,  18  years.  September  2,  1862, 
at  Clinton;  deserted,  December  23,  1862,  at  Baltimore, 
Md. 

LeClaire,  Peter. — Age,  date,  place  of  enlistment  and 
muster-in  as  private,  Co.  C,  not  stated. X 

Lovelace,  George. — Age,  39  years.  September  4, 
1862,  at  Stanford;  killed,  February  11,  1864,  near  Tulla- 
homa,  Tenn.,  by  Guerillas. 

Lovelace,    George    P. — Age,    19    years.      January    9, 


388  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

1864,  at  Stanford;  captured  In  action,  March  19,  1865, 
at  Bentonville,  N.  C;  paroled,  no  date.X 

Lovett,  Henry. —  Age,  30  years.  January  19,  1865, 
at  Poughkeepsle,  to  serve  three  years;  mustered  out  with 
detachment,  June  19,  1865,  at  Harewood  Hospital,  Wash- 
ington, D.  C. 

Mastin,  Walter  P. — Age,  20  years.  August  18,  1864, 
at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year;  died,  March  26,  1865, 
at  McDougall  Hospital,  N.  Y.  Harbor. 

May,  William. — Age,  32  years.  September  20,  1864, 
at  Albany,  to  serve  one  year;  never  joined  regiment. 

McCormick,  James. — Age,  29  years.  October  8, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  no  further  record. 

McFarlin,  William  H. — Age,  27  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  Pleasant  Valley;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  Octo- 
ber II,  1862;  returned  to  ranks,  no  date;  deserted,  De- 
cember 2,  1862,  at  Baltimore,  Md. 

Millard,  Horace. — Age,  45  years.  September  3,  1862, 
at  Pleasant  Valley;  deserted,  December  2,  1862,  at  Balti- 
more, Md. 

Moon,  David. — Age,  33  years.  September  5,  1862, 
at  Clinton;  absent,  sick  in  Hammond  Hospital,  at  Point 
Lookout,  Md.,  and  at  muster-out  of  company. 

Murphy,  James. — Age,  26  years.  August  30,  1862, 
at  Pleasant  Valley;  died,  December  10,  1863,  at  Nor- 
mandy, Tenn. 

Nichols,  George. — Age,  30  years.  February  i,  1863, 
at  Baltimore,  Md. ;  deserted,  April  12,  1863,  at  Balti- 
more, Md. 

Noxon,  William  J. — Age,  26  years.  October  4,  1862, 
at  Washington.* 

Oakley,  William  H. — Age,  28  years.     September  18, 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  389 

1862,  at  Washington;  D.  F.  D.,  February  17,  1865,  at 
hospital,  Mound  City,  Mo. 

Oliver,  Edward. — Age,  22  years.  February  27,  1865, 
at  New  York  City,  to  serve  three  years.X 

Palmatier,  William  A. — Age,  38  years.     September  3, 

1862,  at  Pleasant  Valley;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  Octo- 
ber II,  1862;  returned  to  ranks  prior  to  April,  1863; 
killed  in  action,  December  20,  1864,  at  Savannah,  Ga. 

Pells,  Charles  Z. — Age,  46  years.  September  5,  1862, 
at  Pleasant  Valley;  transferred  to  Co.  G,  Eleventh  Regi- 
ment, V.  R.  C,  January  10,  1865 ;  mustered  out,  July  20, 
1865,  at  Albany,  N.  Y. 

Peters,  Henry. — Age,  18  years.  September  5,  1862, 
at  Pleasant  Valley;  no  further  record. 

Place,  Lewis. — Age,  21  years.  August  28,  1862,  at 
Washington.* 

Place,  Luman. — Age,  20  years.  September  5,  1862, 
at  Washington;  captured,  August  31,  1864,  and  paroled; 
mustered  out  at  Baltimore,  June  6,   1865. 

Place,  Morgan. — Age,  19  years.  August  28,  1862,  at 
Washington;    died    of    typhoid    pneumonia,    October    3, 

1863,  at  hospital,  Alexandria,  Va. 

Place,  William  B. — Age,  19  years.  September  3, 
1862,  at  Pleasant  Valley;  D.  F.  D.,  December  19,  1864; 
again  enlisted  at  Goshen  for  one  year,  and  mustered  in 
as  private,  same  company,  February  10,  1865.X 

Plumsted,  Nathan  G. — Age,  44  years.  September  29, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsle ;  D.  F.  D.,  June  17,  1863,  at 
Camden  Street  Hospital,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Pond,  Charles  H. — Age,  21  years.  September  27, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie.* 


390  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Raymond,  John  J. — Age,  29  years.  August  28,  1862, 
at  Washington.* 

Runnals,  Allison  J. — Age,  20  years.  August  11,  1864, 
at  East  Fishkill,  to  serve  one  year.* 

Schoonhover,  John. — Age,  42  years.  September  14, 
1862,  at  Stanford;  died,  June  28,  1864,  at  Louisville,  Ky, 

Seeley,  Alfred. — Age,  23  years.  August  28,  1862,  at 
Stanford;  mustered  in  as  Sergeant,  October  11,  1862; 
discharged,  no  date. 

Seeley,  Rufus  A. — Age,  32  years.  August  27,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie ;  promoted  Sergeant,  prior  to  April  30, 
1863;  D.  F.  D.,  August  30,  1863. 

Shaw,  William. — Age,  44  years.  October  3,  1862,  at 
Clinton;  D.  F.  D.,  January  5,  1864. 

Sherman,  Francis  L. — Age,  24  years.  September  17, 
1862,  at  Clinton;  deserted  prior  to  muster-in  of  company. 

Shoemaker,  Peter  W. — Age,  19  years.  February  17, 
1864,  at  Hart's  Island,  N.  Y.  Harbor.X 

Smith,  James. — Age,  25  years.  September  12,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  discharged,  no  date. 

Snyder,  Philetus  R. — Age,  18  years.  September  4, 
1862,  at  Clinton;  mustered  out,  June  14,  1865,  at  Mower 
Hospital,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

Spencer,  Andrew  J. — Age,  34  years.  August  8,  1864, 
at  Pleasant  Valley,  to  serve  one  year.* 

Stanton,  Louis. — Age,  30  years.  September  17,  1862; 
deserted  prior  to  muster-in  of  company. 

Teaters,  Henry. — Age,  26  years.  October  4,  1862,  at 
Stanford;  deserted,  December  23,  1862,  at  Baltimore, 
Md. 

Teller,  George  M. — Age,  35  years.  October  8,  1862, 
at  Stanford;  mustered,  but  no  further  record. 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  391 

Thomas,  George  E. — Age,  i8  years.  October  9,  1862, 
at  Clinton.* 

Traver,  F.  Jefferson. — Age,  18  years.  August  29, 
1862,  at  Clinton;  wounded  in  action,  March  16,  1865,  at 
Averasboro,  N.  C;  mustered  out,  June  21,  1865,  at  hos- 
pital, Albany,  N.  Y. 

Traver,  Walter. — Age,  21  years.  September  25, 
1862,  at  Clinton;  no  further  record. 

Travis,  Charles. — Age,  21  years.  August  29,  1862, 
at  Hyde  Park;  deserted  prior  to  muster-in  of  company. 

Travis,  Sackett. — Age,  18  years.  August  30,  1862,  at 
Clinton;  died,  December  5,  1863,  at  Normandy,  Tenn. 

Turney,  Patrick. — Age,  20  years.  August  5,  1864,  at 
Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year;  mustered  out,  May  24, 
1865,  at  McDougall  Hospital,  Fort  Schuyler,  N.  Y. 
Harbor. 

Vanderburgh,  Alonzo. — Age,  32  years.  September  18, 
1862,  at  Washington  Hollow.* 

Velie,  Allen  J. — Age,  31  years.  September  17,  1862, 
at  Pleasant  Valley.X 

Velie,  Walter  T. — Age,  17  years.  October  3,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  three  years;  wounded  in  action, 
July  20,   1864,  near  Atlanta,  Ga.* 

Wagner,  Albert. — Age,  18  years.  September  12, 
1862,  at  Stanford;  mustered  out.  May  24,  1865,  at  Mc- 
Dougall Hospital,  N,  Y.  Harbor. 

Wagner,  Alfred. — Age,  19  years.  September  26, 
1862,  at  Red  Hook.* 

Ward,  Jacob. — Age,  21  years.  September  6,  1862,  at 
Poughkeepsie;  transferred  to  Co.  H,  Eighth  Regiment, 
V.  R.  C,  no  date;  discharged,  July  2,  1865,  ^^  Camp 
Douglas,  111. 


392  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Westervelt,  Peter. — Age,  42  years.  September  i, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsle ;  D.  F.  D.,  May  15,  1864. 

White,  William. — Age,  22  years.  August  29,  1862,  at 
Clinton;  mustered  in  as  Sergeant,  October  11,  1862;  re- 
turned to  ranks  prior  to  April  30,  1863;  transferred  to 
Co.  I,  Twenty-second  Regiment,  V.  R.  C,  no  date;  re- 
transferred  to  Co.  C,  September  17,  1864;  promoted 
Corporal,  April  30,  1865.* 

Whitely,  Nicholas  J. — Age,  22  years,  August  30, 
1863  ;  returned  to  ranks  prior  to  April  30,  1864;  wounded 
in  action.  May  25,  1864,  at  Dallas,  Ga.* 

Wiley,  Martin  W. — Age,  24  years.  August  29,  1862, 
at  Clinton;  mustered  in  as  Sergeant,  October  11,  1862; 
returned  to  ranks,  April  20,  1863;  promoted  Corporal, 
June  I,  1864;  again  returned  to  ranks,  November  22, 
1864.* 

Williams,  Henry  P. — Age,  18  years.  September  19, 
1862,  at  Pleasant  Valley;  wounded  in  action,  March  16, 
1865,  at  Averasboro,  N.  C. ;  mustered  out  with  detach- 
ment, June  20,  1865,  at  Albany,  N.  Y.,  while  in  hospital 
at  Troy,  N.  Y. 

Wood,  Talmadge. — Age,  45  years.  September  3, 
1862,  at  Stanford;  wounded  in  action,  July  3,  1863,  at 
Gettysburg,  Pa.;  died  of  his  wounds,  July  14,  1863,  at 
Baltimore,  Md. 

Wooley,  Joseph. — Age,  18  years.  September  6,  1862, 
at  Pleasant  Valley;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  Co.  C,  Octo- 
ber II,  1862 ;  returned  to  ranks  prior  to  April  30,  1863.* 

Worden,  Alexander. — Age,  21  years.  September  3, 
1862,  at  Stanford,  to  serve  three  years;  mustered  in  as 
private,  Co.  C,  October  11,  1862;  died,  August  26,  1863, 
at  Camden  Street  Hospital,  Baltimore,  Md. 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  393 

Worden,  Philander. — Age,  23  years.  September  3, 
1862,  at  Stanford;  died,  March  13,  1863,  at  Belger  Bar- 
racks, Baltimore,  Md. 

Wursch,  John. — Age,  33  years.  September  7,  1864, 
at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year.* 

No.  5. 

COMPANY  D. 

Mustered  into  the  U.  S.  service,  for  three  years,  at 
Camp  Dutchess,  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  Saturday,  Octo- 
ber II,   1862. 

Captains. 

Woodin,  William  R. — Age,  24  years.  Enrolled  at 
Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  three  years,  and  mustered  in  as 
Captain,  Co.  D,  September  19,   1862.* 

Commissioned  Captain,  November  3,  1862,  with  rank 
from  September  19,  1862,  original.  Brevet  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  N.  Y.  Volunteers,  October  17,  1865. 

First  Lieutenants. 

Mooney,  Robert  G. — Age,  47  years.  Enrolled  at 
Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  three  years,  and  mustered  in  as 
First  Lieutenant,  Co.  D,  September  19,  1862;  discharged 
for  disability,  November  6,  1864. 

Commissioned  First  Lieutenant,  November  3,  1862, 
with  rank  from  September  19,  1862,  original. 

Mallory,  Frank. — October  14,  1864.  See  Second 
Lieutenants.* 

Second  Lieutenants. 

Mallory,  Frank. — Age,  21  years.  Enrolled  at  Pough- 
keepsie, to  serve  three  years,  and  mustered  in  as  Second 


394  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Lieutenant,  Co.  D,  October  ii,  1862;  as  First  Lieu- 
tenant, December  18,  1864. 

Commissioned  Second  Lieutenant,  November  3,  1862, 
with  rank  from  September  19,  1862,  original;  First  Lieu- 
tenant, November  21,  1864,  with  rank  from  October  14, 
1864,  vice  J.  P.  Mabbett  resigned. 

Furey,  James  B. — Age,  32  years.  Enrolled  at  Pough- 
keepsie,  to  serve  three  years,  and  mustered  in  as  First 
Sergeant,  Co.  D,  October  11,  1862;  promoted  Second 
Lieutenant,  Co.  C,  October  18,  1863;  mustered  in  as  Sec- 
ond Lieutenant,  Co.  D,  January  13,  1865,  and  mustered 
out  with  company,  June  8,  1865,  near  Washington,  D.  C. 

Commissioned  Second  Lieutenant,  November  25,  1863, 
with  rank  from  November  7,  1863,  vice  R.  H.  Marshall 
deceased. 

First  Sergeants. 

Germond,  Richard. — Age,  29  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  Hyde  Park;  promoted  Corporal,  December  15, 
1862;  Sergeant,  November  i,  1863;  First  Sergeant,  Jan- 
uary I,   1865.* 

Commissioned,  not  mustered.  Second  Lieutenant,  May 
12,  1865,  with  rank  from  April  i,  1865,  vice  A.  J.  Ostrom 
promoted. 

Sergeants. 

Handy,  Thomas  F. — Age,  45  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  Pine  Plains;  Sergeant,  October  10,  1862;  mus- 
tered out  June  21,  1865,  at  hospital,  Albany,  N.  Y. 

Hayes,  William  B. — Age,  26  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  Gallatin;  mustered  in  as  Sergeant,  October  10, 
1862;     promoted     First    Sergeant,     January     i,     1864; 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  395 

wounded  in  action,  June  22,  1864,  at  Gulp's  Farm,  Ga.; 
returned  to  Sergeant,  January  i,  1865.* 

Bell,  James. — Age,  25  years.  September  6,  1862,  at 
Hyde  Park;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  October  11,  1862; 
wounded  in  action.  May  25,  1864,  at  Dallas,  Ga.;  pro- 
moted Sergeant,  January  i,  1865;  wounded  in  action, 
March  16,  1865,  at  Averasboro  N.  C;  absent,  since  and 
at  muster-out  of  company. 

Rowe,  John  M. — Age,  21  years.  September  3,  1862, 
at  Pine  Plains;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  Co.  D,  October 
10,  1862;  promoted  Sergeant,  January  i,  1864.* 

Corporals. 

Hopper,  Frederick  W. — Age,  21  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  Hyde  Park;  promoted  Corporal,  October  31, 
1863.* 

Schultz,  Abram. — Age,  19  years.  August  29,  1862,  at 
Hyde  Park;  promoted  Corporal,  January  i,  1865.* 

Templeton,  Theadore. — Age,  18  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  North  East;  promoted  Corporal,  January  8, 
1863.* 

Wood,  Hiram. — Age,  21  years.  September  6,  1862, 
at  Hyde  Park;  promoted  Corporal,  July  15,  1864.* 

Woods,  Frank. — Age,  22  years.  September  6,  1862, 
at  North  East;  promoted  Corporal,  January  i,  1864; 
wounded  in  action,  July  20,  1864,  near  Atlanta,  Ga.* 

Riley,  William  H. — Age,  19  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  Hyde  Park;  promoted  Corporal,  October  10, 
1862.* 

Keefer,  James  C. — Age,  19  years.  September  6,  1862, 
at  Pine  Plains;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  October  10, 
1862.* 


396  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Killmore,  Edward  F. — Age,  36  years.  September  4, 
1862,  at  Red  Hook;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  October 
10,  1862.* 

Musicians. 

Goss,  John. — Age,  18  years.  September  6,  1862,  at 
Hyde  Park;  mustered  in  as  Musician,  October  10,  1862.* 

Wagoner. 
Whinfield,    Stephen. — Age,    28   years.      September   4, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie ;  appointed  Wagoner  prior  to  April 
30,  1864.* 

Privates. 

Ackert,  Henry  M. — Age,  22  years.  August  28,  1862, 
at  Hyde  Park.* 

Allen,  Walter. — Age,  32  years.  September  16,  1862, 
at  Stanford;  died  of  chronic  diarrhea,  August  22,  1864, 
at  hospital.  First  Division,  Twentieth  Corps,  Atlanta,  Ga. 

Ayres,  Irving  E. — Age,  18  years.  September  6,  1862, 
at  North  East.* 

Baxter,  James  N. — Age,  22  years.  September  17, 
1862,  at  Rhinebeck.* 

Bishop,  Daniel. — Age,  19  years.  October  8,  1862,  at 
Pine  Plains.* 

Black,  Charles  G. — Age,  19  years.  October  11,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie.* 

Braman,  Andrew. — Age,  31  years.  August  30,  1864, 
at  Poughkeepsie.* 

Brennan,  John. — Age,  32  years.  September  i,  1862, 
at  Pine  Plains.* 

Brusie,  George. — Age,  21  years.  September  6,  1862, 
at  North  East;  deserted,  November  21,  1862,  at  Stewart's 
Mansion  Hospital,  Baltimore,  Md, 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  397 

Bullls,  William  J. — Age,  29  years.  August  21,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie ;  mustered  in  as  Sergeant,  October  10, 
1862;  discharged,  March  18,  1865,  for  promotion  to 
First  Lieutenant,  Fourth  U.  S.  Colored  Heavy  Artillery. 

Burch,  George  N. — Age,  20  years.  September  6,  1862, 
at  North  East;  D.  F.  D.,  October  28,  1863. 

Cassady,  Richard. — Age,  21  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  Hyde  Park.X 

Christ,  Martin. — Age,  44  years.  September  5,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  deserted,  May  8,  1863,  at  Jarvis  Hos- 
pital, Baltimore,  Md. 

Clum,  Morgan. — Age,  24  years.  September  6,  1862, 
at  Pine  Plains;  died  of  diarrhea,  September  12,  1864, 
Dallas,  Ga. 

Cook,  George. — Age,  21  years,  September  6,  1862, 
at  North  East;  transferred  to  Co.  B,  Twelfth  Regiment, 
V.  R.  C,  February  6,  1864;  mustered  out  with  detach- 
ment, July  15,  1865,  at  Washington,  D.  C. 

Crapser,  Martin. — Age,  43  years.  August  30,  1864, 
at  Poughkeepsie.* 

Crapser,  Ezra  H. — Age,  18  years.  August  28,  1862, 
at  Hyde  Park.* 

Cronk,  Alva  A. — Age,  28  years.  August  28,  1862,  at 
Hyde  Park.* 

Curray,  James  H. — Age,  28  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  Pine  Plains;  mustered  in  as  Sergeant,  Co.  D, 
October  11,  1862;  returned  to  ranks,  November  i,  1863; 
transferred  to  V.  R.  C,  April  6,  1864. 

Dimond,  David. — Age,  31  years.  August  31,  1864, 
at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year;  died,  February  20, 
1865,  in  the  field,  Georgia. 


398  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Dolan,  Charles. — Age,  44  years.  September  19,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie ;  D.  F.  D.,  May  25,  1864. 

Dowling,  Robert. — Age,  36  years.  September  4,  1862, 
at  Red  Hook;  deserted,  November  21,  1862,  at  Stewart's 
Mansion  Hospital,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Delaney,  James. — Age,  26  years.  September  6,  1862, 
at  North  East.* 

Eddington,  John. — Age,  26  years.  October  6,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  promoted  Corporal,  October  15,  1862; 
deserted,  November  21,  1862,  at  Baltimore,  Md. 

Eggleston,  Sandford. — Age,  22  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  North  East;  mustered  in  as  Sergeant,  Co.  D, 
October  10,  1862;  returned  to  ranks,  January  i,  1865; 
discharged,  May  21,  1865,  at  hospital,  Madison,  Ind. 

Fish,  Samuel  B. — Age,  39  years.  August  29,  1864, 
at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year;  mustered  out,  June  i, 
1865,  at  McDougall  Hospital,  Fort  Schuyler,  N.  Y. 
Harbor. 

Foster,  George  W. — Age,  20  years.  September  4, 
1862,  at  Hyde  Park;  deserted,  same  date,  at  Poughkeep- 
sie, N.  Y. 

Foster,  Jesse  B. — Age,  44  years.  September  3,  1862, 
at  Pine  Plains;  D.  F.  D.,  March  22,  1865,  ^t  Madison, 
Ind. 

French,  Edward. — Age,  18  years.  September  30, 
1862,  at  North  East;  deserted,  March  16,  1863,  from 
Belger  Barracks,  Baltimore,  Md. 

French,  Charles  E. — Age,  20  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  North  East.* 

Frost,  Orville. — Age,  20  years.  September  2,  1862,  at 
Hyde  Park;  deserted,  March  16,  1863,  from  Belger 
Barracks,  Baltimore,  Md. 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  399 

Geddes,  James. — Age,  37  years.  August  31,  1864,  ^t 
Poughkeepsie,  for  one  year;  mustered  out,  July  22,  1865, 
at  Washington,  D.  C,  while  in  Augur  Hospital,  at  Alex- 
andria, Va. 

Glancey,  Daniel. — Age,  44  years.  September  17, 
1862,  at  Pine  Plains;  wounded  in  action,  June  16,  1864, 
and  died  of  his  wounds,  June  17,  1864,  in  front  of  Pine 
Knob,  Ga. 

Gross,  Joseph. — Age,  36  years.  August  12,  1862,  at 
New  York  City;  Corporal,  Co.  A,  145th  N.  Y.  Volun- 
teers.Z* 

Haight,  George. — Age,  21  years.  February  2,  1863, 
at  Pine  Plains. X 

Hamis,  William  H. — Age,  29  years.  August  19,  1862, 
at  New  York  City;  private,  Co.  A,  145th  N.  Y.  Volun- 
teers.*Z 

Hardy,  George. — Age,  31  years.  August  23,  1862,  at 
New  York  City;  Corporal,  Co.  A,  145th  N.  Y.  Volun- 
teers.Z* 

Hart,  Dominick. — Age,  44  years.  August  6,  1862; 
private,  Co.  A,  145th  N.  Y.  Volunteers;  transferred  to 
Co.  K,  Sixteenth  Regiment,  V.  R.  C,  no  date;  discharged, 
July  5,  1865,  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.Z 

Hart,  Francis. — Age,  27  years.  October  7,  1862,  at 
Poughkeepsie;  deserted,  December  23,  1862,  at  Belger 
Barracks,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Hedden,  Philip. — Age,  18  years.  August  27,  1862,  at 
New  York  City;  Co.  A,  145th  N.  Y.  Volunteers.Z* 

Herman,  John. — Age,  18  years.  August  22,  1862,  at 
New  York  City;  private,  Co.  A,  145th  N.  Y.  Volunteers; 
captured  and  paroled,  no  dates;  mustered  out,  August  3, 
1865,  at  New  York  City.Z 


400  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT, 

Holliday,  Andrew  J. — Age,  19  years.  September  i, 
1862,  at  PoughkeepsIe.X 

Hoolehan,  John. — Age,  35  years.  August  18,  1862, 
at  New  York  City;  Co.  A,  145th  N.  Y.  Volunteers; 
wounded  in  action,  June  22,  1864,  at  Culp's  Farm,  Ga.Z* 

Hopper,  Lazarus. — Age,  44  years.  September  16, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie ;  D.  F.  D.,  December  20,  1864. 

Howard,  John. — Age,  18  years.  August  11,  1862,  at 
New  York  City;  Co.  A,  145th  N.  Y.  Volunteers.* 

Jillson,  William  S. — Age,  18  years.  October  i,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  discharged,  November  26,   1862. 

Jones,  John  W. — Age,  18  years.  September  23,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  D.  F.  D.,  April  17,  1865,  ^^  New 
Albany,  Ind. 

Jones,  Thomas. — Age,  25  years.  September  6,  1862, 
at  Hyde  Park;  promoted  Corporal,  November  2,  1862; 
returned  to  ranks,  January  i,  1864.* 

Jones,  Thomas,  Jr. — Age,  18  years.  August  4,  1862, 
at  New  York  City;  private,  Co.  A,  145th  N.  Y.  Volun- 
teers.Z* 

Killmore,  Henry. — Age,  36  years.  September  16, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  mustered  in  as  Wagoner,  Octo- 
ber 10,  1862;  deserted,  November  26,  1862,  at  Stew- 
art's Mansion  Hospital,  Baltimore,  Md. 

King,  Stephen. — Age,  30  years.  August  31,  1864,  at 
Poughkeepsie;  mustered  out,  July  13,  1865,  in  hospital 
at  Albany,  N.  Y. 

Lang,  Phillip  Jacob. — Age,  35  years.  September  9, 
1862,  at  Clinton;  deserted,  April  15,  1863,  at  Belger 
Barracks,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Loyd,  George  H. — Age,  20  years.    September  2,  1862, 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  401 

at  Hyde  Park;  deserted,  March  i6,  1863,  at  Belger  Bar- 
racks, Baltimore,  Md. 

Mahana,  John. — Age,  29  years.  September  i,  1862, 
at  Hyde  Park.* 

Mahew,  John. — Age,  20  years.  September  4,  1862, 
at  North  East* 

Mayhew,  Henry. — Age,  24  years.  September  4,  1862, 
at  North  East.* 

Mackey,  John  M. — Age,  44  years.  September  11, 
1862,  at  Pine  Plains.* 

McCune,  Patrick. — Age,  20  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  North  East;  discharged,  November  16,  1862,  to 
enlist  in  U.  S.  Army. 

McGhee,  Joseph. — Age,  26  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  North  East;  promoted  Corporal,  October  31, 
1863;  returned  to  ranks,  July  10,  1864.* 

Mcintosh,  William. — Age,  20  years.  August  29, 
1864,  at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year.* 

McAughlin,  John. — Age,  18  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  North  East.* 

McManus,  Patrick. — Age,  44  years.  July  29,  1862, 
at  New  York  City;  private,  Co.  A,  145th  N.  Y.  Volun- 
teers; wounded  in  action,  June  22,  1864,  at  Culp's  Farm, 
Ga. ;  transferred  to  1 24th  Company,  Second  Battalion, 
V.  R.  C,  March  7,  1865;  mustered  out  with  detachment, 
June  29,  1865,  at  Camp  Chase,  Ohio.Z 

McNamee,  Hiram. — Age,  29  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  Hyde  Park;  captured,  June  29,  1863,  at  West- 
minster, Md. ;  paroled,  July  i,  1863.* 

Millis,  Duncan. — Age,  33  years.  September  6,  1862, 
at  Pine  Plains;  deserted,  May  20,  1863,  ^^  Baltimore, 
Md. 


402  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Mitchell,  Charles  L. — Age,  43  years.  September  5, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie ;  D.  F.  D.,  August  22,  1864,  at 
Davis  Island,  N.  Y.  Harbor. 

Myers,  James  E. — Age,  18  years.  September  6,  1862, 
at  North  East;  wounded  in  action,  June  22,  1864,  at 
Gulp's  Farm,  Ga.X 

Myers,  Theodore  H. — Age,  17  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  North  East;  deserted,  March  16,  1863,  at 
Baltimore. 

Myers,  William  H. — Age,  21  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  North  East* 

Near,  Joseph  E. — Age,  21  years.  September  6,  1862, 
at  Pine  Plains;  died  of  typhoid  fever,  August  14,  1863, 
at  Fairfax  Seminary  Hospital,  Va. 

Neeson,  James. — Age,  18  years.  September  19,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  deserted,  October  11,  1862,  at  Camp 
Dutchess,  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. 

Owens,  William. — Age,  27  years.  September  6,  1862, 
at  Pine  Plains.* 

Palmer,  Martin  C. — Age,  36  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  North  East;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  Co.  D, 
October  11,  1862;  transferred  to  Fifth  Artillery,  Novem- 
ber 26,  1862,  as  a  deserter  therefrom. 

Palmer,  William  W. — Age,  18  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  North  East.* 

Persing,  John. — Age,  20  years.  August  29,  1864,  at 
Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year.* 

Phelps,  Chauncy. — Age,  34  years.  September  6,  1862, 
at  North  East;  deserted,  November  21,  1862,  at  Stew- 
art's Mansion  Hospital,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Phelps,  Robert  W. — Age,  30  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  North  East;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  October 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  403 

lo,  1862;  deserted,  November  21,  1862,  at  Stewart's 
Mansion  Hospital,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Phillips,  William  B. — Age,  24  years.  October  11, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie.* 

Porter,  John. — Age,  34  years.  August  30,  1864,  at 
Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year;  died,  January  14,  1865, 
at  Savannah,  Ga. 

Ralston,  George. — Age,  30  years.  August  28,  1862, 
at  Hyde  Park.* 

Reed,  George. — Age,  25  years.  September  4,  1862, 
at  North  East;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  Co.  D,  October 
10,  1862;  died  of  diarrhea,  October  8,  1863,  at  Grace 
Church  Hospital,  Alexandria,  Va. 

Reed,  Lewis. — Age,  19  years.  September  6,  1862,  at 
North  East.* 

Refenberg,  Hiram. — Age,  18  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  Pine  Plains;  deserted,  October  11,  1862,  at 
Camp  Dutchess,  Poughkeepsie. 

Rowe,  Calvin. — Age,  23  years.  September  6,  1862, 
at  Pine  Plains;  transferred  to  Fifth  Artillery,  November 
26,  1862,  being  a  deserter  therefrom. 

Scott,  William. — Age,  18  years.  September  i,  1862, 
at  Pine  Plains.* 

Scribner,  Charles  H. — Age,  23  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  North  East;  mustered  out,  June  21,  1865,  at 
Albany,  N.  Y.,  while  in  hospital  at  Troy,  N.  Y. 

Scribner,  George  M. — Age,  18  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  North  East;  absent,  sick  in  hospital,  Louisville, 
Ky.,  since  September  15,  1863,  and  at  muster-out  of 
company. 

Sherow,  Benjamin  S. — Age,  25  years.     September  6, 


404  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

1862,  at  Hyde  Park;  wounded  in  action,  June  22,  1864, 
at  Gulp's  Farm,  Ga.;  D.  F.  D.,  April  17,  1865. 

Sherratt,  Samuel. — Age,  19  years.  August  28,  1862, 
at  Hyde  Park.* 

Shultis,  Levi. — Age,  42  years.  September  2,  1862,  at 
Hyde  Park.* 

Simmons,  William. — Age,  35  years.  September  5, 
1862,  at  Red  Hook;  deserted,  November  21,  1862,  at 
Stewart's  Mansion  Hospital,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Smith,  Richard  G. — Age,  21  years.  September  16, 
1862,  at  Pine  Plains;  deserted,  same  date,  at  Pough- 
keepsie,  N.  Y. 

Smith,  William. — Age,  27  years.  February  4,  1863, 
at  Pine  Plains;  deserted,  April  10,  1864,  at  Normandy, 
Tenn. 

Steigleder,  George. — Age,  41  years.  August  29,  1862, 
at  Hyde  Park;  deserted,  March  16,  1863,  at  Belger 
Barracks,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Tator,  Stephen  L. — Age,  33  years.  September  15, 
1862,  at  Rhinebeck;  D.  F.  D.,  December  24,  1864. 

Thurston,  Freeman. — Age,  20  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  North  East;  died,  August  28,  1863,  at  Kelly's 
Ford,  Va. 

Todd,  James. — Age,  36  years.  September  2,  1862,  at 
Hyde  Park;  wounded  in  action,  June  22,  1864,  at  Gulp's 
Farm,  Ga.;  died  of  his  wounds,  July  26,  1864,  at  Nash- 
ville, Tenn. 

Warner,  Abraham. — Age,  43  years.  August  31,  1864, 
at  Poughkeepsie,  for  one  year.* 

Weaver,  Peter. — Age,  29  years.  August  29,  1864,  at 
Ancram,  to  serve  one  year.* 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  405 

Wheeler,  David  B. — Age,  29  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  Pine  Plains.* 

Wicker,  Martin. — Age,  43  years.  September  6,  1862, 
at  Hyde  Park;  transferred  to  One  Hundred  and  Twelfth 
Company,  Second  Battalion,  V.  R.  C,  January  9,  1865; 
D.  F.  D.,  July  18,  1865,  at  Alexandria,  Va. 

Wilkinson,  Sidney  Thompson. — Age,  37  years.  Sep- 
tember 6,  1862,  at  Pine  Plains;  wounded  in  action,  March 
16,  1865,  at  Averasboro,  N.  C. ;  absent  since,  and  at 
muster-out  of  company;  Brevetted  Second  Lieutenant, 
N.  Y.  Volunteers. 

Wiltsie,  Walter. — Age,  21  years.  October  3,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie ;  deserted,  October  11,  1862,  at  Camp 
Dutchess,  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. 

Winne,  Stephen. — Age,  25  years.  August  31,  1864, 
at  Poughkeepsie,  to  sen^e  one  year;  mustered  out,  June  21, 
1865,  at  hospital,  Albany,  N.  Y. 

Wood,  Dewitt. — Age,  22  years.  November  26,  1862, 
at  Baltimore,  Md. ;  deserted,  December  31,  1862,  at  Bel- 
ger  Barracks,  Baltimore  Md. 

No.   6. 

COMPANY  E. 

Mustered  into  the  U.  S.  service,  for  three  years,  at 
Camp  Dutchess,  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  Saturday,  Octo- 
ber II,   1862. 

Captains. 

Brant,  Andrus. — Age,  36  years.  Enrolled  at  Pough- 
keepsie, to  serve  three  years,  and  mustered  in  as  Captain, 
Co.  E,  September  23,  1862;  discharged  for  disability, 
December  18,   1863. 


406  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Commissioned  Captain,  November  3,  1862,  with  rank 
from  September  23,  1862,  original. 

Wheeler,  Obed. — January  16,  1864.*  See  First 
Lieutenants. 

First  Lieutenants. 

Wheeler,  Obed. — Age,  21  years.  Enrolled  at  Pough- 
keepsie,  to  serve  three  years,  and  mustered  in  as  First 
Lieutenant,  Co.  E,  September  23,  1862;  as  Captain, 
December  9,   1863. 

Commissioned  First  Lieutenant,  November  3,  1862, 
with  rank  from  September  23,  1862,  original;  Captain, 
January  16,  1864,  with  rank  from  December  18,  1863, 
vice  A.  Brant,  discharged;  Brevet  Major,  N.  Y.  Volun- 
teers, October  17,  1865. 

Chapman,  Perry  W. — December  18,  1863.*  See 
Second  Lieutenants. 

Second  Lieutenants. 

Chapman,  Perry  W. — Age,  21  years.  Enrolled  at 
Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  three  years,  and  mustered  in  as 
Second  Lieutenant,  Co.  E,  September  23,  1862;  as  First 
Lieutenant,  December  19,  1863. 

Commissioned  Second  Lieutenant,  November  3,  1862, 
with  rank  from  September  23,  1862,  original;  First  Lieu- 
tenant, January  16,  1864,  with  rank  from  December  18, 
1863,  vice  O.  Wheeler  promoted;  Brevet  Captain  and 
Major,  N.  Y.  Volunteers,  October  26,  1866. 

Barlow,  Charles  P. — Age,  22  years.  Enrolled  Sep- 
tember 2,  1862,  at  Dover,  to  serve  three  years;  mustered 
in  as  private,  Co.  E,  September  5,  1862;  promoted  Cor- 
poral, September  23,  1862;  Sergeant,  October  11,  1862; 
First  Sergeant,  January  i,   1863;  mustered  in  as  Second 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  407 

Lieutenant,  February  15,  1864;  wounded  In  action,  July 
20,  1864,  at  Atlanta,  Ga. 

Commissioned  Second  Lieutenant,  January  16,  1864, 
with  rank  from  December  18,  1863,  vice  P.  W.  Chapman 
promoted.* 

First  Sergeants. 

Sarles,  George  F. — Age,  32  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  Dover;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  Co.  E,  October 
II,  1862;  promoted  Sergeant,  November  20,  1862;  First 
Sergeant,  February  13,  1864.* 

Sergeants. 

Blauvelt,  Isaac  L — Age,  33  years.  September  6,  1862, 
at  Dover;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  October  11,  1862; 
promoted  Sergeant,  January  12,  1863  ;  wounded  in  action. 
May  25,  1864,  and  died  of  his  wounds,  May  27,  1864, 
at  Dallas,  Ga. 

Fiero,  Oscar  W. — Age,  26  years.  August  30,  1862, 
at  Dover;  promoted  Corporal,  March  13,  1863;  Sergeant, 
November  12,  1864.* 

Latterman,  John. — Age,  23  years.  September  6,  1862, 
at  Dover;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  October  11,  1862; 
promoted  Sergeant,  June  15,   1864.* 

Schermerhorn,  George  David. — Age,  21  years.  Au- 
gust 28,  1862,  at  Dover;  promoted  Corporal,  March  13, 
1863;  Sergeant,  May  i,  1865.* 

Corporals. 

Burhance,  Gilbert. — Age,  36  years.  September  3, 
1862,  at  Dover;  promoted  Corporal,  November  12, 
1864.* 


408  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Dunkin,  William  Henry. — Age,  21  years.     September 

I,  1862,  at  Dover;  promoted  Corporal,  March  13,  1863.* 
Lafora,  Samuel. — ^Age,   21  years.     August  23,    1862, 

at  New  York  City;  private,  Co.  F,  145th  N.  Y.  Volun- 
teers; promoted  Corporal,  November  12,  1864.* 

Liscomb,  William  H.  F. — Age,  19  years.  August  27, 
1862;  private,  Co.  F,  145th  N.  Y.  Volunteers;  promoted 
Corporal,  June  15,   1864.Z* 

Miller,  George  W. — Age,  19  years.  September  i, 
1862,  at  Pawling;  promoted  Corporal,  May   i,   1865.* 

Sweetman,  John. — Age,  18  years.  August  30,  1862, 
at  Dover;  promoted  Corporal,  January  12,  1863;  Ser- 
geant, February  15,  1864;  wounded  in  action,  June  22, 
1864,  at  Culp's  Farm,  Ga.,  and  died  of  his  wounds,  July 
3,  1864,  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn. 

Thomas,  DeWitt. — Age,  18  years.  September  5, 
1862,  at  Dover;  promoted  Corporal,  December  22,  1862; 
Sergeant,  July  3,  1864.* 

Sherman,  Albert  M. — Age,  21  years.  September  2, 
1862,  at  Dover,  to  serve  three  years;  wounded  In  action. 
May  25,  1864,  at  Dallas,  Ga.;  promoted  Corporal,  July 
3,  1864.* 

Weed,  Samuel  P. — Age,  23  years.  September  6,  1862, 
at  Dover;  mustered  in  as  Sergeant,  October  11,  1862; 
returned  to  ranks  prior  to  April  30,  1863;  promoted 
Corporal,  June  15,  1864.* 

Musicians. 

Leonard,  Charles  W. — Age,  18  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  Dover;  mustered  in  as  Musician,  Co.  E,  October 

II,  1862.* 

Toffey,    George   W. — Age,    18   years.      September   4, 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  409 

1862,  at  Dover;  mustered  in  as  Musician,  October   11, 
1862.* 

Wagoner. 

Burt,  Thomas  James. — Age,  26  years.  September  19, 
1862,  at  Pleasant  Valley;  deserted,  April  14,  1863,  at 
Baltimore. 

Privates. 

Agar,  Ira. — Age,  25  years.  September  26,  1862,  at 
Beekman.* 

Allison,  William. — Age,  18  years.  August  26,  1862, 
at  New  York  City;  private,  Co.  F,  145th  N.  Y.  Volun- 
teers; wounded  in  action,  July  20,  1864,  at  Peach  Tree 
Creek,  Ga.* 

Baker,  John  D. — Age,  26  years.  September  30,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie ;  discharged,  November  10,  1862,  at 
Baltimore,  Md.,  to  enlist  in  U.  S.  Army. 

Barnard,  George  F. — Age,  24  years.  Enlisted  at 
Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year,  September  24,  1864; 
never  joined  regiment. 

Benson,  Jacob. — Age,  26  years.  September  i,  1862, 
at  Dover;  died  of  chronic  diarrhea,  December  18,  1863, 
at  Normandy,  Tenn. 

Boughton,  John  H. — Age,  22  years.  February  6, 
1865,  at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year;  mustered  out 
with  detachment.  May  8,  1865,  at  Hart's  Island,  N.  Y. 
Harbor. 

Brady,  John. — Age,  26  years.  August  17,  1864,  at 
Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year,  but  never  joined  regi- 
ment. 

Brant,  Philip. — Age,  23  years.  September  i,  1862; 
mustered  in  as  Corporal,  October   11,   1862;  promoted 


410  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Sergeant,  March  13,  1863;  returned  to  ranks  prior  to 
April  30,  1864;  deserted,  April  10,  1865,  while  on  march 
from  Goldsboro  to  Raleigh,  N.  C. 

Brown,  Alvia. — Age,  24  years.  September  18,  1862, 
at  Dover,  to  serve  three  years.* 

Brown,  George. — Age,  22  years.  September  22,  1862, 
at  Union  Vale.* 

Bree,  Daniel. — Age,  27  years.  December  18,  1863, 
at  Dover.X 

Bruingsdorfer,  John  J. — Age,  29  years.  August  30, 
1862,  at  New  York  City;  private,  Co.  F,  145th  N.  Y. 
Volunteers.  *Z 

Bullock,  George  E. — Age,  28  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  Dover;  discharged,  October  12,  1862. 

Burhance,  Lawrence. — Age,  39  years.  August  30, 
1862,  at  Dover;  discharged  for  epilepsy,  June  20,  1864, 
at  hospital,  Murfreesboro,  Tenn. 

Burrhus,    George. — Age,    37    years.      September    18, 

1862,  at  Pawling;  discharged,  November  23,  1862,  at 
Baltimore,  Md.,  to  enlist  in  U.  S.  Army. 

Byrnes  Thomas. — Age,  19  years.  August  30,  1862, 
Co.  F  from  145th  N.  Y.  Volunteers;  wounded  in  action. 
May  25,  1864,  at  Dallas,  Ga.Z* 

Carpenter,   August. — Age,   33   years.      November  23, 

1863,  at  New  York  City.X 

Clark,  Hiram  D. — Age,  44  years.  October  8,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  deserted,  February  5,  1863,  ^t  Belger 
Barracks,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Clement,  Samuel. — Age,  44  years.  September  3,  1862, 
at  Dover;  D.  F.  D.,  December  13,  1864,  at  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

Connolly,  Bernard. — Age,  31  years.     August  9,  1862, 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  411 

at  New  York  City;  145th  N.  Y.  Volunteers;  killed  in 
action,  July  20,  1864,  at  Peach  Tree  Creek,  Ga.Z 

Cooper,  George. — Age,  20.  September  6,  1862,  at 
Dover.* 

Cosgrove,  William. — Age,  39  years.  August  19,  1862, 
at  New  York  City;  private,  Co.  F,  145th  N.  Y.  Volun- 
teers; wounded  in  action,  May  25,  1864,  at  Dallas,  Ga.; 
absent,  in  hospital,  since  July  28,  1864,  ^^d  at  muster-out 
of  company.Z 

Crocker,  George  H. — Age,  23  years.  September  i, 
1863,  at  Dover;  deserted,  January  2,  1863,  at  Belger 
Barracks,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Crocker,  Mason  -J. — Age,  18  years.  September  i, 
1862,  at  Dover;  deserted,  January  2,  1863,  '^t  Belger 
Barracks,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Davidson,  James  E. — Age,  28  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  Dover;  wounded  in  action,  June  22,  1864,  at 
Culp's  Farm,  Ga.;  died  of  his  wounds,  July  10,  1864,  at 
Chattanooga,  Tenn. 

Davis,  Caleb. — Age,  43  years.  September  15,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie.* 

Davis,  Caleb,  Jr. — Age,  21  years.  September  3,  1862, 
at  Pawling;  discharged  at  Baltimore,  Md.,  November  10, 
1862,  to  enlist  in  U.  S.  Army. 

Davis,  Merritt. — Age,  18  years.  September  3,  1862, 
at  Pawling;  discharged  at  Baltimore,  Md.,  November  10, 
1862,  to  enlist  in  U.  S.  Army. 

Davis,  Philip. — Age,  27  years.  September  22,  1862, 
at  Pawling;  died  of  typhoid  fever,  August  14,  1863,  at 
Baltimore,  Md. 

Dennis,  Lafayette. — Age,  36  years.  September  i, 
1862,  at  Dover.* 


412  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Dingee,  Isaac. — Age,  19  years.  September  3,  1862, 
at  Dover;  deserted,  February  3,  1863,  at  Baltimore,  Md. 

Dingee,  William  H. — Age,  24  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  Dover;  mustered  out,  July  15,  1865,  at  Lovell 
Hospital,  Portsmouth  Grove,  R.  I. 

Donnelly,  Benjamin. — Age,  22  years.  September  29, 
1864,  at  Kingston,  to  serve  one  year.* 

Donovan,  Hugh. — Age,  19  years.  August  19,  1862, 
at  New  York  City;  private,  Co.  F,  145th  N.  Y.  Volun- 
teers. *Z 

Doyle,  John. — Age,  29  years.  January  7,  1862,  at 
New  York  City;  Sergeant,  Co.  F,  145th  N.  Y.  Volunteers; 
returned  to  ranks,  November  12,  1864.Z* 

Draper,  James  L. — Age,  35  years.  August  29,  1862, 
at  Dover;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  October  11,  1862; 
transferred  to  Co.  C,  Twentieth  Regiment,  V.  R.  C,  De- 
cember 12,  1863;  mustered  out  as  private  with  detach- 
ment, July  10,  1865,  at  Frederick  City,  Md. 

Dunkin,  Henry. — Age,  45  years.  September  i,  1862, 
at  Dover;  D.  F.  D.,  February  12,  1863,  at  Baltimore, 
Md. 

Dutcher,  Gilbert  J. — Age,  25  years.  September  i, 
1862,  at  Dover;  mustered  in  as  Sergeant,  October  11, 
1862;  returned  to  ranks,  March  13,  1863;  discharged, 
November  i,  1863,  for  promotion  to  organization,  not 
stated. 

Elliott,  James. — Age,  21  years.  August  24,  1862,  at 
New  York  City;  private,  Co.  F,  145th  N.  Y.  Volunteers; 
killed  In  action.  May  25,  1864,  at  Dallas,  Ga.Z 

Ellsworth,  Herman. — Age,  22  years.  September  8, 
1862,  at  Dover;  D.  F.  D.,  March  4,  1863,  ^^  Camden 
Street  Hospital,  Baltimore,  Md. 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  4l3 

Fagan,  Thomas. — Age,  27  years.  August  28,  1862, 
at  New  York  City;  private,  Co.  F,  145th  N.  Y.  Volun- 
teers.Z* 

Fardun,  Robert. — Age,  22  years.  August  11,  1864, 
at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year;  discharged,  September 
30,  1864,  to  accept  commission  as  Second  Lieutenant, 
104th  N.  Y.  Volunteers;  never  reported  there  for  duty; 
returned,  no  date;  mustered  out  with  detachment.  May  8, 
1865,  at  Hart's  Island,  N.  Y.  Harbor. 

Fiero,  John  J. — Age,  25  years.  August  30,  1862,  at 
Dover;  absent,  sick,  at  Dover,  N.  Y.,  since  October  11, 
1862,  and  at  muster-out  of  company. 

Foley,  Patrick. — Age,  27  years.  August  9,  1862,  at 
New  York  City;  private,  Co.  E,  145th  N.  Y.  Volunteers; 
captured,  February  21,  1865;  released,  April  28,  1865; 
mustered  out,  July  i,  1865,  at  New  York  City.Z 

Garland,  Patrick. — Age,  21  years.  September  i,  1862, 
at  Dover.* 

Gertz,  Fritz. — Age,  25  years.  August  23,  1862,  at 
New  York  City;  private,  Co.  F,  145th  N.  Y.  Volunteers; 
sent  to  Nashville,  April,  1864,  for  transfer  to  nav}^Z 

Gilligan,  Michael. — Age,  25  years.  September  5, 
1862,  at  Dover.* 

Hannan,  Joseph. — Age,  22  years.  August  11,  1864, 
at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year;  never  joined  regiment. 

Harley,  Edward. — Age,  21  years.  January  7,  1865, 
at  New  York  City;  mustered  out  with  detachment,  May 
8,  1865,  at  Hart's  Island,  N.  Y.  Harbor. 

Heaselton,  William. — Age,  44  years.  September  27, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  D.  F.  D.,  February  12,  1863,  at 
Camden  Street  Hospital,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Herring,  WiUiam. — Age,  37  years.    July  26,  1862,  at 


414  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

New  York  City;  private,  Co.  F,  145th  N.  Y.  Volunteers; 
wounded  in  action,  May  25,  1864,  near  Dallas,  Ga.Z* 

Humeston,  William  P. — Age,  26  years.  August  30, 
1862,  at  Amenia;  promoted  Corporal,  no  date;  D.  F.  D., 
February  15,  1864,  at  Camp  Dennison,  Ohio. 

Jackneil,  John  D. — Age,  21  years.  August  4,  1864, 
at  Poughkeepsie.X 

Jackson,  John. — Age,  20  years.  August  23,  1864,  at 
Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year;  never  joined  regiment. 

Kelly,  Solomon  G. — Age,  18  years.  September  27, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie.* 

Kerrigan,  John. — Age,  25  years.  August  3,  1862,  at 
New  York  City;  reported  discharged,  June  13,  1865. 

Kesler,  Frederick. — Age,  21  years.  January  28,  1865, 
at  Kingston;  mustered  out  with  detachment,  May  8,  1865, 
at  Hart's  Island,  N.  Y.  Harbor. 

Keutzmeyer,  Henry. — Age,  20  years.  September  5, 
1862;  Corporal,  Co.  F,  145th  N.  Y.  Volunteers.Z* 

Lape,  Smith. — Age,  18  years.  September  17,  1862,  at 
Dover;  discharged,  May  20,  1863,  at  Baltimore,  Md. 

Leonard,  Joshua. — Age,  45  years.  September  6,  1862, 
at  Dover;  died  of  typhoid  fever,  November  24,  1864,  at 
Louisville,  Ky. 

Leach,  Lon  V. — Age,  33  years.  September  i,  1862, 
at  Dover;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  October  11,  1862; 
promoted  Sergeant,  August  21,  1863;  D.  F.  D.,  March 
20,  1865,  at  Albany,  N.  Y. 

Maillard,  Peter. — Age,  42  years.  December  9,  1863, 
at  New  York  City;  private,  145th  N.  Y.  Volunteers; 
wounded  in  action.  May  25,  1864,  at  Dallas,  Ga.,  and 
June  17,   1864,  at  Golgotha,  Ga.X 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  415 

Manuel,  DeGulla. — Age,  24  years.  September  12, 
1864,  at  Albany,  to  serve  one  year;  never  joined  regiment. 

McDonald,  Robert. — Age,  21  years.  August  19, 
1862,  at  New  York  City;  private,  Co.  F,  145th  N.  Y. 
Volunteers;  wounded  in  action,  March  16,  1865,  ^^ 
Averasboro,  N.  C;  mustered  out  with  detachment.  May 
18,  1865,  at  McDougall  Hospital,  Fort  Schuyler,  N.  Y. 
Harbor.Z 

McGrath,  James. — Age,  27  years.  August  30,  1862, 
at  Dover;  drowned,  October  12,  1862,  in  N.  Y.  Harbor. 

Miller,  William. — Age,  29  years.  September  i,  1862, 
at  Pawling.* 

Mowers,  Daniel  C. — Age,  18  years.  September  i, 
1862,  at  Dover.* 

Murphy,  Judd. — Age,  33  years.  September  2,  1862, 
at  Dover;  killed  in  action,  July  3,  1863,  at  Gettysburg,  Pa. 

Murphy,  Patrick. — Age,  22  years.  September  30, 
1862,  at  Dover;  wounded  in  action,  July  20,  1864,  at 
Peach  Tree  Creek,  Ga.;  mustered  out,  June  29,  1865, 
from  Lovell  Hospital,  Portsmouth  Grove,  R.  I. 

Myers,  Samuel. — Age,  32  years.  August  21,  1862,  at 
New  York  City;  Corporal,  Co.  F,  145th  N.  Y.  Volun- 
teers; killed  in  action.  May  25,  1864,  at  Dallas,  Ga.Z 

Phillips,  Henry  C. — Age,  30  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  Dover;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  October  11, 
1862;  transferred  as  private  to  unassigned  detachment, 
First  Battalion,  V.  R.  C,  February  6,  1864;  mustered 
out  with  detachment,  June  28,  1865,  at  Washington, 
D.  C. 

Prout,  William. — Age,  45  years.  August  30,  1862,  at 
Pawling;  D.  F.  D.,  June  23,  1863,  at  Baltimore,  Md. 

Reynolds,  Lyman. — Age,  43  years.     October  8,  1862, 


416  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

at  Poughkeepsie ;  deserted,  February  5,  1863,  from  Bel- 
ger  Barracks,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Rice,  Patrick. — Age,  22  years.  August  17,  1864,  at 
Hyde  Park,  to  serve  one  year;  never  joined  regiment. 

Riley,  Patrick. — Age,  19  years.  September  12,  1864, 
at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year;  never  joined  regiment. 

Robinson,   John    C. — Age,    19   years.      September   9, 

1864,  at  Stuyvesant,  to  serve  one  year;  never  joined  regi- 
ment. 

Roe,  Daniel. — Age,  37  years.  September  5,  1862,  at 
Dover.* 

Rodgers,  Joshua. — Age,  45  years.  August  29,  1862, 
at  Dover;  promoted  Sergeant  prior  to  April,  1863;  re- 
turned to  ranks  prior  to  April,  1864;  mustered  out  with 
detachment,  May  18,  1865,  at  McDougall  Hospital, 
N.  Y.  Harbor. 

Rogers,  Sheridan  L. — Age,  29  years.  September  i, 
1862,   at  Poughkeepsie;  wounded  in  action,   March   16, 

1865,  at  Averasboro,  N.  C. ;  absent,  in  hospital,  since  and 
at  muster-out  of  company. 

Rosell,  Madison. — Age,  40  years.  September  10, 
1862,  at  Dover.* 

Sarles,  Seely. — Age,  44  years.  September  6,  1862,  at 
Dover,  to  serve  three  years;  discharged,  June  20,  1865, 
at  Albany,  N.  Y. 

Shalloon,  Matthew. — Age,  26  years.  January  12, 
1865,  at  Pleasant  Valley,  to  serve  one  year;  mustered  out 
with  detachment.  May  8,  1865,  at  Hart's  Island,  N.  Y. 
Harbor. 

Sherman,  Joseph  T. — Age,  33  years.  August  30, 
1862,  at  Dover;  deserted,  October  8,  1862,  at  Pough- 
keepsie, N.  Y. 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  417 

Sloan,  Arthur. — Age,  i8  years.  September  5,  1862, 
at  Dover;  died  of  pneumonia,  August  30,  1864,  at  hos- 
pital, Chattanooga,  Tenn. 

Sloan,  Henry. — Age,  42  years.  September  21,  1862, 
at  Dover;  absent,  in  hospital  at  Washington,  D.  C,  Au- 
gust 18,  1863,  and  at  muster-out  of  company. 

Slocum,  John. — Age,  22  years.  September  i,  1862,  at 
Pawling;  mustered  in  as  Sergeant,  October  11,  1862; 
deserted,  October  18,  1862,  at  Baltimore,  Md. 

Small,  Arthur. — Age,  29  years.  February  13,  1865, 
at  Hudson;  never  joined  regiment;  mustered  out  with  de- 
tachment. May  8,  1865,  at  Hart's  Island,  N.  Y.  Harbor. 

Smith,  Ellis. — Age,  24  years.  December  18,  1862,  at 
Baltimore,  Md. ;  deserted  February  3,  1863,  at  Belger 
Barracks,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Smith,  William. — Age,  20  years.  September  10,  1864, 
at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year;  never  joined  regiment. 

Spencer,  Henry. — Age,  28  years.  August  28,  1862,  at 
Dover;  wounded,  August  — ,  1864;  absent,  in  hospital, 
since  March  13,  1865,  and  at  muster-out  of  company. 

Stage,  David  R. — Age,  45  years.  December  21,  1863, 
at  Dover;  mustered  out,  July  2,  1865,  ^t  hospital,  Louis- 
ville, Ky. 

Stage,  George  W. — Age,  20  years.  September  i,  1862, 
at  Dover;  promoted  Corporal,  September  22,  1863; 
wounded  in  action,  May  15,  1864,  at  Resaca,  Ga.;  trans- 
ferred to  V.  R.  C,  July  26,  1864. 

Stage,  Silas  B. — Age,  39  years.  December  21,  1863, 
at  Dover;  died  of  diarrhea,  October  3,  1864,  in  hospitarl 
at  Chattanooga,  Tenn. 

Stow,  William. — Age,  26  years.  September  2,  1862, 
at  Dover.* 


418  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Talladay,  Nelson. — Age,  41  years.  September  i, 
1862,  at  Dover;  transferred  to  119th  Company,  Second 
Battalion,  V.  R.  C,  March  2,  1864;  discharged,  Octo- 
ber II,  1865,  at  Hicks  Hospital,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Tallman,  John. — Age,  32  years.  September  2,  1862, 
at  Dover.* 

Toffey,  William  H. — Age,  18  years.  September  5, 
1862,  at  Dover.* 

Turney,  Benjamin. — Age,  25  years.  September  2, 
1862,  at  Dover;  mustered  in  as  First  Sergeant,  October 
II,  1862;  deserted,  December  31,  1862,  at  Baltimore, 
Md. 

Vantine,  Isaac. — Age,  26  years.  January  20,  1865,  at 
Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year;  mustered  out  with  de- 
tachment. May  8,  1865,  at  Hart's  Island,  N.  Y.  Harbor. 

Washburn,    Daniel. — Age,    24   years.      September    i, 

1862,  at  Pawling;  died  of  typhoid  fever,  September  26, 

1863,  at  Point  Lookout,  Md. 

Waterman,  Albert. — Age,  25  years.  September  2, 
1862,  at  Dover;  wounded  in  action,  July  3,  1863,  at 
Gettysburg,  Pa.;  deserted,  April  8,  1864,  at  Hospital, 
New  York  City. 

Watson,  Richard. — Age,  21  years.  September  9,  1864, 
at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year;  never  joined  regiment. 

Watts,  Benjamin. — Age,  23  years.  September  4,  1862, 
at  Dover;  wounded  in  action.  May  15,  1864,  at  Resaca, 
Ga.* 

Watts,  Robert. — Age,  25  years.  December  23,  1863, 
at  Dover;  died  of  chronic  diarrhea,  August  27,  1864,  at 
hospital,  Chattanooga,  Tenn. 

Whaley,  Dennison. — Age,  38  years.  September  10, 
1862,  at  Pawling.* 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  419 

Wilcox,  George  A. — Age,  19  years,  August  28,  1862, 
at  Dover;  discharged,  November  lo,  1862,  at  Baltimore, 
Md.,  to  enlist  in  U.  S.  Army. 

Wising  Jacob. — Age,  32  years.  May  16,  1863,  at 
Baltimore,  Md.;  mustered  out.  May  10,  1865,  at  hos- 
pital, Baltimore,  Md. 

No.   7. 
COMPANY  F. 

Mustered  into  the  U.  S.  service,  for  three  years,  at 
Camp  Dutchess,  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  Saturday,  Octo- 
ber  II,    1862. 

Captain. 

Green,  John  L. — Age,  3 1  years.  Enrolled  at  Pough- 
keepsie, to  serve  three  years,  and  mustered  in  as  Captain, 
Co.  F,  September  24,  1862.* 

Commissioned  Captain,  November  3,  1862,  with  rank 
from  September  24,  1862,  original. 

First  Lieutenants. 

Cruger,  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer. — Age,  19  years.  En- 
rolled at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  three  years,  and  mustered 
in  as  First  Lieutenant,  Co.  F,  September  24,  1862;  as 
First  Lieutenant  and  Adjutant,  September  21,  1863; 
wounded  in  action.  May  15,  1864,  at  Resaca,  Ga.;  dis- 
charged for  disability,  September  28,  1864;  order  re- 
voked and  reinstated,  October  6,  1864;  mustered  in  as 
Captain,  Co.  A,  March  2,   1865. 

Commissioned  First  Lieutenant,  November  3,  1862, 
with  rank  from  September  24,  1862,  original;  First  Lieu- 


420  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

tenant  and  Adjutant,  September  14,  1863,  with  rank 
from  August  6,  1863,  vice  W.  W.  Thompson  discharged; 
commissioned  Captain,  November  2,  1864,  with  rank 
from  November  18,  1864,  vice  Robert  McConnell  re- 
signed; Brevet  Lieutenant-Colonel,  N.  Y.  Volunteers,  and 
Brevet  Major,  U.  S.  Volunteers. 

Bowman,  Pulaski. — September  14,  1863.  See  Second 
Lieutenants. 

Paulding,  Samuel  H. — See  Second  Lieutenants.* 

Second  Lieutenants. 

Bowman,  Pulaski. — Age,  26  years.  Enrolled  at 
Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  three  years,  and  mustered  in  as 
Second  Lieutenant,  Co.  F,  September  24,  1862;  as  First 
Lieutenant,  September  21,  1863;  wounded  in  action,  July 
20,  1864,  before  Atlanta,  Ga. ;  discharged,  July  30,  1864, 
for  disability. 

Commissioned  Second  Lieutenant,  November  3,  1862, 
with  rank  from  September  24,  1862,  original;  First  Lieu- 
tenant, September  14,  1863,  with  rank  from  August  6, 
1863,  vice  S.  V.  R.  Cruger  promoted. 

Paulding,  Samuel  H. — Age,  34  years.  Enrolled  Sep- 
tember 6,  1862,  at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  three  years; 
mustered  in  as  First  Sergeant,  Co.  F,  October  11,  1862; 
as  Second  Lieutenant,  Co.  H,  April  9,  1863;  mustered  in 
as  First  Lieutenant,  Co.  F,  July  31,  1864.* 

Commissioned  Second  Lieutenant,  March  27,  1863, 
with  rank  from  March  18,  1863,  vice  C.  J.  Gaylord  re- 
signed; First  Lieutenant,  September  16,  1864,  with  rank 
from  July  30,   1864,  vice  P.  Bowman  resigned. 

Ostrom,  Landon. — Age,  24  years.  Enrolled  Septem- 
ber 5,  1862,  at  Rhinebeck,  to  serve  three  years;  mustered 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  421 

in  as  First  Sergeant,  Co.  K,  October  ii,   1862;  mustered 
in  as  Second  Lieutenant,  Co.  F,  October  26,  1864.* 

Commissioned  Second  Lieutenant,  September  16,  1864, 
with  rank  from  July  30,  1864,  vice  S.  H.  Paulding 
promoted. 

First  Sergeants. 

Paulding,  Samuel  H. — October  11,  1864;  promoted. 
See  Second  Lieutenants. 

Ryan,  John. — Age,  22  years.  September  6,  1862,  at 
Rhinebeck;  mustered  in  as  Sergeant;  promoted  First  Ser- 
geant, April  9,  1863  ;  died  of  typhoid  pneumonia,  July  19, 
1864,  at  hospital,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Brees,  George  W. — Age,  24  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  Rhinebeck;  mustered  in  as  Sergeant,  October  11, 
1862;  promoted  First  Sergeant,  April  i,  1865.* 

Sergeants. 

Gahagan,  William. — Age,  18  years.  September  9, 
1862,  at  Red  Hook;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  Co.  F, 
October  11,   1862;  promoted  Sergeant,  April  9,   1863.* 

Gunnell,  Charles  A. — Age,  33  years.  May  7,  1863, 
at  Baltimore,  Md.;  promoted  Corporal,  July  26,  1864; 
Sergeant,  April  i,   1865.X 

Ostrander,  Daniel. — Age,  22  years.  September  i, 
1862,  at  Red  Hook;  promoted  Corporal,  October  11, 
1862;  Sergeant,  July  25,  1864.* 

Sheak,  James  M. — Age,  33  years.  September  2,  1862, 
at  Rhinebeck;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  October  11,  1862; 
promoted  Sergeant,  March  6,  1864;  mustered  out.  May 
25,  1865,  at  McDougall  Hospital,  Fort  Schuyler,  N.  Y. 
Harbor. 


422  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Corporals. 
Cane,  John. — Age,  19  years.     September  15,  1862,  at 


* 


Poughkeepsle ;  promoted  Corporal,  March  18,  1864. 

Fraleigh,  Thomas  M. — Age,  38  years.  August  25, 
1862,  at  Red  Hook;  promoted  Corporal,  January  17, 
1865.* 

Kellihar,  Thomas. — Age,  22  years.  September  9, 
1862,  at  Rhinebeck;  promoted  Corporal,  March  4,  1864; 
wounded  in  action.  May  25,  1864,  at  Dallas,  Ga.* 

Miller,  William  H. — Age,  18  years.  September  9, 
1862,  at  Pine  Plains;  promoted  Corporal,  August  30, 
1863;  mustered  out,  June  20,  1865,  at  Davenport,  la. 

Moore,  Alonzo. — Age,  27  years.  June  23,  1863,  at 
Baltimore,   Md. ;  promoted  Corporal,  June   20,    1864.X 

Rogers,  George  L. — Age,  19  years.  September  5, 
1862,  at  Rhinebeck;  promoted  Corporal,  June  20,  1863; 
mustered  out,  June  9,  1865,  at  McDougall  Hospital, 
N.  Y.  Harbor. 

Smith,  Isaac. — Age,  18  years.  September  i,  1862,  at 
Rhinebeck;  promoted  Corporal,  May  11,  1863;  wounded 
in  action.  May  25,  1864,  at  Dallas,  Ga.,  and  died  of  his 
wounds,  June  4,  1864,  In  hospital,  near  Kingston,  Ga. 

Smith,  James. — Age,  33  years.  September  8,  1862, 
at  Red  Hook;  promoted  Corporal,  April  i,  1865.* 

Stickel,  Ezra  A. — Age,  18  years.  September  8,  1862, 
at  Red  Hook;  promoted  Corporal,  November  3,  1863; 
died.  May  17,  1865,  at  Raleigh,  N.  C. 

Miiskians. 
Spencer,  Ezra. — Age,    17  years.     September  i,    1862, 
at  Rhinebeck;  mustered  in  as  Musician,  Co.  F,  October 
II,  1862,* 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  423 

Glass,  John. — Age,  17  years.  July  26,  1862,  at  New 
York  City;  private,  Co.  A,  145th  N.  Y.  Vokinteers.*Z 

Wagoner. 

Francisco,  WiHiam  T. — Age,  40  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  Rhinebeck;  mustered  in  as  Wagoner,  Co.  F, 
October  1 1,   1862.* 

Privates. 

Albertson,  x\mbrose  D. — Age,  28  years.  September 
20,  1862,  at  Poughkeepsie.* 

Alendorf,  John  N. — Age,  42  years.  September  2, 
1864,  at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year;  absent,  sick  in 
hospital,  since  December  i,  1864,  and  at  muster-out  of 
company. 

Bauman,  Philip. — Age,  37  years.  September  6,  1862, 
at  Rhinebeck;  captured  in  action,  December  i,  1864; 
paroled,  no  date;  mustered  out,  July  5,  1865,  at  Hicks 
Hospital,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Bell,  John  A. — Age,  21  years.  August  26,  1864,  at 
Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year;  captured,  March  10, 
1865 ;  paroled,  no  date;  in  Camp  Parole,  Annapolis,  Md., 
at  muster-out  of  company. 

Best,  Jacob. — Age,  33  years.  September  30,  1862,  at 
Poughkeepsie.* 

Brandon,  Henry. — Age,  18  years.  February  3,  1863, 
at  Baltimore,  Md.,  and  mustered  in  as  Musician,  Feb- 
ruary 3,  1863;  deserted,  August  16,  1863,  at  Kelly's 
Ford,  Va. 

Briggs,  Elias  A. — Age,  26  years.  September  6,  1862, 
at  Rhinebeck;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  Co.  F,  October 
II,  1862;  transferred  to  V.  R.  C,  September  i,  1863. 


424  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Brown,  John. — Age,  21  years.  September  24,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  deserted,  September  26,  1862,  at  Camp 
Dutchess,  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. 

Bullock,    George. — Age,    33    years.      September    22, 

1862,  at  Red  Hook;  D.  F.  D.,  November  6,  1864,  at 
hospital,  Alexandria,  Va. 

Burdick,  Charles,  Jr. — Age,  18  years.  September  6, 
1862.* 

Carey,  Francis. — Age,  28  years.  April  29,  1863,  at 
Baltimore,  Md.X 

Carter,  Charles. — Age,  43  years.  September  6,  1862, 
at  Rhinebeck;  D.  F.  D.,  June  4,  1863. 

Champlain,  Jefferson  H. — Age,  21  years.     April  27, 

1863,  at  Baltimore,  Md. ;  discharged,  December  30,  1863. 
Daniels,  Joshua  O. — Age,   32  years.     September  23, 

1862,  at  Fishkill;  transferred  to  V.  R.  C,  September  i, 
1863. 

Denny,  Charles  G. — Age,  22  years.  January  20,  1864; 
enlisted  at  Twelfth  District. X 

Dewitt,  William. — Age,  29  years.  April  13,  1863,  at 
Baltimore,  Md. ;  wounded  in  action,  July  3,  1863,  at 
Gettysburg,  Pa. ;  transferred  to  V.  R.  C,  no  date. 

Donnelly,  John. — Age,  35  years.  August  28,  1862, 
at  Rhinebeck;  mustered  out.  May  19,  1865,  at  Louis- 
ville, Ky. 

Doyle,  William  B. — Age,  44  years.  September  17, 
1862,  at  Rhinebeck;  transferred  to  V.  R.  C,  December 
15,  1863;  discharged,  August  5,  1865. 

Duell,  John. — Age,  21  years.  September  20,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  mustered  in  as  Sergeant,  October  11, 
1862;  detached  as  private.  Telegraph  Operator,  March 
4,  1864;  mustered  out,  July  12,  1865,  at  Albany,  N.  Y. 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  425 

Dunn,  Patrick. — Age,  27  years.  September  3,  1864, 
at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year.* 

Dykeman,  Benjamin. — Age,  18  years.  September  5, 
1862,  at  Milan.* 

Funk,  Peter  W. — Age,  19  years.  September  i,  1862, 
at  Rhinebeck;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  October  11,  1862; 
returned  to  ranks,  March  8,  1864.* 

Gallatin,  William. — Age,  18  years.  September  9, 
1862,  at  Red  Hook;  no  further  record. 

Gorman,  Richard. — Age,  18  years.  September  29, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie.* 

Green,  George. — Age,  22  years.  August  26,  1864,  at 
Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year.* 

Group,    Virgil   H. — Age,    21    years.      September    15, 

1862,  at  Red  Hook.* 

Hapeman,  Richard.— Age,  40  years.  March  4,  1863, 
at   Baltimore;   died  of   typhoid  pneumonia,   August    25, 

1863,  at  Jarvis  Hospital,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Hauver,  Ezra. — Age,  26  years.  September  15,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  claimed  as  a  deserter  and  returned  to 
128th  N.  Y.  Volunteers,  October  8,  1862. 

Hawkins,  William  H. — Age,   23  years.     February  8, 

1864,  at  Rhinebeck.X 

Hedden,  Nathan  C. — Age,  43  years.  August  8,  1862, 
at  New  York  City;  Corporal,  Co.  A,  145th  N.  Y.  Volun- 
teers; wounded  in  action,  July  20,  1864,  before  Atlanta, 
Ga.;  died  of  hemorrhage,  September  2,  1864,  at  Cum- 
berland Hospital,  Tenn. 

Henderson,  George. — Age,  21  years.  September  10, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  no  further  record. 

Hermance,  Nelson. — Age,  22  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  Red  Hook.* 


426  THE  DUTCHEvSS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Hodges,  Pliney  F. — Age,  37  years.  August  30,  1864, 
at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year.* 

Hotaling,  Peter, — Age,  30  years.  September  13, 
1862,  at  Red  Hook.* 

Huff,  David  A. — Age,  21  years.  April  20,  1863,  at 
Baltimore,  Md. ;  wounded  in  action,  May  25,  1864,  at 
Dallas,  Ga.X 

Hustis,  Joel  D. — Age,  34  years.  September  9,  1862, 
at  Milan;  wounded  in  action,  July  20,  1864,  before 
Atlanta,  Ga. ;  transferred  to  Co.  D,  Fifth  Regiment, 
V.  R.  C,  no  date;  accidentally  killed.  May  2,  1865,  while 
on  duty  as  guard,  at  Camp  Morton  Military  Prison,  Ind. 

Jackson,  John. — Age,  24  years.  September  9,  1862, 
at  Rhinebeck;  deserted,  September  25,  1862,  at  Camp 
Dutchess,  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. 

Jacoby,  Peter. — Age,  40  years.  September  10,  1862, 
at  Gallatin;  absent  in  First  Division,  Twentieth  Army 
Corps  Hospital,  since  July  27,  1864,  ^^^  ^t  muster-out 
of  company. 

Johnson,  James. — Age,  26  years.  September  29,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  no  further  record. 

Jones,  Charles. — Age,  32  years.  September  29,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  transferred  to  First  U.  S.  Artillery, 
November  15,   1862. 

Kelly,  John. — Age,  25  years.  September  9,  1862,  at 
Red  Hook,  to  serve  three  years.* 

Killmer,  John  L. — Age,  35  years.  September  3,  1862, 
at  Milan.* 

Knight,  Richard  L. — Age,  23  years.  September  2, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie.* 

Labonta,  Joseph  F. — Age,  23  years.  September  27, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie.* 


ROSTER  OF  REGLMENT.  427 

Leyden,  Martin. — ii\ge,  i8  years,  January  i8,  1864, 
at  Rhinebeck;  died,  July  17,  1864,  "i  hospital. 

Lown,  Richard. — Age,  18  years.  September  9,  1862, 
at  Red  Hook.* 

Ludlow,  John. — Age,  24  years.  October  2,  1862,  at 
Poughkeepsie ;  no  further  record. 

Mackay,  Anthony. — Age,  44  years.  September  22, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie.* 

Masten,  Hiram. — Age,  33  years.  September  9,  1862, 
at  Pine  Plains;  D.  F.  D.,June  10,  1864,  at  Ladies'  Home 
Hospital,  New  York  City. 

May,  John. — Age,  35  years.  January  4,  1864,  ^t 
Fishkiil.X 

McCune,  William. — Age,  24  years.  May  7,  1863,  at 
Baltimore;  deserted,  June  18,  1863,  at  Baltimore,  Md. 

McGowan,  James. — Age,  28  years.  September  3, 
1862,  at  Red  Hook.X 

McKenney,  John. — Age,  42  years.  September  4,  1862, 
at  Rhinebeck;  died,  January  14,  1863,  at  hospital,  Phila- 
delphia, Pa. 

McMurray,  James. — Age,  28  years.  September  18, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  no  further  record. 

Mead,  Isaac  G. — Age,  31  years.  August  17,  1864, 
at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serv-e  one  year.* 

Mellis,  Henry. — Age,  45  years.  August  30,  1862,  at 
Pine  Plains.* 

Melius,  Peter. — Age,  27  years.  September  i,  1862, 
at  Milan;  absent,  at  Joe  Holt  Hospital,  Jeffersonville, 
Ind.,  since  July  4,   1864,  and  at  muster-out  of  company. 

Merritt,  Robert. — Age,  18  years.  April  30,  1864,  at 
East   Fishkill;  wounded  in  action,   March    16,    1865,   at 


428  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Averasboro,  N.  C;  mustered  out,  May  i8,  1865,  at 
McDougall  Hospital,  Fort  Schuyler,  N.  Y.  Harbor. 

Muller,  Henry  C. — Age,  25  years.  September  9, 
1862,  at  Red  Hook;  died.  May  30,  1863,  at  Camden 
Street  Hospital,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Murch,  Marius. — Age,  23  years.  September  6,  1862, 
at  Rhinebeck;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  October  11,  1862; 
deserted,  May  12,  1863,  at  Baltimore,  Md. 

O'Connor,  Morris. — Age,  23  years.  September  12, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie ;  mustered  out.  May  26,  1865,  at 
McDougall  Hospital,  N.  Y.  Harbor. 

Odell,  John  E. — Age,  32  years.  September  6,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  killed,  February  11,  1864,  by  Guerillas, 
while  returning  from  Lincoln  County,  Tenn.,  to  Tulla- 
homa. 

O'Neil,  James  W. — Age,  38  years.  September  20, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  October 
II,  1862;  died,  December  12,  1862,  at  hospital,  Balti- 
more, Md. 

Ostrander,  Andrew. — Age,  23  years.  September  11, 
1862,  at  Red  Hook;  captured  in  action,  July  3,  1863,  at 
Gettysburg,  Pa.;  paroled,  no  date;  absent,  at  De  Camp 
Hospital,  David's  Island,  N.  Y.  Harbor,  April,  1864,  on 
muster-out  roll  as  D.  F.  D.,  no  date. 

Ostrander,  Martin. — Age,  25  years.  August  26,  1862, 
at  Red  Hook;  mustered  out,  June  23,  1865,  at  Albany, 
N.  Y. 

Ostrander,  Virgil. — Age,  24  years.  August  26,  1862, 
at  Red  Hook;  captured  in  action,  March  19,  1865,  at 
Bentonville,  N.  C;  paroled,  April  2,  1865;  mustered 
out,  June  21,  1865,  at  Camp  Parole,  Annapolis,  Md. 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  429 

Pahmeyer,  Theopilus. — Age,  29  years.  June  2,  1863, 
at  Baltimore,  Md.X 

Paulmier,  Thomas  Brown. —  Age  30  years.  August 
26,  1862,  at  Red  Hook;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  Co.  F, 
October  11,  1862;  returned  to  ranks,  April  30,  1863.* 

Pottenburg,  William. — January  18,  1864,  at  Rhine- 
beck. X 

Powell,    William. — Age,    23    years.      September    26, 

1862,  at   Poughkeepsie;   deserted,   September   29,    1862, 
at  Camp  Dutchess,  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. 

Pryor,  George. — Age,  place,  date  of  enlistment  and 
muster-in  as  private  in  Co.  F,  not  stated.* 

Pultz,  John  E. — Age,  26  years.  September  6,  1862, 
at  Red  Hook;  wounded  in  action,  July  20,  1864,  before 
Atlanta,  Ga.;  died  of  his  w^ounds,  September  20,   1864. 

Rogers,    Leander. — Age,     18    years.      December    31, 

1863,  at  Rhinebeck.X 

Rogers,  William  F. — Age,  15  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  Rhinebeck;  mustered  in  as  Musician,  Co.  F, 
October  11,  1862;  D.  F.  D.,  no  date,  at  hospital. 

Rupley,  Samuel  K.— Age,  21  years.  September  15, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  detailed  as  Telegraph  Operator 
at  Baltimore  and  never  rejoined  the  regiment. 

Rynders,    Charles   E. — Age,    19   years.      January   20, 

1864,  at  Rhinebeck.X 

Rynders,  James  H. — Age,  18  years.  January  21, 
1864,  at  Poughkeepsie;  wounded  in  skirmish,  March  21, 
1865;  mustered  out,  June  6,  1865,  while  in  hospital  at 
Albany,  N.  Y. 

Rynders,  John. — Age,  18  years.  January  18,  1864,  at 
Rhinebeck;  mustered  out,  July  24,  1865,  at  Louisville, 
Ky. 


430  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Rynders,  Stephen  H. — Age,  36  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsle ;  wounded  in  action,  July  3,  1863, 
at  Gettysburg,  Pa. ;  transferred  to  Co.  G,  Ninth  Regiment, 
V.  R.  C,  March  2,  1864;  mustered  out  July  15,  1865,  at 
Washington,  D.  C. 

Ryndes,  Henry  B. — Age,  18  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  Red  Hook;  no  further  record. 

Scharmerhorn,  Nicholas. — Age,  31  years.  August  26, 
1862,  at  Red  Hook;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  October  1 1, 
1862;  deserted,  June  2,  1863,  on  expiration  of  furlough, 
at  Baltimore,  Md. 

Schleter,  John. — Age,  45  years.  September  15,  1862, 
at  Red  Hook;  transferred  to  Fourth  U.  S.  Cavalry, 
November  12,  1864. 

Secore,  William. — Age,  21  years.  January  18,  1864, 
at  Rhinebeck.X 

Shaver,  John  D. — Age,  39  years.  September  5,  1862, 
at  Rhinebeck;  D.  F.  D.,  no  date,  from  hospital. 

Sherwood,  Thomas. — Age,  25  years.  October  i,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie ;  deserted,  September  28,  1862,  at  Camp 
Dutchess,  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. 

Showerman,  Allen. — Age,  38  years.  August  23,  1862, 
at  Red  Hook;  mustered  out,  June  13,  1865,  at  Albany, 
N,  Y.,  while  in  hospital  at  Troy,  N.  Y. 

Showerman,  Horatio. — Age,  24  years.  August  15, 
1864,  at  Fishkill,  to  serve  one  year.* 

Showerman,  Peter. — Age,  29  years.  September  4, 
1862,  at  Red  Hook.* 

Simmer,  Henry. — Age,  20  years.  September  14,  1864, 
at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year.* 

Simon,  John. — Age,  39  years.  June  10,  1863,  at 
Baltimore;  wounded  in  action,  June  22,   1864,  at  Culp's 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  431 

Farm,  Ga.;  and  died  of  his  wounds,  July  9,  1864,  in 
hospital  at  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Sigler,  Henry. — Age,  27  years.  September  i,  1862, 
at  Stanford;  killed,  June  16,  1864,  on  picket  line  near 
Marietta,  Ga. 

Smith,  James,  Jr. — Age,  19  years.  April  13,  1864,  at 
Red  Hook.X 

Smith,  William. — Age,  23  years.  September  10,  1864, 
at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year.* 

Sparks,  Cornelius  G. — Age,  18  years.  September  20, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  wounded,  May  15,  1864,  at 
Resaca,  Ga.;  killed  in  action,  June  16,  1864,  at  Golgotha, 
Ga. 

Stickel,  Peter. — Age,  21  years.  August  26,  1862,  at 
Red  Hook.* 

Stickle,  Oscar. — Age,  18  years.  August  17,  1864,  at 
Hyde  Park,  to  serve  one  year.* 

Stickle,  William  H. — Age,  18  years.  September  8, 
1862,  at  Red  Hook.* 

Traver,  Jerome. — Age,  25  years.  January  11,  1864, 
at  Poughkeepsie. X 

Wagner,  John  A. — Age,  24  years.  September  4,  1862, 
at  Red  Hook.* 

Wagner,  Robert. — Age,  21  years.  September  24, 
1862,  at  Stanford. X 

Waltemier,  David  H. — Age,  29  years.  September  15, 
1862,  at  Milan.* 

White,  Nicholas. — Age,  21  years.  October  2,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  mustered  in,  but  no  further  record. 

Williams,  Henry. — Age,  23  years.  October  i,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  deserted,  same  date,  at  Camp  Dutchess, 
Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. 


432  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Wiltsie,  James. — Age,  i8  years.  September  23,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie ;  mustered  out,  July  12,  1865,  at  Albany, 
N.  Y. 

No.  8. 

COMPANY  G. 

Mustered  into  the  U.  S.  service,  for  three  years,  at 
Camp  Dutchess,  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  Saturday,  Octo- 
ber II,   1862. 

Captain. 

Wickes,  Edward  A. — Age,  19  years.  Enrolled  at 
Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  three  years,  and  mustered  in  as 
Captain,  Co.  G,  September  26,  1862;  mustered  out,  to 
date  August  2. 

Commissioned  Captain,  November  3,  1862,  with  rank 
from  September  26,  1862,  original;  Brevet  Major,  U.  S. 
Volunteers. 

First  Lieutenant. 

Underwood,  Dewitt  C. — Age,  28  years.  Enrolled  at 
Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  three  years,  and  mustered  in  as 
First  Lieutenant,  Co.  G,  September  26,   1862.* 

Commissioned  First  Lieutenant,  November  3,  1862, 
with  rank  from  September  26,  1862,  original. 

Second  Lieutenants. 

Sweet,  John. — Age,  37  years.  Enrolled  at  Pough- 
keepsie, to  serve  three  years,  and  mustered  in  as  Second 
Lieutenant,  Co.  G,  September  26,  1862;  died  of  typhoid 
fever,  August  13,  1864,  at  Twentieth  Army  Corps  Hos- 
pital, near  Atlanta,  Ga. 


ROSTER  OF  RECIPIENT.  433 

Commissioned  Second  Lieutenant,  November  3,  1862, 
with  rank  from  September  26,  1862,  original. 

Murfitt,  Benjamin  T. — Age,  20  years.  Enrolled,  Sep- 
tember 10,  1862,  at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  three  years; 
mustered  in  as  Sergeant,  Co.  G,  October  11,  1S62;  pro- 
moted First  Sergeant,  August  28,  1863;  mustered  in  as 
Second  Lieutenant,  Co.  G,  November  9,  1864.* 

Commissioned  Second  Lieutenant,  September  16,  1864, 
with  rank  from  August  27,  1864,  vice  J.  Sweet  deceased; 
Brevet  First  Lieutenant,  N.  Y.  Volunteers. 

First  Sergeants. 

Murfitt,  Benjamin  T. — August  28,  1863.  See  Second 
Lieutenants. 

Wickes,  James  H. — Age,  21  years.  September  11, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  mustered  in  as  First  Sergeant, 
October  11,  1862;  returned  to  Sergeant,  no  date;  dis- 
charged, August  21,  1863,  to  accept  promotion  as  Captain 
in  Fourth  Infantry,  U.  S.  Colored  Troops. 

Sutton,  James  L. — Age,  37  years.  September  12, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  mustered  in  as  Sergeant,  October 
II,  1862;  promoted  First  Sergeant,  November  10,  1864.* 

Sergeants. 

Bierce,  George. — Age,  20  years.  September  3,  1862, 
at  Beekman;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  Co.  G,  October  1 1, 
1862;  promoted  Sergeant,  November  10,  1864.* 

Hosfall,  Charles  Edward. — Age,  25  years.  September 
27,  1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  promoted  Sergeant,  Novem- 
ber I,  1862.* 

Sweet,  Alonzo. — Age,  22  years.  September  3,  1862, 
at  Beekman;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  Co.  G,  October  1 1, 
1862;  promoted  Sergeant,  April  6,   1863.* 


484  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Williams,  George  H. — Age,  i8  years.  September  22, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  Co.  G, 
October  11,  1862;  promoted  Sergeant,  August  28,  1863.* 

Corporals. 

Burnett,  William  E. — Age,  44  years.  August  26, 
1862,  at  Beekman;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  October  11, 
1862;  absent  in  hospital.  Savannah,  Ga.,  since  February  i, 
1865,  and  at  muster-out  of  company. 

Harp,  Benjamin  A. — Age,  44  years.  September  25, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  promoted  Corporal  prior  to  April, 
1864;  wounded  in  action.  May  15,  1864,  at  Resaca,  Ga., 
and  June  22,  1864,  at  Kingston,  Ga.;  died  of  his  wounds, 
September  7,  1864. 

Herzel,  Henry. — Age,  24  years.  October  8,  1862,  at 
Beekman;  promoted  Corporal,  October  22,   1864.* 

Myers,  James  W. — Age,  19  years.  September  9,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  promoted  Corporal,  February  15, 
1863.* 

Power,  William  H. — Age,  18  years.  September  30, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  promoted  Corporal,  March  27, 
1863;  captured  in  action,  March  19,  1865,  at  Benton- 
ville,  N.  C;  paroled,  April  2,  1865,  at  Richmond,  Va.; 
mustered  out,  June  20,   1865,  at  Albany,  N.  Y. 

Teal,  Simon  P. — Age,  32  years.  September  26,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  promoted  Corporal,  June  5,  1863; 
wounded  and  missing  in  action,  July  20,  1864,  at  Peach 
Tree  Creek,  Ga.,  and  at  muster-out  of  company. 

Warner,  Isaac. — Age,  20  years.  October  i,  1862,  at 
Beekman;  promoted  Corporal,  June  18,  1864.* 

Washburn,    Zebulon. — Age,    22    years.      August    30, 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  435 

1862,  at  Beekman;  promoted  Corporal,  November  10, 
1864.* 

Wood,  James  L. — Age,  26  years.  September  4,  1862, 
at  Beekman;  promoted  Corporal,  October  25,   1862.* 

Peters,  Cornelius. — Age,  36  years.  September  6,  1862, 
at  Beekman;  promoted  Corporal,  no  date;  died,  September 
26,   1863,  at  hospital,  Alexandria,  Va. 

Musicians. 

Bodey,  Ogden  E. — Age,  17  years.  September  19, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsle;  mustered  In  as  Musician,  Octo- 
ber II,  1862;  grade  changed  to  private  prior  to  October 
31,  1864.* 

Collins,  Jeremiah. — Age,  15  years.  September  15, 
1862,  at  Dover.* 

M""  a  goner. 

Galaway,  George  A. — Age,  26  years.  September  24, 
1862,  at  Dutchess  County;  mustered  In  as  Wagoner, 
October  1 1,  1862.* 

Privates. 

Agner,  Simon. — Age,  39  years.  September  7,  1864, 
at  Poughkeepsle,  to  serve  one  year;  absent,  missing  since 
November  20,   1864,  and  at  muster-out  of  company. 

Appleby,  John  D. — Age,  33  years.  August  25,  1862, 
at  Union  Vale.* 

Baird,  Zachariah  D. — Age,  21  years.  September  22, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsle;  deserted,  July  30,  1863,  at  Bel- 
ger  Barracks,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Barker,  Frank. — Age,  20  years.  September  20,  1864, 
at  Claverack,  to  serve  one  year;  mustered  out,  July  28, 
1865,  at  Lincoln  Hospital,  Washington,  D.  C. 


436  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Bier,  Matthew. — Age,  34  years.  September  2,  1862, 
at  Union  Vale;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  October  11, 
1862;  D.  F.  D.,  January  15,  1863. 

Brown,  Charles. — Age,  40  years.  September  20,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie.* 

Buckley,  Thomas  S. — Age,  33  years.  August  27, 
1862,  at  Beekman.* 

Burnett,  Thomas. — Age,  40  years.  October  i,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie ;  wounded  in  action,  July  20,  1864,  at 
Peach  Tree  Creek,  Ga.,  and  died  of  his  wounds,  July  30, 

1864,  near  Atlanta,  Ga. 

Burnett,  Barnard  C. — Age,  40  years.  September  22, 
1862,  at  Fishkill;  promoted  Corporal,  no  date;  returned 
to  ranks,  March  27,  1863;  killed  In  action,  July  3,  1863, 
at  Gettysburg,  Pa. 

Camac,  Edwin  W. — Age,  22  years.  July  5,  1864,  at 
Poughkeepsie. X 

Clark,  Dwight  W. — Age,  19  years.  September  29, 
1862,   at  Poughkeepsie;  wounded  in  action,   March    16, 

1865,  at  Averasboro,  N.  C. ;  mustered  out,  May  31,  1865, 
at  McDougall  Hospital,  N.  Y.  Harbor. 

Clements,  Albert. — Age,  33  years.  September  2,  1862, 
at  Union  Vale;  transferred  to  V.  R.  C,  September  30, 
1863. 

Cline,  Valentine. — Age,  23  years.  September  6,  1864, 
at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year.* 

Crum,  Richard. — Age,  44  years.  September  16,  1862, 
at  Fishkill;  deserted,  February  25,  1863,  at  Belger  Bar- 
racks, Baltimore,  Md. 

Daly,  Alonzo. — Age,  18  years.  September  29,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  transferred  to  Co.  H,  Twenty-second 
Regiment,  V.  R.  C,  May  6,  1864. 


ROSTER  OF  RECxIRIENT.  437 

DeGrott,    Philip    R. — Age,    24    years.       February     i, 

1864,  at  Pawling.X 

DeLong,  James  Reid. — Age,  36  years.  September  2, 
1862,  at  Beekman;  promoted  Corporal,  October  14, 
1863;  returned  to  ranks,  no  date;  mustered  out,  May  30, 

1865,  at  McDougall  Hospital,  N.  Y.  Harbor. 

Dixon,  William. — Age^  40  years.  September  15,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie ;  transferred  to  Co.  C,  Eighteenth  Regi- 
ment, V.  R.  C,  September  26,  1863;  mustered  out  with 
detachment,  July  19,  1865,  at  Washington,  D.  C. 

Dolan,  James. — Age,  28  years.  September  21,  1864, 
at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year.* 

Donaldson,  William  W. — Age,  25  years.  September 
29,  1862,  at  Beekman.* 

DuBois,  Charles  A. — Age,  22  years.  September  17, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  promoted  to  Sergeant,  October 
II,  1862;  Commissary  Sergeant,  April  i,  1863;  returned 
to  ranks,  November  i,   1863.* 

Eicholz,   Theodore. — Age,   36  years.      September   23, 

1864,  at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year.* 

Emigh,  Andrew  J. — Age,  33  years.  September  8, 
1862,  at  Union  Vale;  deserted,  February  12,  1863,  at 
Belger  Barracks,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Emigh,  Thaddeus  S.  V. — Age,  35  years.  October  8, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  D.  F.  D.,  no  date. 

Fitchett,  Jacob. — Age,  44  years.  September  21,  1864, 
at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year;  mustered  out,  June  9, 

1865,  at  David's  Island,  N.  Y.  Harbor. 

Foster,  William  H. — Age,  19  years,  September  12, 
1864,  at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year;  captured, 
November  19,  1864,  on  Sherman's  March  to  the  Sea; 
died,  January  31,  1865,  at  Florence,  S.  C. 


438  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

GImbert,  Allen. — Age,  26  years.  September  19,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie ;  transferred  to  Co.  K,  Sixth  Regiment, 
V.  R.  C,  March  16,  1864;  mustered  out,  July  6,  1865, 
at  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 

Griffith,  Amos  D. — Age,  21  years.  September  4, 
1862,  at  Beekman;  wounded  in  action,  July  20,  1864,  at 
Peach  Tree  Creek,  Ga.* 

Gritman,  Charles. — Age,  24  years.  October  2,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  absent,  sick,  since  May  15,  1863,  and 
at  muster-out  of  company. 

Harp,  George. — Age,  18  years.  September  25,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  wounded  in  action,  June  20,  1864,  be- 
fore Atlanta,  Ga.* 

Halsted,  Homer. — Age,  19  years.  September  29, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  deserted,  July  2,  1863,  at  Gettys- 
burg,  Pa. 

Hill,  Harvey. — Age,  18  years.  August  25,  1862,  at 
Beekman.* 

Horton,  James. — Age,  18  years.  September  11,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  wounded  in  action,  July  20,  1864,  be- 
fore Atlanta,  Ga.;  died  of  his  wounds,  August  9,   1864. 

Houston,  Henry. — Age,  40  years.  September  21, 
1864,  at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year.* 

Johnson,  Robert. — Age,  24  years.  August  5,  1864, 
at  Poughkeepsie. X 

Kuhfuss,  Augustus. — Age,  30  years.  September  29, 
1864,  at  Poughkeepsie;  missing  since  November  20,  1864, 
and  at  muster-out  of  company. 

Lane,  Jeremiah. — Age,  44  years.  September  5,  1862, 
at  Union  Vale.* 

Lane,  Rensselaer. — Age,  24  years.  September  5,  1862, 
at  Union  Vale.* 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  439 

Lee,  Egbert  M. — Age,  i8  years.  September  3,  1862, 
at  Union  Vale.* 

Lewis,  Charles  E. — Age,  19  years.  September  29, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  Co.  G, 
October  lo,  1862;  discharged,  February  10,  1864,  to 
enlist  as  Hospital  Steward  in  U.  S.  Army, 

Light,  Charles  A. — Age,  18  years.  January  25,  1864, 
at  Poughkeepsie.X 

Light,  John  C. — Age,  19  years.  September  19,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie.* 

Low,  Aaron, — Age,  18  years.  October  4,  1862,  at 
Poughkeepsie;  discharged,  July  24,  1864,  for  promotion. 

Losee,  Charles  D, — Age,  18  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  mustered  out  with  detachment, 
June  19,  1865,  while  at  Harewood  Hospital,  Washington, 
D.  C. 

Lynanson,  James  M. — Age,  20  years.  September  25, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie.* 

Lynanson,  Moses. — Age,  44  years.  September  25, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie.* 

Lynanson,  William  D. — Age,  18  years.  September  25, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  no  further  record. 

Moffatt,  John. — Age,  42  years,  ^August  8,  1862,  at 
New  York  City;  private,  Co.  A,  145th  N.  Y.  Volunteers; 
wounded  in  action,  August,   1864.Z* 

Murray,  John. — Age,  18  years.  September  i,  1862, 
at  New  York  City;  private,  145th  N.  Y.  Volunteers; 
absent,  at  hospital,  since  September  26,  1862,  and  at 
muster-out  of  company, 

Murtagh,  William, — Age,  33  years.  August  9,  1862, 
at  New  York  City;  private,  Co.  A,  145th  N.  Y.  Volun- 
teers; wounded  in  action,  June  22,  1864,  at  Culp's  Farm, 


440  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Ga.;  discharged,  May  13,  1865,  from  Jefferson  Hospital, 
Jeffersonville,   Ind.Z 

Myers,  Charles. — Age,  24  years.  September  13,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie.* 

Newman,  Thomas. — Age,  26  years.  September  10, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  promoted  Sergeant,  no  date;  re- 
turned to  ranks,  April  6,  1863;  deserted,  June  10,  1863, 
from  McKim's  Mansion  Hospital,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Odell,  Charles, — Age,  18  years.  September  8,  1862, 
at  Pleasant  Valley;  deserted,  July  19,  1863,  '^t  Harper's 
Ferry,  Va. 

Owen,  Frank. — Age,  30  years.  January  23,  1864,  at 
Dover.X 

Osborne,  John  W. — Age,  23  years.  September  13, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  transferred  to  Co.  I,  January  13, 
1863;  discharged,  March  4,  1863. 

Osterhout,  Daniel  W. — Age,  18  years.  September  17, 
1862,  at  Union  Vale;  no  further  record. 

Phillips,  Henry  J. — Age,  49  years.  September  5, 
1862,  at  LaGrange.* 

Provost,  Samuel. — Age,  25  years.  February  i,  1864, 
at  Washington. X 

Robbins,  Myron  W. — Age,  20  years.  September  18, 
1864,  at  Jerusalem,  to  serve  one  year.* 

Robertson,  Benjamin. — Age,  18  years.  September  18, 
1862,  at  Stanford.* 

Rooney,  Daniel  H. — Age,  18  years.  October  i,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  promoted  Corporal  prior  to  April, 
1863;  returned  to  ranks,  June  18,  1864;  transferred  to 
V.  R.  C,  no  date;  discharged.  May  3,  1865,  at  Madison, 
Ind. 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  441 

Rosell,  Nicholas  H. — Age,  i8  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  Union  Vale;  no  further  record. 

Rosell,  Thomas. — Age,  18  years.  August  26,  1862, 
at  Beekman.* 

Ruddy,  Jeremiah. — Age,  37  years.  September  13, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie ;  no  further  record. 

Sherlock,  Lafayette. — Age,  37  years.  September  22, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  Co.  G, 
October  10,  1862;  returned  to  ranks  prior  to  April  30, 
1863;  died  of  chronic  diarrhea,  July  8,  1864,  at  Browne 
Hospital,  Louisv'ille,  Ky. 

Shook,  Peter. — Age,  19  years.  September  11,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie.* 

Simpson,  William  H. — Age,  18  years.  August  23, 
1862,  at  Beekman.* 

Smalley,  William  R. — Age,  43  years.  September  2, 
1862,  at  Union  Vale;  Color  Bearer.* 

Smith,  John  H.  (2). — Age,  23  years.  September  20, 
1864,  at  Hudson,  to  serve  one  year.* 

Spencer,  Philip. — Age,  18  years.  September  2,  1862, 
at  Beekman.* 

Sprague,  John  H. — Age,  41  years.  September  6,  1862, 
at  Union  Vale.* 

Starley,  George. — Age,  38  years.  September  23,  1864, 
at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serv^e  one  year.* 

Still,  Richard  H. — Age,  39  years.  September  6,  1862, 
at  Union  Vale.* 

Townsend,  Albert  W. — Age,  2 1  years.     September  24, 

1864,  at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year;  captured,  No- 
vember 19,  1864,  on  March  to  the  Sea;  died,  January  31, 

1865,  at  Florence,  S.  C. 

Traver,   Thomas   G. — Age,   21   years.     September  6, 


442  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

1862,  at  Poughkeepsie,  In  Co.  I;  transferred  to  Co.  G, 
January  13,  1863;  died  of  diarrhea,  September  28,  1864, 
at  First  Division,  Twentieth  Corps  Hospital,  Atlanta,  Ga. 

Trivett,  Theodore. — Age,  18  years.  September  15, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  discharged,  February  24,  1864, 
to  enlist  as  Hospital  Steward,  U.  S.  Army. 

Wallace,  Thomas. — Age,  44  years.  August  26,  1862, 
at  Stanford;  absent,  in  hospital,  since  September  16,  1863, 
and  at  muster-out  of  company. 

Warner,  John  S. — Age,  17  years.  October  4,  1862, 
at  Beekman;  captured,  March  24,  1865,  ^i^'^^  Averasboro, 
N.  C,  and  paroled,  no  dates.* 

Weaver,  George. — Age,  18  years.  September  23, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie.* 

Weil,  Jacob. — Age,  45  years.  May  26,  1862,  at  Balti- 
more, Md. ;  mustered  out,  June  20,  1865,  at  Douglas 
Hospital,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Welker,  Charles. — Age,  17  years.  September  23, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie.* 

Welker,  Oscar. — Age,  19  years.  September  29,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie.* 

West,  John  Edward. — Age,  20  years.  September  19, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie.* 

Wile,  William  C. — Age,  17  years,  October  6,  1862, 
at  Pleasant  Valley.* 

Willcox,  Henry  H.  A. — Age,  33  years.  September  2, 
1862,  at  Beekman;  died,  April  19,  1863,  at  Belger  Bar- 
racks, Baltimore,  Md. 

Williams,  Edward. — Age,  40  years.  September  4, 
1862,  at  Beekman;  died,  June  11,  1865. 

Wolcott,  Charles. — Age,  18  years.  August  4,  1864, 
at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year.* 


ROSTER  OF  REGLMENT.  443 

Woodin,  Warren  C. — Age,  32  years.  August  25, 
1862,  at  Beekman.* 

Woodin,  William  Isaac. — Age,  23  years.  August  25, 
1862,  at  Beekman;  absent,  in  hospital  at  Wilmington, 
N.  C,  since  March  13,  1865,  ^"*-^  ^^  muster-out  of 
company. 

Woodruff,  Benjamin  N. — Age,  18  years.  September 
30,  1862,  at  Poughkeepsie.* 

Wright,  Thomas  W. — Age,  31  years.  September  2, 
1862,  at  Beekman;  wounded  in  action.  May  15,  1864,  at 
Resaca,  Ga.;  died,  October  22,  1864,  in  First  Division, 
Twentieth  Army  Corps  Hospital,  Atlanta,  Ga. 

Young,  Alexander. — Age,  41  years.  September  10, 
1862,  at  Fishkill;  D.  F.  D.,  August  17,  1863. 

No.  9.  ! 

COMPANY  H. 

Mustered  into  the  U.  S.  service,  for  three  years,  at 
Camp  Dutchess,  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  Saturday,  Octo- 
ber  II,   1862. 

Captains. 

Thorne,  Piatt  M. — Age,  25  years.  Enrolled  Septem- 
ber 27,  1862,  at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  three  years;  mus- 
tered in  as  Captain,  Co.  H,  October  11,  1862;  appointed 
Assistant  Inspector-General,  Army  of  Georgia,  May  26, 
1865;  relieved,  August  i,  1865;  mustered  out  with  com- 
pany, June  8,  1865,  near  Washington,  D.  C* 

Commissioned  Captain,  November  3,  1862,  with  rank 
from  September  27,  1862,  original;  Brevet  Lieutenant- 
Colonel,  U.  S.  Volunteers. 


444  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

First  Lieutenants. 

Van  Keuren,  William  S. — Age,  22  years.  Enrolled  at 
Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  three  years,  and  mustered  in  as 
First  Lieutenant,  Co.  H,  September  27,  1862;  wounded 
in  action,  July  20,  1864,  at  Peach  Tree  Creek,  Ga.;  pro- 
moted First  Lieutenant  and  Adjutant,  November  18, 
1864;  mustered  in  as  Captain,  Co.  C,  May  11,  1865; 
mustered  out  with  company,  June  8,  1865,  near  Washing- 
ton, D.  C. 

Commissioned  First  Lieutenant,  November  3,  1862, 
with  rank  from  September  27,  1862,  original;  First  Lieu- 
tenant and  Adjutant,  November  21,  1864,  with  rank  from 
November  18,  1864,  vice  S.  V.  R.  Cruger  promoted; 
Captain,  April  22,  1865,  with  rank  from  March  2,  1865, 
vice  H.  A.  Gildersleeve  promoted  Major.  See  Captain, 
Co.  C. 

Fitzpatrick,  John. — March  2,  1865.*  See  Second 
Lieutenants. 

Second  Lieutenants. 

Gaylord,  Charles  L — Age,  22  years.  Enrolled  at 
Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  three  years,  and  mustered  in  as  Sec- 
ond Lieutenant,  Co.  H,  September  27,  1862;  discharged, 
March  18,  1863. 

Commissioned  Second  Lieutenant,  November  3,  1862, 
with  rank  from  September  27,  1862,  original. 

Fitzpatrick,  John. — Age,  2 1  years.  Enrolled  Septem- 
ber 6,  1862,  at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  three  years;  mus- 
tered in  as  First  Sergeant,  Co.  H,  September  11,  1862; 
promoted  Seconcl  Lieutenant,  June,  1864;  mustered  in  as 
First  Lieutenant,  March  2,   1865. 

Commissioned  Second  Lieutenant,  September  14,  1863, 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  445 

with  rank  from  August  6,  1863,  vice  P.  Bowman  pro- 
moted; First  Lieutenant,  November  30,  1864,  with  rank 
from  November  18,  1864,  vice  W.  S.  Van  Keuren  pro- 
moted; Brevet  Captain,  N.  Y.  Vokinteers,  September  21, 
1866. 

Browne,  John  D. — Sergeant-Major,  145th  N.  Y.  Vol- 
unteers; mustered  in  as  Second  Lieutenant,  Co.  H,  this 
regiment,  April  i,  1865.* 

Commissioned  Second  Lieutenant,  November  30,  1864, 
with  rank  from  November  18,  1864,  vice  John  Fitzpatrick 
promoted. 

First  Sergeants. 

Fitzpatrick,  John. — October  11,  1862.  See  Second 
Lieutenants. 

Clark,  William  W. — Age,  23  years.  August  28,  1862, 
at  Hyde  Park;  promoted  Corporal  prior  to  April,  1863; 
First  Sergeant  prior  to  June,  1864.* 

Sergeants. 

Foster,  William  E. — Age,  46  years.  September  2  {, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie ;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  October 
II,  1862;  promoted  Sergeant,  no  date;  discharged,  July 
26,  1863,  to  receive  promotion  as  First  Lieutenant  in 
First  U.  S.  Colored  Infantry. 

Malcher,  David. — Age,  27  years.  September  4,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  mustered  in  as  Sergeant,  October  11, 
1862;  brevetted  Second  Lieutenant,  N.  Y.  Volunteers.* 

Sleight,  James  D. — Age,  18  years.  September  5,  1862, 
at  Hyde  Park;  promoted  Corporal  prior  to  April  30, 
1863;  Sergeant  prior  to  June,   1864.* 

Sleight,   Stephen  H. — Age,    22   years.       September  5, 


446  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

1862,  at  Clinton;  mustered  in  as  Sergeant,  Co.  H,  Octo- 
ber 10,  1862.* 

Corporals. 

Brevoort,  James  A. — Age,  21  years.  September  8, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  promoted  Corporal  prior  to 
April  30,  1863.* 

Churchill,  George  W. — Age,  44  years.  September  22, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  promoted  Corporal  prior  to  June, 
1864.* 

Cox,  Matthew  J. — Age,  37  years.  September  2,  1862, 
at  New  York  City;  Corporal,  Co.  D,  145th  N.  Y.  Volun- 
teers.Z* 

Conols,  Martin. — Age,  38  years.  September  2,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  promoted  Corporal  prior  to  June, 
1864.* 

Gallagher,  Thomas. — Age,  21  years.  Enlisted,  Au- 
gust 28,  1862,  at  Hyde  Park;  promoted  Corporal  prior 
to  June,  1864.* 

Manning,  Theodore. — Age,  18  years.  August  22, 
1862,  at  Hyde  Park;  mustered  in  as  Musician,  October 
10,   1862;  promoted  Corporal  prior  to  October,   1864.* 

Stoutenburgh,  James  D.  C. — Age,  38  years.  Septem- 
ber 2,  1862,  at  Hyde  Park;  promoted  Corporal  prior  to 
June  30,  1864.* 

Musicians. 

Collin,  John. — Age,  22  years.  September  19,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  mustered  in  as  Musician,  Co.  H,  Octo- 
ber 1 1,   1862.* 

Manning,  Theodore. — October  11,  1862;  promoted. 
See  Corporals. 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  447 

JV  a  goner. 

Kirtland,  George  M. — Age,  35  years.  October  4, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  mustered  in  as  Wagoner,  Octo- 
ber 1 1,   1862.* 

Privates. 

Baker,  John  G. — Age,  25  years.  September  2,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  deserted,  January  20,  1863,  at  West 
Building  Hospital,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Banks,  James. — Age,  24  years.  September  5,  1862,  at 
New  York  City;  Corporal,  Co.  D,  145th  N.  Y.  Volun- 
teers.Z* 

Barker,  James  T. — Age,  25  years.  September  5,  1862, 
at  Hyde  Park;  deserted,  January  20,  1863,  at  Baltimore, 
Md. 

Barrett,  Daniel. — Age,  32  years.  August  27,  1862,  at 
Hyde  Park;  absent,  sick  in  hospital  at  Camp  Dennison, 
Ohio,  since  October  7,  1863  ;  transferred  to  Co.  C,  Eighth 
Regiment,  V.  R.  C,  no  date;  discharged,  July  12,  1865, 
at  Camp  Douglass,  111. 

Barrett,  Leonard. — Age,  18  years.  January  20,  1865, 
at  Poughkeepsie. X 

Barrett,  Nathaniel. — Age,  29  years.  August  27,  1862, 
at  Hyde  Park;  died  of  scurvy,  May  12,  1864,  ^t  hospital, 
Chattanooga,  Tenn. 

Barritt,  Robert. — Age,  39  years.  August  30,  1862,  at 
Hyde  Park;  mustered  in  as  Sergeant,  October  11,  1862; 
returned  to  ranks  prior  to  June,  1864;  absent,  sick  in 
hospital,  since  April  30,  1865,  and  at  muster-out  of 
company. 

Bennett,  John  L. — Age,  18  years.  August  25,  1862, 
at  New  York  City;  private,  Co.  D,  145th  N.  Y.  Volun- 


44§  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

teers;  in  hospital  at  Bolivar  Heights,  Va.;  never  joined 
regiment.Z 

Blonk,  Samuel. — Age,  41  years.  August  21,  1862; 
private,  Co.  D,  145th  N.  Y.  Volunteers. Z* 

Bohen,  Matthew. — Age,  26  years.  A.ugust  10,  1862; 
private,  145th  N.  Y,  Volunteers. Z* 

Brady,  Charles. — Age,  19  years.  August  23,  1862,  at 
New  York  City;  private,  Co.  D,  145th  N.  Y.  Volun- 
teers.Z* 

Briggs,  Zenas  C. — Age,  40  years.  August  30,  1862, 
at  Hyde  Park;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  October  10, 
1862;  returned  to  ranks,  no  date;  transferred  to  V.  R.  C, 
October  22,  1864. 

Broderick,  John. — Age,  23  years.  August  30,  1862, 
at  Hyde  Park;  deserted.  May  29,  1863,  at  Baltimore, 
Md. 

Burke,  John  E. — Age,  23  years.  January  16,  1865,  at 
Ghent;  mustered  out  with  detachment,  July  i,  1865,  ^^ 
Finley  Hospital,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Campbell,  John  H. — Age,  20  years.  January  28, 
1865,  at  Tarrytown.X 

Cann,  George. — Age,  22  years.  No  date,  at  Fishkill; 
admitted  to  hospital.  Savannah,  Ga.,  for  disability,  Jan- 
uary II,  1863;  in  Soldiers'  Depot,  New  York  City,  Jan- 
uary 31,  1863;  no  further  record. 

Carson,  James. — Age,  25  years.  January  25,  1865, 
at  New  York  City;  mustered  out  with  detachment,  July 
I,  1865,  at  Finley  Hospital,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Cassidy,  William. — Age,  31  years.  October  6,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie,  and  deserted,  October  6,  1862,  at  Camp 
Dutchess,  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. 

Cavannah,    John. — Age,    44    years.      September    24, 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  449 

1862,  at  Clinton;  deserted,  December  4,  1862,  at  Camp 
Belger,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Chester,  Washington. — Age,  30  years.  June  18,  1865, 
at  Dover,  to  serve  one  year.X 

Clifford,  Michael. — Age,  24  years.  September  15, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  deserted,  September  18,  1862,  at 
Camp  Dutchess,   Poughkeepsie,   N.  Y. 

Condon,  Michael. — Age,  25  years.  August  30,  1862, 
at  Hyde  Park;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  October  ir, 
1862;  deserted,  January  27,  1863,  at  Camp  Belger,  Balti- 
more, Md. ;  present,  April,  1863,  ^s  Sergeant;  no  further 
record. 

Conroyd,  John. — Age,  32  years.  September  4,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie. X 

Coyle,  James. — Age,  27  years.  July  17,  1862,  at  New 
York  City;  transferred  to  V.  R.  C,  January  2,  1865. 

Crawford,  James. — Age,  20  years.  September  12, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  Sergeant,  September  13,  1862; 
deserted,  October  10,  1862,  at  Camp  Dutchess,  Pough- 
keepsie, N.  Y. 

Cregen,  James. — Age,  22  years.  September  8,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  October  11, 
1862;  deserted,  December  18,  1862,  at  Fort  McHenry, 
Baltimore,  Md. 

Culver,  Alonzo. — Age,  42  years.  August  27,  1862, 
at  Clinton;  D.  F.  D.,  August  6,  1864. 

Cummings,  Charles. — Age,  33  years.  August  13, 
1862;  145th  N.  Y.  Volunteers;  wounded  In  action,  May 
25,  1864,  at  Dallas,  Ga.Z* 

Dempsey,  William. — Age,  30  years.  September  15, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie.* 


450  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Doren,  William. — Age,  31  years.  September  18, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie.* 

Doty,  Isaac  C. — Age,  40  years.  August  30,  1862,  at 
Poughkeepsie;  wounded  in  action,  August  — ,  1864;  mus- 
tered out,  June  8,  1865,  at  New  York  City. 

Downey,  John. — Age,  35  years.  August  26,  1862,  at 
New  York  City;  private,  Co.  D,  145th  N.  Y.  Volunteers; 
D.  F.  D.,  November  8,  1864,  at  Central  Park  Hospital, 
New  York  City. 

Earl,  James. — Age,  45  years.  August  28,  1862,  at 
Hyde  Park;  D.  F.  D.,  November  24,  1863. 

Eaton,  John. — Age,  22  years.  January  24,  1865,  at 
Gallatin,  to  serve  one  year.X 

Eckert,  Charles. — Age,  19  years.  January  18,  1865, 
at  Stuyvesant.X 

Edwards,  Thomas. — Age,  20  years.  January  18, 
1865,  at  La  Grange. X 

Elmendorf,  Wilham  H. — Age,  21  years.  September 
4,  1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  deserted,  November  30,  1862, 
at  Baltimore,  Md. 

Ferguson,  Paul. — Private,  Co.  D,  145th  N.  Y.  Volun- 
teers, New  York  City;  absent,  in  hospital,  Washington, 
D.  C,  since  May,  1863. 

Fitzgibbons,  Thomas. — Age,  24  years.  September  10. 
1862,  at  Pleasant  Valley;  deserted,  November  24,  1862, 
at  Baltimore,  Md.,  as  Hugh  Fitzgibbons. 

Flynn,  Hugh. — Age,  18  years.  July  17,  1862,  at  New 
York'City;  deserted,  April  28,  1864,  at  TuUahoma,  Tenn. 

Frear,  Abram  E. — Age,  22  years.  September  26, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  promoted  Corporal,  no  date;  re- 
turned to  ranks,  March  19,  1863;  transferred  to  Co.  C, 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  451 

17th  Infantry,  V.  R.  C,  April  28,  1864;  discharged,  June 
17,  1865,  at  Indianapolis,  Ind. 

Furbush,  George  M. — Age,  18  years.  January  9, 
1865,  at  LaGrange,  to  serve  one  year;  mustered  out,  June 
21,  1865,  from  Harewood  Hospital,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Germon,  Jacob. — Age,  18  years.  August  14,  1862,  at 
New  York  City;  private,  Co.  D,  145th  N.  Y.  Volun- 
teers. *Z 

Gilbert,  Francis  J. — Age,  24  years.  August  11,  1862; 
Sergeant,  Co.  D,  145th  N.  Y.  Volunteers.Z* 

Gllmartin,  John. — Age,  18  years.  September  2,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsle ;  deserted,  February  8,  1863,  at  Balti- 
more, Md. 

Grad,  John. — Age,  42  years.  September  11,  1862,  at 
Poughkeepsle;  killed  In  action.  May  25,  1864,  at  Dallas, 
Ga. 

Halstead,  Daniel. — Age,  37  years.  September  17, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsle;  D.  F.  D.,  February  10,  1864. 

Halsted,  Henry. — Age,  37  years.  September  26,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsle;  no  record  subsequent  to  April,  1863. 

Harrison,  Wllber  F. — Age,  19  years.  August  17, 
1864,  at  Poughkeepsle,  to  serve  one  year.* 

Hart,  Thomas  J. — Age,  25  years.  September  15, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsle;  deserted.  May  22,  1863,  at  Balti- 
more, Md. 

Henderson,  Charles. — Age,  41  years.  September  15, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsle;  deserted,  October  10,  1862,  at 
Camp  Dutchess,  N.  Y. 

Hogan,  John. — Age,  40  years.  September  4,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsle;  D.  F.  D.,  November  i,  1862. 

Holahan,    Michael. — Age,    18    years.      September    2, 


452  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

1862,  at  Poughkeepsle ;  deserted,  November  30,  1862,  at 
Baltimore,  Md. 

Howard,  Charles. — Age,  20  years.  January  5,  1865, 
at  New  York  City.X 

Howard,  John. — Age,  24  years.  November  24,  1862, 
at  Baltimore,  Md. ;  deserted,  December  20,  1862,  at 
Baltimore,  Md. 

Hubbard,  Husted. — Age,  18  years.  August  4,  1862, 
at  New  York  City;  private,  Co.  D,  145th  N.  Y.  Volun- 
teers; absent,  in  hospital  at  Murfreesboro,  Tenn.,  since 
December  i,   1863,  and  at  muster-out  of  company. 

Hughes,  Henry  C. —  Age,  32  years.  August  9,  1864, 
at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year.* 

Hull,  John  R. — Age,  26  years.  September  16,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  deserted,  September  18,  1862,  at  Camp 
Dutchess,  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. 

Johnson,  George  H. — Age,  27  years.  September  29, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  deserted,  October  10,  1862,  at 
Camp  Dutchess,  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. 

Jones,  George  W. — Age,  18  years.  August  26,  1862, 
at  New  York  City;  private,  Co.  D,  145th  N.  Y.  Volun- 
teers.Z* 

Kearney,  Michael. — Age,  28  years.  October  7,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  deserted,  December  i,  1862,  at  Balti- 
more, Md. 

Kennedy,  Daniel. — Age,  43  years.  September  15, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  D.  F.  D.,  March  22,  1865. 

Lambert,  John. — Age,  39  years.  August  18,  1862; 
private,  Co.  D,  145th  N.  Y.  Volunteers;  mustered  out, 
July  I,  1865,  from  McDougall  Hospital,  Fort  Schuyler, 
N.  Y.  Harbor.Z 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  453 

Leonard,  Michael. — Age,  36  years.  September  17, 
1862,  at  Clinton.* 

Loveridge,  Barr. — Age,  19  years.  August  30,  1862,  at 
New  York  City;  private,  Co.  D,  145th  N.  Y.  Volun- 
teers.*Z 

Ludford,  Henry. — Age,  29  years.  January  18,  1865, 
at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year.X 

Lynch,  William. — Age,  18  years.  September  13, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  deserted,  February  15,  1865,  at 
West  Building,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Madden,  Thomas. — Age,  33  years.  October  4,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  died  of  inflammation  of  the  bowels,  Sep- 
tember 22,  1864,  at  Atlanta,  Ga. 

Magin,  Michael. — Age,  44  years.  September  15, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  absent,  in  hospital  at  Philadel- 
phia, Pa.,  since  July  4,  1863,  and  at  muster-out  of  com- 
pany. 

Mangin,  Patrick. — Age,  44  years.  September  27, 
1862,  at  Clinton.* 

Marsh,  Daniel  W.  B. — Age,  18  years.  August  29, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  wounded  in  action,  June  29,  1864, 
at  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Ga.;  D.  F.  D.,  September  11, 
1865,  at  DeCamp  Hospital,  David's  Island,  N.  Y. 
Harbor. 

McCarthy,  William. — Age,  40  years.  July  18,  1862, 
at  New  York  City;  private,  Co.  D,  145th  N.  Y.  Volun- 
teers; died,  May  28,  1864,  in  hospital  at  Chattanooga, 
Tenn.Z 

McClenan,  William. — Age,  18  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  deserted,  February  15,  1863,  at 
West  Building  Hospital,  Baltimore,  Md, 

McDermott,   Thomas. — Age,    35    years.      October   4, 


454  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

1862,  at  Poughkeepsie ;  wounded  In  action,  July  20,  1865, 
at  Peach  Tree  Creek,  Ga.* 

McGrattan,  Henry. — Age,   22  years.     September   19, 

1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  deserted  as  private,  January  25, 

1863,  at  Baltimore,  Md. 

Merritt,  James  W. — Age,  44  years.  September  8, 
1862,  at  Hyde  Park;  absent.  In  hospital  at  Jeffersonvllle, 
Ind.,  since  May  22,  1864,  and  at  muster-out  of  company. 

Miller,  Jacob  F. — Age,  44  years.  January  13,  1865, 
at  Pleasant  Valley,  to  serve  one  year;  mustered  out,  June 
19,  1865,  at  Harewood  Hospital,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Milton,  Isaac  S. — Age,  42  years.  September  16,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  deserted,  October  11,  1862,  at  Pough- 
keepsie, N.  Y. 

Moore,  Arthur  R. — Age,  42  years.  August  15,  1862, 
at  New  York  City;  private,  Co.  D,  145th  N.  Y.  Volun- 
teers; absent,  in  hospital,  since  April  26,  1864,  ^t  Mur- 
freesboro,  Tenn.,  and  at  muster-out  of  company.Z 

Morton,  John  V.  S. — Age,  43  years.  August  14,  1862, 
at  New  York  City;  private,  Co.  D,  145th  N.  Y.  Volun- 
teers.Z* 

Munsell,  John. — Age,  43  years.  September  26,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  transferred  to  Co.  A,  Seventh  Infantry, 
V.  R.  C,  October  22,  1864;  mustered  out  with  detach- 
ment, July  20,  1865,  at  Washington,  D.  C. 

Murphy,   Alonzo   H. — Age,    27   years.     January    15, 

1864,  at  LaGrange.X 

O'Hare,  Michael. — Age,  32  years.  October  7,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie.* 

Parker,  John  Hall. — Age,  23  years.  August  24,  1862, 
at  Hyde  Park;  deserted.  May  26,  1863,  at  Baltimore, 
Md. 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  455 

Plain,  Aaron  N. — Age,  37  years.  September  24,  1862, 
at  Clinton.* 

Priestley,  Stephen. — Age,  25  years.  August  18,  1862, 
at  New  York  City;  private,  Co.  D,  145th  N.  Y.  Volun- 
teers. *Z 

Rable,  William  E. — Age,  25  years.  August  4,  1862, 
at  New  Yoric  City;  private,  Co.  D,  145th  N.  Y.  Volun- 
teers.Z* 

Reagan,  Patrick. — Age,  44  years.  September  25, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie ;  died  of  chronic  diarrhea,  May 
22,  1864,  in  hospital  at  Resaca,  Ga. 

Riker,  John  R. — Age,  19  years.  January  19,  1865,  at 
Canaan,  Conn.X 

Rill,  Joseph. — Age,  26  years.  September  3,  1862,  at 
New  York  City;  private,  Co.  D,  145th  N.  Y.  Volunteers; 
absent,  sick  in  hospital,  at  Bolivar  Heights,  Va.Z 

Rixie,  George. — Age,  18  years.  August  4,  1862;  pri- 
vate, Co,  D,  145th  N.  Y.  Volunteers;  D.  F.  D.,  January 
2,  1865.Z 

Robinson,  James. — Age,  25  years.  January  13,  1865, 
at  Washington. X 

Ronk,  Jacob. — Age,  42  years.  September  29,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  deserted,  April  8,  1863,  on  expiration  of 
furlough,  at  Fishkill,  N.  Y. 

Rosell,  Nicholas. — Age,  41  years.  September  24, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  deserted,  February  12,  1863,  at 
Baltimore,  Md. 

Rowan,  John  W. — Age,  18  years.  August  21,  1862, 
at  New  York  City;  private,  Co.  D,  145th  N,  Y.  Volun- 
teers; wounded  in  action,  July  20,  1864,  at  Peach  Tree 
Creek,  Ga.* 

Rooney,  John. — Age,  18  years.    September  2,  1862,  at 


456  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Poughkeepsie ;  deserted,  February  15,  1863,  at  Balti- 
more, Md. 

Russell,  Lawrence. — Age,  37  years.  September  23, 
1862,  at  Hyde  Park;  mustered  out.  May  24,  1865,  at 
Albany,  N.  Y. 

Sanford,  Albert. — Age,  21  years.  September  2,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  deserted,  February  16,  1863,  at  Balti- 
more, Md. 

Scully,  Andrew. — Age,  23  years.  August  30,  1862,  at 
Hyde  Park;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  Co.  H,  October  10, 
1862;  returned  to  ranks  prior  to  June,  1864;  transferred 
to  V.  R.  C,  no  date;  mustered  out,  July  5,  1865,  at  Camp 
Dennison,  Ohio. 

See,  James  N. — Age,  19  years.  August  4,  1862,  at 
New  York  City;  private,  Co.  D,  145th  N.  Y.  Volunteers; 
transferred  to  Co.  K,  Fifth  Regiment,  V.  R.  C,  January 
16,  1865,  and  mustered  out  with  detachment,  July  5, 
1865.Z 

Shackle,  George. — Age,  41  years.  January  18,  1864, 
at  Poughkeepsie. X 

Silvernail,  John. — Age,  42  years.  September  4,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  deserted,  March  i,  1863,  at  West  Build- 
ing Hospital,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Smith,  Henry  T. — Age,  29  years.  September  8,  1862, 
at  Stanford;  transferred  to  V.  R.  C,  October  22,  1864. 

Smith,  Thomas. — Age,  35  years.  September  15,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  deserted,  same  date  and  place. 

Strehen,  John. — Age,  35  years.  August  30,  1862,  at 
Hyde  Park;  mustered  out,  June  20,  1865,  ^^  Albany, 
N.  Y. 

Sullivan,  John. — Age,  27  years.  January  11,  1865, 
at  Ghent.X 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  457 

Taylor,  James. — Age,  24  years.  September  23,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie ;  deserted,  September  26,  1862,  at  Camp 
Dutchess,  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. 

Teator,  John. — Age,  44  years.  September  22,  1862, 
at  Stanford;  transferred  to  V.  R.  C,  September  17,  1863. 

Teator,  WiUIam. — Age,  24  years.  Date,  place  of  en- 
listment and  muster-in  not  stated;  deserted,  no  date. 

Tomkins,  William  R. — September  24,  1862;  private, 
Co.  D,  145th  N.  Y.  Volunteers.Z* 

Towhey,  John. — Age,  date,  place  of  enlistment  and 
muster-in  not  stated.X 

Travis,  Patrick. — Age,  20  years.  August  30,  1862,  at 
Hyde  Park.* 

Varity,  Samuel. — Age,  44  years.  August  29,  1862,  at 
Hyde  Park;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  Co.  H,  October  11, 
1862;  deserted.  May  26,   1863,  at  Baltimore,  Md. 

Vernon,  Robert. — Age,  23  years.  July  30,  1862; 
private,  Co.  D,  145th  N.  Y.  Volunteers;  wounded  in 
action,  August  — ,  1864;  mustered  out,  May  26,  1865, 
at  Louisville,  Ky.Z 

Ward,  George. — Age,  39  years.  January  10,  1865,  at 
Kinderhook.X 

Ward,  John. — Age,  44  years.  September  18,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  mustered  out.  May  27,  1865,  at  Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio. 

Webber,  Jacob. — Age,  34  years.  January  13,  1865, 
at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year. 

Weekes,  Neuman  J. — Age,  19  years.  August  17, 
1862,  at  New  York  City;  Corporal,  Co.  D,  145th 
N.  Y.  Infantr^^X 

Welch,  John. — Age,  22  years.  January  17,  1865,  at 
Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year.X 


458  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Wheeler,  Clark  B, — Age,  40  years.  September  22, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie ;  deserted,  October  13,  1862,  at 
Baltimore,  Md. 

Wicker,  Charles  M. — Age,  36  years.  August  28, 
1862,  at  Hyde  Park;  promoted  Corporal  prior  to  June 
30,  1864;  died  of  chronic  diarrhea,  August  8,  1864,  in 
front  of  Atlanta,  Ga. 

Wicker,  John  Peter. — Age,  25  years.  August  28, 
1862,  at  Hyde  Park;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  October 
10,  1862;  returned  to  ranks  prior  to  April  30,  1863.* 

Winckler,  Peter. — Age,  19  years.  August  17,  1864, 
at  Poughkeepsie.* 

Wixon,  Noah. — Age,  18  years.  September  29,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  promoted  Corporal  prior  to  April  30, 
1863;  returned  to  ranks  prior  to  June  30,  1864;  killed  in 
action,  December  20,  1864,  near  Savannah,  Ga. 

No.    10. 

COMPANY  I. 

Mustered  into  the  U.  S.  service,  for  three  years,  at 
Camp  Dutchess,  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  Saturday,  Octo- 
ber  II,   1862. 

Captains. 

Broas,  Benjamin  S. — Age,  25  years.  Enrolled  at 
Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  three  years,  and  mustered  in  as 
Captain,  Co.  I,  October  6,  1862;  discharged  for  disability, 
November  25,  1863,  at  Tullahoma,  Tenn. 

Commissioned  Captain,  November  3,  1862,  with  rank 
from  October  6,  1862,  original. 

Titus,  Richard. — November  26,  1863.  See  First  Lieu- 
tenants.* 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  459 

First  Lieutenants. 

Titus,  Richard. — Age,  24  years.  Enrolled  at  Pough- 
keepsie,  to  serve  three  years,  and  mustered  in  as  First 
Lieutenant,  Co.  I,  October  6,  1862;  as  Captain,  Novem- 
ber 26,  1863. 

Commissioned  First  Lieutenant,  November  3,  1862, 
with  rank  from  October  6,  1862,  original;  Captain,  De- 
cember 7,  1863,  with  rank  from  November  25,  1863, 
vice  B.  S.  Broas,  discharged;  Brevet  Major  N.  Y.  Volun- 
teers, October  17,  1865, 

Sleight,  David  B. — December  7,  1863.  See  Second 
Lieutenants. 

Humeston,  Seneca. — May  11,  1865.  See  Second 
Lieutenants,* 

Second  Lieutenants. 

Sleight,  David  B. — Age,  24  years.  Enrolled  at  Pough- 
keepsie,  to  serve  three  years,  and  mustered  in  as  Second 
Lieutenant,  Co.  I,  October  6,  1862;  as  First  Lieutenant, 
December  19,  1863;  killed  in  action,  March  16,  1865,  at 
Averasboro,  N.  C. 

Commissioned  Second  Lieutenant,  November  3,  1862, 
with  rank  from  October  6,  1862,  original;  First  Lieu- 
tenant, December  7,  1863,  with  rank  from  November  25, 
1863,  vice  Richard  Titus  promoted. 

Humeston,  Seneca. — Age,  24  years.  Enrolled  Septem- 
ber 6,  1862,  at  Washington,  to  serve  three  years;  mus- 
tered in  as  First  Sergeant,  Co.  I,  September  11,  1862; 
mustered  in  as  Second  Lieutenant,  July  17,  1864;  as  First 
Lieutenant,  May  11,  1865. 

Commissioned  Second  Lieutenant,  December  7,  1863, 
with  rank  from  November  25,   1863,  ^^^^  ^'  ^-  Sleight 


460  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

promoted;  First  Lieutenant,  April  22,  1865,  with  rank 
from  March  16,  1865,  vice  D.  B.  Sleight  killed  in  action; 
Brevet  Captain  N.  Y.  Volunteers,  October  17,  1865. 

Smith,  Charles  H. — Age,  27  years.  Enrolled  Septem- 
ber 6,  1862,  at  Washington,  N.  Y.,  to  serve  three  years; 
mustered  in  as  Corporal,  Co.  I,  October  11,  1862;  pro- 
moted Sergeant,  January  18,  1863;  First  Sergeant,  Jan- 
uary I,  1864;  mustered  in  as  Second  Lieutenant,  May  30, 
1865.* 

Commissioned  Second  Lieutenant,  May  12,  1865,  with 
rank  from  April  i,  1865,  vice  H.  J.  Hicks  promoted. 

First  Sergeants. 

Humeston,  Seneca. — October  11,  1862.  See  Second 
Lieutenants. 

Smith,  Charles  H. — January  18,  1863.  See  Second 
Lieutenants. 

Marlow,  William. — Age,  27  years.  August  27,  1862, 
at  New  York  City;  Sergeant,  Co.  F,  145th  N.  Y.  Volun- 
teers; promoted  First  Sergeant,  May  30,  i865.*Z 

Sergeants. 

Curtis,  Piatt  C. — Age,  26  years.  September  19,  1862, 
at  Washington;  promoted  Corporal,  November  25,  1863  ; 
wounded  in  action,  June  22,  1864,  at  Culp's  Farm,  Ga.; 
promoted  Sergeant,  March  6,  1865.* 

Seaman,  Gilbert. — Age,  24  years.  September  6,  1862, 
at  Washington ;  mustered  in  as  Sergeant,  Co.  I,  October 
II,  1862;  mustered  out  with  detachment,  June  15,  1865, 
at  Finley  Hospital,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Swezey,  Isaac  T. — Age,  18  years.  August  30,  1862, 
at  Washington;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  Co.  I,  October 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  461 

II,  1862;  promoted  Sergeant,  December  19,  1863; 
wounded  in  action,  December  13,  1864,  near  Savannah, 
Ga. ;  in  hospital,  Albany,  N.  Y.,  at  muster-out  of  com- 
pany; brevetted  First  Lieutenant,  N.  Y.  Volunteers. 

Wright,  Robert. — Age,  20  years.  September  6,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie ;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  October  11, 
1862;  promoted  Sergeant,  May  30,  1865.* 

Hoffman,  Henry. — Age,  25  years.  September  12, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  mustered  in  as  Sergeant,  Co.  I, 
October  11,  1862;  D.  F.  D.,  November  30,  1863,  at 
Stanton  Hospital,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Corporals. 

Allen,  Albert. — Age,  33  years.  September  12,  1862, 
at  Stanford;  promoted  Corporal,  December  5,   1864.* 

Dubois,  Daniel  S. — Age,  19  years.  September  5,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  October  11, 
1862;  captured  in  action,  March  19,  1865,  at  Averasboro, 
N.  C;  paroled,  April  2,  1865;  mustered  out,  June  17, 
1865,  at  Camp  Parole,  Annapolis,  Md. 

Florence,  Edward  L. — Age,  20  years.  August  30, 
1862,  at  Washington;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  Co.  I, 
October  11,  1862;  mustered  out,  June  20,  1865,  at 
Albany,  N.  Y. 

Holden,  George  W. — Age,  23  years.  September  19, 
1862,  at  Union  Vale;  promoted  Corporal,  December  19, 
1863;  wounded  in  action,  June  22,  1864,  ^t  Culp's  Farm, 
Ga.;  mustered  out.  May  22,  1865,  at  Albany,  N.  Y. 

Humphries,  Theophilus. — Age,  18  years.  September 
5,  1862,  at  La  Grange;  promoted  Corporal,  May  30, 
1865.* 

Lockwood,  Theodore. — Age,  18  years.     September  5, 


462  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

1862,  at  Pleasant  Valley;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  Octo- 
ber 10,   1862.* 

King,  Levi, — Age,  19  years.  September  6,  1862,  at 
Poughkeepsie ;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  Co.  I,  October 
II,  1862;  wounded  in  action.  May  25,  1864,  at  Dallas, 
Ga,  and  December  27,  1864,  ^^^^  Savannah,  Ga.;  mus- 
tered out.  May  30,  1865,  at  McDougall  General  Hos- 
pital, N.  Y.  Harbor. 

Tracy,  Alonzo  F. — Age,  19  years.  September  4,  1862, 
at  La  Grange;  promoted  Corporal  prior  to  January, 
1863;  mustered  out.  May  24,  1865,  at  McDougall  Hos- 
pital, Fort  Schuyler,  N.  Y.  Harbor. 

Wolven,  Jeremiah. — Age,  43  years.  September  5, 
1862,  at  La  Grange;  promoted  Corporal,  March  6, 
1865.* 

Musicians. 

Wolven,  Theodore  F. — Age,  18  years.  September  30, 
1862,  at  La  Grange.* 

Miller,  Daniel. — Age,  19  years.  September  5,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie.* 

PFagoner. 

Wicks,  Theodore. — Age,  30  years.  August  30,  1862, 
at  Washington.* 

Privates. 

Abel,  Calvert. — Age,  25  years.  September  5,  1862, 
at  La  Grange;  mustered  in  as  Sergeant,  Co.  I,  October  11, 
1862;  returned  to  ranks  prior  to  April  30,  1863;  trans- 
ferred to  Co.  C,  Twelfth  Regiment,  V.  R.  C;  mustered 
out  with  detachment,  June  28,  1865,  at  Washington,  D.  C. 

Anson,  Job  Henry. — Age,  32  years.     September   16, 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  46a 

1862,  at  Washington;  deserted,  February,  1863,  at  Balti- 
more, Md. 

Anson,  Stephen  J. — Age,  36  years.  October  4,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsle ;  deserted,  February,  1863,  at  Baltimore, 
Md. 

Barnes,  Henry. — Age,  25  years.  October  8,  1862,  at 
Poughkeepsie ;  wounded  in  action,  July  3,  1863,  and  died 
of  his  wounds,  July  4,  1863,  at  Gettysburg,  Pa. 

Barton,  William  H. — Age,  23  years.     September  20, 

1864,  at  Stanford,  to  serve  one  year.* 

Bishop,  John. — Age,  19  years.  September  14,  1864, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  never  joined  regiment. 

Boughton,  Sidney  D. — Age,  44  years.  September  29, 
1862,  at  Stanford;  D.  F.  D.,  June  22,  1863.    ■ 

Brush,  Richard. — Age,  44  years.  January  26,  1864,  at 
Rhinebeck;  never  joined  regiment.X 

Budd,  Josiah. — Age,  20  years.  September  6,  1862,  at 
Poughkeepsie;  wounded  in  action,  July  20,  1864,  ^t 
Peach  Tree  Creek,  Ga.,  and  absent  since,  in  hospital,  and 
at  muster-out  of  company. 

Buschy,  Charles. — Age,  28  years.  January  10,  1865, 
at  Red  Hook;  mustered  out  with  detachment.   May   8, 

1865,  at  Hart's  Island,  N.  Y.  Harbor. 

Cash,  William  H. — Age,  36  years.  September  5, 
1862,  at  La  Grange.* 

Cook,  George  Francis. — Age,  21  years.  September 
30,  1862,  at  Poughkeepsie,  and  deserted  same  day. 

Crampton,  Mathew. — Age,  21  years.  October  6, 
1862,  at  La  Grange.* 

Coffy,  Frank. — Age,  19  years.  October  18,  1864,  at 
Kingston,  to  serve  one  year. 

Connell,    Joseph. — Age,    20    years.      September    29, 


464  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

1862,  at  Poughkeepsie ;  D.  F.  D.,  March  26,  1864,  at 
Tullahoma,  Tenn. 

Day,  George. — Age,  21  years.  April  22,  1864,  at 
Twelfth  Congressional  District.X 

Dykeman,  Henry. — Age,  23  years.  August  22,  1862, 
at  Amenia;  wounded  in  action,  July  20,  1864,  at  Peach 
Tree   Creek,   Ga.;   died  of  hemorrhage,   September    13, 

1864,  in  hospital  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn. 

Dykeman,  Joseph  D. — Age,  43  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  Amenia;  mustered  out.  May  20,  1865,  while  in 
hospital  at  Murfreesboro,  Tenn. 

Edson,  Almon. — Age,  29  years.  October  9,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  deserted,  same  date,  at  Poughkeepsie, 
N.  Y. 

Fanandon,   Peter  H. — Age,   41    years.     January    13, 

1865,  at  Pleasant  Valley,  to  serve  one  year.X 

Farrell,  John. — Age,  21  years.  April  2,  1864,  at  East 
FishkillX 

Fitzsimmons,  John. — Age,  44  years.  September  8, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  deserted,  October  4,  1862,  at 
Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. 

Free,  James  E. — Age,  38  years.  August  22,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  discharged,  August  14,  1865,  at  Albany, 
N.  Y. 

Gaven,  Martin. — Age,  27  years.  October  4,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie,  and  deserted,  same  day. 

Haden,  James. — Age,  19  years.  October  6,  1862,  at 
La  Grange;  deserted,  same  date,  at  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. 

Haines,  Charles  L. — Age,  20  years.  September  20, 
1864,  at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year.* 

Hall,  William. — Age,  38  years.     September  6,   1862, 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  465 

at  Washington;  wounded  in  action,  May  15,  1864,  at 
Resaca,  Ga,* 

Hall,  William  H. — Age,  40  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  La  Grange;  D.  F.  D.,  August  8,  1863. 

Hart,  Edward. — ^Age,  22  years.  August  20,  1862,  at 
Amenia;  wounded  in  action,  March  16,  1865,  at  Averas- 
boro,  N.  C. ;  absent,  in  hospital,  since  and  at  muster-out 
of  company. 

Hart,  John. — Age,  21  years.  September  6,  1862,  at 
Washington;  deserted,  September  13,  1862,  at  Pough- 
keepsie,  N.  Y. 

Hollenbeck,  William  J. — Age,  18  years.  January  14, 
1865,  at  Claverack;  discharged,  March  i,  1865,  at  or 
near  Hart's  Island,  N.  Y,  Harbor. 

Houghtaling,  Eli. — Age,  30  years.  September  18, 
1862,  at  Red  Hook.* 

Howard,  David. — Age,  45  years.  September  i,  1862, 
at  Union  Vale;  transferred  to  V.  R.  C,  April  25,  1864. 

Howard,  Silas. — Age,  45  years.  September  i,  1862,  at 
Union  Vale;  transferred  to  V.  R.  C,  March  23,  1864. 

Hurd,  Mark. — Age,  22  years.  September  6,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie ;  deserted,  October  4,  1862,  at  Pough- 
keepsie,  N.  Y. 

June,  Eli. — Age,  44  years.  September  6,  1862,  at 
Washington;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  October  11,  1862; 
returned  to  ranks,  January  i,  1864;  D.  F.  D.,  January  4, 
1864,  from  Convalescent  Camp,  Va. 

Kniffen,  William  H. — Age,  38  years.  September  29, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie. X 

Lawrence,  Eugene. — Age,  18  years.  August  14,  1862, 
at  New  York  City;  private,  Co.  F,  145th  N.  Y.  Volun- 
teers. *Z 


466  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Leach,  George, — Age,  26  years.  September  6,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsle ;  deserted,  October  4,  1862,  at  Pough- 
keepsie,  N.  Y. 

Leblier,  Max. — Age,  19  years.  August  30,  1862,  at 
New  York  City;  private,  Co.  F,  145th  N.  Y.  Volun- 
teers.Z* 

Le  Claire,  Charles. — Age,  22  years.  August  11,  1862, 
at  New  York  City;  private,  Co.  F,  145th  N.  Y.  Volun- 
teers; killed  in  action,  May  25,   1864,  at  Dallas,  Ga. 

Leonard,  Patrick. — Age,  38  years.  September  6,  1862, 
at  LaGrange.* 

Mack,  Thomas. — Age,  22  years.  September  4,  1862, 
at  Amenia.* 

Marshall,  George. — Age,  28  years.  August  27,  1862, 
at  Washington,  N.  Y.;  deserted,  February  16,  1863,  at 
Baltimore,  Md. 

Martin,  James. — Age,  21  years.  May  15,  1863,  at 
Baltimore,  Md. ;  deserted,  June  23,  1863,  at  Baltimore, 
Md. 

Maxwell,  Lewis  F. — Age,  19  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  New  York  City;  private,  Co.  G,  145th  N.  Y. 
Volunteers. Z* 

McAllister,  William. — Age,  27  years.  October  3, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie.X 

McCord,  George. — Age,  27  years.  August  21,  1862, 
at  New  York  City;  Corporal,  Co.  F,  145th  N.  Y.  Volun- 
teers; returned  to  ranks,  December  5,  1864.Z* 

McCord,  William. — Age,  23  years.  August  23, 
1862,  at  New  York  City;  private,  Co.  F,  145th  N.  Y. 
Volunteers;  wounded,  February  2,  1865,  in  campaign  of 
the  Carolinas;  absent,  at  hospital,  since  and  at  muster-out 
of  company. 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  467 

McGuire,  John. — Age,  39  years.  August  20,  1862, 
at  NeAv  York  City;  private,  Co.  F,  145th  N.  Y.  Volun- 
teers; wounded  in  action,  July  20,  1864,  at  Peach  Tree 
Creek.* 

McLavy,  James. — Age,  36  years.  August  29,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie ;  deserted,  October  11,  1862,  at  Pough- 
keepsie,  N.  Y. 

Mead,  John  S. — Age,  18  years.  September  3,  1862; 
,died  of  disease,  October  15,  1862,  at  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. 

Miller,  John  N. — Age,  20  years.  January  15,  1865, 
at  Washington;  mustered  in  as  Sergeant,  October  10, 
1862;  returned  to  ranks,  March  6,  1865.* 

Miller,  Daniel. — Age,  19  years.  September  5,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie.* 

Miller,  Peter. — Age,  21  years.  January  15,  1865,  ^t 
Poughkeepsie;  mustered  out  with  detachment,  May  8, 
1865,  at  Hart's  Island,  N.  Y.  Harbor. 

Nestor,  Thomas. — Age,  35  years.  August  19,  1862, 
at  New  York  City;  private,  Co,  F,  145th  N.  Y.  Volun- 
teers; wounded  in  action.  May  25,  1864,  at  Dallas,  Ga.Z* 

O'Brien,  Timothy. — Age,  21  years.  April  19,  1864, 
at  La  Grange,  to  serve  three  years,  and  mustered  in  as 
private,  April  19,  1864.X 

O'Day,  John. — Age,  40  years.  August  22,  1862,  at 
New  York  City;  private,  Co.  F,  145th  N.  Y.  Volun- 
teers. *Z 

Odell,  Milton. — Age,  37  years.  September  8,  1862, 
at  La  Grange;  died  of  chronic  diarrhea,  April  18,  1864, 
at  Hospital,  Tullahoma,  Tenn. 

O'Neal,  Henry. — Age,  20  years.  May  12,  1864,  in 
Fifth  Congressional  District.X 


468  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

O'Neill,  Michael. — Age,  31  years.  December  18, 
1863,  at  Dover.X 

Osborn,  John  W. — Age,  23  years.  September  13, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie ;  mustered  in  as  Sergeant,  Co.  G, 
October  11,  1862;  returned  to  ranks  and  transferred  to 
Co.  I,  January  13,  1863;  discharged,  March  4,  1863. 

Ostrom,  William  H. — Age,  25  years.  August  15, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie.* 

Palmatier,  Charles  E. — Age,  18  years.  September  5, 
'1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  died,  April  2,  1863,  at  Belger 
Barracks,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Palmatier,  William. — Age,  21  "years.     September   18, 

1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  captured,  February  24,  1865,  at 
Hanging  Rock,  S.  C;  paroled,  April  2,  1865,  at  Aiken's 
Landing,  Va.;  mustered  out,  June  21,  1865,  at  Camp 
Parole,  Annapolis,  Md. 

Partridge,  Stephen  P. — Age,  22  years.     December  30, 

1863,  at  Washington;  mustered  out  with  detachment. 
May  8,   1865,  at  Hart's  Island,  N.  Y.  Harbor. 

Peterson,  John. — Age,  20  years.  September  30,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  deserted,  October  4,  1862,  at  Pough- 
keepsie, N.  Y. 

Phelps,  William  R. — Age,  31  years.  August  21,  1862, 
at  New  York  City;  private,  Co.  F,  145th  N.  Y.  Volun- 
teers; killed  in  action,  June  16,  1864,  at  Golgotha,  Ga. 

Pinkham,  William  Henry. — Age,  40  years.  September 
6,  1862,  at  Washington;  deserted,  November  15,  1862, 
at  Baltimore,  Md. 

Post,  Edward. — Age,  22  years.  January  20,  1865,  at 
Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year;  mustered  out  with  de- 
tachment, May  8,  1865,  at  Hart's  Island,  N.  Y.  Harbor. 

Potter,  Sylvester. — Age,  26  years.    September  5,  1862, 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  469 

at  La  Grange;  D.  F.  D.,  February  29,  1864,  at  Hospital 
No.  8,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Potter,  Thomas. — Age,  26  years.  September  8,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie ;  deserted,  October  20,  1862,  at  Balti- 
more, Md. 

Pottinger,  William. — Age,  18  years.  September  4, 
1862,  at  New  York  City;  private,  Co.  F,  145th  N.  Y. 
Volunteers.  *Z 

Price,  Archibald. — Age,  19  years.  May  12,  1864,  ^t 
Fifth  Congressional  District.X 

Quick,   George  W. — Age,   30  years.     September  22, 

1862,  at  Washington;  wounded  in  action,  July  20,  1864, 
before  Atlanta,  Ga.* 

Redding,    Thomas. — Age,   37    years.      December    18, 

1863,  at  Dover.X 

Roberts,  William  H.,  Jr. — Age,  24  years.  September 
6,  1862,  at  Poughkeepsie.* 

Rogers,  Alexander. — Age,  31  years.  September  3, 
1862,  at  La  Grange.* 

Rogers,  Thomas  T. — Age,  28  years.  September  3, 
1862,  at  La  Grange.* 

Sackett,  George. — Age,  21  years.  September  6,  1862, 
at  Washington ;  discharged.  May  28,  1864,  for  promotion 
as  Second  Lieutenant,  Co.  K,  Sixteenth  Artillery. 

Sedore,  Edgar. — Age,  23  years.  September  6,  1862, 
at  La  Grange.* 

Shaw,  George. — Age,  27  years.  August  14,  1862; 
private,  Co.  F,  145th  N.  Y.  Volunteers;  absent,  in  hos- 
pital at  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  prior  to  April  30,  1864,  and 
at  muster-out  of  company. 

Short,  Joseph  E. — Age,  37  years.  May  11,  1864,  at 
Brooklyn. X 


470  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Smith,  Briggs  E. — Age,  21  years.  September  6,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie ;  mustered  out  with  company,  July  11, 
1865,  near  Washington,  D.  C,  while  in  Fairfax  Semi- 
nary Hospital,  Alexandria,  Va. 

Smith,  Charles  H. — Age,  18  years.  April  18,  1864, 
at  North  East;  never  joined  regiment.X 

Smith,  Francis. — Age,  35  years.  July  26,  1862,  at 
New  York  City;  private,  Co.  F,  145th  N.  Y.  Volun- 
teers. *Z 

Smith,  John. — Age,  19  years.  January  18,  1865,  at 
Ghent;  never  joined  regiment.X 

Stilwell,  William  Maret. — Age,  21  years.  September 
5,  1862,  at  Poughkeepsie.* 

Thornton,  Albert  G. — Age,  36  years.  August  15, 
1864,  at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year;  never  joined 
regiment. 

Twohey,  Patrick. — Age,  28  years.  August  21,  1862, 
at  New  York  City;  private,  Co.  F,  145th  N.  Y.  Volun- 
teers; wounded  in  action,  June  22,  1864,  at  Culp's  Farm, 
Ga.*Z 

Vanderbeck,  James. — Age,  20  years.  August  28, 
1862,  at  New  York  City;  private,  Co.  F,  145th  N.  Y. 
Volunteers;  D.  F.  D.,  November  19,  1863,  at  hospital, 
New  York  City.Z 

Van  Wagner,  Edward  I. — Age,  23  years.  September 
4,  1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  Co.  I, 
October  11,  1862;  transferred  to  Forty-third  Company, 
Second  Battalion,  V.  R.  C,  March  26,  1864;  mustered 
out  with  detachment,  August  10,  1865,  at  Cincinnati, 
Ohio. 

Ward,  Elijah. — Age,  43  years.  September  19,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  D.  F.  D.,  December  2,  1864. 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  471 

Washburn,  George  C. — Age,  21  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie;  deserted,  October  14,  1862,  at 
Baltimore,  Md. 

Weibler,  Henry. — Age,  19  years.  December  24,  1863, 
at  Fishkill;  never  joined  regiment.X 

Welling,  Edward. — Age,  33  years.  September  4, 
1862,  at  Washington;  D.  F.  D.,  February  18,  1864,  at 
Distribution  Rendezvous,  Va. 

Whalen,  James. — Age,  44  years.  September  9,  1862, 
at  Washington;  died  of  scurvy,  August  15,  1864,  at  hos- 
pital, Nashville,  Tenn. 

Whaley,  John,  Jr. — Age,  37  years.  September  23, 
1862,  at  Washington;  deserted,  November  15,  1862,  at 
Baltimore,  Md. 

Wheeler,  Daniel. — Age,  42  years.  August  27,  1862, 
at  Washington.* 

Wightman,  John. — Age,  33  years.  August  23,  1862, 
at  New  York  City;  private,  Co.  F,  145th  N.  Y.  Volun- 
teers.X* 

Williams,  Cyrus, — Age,  21  years.  January  9,  1864, 
at  Fishkill;  never  joined  regiment.X 

Wilson,  Charles. — Age,  18  years.  September  16, 
1862,  at  La  Grange.* 

Winegar,  Allen. — Age,  19  years.  September  16,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  deserted,  February,  1863,  at  Baltimore, 
Md. 

Worden,  George  W. — Age,  19  years.  September  29, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie. X 

Wurdon,  George  H. — Age,  32  years.  September  14, 
1864,  at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year;  never  joined 
regiment. 

Wynn,  Thomas  Walker. — Age,  35  years.     September 


472  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

15,  1862,  at  Poughkeepsie ;  deserted,  October  4,  1862,  at 
Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. 

No.   II. 

COMPANY  K. 

Mustered  into  the  U.  S.  service,  for  three  years,  at 
Camp  Dutchess,  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  Saturday,  Octo- 
ber II,   1862. 

Captain. 

Scofield,  John  S. — Age,  57  years.  Enrolled  October  7, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  three  years;  mustered  in 
as  Captain,  Co.  K,  October  11,  1862.* 

Commissioned  Captain,  November  3,  1862,  with  rank 
from  October  6,  1862,  original. 

First  Lieutenants. 

Corcoran,  Michael. — Age,  28  years.  Enrolled  at 
Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  three  years,  and  mustered  in  as 
First  Lieutenant,  Co.  K,  October  11,  1862;  discharged, 
January  29,  1863. 

Commissioned  First  Lieutenant,  November  3,  1862, 
with  rank  from  October  6,   1862,  original. 

Steenburgh,  Wade  H. — January  30,  1863.  See  Second 
Lieutenants.* 

Roberts,  Cyrus  S. — April  22,  1865.*  See  Second 
Lieutenants. 

Second  Lieutenants. 

Steenburgh,  Wade  H. — Age,  35  years.  Enrolled  at 
Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  three  years,  and  mustered  in  as 
Second  Lieutenant,  Co.  K,  October  7,  1862;  as  First 
Lieutenant,  January  30,   1863;  discharged  for  disability. 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  473 

November  7,  1864;  prior  service  as  Captain,  Twentieth 
Militia. 

Commissioned  Second  Lieutenant,  November  3,  1862, 
with  rank  from  October  6,  1862,  original;  First  Lieu- 
tenant, February  2,  1863,  with  rank  from  January  29, 
1863,  vice  M.  J.  Corcoran  resigned. 

Roberts,  Cyrus  S. — Age,  21  years.  Enrolled  Septem- 
ber 5,  1862,  at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  three  years;  mus- 
tered in  as  private,  Co.  A,  October  10,  1862;  promoted 
Sergeant-Major,  October  11,  1862;  mustered  in  as  Sec- 
ond Lieutenant,  Co.  K,  February  13,  1863;  as  First 
Lieutenant,  January  i,   1865.* 

Commissioned  Second  Lieutenant,  February  2,  1863, 
with  rank  from  January  29,  1863,  vice  W.  H.  Steen- 
burgh  promoted;  First  Lieutenant,  November  30,  1864, 
with  rank  from  September  6,  1864,  vice  W.  H.  Steen- 
burgh  resigned;  First  Lieutenant  and  Adjutant,  not  mus- 
tered, April  22,  1865,  with  rank  from  March  2,  1865, 
vice  W.  S.  Van  Keuren  promoted;  Brevet  Captain  and 
Brevet  Major,  U.  S.  Volunteers. 

Van  Keuren,  Benjamin. — Age,  25  years.  Enrolled 
September  29,  1862,  at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  three 
years;  mustered  in  as  private,  Co.  C,  October  11,  1862; 
promoted  Sergeant,  no  date;  Sergeant-Major,  March  31, 
1865;  mustered  in  as  Second  Lieutenant,  Co.  K,  April  i, 
1865.* 

Commissioned  Second  Lieutenant,  April  22,  1865,  with 
rank  from  March  16,  1865,  vice  S.  Humeston  promoted. 

First  Sergeant. 
Sylands,  Enos  B. — Age,  21  years.    September  5,  1862, 
at  Rhinebeck;  mustered  in  as  Sergeant,  October  25,  1864.* 


474  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Sergeants. 

Buckmaster,  George  W. — Age,  22  years.  September 
13,  1862,  at  Rhinebeck;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  Octo- 
ber II,  1862;  promoted  Sergeant,  October  26,  1864; 
wounded  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.* 

Heeb,  Jacob. — Age,  25  years.  September  5,  1862,  at 
Rhinebeck;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  October  11,  1862; 
promoted  Sergeant  prior  to  April,  1863.* 

Lamp,  Henry,  Jr. — Age,  21  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  Rhinebeck;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  Co.  K, 
October  11,  1862;  promoted  Sergeant  prior  to  April, 
1863;  wounded  in  action,  July  20,  1864,  at  Peach  Tree 
Creek,  Ga.* 

Van  Wyck,  Richard  T. — Age,  23  years.  October  4, 
1862,  at  East  Fishkill;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  Co.  K, 
October  11,  1862;  promoted  Sergeant  prior  to  April, 
1864.* 

Commissioned,  not  mustered.  First  Lieutenant,  May 
31,  1865,  with  rank  from  March  17,  1865,  vice  Cyrus  S. 
Roberts  promoted. 

Corporals. 

Burroughs,  George. — Age,  20  years.  September  4, 
1862,  at  East  Fishkill;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  Co.  K, 
October  1 1,   1862.* 

Champlin,  James  M. — Age,  25  years.  October  4, 
1862,  at  Fishkill;  promoted  Corporal  prior  to  April, 
1863;  returned  to  ranks,  no  date;  mustered  out,  July  4, 
1865,  at  hospital,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Conklin,  James  E. — Age,  32  years.  September  30, 
1862,  at  Fishkill;  promoted  Corporal,  October  26,  1864.* 

Hevenor,  Benjamin  J. — Age,  24  years.     September  6, 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  475 

1862,    at   Rhinebeck;  mustered  in   as   Corporal,    Co.   K, 
October  1 1,   1862. 

Commissioned,  not  mustered,  First  Lieutenant,  June 
29,  1863,  with  rank  from  April  25,  1863,  vice  A.  John- 
son discharged. 

Jones,  Robert  M. — Age,  38  years.  September  26, 
1862,  at  Fishkill;  promoted  Corporal  prior  to  April, 
1863;  returned  to  ranks  prior  to  April,  1864.* 

Moore,  Peter. — Age,  25  years.  September  30,  1862, 
at  Fishkill;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  Co.  K,  October  11, 
1862.* 

Montross,  Jacob  G. — Age,  28  years.  October  8,  1862, 
at  East  Fishkill;  promoted  Corporal  prior  to  April, 
1863.* 

Smith,  William  A. — Age,  29  years.  September  5, 
1862,  at  Rhinebeck;  promoted  Corporal,  November  i, 
1864.* 

Taylor,  George. — Age,  25  years.  August  7,  1862,  at 
New  York  City;  private,  Co.  D,  145th  N.  Y.  Volunteers; 
promoted  Corporal  prior  to  April,  1864;  mustered  out. 
May  24,  1865,  at  McDougall  Hospital,  Fort  Schuyler, 
N.  Y.  Harbor.Z 

Tuttle,  x^braham. — Age,  19  years.  September  30, 
1862,  at  Fishkill;  promoted  Corporal  prior  to  April, 
1864.* 

Musicians. 

Jones,  Morris  H. — Age,  15  years.  November  i,  1862, 
at  Baltimore,  Md.,  to  serve  three  years,  and  mustered  in 
as  Musician;  D.  F,  D,,  November  21,  1863,  at  hospital, 
iVlexandria,  Va. 

Mosher,  Americus  G. — Age,  17  years.  September  29, 
1862,  at  East  Fishkill;  mustered  in  as  Musician,  October 


476  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

II,  1862;  wounded  in  action,  May  15,  1864,  ^t  Resaca, 
Ga.;  mustered  out,  June  27,  1865,  at  Albany,  N.  Y. 

Privates. 

Adams,  Sylvester  J. — Age,  37  years.  August  13, 
1864,  at  Poughkeepsie ;  D.  F.  D.,  May  16,  1865,  at 
McDougall  Hospital,  Fort  Schuyler,  N.  Y.  Harbor. 

Allen,  William. — Age,  45  years.  October  6,  1862,  at 
Poughkeepsie.* 

Ashton,  John. — Age,  39  years.  September  18,  1862, 
at  Fishkill;  mustered  out,  May  24,  1865,  at  McDougall 
Hospital,  Fort  Schuyler,  N.  Y.  Harbor. 

Barraclough,  Edward. — Age,  21  years.  September  i, 
1864,  at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year.* 

Birch,  Robert. — Age,  25  years.  September  11,  1862, 
at  Fishkill;  deserted,  October  15,  1862,  at  Camp  Milling- 
ton,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Brierly,  John. — Age,  38  years.  September  5,  1862,  at 
Fishkill;  deserted,  November  4,  1862,  at  Camp  Belger, 
Baltimore,  Md. 

Browley,  Edward. — Age,  25  years.  October  4,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  deserted,  same  date,  at  Camp  Dutchess, 
Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. 

Browley,  William. — Age,  28  years.  October  4,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  deserted,  same  date,  at  Camp  Dutchess, 
Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. 

Buckland,  Charles  M. — Age,  25  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  Rhinebeck.* 

Buckley,  Patrick. — Age,  24  years.  October  3,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  deserted,  same  date,  at  Camp  Dutchess, 
Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. 

Burns,  Michael. — Age,  33  years.    October  7,  1862,  at 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  477 

Poughkeepsie;  died  of  chronic  diarrhea,  September  23, 
1864,  at  First  Division  Hospital,  Twentieth  Army  Corps, 
Atlanta,  Ga. 

Burtis,  Adelbert. — Age,  18  years.  August  13,  1864, 
at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year;  never  joined  regiment; 
mustered  out  with  detachment.  May  8,  1865,  at  Hart's 
Island,  N.  Y.  Harbor. 

Carson,  Charles. — Age,  25  years.  August  23,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  never  joined  regiment. 

Church,  William  B. — Age,  18  years.  August  2,  1862, 
at  New  York  City;  private,  Co.  A,  145th  N.  Y.  Volun- 
teers.*Z 

Clark,  Clement. — Age,  32  years.  October  9,  1862,  at 
Poughkeepsie.* 

Clarke,  George  Alexander. — Age,  37  years.  Septem- 
ber 5,  1862,  at  Rhinebeck;  transferred  to  Co.  C,  Twen- 
tieth Regiment,  V.  R.  C,  December  12,  1863;  mustered 
out  with  detachment,  as  first  Sergeant,  July  10,  1865,  at 
Frederick  City,  Md. 

Coghlll,  Michael. — Age,  22  years.  October  3,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  deserted,  January  i,  1863,  at  Camp 
Belger,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Crane,  Patrick. — Age,  23  years.  September  29,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  wounded  in  action,  July  3,  1863,  at 
Gettysburg,  Pa.;  D.  F.  D.,  caused  by  wounds.  May  28, 
1864. 

Corcoran,  Michael. — Age,  21  years.  September  8, 
1864,  at  Poughkeepsie;  deserted  and  arrested,  no  date;  no 
further  record. 

Davison,  Henry. — Age,  36  years.  October  3,  1862,  at 
Poughkeepsie;  deserted,  same  date,  at  Camp  Dutchess, 
Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. 


478  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Dederick,  William  H. — Age,  21  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  Rhinebeck.* 

Donnelly,  William. — Age,  34  years.  August  21,  1864, 
at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year;  never  joined  regiment. 

Dore,  Henry. — Age,  35  years.  September  30,  1862, 
at  Fishkill;  mustered  in  as  Sergeant,  October  11,  1862; 
returned  to  ranks  prior  to  April  30,  1863;  mustered  out, 
May  31,  1865,  at  McDougall  Hospital,  N.  Y.  Harbor. 

Dutcher,  Leonard  T. — Age,  18  years.  September  5, 
1862,  at  Fishkill;  transferred  to  Co.  E,  Seventh  Infantry, 
V.  R.  C,  no  date;  mustered  out,  July  22,  1865,  at  Wash- 
ington, D.  C. 

Filkins,  Henry. — Age,  44  years.  October  10,  1862,  at 
Poughkeepsie;  D.  F.  D.,  May  25,  1863. 

Firth,  James. — Age,  27  years.  August  7,  1862,  at 
New  York  City;  Corporal,  Co.  D,  145th  N.  Y.  Volun- 
teers.Z* 

Gay,  John. — ^Age,  28  years.  October  6,  1862,  at 
Poughkeepsie,  and  deserted  on  same  date. 

Gerow,  Lewis  C. — Age,  21  years.  October  7,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie.* 

Goldman,  Morris. — Age,  27  years.  October  10,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  deserted,  October  16,  1862,  at  Camp 
Millington,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Grady,  John. — Age,  20  years.  September  14,  1864, 
at  Pawling,  to  serve  one  year;  never  joined  regiment;  no 
further  record. 

Griffin,  Morenous  W. — Age,  28  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  Rhinebeck;  deserted,  February  2,  1863,  at  Bel- 
ger  Barracks,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Griner,  John. — Age,  19  years.  September  8,  1862,  at 
Rhinebeck.* 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  479 

Hawks,  Daniel. — Age,  44  years.  September  13,  1862, 
at  FIshkilL* 

Hendrick,  John. — August  2,    1864,  at  Claverack.X 
Higgs,   Andrew   J. — Age,    36   years.      September   30, 
1862,  at  FIshkill;  transferred  to  Co.  F,  Fifteenth  Infan- 
try, V.  R.  C,  no  date;  D.  F.  D.,  June  21,  1865,  at  Cairo, 

iii. 

Horton,  Gilbert  A. — Age,  32  years.  September  20, 
1862,  at  Fishkill;  captured,  October  18,  1864;  paroled, 
no  date;  absent,  at  Parole  Camp,  Annapolis,  Md.,  at 
muster-out  of  company. 

Hunt,  Robert. — Age,  31  years.  October  3,  1862,  at 
Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  three  years. X 

Hyde,  Richard. — Age,  35  years.  July  22,  1862,  at 
New  York  City;  private,  Co.  A,  145th  N.  Y.  Volunteers; 
wounded  in  action,  July  23,  1864,  and  died  of  his  wounds, 
July  25,   1864,  before  Atlanta,  Ga.Z 

Ireland,  Henry. — Age,  32  years.  September  30,  1862, 
at  Fishkill;  deserted,  July  22,  1863,  '^t  Harper's  Ferry, 
Va. 

Jones,  Seth. — /\ge,  21  years.  August  29,  1864,  at 
Ghent,  to  serve  one  year;  never  joined  regiment;  mustered 
out,  July  II,  1865,  at  Albany,  N.  Y. 

Kelly,  Daniel. — Age,  25  years.  October  4,  1862,  at 
Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  three  years;  deserted,  October  4, 
1862,  at  Camp  Dutchess,  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. 

Kenny,  James  W. — Age,  24  years.  August  27,  1864, 
at  Clermont,  to  serve  one  year;  mustered  in,  but  never 
joined  regiment. 

Kerr,  James. — Age,  32  years.  August  6,  1864,  at 
Pleasant  Valley,  to  serve  one  year;  mustered  In,  but  never 
joined  regiment. 


480  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT 

Knichel,  Joseph. — Age,  27  years.  September  9,  1862, 
at  Fishkill.* 

LaFrance,  Joseph. — Age,  19  years.  August  11,  1864, 
at  Poughkeepsie.*Z 

Lawrence,  Charles  H. — Age,  18  years.  July  30,  1862, 
at  New  York  City;  Musician,  Co.  E,  145th  N.  Y.  Volun- 
teers. *Z 

Leathern,  George. — Age,  28  years.  September  29, 
1862,  at  Fishkill.X 

Lillie,  Amos  T. — Age,  28  years.  September  6,  1862, 
at  Rhinebeck;  mustered  out  with  detachment,  June  15, 
1865,  at  Finley  Hospital,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Lockwood,  Hamilton. — Age,  16  years.  April  16, 
1864,  at  Poughkeepsie ;  missing  in  action  since  August  9, 
1864,  and  at  muster-out  of  company. 

Ludorf,  Henry. — Age,  32  years.  October  5,  1862,  at 
Rhinebeck;  deserted,  October  16,  1862,  at  Baltimore,  Md. 

Lynch,  James. — Age,  45  years.  September  29,  1862; 
wounded  in  action,  July  3,  1863,  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.; 
transferred  to  V.  R.  C,  April  6,  1864. 

Marshall,  Henry. — Age,  37  years.  August  13,  1864, 
at  Poughkeepsie. X 

Marshall,  John. — Age,  23  years.  September  25,  1862, 
at  Dutchess  County;  deserted,  November  9,  1862,  at 
Camp  Millington,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Masten,  John. — Age,  45  years.  January  11,  1864,  at 
Poughkeepsie. X 

Mather,  William. — Age,  20  years.  September  8, 
1862,  at  Fishkill.* 

Mayfield,  Peter. — Age,  35  years.  August  30,  1862, 
at  New  York  City;  private,  Co.  A,  145th  N.  Y.  Volun- 
teers. *X 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  481 

McAuliffe,  Patrick. — Age,  30  years.  August  8,  1862, 
at  New  York  City;  private,  Co.  A,  145th  N.  Y.  Volun- 
teers; mustered  out,  July  12,  1865,  ^^  McDougall  Hos- 
pital, Fort  Schuyler,  N.  Y.  Harbor.Z 

McClelland,  Charles. — Age,  29  years.  September  8, 
1862,  at  FIshklll.* 

McCue,  Patrick. — Age,  18  years.  August  4,  1862,  at 
New  York  City;  private,  Co.  A,  145th  N.  Y.  Volunteers; 
captured  in  action,  March  19,  1865,  at  Goldsboro,  N.  C. ; 
paroled,  April  2,  1865,  at  Alkens  Landing,  Va.;  mus- 
tered out  with  detachment,  June  26,  1865,  at  Camp 
Parole,  Annapolis,  Md. 

McGrath,  Michael. — Age,  24  years.  August  25, 
1862,  at  New  York  City;  private,  Co.  A,  145th  N.  Y. 
Volunteers;  absent,  in  hospital,  at  Murfreesboro,  Tenn., 
and  at  muster-out  of  company. Z 

McKInsey,  John. — Age,  40  years.  August  27,  1864, 
at  Poughkeepsie,  and  mustered  In  as  private,  Co.  K, 
August  27,  1 8 64.x 

McQuade,  Thomas. — Age,  20  years.  August  17, 
1864,  at  Hyde  Park,  to  serve  one  year;  never  joined 
regiment. 

Merrick,  James. — Age,  29  years.  August  28,  1862, 
at  New  York  City;  private,  Co.  A,  145th  N.  Y.  Volun- 
teers.*Z 

Meyers,  John. — Age,  43  years.  September  5,  1864, 
at  Greenport,  to  serve  one  year;  never  joined  regiment. 

Miller,  Jacob. — Age,  43  years.  September  12,  1862, 
at  Rhinebeck;  transferred  to  V.  R.  C,  February  6,  1864. 

Mooney,  Frank. — Age,  21  years.  October  7,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  three  years,  and  deserted,  same 
date,  at  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. 


482  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Moore,  Joseph. — Age,  22  years.  •September  10,  1862, 
at  FIshkill;  mustered  out,  July  13,  1865,  at  Louisville,  Ky. 

Murphy,  Thomas. — Age,  29  years.  September  4, 
1862,  at  Fishkill,  and  deserted,  October  8,  1862. 

Murphy,  William. — Age,  28  years.  November  6, 
1862,  at  Baltimore,  Md. ;  deserted,  November  27,  1862, 
at  Fort  McHenry,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Murphy,  William  H. — Age,  20  years.  August  29, 
1862,  at  Hyde  Park.* 

Murray,  Edward. — Age,  33  years,  September  18, 
1862,  at  Fishkill.* 

Newhouse,  Adam. — Age,  23  years.  August  23,  1864, 
at  Ancram,  to  serve  one  year;  never  joined  regiment. 

Nichols,  Washington. — Age,  30  years.  July  30,  1862, 
at  New  York  City;  private,  Co.  A,  145th  N.  Y.  Volun- 
teers; mustered  out.  May  18,  1864,  at  Cairo,  111. 

O'Brien,  Lawrence. — Age,  32  years.  September  16, 
1862,  at  Rhinebeck;  discharged.  May  29,  1865,  at  Trip- 
ler  Hospital,  Columbus,  Ohio. 

Odell,  Charles  H.-^Age,  21  years.  October  3,  1862, 
at  Fishkill.X 

Oswald,  Leopold. — Age,  40  years.  September  5, 
1862,   at  Rhinebeck.* 

Potenburgh,  Frederick. — Age,  41  years.  September  6, 
1862,  at  Rhinebeck;  wounded  in  action,  July  3,  1863,  at 
Gettysburg,  Pa.;  transferred  to  Co.  I,  12th  Regiment, 
V.  R.  C,  April  28,  1864;  mustered  out  with  detachment, 
July  28,  1865,  at  Washington,  D.  C. 

Power,  Walter. — Age,  23  years.  September  27,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie;  deserted,  September  29,  1862,  at  Camp 
Dutchess,  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. 

Prescott,  William  H. — Age,   25   years.     January  24, 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  483 

1864,  at  Livingston;  mustered  out  with  detachment,  May 
8,  1865,  at  Hart's  Island,  N.  Y.  Harbor. 

Rapp,  Jacob. — Age,  34  years.  September  5,  1862,  at 
Rhinebeck;  deserted,  February  7,  1863,  at  Camp  Belger, 
Baltimore,  Md. 

Reddy,  James. — Age,  21  years.  September  14,  1864, 
at  Pawling,  to  serve  one  year;  never  joined  regiment. 

Rest,  Bernhart. — Age,  44  years.  September  15,  1862, 
at  Rhinebeck;  deserted,  March  20,  1863,  ^^  Camp  Belger, 
Baltimore,  Md. 

Rikert,  Henry  G. — Age,  29  years.  August  28,  1862, 
at  Stanford;  deserted,  same  date,  at  Camp  Dutchess, 
Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. 

Robertson,  Samuel. — Age,  30  years.  September  29, 
1862,  at  Fishkill.* 

Rockefeller,  Albert. — Age,  31  years.  October  6,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.;  deserted,  same  date,  at  Camp 
Dutchess,  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. 

Schenk,  Jacob. — Age,  26  years.  September  5,  1862, 
at  Rhinebeck.X 

Schryver,  Ezra. — Age,  28  years.  August  30,  1864,  at 
Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year.* 

Shafter,  Dewitt. — Age,  18  years.  September  5,  1862, 
at  Rhinebeck.* 

Smith,  William  A. — Age,  37  years.  July  18,  1862,  at 
New  York  City;  private,  Co.  I,  145th  N.  Y.  Volunteers; 
discharged,  March  10,  1864,  at  Nashville,  Tenn.Z 

Smith,  William  A. — Age,  29  years.  September  5, 
1862,  at  Rhinebeck;  promoted  Corporal,  November  i, 
1864.* 

Snyder,  Jacob  C. — Age,  21  years.    August  i,  1864,  at 


484  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Poughkeepsle,  to  serve  one  year;  mustered  out,  to  date 
June  8,  1865,  at  New  York  City. 

Tator,  Frederick. — Age,  40  years.  September  6,  1862, 
at  Rhinebeck.* 

Tator,  Stephen  R. — Age,  23  years.  September  9, 
1862,  at  Rhinebeck.* 

Ticehurst,  WiUiam. — Age,  24  years.  September  30, 
1862,  at  Fishkill.* 

Traver,  Henry  M. — Age,  43  years.  September  5, 
1862,  at  Rhinebeck.* 

Turner,  John  W. — Age,  28  years.  October  3,  1862, 
at  Fishkill;  deserted,  December  6,  1862,  at  Camp  Belger, 
Baltimore,  Md. 

Van  Nosdall,  James. — Age,  18  years.  September  20, 
1862,  at  Poughkeepsie ;  mustered  in  as  Sergeant,  October 
II,  1862;  deserted,  July  22,  1863,  at  Harper's  Ferry,  Va. 

VanVleck,  George  E. — Age,  28  years.  September  29, 
1862,  at  Fishkill;  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  Co.  K,  Octo- 
ber II,  1862;  deserted,  February  i,  1863,  at  Camp  Bel- 
ger, Baltimore,  Md. 

Wagner,  George  A. — Age,  23  years,  September  5, 
1862,  at  Rhinebeck;  died  of  chronic  diarrhea  and  pneu- 
monia, October  10,  1863,  at  Grace  Church  Branch  Hos- 
pital, Alexandria,  Va. 

Warnick,  Augustus. — Age,  19  years.  August  18, 
1864,  at  Poughkeepsie,  to  serve  one  year;  mustered  out, 
June  10,  1865,  at  McDougall  Hospital,  N.  Y.  Harbor. 

Way,  Alonzo. — Age,  36  years.  September  30,  1862, 
at  Fishkill,  to  serve  three  years.* 

Way,  Cornelius. — Age,  24  years.  October  2,  1862,  at 
Fishkill.* 

Way,  Thomas. — Age,  21  years.     October  3,  1862,  at 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  485 

FIshkill;  wounded  In  action,  July  3,  1863,  at  Gettysburg, 
Pa. ;  absent  since,  in  Satterlee  Hospital,  West  Philadel- 
phia, Pa.,  and  at  muster-out  of  company. 

Weeks,  Washington. — Age,  19  years.  October  3, 
1862,  at  Fishkill;  wounded  in  action,  May  25,  1864,  ^t 
Dallas,  Ga.* 

Weeks,  William  H, — Age,  20  years.  October  3,  1862, 
at  Fishkill.* 

Weissart,  Henry. — Age,  34  years.  September  5,  1862, 
at  Rhinebeck;  deserted,  February  3,  1863,  at  Camp  Bel- 
ger,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Whiting,  Charles. — Age,  18  years.  August  28,  1862, 
at  New  York  City;  private,  Co.  A,  145th  N.  Y.  Volun- 
teers. *Z 

Whitworth,  James. — Age,  32  years.  September  8, 
1862,  at  Fishkill,  to  serve  three  years;  wounded  in  action, 
July  20,  1864,  at  Peach  Tree  Creek,  Ga.* 

Wilson,  Archibald. — Age,  36  years,  August  11,  1862, 
at  New  York  City;  private,  Co.  A,  145th  N.  Y.  Volun- 
teers; V.  R.  C,  no  date. 

Woodin,  Alfred. — Age,  24  years,  August  25,  1862, 
at  Clinton;  deserted,  July  29,  1863,  from  hospital,  Phila- 
delphia, Pa, 

Wyant,  Charles. — Age,  32  years.  September  5,  1862, 
at  Rhinebeck;  captured,  March  11,  1865,  at  Fayette- 
ville,  N.  C;  paroled,  April  2,  1865,  at  Aiken's  Landing, 
Va,;  mustered  out  June  22,  1865,  ^^  Camp  Parole, 
Annapolis,  Md. 

Unassigned  men  who  never  joined  regiment. 

Bowen,  John  C.  C, — Age,  22  years.  January  25, 
1865,  at  Kingston,  to  serve  one  year;  mustered  out  with 


486  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

detachment,  May  8,  1865,  at  Hart's  Island,  N.  Y. 
Harbor. 

Drasho,  Alexis. — Age,  41  years.  March  i,  1865,  ^^ 
New  York  City;  unassigned,  March  2,  1865;  veteran; 
no  further  record. 

Dark,  Isaac  D. — Age,  18  years.  September  27,  1862, 
at  Poughkeepsie ;  no  further  record. 

Furrenden,  Peter  H. — Age,  41  years.  January  13, 
1865,  at  Pleasant  Valley,  to  serve  one  year;  unassigned; 
mustered  out  with  detachment.  May  8,  1865,  at  Hart's 
Island,  N.  Y.  Harbor. 

McKenzie,  John. — Age,  40  years.  January  16,  1865; 
mustered  out  at  Hart's  Island,  May  23,  1865. 

Riley,  James  F. — Age,  31  years.  January  25,  1864; 
deserted,  May  23,  1865. 

Smith,  William. — No  record,  except  deserted,  March 
15,  1863,  at  Baltimore. 

Wadhams,  Melville. — Age,  19  years.  January  25, 
1865,  at  New  York  City;  unassigned;  mustered  out  with 
detachment.  May  8,  1865,  at  Hart's  Island,  N.  Y. 
Harbor. 

SPECIAL  ROLL. 

No.   12. 

Original,  appointed,  and  promoted  officers  of  the  150th 
N.  Y.  Volunteers,  with  rank  at  entry  and  close  of  service, 
arranged  alphabetically. 

1.  Bartlett,  Charles  G.,  Lieutenant-Colonel,  September 

29,    1862,   original.     Discharged  for  promotion, 
December  31,   1864. 

2.  Barlow,   Charles  P.,  private,   Co.   E,   September  5, 

1862.     First  Lieutenant.* 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  487 

3.  Bartlett,  William   H.,   private,   September  5,    1862. 

Second  Lieutenant.* 

4.  Bowman,  Polhemus,  Second  Lieutenant,  Co.  D,  Sep- 

tember  24,    1862,   original,     D.    F.   D.   as  First 
Lieutenant,   Co.  D,  July  30,   1864. 

5.  Bartlett,    Rev.   Edward   O.,    Chaplain,   October   20, 

1863.* 

6.  Brant,  Andrus,  Captain,  Co.  E,  September  23,  1862, 

original.     D.  F.  D.,  December  18,  1863. 

7.  Broas,  Benjamin  S.,  Captain,  Co.  I,  October  6,  1862, 

original.     D.  F.  D.,  November  25,  1863. 

8.  Browne,   John   D.,    Sergeant-Major.     Second   Lieu- 

tenant, Co.  H.*Z 

9.  Campbell,  Cornelius  N.,  Surgeon,  August  29,   1862, 

original.* 

10.  Chapman,  Perry  W.,  Second  Lieutenant,  Co.  E,  Sep- 

tember   23,    1862,    original.      First    Lieutenant, 
Co.  E.* 

11.  Cogswell,  Joseph  H.,  Captain,  Co.  A,  September  8, 

1862,  original.     Lieutenant-Colonel.* 

12.  Cook,  Stephen  G.,  Assistant  Surgeon,  September  12, 

1862,  original.      D.  F.  D.,  October  19,   1864. 

13.  Corcoran,   Michael,  First  Lieutenant,   Co.  K,  Octo- 

ber  8,    1862,   original;   discharged,   January   29, 
1863. 

14.  Cruger,  S.  V.  R.,  First  Lieutenant,  Co.  F,  September 

24,   1862,  original.      Captain,  Co.  A.* 

15.  Fitzpatrick,  John,  First  Sergeant,  Co.  H,  September 

9,  1862.     First  Lieutenant,  Co.  H,* 

16.  Furey,  James  B.,  First  Sergeant,  Co.  D,  September  6, 

1862.     Second  Lieutenant,  Co.  D.* 


488  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

17.  Gaylord,  Charles  I.,  Second  Lieutenant,  Co.  H,  Sep- 

tember 27,   1862,  original.     Discharged,  March 
18,  1863. 

18.  Gaylord,  George  H.,  First  Lieutenant  and  Quarter- 

master, September  i,  1862,  original.    Discharged, 
March  9,   1863. 

19.  Gildersleeve,  Henry  A.,  Captain,  Co.  C,  September 

17,  1862,  original.     Major.* 

20.  Green,  John  L.,  Captain,  Co.  F,  September  24,  1862, 

original.* 

21.  Gridley,  Henry,  First  Lieutenant,  Co.  A,  September 

8,  1862,  original.     Instantly  killed  in  action,  June 
22,  1864,  at  Gulp's  Farm,  Ga. 

22.  Hamill,  Alex.,  Assistant  Surgeon,  March  26,  1865.* 

23.  Hicks,  Henry  J.,  private,  Co.  C,  September  15,  1862. 

First  Lieutenant,  Co.  C* 

24.  Humiston,  Seneca,  First  Sergeant,  Co.  I,  September 

9,  1862.     First  Lieutenant,  Co.  L* 

25.  Johnson,  Albert,  First  Lieutenant,  Co.  B,  September 

8,   1862,  original.      Discharged,  April  25,   1863. 

26.  Ketcham,  John  H.,  Colonel,  October  11,  1862,  orig- 

inal.    Discharged,  March  2,  1865. 

27.  Mabbett,  James  P.,  Second  Lieutenant,  Co.  A,  Sep- 

tember 8,   1862,  original.     First  Lieutenant,  Co. 
C;  D.  F.  D.,  October  14,  1864. 

28.  Mallory,  Frank,  Second  Lieutenant,  Co.  D,  Septem- 

ber 19,  1862,  original.     First  Lieutenant,  Co.  D.* 

29.  Marshall,  Rowland,  Second  Lieutenant,  Co.  C,  Sep- 

tember 17,  1862,  original.     Died,  September  13, 
1863,  in  hospital  at  Georgetown,  D.  C. 

30.  McConnell,   Robert,   Captain,   Co.   B,   September  8, 

1862,  original.     Discharged,  October  20,   1864. 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  489 

31.  McGill,  John,  Sergeant,  Co.  F,  October  11,   1862. 

Second  Lieutenant,  Co.  B.* 

32.  Mooney,  Robert  G.,  First  Lieutenant,  Co.  D,  Sep- 

tember 9,  1862,  original.  D.  F.  D.,  November 
6,  1864. 

33.  Murfitt,    Benjamin,    Sergeant,    Co.    G,    October    11, 

1862.     Second  Lieutenant,  Co.  G.* 

34.  Ostrom,  Landon,  First  Sergeant,  Co.  K,  October  11, 

1862.     Second  Lieutenant,  Co.  F.* 

35.  Ostrom,  Andrew  J.,  First  Sergeant,  Co.  B,  Septem- 

ber 5,  1862.     First  Lieutenant,  Co.  B.* 

36.  Paulding,  Samuel  H.,  First  Sergeant,  Co.  F,  Octo- 

ber II,  1862.      First  Lieutenant,  Co.  F.* 

37.  Pearce,  Henry,  Assistant  Surgeon,  October  6,  1862, 

original.     D.  F.  D.,  April  7,  1864. 

38.  Roberts,  Cyrus  S.,  private,  Co  A,  September  5,  1862. 

First  Lieutenant,  Co.  K.* 

39.  Scofield,  John  S.,  Captain,  Co.  K,  October  7,  1862, 

original.* 

40.  Sleight,  David  B.,  Second  Lieutenant,  Co.  I,  Octo- 

ber 6,  1862,  original.  First  Lieutenant,  Co.  L 
Killed  in  action,  March  16,  1865,  at  Averasboro, 
N.  C. 

41.  Smith,  A.  B.,  Major,  September  24,  1862,  original. 

Colonel.* 

42.  Smith,    Charles   H.,    Corporal,   Co.   I,   October    10, 

1862.     Second  Lieutenant,  Co.  L* 

43.  Smith,   Henry  C,  Quartermaster-Sergeant,   October 

II,   1862.     Quartermaster.* 

44.  Smithe,  J.  Curtis,  First  Sergeant,  Co.  A,  October  10, 

1862.     Second  Lieutenant,   Co.  C* 


490  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

45.  Steenburgh,  Wade  H.,   Second  Lieutenant,   Co.  K, 

October    7,    1862,    original.      First    Lieutenant, 
Co.  K.;  D.  F.  D.,  November  7,  1864. 

46.  Sweet,  John,  Second  Lieutenant,   Co.  G,  September 

26,  1862,  original.     Died  in  hospital,  August  13, 
1864,  Big  Shanty,  Ga. 

47.  Thompson,  William,  Adjutant,  September  i,   1862, 

original.     D.  F.  D.,  August  6,  1863. 

48.  Titus,  Richard,  First  Lieutenant,  Co.  I,  October  6, 

1862,  original.      Captain,  Co.  L* 

49.  Thorne,  Piatt  M.,  Captain,  Co.  H,  September  27, 

1862,  original.* 

50.  Tripp,  Robert  C,  Second  Lieutenant,  Co.  B,  Octo- 

ber II,  1862,  original.      Captain,  Co.  B.* 

51.  Underwood,    Dewitt   C,    First   Lieutenant,    Co.    G, 

original.* 

52.  Van  Keuren,  William  S.,   First  Lieutenant,  Co.  H, 

September  27,  1862,  original.      Captain,  Co.  C* 

53.  Van  Keuren,   Benjamin,  private,   Co.   C,   September 

29,   1862.     Second  Lieutenant,  Co.  K.* 

54.  Vassar,    Rev.    Thomas    E.,    Chaplain,    October    11, 

1862,  original.     D.  F.  D.,  August  6,  1863. 

55.  Wattles,   William,   First  Sergeant,    Co.   A,   October 

10,   1862.      First  Lieutenant,  Co.  A.* 
^6.  Welling,  Edgar  P.,  First  Lieutenant,  Co.  C,  Septem- 
ber 17,  1862,  original.     Died,  October  21,  1863, 
in  hospital  at  Tullahoma,  Tenn. 

57.  Wheeler,  Obed,  First  Lieutenant,  Co.  E,  September 

23,  1862,  original.     Captain,  Co.  E.* 

58.  Wickes,  Edward  A.,  Captain,  Co.  G,  September  26, 

1862,  original.* 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  491 

59.  Woodin,  William  R.,  Captain,  Co.  D,  September  19, 
1862,  original.* 

SPECIAL  ROLL. 

No.   13. 

Promotions  and  appointments  in  150th  N.  Y.  Volun- 
teers in  rotation,  after  the  field,  staff  and  line  officers  were 
mustered  into  the  U.  S.  service,  October  10  and  11,  1862. 

1.  Jan.      29,  1863.  Wade  H.  Steenburgh,  from  Second 

Lieutenant,  Co.  K,  to  First  Lieu- 
tenant, Co.  K,  vice  Corcoran 
resigned. 

2.  Jan.      29,  1863.   Cyrus  S.   Roberts,   from  Sergeant- 

Major  to  Second  Lieutenant, 
Co.  K,  vice  Steenburgh  pro- 
moted. 

3.  March  18,  1863.  Samuel   H.    Paulding,    from    First 

Sergeant,  Co.  F,  to  Second  Lieu- 
tenant, Co.  F,  vice  C.  J.  Gaylord 
resigned. 

4.  April       I,  1863.  Henry    C.    Smith,    from    Quarter- 

master Sergeant  to  Quarter- 
master, vice  Geo.  R.  Gaylord 
resigned. 

5.  April    25,  1863.   Robert    C.    Tripp,     from    Second 

Lieutenant,  Co.  B,  to  First 
Lieutenant,  Co.  B,  vice  Johnson 
resigned. 

6.  April    25,  1863.  Andrew  J.  Ostrom,  from  First  Ser- 

geant, Co.  B,  to  Second  Lieuten- 
ant, Co.  B,  vice  Tripp  promoted. 


492  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

7.  Aug.       6,  1863.  S,  V.  R.  Cruger,  from  First  Lieu- 

tenant, Co.  F,  to  Adjutant,  vice 
Thompson  resigned. 

8.  Aug.       6,  1863.  Polhemus   Bowman,    from   Second 

Lieutenant,  Co.  F,  to  First  Lieu- 
tenant, Co.  F,  vice  Cruger  pro- 
moted Adjutant. 

9.  Aug.     6,  1863.  John    Fitzpatrick,    from    First   Ser- 

geant, Co.  H,  to  Second  Lieu- 
tenant, Co.  F,  vice  Bowman  pro- 
moted. 

10.  Nov.       7,  1863.  James   P.    Mabbett,    from   Second 

Lieutenant,  Co.  A,  to  First  Lieu- 
tenant, Co.  C,  vice  WeUing  de- 
ceased. 

11.  Nov.       7,1863.  WilHam  Wattles,    from   Sergeant- 

Major  to  Second  Lieutenant, 
Co.  A,  vice  Mabbett,  promoted. 

12.  Nov.     25,  1863.   Richard  Titus,  from  First  Lieuten- 

ant, Co.  I,  to  Captain,  Co.  I, 
vice  Broas  resigned. 

13.  Nov.     25,  1863.  David    B.    Sleight,    from    Second 

Lieutenant,  Co.  I,  to  First  Lieu- 
tenant, Co.  I,  vice  Titus  pro- 
moted. 

14.  Nov.     25,  1863.   Seneca  Humiston,  from  First  Ser- 

geant, Co.  I,  to  Second  Lieuten- 
ant, Co.  I,  vice  Sleight  pro- 
moted. 

15.  Nov.     25,  1863.  James  B.   Furey,   from  First  Ser- 

geant, Co.  D,  to  Second  Lieu- 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  493 

tenant,  Co.  D,  vice  Marshall 
deceased. 

1 6.  Dec.      1 8,  1863.  Obed   Wheeler,    from    First   Lieu- 

tenant, Co.  E,  to  Captain,  Co. 
E,  vice  Brant  resigned. 

17.  Dec.      18,  1863.   Perry  W.  Chapman,  from  Second 

Lieutenant,  Co.  E,  to  First  Lieu- 
tenant, Co.  E,  vice  Wheeler, 
promoted. 

18.  Dec.      18,  1863.   Charles  P.  Barlow,  from  First  Ser- 

geant, Co.  E,  to  Second  Lieu- 
tenant, Co.  E,  vice  Chapman, 
promoted. 

19.  Jan.      22,  1864.  William     Wattles,     from     Second 

Lieutenant,  Co.  A,  to  First  Lieu- 
tenant, Co.  A,  vice  Gridley 
killed  in  action. 

20.  Jan.      22,  1864.  J.  Curtiss  Smithe,  from  First  Ser- 

geant, Co.  A,  to  Second  Lieu- 
tenant, Co.  A,  vice  Wattles,  pro- 
moted. 

21.  July      30,  1864.  S.  H.  Paulding,  from  Second  Lieu- 

tenant, Co.  F,  to  First  Lieuten- 
ant, Co.  F,  vice  Bowman  re- 
signed. 

22.  July      30,  1864.  Landon   Ostrom,    from   First   Ser- 

geant, Co.  F,  to  Second  Lieu- 
tenant, Co.  F,  vice  Paulding 
promoted. 

23.  Aug.     27,  1864.   Benj.  Murfitt,  First  Sergeant,  Co. 

G,  to  Second  Lieutenant,  Co.  G, 
vice  Sweet  deceased. 


494  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

24.  Sept.       6,  1864.   Alfred  B.   Smith,   from  Major  to 

Lieutenant-Colonel,  vice  Bart- 
lett  promoted  and  transferred. 

25.  Sept.       6,  1864.  Joseph  H.  Cogswell,  from  Captain, 

Co.  A,  to  Major,  vice  Smith, 
promoted. 

26.  Sept.       6,  1864.   Robert  C.  Tripp,  from  First  Lieu- 

tenant, Co.  B,  to  Captain,  Co.  B, 
vice  Cogswell  promoted. 

27.  Sept.       6,  1864.  Andrew  J.   Ostrom,    from   Second 

Lieutenant,  Co.  B,  to  First 
Lieutenant,  Co.  B,  vice  Tripp, 
promoted. 

28.  Sept.       6,  1864.  John  McGill,  from  First  Sergeant, 

Co.  B,  to  Second  Lieutenant, 
Co.  B,  vice  Ostrom  promoted. 

29.  Sept.       6,  1864.  William    H.    Bartlett,    First    Ser- 

geant, Co.  A,  to  Second  Lieu- 
tenant, Co.  A,  vice  Smithe,  pro- 
moted. 

30.  Sept.       6,  1864.  Cyrus    S.    Roberts,    from    Second 

Lieutenant,  Co.  K,  to  First  Lieu- 
tenant, Co.  K,  vice  Steenburgh 
resigned. 

31.  Oct.       14,1864.   Frank  Mallory,  Second  Lieutenant, 

Co.  D,  to  First  Lieutenant,  Co. 
D,  vice  Mabbett,  resigned. 

32.  Oct.       14,  1864.   Henry   J.    Hicks,    First    Sergeant, 

Co.  C,  to  Second  Lieutenant, 
Co.  C,  vice  Mallory  promoted. 

33.  Oct.       18,  1864.  William  S.  Van  Keuren,  from  First 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  495 

Lieutenant,  Co.  H,  to  Adjutant, 
vice  Cruger  promoted. 

34.  Oct.       18,  1864.  John     Fitzpatrick,     from     Second 

Lieutenant,  Co.  H,  to  First 
Lieutenant,  Co.  H,  vice  Van 
Keuren  promoted. 

35.  Oct.       18,  1864.  John   D.   Browne,   from  Sergeant- 

Major  to  Second  Lieutenant, 
Co.  H,  vice  Fitzpatrick  pro- 
moted. 

36.  Oct.       18,  1864.  S-  V-  R-  Cruger,  from  Adjutant  to 

Captain,  Co.  A,  vice  McCon- 
nell  resigned. 

37.  Dec.        I,  1864.  Henry  J.  Hicks,  from  Second  Lieu- 

tenant, Co.  C,  to  First  Lieuten- 
ant, Co.  C,  vice  Smithe  pro- 
moted.     Commission  revoked. 

38.  March    2,  1865.  Alfred  B.  Smith,  from  Lieutenant- 

Colonel  to  Colonel,  vice 
Ketcham  resigned. 

39.  March    2,  1865.  Joseph  H.  Cogswell,  from  Major 

to  Lieutenant-Colonel,  vice 
Smith  promoted. 

40.  March    2,  1865.  Henry  A.  Gildersleeve,  from  Cap- 

tain, Co.  C,  to  Major,  vice 
Cogswell  promoted. 

41.  March    2,  1865.  William  S.  Van  Keuren,  from  Ad- 

jutant to  Captain,  Co.  C,  vice 
Gildersleeve  promoted. 

42.  March    2,  1865.   Cyrus  S.  Roberts,  from  First  Lieu- 

tenant, Co.  K,  to  Adjutant,  vice 
Van  Keuren  promoted. 


496  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

43.  March  16,  1865.  Seneca    Humiston,     from    Second 

Lieutenant,  Co.  I,  to  First  Lieu- 
tenant, Co.  I,  vice  Sleight  killed 
in  action. 

44.  March  16,  1865.   Benjamin  Van  Keuren,   from  Ser- 

geant-Major to  Second  Lieu- 
tenant, Co.  K,  vice  Humiston 
promoted. 

45.  May     12,  1865.   Charles  H.  Smith,  from  First  Ser- 

geant, Co.  I,  to  Second  Lieuten- 
ant, Co.  I,  vice  Humiston,  pro- 
moted. 

Brevet    commissions    issued    by    Governor    Fenton   to 
enlisted  men  of  the  regiment. 

Sergeant  Isaac  T.  Swezey,  Co.  I,  First  Lieutenant. 

Private  Sidney  T.  Wilkinson,  Co.  D,  Second  Lieutenant. 

Sergeant  David  Malcher,  Co.  H,  Second  Lieutenant. 

Com.  Sergeant  John  M.  Case,  Second  Lieutenant. 

SPECIAL  ROLL. 

No.   14. 

Officers  who  mustered  in  with  the  regiment  and  mus- 
tered out  with  the  regiment  without  change  of  rank. 


Dr.   C.  N.   Campbell, 

Surgeon. 

William   R.  Woodin, 

Captain, 

Co. 

D. 

John  L.  Green, 

Captain, 

Co. 

F. 

Edward  A.  Wickes, 

Captain, 

Co. 

G. 

Piatt  M.  Thorne, 

Captain, 

Co. 

H. 

John  L.  Scofield, 

Captain, 

Co. 

K. 

DeWitt  C.  Underwood, 

First  Lieutenant,   Co.   G 

ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  497 

Officers  who  maintained  the  same  rank  during  the  ser- 
vice, but  who  left  the  service  before  the  regiment  blustered 
out. 

John  H.   Ketcham,  Colonel. 

Charles  G.  Bartlett,  Lieutenant-Colonel. 

Robert  McConnell,  Captain,   Co.   B. 

Andrus  Brant,  Captain,   Co.  E. 

Benjamin   S.   Broas,  Captain,   Co.   I. 

William  Thompson,  Adjutant. 

George   R.  Gaylord,  Quartermaster. 

Dr.  S.   G.   Cook,  Assistant  Surgeon. 

Henry  Pearce,  Assistant  Surgeon. 

Rev.  Thomas  E.   Vassar,       Chaplain. 
Albert  Johnson,  First  Lieutenant,   Co.   B. 

Robert  G.   Mooney,  First  Lieutenant,   Co.   D. 

Michael   Corcoran,  First  Lieutenant,   Co.   K. 

Charles  J.  Gaylord,  Second  Lieutenant,   Co.  H. 

Officers  who  left  the  service  after  promotion,  but  before 
muster-out  of  the  regiment. 

Polhemus  Bowman,  entered  service  as  Second  Lieu- 
tenant, Co.  F.      D.  F.  D.  as  First  Lieutenant,  Co.  F. 

James  P.  Mabbett,  entered  service  as  Second  Lieu- 
tenant, Co.  A.      D.  F.  D.  as  First  Lieutenant,  Co.  C. 

Wade  H.  Steenburgh,  entered  service  as  Second  Lieu- 
tenant, Co.  K.      D.  F.  D.  as  First  Lieutenant,  Co.  K. 

Officers  who  were  killed  in  action. 

Henry  Gridley,  First  Lieutenant,   Co.  A. 

David  B.   Sleight,  First  Lieutenant,   Co.   C. 

Officers  who  died  from  disease  during  the  service. 
Edward  P.  Welling,  First  Lieutenant,   Co.   C. 

Rowland  H.   Marshall,  Second  Lieutenant,    Co.    C. 

John  Sweet,  Second  Lieutenant,   Co.   G. 


498  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

SPECIAL  ROLL. 

No.   15. 

Fatal  casualties  in  battle,  or  from  wounds  received  In 
battle,  arranged  by  companies  and  In  order  of  occurrence. 

Company  A. 

(i)  John  Van  Alstyne,  killed  at  Gettysburg,  Pa., 
July  3,  1863. 

(2)  Charles  Howgate,  killed  at  Gettysburg,  Pa., 
July  3,   1863. 

(3)  Levi  Rust,  killed  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  3, 
1863. 

(4)  John  P.  Wing,  killed  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  3, 
1863. 

(5)  Henry  L.  Stone,  killed  near  Marietta,  Ga., 
June  II,  1864. 

(6)  Henry  C.  WInans,  wounded  near  Pine  Hills, 
Ga.,  June  11,  1864,  and  died  In  Nashville 
Hospital,  July  12,  1864. 

(7)  First  Lieutenant  Henry  Gridley,  killed  in  action 
at  Culp's  Farm,  Ga.,  June  22,  1864. 

(8)  John  Hart,  killed  on  picket  near  Marietta,  Ga., 
June  24,   1864. 

(9)  Willis  D.  Chamberlain,  killed  in  front  of  At- 
lanta, Ga.,  August  23,   1864, 

1)    John  Cass,  killed  at  Averasboro,  N.  C,  March 
17,   1865. 

Company  B. 

II.    (i)    Stephen  Simmons,  killed  at  Peach  Tree  Creek, 
Ga.,  July  20,   1864. 


I. 

(I) 

2. 

(2) 

3- 

(3) 

4- 

(4) 

5- 

(5) 

6. 

(6) 

7- 

(7) 

8. 

(8) 

9- 

(9) 

10. 

(10) 

ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  499 

12.  (2)  Folsom  Richardson,  died  of  wounds,  Cumber- 
land Hospital,  Nashville,  Tenn.,  August  8, 
1864.  Wounded  at  Resaca,  Ga.,  June  15, 
1864. 

13-  (3)  James  M.  Chambers,  wounded  before  Atlanta, 
Ga.,  August  2,  1864.  Died  in  hospital,  Jef- 
fersonville,  Ind.,  December  28,   1864. 

14.  (4)    William  J.  Wallin,  killed  on  skirmish  line  near 

Averasboro,  N.  C,  March   17,   1865. 

Company  C. 

15.  (i)    Tallmage  Wood,  wounded  at  Gettysburg,  July 

3,  1863.      Died  of  wounds,  July  14,  1863,  at 
Baltimore,  Md. 

16.  (2)    George  Lovelace,   killed  by  Guerillas  between 

Mulberry  and  Tullahoma,  Tenn.,  February 
II,  1864. 

17.  (3)    Henry  W.  Story,  killed  in  action  at  Dallas,  Ga., 

May  25,   1864. 

18.  (4)    William  A.  Palmatier,  killed  in  action  at  Savan- 

nah, Ga.,  December  20,  1864. 

Company  D. 

19.  (i)    Daniel  Glancey,   wounded  in  action,   June    16, 

1864.      Died  at  Pine   Knob,  Ga.,  June   17, 
1864. 

20.  (2)    James  Todd,  wounded  in  action,  June  22,  1864, 

at   Culp's   Farm,    Ga.       Died   at   Nashville, 
Tenn.,  July  26,  1864. 

Company  E. 

21.  ( I )   Judd  Murphy,  killed  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  3, 

1863. 


500 


THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 


22.  (2)    James  Elliott,  killed  in  action  at  Dallas,  Ga., 

May  25,  1864. 

23.  (3)    Samuel  Myers,  killed  in  action  at  Dallas,  Ga., 

May  25,  1864. 

24.  (4)    Isaac  I.  Blauvelt,  wounded  in  action  May  25, 

1864.     Died  May  27,  1864,  ^t  Dallas,  Ga. 
^S-    (5)    John  Sweetman,  wounded  in  action  at  Gulp's 
Farm,  Ga.,  June  22,  1864.     Died  at  Chatta- 
nooga, Tenn.,  July  3,  1864. 

26.  (6)    James  E.  Davidson,  wounded  in  action  at  Gulp's 

Farm,  Ga.,  June  22,  1864.     Died  at  Chatta- 
nooga, Tenn.,  July  10,  1864. 

27.  (7)    Bernard  Connolly,  killed  in  action  at  Peach  Tree 

Creek,  Ga.,  July  20,   1864. 

Company  F. 

28.  (i)    John  E.  Odell,  killed  by  guerillas  between  Mul- 

berry and  Tullahoma,  Tenn.,   February   11, 
1864. 

29.  (2)    Isaac  Smith,  wounded  at  Dallas,  Ga.,  May  25, 

1864.     Died    at    Peach    Tree    Creek,    Ga., 
June  4,  1864. 

30.  (3)    Henry  Sigler,  killed  on  picket  near  Marietta, 

Ga.,  June  16,  1864. 

31.  (4)    Cornelius   G.   Sparks,   killed  in  action  at  Gol- 

gotha, Ga.,  June  16,  1864. 

32.  (5)    Nathan  C.  Hedden,  wounded  in  action  before 

Atlanta,  Ga.,  July  20,  1864.     Died  at  Cum- 
berland Hospital,  Tenn.,  September  2,  1864. 

33.  (6)    John  E.  Pultz,  wounded  in  action  at  Peach  Tree 

Creek,  Ga.,  July  20,   1864.     Died  Septem- 
ber 20,  1864. 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT. 


501 


34.  (7)  John  Simon,  wounded  in  action  at  Gulp's  Farm, 
Ga.,  June  22,  1864.  Died  at  Chattanooga 
Hospital,  July  9,   1864. 

Company  G. 

(i)  Barnard  C.  Burnett,  killed  at  Gettysburg,  Pa., 
July  3,   1863. 

(2)  Thomas  Burnett,  wounded  in  action,  July  20, 
1864,  at  Peach  Tree  Creek  and  died  July  30, 
1864,  near  Atlanta. 

(3)  James  Horton,  wounded  in  action  at  Peach  Tree 
Creek,  Ga.,  July  20,  1864.  Died  August  9, 
1864. 

(4)  Thomas  W.  Wright,  wounded  in  action  in 
Resaca,  Ga.,  May  15,  1864.  Died  at  At- 
lanta Hospital,  October  22,  1864. 

(5)  Benj.  A.  Harp,  wounded  in  action  at  Resaca, 
Ga.,  May  15,  1864.  Died  September  7, 
1864. 

Company  H. 

( 1 )  John  Grad,  killed  in  action  at  Dallas,  Ga.,  May 
25,  1864. 

(2)  Noah  Wixon,  killed  in  action  near  Savannah, 
Ga.,  December  20,  1864. 

Company  I. 

( 1 )  Henry  Barnes,  wounded  at  Gettysburg,  Pa., 
July  3,   1863.      Died  July  4,   1863. 

(2)  Charles  LeClaire,  killed  at  Dallas,  Ga.,  May  25, 
1864. 

(3)  William  R.  Phelps,  killed  in  action  at  Golgotha, 
Ga.,  June  16,  1864. 


502  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

45.  (4)    Henry    Dykeman,    wounded    at    Peach    Tree 

Creek,  Ga.,  July  20,   1864.     Died  at  Chat- 
tanooga Hospital,  September  13,  1864. 

46.  (5)    First   Lieutenant   David   B.    Sleight,    killed   in 

action    at   Averasboro,    N.    C,    March    16, 
1865. 

Co7npany  K. 

47.  (i)    Richard  Hyde,  wounded  in  action  in  front  of 

Atlanta,  Ga.,  July  23,  1864.     Died  July  25, 
1864. 

SPECIAL  ROLL. 

No.   16. 

Casualties  by  death  from  disease  in  the  field  or  hospital, 
arranged  by  companies  and  in  order  of  occurrence. 

Company  A. 

1.  (i)    Andrew  J.  Winters,  died  in  a  Baltimore  hos- 

pital, August  16,  1863. 

2.  (2)    John  H.  Smith,  died  in  Field  Hospital,  Kelly's 

Ford,  Va.,  August  26,  1863. 

3.  (3)    Corporal    Albert    B.    Reed,    died   of    typhoid 

fever  on   hospital   train,    Warrenton   Junc- 
tion, Va.,  September  16,    1863. 

4.  (4)    Caleb  G.  Fowler,  died  in  a  Savannah  hospital, 

February  23,  1864. 

5.  (5)    Wilson    .\.    Odell,    died    in    a    Murfreesboro, 

Tenn.,  hospital,  September  21,   1864. 

6.  (6)    Thomas   Benham,   died  of   fever  at  Amenia, 

N.  Y.,  while  on  a  furlough,  April  i,  1865. 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  503 

Company  B. 

( 1 )  John  Carey,  died  in  a  Baltimore  hospital,  Sep- 

tember I,  1863. 

(2)  George  Pinhorn,  died  in  hospital,  Tullahoma, 

Tenn.,  March  28,  1864. 

(3)  William  Haerhold,   suicided  at  Atlanta,  Ga., 

October  20,   1864. 

(4)  James   Beach,    died   in   a    Savannah   hospital, 

February  25,    1865. 

Company  C. 

( 1 )  Philander  Worden,  died  at  Belger  Barracks, 

Baltimore,  Md.,  March  13,   1863. 

(2)  Alexander    Worden,    died    at    Camden    Street 

Hospital,     Baltimore,     Md.,     August     26, 
1863. 

(3)  Second  Lieutenant  Rowland  H.  Marshall,  died 

in  hospital,  Georgetown,  D.  C,  September 
12,  1863. 

(4)  Morgan   Place,   died  in  hospital,  Alexandria, 

Va.,  October  3,  1863. 

(5)  First  Lieutenant  Edward  P.  Welling,  died  in 

hospital,    Tullahoma,    Tenn.,    October    21, 
1863. 

(6)  Sackett    Travis,    died    at    Normandy,    Tenn., 

December  5,  1863. 

(7)  James  Murphy,  died  in  Regimental  Hospital, 

Normandy,  Tenn.,  December   10,    1863. 

(8)  John  Schoonhoven,  died  in  a  Louisville,  Ky., 

hospital,  June  28,  1864. 

(9)  Christian   Closs,   died  in  a   Chattanooga   hos- 

pital, September  12,   1864. 


504  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

20.  (10)    William  O.  Ames,  died  in  a  Savannah  hospital, 

January  25,  1865. 

21.  (11)    Smith  P.  Allen,  died  in  a  Savannah  hospital, 

February  9,  1865. 

22.  (12)    Walter  P.  Mastin,  died  in  McDougall  Hos- 

pital, N.  Y.  Harbor,  March  26,  1865. 

Company  D. 

23.  ( I )    Joseph  E.  Near,  died  in  Fairfax  Seminary  Hos- 

pital, Va.,  August  14,  1863. 

24.  (2)    Freeman   Thurston,    died   in    Field   Hospital, 

August  28,  1863. 

25-  (3)  George  Reed,  died  in  Grace  Church  Hospital, 
Alexandria,  Va.,  October  8,   1863. 

26.  (4)  Walter  Allen,  died  in  Atlanta  Hospital,  Au- 
gust 22,   1864. 

2?-  (5)  John  Porter,  died  in  hospital.  Savannah,  Ga., 
January  14,  1865. 

28.  (6)    David  Dimond,  died  in  the  field,  campaign  of 

South  Carolina,  February  20,  1865. 

Company  E. 

29.  ( I )    James  McGrath,  drowned  in  N.  Y.  Harbor, 

October  12,  1862. 

30.  (2)    Philip    Davis,    died   in   a   Baltimore   hospital, 

August  14,  1863. 

31.  (3)    Daniel    Washburn,    died    at    Point    Lookout, 

Md.,  September  26,  1863. 

32.  (4)    Jacob  Benson,  died  at  Normandy,  Tenn.,  De- 

cember 18,   1863. 
33-      (5)    Robert  Watts,  died  in  Chattanooga  Hospital, 
August  27,  1864. 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT. 


505 


34.  (6)    Arthur  Sloan,  died  in  a  Chattanooga  hospital, 

August  30,   1864. 

35.  (7)    Silas  B.  Stage,  died  in  a  Chattanooga  hospital, 

October  3,   1864. 

36.  (8)    Joshua   Leonard,    died    in    a    Louisville,    Ky., 

hospital,  November  24,  1864. 

Company  F. 

37.  ( I )    James  W.  O'Neil,  died  in  a  Baltimore  hospital, 

December  17,   1862. 

38.  (2)    John   McKenney,   died   at   hospital,    Philadel- 

phia, Pa.,  January  14,  1863. 

39.  (3)    Henry  C.  Muller,  died  in  Camden  Street  Hos- 

pital, Baltimore,  Md.,  May  30,  1863. 

40.  (4)    Richard   Hapeman,   died   in   Jarvis   Hospital, 

Baltimore,  Md.,  August  25,   1863. 

41.  (5)    Martin   Leyden,   died   in  hospital    (name   un- 

known), July  17,    1864. 

42.  (6)    John  Ryan,  died  in  Nashville  Hospital,  July 

19,  1864. 

43.  (7)    Ezra  A.  Stickel,  died  at  Raleigh,  N.  C,  May 

17,  1865. 

Company  G. 

44.  ( I )    Henry  H.  A.  Wilcox,  died  at  Belger  Barracks, 

Baltimore,  Md.,  April   10,   1863. 

45.  (2)    Lafayette  Sherlock,  died  in  Browne  Hospital, 

Louisville,  Ky.,  July  8,  1864. 

46.  (3)    Second  Lieutenant  John  Sweet,   died  at  20th 

Army   Corps   Field  Hospital,   Big  Shanty, 
Ga.,  August  13,  1864. 

47.  (4)    Thomas  G.  Travers,  died  in  20th  Corps  Hos- 

pital, Atlanta,  Ga.,  September  28,  1864. 


THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 


(5 

(6 

(7 


William  H.  Foster,  captured  on  Sherman's 
Campaign.  Died  at  Florence,  S.  C,  Jan- 
uary 31,   1865. 

Albert  W.  Townsend,  captured  and  died  at 
Florence,  S.  C,  January  31,  1865. 

Edward  Williams,  died  June  11,  1865  (no 
other  record). 


Company  H. 

( 1 )  Nathaniel  Barrett,  died  in  Chattanooga  Hos- 
pital, May  12,  1864. 

(2)  Patrick     Reagan,     died     in     Field     Hospital, 
Resaca,  Ga.,  May  22,  1864. 

(3)  William  McCarthy,  died  in  hospital,  Chatta- 
nooga, Tenn.,  May  28,  1864. 

(4)  Charles  H.  Wicker,   died  In  Field  Hospital, 
Atlanta,  Ga.,  August  8,  1864. 

(5)  Thomas  Madden,  died  in  Field  Hospital,  At- 
lanta, Ga.,  September  22,  1864. 

Company  I. 

(i)    Charles  E.  Palmatier,  died  in  hospital,  Belger 
Barracks,  Baltimore,  Md.,  April  2,    1863. 

(2)  Milton    Odell,    died   in   hospital,    TuUahoma, 
Tenn.,  April  18,  1864. 

(3)  James  Whalen,  died  In  a  Nashville  hospital, 
August  15,  1864. 

(4)  John  S.  Mead,  ciied  at  Poughkeepsie,  October 

15,   1862. 

Company  K. 

60.      ( I )    George  A.  Wagner,  died  in  Alexandria,  Va., 
October  10,  1863. 


ROSTER  OF  REGIMENT.  507 

6i.      (2)    Michael  Burns,  died  in  20th  Army  Corps  Hos- 
pital, Atlanta,  Ga.,  September  23,  1864. 

RECAPITULATION. 

Special  Roll  No.  15. 

Co.  A 10  Co.  F 7 

Co.  B 4  Co.  G 5 

Co.  C 4  Co.  H 2 

Co.  D 2  Co.  1 5 

Co.  E 7  Co.  K I 

Total  killed  and  died  of  wounds 47 

RECAPITULATION. 
Special  Roll  No.  16. 

Co.  A 6              Co.  F 7 

Co.  B 4              Co.  G 7 

Co.  C 12              Co.  H 5 

Co.  D 6              Co.  1 4 

Co.  E 8              Co.  K 2 

Total  deaths  from  disease 61 

RECAPITULATION. 

Rolls  Nos.  15  and  16. 

Co.  A 16  Co.  F 14 

Co.  B 8  Co.  G 12 

Co.  C 16  Co.  H 7 

Co.  D 8  Co.  I 9 

Co.  E 15  Co.  K 3 

Total  killed  and  died  of  disease 108 


MISCELLANEOUS. 

PRESIDENT   LINCOLN'S   ADDRESS   AT   GETTYS- 
BURG, NOVEMBER  19,  1863. 

"Four  score  and  seven  years  ago,  our  Fathers  brought 
forth  upon  this  continent  a  new  Nation,  conceived  in  Liberty 
and  dedicated  to  the  proposition  that  all  men  are  created 
equal.  Now  we  are  engaged  in  a  great  Civil  War ;  testing 
whether  that  Nation,  or  any  Nation  so  conceived  and  so 
dedicated,  can  long  endure.  We  are  met  on  a  great  battle- 
field of  that  war.  We  have  come  to  dedicate  a  portion  of 
that  field  as  a  final  resting-place  for  those  who  here  gave 
their  lives  that  that  Nation  might  live.  It  is  altogether  fitting 
and  proper  that  we  should  do  this. 

But  in  a  larger  sense,  we  cannot  dedicate — we  cannot  con- 
secrate— we  cannot  hallow — this  ground.  The  brave  men, 
living  and  dead,  who  struggled  here,  have  consecrated  it  far 
above  our  power  to  add  or  detract.  The  world  will  little 
note,  nor  long  remember,  what  we  say  here,  but  it  can  never 
forget  what  they  did  here.  It  is  for  us,  the  living,  rather, 
to  be  here  dedicated  to  the  unfinished  work  which  they  who 
fought  here  have  thus  far  so  nobly  advanced.  It  is  rather 
for  us  to  be  here  dedicated  to  the  great  task  remaining  be- 
fore us, — that  from  these  honored  dead  we  take  increased 
devotion  to  that  cause  for  which  they  gave  the  last  full  meas- 
ure of  devotion — that  we  here  highly  resolve  that  these  dead 
shall  not  have  died  in  vain — that  this  Nation,  under  God, 
shall  have  a  new  birth  of  freedom — and  that  government  of 
the  people,  by  the  people,  for  the  people,  shall  not  perish  from 
the  earth. 

"Abraham  Lincoln." 


MISCELLANEOUS.  509 

"Executive  Mansion, 
"Washington,  January  26,  1863. 
"Major-General  Hooker: 

"General  :  I  have  placed  you  at  the  head  of  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac.  Of  course  I  have  done  this  upon  what  appear 
to  me  to  be  sufficient  reasons,  and  yet  I  think  it  best  for  you 
to  know  that  there  are  some  things  in  regard  to  which  I  am 
not  quite  satisfied  with  you. 

"I  beheve  you  to  be  a  brave  and  skilful  soldier,  which  of 
course  I  like. 

"I  also  believe  you  do  not  mix  politics  with  your  profes- 
sion, in  which  you  are  right. 

"You  have  confidence  in  yourself,  which  is  a  valuable  if  not 
an  indispensable  quality. 

"You  are  ambitious,  which,  within  reasonable  bounds,  does 
good  rather  than  harm ;  but  I  think  that  during  General  Burn- 
side's  command  of  the  army  you  have  taken  counsel  of  your 
ambition  and  thwarted  him  as  much  as  you  could,  in  which 
you  did  a  great  wrong  to  the  country  and  to  a  most  meri- 
torious and  honorable  brother  officer. 

"I  have  heard,  in  such  a  way  as  to  believe  it,  of  your  re- 
cently saying  that  both  the  army  and  the  government  needed 
a  dictator.  Of  course  it  was  not  for  this,  but  in  spite  of  it, 
that  I  have  given  you  the  command.  Only  those  generals 
who  gain  successes  can  set  up  dictators.  What  I  now  ask  of 
you  is  military  success,  and  I  will  risk  the  dictatorship.  The 
government  will  support  you  to  the  utmost  of  its  ability,  which 
is  neither  more  nor  less  than  it  has  done  and  will  do  for  all 
commanders.  I  much  fear  that  the  spirit  which  you  have 
aided  to  infuse  into  the  army,  of  criticizing  their  commander 
and  withholding  confidence  from  him,  will  now  turn  upon 
you.  I  shall  assist  you  as  far  as  I  can  to  put  it  down.  Neither 
you  nor  Napoleon,  if  he  were  alive  again,  could  get  any  good 
out  of  an  army  while  such  a  spirit  prevails  in  it.  And  now 
beware  of  rashness ;  beware  of  rashness,  but  with  energy  and 
sleepless   vigilance   go   forward   and   give  us  victories. 

"Yours  very  truly, 

"A.  Lincoln/' 


510  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

THE  BIVOUAC  OF  THE  DEAD. 
(Written  by  Theodore  O'Hara  in  1847.) 

The  muffled  drum's  sad  roll  has  beat 

The  soldier's  last  tattoo; 
No  more  on  life's  parade  shall  meet 

That  brave  and  fallen  few. 
On  fame's  eternal  camping  ground 

Their  silent  tents  are  spread, 
And  glory  guards,  with  solemn  round, 

The  bivouac  of  the  dead. 

No  rumor  of  the  foe's  advance. 

Now  swells  upon  the  wind; 
No  troubled  thoughts  at  midnight  haunts 

Of  loved  ones  left  behind : 
No  vision  of  the  morrow's  strife 

The  warrior's  dream  alarms; 
No  braying  horn  nor  screaming  fife 

At  dawn  shall  call  to  arms. 

Their  shivered  swords  are  red  with  rust, 

Their  plumed  heads  are  bowed; 
Their  haughty  banner,  trailed  in  dust, 

Is  now  their  martial  shroud. 
And  plenteous  funeral  tears  have  washed 

The  red  stains  from  each  brow. 
And  the  proud  forms,  by  battle  gashed, 

Are  free  from  anguish  now. 

The  neighing  troop,  the  flashing  blade. 

The  bugle's  stirring  blast; 
The  charge,  the  dreadful  cannonade. 

The  din  and  shout,  are  passed ; 
Nor  war's  wild  note  nor  glory's  peal 

Shall  thrill  with  fierce  delight 
Those  breasts  that  nevermore  may  feel 

The  rapture  of  the  fight. 


MISCELLANEOUS.  511 

Like  the  fierce  northern  hurricane 

That  sweeps  his  great  plateau, 
Flushed  with  the  triumph  yet  to  gain, 

Came  down  the  serried  foe. 
Who  heard  the  thunder  of  the  fray 

Break  o'er  the  field  beneath, 
Knew  well  the  watchword  of  that  day 

Was  "victory  or  death." 

Long  had  the  doubtful  conflict  raged 

O'er  all  the  stricken  plain, 
For  never  fiercer  fight  had  waged 

The  vengeful  blood  of  Spain; 
And  still  the  storm  of  battle  blew, 

Still  swelled  the  gory  tide ; 
Not  long  our  stout  old  chieftain  knew 

Such  odds  his  strength  could  bide. 

'Twas  in  that  hour  his  stern  command 

Called  to  a  martyr's  grave 
The  flower  of  his  beloved  land. 

The  nation's  flag  to  save. 
By  rivers  of  their  father's  gore 

His  first-born  laurels  grew. 
And  well  he  deemed  the  sons  would  pour 

Their  lives  for  glory,  too. 

Full  many  a  norther's  breath  has  swept 

O'er  Angostura's  plain — 
And  long  the  pitying  sky  has  wept 

Above   its   mouldered   slain. 
The  raven's  scream  or  eagle's  fight. 

Or  shepherd's  pensive  lay 
Alone  awakes  each  sullen  height 

That  frowned  o'er  that  dread  fray. 


512  THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 

Sons  of  the  dark  and  bloody  ground, 

Ye  must  not  slumber  there, 
Where  stranger  steps  and  tongues  resound 

Along  the  heedless  air. 
Your  own  proud  land's  heroic  soil 

Shall  be  your  fitter  grave; 
She  claims  from  war  his  richest  spoil — 

The  ashes  of  her  brave. 

Thus  'neath  their  parent  turf  they  rest, 

Far  from  the  gory  field, 
Borne  to  a  Spartan  mother's  breast 

On  many  a  bloody  shield; 
The  sunshine  of  their  native  sky 

Smiles  sadly  on  them  here. 
And  kindred  eyes  and  hearts  watch  by 

The  heroes'  sepulchre. 

Rest  on,  embalmed  and  sainted  dead ! 

Dear  as  the  blood  ye  gave; 
No  impious  footsteps  here  shall  tread 

The  herbage  of  your  grave; 
Nor  shall  your  glory  be  forgot 

While  fame  her  record  keeps, 
Or  honor  paints  the  hallowed  spot 

Where  valor  proudly  sleeps. 

Yon  marble  minstrel's  voiceless  stone 

In  deathless  song  shall  tell, 
When  many  a  vanished  age  hath  flown, 

The  story  how  ye  fell. 
Nor  wreck,  nor  change,  nor  winter's  blight. 

Nor  time's  remorseless  doom. 
Shall  dim  one  ray  of  glory's  light 

That  gilds  your  deathless  tomb. 


The    losses   of   Officers 
Union   Army,    have    been 
experienced    statistician  in 
show: 

Killed  or  died  of  wounds 
Died  of  disease 
Drowned         .... 
Other  accidental  deaths 
Murdered        .... 
Killed  after  capture 
Committed  suicide     . 
Executed         .... 
Executed  by  enemy 
Died  from  sunstroke 
Other  known  causes 
Causes   not  stated 

Totals 


and  Men,  and  the  causes,  in  the 
tabulated  by  Mr.  J.  W.  Kirkley,  an 
the    Adjutant-General's    office,    and 


Officers 

Men 

Aggregate 

6,365 

103,673 

110,038 

2,795 

221,791 

224,586 

106 

4,838 

4,944 

142 

3.972 

4,114 

37 

487 

514 

14 

86 

100 

26 

365 

391 

.... 

267 

267 

4 

60 

64 

5 

308 

313 

62 

1,972 

2,034 

28 

12,093 

12,121 

9,584     349.912    359,496 


GENERAL   STATISTICS 


Comparative  Statement  of  the  Number  of  Men  Furnished,  and 
of  the  Deaths  in  the  Union  Army  during  the  War 


MEN  FURNISHED 

STATES,  TERRITORIES,  &c. 

White 
Troops 

Sailors  and 
Marines 

Colored 
Troops 

In- 
dians 

Total 

Aggre- 
gate of 
deaths 

2,576 

8,289 
15,725 

4,903 

51,937 

206 

11,236 

11,912 

1,390 

2,576 

8,289 
15.725 

4,903 
55,864 
206 
12,284 
16,534 

1,290 

345 

1,713 
57S 

California 

2J63 

94 

1,353 

333 

Connecticut 

Dakota 

1,764 

954 

3,269 

5,354 
6 

Delaware 

882 

290 

Florida 

215 

Georgia  

15 

Illinois 

255,057 

193,748 

76,797 

18,069 

51,743 

5,224 

64,973 

33,995 

122,781 

85,479 

23,913 

545 

100,616 

3,157 

1,080 

33,930 

67,500 

6,561 

409,561 

3,156 

304,814 

1,810 

315,017 

19,521 

31,092 

1,965 

32,549 

2,224 

1,078 

5 

1,811 

1,557 

440 

2,080 

23,703 

250,092 

196.363 

76,242 

20,149 

75,760 

5,224 

70.107 

46,638 

146.73C 

87,364 

24,020 

545 

109,111 

3,157 

1,080 

33,937 

76,814 

6,561 

448,850 

3,156 

313,180 

1,810 

3«7,936 

23,236 

31,092 

1,965 

33,288 

34,834 

26,672 

Iowa 

13,001 

Kansas 

2,630 

Kentucky 

314 

10,774 
945 

Maine 

Maryland          

5,030 

3,925 

19,983 

498 

3 

151 

104 
8,719 
3.966 
1,387 

104 

9,398 
2.982 

Massachusetts 

13  942 

14,753 

Minnesota 

2,584 

Mississippi 

78 

Missouri 

8  344 

13,885 
239 

Nevada 

33 

New  Hampshire 

882 
8,129 

125 
1,185 

4,882 

5,754 

277 

35,164 

4,125 

46,534 

360 

Ohio  

3,274 

' " "  '14,307 

1,878 

5,092 

h',6n 

1,837 



35,475 

45 

Rhode  Island .  

Tennessee ....        

33,183 
1,321 
6,777 

Texas 

619 

120 

141 

5,224 

Virginia 

42 

964 
31,872 
91,029 



i96 

165 

'.,  '3,536 

964 

32,068 

91,327 

3,530 

99.337 

22 

West  Virginia 

4,017 

Wisconsin     

133 

12,801 

Indian  Nations 

1,018 

99,337 

36,847 

1,672 

Corps) 

106 

552 

Gen'l  and  Qen'l  Staff  Officers  U. 

243 

239 

Miscel's   U.   S.    Vols,    (brigade 

332 

Regular  Army 

5,978 

Qrand  aggregate 

2  494,592 

101,207 

178,975 

3,530 

2,778,304 

359,528