A
F
13l7
0607-J
/ 9 IS
Onondaga Historical 1
Association
A
ANNUAL VOLUME
of the
Onondaga Historical Association
1915
Onondaga's Part in the Civil War
by
MRS. SARAH SUMNER TEALL
These papers were collected by Mrs. Teall as a tribute
to the courage and faithfulness of the men and
women of Onondaga County during
our great National crisis.
Arranged for Publication by Dr. E. P. Tanner of Syracuse
University and Miss Alice E. Northrup.
Committee of Publication of the Onondaga Historical
Association: Franklin H. Chase and
Rev. Dr. William M. Beauchamp.
THE DEHLER PRESS «*%&» 476 S. SALINA ST.
CIVIL WAR REMINISCENCES
WAR SCENES IN SYRACUSE AND ONONDAGA
COUNTY IN THE SPRING AND SUMMER OF 1861.
The call to arms which followed the firing upon Fort
Sumter found an echo in every loyal heart. Thousands
offered their services. On the 15th of April, 1861, Presi-
dent Lincoln called for 75,000 militia volunteers for three
months' service, and it was supposed the rebellion would
be put down in that time.
Within two weeks after the call 350,000 men had offered
their services to the government, New York furnishing
14,000 men under the first call. Of these Onondaga County
sent her full share of about forty representative young men,
some papers say fifty, besides those in Skaneateles who vol-
unteered in Auburn. Here is an account I found in an old
paper. Nothing better nor more worthy could be said of
any men :
"Certain members of Company D. of the 51st Regiment
of N. Y. S. V., left their old company, the Greys, and formed
the Syracuse Zouaves, an independent organization. They
seem bound to carry out the stringent resolves which they
have imposed upon themselves. They show a determina-
tion to emulate the famous Chicago cadets in their military
discipline. The company has adopted a strict system of
drilling. They have a drill at their quarters in the Armory
at 8 o'clock every evening. At ten o'clock the lights are
put out; taps sounded. These soldiers — wrapped in rough
blankets — sleep perhaps on the floor in the next room. At
5 o'clock in the morning reveille sounds. Everybody is
promptly in line for the morning drill, at the conclusion of
which each goes to his daily business. This severe dis-
cipline is to be continued two weeks, and to be continued
at intervals, until the Company reaches the first rank in
military art."
"This Zouave company is composed of some of the most
correct, moral and upright young gentlemen of the city.
Active, industrious, resolute, they have adopted a system of
conduct by which they will be governed, of most rigorous
morals and strict self-discipline, and have scrupulously lived
4 THE ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
up to it, until they present an appearance of high health and
activity, approaching the perfection of manhood. This
example is a valuable one to our young men, and our com-
munity should give them every encouragement which such
an example merits. Captain John Butler has been the
leader of this movement. Courteous, magnanimous and
kind, he has attached his associates to him by the strongest
bonds of friendship and respect. The citizens will honor
themselves by the encouragement they give to so worthy a
body of exemplary young men."
COMPLETE ROSTER OF "BUTLER'S SYRACUSE
ZOUAVES."
Organized July, 1860.
Capt. Jno. G. Butler
First Lieut. Samuel E.
Thompson
Second Lieut. Edwin S.
Jenney
Orderly Serg't . Henry C.
Thompson
Jno. P. Spanier, Bugler
Robt. Trowbridge, Judge
Advocate
Thos. McMahon, Reporter
Austin, Wm. A.
Ballard, Leon H.
Belden, Jas. L.
Bishop, Alonzo L.
Blackwell, Wm. H.
Burdick, Chas. H.
Chase, Durfee C.
Coatsworth, Ed. E.
Duncan, Wm. A.
Gale, Henry
Goss, Henry
Griffin, Rhesa, Jr.
Havens, George
Hamilton, Henry H.
Hopkins, Wm. E.
Ketcham, F. Douglas
Kingsbury, Jno. T.
Larrabee, Wm. H.
Manchester, Geo. W.
Middleton, Hugh
Morgan, Geo.
Morgan, Robt.
Moseley, Wm. H.
Mickells, Lovell G.
O'Neil, Jas. F.
Paine, Robt.
Phillips, Jno. J.
Shaver, Frank J.
Snell, J. Marvin
Stern, Moses
Stoddard, Chas. E.
Stoddard, Henry-
Sweeting, J. Henry
Tarcott, Henry
Tracy, Wm. G.
Weaver, F. Wellington
Wells, J. Emmett
Wicks, Jay M.
Williams, Jno. T.
CIVIL WAR REMINISCENCES 5
Mrs. A. Judd Northrup describes the departure of
Butler's Zouaves from Syracuse, as follows :
"I recall the scene as I witnessed it, of the departure of
Capt. Butler and his company of brave Zouaves, on a
pleasant morning in the early spring of 1861.
"The first N. Y. Central station was yet standing. It
covered the tracks and filled in the space between Warren
and Salina streets. This structure was a dark grey, either
from paint or age, with arched openings at either end.
"The train had come in from the west, and its engine
stood snorting just beyond the eastern opening. Good byes
had been said — the soldiers of the company were seated in
the train — but on the rear platform were Captain Butler
and other officers. I stood on the northwest corner of
Salina street when the train began to pull out and the
picture is still vivid to me, as that group of brave men were
for a moment framed in the arch of the old station house.
"Captain Butler, in the strength of his young manhood,
stood with bared head. His clear-cut features and yellow,
curling hair shone with distinctness against the background
of the car, while he held in his hand the staff of a large flag
which had just been presented to him. The train started,
the wind caught the folds of the flag, which fluttered above
him and the other brave boys standing with him, and they
were gone. It is only like a flash light picture in my
memory, but as such is distinct and speaks for what it
meant, for them and our country."
The Syracuse Zouaves were incorporated in the Third
Regiment, New York Volunteers, as Company D of that
organization.
Here is a newspaper article on the departure of the
Third from New York City:
"After many vexatious delays, they managed to get off
in the steamer James Alger. A big crowd collected in State
Street, as men filed out of the Battery and marched up
Broadway, they were received with loud cheers and great
demonstrations of approval. (It is astonishing how ready
we all are to urge other people to do their duty. Mr. Beecher
used to say, there was nothing he so much enjoyed as sitting
in the shade and telling the other men how to mow hay.)
After marching up Broadway the regiment wheeled at The
Park, and marched through Park Row, down Broadway
6 THE ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
again, and embarked at Pier No. 4 North River. This regi-
ment had a fine band." As usual on the departure of
troops, much delay was found in mustering the men to-
gether, transporting the baggage, etc. (The people here in
town used to complain of what they called the slow move-
ments of troops. Mrs. Kirby Smith used to say, "Could
you ever get a picnic party all ready at the same time.")
The newspaper goes on to say, "For marching and
soldier-like appearance few regiments equal the 3rd N. Y.
Volunteers ; while in a physical point of view, Colonel Town-
send has every reason to feel proud of the stalwart fellows
by whom he is surrounded."
Captain James D. Phillips of the steamer Alger said,
"Having had much experience in the transportation of
troops, I have never yet met with a better behaved or
better disciplined body of men, while on shipboard, than the
3rd N. Y. Volunteers. Although it numbered nine hundred
men, who were very much crowded, besides having very
disagreeable weather during the passage, not a complaint
was heard; on the contrary the men seemed determined to
look on the bright side. When a body of men, of their
station and character, are placed in a position where noth-
ing but hardships can be expected, and they are firm and
steady, it speaks more for them than volumes of praise or
days of camp life could ever do."
This regiment was landed on "the Sacred Soil" of Vir-
ginia at an oyster dock about four miles from Fortress
Monroe, near what is now known as The Hampton Indian
School. The men had been on short rations: a sandwich
made cf h?.If-cooked pork between two pieces of hard tack
was their last frugal meal. They were marched along a
sandy beach, wet from the returning tide, each succeeding
footstep sinking deeper into puddles of water. But a cheer-
fulness spread through the ranks, when Captain Butler's
company struck up, in derision, the slogan of the South,
which the sandy path had brought to mind :
" 'Way down South, in the land of cotton,
C innamon seed and sandy bottom,
Look away, look away, look away;
Dixie's land."
The regiment was marched into a wide corn field. Only
a few tents had been Ditched when darkness came as a pall,
CIVIL WAR REMINISCENCES 7
bringing one of Virginia's blackest thunder storms. The
rain fell in torrents. The men, rolled in blankets, had lain
down between the old corn hillocks to get some much needed
rest, but soon found themselves almost afloat in their hard
beds.
They remained in their camp, drilling and doing picket
duty, until the 10th of June, 1861, was fought the first battle
of the war at Big Bethel. When volunteers were called for
as skirmishers, Captain Butler and Captain Jenney offered
the services of their companies, the first skirmish line
thrown out in the war of the Rebellion. Halej, of Com-
pany D, Zouaves, was the first man wounded, losing an arm.
After the battle the regiment returned to its old camp,
remaining there till just before the first battle of Bull Run,
when it was ordered to join the main army.
The news of the disaster at Bull Run caused a change
of orders. The 3rd N. Y. Volunteers were ordered to Balti-
more and garrisoned Fort McHenry. Companies were
often detailed to watch for small boats, blockade runners,
which were certainly carrying supplies to the Southern
army, quinine being one of the most needed articles.
I cannot follow more particularly the history of Com-
pany D and the 3rd Regiment. It was that of all other
companies. The ranks were thinned by sickness and death,
new men took the places of old ones. But a number served
through their two years; several were promoted; quite a
number re-enlisted for the war, taking their honorable part
in the last grand review of the whole army in Pennsylvania
Avenue, Washington. A grander sight this world has never
seen, perhaps never can again.
Here is the Roll of Honor which should ever be kept in
grateful remembrance in this community:
Captain John G. Butler, still living in Syracuse.
First Lieutenant Charles H. Burdick.
Ensign Jay M. Wicks, killed at Chapin's farm.
First Sergeant A. L. Bishop.
Second Sergeant F. Wellington Weaver, lives in Syra-
cuse, and was promoted to a Captaincy.
Third Sergeant H. Middleton.
Fourth Sergeant J. M. Snell.
First Corporal R. Griffin, Engineer, City of Syracuse.
Second Corporal W. A. Austin.
Third Corporal George Manchester.
Fourth Corporal William G. Tracy.
THE ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
PRIVATES.
J. Allen
E. H. Alvord
E. H. Behan
M. Breen
J. Brame
Seely Brown
T. K. Brown
W. Bowers
W. Chidister
C. Cornell
A. Cook
J. Campbell
T. Cronley
H. Cullin, a brave soldier
H. Denning
Frank Shaver
T. J. Sheldon
N. Shirer
J. H. Smith, re-enlisted
J. Spalding, deputy marshal
H. Soules
H. Turny
F. Vickerman
T. J. Williams
W. H. Wright
W. Wright
D. Woodworth
Emmet Wells
0. Warmer
G. C. Haven
J. J. Heron
C. Harding
George Bowen
Geo. Fordham, Captain, etc.
W. Hale, English soldier, lost
his arm at Big Bethel.
J. Griffin
William Goodrich, joined N.
Y. Artillery
L. Holmes
J. Hisley
William Harnley
J. Hobert
H. Jerome
W. H. H. Jones
E. D. Ketcham
E. D. Kinne
0. Keats
H. Kelsey
L. G. Mickles
William Moriley
P. Mirtues, a good soldier.
E. Morgan, a good soldier.
J. Mitchell
T. McKay
T. Nye
N. Larance
J. J. Phillips, in Postoffice of
Solvay.
C. A. Phillips
R. B. Philps
O. H. Parker
T. Pickham
C. Robinson
Samuel Stapley
J. H. Fesenmeyer
A. Fesenmeyer
The Fesenmeyers with two others came from Geddes.
Meanwhile the citizens of Syracuse had been taking
their full share in the patriotic activities and duties which
the war brought. Let us note a few of the stirring incidents
which marked the time.
On Sunday, April 21st, most of the preachers in the
CIVIL WAR REMINISCENCES 9
churches spoke on the national crisis, and many men and
women wore Union badges.
On the 22nd of April, 1861, a great war mass meeting
was held in Syracuse. The speakers were Judge Charles
Andrews, Thomas G. Alvord, Hon. Dennis McCarthy,
General B. F. Bruce, Captain Silas Titus, Charles B. Sedg-
wick, Major Peck and others. Rev. Mr. Talmadge gave the
benediction.
The next day, April 23rd, the Common Council appro-
priated $10,000 for aid to families of volunteers. In the
Syracuse Journal of April 24th appeared the appeal:
"Work for the Ladies. May I be permitted to ask the
patriotic ladies of Syracuse for their aid in preparing
bandages and lint for those who may be wounded in their
country's service?
"It would be well for the ladies to organize themselves
into a society and systematize their labor, thus making
it more efficient. The best material from which to make
bandages are sheets that have been in use The
bandages (must be) rolled up tightly Lint may be
made from fine old table-cloths, and napkins (Dr.)
R. W. Pease."
There was a club formed, called "The Ladies Flag Club."
that met in the committee room of the Salt Company in the
Clinton Block.
On the evening of April 26th, '61, there was a general
mass meeting of representative Syracuse women, held in
the parlors of the old Syracuse House. At that meeting
a society called the "Daughters of Liberty," was organized.
There were one hundred and fifty women present and
the following officers were chosen :
President Mrs. E. W. Leavenworth
Vice-President Mrs. H. W. Chittenden
Secretary Mrs. I. S. Spencer
Treasurer Mrs. John B. Burnet
The following committees were appointed:
1st Ward— Mrs. T. J. Leach, Mrs. T. H. Hinton, Miss
Mary Bissell, Miss Nettie Van Vleck.
No committee for second ward.
3rd Ward — Mrs. William A. Judson, Mrs. William C.
Finck, Miss Carrie Wallace, Miss Frances Gifford.
4th Ward — Mrs. Thomas B. Heermans, Mrs. George
10 THE ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
H. Middleton, Miss Cordelia Cogswell, Miss Amelia Thurber.
5th Ward — Mrs. E. Augustus Putnam, Mrs. E. N. Har-
ris, Miss Kate B. Mickles, Miss Julia Baldwin.
6th Ward — Mrs. Judge Sanford, Mrs. William Jackson,
Miss Mattie Brintnall, Miss Jennie Alexander.
7th Ward— Mrs. T. B. Fitch, Mrs. George Goodrich,
Miss Jennie Shankland, Miss Gertrude Hillis.
8th Ward — Mrs. James L. Bagg, Mrs. Calvin B. Gay,
Miss Stone, Miss Bonta.
Purchasing Committee — Mrs. B. Filkins, Mrs. Allen
Butler.
On motion of Mrs. Rosa Smith it was resolved — "That
the ladies of this Association hold themselves in readiness
to fill any position of usefulness to their country and its
defenders, and to give all aid and assistance in their power,
during the continuance of the war, not in conflict with their
duty to home and family." This resolution was adopted.
A room in the Clinton Block was offered by Mrs. Robert
Townsend. The committee for preparing work met there.
It was open all hours of the day.
A call for two shirts and a flannel shirt for each volun-
teer of Col. Walrath's regiment, was answered by the mer-
chants as well as the ladies, the former agreeing to provide
all material that the women would sew. The click of the
sewing machine was in the air, and the ladies worked at
their knitting as assiduously as men do to color their
meerschaums. There was no real strife in their work, for
all were interested in the same object. The work was. so
organized that much was done.
Work Bags for Soldiers. — An officer writes that needle-
cases (he calls them work-bags) are more necessary for
soldiers than shirts and uniforms, and gives the following
instructions for building a work bag: — "The bag should
be made of new calico, (who ever heard of a woman having
a calico needle case), with double compartments (we call
them pockets) for each article, so that they may be easily
got at. It should contain one pair round pointed scissors,
\no ripping to be done), one paper carpet needles, two
darning needles, one skein blue or grey yarn, three hanks
black linen thread, one spool strong brown thread, two
skeins black silk, six dozen porcelain shirt buttons, a piece
of wax, one piece of grey twilled tape, two pieces of white
CIVIL WAR REMINISCENCES 11
tape, a needle case made of new delaine, small, plain and
strong, filled with needles and half a paper of pins." Evi-
dently this is not for fancy work.
This Report of The Daughters of Liberty was made
June 26th, 1861 :
Flannel shirts made and sent to the Onondaga regiment. 630
Havelocks made and sent 800
Towels made and sent 400
Flannel shirts for Captain Butler's Zouaves 74
Havelocks made and sent to Captain Thompson's Zouaves 76
Work bags 300
Money received $1039.96
Money expended 1032.96
Mrs. John B. Burnet, Treasurer.
All the women who were not sewing were knitting.
The knitting needle was as important as the sword. Mrs.
Redfield, although almost blind, knit over a hundred pairs
of socks for soldiers. The women all over this county were
doing the same things.
Daily Journal— May 9th, 1861. "What the Daughters of
Liberty have done up to last evening. They had finished
six hundred and seventy four flannel shirts, made of good
flannel, blue and grey. With each shirt was a neat little
work-bag. One lady made over one hundred and fifty
of these bags. The ladies who have joined in this patriotic
and benevolent work are entitled to great praise. It will be
a sufficient recompense to them to know that the volunteers
fully appreciate their labors.
To go back a few days. A concert was given by Mr.
Ernst Held and his pupils on the evening of April 18th,
1861. Just before the close of the concert Mr. Held an-
nounced that, instead of the piece on the programme, the
"Star-Spangled Banner" would be sung. He was inter-
rupted by rounds of applause and for a few minutes could
not be heard, but finally made the audience understand that
he wished them to join in the chorus.
When Miss Lottie McLane appeared, carrying the stars
and stripes, she was greeted with thunders of applause.
The building rang with shouts and cries of "Hurrah,"
"Hurrah." At the beginning of the song the audience rose
en masse and at the end of each verse joined in the chorus.
At the conclusion of the song some men proposed three
12 THE ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
cheers for the old flag. The flag was waved, and three
such cheers had never before been heard in Wieting Hall.
Simultaneously with the appeal for the soldiers came
that for interest in the families of volunteers. This work,
too, was taken up with vigor by the "Daughters of Liberty."
Among the most prominent workers in this society were
Mrs. Hamilton White, Mrs. William D. Stewart, Mrs. Har-
low Chittenden, Mrs. William Jackson, Mrs. T. B. Heer-
mans, Mrs. Seymour H. Stone, Mrs. Charles Davis, Mrs.
Oliver T. Burt, Mrs. Matthew Murphy, Mrs. Silas Titus,
Mrs. D. P. Wood, and a host of others. In every section
of the town, in every church society, coteries of ladies
formulated work and labored hard and well for the general
good cause.
A great musical entertainment was given on Wednesday
evening, April 24th, for the benefit of the families of the
Volunteers. It was a great success. Towards the close of
the concert Mrs. Dr. Stuart, in behalf of the ladies of Syra-
cuse, presented a beautiful silk flag to Colonel Walrath for
the 12th regiment. As she spoke she stood with it draped
around her. Col. Walrath received the flag and pledged
his regiment to defend it, which they did, and brought it
home with them.
A young lady of that day writes:
"It was difficult to realize in Syracuse, in the early
sixties, that a terrible and cruel civil war was upon us.
It was all excitement and enthusiasm, in seeing our bravest
and best making ready to start for the scene of conflict.
The women were not idle, they met morning after morning
to sew, and prepare lint and bandages to send wherever
needed.
"And the younger element made a diversion of the duty,
and many afternoons, instead of the four o'clock Tea's of
the present day, the gay society girls met to sew for
"The boys in blue." The young men would be invited for
supper, and the evening would be spent in dancing, and
with as light hearts, as if there was no Cruel War in
prospect.
"Each girl opened her house in turn for the sake of
patriotism. Many were the surmises of the girls as to who
would wear the articles made by them. We spent hours
and days in making the white linen Havelocks, which were
CIVIL WAR REMINISCENCES 13
to protect the heads of our brave soldiers from the intense
rays of the sun, but history tells us they were never used
by them, except as pocket handkerchiefs or to clean their
muskets.
"The first fruits of our labors were blue woolen shirts,
made for Johnnie Butler, our old friend from early dancing
school days, who was among the first, with his brave
Zouaves, to respond to his country's call in her hour of
peril. We purchased the material for the shirts and met
to commence work, but, alas, not one of us knew how to cut
a shirt, much less to set it together. After much discussion
as to what we were to do, one of the girls said, we will go
for Mrs , who was near. She came to our rescue,
and the shirts were cut, made, approved and accepted."
Now comes the raising of the flag all over town. The
patriotism of the people is getting to the highest pitch. The
flag was out upon the Liberty pole in Clinton Square, over
the Globe Hotel, Syracuse House, Voorhees House (now the
Empire) , the Firemen's Hall and many other buildings. A
flag was raised on the Unitarian Church, also on the college
buildings of the Franciscan Friars on North Salina Street.
Father John raised the stars and stripes over the Catholic
Church in the 4th ward. On May 23rd the flag was raised
over the Dutch Reformed Church. A beautiful one was
raised on the Irving School, East Fayette Street. It was
a present from Miss Carrie Morris, principal of the school.
At the Clinton School, Lodi Street, a flag was raised, the
gift of Miss Mercy Slocum, the principal. They were
raised over many other schools in the city.
At a meeting of the women teachers of the public schools
in Syracuse, over seventy tendered their services to aid in
fitting out volunteers. They gave $12 for materials for
havelocks.
Merchants were generous. Price and Wheeler offered
to keep up the salaries of two of their clerks, $600 to $400
each, while they were in their country's service. This
offer was accepted. Mr. Thomas Rice, who kept a large
grocery store, proposed or agreed, that Stephen Estes, his
confidential clerk and bookkeeper, should receive his salary
of $1000 a year during his absence as a volunteer, and his
place should be kept for him. Mr. Edward Rice, dry goods
merchant, paid two of his clerks who enlisted. It was
I THE ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
said, (times being different from what they are now), if
the clerks in the stores enlist, there are hosts of girls to take
their places, "This is the way for women to volunteer."
Mr. Thomas T. Davis wrote the following letter to the
Editor of the Journal :
"Mr. Editor — As many of our firemen have enlisted or
will enlist for the war, it becomes our citizens who remain
at home, to fill up their ranks. I was a member of the
Fire Department for seven years, am ready to re-enlist in
the present emergency. Thomas T. Davis."
Even as early as this, (April, 1861,) so many printers
had volunteered that they were already getting scarce. The
Journal said "If this furore for military service increases,
publishers will be obliged to employ young boys and girls
to do their work."
A private subscription to raise money for the families of
volunteers was started. Almost every well known man in
town subscribed $100.
The doctors were very patriotic and generous. Here is
a copy of a paper they signed : "Gratuitous medical service
to the families of volunteers. We, the undersigned, mem-
bers of the Syracuse Medical Association, desirous of serv-
ing our country at home, and on the field as occasion may
require, profer our gratuitous professional services to the
families of volunteers, who may require such service, till
every rebel has laid down his arms, the leaders hung, and
none but freemen tread our soil. Signed — Dr. Alfred Mer-
cer, Dr. J. P. Dunlap, Dr. A. B. Shipman, Dr. James Foran,
Dr. Hezekiah Joslyn, Dr. W. W. Porter, Dr. R. W. Pease,
Dr. J. F. Trowbridge, Dr. J. 0. Shipman, Dr. P. 0. Samson,
Dr. H. D. Didama."
Men and women were equally patriotic all over Onon-
daga County. On Saturday, April 27th, 1861, there was a
union meeting and flag presentation at Pompey Hill. The
ladies of Pompey presented the volunteers from that town
with a flag. The presentation was made by Miss Fanny
Webb, saying: "In behalf of the ladies of Pompey, I
present you with this flag under which our fathers marched
to battle and to victory, and which no foe, at home or abroad,
shall ever trample in the dust with impunity. In the eyes
of a traitorous confederacy it has lost its attractions, but
we women love it, and you men love it. It is the Stars
CIVIL WAR REMINISCENCES 15
and Stripes, the flag of the Union, the (Star Spangled Ban-
ner, that ever shall wave o'er the land of the free, and the
home of the brave.) You go forth to the contest to uphold
the honor of this flag. You will suffer no stain of cowardice
to disfigure it. Sooner than surrender it, you will baptize
it in your blood. We give you no silver or gold, but we
place in your hands a treasure compared with which silver
and gold are but baubles, the flag of our country. Take it
as a token of our affection for you, our deep sympathy in
all of your future perils and privations, our highest ap-
preciation of your self-denial and patriotism, and our firm
persuasion of the holiness of the cause to which you have
given your hands, your hearts, your all."
Mr. Noble, taking the flag, replied as follows:
"Ladies of Pompey:
"In behalf of the volunteers of this town I return to you
our sincere thanks. We receive it as a true test of your
gratitude and affection, and as we receive it, we believe
that you are true patriots, lovers of liberty, and as such,
will exert an influence to help forward the cause of freedom.
In behalf of the friends and companions who have pledged
their lives to their country, I would ask your prayers, not
only, that we may be spared to return, but that we may
come back to you without any loss of moral or religious
character (here speaks the old spirit of the first settlers
of Pompey) and if called to engage in battle, may we do
our duty manfully, never shrinking from danger. And
new. as those who expect soon to leave you, we bid you one
and all an affectionate farewell. If we are not permitted
to return, may we meet in that better world where there
shall be no more parting. Again I say farewell."
A contemporaneous account adds :
"The ceremony was an impressive one. In the hushed
stillness of the moment every heart seemed offering up a
prayer for our country, and for the youthful soldiers who
stood in our midst. A procession was formed, and preceded
by volunteers with their flag, it went to one of the churches.
After appropriate remarks by the President of the meeting
and a prayer by the Rev. Mr. Southmaycl, impressive
speeches were made by Rev. Messrs. Kenyon and Grayley,
E. Butler, Esq., Mr. Southmayd and Judge Morgan. The
whole audience, with uplifted heads, gave assent to the
16 THE ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
oath administered by Judge Morgan, to support the Con-
stitution of the United States and to defend it with their
lives."
THE LADIES OF MANLIUS AWAKE.
This same Saturady evening in April, the patriotic
women of Manlius held a meeting in Smith Hall for the
purpose of providing bandages, lint, etc., for the use and
comfort of the sick and wounded soldiers. They organized
themselves into a permanent body to exist during the war.
President, Mrs. A. H. Jerome
Vice-Presients Mrs. Dr. Nims, Mrs. E. Duell
Executive Committee — Mrs. H. D. June, Mrs. George Whit-
man, Miss Martha Ward, Miss Mary Clapp, Miss Mary
Caswell.
Secretary Miss Frances Safford
Treasurer Miss Hannah Parry
Inspired with enthusiasm, patriotism and philanthorpy,
they assembled to the number of over two hunderd. Their
anxious hearts and busy hands bespeak the determination
to do their utmost in the beneficent work of love and mercy
they have undertaken. All were deeply impressed with
the feeling that their husbands, sons, brothers, should lack
none of the comforts which under the circumstances it
would be possible for them to provide.
ONONDAGA VALLEY, MAY 9TH, 1861.
The people of the Valley assembled on the green to
witness the raising of a beautiful new flag on the cupola
of the Academy. The flag was made by the students of the
Academy. As it floated to the breeze hearty cheers were
given, and all the people sang, "The Star Spangled Banner."
One little boy repeated this poem:
"Raise the country's tri-hued emblem,
Let its blessings proudly fly;
It was its like that led our fathers,
When the battle tide was high.
"And we love to do it honor,
And we'll rally one and all,
To surround it, and support it
When our country gives the call.
CIVIL WAR REMINISCENCES 17
"It was bequeathed us, and to keep it
We will fight like loyal sons,
Who can never learn to tremble
At the boom of rebel guns.
"And though hard may be the struggle,
When the bloody scene is o'er,
Every star shall brightly glitter
As it ever did before."
Several addresses were made by the Rev. Mr. Talmadge,
General Wm. Cullen Brown and others. A message was
received announcing the arrival of the Home Guard. They
were invited to enter. Twenty-five boys from ten to four-
teen years of age, under command of Master F. E. Rowe,
appeared. The General thought the country was safe, and
the Home Guards were enthusiastically cheered.
Independent and separate companies from all parts of
Onondaga County joined other regiments. Quite a number
of Germans, belonging to the Turners Society of Syracuse,
went to New York to join the Turners' Regiment organized
there.
Patriotism of the Lysander Ladies —
A correspondent at Lysander writes to the Journal, May
16th, 1861 :—
"The ladies of the sewing circle in Lysander met at the
house of their pastor, Rev. J. B. Hall, on Friday of last
week. Instead of their usual labors they scraped lint, and
made bandages. The patriotism of the ladies of this town
is at a high pitch, exceeding that of the men. They say if
they wore the breeches there would have been a volunteer
force from here before this time."
What the women of the North will do if necessary, Miss
Fanny Kendall writes to the Journal : —
"And so, some in the South imagine that the agricultural
pursuits must be almost entirely abandoned in the North,
to furnish men for the war. Don't they know we have
some women here, who if the fathers, brothers, husbands,
sons, must all leave their farms for the battle field, they, the
women, will (with brave hearts and hands made strong by
the consciousness that they are working for loved ones),
till the land, plow, plant, sow and gather the harvest ? We
can do it, and will if necessary."
18 THE ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
Journal, May 23rd. Daughters of Liberty.
"The ladies of Syracuse and vicinity are requested to
meet at the Society's rooms in the Clinton Block, tomorrow
morning at nine o'clock, to assist in making havelocks for
the Onondaga Regiment. It is hoped that the ladies will
respond cheerfully to this call.
"Mrs. Israel Spencer, Secretary."
We have gone far enough from the bitterness of this
strife to acknowledge that the women of the South were
just as patriotic according to their ideas, just as devoted to
their cause, worked as hard for it as any Northern women.
Indeed they threw themselves into "the cause," as they
called it, with a passionate vehemence we never knew.
They suffered more in loss of homes than anyone at the
north. To this day they cherish the memories of the war,
revere and honor their soldiers as no one at the North has
ever done.
Journal, May \2>th:
"A full company of volunteers left Fulton. They were
escorted to the cars by the faculty and students of Falley
Seminary and a crowd of citizens and friends from the sur-
rounding country. A flag was presented by the ladies of
Fulton. Each soldier was also given a rosette and Bible
by the young ladies. Then the people made ample provision
for the families of those who had volunteered, who needed
it. Some of the students enlisted, ready to go if called for.
The girls made another flag and hung it up over their
seminary."
On the 1st day of June, 1861, there was a grand flag rais-
ing at Skaneateles, over the Union school house. The same
day there was a pole and flag raising at Navarino, crowds
were present.
Cicero, June 10th — Mr. Adam Lucas, a poor but patriotic
citizen, a German by birth but a true American, procured
at his own expense a fine flag and a splendid pole and invited
the citizens of Brewerton and vicinity to assist in erecting
the same. The flag was made by the ladies of the neighbor-
hood and presented by a little girl of ten years.
Saturday, June 22nd — Captain John F. Moschell has
opened a recruiting station in this city (Syracuse) where
men can enroll themselves for cavalry service in Col.
James Van Allen's regiment.
CIVIL WAR REMINISCENCES 19
Syracuse, June 28th — The pupils of Seymour school, in
the Fifth ward, raised some money and purchased 125
yards of materials for towels. After the school session
was closed, the teachers and officers of the school formed
themselves into a sewing circle, and made up these towels
for the Onondaga regiment.
July 1st — Dr. Pease writes, asking the citizens of Syra-
cuse to supply him with twelve cots and wire mattresses
for his hospital. He appealed especially to the loyalty of
those "good Samaritans," the Daughters of Liberty. I
notice it is a fact appreciated in Camp Onondaga that the
ladies of Syracuse have done all that has been done for the
regiment.
Friday, August 2nd — Captain Moschell's cavalry com-
pany left last night, at ten-thirty, for Washington. This
company is composed of a fine lot of hardy young men, most
of them fresh from the farms near the city and the work-
shops of the city.
August 8th — "Contributions for the hospitals at Wash-
ington to the amount of three barrels and two boxes, have
been forwarded this day by the U. S. express, free of charge.
Mary E. Leavenworth, President."
The ladies of Manlius sent a box.
Generals Slocum and Peck received their commissions
as Brigadier Generals on the 9th of August, 1861.
Butler Zouaves.
Mr. Augustus Cook, a member of Captain Butler's com-
pany, writes to the Baldwinsville Gazette as follows:
Albany, May , 1861.
"I am writing this letter on a pile of mattresses eight
feet high, with a pie-plate for a desk. Four boys are play-
ing cards at my right hand, while ten or twelve are
singing, —
"I wish I was in Dixie!" using a substitute more appro-
priate,
"I wish I was in Baltimore."
"Five long tables, 80 ft. long, 6 ft. wide, are in our
'hotel.' Each man has his rations placed before him ; if he
does not like them he must starve. All the companies
seemed to be satisfied with the food until the Syracuse 'boys'
came down ; then grumbling commenced and finally two-
thirds of our company refused to go to the tables. The
20 THE ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
result was, we had a different cook. The meals are decidedly
better. So much for rebellion!"
Baldwins ville Artillery Volunteers.
"A detachment of thirty-seven fine appearing men who
enlisted at Baldwinsville from the adjoining towns, reached
Syracuse this morning (August 26th), on their way to
Elmira. Their Captain, R. D. Pettit, is a thorough soldier,
who served through the Mexican war. They wish to be-
come a light battery. This company took this temperance
pledge :
" 'We, the undersigned, members of Company A, Battery
B, Light Artillery, do solemnly promise not to use any
intoxicating liquors, wines or beer, as a beverage, while in
the service of the United States.' "
The departure of this famous organization, which, as
"Pettit's Battery," was distined to win glory, by its courage
and skill on many a hard-fought field, may fittingly bring
to a close this brief account of the stirring days of '61 in
Onondaga County.
AN ACCOUNT OF THE 12th (ONONDAGA)
REGIMENT, NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
The Journal, April 18th, 1861, said :
"At a meeting of the commissioned officers of the 51st
N. Y. State Militia last evening, April 17th, a report was
received of the action of the several companies. The fol-
lowing resolution was unanimously adopted : Resolved, That
Colonel Walrath be authorized to inform Governor Morgan,
that the 51st regiment is prepared to respond to his call,
and ready to serve whenever ordered. This action was
telegraphed to Governor Morgan."
This was the first regiment (not company) organized in
Onondaga County for the war, and among the first formed
in the State. One company was raised in Canastota; one
in Batavia by Captain Root ; part of a company from Cort-
land ; one company came from Liverpool ; 25 men came from
Pompey. The men who enlisted were from the best class
in the community.
Wednesday, May 1st, I find this notice: —
"Daughters of Liberty. — Ladies who are making shirts
for the volunteers are requested to meet at the Syracuse
CIVIL WAR REMINISCENCES 21
House this, Wednesday evening, at 7 o'clock, to finish the
work. As the 12th regiment leaves to-morrow, it is
absolutely necessary that the shirts should be all sent in this
evening. A prompt and full attendance of the ladies is
particularly requested.
"Mrs. Israel S. Spencer, Secretary."
The Daily Journal, Thursday evening, May 2d, 1861.
The Onondaga Regiment :
"The first full regiment of volunteers sent forward by
any one County in the State of New York, in response to
the call of the government, left today from Old Onondaga.
This is a fact of which our citizens may well feel proud.
It is honorable, not only to our city and county, but also to
the energetic men who have done the hard work necessary
to the attainment of this result."
This regiment had been ordered to proceed to the rendez-
vous at Elmira. At early dawn the members of the various
companies began their preparations; the Regimental
Armory presented a busy and interesting scene. Thousands
of men and women visited the companies at the Armory,
and by words and deeds gave cheer and encouragement to
the volunteers. Between ten and eleven o'clock, when all the
companies of the regiment were drawn up in line a delega-
tion of nearly forty young ladies presented them with ros-
ettes, fastening them on their coats with their own hands, as
a pledge of their interest in the cause which these brave men
were going to uphold. When the ceremony was ended, the
men with one voice gave thundering cheers for their lady
friends. The young ladies also presented each man with a
pocket Testament, accompanied by words of good cheer.
Dr. Canfield addressed them. At one o'clock the com-
panies mustered at the Armory, were formed into line, and
a national salute was fired.
Many touching scenes occurred at the leave taking.
No words can describe that scene. There were many aching
hearts. The Fire Department acted as escort to the depart-
ing regiment. Headed by Sutherland's Band they marched
through Genesee Street to Jefferson Street. At half-past
one they marched to the Central Station, several other bands
joining the procession. All along the line of march there
were large crowds of people, "still cheering that other fellow
on."
22 THE ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
The regiment made a fine appearance,— eight hundred
and nine men. They got aboard a special train of sixteen
cars, and at precisely two o'clock the train pulled out of the
station. As the cars moved off slowly the crowd of spec-
tators gave rousing cheers, which were heartily responded
to by the volunteers.
The soldiers of the Old 12th Regiment managed to have
some fun on their way to war. In the 12th there were one
or two companies made up almost entirely of "Salt
Pointers." They were an energetic set of follows. The
following incident is told of their departure from Elmira
for Washington. Many of the cars in which the troops
were transported were freight cars, with rough board seats
put up for temporary use. There was a barn door in the
center of each car, but no other way to get light or air. The
"Salt Pointers" were no sooner seated than they began to
illustrate their ideas of ventilation. With vigorous jabs the
muzzles of muskets pierced their way through the stout
wood boards. In a short time nearly every man had a win-
dow of his own. Occasionally a head would be stuck out,
and a Salt Point cheer — "One, two, three — red — white
blue, Salt Point tiger," would ring out on the air.
The car occupied by the Salt Pointers was marked with
chalk on the outside: "Salt Pointers, Care of Uncle Sam.
Handle with care."
So it is in the world, Tom and Jack march away to glory
with their knapsacks on their shoulders, stepping out
briskly to the tune of "The Girl I Left Behind Me." The
woman remains behind, and suffers and waits, and has the
leisure to think, and brood and fear.
The wife of Captain Brewer, the wife of Captain Locke,
and Captain Brewer's daughter, Ada, who was recognized
as the Daughter of the Regiment, went with the regiment,
expecting to discharge the duties of nurses. On the way
from Elmira to Washington, these ladies and the officers of
the regiment were provided with a comfortable passenger
coach, trimmed with flowers and evergreen boughs.
CIVIL WAR REMINISCENCES 23
NAMES OF OFFICERS OF THE 12th N. Y. S.
VOLUNTEERS.
Ezra L. Walrath Colonel
James I. Graham Lieut. Colonel
John Louis ' Major
Silas Titus Adjutant
Edmund B. Griswold Quarter Master
Roger W. Pease Surgeon
Dr. A. B. Shipman Assistant Surgeon
Charles Sedgwick Quarter Master Sergeant
Rev. C. S. Percival, of Calvary Church, Homer, was
appointed Chaplain of the 12th.
Company A.
Morris H. Church Captain
Ira Wood Lieutenant
Charles B. Randall Ensign
Company B.
Jacob Brand Captain
Peter Strauss Lieutenant
John P. Spanier Ensign
Company C.
Dennis Driscoll, Jr Captain
James Randall Lieutenant
John P. Stanton Ensign
Company D.
George W. Stone Captain (from Cortland)
Lucius C. Storrs Lieutenant
George Snyder Ensign
Company E.
Jabez Mosher Brower Captain
Frederick Horner Lieutenant
Samuel J. Abbott Ensign
Company F.
Milo W. Locke Captain
William Gleason Lieutenant
Stephen D. Clark Ensign
This company was raised at Liverpool. The ladies of
Liverpool sent them a flag.
24 THE ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
Company G.
Joseph C. Irish Captain (Canastota)
John H. Johnson Lieutenant
Erskine P. Woodford Ensign
Company H.
George W. Cole Captain
George Truesdell Lieutenant
Albert M. Wiborn Ensign
Company I.
Henry A. Barnum Captain
Hamilton R. Combs Lieutenant
Edward Drake Ensign
Company K.
Augustus J. Root Captain
Son of General Israel Root of Jordan, one of the
veterans of 1812. From Batavia.
William P. Town Lieutenant
Lucius Smith Ensign
May 3rd. "Information of the arrival of the Onondaga
Regiment at Elmira last night has been received. Their
journey on the Central was marked by demonstrations of
approval at all the principal stations. At Camillus a salute
was fired." A soldier of the 12th, writing home from
from Elmira, said:
"Let us pay a deserved compliment to Harlow W. Chit-
tenden, Esq., Assistant Superintendent of the Central Rail-
road, for his most excellent arrangements for our accom-
modation. Nothing was wanting his care and foresight
could provide."
There was a most bountiful supply of provisions on the
train, enough to feed twice as many men, which the fore-
thought and liberality of Captain W. D. Stewart of the
Syracuse House, and other friends, had furnished. There
were no hungry men on that train. — The Journal, Thursday
evening, May 7th, '61.
The Elmira Advertiser says :
"The Onondaga Regiment, quartered at the Clinton
Street barracks, are evidently the kind of stuff that soldiers
are made of. They have already been subjected to con-
siderable drill, and go through the evolutions quite credit-
ably."
CIVIL WAR REMINISCENCES 25
While in Elmira, the Onondaga Regiment was enter-
tained by a Mr. Wm. T. Post, who invited them to his farm
at Southport, threw his grounds open, and treated the men
to beer, ginger-bread, crackers and bushels of apples. Every
man looked and acted like a gentleman.
A visitor to the Elmira rendezvous says :
"The men were dressed in their new uniforms, and
looked very 'rich but not gaudy.' At first sight I thought I
beheld a large parcel of boys enveloped in their father's
clothes, and intermingled with these were a number of
undeniable men, who had donned their childhood apparel.
But as a whole there seems to have been a great waste of
cloth at the country's expense. Colonel Walrath had sent
orders to Albany that he had a regiment of able-bodied men,
hence the suits were cut after the aldermanic pattern."
A soldier of the 12th gave me this account :
"While at Elmira our boys received a grey suit of pants
and jackets of same color, and coarse army shoes. Our
clothes were a poor, shabby lot. Some of the pants alto-
gether too big to wear, and the grey jackets were big enough
to cover an army mule. Other garments were too small,
especially the pants, which did not have to be rolled up to
be kept out of the mud, and the jackets of some of the men
could not be buttoned, but had to be laced up like a shoe, or
hang open all the time. Oh my! How mad some of our
men were at these clothes ; but we had to take them or go
without, and, as a rule, no man wanted to go without,
for he would be called down; and most of the men
were very modest and careful not to be seen in an undress
manner, in these times which tried men's souls and tempers.
How to live in peace without the sin of swearing and rough
talk not fit to be heard, was hard."
Our most modest and polite young men soon got over
their politeness, and all of the Army chaplains this side of
Heaven could not make some men behave.
Syracuse Courier, May 11th, 1861.
"Notes from a Volunteer's Knapsack, by George N.
Cheney.
"Barracks, 12th Reg., N. Y. V., Elmira, May 7th, 1861.
"Dear Aunt: — This is a queer, nondescript sort of life
we are leading here, and though I have waited to tell you
how I liked it, I cannot do it. It is outlandish, and there
26 THE ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
is nothing to like about it. At the same time, my health
is so good I cannot dislike it. I am very glad I came so far.
"We arrived about two o'clock Friday morning, chilled
through and turned into our bunks. These are about seven
feet long by five wide : two on a frame, one above the other.
There are two narrow straw ticks in each bunk; one light
blanket to each tick ; two men sleep in the bunk ; four in the
frame. There are six rows of these frames in this room;
twelve in each row, making nearly three hundred men who
sleep in this big room or story. There are three such
stories in this building, which used to be a store house ; the
whole regiment is in it. We have got used to our sleeping
arrangements now, so that we get along pretty comfortably,
though most of the boys have colds. But the first night was
a tough one. It was enough to make a horse laugh to hear
the boys go on about their beds. 'Don't get any feathers
into your ear.' 'Get out of bed with your boots on ; you'll
muddy the sheets.' 'Here, waiter, waiter, bring me a
pillow,' back and forth, a perfect hubbub. We got up early
in the morning, washed in the canal, and wiped on our hand-
kerchiefs — (no towels, you know). We hadn't slept much,
but we laughed everything off, and after breakfast we felt
better.
"Repeated calls were made during the meal for 'oyster
soup,' 'chicken pie,' 'Some griddle cakes,' 'Pass the butter
this way,' etc., etc., but no such things were to be had.
Bread, beef roast or boiled, boiled potatoes are the only food,
except at noon, when beans sometimes takes the place of
potatoes. Coffee takes the place of all other luxuries. I
drink two quarts a day and could not get along without it.
I believe some men drink a gallon a day. Our meals are set
on long tables; each man helps himself to what he wants.
We are waited on, the table set and cleared off, and the
dishes washed by men of the company, four different ones
being detailed each day for this duty. Each company eats
by itself. The contractors get $2.94 a week for each man.
They could afford to feed us better than they do for this
sum.
"Our life is as follows : The reveille beats at half -past
five o'clock to get up; six, roll call; seven, breakfast; nine,
drill till twelve ; twelve, dinner. It is now almost one, and
I am writing this letter. From two till four, drill; five
CIVIL WAR REMINISCENCES 27
o'clock, supper; nine-thirty, roll call; ten o'clock, taps
sounded, lights shut off ; silence enforced. We are supposed
to go to sleep.
"We have not yet settled down to rigid discipline, but
it grows more strict every day. Sentinels are posted every-
where around the barracks. No one can go down town
without leave. We expect our uniforms every day. There
are about three thousand volunteers in town, more arriving
by every train. They are quartered in all sorts of places;
some in churches, some in halls, one company in the Court
House. None of their quarters seem to be as good as ours.
"In haste, yours,
George N. Cheney."
Elmira, May 29th, 1861.
"The Onondaga Regiment, Colonel Walrath, and the
Rochester Regiment, Colonel Quimby, left here for Wash-
ington at one o'clock today. They were escorted to the cars
by all of the other troops here. There was a general turn
out of citizens. The departing regiments were in fine
spirits and made an excellent appearance."
On reaching Baltimore the regiment was formed into
line and marched through the streets, "surrounded by a
crowd of ugly, cross looking rebels, who wanted to anni-
hilate us, and we expected a riot; but as we had received
our guns and ammunition before we left Elmira, they let
us alone."
The Onondaga and Rochester regiments were met on
their arrival at Baltimore by the notorious Marshal Hine,
who informed Col. Walrath that he would show them the
way through the city to the Washington station. He said
they might meet with some difficulty on going through the
streets, but that he and his men would give them all the pro-
tection in his power. Col. W T alrath replied that they were
there to shake hands or fight. They had come from home to
fight for the Union, and they would just as soon begin now
and put down disloyalty in Baltimore as anywhere else.
The Editorial Correspondent of the Buffalo Express
thus describes the march of the Onondaga and Rochester
regiments through Baltimore:
"Standing on the balcony of the Eutaw House, Thursday
evening, we saw the Syracuse and Rochester regiments
march down the street gallantly and steadily, — the mob on
2 8 THE ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
either side, awed but ugly. My companion and myself felt
that as New Yorkers we would cheer the flags borne by men
of our State through Baltimore, so we gave them loud
hurrahs. The color sergeant dipped his flag and looked up
in surprise, but a Secessionist near us sneakingly drew his
revolver, held it partly concealed, and waited to give a
coward's shot. He was a dandy in dress, but looked mean
enough to commit murder. Another fellow ran out from
beneath the balcony, pistol in hand and would have shot if
he had dared. Talk about chivalry ; talk rather of cowards.
He would not have dared to shoot a man who was looking
at him.
"We stood there till the troops passed, but soon became
convinced that the people about the house did not like us,
and so we took our departure for the station. As these regi-
ments were marching through the streets of Baltimore, a
Secessionist flag was displayed by a lady from a window.
A Union flag was immediately put out by another woman,
from the opposite side of the street, which was saluted by
the regiment. No notice was taken of the Secession flag.
The wife of Wilson Cary, the principal of a fashionable girls'
boarding school, stood in the door of her dwelling and waved
in the faces of the Union, the Confederate flag. This was
in direct disobedience of a municipal ordinance."
A Baltimore correspondent of the New York Tribune
wrote: "The people of Eastern New \ork may boast of
their soldiers, who may be all that is said of them ; but they
are pigmies by the side of the 'Anakims,' the giants oi Syra-
cuse and Rochester. Baltimore was thrown into fits of
admiration at the appearance of these two regiments, and
the rebels could not repress manifestations of wonder and
fear."
A Washington correspondent of the New York Evening
Post said of the 12th and 13th regiments. "Both regiments
appear remarkably well. The men are large and muscular."
Here follows Dr. R. W. Pease's letter describing the
march of the 12th Regiment (Onondaga) through Balti-
more. May 30th, 1861 :
"Our journey was one continuous ovation until we
reached the Maryland line, and even then we were f requently
cheered and encouraged by the waving of handkerchiefs and
other demonstrations along the way.
CIVIL WAR REMINISCENCES 29
"But directly on reaching the Maryland line we found
a picket guard stationed along the road, strongly guarding
every bridge and communicating with each other for over
forty miles. This convinced us that the loyalty of this
section was inspired by a due sense of respect for armed
authority, and that only to the true lovers of our country
was our presence at all pleasing. Our train was, by order
of Col. Walrath, stopped about fifteen miles before reach-
ing Baltimore; every musket loaded; every bayonet fixed;
every officer armed with his revolver. We arrived in Balti-
more at seven o'clock in the evening. Our coming was
expected. The people of the city had turned out to see us,
not welcome us. Our reception at Baltimore by a large part
of the people was sullen, silent, and mean. The silence at
times of the immense throng was ominous, but the march
of the men was excellent. They knew they were ready for
any demonstrations and were ready for any emergency.
"We were followed closely by the Rochester regiment,
and the measured tramp of seventeen hundred men was
grand. Our flag was displayed, and the drums beat a lively
air, and we passed safely over the same ground consecrated
by the blood of the Sixth Massachusetts braves, on that
bright April day. At several points on our route we were
greeted heartily, by the ladies in particular, in passing
through Baltimore. Yet it was evident that the city con-
tains a horde of vile fellows who are held in subjection only
by fear."
Mr. George D. Cowles was in Washington when the 12th
Regiment reached that city. He says that "Although the
men of the regiment were not regularly supplied with food
from Thursday evening until the next morning at about
eleven o'clock, most, if not all of the companies, received
most hospitable treatment at the hands of the Minister from
Switzerland and his wife, who threw open their house to
the soldiers and provided them with a generous collation in
the morning. On Friday evening the Onondaga and
Rochester regiments paid their respects to the President at
the White House, and to General Scott at his residence.
They received a hearty welcome." ,
Major Louis, of the 12th, wrote:
"After a very tedious and protracted journey, we arrived
at 12 o'clock last night at the Capital of our unfortunate
30 THE ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
Republic and are quartered at present in some vacant apart-
ments of the Capital. I occupy a splendid room which used
to belong to a Southern Senator.
"We were cheered and regaled by the people during our
passage through the State of Pennsylvania. Wherever we
stopped, the inhabitants gave us hot coffee, cake, milk and
eggs. Some of the Pennsylvania Dutchmen brought us
sauerkraut and speck. From village to village, from hamlet
to hamlet, the people cheered us and gave us their blessing,
until we arrived at Baltimore. There the scene changed.
The sinister looks of the populace made us aware that we
were treading over a volcano, but as we had our muskets
loaded, we did not mind their gloomy visages and with a
firm step and watchful eye we defiled through the very street
where the 6th Massachusetts was attacked.
At that time General Nye gave his idea of what is
needed now. There was no happier man in all Washing-
ton when it was certainly known that Northern troops were
on their way to defend the National Capital. Meeting an
old friend from Syracuse, he said, in his very best style:
"Old Salt Point! God bless you. We are now redeemed
and disenthralled. I have made up my mind that this war-
fare life is a damned humbug : What we want now is a few
happy deaths."
When the regiment reached Washington it was quar-
tered for a few days at Caspari's House, but soon went into
regular camp, "Camp Onondaga," at a point just north of
the city. Here it was drilled constantly, getting ready for
war. It received visits from many of the principal public
men of Washington, President Lincol* ' ?ing among the
number to call.
These citizen soldiers were naturally anxious to get the
latest news. There were two men in the regiment who had
been telegraph operators. They would go over to the war
office, stand around in the crowd, understand the ticks and
get the news, until the government found out this little
scheme and stopped it.
While the 12th was stationed at Washington, Lieut.
Colonel Graham resigned and General R. M. Richardson was
elected Lieut. Colonel. Colonel Walrath sent the proceed-
ings of the election to Albany and requested a commission
for General Richardson, but was informed that the com-
CIVIL WAR REMINISCENCES 31
mission could not be issued until General Richardson
resigned his commission of Brigadier.
Letters — Dr. Pease, writing to Dr. Mercer, said : "The
12th was for a time in a sad plight. The clothing furnished
by the State was worse than a sham. It fell to pieces in a
few days. Now, Uncle Sam has been furnishing us pants
from his capacious storehouse, and they, like all of his goods
and wares, are good. We will soon have jackets, and then
a finer looking or better set of men never formed a line of
battle. For a week or so after we got here the commissary
department was badly managed, but now everything goes
well. The rations are regularly served, are ample in quan-
tity, excellent in quality. There is abundance of everything,
if you know how to get it ; but everything is done by form.
A strict system is at the bottom of all proceedings.
'The discipline and progress of the 12th in drill is won-
derful, and good judges say no body of men in Washington
equals them in the perfection of their movements."
Major John Louis, in a letter to a friend, writes: "I
must say a word for our friend, Dr. R. W. Pease. A more
accomplished gentleman, a truer philanthropist, and a better
surgeon cannot be found in the District of Columbia. In-
deed I look now to the man, and while I do it, I entirely
divest myself of all the prejudice which I formerly held
against him for his Abolition sentiments, and find in him
more pleasure than all others in discoursing upon the current
news of the day. I think he may justly be styled the second
Sir Astley Cooper. He is ever ready and willing to wait
upon the sick, giving the poorest private the same atten-
tion as the officer, and, aside from all this, he is always
looking after the general welfare of the regiment, thus
endearing himself to us all."
Sergeant-Ma j or George Root had been wounded and
sent home on a surgeon's certificate. "We shall miss no one
more than George. He has more than done his duty; has
indeed been at every one's command. He regrets that he
must go home, as much as we regret to have him go."
One of the soldiers, C. L. Bassett, writes of their
reception :
"Here we were put into tents, and taught to drill and
manoeuver in military style, and had a dress parade every
night before sun down, which ended the day's duty till roll
32 THE ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
call and taps, when every one had to be in camp and in bed.
President Lincoln came to see us one day and shook hands
with the men after the review. Some of the men get very
homesick, which gave great annoyance and trouble to the
officers, and every day was just alike for months at a time."
Wm. H. H. Hitchcock, a private in Captain Church's
company, writes to a friend : "I can't say I think we have
been abused quite as bad as some would like to make out.
I have been used first rate by my officers and have not been
hungry. We got a new pair of blue pants the other day, and
knapsacks, and a nice white blanket, — not like the poor
N. Y. State blankets we got at Elmira. Without any joking
I think that New York State has not done all that she might
for us, but we are now under the United States, and fare
better as far as clothing goes."
On the 4th of July, 1861, Colonel Walrath writes : "We
have received a fine uniform from the U. S. government;
dark blue blouses and trousers, Kossuth hat, equipments,
etc."
Some letters were written by Webster Ransom, show
how he spent his time at Camp Onondaga, Washington. In
one of them he said that he was sitting in his tent, writing
at the same table with other soldiers. He was on guard
Sunday, came off Monday morning, and had permission to
leave camp and go where he pleased until half-past three
P. M. He visited the Smithsonian Institute, and gives a
most interesting description of what he saw. This is a very
good illustration of the kind of men that volunteered in
most of the country regiments. An ordinary soldier would
not be apt to visit the Smithsonian Institute, or appreciate
what he saw there.
The next leave he had he was going to the Patent Office.
He writes : "I have not thought of coming home yet. When
I started in the soldiering life, I made up my mind to see
•he thing through or die trying. There is a feeling in the
regiment that when the three months are up they are going
home, but if the regiment stays I shall stay. I should like
to see all at home now, but I shall trust for the future, be
it sooner or later."
There was a hard rain one night that beat many tents
down. Their occupants were without shelter, but the men
with this Webster Ransom had dusr a ditch around their
CIVIL WAR REMINISCENCE? 33
tent and thrown the earth up, and so the rain ran off that
tent. There is a great deal in knowing how to pitch a tent,
as they had already learned.
In a letter July 8th, 1861, Mr. Ransom says, "We spent
the Fourth in jubilee and in defence of our country. We had
a fine time. Early in the morning there was firing of guns
and ringing of bells. As soon as we had got our breakfast
out of the way — (these men had to do their own cooking
and washing of dishes ; no mother or wife to do that while
they smoked their pipes } we were marched to the Presi-
dent's House, and were reviewed by the President, General
Scott and other officers. It was a warm time, but the boys
were well and pleased with the tramp."
Not all of Mr. Ransom's letters tell of such contentment
among the men. He writes in September that a part of
some of the companies in the regiment took their guns up
to the Colonel's tent and stacked them, and said they would
not do any more duty for their three months' time was
up." This difficulty however was settled and the men staid
the two years of their enlistment.
In November, 1861, Mr. Ransom writes from Fort Craig:
"We are to have barracks built, so we will have things
pretty comfortable. Mother, I wish you wouldn't worry so
much about me. I am well enough off and have no fault to
find. We have new clothes and blankets. I have enough
to keep me warm. I have four thick woolen blankets and
a tick with straw, and a bed up from the ground and I
sleep as well as I ever did at home. I have a heavy over-
coat, four shirts, one I have never had on, four pairs of new
socks. So I have all I want at present and enough to last
some time. So, Mother, I don't think you ought to worry
about me as long as I am satisfied and contented myself."
He sends his love to some little girl who had knit him some
mittens, and closes his letter to his mother by saying, "I
must bid you Goodbye for I want to write a few private
words to Ellen."
On July 15th, the 12th New York was ordered across
Chain Bridge into Virginia, and was the first to be under
fire at Blackburn's Ford on the 18th of July, preliminary
to the first battle of Bull Run. Lieutenant Randall of this
regiment, in command of about twenty men as skirmishers,
was the first to attack the enemy. George N. Cheney,
34 THE ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
Company A, was the first man of this regiment killed in
this engagement.
The 12th New York was in the first battle of Bull Run
and formed part of the brigade that was the rear guard
of the retreating army.
On the 30th of July, the 12th went into camp again and
constructed Fort Craig, one of a link of forts from Alex-
andria to the Chain Bridge. On the evening of August
26th, three companies, under Captain Barnum, were detailed
on picket duty.
Here is what Webster Ransom says of his experience
at Bull Run :
"We left our camp at Chain Bridge about three o'clock
in the afternoon of July 15th, returned to our camp on the
morning of the 22d. I did not sleep but two nights while
we were gone. Then I had to lie on the ground with noth-
ing but a blanket to put over me. The rest of the time
I was on the watch with my gun in hand. We got to a
place called Centerville the second day, and camped, or laid
out in a lot at night. The next morning we were called
early to eat our breakfast; then we were marched about
two miles and had an engagement at Blackburn's Ford. I
am one of the lucky ones who escaped unhurt, but I am
sorry to say we had to retreat and lose the battle. We
were the first regiment engaged in this fight; we lost out
thirty killed, wounded and missing. The bullets flew pretty
thick and fast, but they were not well aimed. When they
began to fire, we would lie down and fire. We loaded our
guns lying on our backs on the ground. We marched all
Sunday night, and moved our camp from Chain Bridge
to a place called Arlington Heights."
In the battles of the Peninsula this regiment fought
splendidly.
At Groveton Colonel Weeks commanded a brigade, and
was badly wounded. At Malvern Hill Major Henry A.
Barnum, while leading the regiment, was shot through the
body and left for dead on the field. After he recovered he
re-entered the service, and raised the 149th regiment. He
was elected Colonel and promoted to Brigidier General.
He said of his old regiment, the 12th, "General Richardson
sent especial thanks to the 12th, for saving the left wing
of the Army during one of the Peninsula battles."
CIVIL WAR REMINISCENCES 35
While the 12th was lying at Gaines' Mill, just before
the Seven Days' battles, Rev. Samuel J. May came to the
White House, on the Pamunkey river, with a large con-
tribution of stores for the sick from the ladies of Syracuse.
He could get no further, and the poor 12th never even
got a lemon.
While lying at Gaines' Mill, the regiment was called on
for a detail for an outside picket. John Gardner, now
living in this city, was on this detail. While on his picket,
half a mile from Woodbury Bridge, he saw the whole
army cross the bridge on its change of base to Harrison's
Landing. Stuart's Cavalry arrested Gardner. He was
asked where the Yankees had gone. He said: "To the
White House" just the opposite direction, seventeen miles
out of the way. He was taken along with the cavalry,
escaped that night, and rejoined his regiment the next
day. This regiment was engaged in many battles.
After the 12th had been about nine months in the field
it had been reduced by death, wounds and sickness to 450
men. It was prepared to leave this remnant in Washing-
ton to do garrison duty, but this arrangement did not suit
Colonel Richardson. He obtained a leave of absence, went
to New York and found Henry A. Weeks with 556 recruits.
He arranged for the consolidation of these recruits with the
remnant of the 12th, agreeing that Mr. Weeks should be
the Colonel of the consolidated regiment, which was still
called the 12th. The Companies of the 12th, that retained
their original organization were A, G, H, I, and K,
Captains Root, Randall, Wood, Truesdell, and Combs.
The regimental officers were : Colonel Henry A. Weeks,
Lientenant Colonel R. M. Richardson, Major Henry A.
Barnum.
In the second battle of Bull Run the 12th formed part
of General Butterfield's Brigade. It marched twenty one
days without change of clothing, and went into battle in
this fatigued condition. The regiment lost heavily. Colonel
Weeks, Captain Root and Lieut. Baker were wounded. The
muster of the regiment next morning showed only 106
men, one staff officer, and six line officers.
At Fredericksburg the 12th was again conspicuous for
its gallantry, and lost many valuable officers and men.
On the 27th of April, 1863, the two years service of
36 THE ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
the 12th being finished, it was ordered to return to Elmira
to be mustered out.
Mr. Babbitt says they had a more pleasant reception
in Baltimore than when they went through in 1861. "We
were given a supper by some ladies of Baltimore. We
marched this time without guns or equipments and were
delighted to see the American flag flying on the public
buildings, and to be met by pleasant looking people. In
due time we arrived at Elmira. After being mustered out
and paid, we went to Canandaigua, where we got on the
New York Central for Syracuse. We were greeted with
cheers all the way from Baltimore to Syracuse. The regi-
ment was received in Syracuse by the 51st National Guard,
and "Syracuse honored us by a big reception and a dinner,
and old Glory was fluttering from all the public buildings
and from the old Liberty Pole."
This soldier writes, "God bless the ladies is my prayer,
especially those who stood by the soldiers in the days that
tried men's souls and patience, and who now do not forget
the Boys in Blue."
MILITARY RECORD AND RECOLLECTIONS
OF MAJ. WILLIAM G. TRACY.
In April, 1861, he was a bookkeeper in a bank in Syra-
cuse, eighteen years of age, and a member of Butler's
Zouaves. When Fort Sumter was attacked, the services
of his company were offered to the country, and accepted.
About April 19th, 1861, he enlisted in Captain Butler's
Co. D, 3rd Regiment, New York Volunteers. The company
immediately thereafter left Syracuse, inspiring the greatest
enthusiasm, and joined its regiment at Albany, N. Y., where
they remained in barracks, drilling and preparing for war
about three weeks, were then in encampment on the Battery
in New York for about two weeks, and then moved to
Fortress Monroe, Va., going into camp there about June
4th, 1861.
On June 19th, 1861, he participated in the battle of
Big Bethel, Va., the first engagement of the war in which
a rebel soldier was killed. On July 30th, 1861, he was
promoted to be First Lieutenant in the 12th N. Y. Vols.
and served as such near Washington until February 3rd,
CIVIL WAR REMINISCENCES 37
1862, when his regiment, which was much depleted, was
consolidated with another, and he was mustered out as a
supernumerary officer and honorably discharged.
On February 7th, 1862, he again enlisted as a private
soldier at Lebanon, Kentucky, in Company H, 10th Indiana
Vols, of Buell's army. He served in that army, marching
twice across Kentucky and Tenessee, and through the
northern part of Mississippi and Alabama with gun and
knapsack, reaching Louisville, Ky., October 1st, 1862, where
he was honorably discharged to accept promotion in a
New York regiment.
On November 3rd, 1862, he was commissioned Second
Lieutenant of Co. 1, 122nd N. Y. Vols., and appointed Aide-
de-Camp on the Staff of Major General Henry W. Slocum,
then commanding the 12th Army Corps of the Army of the
Potomac.
He was severely wounded at the Battle of Chancellors-
ville, Va., May 3rd, 1863. Upon May 9th, 1863, he re-
ceived a commission as Captain and Aide-de-Camp from
the United States. He returned to duty on his recovery
from his wound, August 25th, 1862.
He afterwards served in the east and west on the Staff
of General Slocum, while commanding the 12th and 20th
Army Corps and the Army of Georgia, going through with
Sherman to the sea, and riding from Atlanta to Washing-
ton, by way of Savannah. He was slightly wounded at the
Battle of Bentonsville, N. C, May 19th, 1865.
He was brevetted Major of Volunteers March 19th,
1865. "For efficient services rendered during the recent
campaign in Ga. and S. C."
He was subsequently awarded a medal of honor. "For
gallantry at Chancellorsville, Va., May 2nd, 1863."
He was honorably mustered out of service, October 18th,
1865.
At the time of his re-enlistment in the 10th Ind., he
wrote the following letter to his mother, giving his reasons
therefor.
"Louisville, Ky., Feb. 9, 1862.
"Dear Mother :
I arrived here last night and shall leave tomorrow
for Somerset. I shall enlist in some one of those regiments
that were engaged in the fight at Mills Spring, probably
in the 10th Indiana, or the 19th Illinois.
38 THE ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
"As soon as I reached the 12th regt. and saw how
matters stood, I determined if I could ever get out of my
Lieutenancy honorably, that I would do so, and that I would
never again accept an appointment in a regiment to which
I did not belong. If I possessed any great military talents,
it would be another thing, but being, if anything, below
the average of Lieutenants— in the volunteers incapability
as an officer,— it is not right to take an appointment away
from some man, who will make as good an officer as I
would, and who is entitled to it by services faithfully per-
formed in the company. So if any of my friends are trying
to get me an appointment, you must tell them to stop, for
I will not accept a commission until I have fairly earned
one in my own judgment.
I am determined to stay in the service as long as the
war lasts, and would not be contented at home as long
as there were any soldiers left in the field. So that I think
it much better not to go to Syracuse at all, for it would
only make both you and myself feel worse when I left
again.
"I shall enlist here, because I think there is more pros-
pect of seeing active service, and because it is not pleasant
to be in the ranks where you have many friends to come
and see you, for a private is looked down upon by the rules,
and good rules too, of military discipline. As a common
soldier I enlisted to fight against the rebels. I was made
a Lieutenant simply because I had influential friends, al-
though there are hundreds of others who have proved them-
selves more worthy, but are still left in the ranks. Into
the ranks I shall go again. I can certainly do my part
there, as well as anyone, and if I deserve promotion, I
shall rise, and if I do nothing special to merit a com-
mission, it is certainly better for me to stay in the same
position, than to cheat someone out of that which is his
just reward. Do not think that this is a hasty or rash
decision, for I have thought it over and looked at the ques-
tion on all sides, and to me my duty is plain and clear.
"I have said nothing about it beforehand because I
knew it would only worry you, and cause you much anxiety
needlessly. The lot of a common soldier physically is not
much worse than that of a line officer, and there are just
about as fine men in the ranks as in the list of fellows
with gilt on their shoulders.
CIVIL WAR REMINISCENCES 39
"Please thank my friends who were so kind as to pro-
cure my commission for me. I am sorry I did not do more
honor to their exertions, but I have always strived hard
to do the best I could.
"Yours affectionately,
"WILLIAM G. TRACY."
He was wounded in a rather dramatic manner, and gives
this account of the same.
"At the time of the Battle of Chancellorsville, although
I had been two years in the war, I was still a boy, only
twenty years old, with no particular thought in my then
red and curly head, except that I must not flinch under any
circumstances in which I might be placed. I had recently
been promoted and appointed an Aide-de-Camp on the
Staff of Maj. General Slocum, then commanding the 12th
Army Corps of the Army of the Potomac, a body of about
15,000 men. This was a change from physical discomfort
and social penury to intellectual and physical luxury.
Brigadier generals now stopped to chat with me, and offer
me a drink and cigar.
"In April, 1863, Lee's Army was encamped about
Fredericksburg, Va., on the south bank of the Rappahan-
nock and Hooker's Army opposite on the north bank. In
the last four days of April, 1863, Hooker moved a large
portion of his Army thirty miles west up the Rappahan-
nock, crossed the Rappahannock and Rapidan. This un-
covered the lower fords and other corps joined him, so that
he had massed on the morning of May 1st, about 90,000
men at Chancellorsville, about twenty miles from Freder-
icksburg. This was a magnificent army in high spirits and
with great hopes. It was a finely planned campaign,
promptly executed by his corps commanders, our advance
under fire, wading the Rapidan in water up to their arm-
pits.
"In front of the Chancellorsville House, facing south,
and to the west, were cleared fields, a mile in extent,
bounded by heavy dense woods, on the east, west and south.
A plank road ran east and west, turning south at the
Chancellorsville House. This road also ran east to Freder-
icksburg. Our line of battle was formed in the edge of
these woods, some six miles in extent, prolonged on the
west through the woods to the plank road and beyond, and
40 THE ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
on the east through the woods to the road to Fredericks-
burg and beyond, with reserves in the rear of the line.
"On the morning of Friday, May 1st, an advance was
ordered by Hooker, and a considerable portion of his troops
had moved forward and formed a line of battle beyond the
woods, when Hooker, to the surprise of everyone, ordered
them to return to their original line. The reason he vouch-
safed to his astonished corps commanders, was that he
had secret information that Lee was coming to attack him
and he would await him there. His information was true,
Lee was coming, and did come with a vengeance. During
the rest of Friday, the troops threw up entrenchments,
the 11th Corps, on the extreme right, doing little in that
way, and not properly refusing their flank.
"On Saturday, May 2nd, Stonewall Jackson's Corps,
screened by the woods, marched past the entire front of
our army and were massed in the woods at the end of
the 11th Corps. It was reported to Hooker, early in the
morning, that large masses of the enemy were moving in
his front towards the west. He thought they were retreat-
ing to Gordonsville ! He did nothing until afternoon, when
General Williams' division on the right of the 12th Corps
and a part of Sickles' Corps on their right were ordered
to advance, and did cut off a part of the rear of Jackson's
column.
"I was with Gen. Slocum at Hooker's headquarters,
after this order had been given, and was being executed.
Gen. Slocum and his Aides then left the Chancellorsville
House, riding west. As we neared the woods, across the
plank road, the terrible attack of Stonewall Jackson com-
menced, striking the 11th Corps, unsuspecting and unpre-
pared, on end and crumpling it up like paper. Gen. Slocum
remarked 'Those troops will never stand that,' and dashed
down the road to the west, sending me for our headquarters
cavalry, camped nearby, to stop the soldiers already fleeing
to the rear. When I got back to the road in a few moments,
it was a choked mass of ambulances, wagons and fugitives,
while the roar of musketry from Jackson's attack was ter-
rific. I met our Adjutant General, riding frantically down
the road. 'Tracy,' he said, 'The 11th Corps is broken,
go to Williams at once, tell him to get his division across
the plank road as soon as he can.' Gen. Williams was
then about two miles away.
CIVIL WAR REMINISCENCES 4i
"I started ahead, and presently overtook another Aide
charged with the same order. He was better mounted,
got ahead again and turned to the left; thinking it was
no use of both going the same way, I kept on, and finally
struck Gen. Knipe, commanding the right Brigade of Wil-
liams' Division. His troops were then advancing, engaged
with the enemy in dense woods. I told him the condition
of affairs, not to advance further; that he would at once
get orders to fall back across the Plank Road, and turned
to the left and rear in the woods to find Gen. Williams,
supposing that lines of battle connected. Unfortunately
for me, Gen. Knipe's Brigade had advanced further than
the rest of the division, and I rode through the gap created
thereby. In my haste and excitement, I soon lost my bear-
ings, met no one and the sound of firing in my vicinity
ceased. Before I realized it, I was completely lost.
"Riding hither and thither wherever I coulpl see an
opening, I finally came to a partial clearing of about fifty
acres where the trees had been cut into cord wood, and
piled up, leaving the stumps still standing. It was on the
side of a hill, upon the top of which a piece of artillery was
in action. Although it seemed to me to be pointed in a
rather singular direction, I breasted the hill in good faith,
came around behind and by the side of the piece, checked
my horse about twenty feet therefrom, and was about to
inquire where Gen. Williams was, when suddenly I realized
by their moon faced appearance that the gunners were
rebels.
"I was completely taken by surpise, my heart dropped
to the bottom of my boots. Never before or since have
I realized the feeling of such complete despair. 'Sent with
an important order — lost in the woods and captured !' What
a tale for my General! My first thought was to escape.
If I hesitated or turned back, I would certainly be captured.
Then I saw where I was. An open, narrow, corduroy road
ran down the side of the hill and up another, the valley
thus formed and the hill beyond being heavily wooded.
Upon the crest of the opposite hill I saw a blue line which
I knew must be our troops. The road was open and com-
manded by our troops. In the woods, at the bottom of
the hill, I knew there must be a force of rebel troops.
42 THE ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
They do not generally place artillery in advance of infantry.
"In an instant my mind was made up, and my heart
seemed to go back with a thump to my breast. I resolved
to ride down that narrow road to death or freedom. I
walked my horse past the piece of artillery to the front,
gazing at the rebels as unconcernedly as I could. Although
I was in uniform with shoulder straps, my blouse was
covered with dust and they did not spring for me, ap-
parently not realizing that I was a Union officer. As soon
as I had passed, I struck into a gallop, not too fast to
attract attention, yet ready for a burst of speed. In a
moment I passed another piece of artillery; they didn't
attempt to stop me there. Then I came down to the woods,
at the edge of which some horses were tied, and I knew
the time was come.
"Just as I reached the border of the woods, some one
cried out: 'Shoot him!' and I dug the spurs in and rode
for my life. I was riding a captured rebel horse, said
to have been ridden at one time by Gen. Stewart, a fine
charger, but a little weak in the knees. Down we went
along the incline with no sign of a stumble, my horse at
first shying from side to side at the pattering of the bullets.
He knew what they were as well as I did. Instantly from
both sides of the road came volleys of musketry, while
all through the woods the shouts resounded: 'Shoot him!
Kill him !' While it was still light, it was just dark enough
to see the flash of the muskets and the bullets seemed mostly
passing over me. Then the firing ceased on one side and
was dropping on the other, and I thought that I might get
through, when suddenly I felt a sharp blow on my right
arm, which instantly became numb, and looking down saw
that it was fractured. We rode in the army with our left
arm. The latter part of the time my horse ran like a deer.
He was wounded in three places. In a few moments I was
inside our lines. I afterwards learned that I had blundered
through both lines, and behind a brigade of the enemy
thrown in advance of their line, and that I rode through
this brigade and passed the headquarters of Rebel Gen.
A. P. Hill.
"After the war, I met a rebel soldier in Mississippi,
who recollected the incident, and said I passed so near
him that he could almost have touched me with his musket,
CIVIL WAR REMINISCENCES 43
b'lt that I was by before he could fire, and that I was hit
by some of their men who got in the road and fired from
behind me."
Maj. Tracy also gives the following account of how
a great disaster to Sherman's Army was prevented by
John T. Williams of Syracuse.
"When Sherman moved from Atlanta to Washington,
through Georgia and the Carolinas, his Army consisted of
four corps, each 15,000 strong. Kilpatrick's Brigade of
Cavalry, and two pontoon trains. The 14th and 20th corps
were the left wing, the Army of Georgia, commanded by
Gen. Slocum; the 15th and 17th Corps made the right
wing, the Army of Tennesee, commanded by Gen. Howard.
As this force swept through the country, each of the corps
took a separate road, so that the front of the army was
often thirty to forty miles broad. When a river was
reached, two of the corps united, passed over their pontoon
bridge, and then debouched again on their separate roads.
Scarcely any opposition was met with, except from Hamp-
ton's Brigade of Cavalry, with whom Kilpatrick had en-
counters from time to time. Sherman was sometimes at
the headquarters of the one wing and sometimes at those
of the other.
"As we approached Averysboro, N. C, March 17th,
1865, the Army was moving in the following order:
"On the left and west road were two divisions of the
14th Corps and two of the 20th Corps; on the next road
to the east the remainng two divisions of those Corps, with
the wagon trains; on the next road east two divisions of
the 15th and 17th Corps with their wagon trains; on the
next road east the remaining four divisions of the 15th
and 17th Army Corps.
"At Averysboro on the 17th, we encountered a brigade
or more of the rebels, and after a brisk little fight we drove
them off. They retired to the northwest, leaving their
dead and wounded. The next day, we marched about 15
miles towards the east.
"The next morning, March 19th, 1865, our forces on the
left and west road, commanded by Gen. Slocum, started
a little north of east with the troops on the other roads
for Goldsboro, N. C, 20 miles distant. Schofield was then
moving up from the coast with another army to join our
44 THE ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
forces there. Sherman who had been with our Wing for
a few days, left early that morning to join the right Wing.
No one in our army believed there were any rebel forces
within two hundred miles of us, other than the troops
we had met at Averysboro and Hampton's Brigade of
Cavalry.
"In the course of the morning of the 19th, our skirm-
ishers moving in our front met with opposition. Carlin's
Division of the 14th Corps leading our advance, was de-
ployed in their support. They found themselves opposed
in force and over-lapped. Just then a deserter came into
our lines from the rebels. He said there were large forces
of the enemy directly in our front, and begged to be taken
to the commanding officer at once, as he had important in-
formation for him. He was brought back to the rear to
Gen. Slocum, standing under a tree with Gen. Davis, com-
manding the 14th Corps. He told them that Gen. Joe
Johnson was directly in their front with an army of 40,000
men ; that his name was John T. Williams ; that he was
a Union soldier and had enlisted in the rebel army to keep
out of the rebel prisons with the intention of escaping at
the first opportunity. These officers thought his tale per-
fectly incredible; galvanized Yanks as they were called,
union soldiers who had enlisted in the rebel army, were
looked upon with suspicion and distrust. Just then I came
up. The deserter jumped up from the ground, stretched
out his hand and said: 'How are you, Tracy, don't you
remember me? I am John T. Williams who went to the
war with you from Syracuse in Johnny Butler's Zouaves.'
Terribly freckled, with a shock of fiery red hair, and a
rough suit of gray, I should not have recognized him, if
he had not spoken first, but remembered him perfectly
when he did so. I vouched for his character, his integrity,
and the probable accuracy of his information. Even then
Gen. Davis scouted the idea of giving any credence to his
tale, and I had some warm words with him on the subject.
Gen. Slocum wisely decided otherwise. Sending orders for
the troops behind to hurry up as fast as possible, and the
troops in front to hold their ground but not to try to
advance, he said, 'Davis, you take the right of the road
with the troops of the 14th Corps as they come up, and
I will take the left with those of the 20th.'
CIVIL WAR REMINISCENCES 45
"Soon after the rebels charged, driving back the troops
there, and taking a couple of pieces of artillery.
"Our forces so driven back, formed in the edge of the
woods across the road, hastily throwing up entrenchments,
with open fields and a mound behind, on which artillery
could be placed.
"It seems as if our men marching in loose order behind
would never come up, and I was glad indeed when I saw
Gen. Cogswell, our best division commander of the 20th
Corps, coming over the crest behind, with his troops press-
ing forward almost at double quick. I felt that we were
saved. As the troops came up, the line was prolonged to
right and left, Kilpatrick's Cavalry turning up and forming
on our left.
"Johnson did not follow up his successes immediately,
but waited an hour or two before advancing again, and this
was a fatal mistake. When he did so, he found a stout
line of battle-scarred veterans behind entrenchments await-
ing him. Seven times the rebels charged our works that
afternoon, the rebel yell sounding uncomfortably near, but
they could not break through. I was glad to see the sunset.
We were re-inforced at midnight, and the next day John-
son's Army retreated. The next morning, I found the
ground in the woods in front of our line thickly strewn
with rebel dead, not over ten or fifteen feet therefrom.
"The information that Williams brought, and the fact
that he chanced to meet almost the only man in Sherman's
Army to whom he was well known, prevented a great dis-
aster to our cause and saved many lives. As it was, our
loss and killed and wounded at the battle of Bentonsville
was 1500.
"Williams had been captured while on a scouting expedi-
tion. There was some talk of hanging him as a spy. To
keep out of rebel prisons, which had then become infamous,
or escape a worse fate, he enlisted in the rebel army with
the intention of escaping and bringing valuable information
at the first opporuntity. Characteristically, he waited until
he had some information to bring."
Samuel Storrow Sumner, Major General, U. S. Army.
Samuel Storrow Sumner, Major General, U. S. Army,
was son of Major General Edwin Vose Sumner, U. S. Army,
and was born at Carlisle Barracks, Penn., February 6, 1842.
46 THE ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
His early life was passed at various stations where his
father was on duty. At the age of twelve he was sent to
school at Geneva, N. Y., remaining there until he was seven-
teen, when he entered a bank in Oswego, N. Y., and re-
mained until the spring of 1861, as clerk. He received the
promise of an appointment to West Point from President
Lincoln ; but the Civil War coming on, at his father's request
he was commissioned on the 11th of June, 1861, as second
lieutenant in the 2nd (now the 5th) U. S. Cavalry. His
first service was with a squadron of the 5th Cavalry, at the
Treasury Building in Washington, on provost duty.
In November, 1861, he was assigned to duty on the staff
of General E. V. Sumner as an aide-de-camp, and accom-
panied General E. V. Sumner to Camp California, near
Alexandria, Virginia. In the spring of 1862 General E. V.
Sumner was assigned to command the 2d Army Corps, and
accompanied the Army of the Potomac to Fortress Monroe.
General S. S. Sumner remained with the 2nd Corps until
June 28, 1862, being present at the battles of Williamsburg,
Fair Oaks, and Seven Pines, and was breveted 1st lieu-
tenant, U. S. Army, for gallant and meritorious service in
the battle of Fair Oaks, Virginia. He took part in the
battles of South Mountain, Antietam and Fredericksburg,
being breveted Captain, U. S. Army, September, 17, 1862, for
gallant and meritorious services in the battle of Antietam,
Maryland.
He served, at various periods, on the staff of Gen. Wood
and Gen. Burnside. When the 9th corps of General Burn-
side's command was ordered South to join in the Vicksburg
campaign, he was assigned to temporary duty, at his own
request, on the staff of General Parke, who commanded the
9th Corps, participated in the latter part of the campaign
against Vicksburg, and was present at the surrender of that
place to General Grant. He was breveted Major, March 13,
1865, for gallant and meritorious conduct during the cam-
paign against Vicksburg, Mississippi. He then accom-
panied the 9th Corps to Jackson, Miss., and remained with
it until its return to Knoxville, Tenn., where he again
reported to General Burnside for duty on his staff.
He was relieved from staff duty in October, 1863, and
rejoined the 5th Cavalry in the Army of the Potomac at
Culpepper Court House, was present with the Army of the
CIVIL WAR REMINISCENCES 47
Potomac during the short campaign of Mine Run, and re-
mained with the regiment until February, 1864, being then
ordered to mustering duty at Springfield, 111.
In April, 1865, he joined his regiment at Washington,
D. C, as a captain; was on duty in Washington at General
Grant's headquarters until November 1, 1865, then pro-
ceeded to Nashville, Tennessee, with a squadron of the regi-
ment, remaining there until 1867 ; proceeded to Vicksburg,
Mississippi, with troop, and was stationed at Jackson, Miss.,
on reconstruction duty until the spring of 1869. He
rejoined his regiment with his troop at Fort McPherson,
Nebraska, in May, 1869, and participated in the campaign
of that summer against the Sioux Indians. He was brevet-
ted lieutenant colonel, February 27, 1890, for gallant
service in action against Indians at Summit Springs,
Colorado.
He commanded a troop during the campaign against the
northern Indians in the summer of 1876, and was present
at the battle of Slim Buttes, returning to Sidney Barracks,
Nebraska. In the summer of 1877 he participated in the
campaign against Joseph, the Nez Perce Chief. Returning
in the fall he left again in May, 1878, for the summer cam-
paign in Northern Wyoming. He was promoted Major of
the 8th Cavalry in April, 1879. Reporting for duty in
October, 1879, at Fort Mcintosh, Texas, he remained in
command of that post until the spring of 1884, and was then
assigned to duty as inspector general of the Department
of Texas. The following year he rejoined his regiment,
serving at San Antonio, Texas, and commanded a squadron
of the 8th Cavalry in New Mexico in the summer of 1885,
during the campaign against Geronimo, returning to San
Antonio in the fall of 1885. In the summer of 1886 he was
detailed to command the Cavalry Recruiting Station at
Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. In 1887 he was again made
inspector general and assigned to the department of the
Columbia, where he remained until the summer of 1891, and
was then ordered to duty as lieutenant colonel of the 6th
Cavalry at Fort Niobra, Neb. In 1893 he was again selected
to command Jefferson Barracks, and remained at that place
until the summer of 1894. He then reported at Fort Leav-
enworth, Kansas, as Assistant Commandant of the Infantry
and Cavalry School and as Commanding Officer of a
48 THE ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
squadron of the 6th Cavalry. In May, 1896, he was pro-
moted colonel of the 6th Cavalry and joined the head-
quarters of the regiment at Fort Myer, Virginia.
On the breaking out of the Spanish War, in the spring
of 1898, he accompanied his regiment to Chickamauga in
April, 1898, and being appointed Brigadier General of Vol-
unteers, was assigned to command of the 1st Cavalry at
Chickamauga. This brigade was later removed to Tampa,
Fla., and formed part of the expedition of the Santiago
campaign.
General Sumner commanded this brigade during this
entire campaign, and during the battle of San Juan on July
1st, owing to the illness of General Wheeler, he commanded
the Cavalry Division, which included all of the regular
cavalry and the 1st Regiment Volunteer Cavalry (Rough
Riders) . Returning with the brigade to Montauk Point in
August, 1898, he was promoted Major General of Volun-
teers, September 7, 1898. On the breaking up of the camp
at Montauk Point, he was assigned to duty in Philadelphia
for several weeks, and then assumed command of the 1st
Division of the 2nd Army Corps at Augusta, Georgia.
He was mustered out of the volunteer service as Major
General on the 15th of April, 1899, and detailed for duty as
Military Attache at the Court of St. James, London, where
he remained on duty until July, 1900. During this time he
witnessed the departure of the English Army for South
Africa, and by invitation of the German Emperor was
present at the Autumn manoeuvers of the German Army in
the south of Germany.
At his own request he was relieved from duty in London,
July, 1900, in order to assume command of his regiment in
China. He served in China until November, 1900, com-
manding the brigade of the United States troops held in
reserve at Tiensin, China, then reported for duty in the
Philippine Islands in December, 1900, and was assigned to
command of the 1st District of the Department of Southern
Luzon. This District was later enlarged by the absorption
of the 2nd District. He was promoted Brigadier General
U. S. Army, February 4, 1901, and retained command of
the 1st District until relieved in the fall of that year.
During this time there was much activity in the Dis-
trict, encounters with Philippine Insurrectos being frequent.
CIVIL WAR REMINISCENCES 49
A large number of guns and other material of war were
captured by the troops, and finally the organized forces
under General Cailles, in the Province of Laguna, surren-
dered to General Sumner at Santa Cruz, in June, 1901.
His next assignment was to command the 1st Brigade in
Northern Luzon, with headquarters at Dagupan. He re-
mained in command of this Brigade until June, 1902, when
he was temporarily assigned to the command of the Depart-
ment of Northern Luzon, and was assigned to the command
of the Department of Mindano, July 7, 1902 ; remaining in
command of the department of Mindano until July 1, 1903.
The two military roads from the sea to Lake Lanao were
constructed; expeditions against refractory Moros were
made from Camp Vicars and Illigan; several expeditions
were made to points on Lake Lanao, and finally the expedi-
tion around the lake was accomplished, during General
Sumner's command of the Department of Mindano.
Returning from the Philippine Islands in August, 1903,
he was promoted Major General, U. S. Army, on August 6,
1903. On reaching the United States he was assigned to
duty as Commanding General Department of the Missouri,
and in January, 1904, was assigned to command of the
Southwest Divison, with headquarters at Oklahoma City.
He was relieved from duty in Southwestern Division May
1st, 1905, and ordered to command Pacific Division, head-
quarters at San Francisco, Cal., where he remained until
his retirement by operation of law on February 6th, 1906.
FIREMEN AS VOLUNTEERS.
Benjamin L. Higgins, for many years chief of the Fire
Department of Syracuse, recruited a fine rifle company,
many of the men from the ranks of the firemen. They left
Syracuse August 2, 1861, going to Elmira to join the 86th
N. Y. Volunteer regiment, then commanded by Colonel B. I.
Bailey.
Before leaving Syracuse this company received a great
ovation. The firemen formed a grand parade; after march-
ing through the streets they formed a hollow square opposite
the City Hall, fronting Engine House No. 6. The Mayor,
Judge Andrews, and Common Council were in a room in the
second story of the City Hall. The Mayor delivered an
50 THE ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
eloquent and fitting address, and presented Captain Higgins
with a sword, sash, epaulettes, belt and a pair of Colt's
Army revolvers from the firemen of Syracuse. Mayor
Andrews paid a just arid well deserved eulogium to the
Fire Department in whose ranks, he said, "the true mate-
rials for soldiers could be found on account of their peculiar
organization, training and the efficient service they gave
to the public." The new Chief Engineer, Walter Welch,
called for three cheers for the Union with a tiger. Captain
Higgins thanked the firemen from his heart, and assured
them that if a kind Providence should permit him to return
to the scenes of the firemen's life that he loved so well he
would bring back to them those epaulettes and sword
untarnished by any act of his.
Captain Higgins walked through the open ranks of the
firemen and shook hands with each man, bidding them a
sincere and effectionate farewell. At one o'clock the train,
with Captain Higgins and his company aboard, pulled out
of the station amid the cheers of crowds of citizens.
Then comes in the story of his wife. He had been talk-
ing for weeks about going ; his wife said she would go with
him, but he declared she should not. Her mother-in-law
would say: "That is right, Jane, stick to it. If he goes I
want you to go with him ; I would feel safer about him."
After that train left Syracuse Captain Higgins found his
wife seated in one of the cars, all unbeknown to him, but,
as she says, "I had a good lunch with me, so he did not object
very much." The only thing she can remember about the
camp at Elmira is that "The boys were all broke, and very
anxious to get their government clothes. Some of them had
no shoes."
Mrs. Higgins stayed with a friend in Elmira. The
night before that regiment left for Washington, she and her
friend stayed up all night frying doughnuts and gave Cap-
tain Higgins's company a good breakfast before they
started. They left Elmira, November 1, 1861, went direct
to Washington, and were ordered to load their guns, going
through Baltimore. They camped in Washington a few
days. Mrs. Higgins boarded near the camp: "Street, mud
up to your neck." She says, "My first experience of a camp
was to visit some of the Captain's men who were sick. The
mud was so deep I had to put on soldier's boots to get to
CIVIL WAR REMINISCENCES 51
the Hospital. The company was camped in a pine grove.
Sometimes in the evening the boys would get out into the
company avenue and dance. Some would turn their caps
around, to tell they were girls. So you see the boys were
jollier than their friends at home could imagine."
The Regiment crossed into Maryland and built a fort
called Good Hope in the winter of 1861. Mrs. Higgins went
to visit her husband at that camp. The driver of the
ambulance would meet her and take her to the camp. She
would walk in and surprise the Captain. Sometimes she
would be the one to be surprised, for she would find the com-
pany packed up to move. Once she had to sleep in the
ambulance all night. Her husband found her there the next
morning at five o'clock, drinking a cup of coffee.
In April, 1862, Captain Higgins was detailed to take
charge of the Old Capital Prison at Washington. He man-
aged the military affairs of that institution with so much
ability and success that he received the highest commenda-
tion from his superior officers. Eight hundred rebel pris-
oners were confined in that prison, prisoners of State.
Among them was the famous Belle Boyde, the spy, and Mrs.
Greene and daughter. Miss Boyde had been captured when
on her way to Europe with a quantity of gold currency sewed
up in her skirts. Belle Boyde and Mrs. Greene were treated
better than the men prisoners. More dainty food was pro-
vided for them. The guards in front of the prison had strict
orders to arrest any woman waving her handkerchief to a
prisoner. Some were arrested every day, and taken to the
Provost Marshal's office.
Captain Higgins, with his company, took 800 prisoners
from Washington to the James River, in sight of Richmond,
to exchange for a like number of our men. Captain
Higgins not only discharged his duty to the satisfaction of
his own superior officers ; he also gained the good will of the
prisoners. When they were leaving they drew up a series
of resolutions, thanking him for his kindness and considera-
tion. ''Resolved, That it is with regret we part with these
gentlemen (there was a Lieutenant Miller, also) inasmuch
as they have exemplified that urbane and respectful bearing
is not incompatible with the faithful discharge of a soldier's
duty."
This paper was dated: "Old Capital Military Prison,
July 4th, 1862."
52 THE ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
Belle Boyde told Captain Higgins that if ever he was
taken a prisoner he was to let them know, and they would
do all they could to return his kindness.
At his own request, Captain Higgins was relieved from
guard duty and sent with his company to the field. They
were in the second battle of Bull Run, August 30th, 1862.
The 86th Regiment returned to camp near Washington and
remained there guarding fortifications, until after the battle
at Antietam, September, 1862. This regiment belonged to
Sickles' Third Corps, was in the battle of Fredericksburg,
and went into camp near Falmouth. It remained there dur-
ing the winter of 1862-63.
Mrs. Higgins wanted to go to this place, and said: "I
went to the Provost Marshal's office in Washington to ask
for a pass to my husband's camp. I did not much expect
to get it, for there were Generals' wives at the hotel who
could not get passes. The officer in the office asked me
many questions. One was 'What would you do if your hus-
band was ordered away?' I answered promptly: 'I would
fall back on the Hospital, and return to Washington in any-
thing that could take me there, if it was a pork barrel, if the
head was fastened tight.' He filled out a pass and gave it
to me." The Provost Marshal probably thought that was
a woman quite capable to take care of herself.
Mrs. Higgins stayed in camp a week. There was a tent
put up for her; "a bed made of pine twigs, just as much
spring to it as a good mattress ; new bedding from the Hos-
pital; a stick driven down with a board nailed on for a
washstand; a looking glass and a rubber blanket for a
carpet. I could hear the picket guards answering each
other all night, and the reveille at daylight. I had the privi-
lege of making cough remedies for the boys who kept me
awake by their coughing. I took my meals with my hus-
band at the Quarter Master's tent, drank coffee out of a tin
cup, and ate pork, though I never could touch it at home."
In May, 1863, the battle of Chancellorsville was fought.
I find these notes in a history, though I cannot vouch for
their truth : "There was a house called the Chancellor House.
General Hooker, the commander of the Union Army, was
leaning against a pillar of the veranda of this house. The
pillar was struck by a cannon ball. The General was
stunned, and for more than an hour, in the heat of the
CIVIL WAR REMINISCENCES 53
battle, the Union Army was without a commander. Stone-
wall Jackson, a favorite and famous Confederate General,
was killed in this battle in a most unfortunate way. In the
evening, after his most gallant and successful attack on the
right flank of the Union line, while riding back to his camp,
he was fired upon by his own men, who mistook his escort
for Federal cavalry."
This battle is interesting, for here Captain Higgins, who
had been promoted to a Major, was wounded, and it was
during this battle that Captain Tracy made his celebrated
ride. Captain Higgins was promoted to the Lieutenant
Colonelcy of his regiment, for gallant conduct at Chan-
cellorsville. After this battle the Union Army returned to
Falmouth, remained in camp till June, then marched for
Gettysburg. Colonel Higgins, who had been on leave,
joined his regiment on the way to Gettysburg, was severely
wounded, and taken to a field hospital. He was transferred
to Frederick City, Maryland, and sent for his wife, who was
in Washington. She went immediately, arriving at two
o'clock at night and found her husband in a private house,
men lying all around on the floor. "I knew a doctor of the
regular Army, who had been born and brought up at Cul-
pepper, Virginia. During the war his father's house was
turned into a Federal Hospital; and he had charge of
wounded soldiers in the very room where he had played and
slept as a child, the nursery of the house."
Colonel Higgins was promoted to the Colonelcy of his
regiment, The 86th N. Y. V., for gallant conduct at Gettys-
burg. I copy this official paper:
"Head Qrs., 2nd Brigade, 1st Div., 3rd Corps,
"Camp near Sulphur Springs, Va., August 2, 1863.
"Gen. T. S. Sprague,
"Adjt. Gen., N. Y. S.
"Sir: "I have the honor to state, that Colonel Benijah
P. Bailey, 86th N. Y. V., was mustered out of service by
reason of disability. As the 86th is a part of my command,
I take the liberty of recommending to his Excellency, the
Governor of New York, as a proper person to fill the
vacancy. Lt. Colonel Benjamin L. Higgins of that regiment.
Colonel Higgins possesses superior qualifications and re-
markable ability as an officer, and is one of the most gallant
soldiers in our army. He has been twice wounded, at Chan-
54 THE ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
cellorsville and Gettysburg, and unlike many others,
remained with his regiment instead of taking leave of
absence, to which he was entitled. Believing that Colonel
Higgins richly merits this promotion and that the interest
of the service and his regiment will be benefitted thereby, I
am induced to make this recommendation.
"I am, Sir,
"Your obedient servant,
T. N. Hobert Ward,
"Brigadier General."
"Head Qrs., 1st Division, 3rd Corps,
Springs, August 7th, 1863.
"These recommendations of General Ward are eminently
fit and proper; and I trust his Excellency, the Governor of
New York, will concur in the opinion.
D. B. BURNEY,
"Major General."
Colonel Higgins, who had been in a hospital, rejoined
his regiment, November 7th, 1863. The Third Army Corps
fought a battle at Locust Grove, November 27th, 1863.
Here Colonel Higgins was again severely wounded. A
minie ball went through both thighs, and fell into his boot.
The ball ivas poisoned. He was taken to Alexandria,
His wife was again sent for (she was staying in Wash-
ington) . She found Colonel Higgins in a freight car, lying
on the floor. He was put in a hospital at Alexandria. His
wife boarded with a northern woman near by ; went to the
hospital every morning at six o'clock, and stayed till nine
o'clock at night. The doctor thought Colonel Higgins could
not live ; so his brother, Albert Higgins, was sent for. The
Colonel said, "I wish I was at home on a big bed." Mrs.
Higgins measured the height of his cot, went through the
hospital till she found another to match, tied the two
together, sewed two mattresses together, also some sheets
and a spread, and so made a comfortable double bed. That
is what he got for having his wife with him. (I have had
to urge Mrs. Higgins to give me these particulars.) I wish
more people had kept as accurate an account as she has.
(She said at first, "Don't ask me, Mrs. Teall. The most I
can remember is the hardship and the suffering, but they
were not as bad as if I had stayed here in Syracuse.")
When Mrs. Higgins was in this Hospital she saw two
CIVIL WAR REMINISCENCES 55
young boys, one with both legs cut off at the knees, the other
with both arms off at the elbow. They did not seem to
mind it as much as some people would losing a finger. The
men in the wards would play cards, and these boys would
sit up and watch them, and enjoy the game. Mrs. Higgins
went through the wards every morning, to care for and
cheer the men. She says, "I found them generally cheerful
and patient; it made me ashamed when I thought what a
fuss some of us made over trifles.")
As soon as Colonel Higgins could be moved, he was
brought home to Syracuse, and was received with a great
public demonstration by the firemen. But he was too ill
to make any formal acknowledgment of this generous wel-
come. He was afterwards mustered out for disability for
active service, but held several important positions under
the government.
After the battle of Locust Grove, the 86th N. Y. V.
returned to Brandy Station, and re-enlisted for three years
or during the war. Company A., which was the one Cap-
tain Higgins had taken from Syracuse in August, 1861, con-
tained about half of the original men. They all re-enlisted,
and remaining to the end of the war, fought through from
The Wilderness to Appomattox. Mr. Jerry Ryan was pro-
moted to the Captaincy of A. Company, July, 1864. He
was present at the surrender at Appomattox, April 9th,
1865, but did not see anything but General Meade and his
staff, as they returned from the surrender. When the men
heard the good news they threw up their caps, and cheered
as the General rode by."
The 86th regiment took part in the grand review in
Washington, May 22nd, 1865. This regiment was mustered
out of service in Washington, June 27th, '65; returned as
a regiment to Elmira ; was paid off there, July 4th, '65 ; and
disbanded. Company A. came home as it chose.
Some well known men belonged to this company.
Thomas Ryan, ex-Mayor, enlisted in 1865, and stayed with
the regiment until it was disbanded. Chief Reilly, of the
Fire Department, belonged to this company. Other mem-
bers of this company, who had lived in or near Syracuse,
were: Lieut. Nicholas Longstreet, Lieut. Ernest T. Rapp,
George A. Hammond, and Elen T. Scenten, living in Fay-
etteville. There were two very tall Indians in this com-
56 THE ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
pany who attracted great attention as they passed through
Washington; one was killed at the second battle of Bull
Run; the other, Thomas John, returned safely to the
Reservation.
Captain Ryan married after the war, went to Pennsyl-
vania, and lived there 24 years. He had two sons. The
eldest died ; the second, Edward Ryan, now lives in Syracuse.
There has been erected on Sickles Avenue at Gettysburg
a superb monument for the 86th N. Y. V. It is the only
one where a woman is represented ; her sacrifices and suffer-
ing commemorated. On one side is a bas relief, a mother
weeping over the body of her son, with this motto, "I yield
him to his country and to his God." When this monument
was unveiled the greatest emotion was expressed by the
women present. It was the first public recognition of
Women's Service, Loyalty, Devotion and Patriotism.
Pettit's Battery.
Battery B., 1st N. Y. Light Artillery, was mustered into
State service at Baldwinsville, August 21, '61, and into the
United States service at Elmira, a week later. It parti-
cipated in 22 engagements, and was mustered out June 18,
1865. It acquired a fine reputation. General Walker spoke
of its "peerless gunners," and in his account of the engage-
ment at Falmouth, said that Pettit "had cannoneers who
could hardly be matched in any battery in the regular
army." Hazard spoke in similar terms of the repulse at
Fair Oaks, saying, "The firing of Pettit's Battery has never
in my observation been excelled." Its monument at Gettys-
burg was dedicated July 3rd, 1888. Thirteen of its mem-
bers were present, and the Rev. Dr. W. M. Beauchamp, then
of Baldwinsville, made the address.
The monument is on Cemetery Ridge and bears the badg<e
of the Second Corps, with four inscriptions, one for each
side of the stone. On the front are the words, "Battery B.,
1st N. Y. Light Artillery, Artillery Brig., 2d Corps." On
the reverse, "Position held afternoon of July 3d, 1863.
Casualties: Killed 10, wounded 16." On the left side, "Or-
ganized at Baldwinsville, Onondaga Co., New York." Right
side, "Mustered into service, Aug. 31, 1861. Participated
in 78 days of battle. Mustered out of service, June 18,
1865."
Without further mention of this famous Company, some-
CIVIL WAR REMINISCENCES 57
thing may be said of its commander, under whom the bat-
tery acquired its skill. The following account comes from
one of his old friends :
At the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the village
of Syracuse, M. H. Jacobs, orderly sergeant of the Syracuse
Cadets in 1842, Capt. Timothy H. Teall, gave an account of
his experiences, mentioning some of the men.
"Rufus D. Pettit, an apprentice with Elijah T. Hayden,
learning the carpenter trade, joined this company after it
had been organized some little time. It fell to my lot to
break him in. He was perfectly willing to do everything
that was required, but he tried so hard to learn that when
put in the position of a soldier he seemed as stiff as a stake ;
he was round shouldered. I mounted a chair, put my knee
in his back and drew his shoulders back, put his hands down
with little fingers on the seams of his pants, and let him
stand awhile, then put him through his facings, but when I
came to teach him to march time and march to count, I
learned there was no time in him, and I actually took hold
of his feet with my hands, so as to aid him to keep step in
time ; but he was so willing that he soon mastered it all, and
became one of the most thoroughly disciplined men in the
company. He enlisted in the United States army for the
Mexican war.
"I was told of a very interesting incident concerning
him in the siege of the capital. A battery was engaged
trying to shoot down a flag on the Mexican Capitol building.
Mr. Pettit's captain, who also commanded a battery, said,
"I know a man who will bring that flag down.' 'Well,' said
the captain, whose battery was firing, Trot him out and he
shall have a chance.' Pettit was called and asked if he could
do it. He replied, 'I can try.' And he did try. He took
his time to calculate the distance with his eye, then to
elevate the gun so as to hit the object at that distance; all
ready (bang) and down came the flag. There was some
cheering and praise, and he was given charge of a battery."
He said little of his exploits, but his men often told of his
coolness and skill. In ingenious ways he drilled them before
they had guns. Some fun was expected when on a field day,
they were ordered to fire a salute for the first time. He
stood, watch in hand, and it was done with the precision of
veterans.
58 THE ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
At the close of the Mexican War he received a silver
medal from the city of New York, and in the Civil War one
from Napoleon III. A French officer was with his company
for two months, observing his methods, and this favor came
through him.
He was born near Bridgeport, Conn., July 4th, 1825, and
died in Baldwinsville, October 24, 1891. At Chancellorsville
he was disabled and assigned to staff duty at Washington,
serving through the war. It was my privilege to say the
last words at his grave, being also an honorary member of
this famous battery.
(Prepared by Rev. Dr. W. M. Beauchamp.)
Mr. John T. Williams was one of the original members
of the Zouave company that left Syracuse in April, 1861, to
join the 3rd Regiment, N. Y. S. Volunteers at Albany. He
went to Port Byron, found three friends who enlisted, and
returned to Syracuse. They joined the company on its way
to the station, the morning it left Syracuse. Mr. Williams
served with his company until he was sent by General Butler
as a scout from Bermuda Hundred on the 23rd of May, 1864.
General Butler ordered him to go into the Confederate lines
and get all the information he could. He was captured by
a Captain Smith, sent to Andersonville, and stayed there
till September, 1864. Then the prisoners were divided and
sent to different prisons, fearing a rescue by General
Sherman.
Mr. Williams was sent to Savannah; from there to a
camp near Millen. He was put in a hospital outside the
prison, but escaped and reached Augusta. Here, to avoid
suspicion, he procured a Confederate uniform and reported
to the Provost Marshal as a Confederate straggler from
the army of the Tennessee. He served as one of the Provost
guard for two weeks. During that time he went into a
cotton field, to try to find out how the negroes talked and
felt. He told an old negro that the Yanks were coming and
would take him.
"I'm not afraid," said the old man, "Yanks won't hurt
me. 'Pears that boy Billy (General Sherman) can go where
he pleases."
Mr. Williams made application to be allowed to join what
he pretended was his old command, then in front of Sher-
man. He hoped to pick up some valuable information and
CIVIL WAR REMINISCENCES 59
escape to the Federal Army. He marched with the Con-
federates through the Carolinas on Sherman's left flank,
often seeing his watch fires at night.
At Charlotte about a hundred of these stragglers were
put on a train and taken to Kingston, where there was a
battle. There Mr. Williams was arrested as a suspicious
character, because he had not reported to the command to
which he said he belonged. He was tried, but as nothing
could be proved, he was given permission to join any regi-
ment in the Alabama brigade. The Confederate army was
gathering to march on Bentonville; it was forty thousand
strong. It attacked the left wing of Sherman's army, com-
manded by General Slocum, at Bentonville.
The remainder of the story of Mr. Williams is soon told :
Sergeant John T. Williams at Bentonville.
In the Journal on March 19, 1915, on the fiftieth anni-
versary of the battle of Bentonville, the following article,
written by James A. Cruthers, was published.
Fifty years ago to-day — March 19, 1865 — one Syracusan
planned and fought successfully the battle of Bentonville,
N. C, in acting upon the information furnished to him by
another Syracusan, after a third Syracusan had penetrated
the second's guise as a Confederate and had vouched as
to his integrity and reliability to the first. In this way
perhaps the most decisive of all the 2,147 engagements
of the Civil War was won in the defeat of the adroitly
laid plans of the Confederates to stop the northward move-
ment of Sherman's Union army through the Carolinas by
destroying it.
About 18 months before the battle of Bentonville,
Sergeant John T. Williams of Company D. Third New York
Infantry, entered the Confederate lines near Petersburg,
Va., on a secret mission for Major General Benjamin F.
Butler, then commanding the Army of the James. Sergeant
Williams' instructions were doing, discover their intentions
and return at the earliest possible moment.
When he returned to the Union lines it was at Benton-
ville, just as the battle was beginning, by "deserting" from
the Confederate skirmish line. During the intervening
months he had been a prisoner of war for the greater part
of the time, having been captured before he succeeded in
getting far within the Confederate lines at Petersburg.
60 THE ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
From one military prison to another he was transferred,
until at last he reached the stockade at Andersonville, Ga.
From there he finally managed to escape, when sent out
under guard with a detail to cut wood.
Evaded the Hounds.
Sergeant Williams succeeded in evading the bloodhounds
placed upon his trail by wading streams, wallowing through
swamps and climbing from one tree to another. In escaping
he possessed himself of the ragged garb and accoutrements
of a slain prison guard. Miles and miles away he fell
into the hands of a small Confederate force, engaged in
conscripting recruits for the Southern army.
He now claimed to be a Confederate, recovering from
illness, and professed to belong to the Nineteenth Alabama
Infantry. He was somewhat chagrinned when told that
that regiment was but a few miles away, and that he would
be sent to it. In conversation with soldiers of the Thirty-
ninth Alabama, the make-believe Confederate ascertained
something about that regiment — so much, in fact, that when
he reached the camp of the Nineteenth Alabama he insisted
that he had been misunderstood, and that he had been
ordered to the wrong regiment.
His was the Thirty-ninth Alabama, Company K, com-
manded by Captain Thomas J. Brannon, Williams claimed.
He had been left behind, sick, he said. But when he reached
the Thirty-ninth Alabama, Captain Brannon absolutely re-
fused to recognize Williams as one of his men returning
from sick leave. Some of the other officers of the regiment
quickly suspected Williams, and suggested that he be hanged
as a Yankee spy. He stoutly maintained that he was not
a spy, defied them to prove their charge, and calmly went
on talking with the men of Company K of home and impell-
ing from them the information that was to stand him well
in hand later.
Accepted as Confederate.
Williams finally satisfied Captain Brannon that he was
a Confederate and the captain was disposed to believe that
the soldier's mind had been weakened by disease and ex-
posure. Captain Brannon became sponsor for Williams,
and consented that he might serve in his company until
his own might be discovered — possibly in another regiment.
CIVIL WAR REMINISCENCES 61
From then on until Bentonville, the name of John Williams
was borne on the first sergeant's roll of Company K, Thirty-
ninth Alabama.
On the night before Bentonville, Williams was on guard
at the head of a bridge over which the Confederates were
crossing a river to attack the left wing of General Sher-
man's army next morning. While Williams was counting
the passing cannon and mentally calculating the number of
men in the column, he overheard an argument between two
mounted officers. One, evidently a quartermaster, was de-
manding the right to use the bridge in order to cross over
wagons loaded with rations. He stated the number of
thousands of men he would have to provide breakfast for.
Hardee and his men were up, Williams heard the officer
say, and Cheatham and his were already across, while Hoke
and his force were at that moment going over. Right be-
hind them was Bragg's Division of freshly arrived troops.
Other commands were mentioned, specified by commander
and number, and Joe Johnston himself was in command
of them all. The sickly-looking, apparently unconcerned
bridge guard let none of the information get away from
him.
Dropped His Bullets.
Early next morning Company K, Thirty-ninth Alabama,
deployed and was ordered forward as skirmishers. This
brought Williams nearer the Union lines than he had been
before in months. As he advanced puffs of smoke from
the rifles of the Union skirmishers indicated their exact
position. Further back in the rear he could see the Stars
and Stripes — his first glimpse of them in a long time !
As the Union line was forced back and the Confederate
skirmishers advanced, Williams was congratulating him-
self upon getting so near his old comrades in blue, although
they might not recognize him in gray, and that as yet
nobody had apparently observed that he was dropping the
bullets as he reloaded his musket after firing. Suddenly
the voice of Captain Brannon, pitched in tones of anger,
reached his ears.
"Man, if you value your life as much as a dog's, don't
drop any more bullets," was the warning. "I half believe
you are a damned Yankee spy after all. One more false
move on your part, and I'll shoot you down in your tracks !"
62 THE ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
Just then the Confederate line again surged forward.
Williams dashed on, throwing away his gun as he ran to-
ward the Union line. Above the cracking of firearms he
could hear Captain Bannon shouting: "Kill that man!"
As he neared the Union skirmishers they ceased firing at
him, and he passed through to the rear without having
received any injury more serious than a slight flesh wound.
Threatened by Slocum.
The supposedly deserting Confederate skirmisher re-
vealed to a Lieutenant Joseph B. Foraker, afterward
governor of Ohio, his true identity and asked to be con-
ducted to the general commanding the Union forces. This
was Major General Henry W. Slocum, whose force con-
sisted of the Fourteenth and Twentieth Army Corps. Gen-
eral Slocum was known by sight to Sergeant Williams.
The information that the Confederates had concentrated
so large an army, commanded by Joe Johnston, to annihilate
Slocum's two small corps and then whip in detail Sherman's
center column and right wing seemed incredulous.
General Slocum assured Williams that, if he had entered
the lines to deceive him, he surely would be hanged.
General Davis, commanding the Fourteenth Corps, im-
patiently suggested that there be no time wasted about
having the "neck-tie party." About that time Major Wil-
liam G. Tracy, serving as an aide-de-camp on the staff
of General Slocum, appeared on the scene, recognized Wil-
liams and vouched for him.
Major Tracy and Sergeant Williams had gone out from
Syracuse together as soldiers with Butler's Zouaves — the
first company of volunteers raised in the state west of
Albany in response to Lincoln's first call for troops to de-
fend the national capitol. Tracy had been discharged as
an enlisted man of Company D, Third New York Infantry,
to enable him to accept commission as lieutenant in the
One Hundred and Twents^-second New York. Promotion
to captain had followed and assignment to staff duty.
Finally Was Believed.
Artillery was already in action, and desultory skirmish
fire had been succeeded by crashing volleys of musketry,
story, placed the Fourteenth Corps in battle array and or-
dered the Twentieth Corps up in support. Couriers were
CIVIL WAR REMINISCENCES 63
sent to inform General Sherman of the danger confronting
his widely separated wings. Slocum's men handsomely re-
pulsed the Confederate attack, but not until 11 officers
and 181 men had been killed, 70 officers and 1,047 men
wounded and 4 officers and 291 men captured on the Union
side — a total loss of 1,604.
The Confederate loss approximated 2,000, and never
again did the Confederates assume the offensive and seri-
ously dispute the progress of Sherman's campaign in the
Carolinas. General Slocum personally thanked Sergeant
Williams for his deed of valor immediately after the battle
of Bentonville and sent him to his own company and regi-
ment. There he was restored to duty and with rank from
April 25, 1865, was soon afterward mustered in as first
lieutenant of the company in which he had originally served
as a private soldier.
The hero of Bentonville steadfastly refused to accept
a purse of $700 raised for him, and saw another claim his
congressional medal of honor. After being mustered out
of service as a volunteer officer — Aug. 28, 1865 — Lieutenant
Williams entered the regular army as an enlisted man and
soon attained the rank of sergeant and then commissary
sergeant in Battery M, Third United States Artillery.
Eventually he returned to Syracuse, and here died at his
home, 1527 Burnet ave., on July 13, 1912.
Tributes of Fellow Soldiers.
Maj. W. G. Tracy — "Sergeant Williams was being ques-
tioned by General Slocum and the second in command —
Maj. Gen. Jeff C. Davis, commanding the Fourteenth Army
Corps — when I came up. General Slocum asked me if I
knew Williams. He was wearing a ragged Confederate
uniform, and his hair and beard were long. 'Hello, Tracy ;
don't you know me?' he said as I approached. As soon
as I recognized him, I assured General Slocum that he
could be believed, but General Davis still insisted that Wil-
liams' story was simply incredible and probably nonsense.
I was afterward told that General Slocum had said he would
hang Williams if he found that he was trying to deceive
him. Williams prevented a great disaster at Bentonville,
Without the information he furnished to General Slocum,
we would undoubtedly have been defeated there, and that
would have endangered General Sherman's whole army.
64 THE ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
After I had vouched for Sergeant Williams, General Slocum
heard his story again and then planned and successfully
fought the battle." — Brevet Major William G. Tracy, cap-
tain and aide-de-camp, United States Volunteers, on the
staff of General Slocum.
Col. John S. Butler. — "John Williams was one of the
first to volunteer as a soldier in the city of Syracuse. He
was absolutely fearless, and disposed to be adventurous.
As a duty man he was one of the very best of soldiers.
If memory serves me right, he went out first as a scout for
General Butler from Camp Hamilton, Va. Several times
to my knowledge he undertook such hazardous secret mis-
sions, taking his life in his hands in every instance." —
Col. John G. Butler, originally captain, Company D, Third
New York Infantry.
Capt. T. J. Brannon. — "I have reason for remembering
that man. ... If one ever completely deceived another,
Williams deceived me. Of course, I knew well enough
that he did not belong to my company, but I was firmly
convinced that he was a Confederate, recovering from seri-
ous illness. . . . Not until that morning at Bentonville,
when I observed that he was dropping his bullets on the
ground in reloading his gun did I suspect him. We did our
best to kill him when he fled from our skirmish line, de-
serting to the Yanks." — Capt. Thomas J. Brannon, late of
Company K, Thirty-ninth Alabama Infantry.
Major Tracy was most kind. Mr. Williams wished to
change his Confederate suit, cut his hair and shave his
beard, which had grown to his waist. Major Tracy handed
him the key to his trunk and said, "Help yourself," But
when he got to headquarters everyone wanted to do some-
thing for him ; each supplied some article. General Slocum
sent for him that evening. When he entered the tent, the
General said: "I want Williams." "I am Williams, Sir."
"You need not be afraid anyone will recognize you," said
the General.
After this battle of Bentonville, Mr. Williams re-
joined his old company in the 3rd Regiment, N. Y. S.
Volunteers, and found some of his friends still in it with
whom he had left Syracuse nearly four years before. The
3rd Regiment was left with Terry's command to garrison
Raleigh, and remained there till some time in August. It
CIVIL WAR REMIN7SCENCE3 65
was ordered to Albany in September, 1865, paid off and
disbanded. Mr. Williams afterward lived in Syracuse
and died quite recently.
Up in the northeast corner of Oakwood, on a beautiful
hill, lies the earthly body of as brave and true a man (and
his father) as Onondaga County has ever sent forth to
maintain her honor and good name — J. L. Kirby Smith,
Colonel of the Forty-third Ohio Regiment, who fell at the
head of his command in the battle of Corinth, Mississippi,
October 4, 1862.
Kirby Smith was of distinguished Revolutionary descent.
His great-grandfather, Ephraim Kirby Smith, enlisted at
the age of 17 in the Revolutionary army; his father and
three brothers were in the army at the same time. His
great-grandfather, Elnathan Smith, served in the French
and Indian war; his grandfather, Joseph Lee Smith, dis-
tinguished himself in the war of 1812; he was afterward
appointed by President Monroe United States Judge for
Florida, immediately on the change of flags, when our gov-
ernment purchased that territory from Spain. His son,
Ephraim Kirby Smith, was appointed to the Military
Academy at West Point from Florida, though he was a New
Englander by birth; he was always known in the army as
E. Kirby Smith.
E. Kirby Smith married Mary Jerome, who belonged to
one of the most distinguished Onondaga County families.
Her grandfather, Timothy Jerome, moved from Connecticut
to Pompey in 1794; his son, Isaac, who settled in Geddes,
was a man of remarkable energy. Mary Jerome was his
daughter.
Major E. Kirby Smith was in the Mexican war, fell in
battle at the head of his battalion at Molina del Rey, a battle
in which 59 officers were killed (one-third of all engaged)
and 800 men.
J. L. Kirby Smith, his son, was born in Syracuse, July
25, 1836. This son heard the story of his father's heroism;
he knew how highly that father was honored, and from his
youth determined to devote himself to that service to which
his father had given his life. He entered West Point in the
class of 1853, graduated in June, 1857; was commissioned
second lieutenant, topographical engineers; served on the
western frontier. Here is an extract from a letter which
66 THE ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
shows Kirby Smith as a son as well as a soldier. He writes
from a boat between St. Louis and Leavenworth :
"Some gamblers came on board ; took all the money the
passengers had. I never was so utterly sickened with any
practice as I am with that gambling, after what I saw on
that boat. Console yourself, my dear mother, that it is
owing to your blessed care that I am preserved from the
temptation to spend money and character on dissipation.
On reading your last letter I came to a page or two that I
cannot read without tears, and longing for words that came
not; to express my gratitude to you, my best and nearest
friend on earth, for the many hours of anxious, devoted,
unselfish care that shielded my babyhood and boyhood from
evil ; for the uncalculating, inexhaustible love, that time and
absence seem only to increase; that asks no reward, and
that watches my manhood with the same sleepless devotion
that guarded my infancy. May God reward and bless you
forever."
Kirby Smith's chivalrous devotion to his widowed
mother was one of the most beautiful traits of his noble
nature ; his love was not manifested in words alone, for he
was most generous with his pay in her behalf.
I will let a companion soldier, John M. Fuller, brigadier
brevet major general, U. S. V., tell the rest of this story: —
"It is not an easy task, I know, to interest a listener in
the story of one who fell so young, no matter how highly
esteemed nor how beloved by his immediate comrades ; for,
though he gave promise of a brilliant career, he died too
soon to verify the promise. His service in the field covered
merely eight brief months, and he was but 26 years old when
he fell in battle. So young that only a few could realize
that a born soldier had been lost; so soon, that only his
kindred, and a few who loved him, would keep his memory
green. Perhaps, when asking you to listen to the brief
story of this young soldier, it may be well, at the outset, to
show that I am not alone in thinking his memory worthy
of preservation, and to this end will quote a few lines from
a letter written by a General, who once commanded the
Twelfth and afterwards the Twentieth Corps. General A.
S. Williams, who knew Colonel Smith perhaps even better
than I did, speaks thus of him: 'He was my beau-ideal of
CIVIL WAR REMINISCENCES 67
a young man. Cheerful, religious, faithful and sincere;
frank, brave, affectionate and dutiful, he combined all the
severer virtues of mature age, without illiberality, prejudice,
bigotry, envy or malevolence. There was a daily beauty in
his life that won the hearts of all who knew him.' And
again the same General says: 'His heart was so given to
the cause of his country, and he was so free from selfish con-
siderations ; he was so capable, so brave, so self-reliant with-
out vanity, so patient and so persevering in the line of duty,
that I have looked confidently — though not without appre-
hensions for his personal safety — for splendid services and
rapid and well earned advancement.' When the Civil War
broke out Smith was a lieutenant in the corps of topograph-
ical engineers, and stationed at Detroit under Captain
George G. Meade, who afterward became Commander of the
Army of the Potomac. Both Meade and Smith were afraid
the great rebellion would be put down while they were
measuring the shores and sounding the depths of that inland
sea. But it was not long before every soldier would find
enough to do.
"Our Kirby's first war service was on the staff of Gen.
Patterson; then on that of Banks. But he was restive
while doing merely topographical duty, and longed for a
regiment he might lead to the field. After some disappoint-
ments he was offered a cavalry regiment, which he declined,
as he once told me, merely 'because he could not shoe a
horse.' Then the Forty-third Ohio was offered him by
Governor Dennison, which he promptly and gladly accepted.
On reaching Camp Chase, near Columbus, he found a mere
squad of men, all like Artemus Ward's company, 'willing to
be brigadiers.' He removed headquarters to Mt. Vernon.
Speedily the ranks were filled, and so thoroughly were the
men drilled that the Firty-third was soon known as one of
the finest regiments Ohio sent into the field — and this is
saying a good deal. He, with his regiment, joined the
Army of the Mississippi at Commerce, Mo., where General
Pope was organizing his force preparatory to the movement
upon New Madrid. General Pope's army was ordered to
immediately join the forces of Grant and Buell, then
approaching Corinth. At the battle of Corinth, Colonel
Smith was ordered to 'charge front forward.' This man-
oeuver Smith proceeded to execute, just as if his regiment
68 THE ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
was on parade, aligning his right company on the markers
before giving the order for the other companies to advance.
This movement was not fully completed when Smith was
shot down. 'These fellows are firing at you, Colonel/ said
one of the Forty-third's men. 'Well, give it to them,'
answered the Colonel, and immediately thereafter fell from
his horse. When Colonel Smith, his adjutant, and officers
of the Forty-third were shot down, that regiment seemed
dazed and liable to confusion, but Lieut. Colonel Wagner
Swayne immediately began to steady the ranks, and General
Stanley galloped up just in time to help. Stanley was a
host in battle, and always seemed to be where the strife was
fiercest. Just as our boys were moving for the charge,
which broke the rebel column in the road, I was astonished
to see Stanley rushing in between the file closers and the
line of battle of the Eleventh Missouri, his arms out-
stretched, to touch as many men as he could reach, pushing
them forward to reach the head of the rebel column. Very
soon after the charge — when the exultant shout of victory
was so quickly followed by that revulsion which came with
the whispered names of the dead — occurred the scene touch-
ingly referred to by General Stanley in his official report of
the battle : 'I have not words to describe the qualities of this
model soldier, or to express the loss we have sustained in
his death. The best testimony I can give to his memory is
the spectacle I witnessed myself in the very moment of
battle, of stern, brave men weeping like children as the word
passed : "Kirby Smith is killed." '.
"It seemed a singular coincidence to us, and I think also
to Smith, that his wound was identical with that which
struck down his honored father, years before, at the gates of
Mexico. A shot entered just under the right nostril, pass-
ing somewhat upward until deflected by a bone, when it
passed out at the left ear. That evening I went with
General Stanley to the hospital. It will be readily under-
stood that the nature of Kirby's wound prevented speech,
but as soon as he saw us he indicated a desire to write. I
took out a memorandum book and pencil, when he imme-
diately wrote: 'How did my regiment behave?' General
Stanley commenced to write a reply, when a quizzical look
of the Colonel's reminded us he could hear well enough, and
Stanley answered: 'Most gallantly.' This seemed to please
CIVIL WAR REMINISCENCES 69
Smith greatly, and he at once acknowledged it with one of
his graceful salutes.
"There is one other word to say, which I could wish were
said by some one better fitted to say it. Colonel Smith w r as
more than a soldier; he was a Christian. He never made a
parade of his religious ideas. No man ever saw in his the
least particle of cant. Yet in and through the soldier there
shone forth in the life of our Kirby Smith the evidence of
that life which is eternal."
The following letter was received from General
Stanley :
Washington, D. C, May 20, 1898.
Dear Mrs. Teall : I was intimately associated with Col.
L. Kirby Smith in the spring and during the year 1862, until
he received a mortal wound at the Battle of Corinth, October
4 of that year. He was a recruiting officer at Columbus, O.,
in 1861; and his gentlemanly deportment and attractive
manners so far won the confidence of those he met in the
pursuit of his duties that he was urged upon the Governor
of Ohio for Colonel of the Forty-third Ohio Volunteers. He
devoted himself to this regiment, and when he reported to
me at New Madrid, Mo., he had one of the best drilled and
best equipped regiments in our army of the Mississippi. He
was a man of most amiable character and attractive
manners, young, handsome and modest. Before the battle
of Corinth his regiment had been in several sharp engage-
ments, and I remember his saying to me one day : 'General,
I want to pass through one big battle, and be exposed to a
shower of bullets; then I will, if I survive, know myself
better." Alas ! he had his wish ; he behaved like a hero and
received his mortal hurt.
He mounted his horse as the enemy charged his line, to
lead his men by his example, was shot through the lower
part of his face and survived six days.
I am sorry I cannot write more for you of this pure,
brave, brilliant and pious young man, but the cares of this
war take all my time.
Yours truly,
D. H. Stanley.
70 THE ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
Charles E. Fitch writes of Lieut. D. Duncan Hillis :
Lieut. D. Duncan Hillis was a native of Syracuse, and
the eldest son of the late distinguished advocate, D. D. Hillis.
He inherited much of the bright talent and suave urbanity
which made Mr. Hillis a leader at the bar and chief orna-
ment of the social circle. He received the advantages of a
liberal education in the select school of the city and at
Hobart College. He chose the profession of civil engineer-
ing, and was for several years on the canals of this State,
giving eminent satisfaction to the authorities in the several
grades in which he was successively promoted. In January,
1863, he received a commission as second lieutenant in the
Third New York Artillery, and for nearly a year was
stationed on Forest and Morris Island, during the severe
siege operations of General Gilmore against Charleston.
In October, 1864, he was advanced to the rank of first
lieutenant, in the same regiment, and was shortly after-
wards ordered to Newbern, N. C. The terrible pestilence
which swept over that devoted city found him at his post of
duty and claimed him for its victim. Such is the brief
record of a life spanning but 24 years, but luminous with
manifold graces of character, nobleness of resolve and
beauties of action.
For this young hero who died in his country's service
there is indeed regret, but it is tempered with the assurance
that he did his full duty in this hour of his country's
extremity. Syracuse mourns her honored dead indeed, but
she sets them in her crown of glory to be worn with rejoic-
ing when grim visaged war shall shake the land, and out
of all the blood of her noble sons, a lasting and righteous
peace shall issue.
There was a boy of only a little over 17 years of age,
who was also a victim of that dread fever — George Sumner
Jenkins, a grandson of General E. V. Sumner. He died at
Newbern on October 19, 1865. A friend says :
"We happened to be in the Provost Marshal's office when
young Jenkins came from the surgeon's examination, and
fully consummated, by a solemn oath, his resolve to become
a soldier of the Union. By name a stranger, though we
had often noticed him in every day life, his fresh rosy cheeks
and youthful appearance, and his dignified and cheerful
CIVIL WAR REMINISCENCES 71
bearing, attracted our especial attention, and as he turned
away we remarked to the Marshal that that young man, if
he lived, would do honor to his country and to his friends.
But he has fallen a victim to a power greater than man,
when he had but just entered upon the service of his coun-
try." He was a son of Leonidas Jenkins, a graduate of
West Point, and an officer of the First Dragoons, U. S. A.,
who served in the Mexican war, and died of yellow fever at
Vera Cruz, October 18, 1847, having been attacked with that
disease while on horseback drilling his regiment. We copy
the following sketch from the Journal :
"Young Jenkins was only 17 years of age, yet inspired
with the military spirit of his gallant father, and his still
more eminent grandfather, he had been desirous of entering
the service of the United States for the last two years.But
he was prevented by the remonstrances of his friends and
relatives and especially by those of his mother, whose only
child he was; his extreme youth was the only motive for
this opposition to his wishes. Fired with the spirit of the
times, and inspired by the military ardor which he had
inherited, he resisted all importunities and enlisted as a
private in the Third New York Artillery, then recruiting
in this city, its headquarters being at Newbern, N. C. On
the 18th of September last he, with other recruits, left for
Elmira, where they remained a few days and then proceeded
to Newbern. The first tidings his relatives received from
him was a brief note in pencil to his mother, written at
Baltimore, on a cannon attached to his battery, and glowing
with all the hope and pleasure of a young soldier's life.
While at Elmira General Diven proposed to detail him out
of the field. Thankful for the kindness intended, he how-
ever begged that it might not be so, and that he might be
permitted to join his regiment, as he had entered the service
as a private to do his duty and to earn by honest effort that
promotion most sacred and valuable to the heart of a true
soldier. He was accordingly permitted to proceed to the
headquarters of his regiment.
"When he arrived at Newbern the yellow fever was
raging to a fearful extent, from 30 to 60 dying daily; yet
he quietly and assiduously entered upon the discharge of the
duties assigned to him, and received the warm commenda-
tions of his Colonel, who took him at once to his own quar-
ters to live with him.
72 THE ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
"On the 28th of September last General Sprague, the
adjutant general of the State, enclosed to Mrs. Sumner a
commission for him, from Governor Seymour, as second
lieutenant of the First New York Mounted Rifles, then be-
fore Richmond and commanded by his uncle, Edwin V.
Sumner, U. S. A. This commission reached him at New-
bern on October 2nd. Thus commissioned and promoted,
he was, of course, to proceed without delay to join his new
regiment in front of the rebel capital. At the earnest soli-
citation, however, of his late commander, who had lost all
his officers but three, to remain with him and aid him until
he could secure new officers in their stead, he cheerfully,
with the magnanimity of a generous soul, consented to do
so, though so many others hastened in utter dismay to escape
the ravages of the terrible pestilence. This was a display
of moral courage higher than that demanded by the duties
of the battlefield — a nobleness of purpose greater than that
which even the most devoted patriotism generally excites.
He sacrificed to the welfare of the Republic not only his
life, but what promised to be a brilliant and distinguished
future. Can the Nation perish, having such sons?"
This is a letter which will interest many friends still in
Syracuse :
Headquarters, 149th Regiment, N. Y. V.,
Brook's Station, April 14, 1863.
Dear Sat: This is probably the last time I shall ever
commence a letter with the heading, "Brook's Station," for
we are under orders to march, and shall be off, I suppose,
to-morrow morning. There is to be a grand movement
immediately, and we are to be called upon to join the great
army which is so soon to go out to victory or death.
The next ten days will probably decide our fate, and
that of Richmond, from this direction; for the army is in
splendid condition now, and we can, if ever, make an impres-
sion at this time. The Lord grant that we may succeed;
but, oh, at what a cost ! for many must fall ; and how many
poor hearts will bleed for lost sons, husbands, fathers,
lovers. Who knows but what I may be among the honored
ones who will fall in defense of their loved country; and
if so, then may I meet my fate with the calmness with which
I speak of it now to you. I have not, as I have often told
CIVIL WAR REMINISCENCES 73
you before, the least idea that I shall survive a great battle,
for it is mine to fall, I most seriously believe, and so be it.
Give my best regards to all my friends, and believe me
ever your friend,
Jos. A. Davis.
He fell at Chancellorsville. He was severely wounded
in the action, and his death on the field was witnessed by
one of our soldiers who was taken prisoner, and these facts
were reported by Lieut. Eckle on his return to his regiment.
Lieut. Davis was the eldest son of James Davis, formerly of
this city, and now of Northboro, Mass. He entered the
service as quartermaster sergeant, and proved very faith-
ful and efficient. He was promoted to be second lieutenant
a few weeks later. Lieut. Davis was heart and soul engaged
in the national cause. He was courageous and ambitious,
and it was while in a hand-to-hand fight with rebels that he
fell. He was in his twenty-first year.
Lest we forget,
Lest we forget.
Reminisences of C. G. Baldwin, 101st N. Y. S. V., from
Counties of Deleware, New York and Onondaga.
In the early part of the year 1861, after Fort Sumter
had been fired upon by the Confederates at Charleston, the
war spirit broke out and extended throughout the Noerthrn
States, and into every city and village and country farm
in the State of New York. Patriotism and enthusiasm ran
riot in every portion of the State.
The writer, then a boy, was living on a farm in the
Town of Camillus with his adopted parents.
In September of that year, I was working in a field on
the farm. In an adjoining field of another farm another
boy, John Doran, was at work with a team. He called to
me to come to the division fence, and we fell into a talk
about the war. We finally decided that we would run
away from home and enlist. So the next morning, at day-
light, we stole quietly away ; walked to Syracuse, a distance
of about ten miles, called at a recruiting office, gave our
names and a false statement as to our ages; and were
duly mustered into the service. We camped on the old Fair
Ground in the southern part of the city, were supplied with
7 4 THE ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
a blue uniform and a gun, and then and there imagined we
were soldiers in the great Army of the United States.
A few days thereafter, while I was on guard duty,
entertaining the notion that I was a man, I discovered my
adopted parents driving into the camp. I was called by the
Lieutenant in charge; was informed that I should imme-
diately exchange my uniform for my old clothes, and go
home — which, of course, I did without demur.
The statement has been made that the records show that
I left the camp without leave and did not return, intimating
that it was a case of desertion. I do not blame the writer
for the misstatement, but rather the imperfect records made
at that time.
In October my parents, perceiving that I was discon-
tented and unhappy in not being allowed to serve the
country, consented that I might go as a drummer, in the
band which was then being organized to accompany the
101st Regiment of Volunteers. I, therefore, "joined the
Band," and was duly enlisted as a private in Company
I, 101st New York Volunteers and assigned to the Drum
Corps.
We were sent to Washington, and spent the winter
manning one of the numerous forts that protected the
Capitol. My duties at that time consisted in pounding a
drum from early dawn till dewy eve.
In the spring of 1862 we were ordered into Virginia,
and in the middle of a dark night I recollect crossing the
long bridge into Alexandria and the enemy's country.
Soon thereafter our Band was dissolved and we were
given muskets and placed in the ranks, where, I take it, we
were more useful.
My first experience in real war commenced with the
second Bull Run Battle. My Captain was Peter McLennan,
a sturdy, young Scotchman, and as brave as he was sturdy.
In manouvering for this battle we were passing through
a wood where the fighting had been severe. I remember
that the dead were lying so thick over the ground that
it required caution to avoid stepping on the bodies. Coming
into the actual conflict, we were confronted by General
Jackson's Division — the finest body of fighting men the
world has ever had. Captain McLennan, sword in hand
ar»d raging back and forth, said to me: "Fire low, Char-
CIVIL WAR REMINISCENCES 75
ley, and give them the devil." Soon after he was hit and
received a hurt from which he never recovered. Our losses
were great; our army was sadly defeated, but it was not
the fault of the men in the ranks. Our soldiers were as
brave and efficient as any, but they were not well com-
manded at that battle.
Other battles in which I took part were Fredericks-
burg, under Burnside ; Chancellorsville and Chantilly, under
Hooker ; Antietam, under McClellan, and finally Gettysburg,
under Meads.
My regiment was then the 40th N. Y. V., commended
by Colonel, afterwards General Eagan. We were a part
of the Third Corps commanded by General Sickles. Our
heavy fighting was on the second day of the battle, July
2, 1863. Our location was the "Valley of Death," at the
foot of Little Round Top Mountain. The fighting at this
point was very severe. Our regiment went into battle
with about three hundred and fifty men. It lost in killed
twenty six ; wounded one hundred and twenty men. Other
regiments suffered losses equally heavy, and the place was
well named the "Valley of Death."
I was wounded at this fight; was sent to the Baltimore
Hospital and there remained until mustered out of service
in 1864.
Looking back over the years to that experience, it seems
to me like a dream, and I say to myself: "Could that
reign of pain, destruction, death, waste and bitter enmity
have been real?" Is it possible that civilized, educated,
enlightened men can find no better way of settling their
little differences than by killing each other wholesale?"
I served the army as drummer, then as private and
ended by being 2nd sergeant of Company I, 40th N. Y. C.
I sincerely hope that the United States will never have
another war, either foreign or domestic. It don't pay, and
with the exercise of comon intelligence, Christian charity
and a spirit of love, it would seem an easy matter to avoid
war in the future.
C. G. Baldwin.
Syracuse, Dec. 12, 1914.
76 THE ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
Recollections of Mr. Lincoln's First Inauguration.
(Written by Mrs. Teall, March 4, 1913.)
Ruskin said, "The best thing anyone can do is to see a
thing clearly and then tell it in the simplest words."
I will try to recall, though in a dim uncertain way, some
of the soul stirring events which "transacted themselves"
in this country in the years 1860-61.
My father, Colonel E. V. Sumner of the regular
army, was stationed in St. Louis in 1860, in command
of the department of Missouri. He was ordered by General
Scott to accompany Mr. Lincoln east, as his military escort.
I remember that in some old letters he wrote, he gave an
account of a visit to Mr. Lincoln at Springfield, and he was
much impressed by Mr. Lincoln's quiet dignity of manner,
and evident strength and ability.
On the journey east Mr. Lincoln sat holding his little
son, Tad, in his arms, most of the time, as if he were his
greatest comfort.
The scenes at Harrisburg have been so often described
that I will pass over this part of the story. I am like Hab-
berton's children, I want to be "where the wheels go
around," so I persuaded my husband, Mr. Teall, to take me
to Washington to attend the Inauguration. I was the only
woman on that train going to Washington, for no one knew
what to expect . The Presidential party was at Willard's
Hotel. Colonel Sumner, one of his daughters, Mrs. McLean,
and his two sons-in-law, Capt. McLean and Lieut. Long,
officers in the army, were at the same hotel. When we
joined them I saw "the wheels go round," many little ones
inside the big ones. In the midst of the anxiety and dis-
tress that was shaking the whole nation, nice little points
of etiquette had to be strictly considered. It was the proper
thing for Mrs. Lincoln to write a note to Miss Lane, the
then Lady of the White House, appointing an hour when
she would call on Miss Lane. But Mrs. Lincoln would not
do it. That was not according to her ideas of what was
due to her. Mr. Seward had to be sent for and insist that
she should.
The Inauguration was to be on Monday, the 4th of
March, 1861. The Sunday before was a day I can never
forget. Willard's Hotel was filled with an anxious, restless
crowd. No one thought of going to church ; men went about
CIVIL WAR REMINISCENCES 77
looking grim and determined, meeting their best friends
with a glance of suspicion, not knowing whether the next
day would find them friends or enemies. Women were
frightened and tried to conceal their fears under hollow
laughter. In the afternoon there was a large circle sitting
in one of the parlors, the Southern men talking in the most
aggressive manner, the Northern men quiet, watchful.
Finally a young fellow just out of West Point, with light
hair and blue eyes, looking like a boy, threw himself back
in his chair and with a laugh said, "Massachusetts's good
enough for me." I have often wished I could remember
his name and could know what became of him.
In the evening there was another group, watchful,
anxious. It was so important to know whom Mr. Lincoln
would appoint in his Cabinet. It was known that Mrs.
Lincoln was violently opposed to some decided Northern
men, fearing to offend the South. She said, "I don't want
my husband to be President of a few Northern States."
Finally Mr. Chase came out of Mr. Lincoln's parlor. He
was besieged for news, but he took a seat on a sofa beside
a pretty woman, and tried to appear indifferent. At last
he said, "Can't tell. Lincoln has taken the bit in his teeth."
The 4th of March, 1861, saw Mr. Lincoln successfully
installed as President of the United States, despite all pre-
ditions to the contrary. For the first time in the history
of the United States it had been found necessary to conduct
the President-elect to his Capitol, surrounded by bayonets
and with loaded cannon at different points on the route,
where it was feared his passage might be obstructed — all
of which added to the display, if it detracted as much from
pre-conceived ideas of the Inauguration of the President of
a free Republic.
From early in the morning the tramp of troops could be
heard, and dashing Aides, in showy uniforms, were seen
urging their horses almost to full speed, and looking as if
the fate, not only of the United States, but of the universe,
depended upon their individual efforts. Masons and Odd
Fellows with Marshals of the City and Marshals of the day
were running against each other at every corner, while
occasionally a Light Artillery troup would sweep down
the street, sublimely unconscious of everything but its
destination.
78 THE ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
By nine o'clock the street in front of Willard's Hotel was
lined with troops, as far as the eye could see, and there they
remained under arms until Mr. Lincoln appeared, leaning
on the arm of Mr. Buchanan, who had previously driven
down the avenue in his own carriage and unattended. As
soon as Mr. Lincoln stepped into the carriage that was
to convey him to the Capitol, the troops presented arms, the
band struck up "Dixie," and the sun which had been under
a light cloud all the morning, shone with undiminished
splendor, as if nothing should be wanting to give effect to
the moment. It was a scene never to be forgotten and
seemed to make an unwonted impression on the spectators,
hushing into silence for the instant every dissenting voice.
As the carriage, which might be said to convey the destiny
of the United States, disappeared, the troops filed after it,
followed by an immense throng of people of all ages and
both sexes, eagerly hurrying to the Capitol, where a plat-
form had been erected outside of the building, from which
Mr. Lincoln, after taking the oath of office as President of
the United States, addressed them.
I wanted to go to the Senate Chamber to see the two
Presidents come in together, before the incoming President
took the oath of office. This is generally an easy enough
thing to do; just to walk up to the Capitol and go into the
Senate Chamber, but it was not so that day. First, one had
to get a pass from a Senator, then walk through a narrow,
long, boarded up pasage way, room only for one to pass at
a time. Sentinels were stationed at short distances, each
examining the pass. When we finally reached the Capitol
there were but two other women, besides myself, in the
gallery of the Senate Chamber; Mrs. Lincoln and the wife
of one of the Foreign Ministers.
It was a most impressive scene. The Judges of the
Supreme Court came in in their robes of office. The mem-
bers of the House of Representatives were on the floor.
Mr. Buchanan and Mr. Lincoln walked in together. Mr.
Breckenridge, Vice-President, presided in the chair. He
made such an impressive elegant speech that, strong Repub-
lican as I was, I could not but sympathize with him.
After Mr. Breckenridge concluded his speech, Mr. Lin-
coln and Mr. Buchanan walked out to the platform. We
followed but were not near enough to hear what Mr. Lincoln
CIVIL WAR REMINISCENCES 79
said, but on that sea of faces turned towards him, could
read every variety of expression, from exultation to despair,
for it was evident that there was no hope for the South.
The remainder of the day was a gloomy one for all
parties. The excitement of the morning had passed away,
leaving everyone to reflection, that enemy to all present
enjoyment.
The Inauguration Ball was the dullest of all balls —
scarcely a familiar face to be seen — the Washingtonians did
not come out, because the "Lincolns" were not yet "the
Fashion." The strangers who patronized the affair tried
to make the most of it, but the room or tent, was arranged
with so little taste and so badly lighted, it required a
brilliant imagination to fancy enjoyment in such a scene.
Mr. Douglas opened the ball with Mrs. Lincoln, who
looked extremely well in a light blue "Moire," but did not
seem to be in good spirits. It is said she remarked that it
had been the most unhappy day of her life.
Tuesday morning, March 5th, my sister, Mrs. McLean,
and I went up to the White House to see how Mrs. Lincoln
liked her new home. She wasn't very well satisfied and
didn't seem to think she could make herself comfortable.
Then we went over to the War Department and sat in
one of the windows, watching the officers of the Army
assemble to make their first formal call on Mr. Lincoln.
General Scott stood at the head, but I was more interested
in watching a fiery young Southerner, who stood kicking
his sword in a rage that he had to call on "Old Abe Lincoln."
It was either that evening or a day or two after, that
Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln gave their first public reception at the
White House. They stood in front of the big bay window
in the Blue Room. Seated in that bay window were Mr.
and Mrs. Stephen Douglas, Mr. Chase, Mr. and Mrs. Law-
rence of Boston, Mrs. McLean, myself and a few others. I
watched the Douglasses and wondered what their feelings
were.
There was a big crowd, and I can only remember that
my father had to lift me over a table to get me out.
It was either on Wednesday or Thursday that Mr. Lin-
coln promoted my father to be the Brigadier-General in
place of General Twiggs, who had gone south. Mr. Lincoln
said, "Colonel Sumner, I consider this the best office I have
80 THE ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
in my gift," showing that he had no idea that in a few
weeks he would be appointing Brigadier-Generals by the
hundred, so little could anyone realize even then that there
would be a war. But the Cabinet had been appointed, and
the extreme Radicals carried the day, which meant war, the
prophets said.
General Sumner was sent under secret orders to Cali-
fornia, to supersede General Albert Sydney Johnston, then
in command of that Department, who was suspected of a
design to turn the forts and arms over to the Secessionists.
How California was saved to the Union a California
correspondent of the Chicago Tribune tells: "General A.
Sydney Johnston was in command at San Francisco when
the Rebellion broke out. He connived with the Secession-
ists to deliver over the forts at the entrance of the harbor
and to seize the 60,000 stand of arms which Buchanan's
Secretary of War, Floyd, had sent there for that purpose.
The city was swarming with cut-throats and traitors. John-
ston had privately sent in his resignation to the Department.
The hour for the consummation of the treachery had almost
arrived, when the unexpected advent of General E. V. Sum-
ner frustrated the scheme. He went on board the Cali-
fornia steamer at sea, so no intimation of his coming had
reached California. When he landed, on his arrival, he
walked up from the steamer to the headquarters of the
Pacific Department and inquired for the Commanding
Officer. Having been shown into his presence, he
announced himself to the established traitor as his suc-
cessor in command, showed his papers and demanded
immediate possession. In half an hour he had control of
both forts, and ran out their guns, double-shotted, on the
^and side.
"That same evening the 60,000 stand of arms at Benicia
was secured and California was saved. But for that Cali-
fornia would have been lost."
Here is an order which speaks for itself:
"Headquarters of the Department of the Pacific.
"San Francisco, September 5th, 1861. General orders
et 20. mJt M1
"No Federal troops in the Department of the Pacific will
ever surrender to Rebels.
E. V. Sumner,
Brigadier General Commanding.
Richard W. Drum,
Ass't. Ad.it. General."
CIVIL WAR REMINISCENCES 81
Captain McLean resigned from the Army of the United
States, and with his wife went directly to Montgomery to
report to Mr. Davis and offer his services.
Lieutenant Long, who was General Sumner's other son-
in-law, went with him to California as his Aide, but when
his State, Virginia, seceded, he also resigned, came to Syra-
cuse to get his wife and child, who were staying with her
family, and they went south.
I returned to an anixous, saddened home, where, with
my mother and elder sister, we lived through the next
terrible four years. My husband went into the Northern
Army, and my two brothers.
After all these long years, whenever I feel inclined to
criticize younger women for what seems frivolity or want
of knowledge, I remember that I didn't appreciate Mr.
Lincoln, when I could have talked to him every day. I
shared the general opinion, that Mr. Seward and Mr. Chase
were the greater men of the party, Mr. Lincoln, an uncouth
Westerner, knowing nothing of statesmanship.
Sarah Sumner Teall.
Scenes in Charleston During the Bombardment of
Fort Sumter.
(By An Eye- Witness.)
Charleston, April 12th, 1861.
"The echo of the last stroke of four from the historic
chimes of St. Michael's had scarcely died away, when a
group of soldiers, gathered around a mortar in Fort John-
son, Charleston Harbor, and waited, as the commander, with
watch in hand, looked for the signal to sound the first note
of Civil War. (The first gun of the war was fired at half-
past four o'clock, Friday morning, April 12th, 1861.) No
pen, tongue, or canvas, can accurately portray the scenes
of that April morning in the City of Charleston, when its
inhabitants were startled from their slumbers by that first
gun. Lights flashed as if by magic from every house, and
soon an agitated mass of people were rushing toward the
harbor. Grave citizens, usually distinguished by their
dignity, hurried along the streets, dressing while they ran
and madly shouting hurrahs. There were men without
coats, women without hats, children in their night gowns,
all hastening to the same point of view.
82 THE ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
"There, with pale faces and eyes sharpened by the strange
fascination of the scene, multituds remained hour after
hour, peering into the darkness, watching the progress of
the fight by the flashing of the guns. In five minutes all of
the batteries that surrounded Fort Sumter had opened fire,
or to use the words of Gneral Ripley, then commanding on
one of the islands, 'rung their breakfast bell for Major
Anderson.' "
(Strange feeling the officers of the old army had for
each other.)
It was two hours before Major Anderson responded to
this call ; then suddenly there poured from the parapet and
casemates of Fort Sumter a storm of iron hail. The tidings
instantly rang through the city, "Fort Sumter has opened
fire." (I believe it was thought Major Anderson would not
fight.)
Now the battle raged with fury; the fiery messengers
from both sides followed each other with spiteful hate.
Short, sharp spurts of flame told of bursting shells in and
around the beleaguered fortress, over which floated the only
flag of the Stars and Stripes to be found on the soil of South
Carolina.
A curious blending of humanity was to be observed
among those who manned the Confederate fortifications.
In their shirt sleeves, with heads bared, and faces smoke
begrimed, working heavy guns, were the gentlemen who
only a few days before met at the Charleston Club, types of
wealth and leisure. Here was a clergyman and some of
his deacons ; a bank president, and his clerks ; and yonder a
group of planters.
Many of these gentlemen had never seen a shotted gun
before that day, but, with a mixture of chivalry and reck-
lessness, would spring to the crest of the earth-works after
each fire, to watch the effect of their aim, and then cheer
for Major Anderson as his answering missiles came shriek-
ing back. All of the old historic names of South Carolina
were represented among these soldiers; the grandson of
the Colonel Sumter, for whom the fort was named, was there
as a private. The venerable Edmund Ruffin of Virginia,
almost eighty years of age, had traveled from Virginia,
served as a private, and was allowed to fire the first shot
against Fort Sumter from the main battery (and he thought
CIVIL WAR REMINISCENCES S3
he was patriotic). Fires were kept blazing in the harbor
all night to detect the launches of the distant fleet, if an
attempt should be made to relieve the garrison.
The second day was ushered in, clear and bright; the
air was laden with the perfume of the early spring flowers.
The flags of both the combatants were flying with stately
defiance ; and, as the first sunbeams touched their folds, the
thundering intonations of the heavy artillery told the listen-
ing multitude of the renewed strife.
The garrison at Fort Sumter were on their last rations ;
their breakfast that morning consisted of pork and rice,
the last of the rice being served at that meal.
From Fort Moultrie General Ripley was throwing hot
shot. About eight o'clock of this second day, a tall, steadily
ascending column of smoke was observed on the southern
portion of Sumter. First it was thin and pale, but every
moment it grew darker, until, shooting out from the base
of the black pillar, great yellow tongues of flame could be
seen, lapping the tops of the barracks and officers' quarters.
The first impression was that Major Anderson was signal-
ing the fleet, (consisting of eight war vessels and 1,380
men), which had been sent to the rescue, but remained idly
at anchor and made no sign of help.
At ten o'clock the fire reached a magazine of shells and
grenades ; and a terrific explosion ensued that caused many
a heart to stand still ; for the men in that beleaguered and
burning fort had many friends in Charleston, who were
watching it with the keenest interest. When the explosion
occurred, a young girl, who was standing with a party of
her schoolmates, was seen to throw her arms wildly in the
air, and exclaim, "Oh! God; my brother."
She was the sister of Lieutenant Jeff C. Davis, who
afterwards was a Union General.
During all of this trying period (while the fort was in
flames and the air like a blast furnace), Major Anderson
continued to send occasional shots to the different batteries
around him, as if determined to show to the world that he
died game. At every flash from the muzzles of his guns the
Confederates would send up cheer after cheer for the gallant
defender of the fort. Three times the flag was lowered as
a signal of distrss to the Federal fleet, but no response came ;
and it was left to Beauregard to offer the merciful assist-
ance for which a call had been made.
84 THE ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
At one o'clock a shot from Sullivan's Island severed the
flag-staff and brought down the Stars and Stripes. They
were run up again in less than fifteen minutes by Private
Hart of New York under circumstances of great daring
At the reappearance of the flag, the boat that Beauregard
had send with his aides to offer assistance, turned back ; but
meanwhile ex-Senator Wigfall of Texas, accompanied by
Private Gourdin of the Palmetto Guards, pushed off from
Morris Island in a small boat and, showing a white hand-
kerchief on the point of his sword, proceeded to Fort Sumter.
Being conducted to Major Anderson, he complimented that
officer on his gallant defence, but urged that to continue the
conflict under the circumstances would only unnecessarily
risk the lives of the men under his command, without
adequate gain. Colonel Wigfall said the Charleston troops
would cease firing as soon as the flag was lowered, and he
offered the terms of surrender submitted by Beauregard.
"Then," said Major Anderson, "I must surrender. I
have no other resources; we are in flames; the men will
soon suffocate."
Accordingly, at five minutes past one o'clock A. M., on
the 13th of April, 1861, the Stars and Stripes were lowered
and Sumter passed into the possession of the Confederates.
The appearance of the fort defies description ; it was beaten
to pieces. Moultrie also bore evidence of the sure aim of
the Federal artillerists.
Strange to say, not a man ivas killed in this storm of
shot and shell. The evacuation of Fort Sumter took place
about noon on Sunday, April 14th. Dressed in full uniform
and wearing their side arms, the soldiers marched out of
the fort, to the tune of "Yankee Doodle." The flag had been
saluted by the discharge of fifty guns. An officer asked
Major Anderson if thirty-four, the usual number, was not
sufficient. "No," replied Anderson, "it should be a hundred,
and that would not be enough."
The officers and soldiers left on a steamer. Every avail-
able site and every kind of craft had its full number of
guests. The strictest churchmen forgot their afternoon
services and watched and shouted with the noisiest, while
old men and maidens, young men and children, hurrahed
until they were hoarse.
People stopped and shook hands who had never before
CIVIL WAR REMINISCENCES 85
exchanged civilities ; and fine wines were drunk at clubs and
dinners, that had been held in sacred keeping for great
occasions.
So ended the first battle of the Civil War.
In an extract from a private letter General Scott says,
"Anderson has performed the greatest feat of artillery
generalship in the history of the world, in holding out as
long as he did ; keeping his guns going for thirty hours, with
so few men. Without relief, without sleep, he was forced
to yield from sheer exhaustion."
Major Anderson said himself, "Until a man is half
starved, half smothered, almost poisoned to death, and on
the verge of eternity, he never can know what men I had
or understand the measure of the valor that made surrender
the last thought with them." Major Anderson, and every
officer with him, says, "I did not surrender Fort Sumter, but
evacuated it, under our own terms, under more favorable
and honorable circumstances than the commander of a fort
so situated was ever accorded before. A parallel case is
unknown in military annals."
The following may be the explanation why the fleet in
Charleston Harbor did not go to the relief of the men in
Fort Sumter:
"The result at Fort Sumter was anticipated by the
Federal Government ; everything came to pass, according to
the programme marked out by the War Department. It
was never intended the fleet should enter Charleston Harbor,
for it would in all probability have fallen into the hands of
the Confederates. But it was intended the rebels should
believe that such was its destination, and should muster
their utmost force to accomplish its capture. They were
led into this belief that they might be induced to postpone
an attack upon Washington, which was intended, and for
which General Scott was not prepared.
"While the commander of the rebel army was concen-
trating his forces for the capture of Fort Sumter and the
fleet supposed to be sent for its relief, the Federal govern-
ment was energetically putting Washington in a state of
defence and re-enforcing Fort Pickens. It got its few men
unharmed from Fort Sumter and blockaded Charleston
Harbor."
Sarah Sumner Teall.
General Index
Abbott, Samuel J 23
Alexander, Miss Tennie 10
Allen, J.. 8
Alvord, E. H 8
Alvord, Thomas G 9
Andrews, Judge Charles 9-49
Austin, W. A 4-7
Bagg, Mrs. James L.__ 10
Baker, Lieut. ._.__. 35
Baldwin, C.G., Reminiscences.. .73
Baldwin, Miss Julia 10
Baldwinsville Artillery Volunteers
20
Ballard, Leon H._ 4
Barnum, Henry A 24-34-35
Bassett, C. L 31
Beauchamp, Rev. Dr. William
M . 56-58
Behan, E. H. 8
Belden, James L 4
Bishop, Alonzo L 4-7
Bissell, Miss Mary. 9
Blackwell, William H 4
Bonta, Miss.... 10
Bowen, George 8
Bowers, W ..8
Brame, J 8
Brannon, Capt. T. J 60-64
Breen, M 8
Brewer, Ada .22
Brewer, Capt. Mrs 22
Brintnell, Miss Mattie ...10
Brower, Tabet Mosher 23
Brown, Seeley 8
Brown, T. K ..8
Brown, Sen. William Cullen 17
Bruce, Gen. B. F. 9
Burdick, Charles H 4-7
Burnet, Mrs. John B 9-11
Burt, Mrs. Oliver T 12
Butler, Mrs. Allen 10
Butler, John G 4-5-7-13-64
Butler, Zouaves Roster.. ..4
Butler, Zouaves 19-36-44
Campbell, J 8
Canfield, Dr 21
Caswell, Miss Mary 16
Chase, Durf ee C 4
Cheney, George N 25-27-33
Chidester, W _.8
Chittenden, Harlow W ...24
Chittenden, Mrs. H. W. 9-12
Church, Morris H. 23
Cicero Flagg Raising 18
Clapp, Miss Mary 16
Clark, Stephen D 23
Coatsworth, Ed. E 4
Cogswell, Miss Cordelia 10
Cole, George W. ..24
Combs, Hamilton R 24-35
Cook, A .8-19
Cornell, C. 8
Cowles, George D ...29
Crowley, T 8
Cruthers, James A 59
Cullin, H 8
Daughters of Liberty. 9-11- 18-19-20
Davis, Mrs. Charles. 12
Davis, Joseph A 73
Davis, Thomas T... 14
Denning, H 8
Didama, Dr. H. D 14
Drake, Edward 24
Driscoll, Dennis, Jr. 23
Duell, Mrs. E 16
Duncan, William A 4
Dunlap, Dr. J. P. 14
Eighty-sixth Regiment 55
Estes, Stephen 13
Fesenmeyer, A 8
Fesenmeyer, J. H 8
Fifty-first Regiment 3
Filkins, Mrs. B 10
Finck, Mrs. William C 9
Firemen as Volunteers . . 49
Fitch, Charles E 70
Fitch, Mrs. T. B 10
Flag Raisings 13
Foran, Dr. James 14
Fordham, George 8
Fuller, Gen. John M 66
Fulton Volunteers 18
Gale, Henry 4
Gardner, John 35
Gay, Mrs. Calvin B 10
Gifford, Miss Frances 9
Gleason, William 23
Goodrich, Mrs. George. 10
Goodrich, William. 8
Goss, Henry ..4
Graham, James 1 23-30
Grevs, Syracuse 10
Griffin, J. 8
Griffin, Rhesa, Jr. 4-7
Griswold, Edmund B . 23
Hale, W ....7-8
Hall, Rev. J. B 17
Hamilton, Henry H 4
Hammond, George A.. ..55
Harding, C 8
Harnley, William 8
Harris, Mrs. E. N. 10
Haven, G. C ..8
Havens, George _.4
Hayden, Elijah T... ..57
Heermans, Mrs. Thomas B 9
Held, Ernst 11
Heron, J. J. 8
Higgins, Albert 54
Higgins, Benjamin L 49
GENERAL INDEX— Continued
Higgins, Mrs. Benjamin L 50
Hillis, Mrs. Gertrude 10
Hillis, Lieut. D.Duncan 70
Hinton, Mrs. T. H ---9
Hitchcock, William H. H. .32
Hisley, J -8
Hobart, J 8
Holmes, L -8
Homer, Frederick 23
Hopkins, William E 4
Irish, Joseph C 24
Jackson, Mrs. William 10
Jacobs, M. H - 57
Jenkins, George Summer ...70
Jenney, Edwin S 4-7
Jerome, Mrs. A. H 16
Jerome, H -8
Jerome, Mary 65
Jerome, Timothy 65
John, Thomas .56
Johnson, John H 24
Jones, W. H. H... 8
Joslyn, Dr. Hezekiah 14
Judson, Mrs. William A -9
June, Mrs. H. D ...16
Keats, 8
Kelsey, H — - — 8
Kendall, Miss Fanny 17
Ketcham, F. Douglas 4-8
Kingsbury, John T 4
Kinne, E. D 8
Ladies' Flag Club 9
Larance, N 8
Larrabee, William H 4
Leach, Mrs. T. J 9
Leavenworth, Mrs. E. W.. 9-19
Lincoln's First Inauguration 76
Locke, Capt. Mrs 22
Locke, MiloW 23
Long, Lieut — 76-81
Longstreet, Nicholas, Lieut 55
Louis, John 23-29-31
Lucas, James 18
Lysander Meeting 17
Manchester, George W 4-7
Manlius Meeting -16
May, Rev. Samuel J 35
McCarthy, Hon. Dennis 9
McKay, T 8
McLane, Lottie 11
McLean, Capt 76-81
McLean, Capt. Mrs 76
MoMahan, Thomas 4
Mercer, Dr. Alfred 14
Mickells, Lovell G. 4-8
Mickles, Miss Kate B... ..10
Middleton, Mrs. George H 9
Middleton, Hugh 4-7
Mirtues, P -- 8
Mitchell, J.. 8
Morgan, George 4
Morgan, E.. 8
Moriley, William 8
Morris, Miss Carrie 13
Moschell, John F. Capt 18-19
Moseley, William H. 4
Murphy, Mrs. Mathew 12
Nims, Mrs. Dr 16
Northrup, Mrs. A. J. Reminiscence 5
Nye, T 8
O'Neil, James F 4
One Hundred and Twenty-second
Regiment 37
Onondaga Regiment 25-27
Onondaga Regiment Departure..21
Onondaga Valley Meeting 16
Paine, Robert 4
Parker, O. H 8
Parry, Miss Hannah 16
Pease, Dr. R. W. .9-14-19-23-28-31
Peck, Major 9-19
Percival, Rev. C. S 23
Pettit, R. D. Capt 20-57
Pettit's Battery 20-56
Phillips, John J 4-8
Phillips, C. A 8
Philips, R. B 8
Pickham, T 8
Pompey Hill 14
Porter, Dr. W. W 14
Price & Wheeler 13
Putnam, Mrs. E. Augustus 10
Eandall, Charles B 23
Randall, James 23-33-35
Ransom, WebBter 32-33-34
Rapp, Ernest T 55
Reilly, Chief 55
Rice, Thomas 13
Richardson, R. N.... 30-34-35
Robinson, C 8
Root, Augustus T 24-35
Root, George 31
Root, Israel 24
Ryan, Jerry 55-56
Ryan, Thomas 55
Safford, Miss Frances 16
Samson, Dr. P. O 14
Sanford, Mrs. Judge 10
Scenten.Elen T 55
Sedgwick, Charles B 9-23
Seymour School . 19
Shankland, Miss Jennie. .10
Shaver, Frank J 4-9
Sheldon, T.J S
Shipman, Dr. A. B. 11-23
Shipman, Dr. J. O. 14
Shirer, N .8
Skaneateles Flag Raising 18
Slocum, Gen. 19-37-39-40-62
Smith, E. Kirby 65
GENERAL INDEX— Continued
Smith, J. H 8
Smith, J. L. Kirby 65-66
Smith, Lucas 24
Smith, Mrs. Rosa 10
Snell, J. Marvin 4-7
Snyder, George. 23
Soules, H 8
Spalding, J 8
Spanier, John P 4-23
Spencer, Mrs. I. S 9-18-21
Stapley, Samuel 8
Stanley, Gen. D. H 68-69
Stanton, John P ...23
Stern, Moses 4
Stewart, William D 24
Stewart, William D. Mrs. ... 12
Stoddard, Charles E 4
Stoddard, Henry 4
Stone, George W 23
Stone, Miss 10
Stone, Seymour H. Mrs.- ..12
Storra ,Lucius C 23
Strauss, Peter 23
Stuart, Mrs. Dr ..12
Sumner, Edwin V 72-76-80
Sumner, Samuel S. 45-46-47-48
Sumter, Story of Firing on 81
Sutherland's Band 21
Talmadge, Rev. Mr 9-17
Tarcott, Henry 4
Teall, Mrs. S. S. Recollections 76
Teall, Timothy N. Capt 57
Third N. Y. Volunteers 5-7
Thompson, Henry C 4
Thompson, Samuel E 4
Thurber, Miss Amelia 10
Titus, Silas 9-23
Titus, Silas Mrs 12
Town, William B._ 24
Townsend, Col. 6
Townsend, Mrs. Robert 10
Trowbridge, Robert ..4
Trowbridge, Dr. J. F ..14
Truesdell, George 24-35
Turny, H ..8
Twelfth N. Y. Volunteers
20-21-22-34-35-36
Van Allen, Col. James, Regt. 18
Van Vleck, Miss Nettie 9
Vickerman, F. 8
Walrath, Col. E. L
10-12-23-25-27-29-32
Wallace, Miss Carrie 9
Ward, Miss Martha 16
Warmer, O 8
Weaver, F. Wellington 4-7
Webb, Miss Fanny 13
Weeks, Col 34-25
Welch, Walter 50
Wells, J. Emmett 4-S
White, Mrs. Hamilton 12
Whitman, Mrs. George 16
Wiborn, Albert M. 24
Wicks, J. M 4-7
Williams, John T 4-43-58-59
Williams, T. J 8
Wood, Mrs. D. P 12
Wood, Ira 23-35
Woodford, Erskine P 24
Woodworth, D. 8
Workbags for Soldiers 10
Wright, W. H. 8
Wright, W 8
Zouaves, Syracuse 3-4-5-6-7-19
