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COMPANY G.
A Record of the Services of One Company of the 157th N. Y. Vols.
in the War of the Rebellion.
From Sept. 19, 1862, to July 10, 1865.
Including the Roster of the Company.
by
A. R. BARLOW.
A. W. Hall, Publisher,
Syracuse, N.Y.
1899.
PREFATORY.
The production of this little work has long been contemplated. It has
seemed right that the records of some of the volunteer organizations
sent from Canastota and vicinity, during the War of the Rebellion,
should be recorded in such a form as would preserve to the families of
those boys, their deeds in marching, in fighting, in suffering for the
old flag. In an effort to accomplish such an undertaking as this, the
patronage of the general public is not considered. The book, if
requiting for the expense of publication, will be considered a success
financially.
As a literary effort, no claim is filed, unless one is admissible for
general accuracy in the matter of events and dates. Some critics may
take exception to the attempt herein made, to individualize a
collective noun and yet retain plurality; and in the same measure,
pervert mood and tense. It is admitted that the license is unique.
Quite likely other departures from good old grammatical paths will be
noted. Let it be remembered, however, that the experiences of Co. G
were, as a whole, unique, and to harmonize the literal with the
actual, the record should be drawn uniquely.
No apology is offered for trivial treatment of some of the subjects;
in truth, they are deserving of severe handling. If lack of respect
for commanding officers is shown, the explanation given is, that they
have been removed from the high pedestals of war-gods and are
considered only as men.
It is in no bitter sense the men who fought Co. G are termed rebels.
They were in rebellion and were known to the boys as rebels, or johnny
rebs. A false delicacy only would prompt the writer to deprive those
Southern men of a title which, apparently, they bore with pride.
As stated, this is not a work for the public eye. It is an offering to
comrades, from a comrade who marched with them, and experienced with
them the fortunes and misfortunes of war. And in performing this work,
care has been taken to omit such occurrences as might not be
understood by others than the actors; and while thus avoiding
over-coloring by a faithful portraiture of events, and suppressing
nothing worthy of record Co. G go into history.
In performing this duty, individual names have been used, illustrative
of passing events. Should any person feel aggrieved over such freedom,
let it be known, it was, indeed, born of familiarity with the
subjects, and is indulged in a spirit of good comradeship, without
thought of disparagement.
No man who marched with those boys can think of them unkindly. If
there were ever differences of a serious nature, the writer is
unmindful of them.
To travel over the old roads, to hunger and to thirst again; to sleep
where night found them; in sunshine, in storm out on the picket-line;
to toss upon a bed of suffering and weaken, day by day, for lack of
tender care;--in brief, to march away to the wars and enjoy the rich
compensation of an honorable return, all this and more, has been lived
again while preparing this record. And so with the old boys, as long
as they live, will they by this effort be enabled to travel Virginia
roads in all kinds of weather, without danger of sticking fast in the
mud, or of being stifled amid clouds of gray dust.
Why Co. G did not cut a broader swath along the pathway of glorious
attainment, they cannot understand. They were a willing body of men,
and were of a regiment of noble hearts. Misfortunes of war, simply,
were not the only elements at work defeating their best endeavors. The
true causes can be learned, only, in a huge compendium of tragical,
whimsical and amusing facts, concealed within the folios of that
unwritten or mythical history of the war, which never will be
published, a history that would tumble war-idols to the ground, and
elevate men who have passed into obscurity.
But Co. G have never permitted their escutcheon to lie prone in the
dust, that they might more readily engage in wrangling over such small
matters as position and preference. They do not grumble, they do not
boast. They learned, thirty-five years ago, to accept the inevitable,
which has been awarded to them in large quantities.
Co. G were boys of Lenox, who served in the name of Lenox. They
belonged, then to Lenox, as her offering in the war, and their record
is a part of the history of the town. Divested of verbiage, their
deeds will still be found honorable and manly. For, as once said the
lamented Capt. Frank, Co. G did "as well as any of them."
A few words should be given in memory of the dead, who, in life, stood
shoulder to shoulder with the boys of Co. G Dead?--a word applied to
express a religious belief; but how inexpressive of a new-birth.
"Death is but another name for change.
The weary shuffle off their mortal coil,
And think to slumber in eternal night.
But, lo! the man, tho' dead is living still;
Unclothed, is clothed upon, and his Mortality
Is swallowed up of Life."
Thus sang an inspired woman, and thus shall it be said of the boys who
gave their lives for the flag, and for their comrades who shall follow
them. And some day, upon the great plain of Light, the hosts will once
more marshal for a grand review.
ROSTER OF CO. G, 157TH N.Y. VOLS.
CAPTAINS.
Abraham Tuttle.
[1]Harrison Frank.
[2]Lafayette McWilliams.
LIEUTENANTS.
Maurice D. Bailey.
Harrison Frank.
Marshall Hemstreet.
[2]Frank E. Gates.
[2]Robert E. Grant.
[2]Jerome Forbes.
Clark Pierce.
ORDERLY SERGEANTS.
Israel P. Moore.
Marshall Hemstreet.
Frank E. Gates.
[2]John H. Roe.
Jerome Forbes.
Hubbard Suits.
SERGEANTS.
Marshall Hemstreet.
Frank E. Gates.
Henry C. Jarvis.
John H. Roe.
James B. Hooper.
[2]Nicholas Binges.
John H. Fancher.
Wm. H. Barlow.
[2]Harvey Lindsley.
CORPORALS.
Jerome Forbes.
[2]Irwin A. Sayles.
[2]James B. Hooper.
Clarence L. Spencer.
[2]Asa E. New.
Wm. J. Peck.
Wm. H. Barlow.
Nicholas Binges.
Hubbard Suits.
[2]Charles A. Near.
Daniel A. Betsinger.
[2]Albert R. Barlow.
[2]Jerry Murphy.
[2]William Miller.
Wm. H. Kimball.
MUSICIAN.
W. H. Perry.
TEAMSTER.
Wm. G. Johnson.
COOKS.
William Mallows.
Ziba Cloyes.
Patrick Matthews.
PRIVATES.
[2]Amos Avery.
[2]Peter Agan.
Daniel A. Betsinger.
Wm. W. Baldwin.
[1]Albert D. Bridge.
Daniel Brockway.
Albert R. Barlow.
Ziba Cloyes.
Alfred J. Cole.
Peter Cummings.
Francis H. Carey.
John H. Dunham.
Nicholas Ecker.
[1]John W. Foltz.
Conrad Foltz.
[2]Robert Farrington.
John H. Fancher.
Francis M. Gault.
Daniel D. Grovestein.
Stephen D. Harrington.
Joseph H. Hart.
[1]John A. Hart.
Jacob Hallicus.
[3]James M. Hainsworth.
[2]James Johnson.
[1]Luzerne E. Johnson.
Henry Kellogg.
Harvey Lindsley.
[1]Asa C. Lawrence.
Luther Loucks.
Wm. Mallows.
Myron A. Menzie.
Henry Mason.
Patrick Matthews.
James Matthews.
Jerry Murphy.
[1]Durell Moore.
Jeremiah McLane.
[2]John J. McMaster.
[2]William Miller.
[2]John Miller.
[2]Michael Miller.
[2]Chas. A. Near.
[2]Simon Nestler.
[2]Hugh O'Brien.
[1]Francis C. Pratt.
[2]William Pease.
[2]John Pfleiger.
Mason Phelps.
Chas. O. Ricker.
Wm. E. Rinn.
[3]Henry W. Richardson.
Nicholas J. Snyder.
Eusebius Sweet.
Hubbard Suits.
[2]James L. Travis.
John Torrey.
Elmer A. Wise.
[1]Alfred Wilder.
[2]Henry Whaling.
Calvin White.
DRAFTED RECRUITS.
Geo. S. Orr.
Scott D. Whitney.
SUBSTITUTES FOR DRAFTED MEN.
James Leonard.
John Wise.
ENLISTED AS RECRUITS.
[1]Abram Thornton.
Sylvanus D. Alexander.
Peter Delong.
Chas. Hoxie.
Nelson Kimball.
Henry Nobles.
Sylvanus S. Ostrander.
Samuel N. Jacquay.
[1]Russell Stroup.
Paul Stowell.
Wm. H. Schuyler.
Levi Schuyler.
Chas. O. Hinman.
[2]Wm. L. Johnson.
Wm. H. Kimball.
Patrick Kinney.
Alfred J. Leird.
William Rudd.
John Terry.
Daniel Winchell.
John Brown.
George Plank.
Arthur Campbell.
Rufus C. Baldwin.
[1] Killed in Action.
[2] Wounded.
[3] Died by disease or accident.
COMPANY G.
The date of their captain's commission placed Co. G seventh in
rank--beginning with A--and ninth company from the extreme right as the
regiment formed on the colors. The company was enrolled and became a
part of the 157th regiment of New York Volunteers, enlisted for three
years unless sooner discharged--"for three years unless sooner shot,"
according to Irwin Sayles, who left the company and the service minus a
right arm. The regiment was raised in Cortland and Madison Counties,
under the call of July 2d, 1862, for 300,000 three years men.
ABRAHAM TUTTLE, the first captain of Co. G, was a farmer living near
Clockville. He was about forty years of age, slightly gray, but strong
and active. Capt. Tuttle was an old-time California gold-seeker, who
took the long route via Cape Horn to the then new Eldorado. In some
respects he was well fitted for a soldier, but he had no taste for such
a life, as a profession, and resigned after experiencing the
discomforts of a winter campaign in Virginia.
MAURICE D. BAILEY, of Wampsville, was first lieutenant of Co. G. He was
one of the handsomest men in the regiment--finely made and set-up in
good style and in the prime and vigor of life. He was a big-hearted man
and popular. At home he was a farmer. After serving with the company
for a few months, he was assigned to Co. K, being promoted to a
captaincy, and remained with the regiment until the autumn of 1863,
when he resigned, at Folly Island, S.C.
HARRISON FRANK, second lieutenant of Co. G, was a speculator in farm
produce and lived at Wampsville; he was thirty-two years of age, a
rather tall, spare-built man. He came from German stock, and his
grandfather, Albert Frank, was a soldier of the Revolution. His
maternal grandfather, George Siver, was a soldier of 1812. Andrew Frank
married Nancy Siver and Harrison Frank was their son.
So it appears that Harrison was born with a martial spirit in him.
Unfortunately his physical powers were too frail for the hardships of
camp and field. It would seem that only a strong will power supported
the man for weeks at a time. "I will never give up until I am down,"
was written on every line of his features, while his figure was
unsteady and his limbs seemed unfit for carrying his body. But his eye
was clear and his voice rang out sharp and authoritative. He possessed
a shrill tone of voice, was rapid in speech, his perceptions were
clear, his preferences leaning to that which was just and right; was
methodical, correct, generous, temperate. Cared little for the glitter
of military display and wore on parade the dress coat of a private
adorned with shoulder straps. This was not from penuriousness. One day
the colonel took him to task for not appearing in a uniform coat.
"Colonel," he replied, "I have a mother and others at home, who need
all I can save from my pay. In my baggage I have a new uniform coat. My
boys know me in this uniform."
He wore that plain dress coat unmolested. In fact, when he fell at
Gettysburg he wore the ordinary blouse of a private soldier, with two
bars attached, taken from an old shoulder strap.
When Frank was made captain, the discipline of Co. G was very
indifferent, their tactics none of the best. They needed inspiring and
the right sort of man took hold of them, who knew there was crude
material in his company, of such from which good soldiers were
produced; so he applied himself and with immediate results, to make Co.
G one of the good companies of the regiment. Frank had been left behind
when the regiment went to the front. He was in poor health, but finally
reached Washington and lay there in hospital, or under treatment, for
weeks, rejoining the boys at Fairfax Court House, Va. He was still
weak, but brimful of patriotism, was sanguine of victory for the North
and said he expected to march into Richmond. Such sort of grit served
him to the last. Gradually, as the winter gave place to balmy spring,
his health seemed to improve and with that encouraging condition came
his ability to convey to his men the ambition of the soldier; and it
was not long before Co. G were looking up handsomely. In April, 1863,
President Lincoln reviewed the Army of the Potomac then lying in the
vicinity of Falmouth. Co. G were bright under the applications of
tripoli polish, blacking and brush-brooming; new uniforms, white
gloves, etc. Capt. Frank was proud of his men. As their esprit improved
the men grew to liking more and more the man who sought their greatest
good.
In this connection it is only just to remember a patriotic act of Mrs.
Daniel Crouse, of Canastota, who presented a regulation sword to each
of the officers of Co. G. The ceremony occurred in the old Dutch
Reformed Church in Canastota. Judge Barlow made the presentation
speech, to which the then Lieutenant Frank responded in a modest, but
manly style.
A FEW NOTES OF GENERAL INTEREST.
Co. G was recruited in the middle portion of the Town of Lenox, Madison
County. It was known in the regiment as the Canastota Company. A
patriotic region was the territory within a radius of four miles of
that small village. Before 1856 it was counted a reliably Democratic
locality, but the anti-slavery agitation soon found it fertile ground
for propagating Free-Soil ideas and it rapidly changed to the
Republican side, as soon as the issue was fairly made. So, when the war
broke out, the missionary work of such men as Gerrit Smith, Samuel J.
May, Beriah Green, and others, became apparent, and patriotism burned
bright upon its rural altars. It is estimated that at least five
hundred men were recruited within the territory already designated.
The Town of Lenox paid $136,030 for town bounties, while Madison County
paid a total of $1,338,320 for bounties to recruits. Lenox paid for
support of families $3,786, distinct from Poor Fund; both for bounties
and for relief thus raised by tax, Lenox shows double that of any other
town in the county. And those figures do not by any means represent the
thousands of dollars voted at the recruiting meetings and subscribed
and donated for local bounties and for relief purposes.
Very pleasant to recall are the kind words spoken and written in those
trying times by noble-hearted men and women, as the boys went forth to
the war.
In August, 1862, a war fund was raised in Madison County. Hon. Gerrit
Smith, with his usual generosity, promptly sent in his check for
$5,000, and in his note which enclosed the same, he says--"I would that
the fund should not be regarded as a mercenary appeal to our
volunteers--but as a gift from loving neighbors toward helping them to
arrange their affairs that they can leave their homes more freely and
pleasantly. These volunteers and their neighbors constitute a
partnership sacred and sublime, and never to be broken."
Canastota was very active and like many other towns at the time, doing
unceasingly for the men in the field, for local relief and in support
of the good cause generally. It is doubtful if any locality in the
State, with the same population and a like assessment, can show a more
honorable record.
It should be noted that at least fifty per cent. of the men enlisted in
1862 were at the time beardless youths, the greater portion of whom
proved enduring soldiers. Those boys did not enlist for sake of
obtaining bounties. Enthusiasm was aroused in various ways--by speeches
at war-meetings, by martial music and by the newspapers. Everybody
talked war, the girls sang war songs, one boy enlisted and his chums
followed him. Very little cared those young fellows for bounties. The
county of Madison gave $50, and the State $50, bounties. One month's
pay in advance $13 and $2 bonus from the general government and $100 at
the expiration of the term of service (increased after the war to
$200). In the fall of 1864 the town of Lenox gave for bounties to
3-years men $1,100, the county $500 added to that, besides the State
and national bounties, and many of those men never were in a battle.
But the trials of war were not entirely with the boys at the front.
Dependent parents, wives and children felt the denials keenly; and when
news came that a battle had been fought and some of their boys had
fallen, the entire community was interested at once and freely
sympathized with sorrowing friends. And the firm belief that they were
thus cared for strengthened the boys wonderfully.
Of the eighty-seven men originally enrolled in Co. G, one-half of them
were between the ages of eighteen and twenty-one years, and no doubt a
number of them several years below the minimum age of eighteen, fearing
rejectment, assumed to be older.
The fatalities of war among those volunteers are difficult to estimate.
Not a few were reported as "missing," who never returned. Many of the
sick and wounded lived to see their homes and soon after died.
During its term of service the company lost one captain and six
enlisted men killed in action, and one man accidentally shot, while
three died of disease. The man Asa Lawrence, missing at Chancellorsville,
is included among the killed, and according to all that has been learned,
he has never been heard from. One captain, three lieutenants and
twenty-four men, were wounded. Of the original enrollment sixteen were
discharged on account of sickness or wounds, five were discharged to
accept commissions and five were transferred to the Invalid corps. Nine
men deserted. Forty-two enlisted men returned with the regiment, others
not present were still borne on the rolls.
The company during its term received accessions of two substitutes, two
drafted men and twenty-four recruits. Of those, several were slightly
wounded and two died of disease.
The casualties in Co. G were not as many as in some of the companies of
the regiment. Co. C lost seven killed and more than forty wounded. Co.
I lost one officer and eight men killed and their captain and
twenty-nine men wounded.
It was understood at the time the authorization was issued that the
company was to be assigned to a regiment forming of Cortland and
Madison County men, with Philip P. Brown, Jr., of Hamilton, as colonel,
and to rendezvous at Hamilton. As rapidly as possible the enlistments
were pushed along and about two weeks from the time recruiting began,
the company was assured of its quota and took its name as Company G.
At Hamilton, the camp was established on the fair grounds north of the
village. For a time a large tent afforded shelter to the men, but its
capacity being insufficient, five barrack buildings were erected on the
west side of the enclosure, two companies in each building. Co. G
shared in the shelter of the most northerly barrack and in the west
section of the building, with Co. B, their neighbors, in the eastern
portion. Two tiers of bunks ranged along each side of the structure and
each bunk was occupied by two men; at the entrance was a room for
commissioned officers, most of whom preferred the softer beds in the
hotels of the village to the hard straw ticks of the camp.
As the recruits arrived in town they were taken to one of the public
halls, where surgeons Hendrick, Beebe and Crawe hammered their chests,
listened to their heartbeats and respiration, looked into the eyes of
the recruits, finally ordering them to jump over the floor on each leg
consecutively. During this ordeal the boys appeared in the uniform of
Nature only. Few failed to pass the Board, however, and the successful
ones then appeared before the adjutant. If a minor, a written consent
was required from the parent or guardian.
Accepted recruits were given orders upon the quartermaster and were
taken over to a warehouse near the canal and there received an outfit.
The dress coat of dark blue, also dark blue flannel blouse and pants,
overcoat, coarse gray shirts, canton flannel drawers, woolen socks,
shoes and blanket, not to forget the dark blue fatigue cap so heartily
disliked by the wearers. The civilian garb was shed at once and the
green soldier was revealed in the cut and fit of his new clothing of
war, while his back itched under those shirts as though numerous flies
and ants were perambulating there, with an occasioned nipping from a
stray spider. But how very, very verdant the boys appeared--so
harmless-like in their uniforms, and to add to the ludicrous feature of
the occasion very many of them hastened to a gallery to have their
appearance preserved for all time.
Knapsacks, haversacks and canteens, tin cups and plates, knives and
spoons, came to each in time. No guns were issued in Camp Mitchell;
guards about the camp carried guns borrowed from a local armory--no
cartridges were issued. A high board fence presented the most
discouraging barricade to such of the boys as desired a night outside.
It was amusing to observe the schemes for gaining liberty and to see
the boys return to duty after a day or two in the narrow quarters of
the guard house. They were not accustomed to such discipline; but they
were soon to learn that they had entered upon a new career.
Life in barracks was not tedious. During the day there were several
marching drills by squad, platoon and company, and in the evening dress
parade, and perhaps, a few attempts at battalion evolutions. Officers
in nearly every company were as green as the men. A few
short-enlistment men who had seen service and returned, and some who
had served in home companies, usually were the drill-masters. Col.
Brown had been captain of the Hamilton Grays; Major Carmichael for a
time served as captain in the 76th N.Y.; a few other officers had been
in the service.
Co. G were drilled by Sergeants Hemstreet and Gates, six months'
recruits to the 12th N.Y.V.; also by Frank Cooper afterwards a member
of the 78th N.Y. During drill hours "hay-foot, straw-foot!"--"heels
together, toes on a line, body erect resting on the toes,"--"forward,
march!" and "halt,"--the orders from drill-masters, were heard on all
sides; and over in one corner of the pen were the ten or more fifers
and drummers taking first lessons in martial music. The scene was
enough to make an old soldier weep from laughter, and yet it was not an
unusual one wherever raw troops were mustered.
The eating house at Camp Mitchell (so named in honor of David J.
Mitchell, a lawyer, at one time a resident of Hamilton) stood at the
east end of the enclosure, into which the men were marched by their
officers, three times daily to their meals. Good, wholesome fare was
provided and in abundance and would have been pronounced grand one year
later, could those boys have obtained it on Folly Island, in place of
wormy hardtack and tough salt-horse.
The sick at Hamilton were quartered in a small church near the grounds,
but Co. G were fortunate as to health while at the rendezvous. Many of
the boys enjoyed furloughs during those five or six weeks and their
friends visited them and were often permitted to pass the night at the
barracks. Amusements of various kinds broke the monotony of barrack
life--card playing, wrestling, quoits, various games and much rough
horse-play, continually in sight.
While there was so much life astir in Camp Mitchell, it must be
acknowledged that a few of the men were down-hearted, particularly
those about to leave wives and children; and who could blame them?
There were heavy hearts in the homes of those boys. One man when called
upon to give a written consent for his sons to enlist, remarked that he
felt as if he were signing their death-warrants. For there was a
terrible uncertainty for soldiers in those days and the much-quoted
silver lining of the heavy clouds overhanging our country, was yet to
be discovered in the future efforts of her loyal sons. Cripples and
sick men were returning from the front and occasionally somebody's
child was brought home for burial. The failure of the Peninsula
Campaign, followed by the disaster at Bull Run, were bad records,
scarcely effaced by the hard-earned victory at Antietam. And yet, amid
such desolation the American people of the North never ceased to give
of blood and treasure and the boys kept marching on, the matrons and
the maidens smiling and waving farewells with hearts and eyes
overflowing, the men and boys cheering, bands playing, fifes shrieking
and drums beating. The boys marched away, the hospitals filled, little
mounds dotted many a Southern field, the ranks thinned and the scene
was repeated again and again until victory came; and then it was time
to count the cost. Those who suffered were the ones to cast the
reckoning.
On the 19th of September, 1862, the regiment was mustered into the
service of the United States. The preliminary of scanning-over the men
was performed during a dreary rain storm, by regular army surgeons, the
men in line by company. Few were rejected and those for defects of eyes
or teeth, or for manifest feebleness. There was Ziba Cloyes of Co. G, a
man of sixty years, who had enlisted as being only forty-four, gray
hair and a general suspicion of advanced years about him. The surgeon
reached him in the line.
"What is your age, sir?"
"Forty-four."
The surgeon smiled. "Open your mouth."
Ziba obeyed, disclosing a full set of teeth such as would have
delighted many a dude. Then he brought them together with a sharp snap.
"Put your finger in there," he said, again opening his jaws to their
widest limit.
"You will do, sir," said the surgeon as he passed, with a broad grin,
to the next man.
After the examination came the formal muster-in by companies, and Co. G
were then an arm of the government and on the direct road to active
service. Orders thereafter emanated from officers of the general
government and the State was duly accredited. Co. G had saved Canastota
from a draft.
Sept. 25th, with their new rubber-cloth knapsacks, haversacks and
canteens, at an early hour, Co. G were mustered for the road. Teams had
been generously offered by the people far and near, gratuitously, and
on that morning to the number of more than one hundred blocked the
streets of the village, long before daybreak, in waiting to carry the
regiment to Canastota.
The loading was quite slow and consumed considerable time, but the day
was fine and the roads in excellent condition and the journey to
Peterboro was made without further delay. In that pleasant little
village the regiment left the wagons and marched into the park, where
tables were spread on the green and laden with good fare. While the
boys were eating, they were favored with a speech from Hon. Gerrit
Smith. He was seated upon a white horse. His deep, eloquent tones were
heard above the clatter of dishes. It was his wish that the boys be not
withheld from eating. Above his head waved the stars and stripes at
half-mast, in memory of Capt. Barnett, killed at Antietam--a Peterboro
boy. All that was saddening, all that was eloquent and nobly good in
the place, was not so appealing just then, as the feast before them;
the boys of Co. G were hungry. After the feast and the address of
welcome and God-speed, the wagons were again mounted.
The long train reached Canastota about 5 p.m. They were unloaded south
of the town and the men given their first experience with those
handsome new knapsacks, as they marched (bent forward like
pack-peddlers) through the village streets. It was their first
experience, also, in straggling--the head of the regiment led by the
Hamilton band, was approaching the Peterboro St. bridge as the rear of
the column passed into Center St., strung nearly around the square.
A platform had been built in a field north of the Crouse residence and
near the railroad. Prominent citizens of Cortland and Madison were on
the platform; Gen. Bruce was speaker. Guards were thrown around the
enclosure to keep the crowd outside, but not to exclude the relatives
and friends. Caresses and sobbing, tears and forced gaiety marked that
occasion. Little ones were there and the father fed himself with one
hand as he pressed his child to his breast with the other. Old age came
also, and parents trembling with years, tried to be brave as their part
in the war, if nothing more. Even the abundance of choice food supplied
for the men was hardly relished under the strain of parting; so the
women filled the haversacks, poured coffee into the canteens,
completing the whole with a hearty kiss and sent the boys on their way.
There were times, when the happiest soldier boy was he, who, when going
to war, left none at home to weep for him.
A train of emigrant cars received the regiment and at daybreak next
morning they reached Albany. A good breakfast was served in a building
near the depot. A portion of the regiment was taken over the ferry and
the remainder, including Co. G, marched to the executive mansion where
Gov. Morgan presented the stand of colors, D. J. Mitchell responding.
The boys will ever remember their ride down the rail along the Hudson.
At every station and in homes along the road, in the fields and on the
river, wherever men, women or children were seen, their handkerchiefs
and hats were waved to cheer the soldier boys. The boys in blue threw
kisses to the blushing girls, or upon brown paper or pieces cut from
lunch boxes, wrote and cast forth gentle words of appreciation. Really
it must have grown monotonous to those people, as soldiers were passing
nearly every day; if so, it was such a monotony as they appeared to
enjoy immensely. With some of the men of Co. G the situation was too
serious for trifling--they were leaving their Marias and Nancys and
Kates.
City Hall barracks, New York City--never forget them. The postoffice
building now covers that ground. Bunks floored with slats to sleep
upon, into which the many occupants had crawled, each time carrying in
from the floors a fresh supply of sand to fall into the eyes of the
fellows in the lower berths; the rooms ill-ventilated and odorous of
many stalwart smells. The food was unattractive and few of Co. G had
the hardihood to partake. Just one cheering feature of the situation,
was the hope ever constant, that their stay would be brief. They
stopped but one night and a day. As evening approached they were
marched down to a covered dock and remained there in the dark,
unlighted place, awaiting the arrival of a steamer to take them over to
Jersey.
Soon as darkness came on the men became very quiet as though the
bogie-man was abroad. By and by a clicking, cracking sort of noise came
out of the depths of darkness, soon followed by a smacking sound. Co. G
were eating cheese--the other companies were eating cheese.
"Commandants of companies will see that their men are kept together,"
roared the colonel.
The officers could not see very well in the dark. The men broke open no
more cheese boxes. They had spied the boxes through the gathering gloom
on their first arrival and simply waited patiently for darkness.
John Schultz, a German, and member of Co. G, had sat himself down on
the outer timber of the wharf and fell asleep. He had not removed his
knapsack. What his canteen contained is not known. He nodded awhile,
snored a little and suddenly disappeared. Some one raised the cry that
a man had fallen into the slip. A police boat picked old John out and
soon he returned, thoroughly wet and considerably sobered.
Near midnight a steamer reached the wharf and took the regiments away
to Port Monmouth, the northern terminus of the Delaware and Raritan Bay
R. R. Once more the raiding propensities of the boys were exhibited
upon a car-load of peaches on a siding, but they were promptly
restrained. The men were not thieves; they had somehow reached the
conclusion that a change in dress demanded a change in morals. They
knew there was some sort of transformation going on within them, as
without, and certainly they must act differently than when they were
plain civilians. Instead of being peaceful lambs at home, they must be
wolves and hunt in packs. But a few months of strict discipline set
them aright.
It was Sunday afternoon when the regiment reached Philadelphia, tired
and hungry. A lunch had been served on the train early in the day, but
that was only a "hand-out." At Philadelphia many thousands of men of
passing regiments, were fed at the Cooper's Union refreshment rooms. So
Co. G, though only one-tenth of a regiment, were favored with plenty of
clean water, soap and towels and then were served with a delicious meal
of good substantial food, served on a clean cloth, from earthen dishes,
"just like home," said the boys.
Philadelphia always treated the soldiers in the most generous style. A
sick or wounded man felt greatly favored to be sent to a Philadelphia
hospital.
After the regiment was fed, the march was taken for the Baltimore
depot, several miles distant. The walks were crowded with people. Such
cheering, waving handkerchiefs, tossing of kisses, helped mightily in
the struggle beneath those galling knapsacks. Some of the giddy girls
rushed up to the ranks and exchanged handkerchiefs bearing their names;
others tossed flowers among the boys, and "good-by," "God bless you,"
was heard, from the start to the finish.
The cars in waiting were ordinary cattle cars, in which rough board
seats were built. This was the first acquaintance the men had with such
sort of conveyance. For the officers, a coach was provided, but many of
them remained with their men.
In the recent war with Spain, coaches were provided for the men; and
for the sick, sleeping cars and dining cars, all of which was perfectly
right. Between Washington and any portion of the eastern and Middle
states, no soldier, during the War of the Rebellion, should have been
obliged to ride in a car built for cattle, particularly after the war
had progressed for over one year.
At Baltimore the namby-pamby feature of the excursion ceased, Enfield
rifles were dealt out to the companies, together with accoutrements,
the cartridge box, belts, etc. That seemed like war. No cartridges were
issued; those came on Arlington Hights.
The city of Baltimore had shown, to some extent, an inclination in
favor of secession. Many of its young men had gone to the Confederate
lines and a strong feeling against federal interference with secession
was very noticeable among a certain class of the citizens. Troops were
stationed there to preserve order.
The regiment was marched into an open street with guards stationed to
prevent the men from wandering about the city. Co. G remained strictly
passive within bounds and found no opportunity for doing otherwise.
They were exemplary fellows when under guard.
An unusual place for a dining hall was that at Baltimore--on an upper
floor near the depot. Very good food was supplied, particularly the
coffee.
Co. G were very fond of coffee; although at that early day it had not
become so necessary to those heroes in embryo as it was a few years
later. The experience of soldiers generally in that war, favored the
use of coffee. It was food as well as drink. When a fellow was nearly
fagged, on a severe march, the mention of coffee appeared to brace him,
and a hand would slip into the haversack for a pinch, only to tide him
along. A spoonful of coffee in a canteen of water lifted one
comfortably over many a weary mile. To abolish the whisky ration was
wise. To have taken away the coffee would have endangered the cause.
Coffee and the letters from home were two important auxiliary supports
of the nation. Those letters were a power. Nothing went just right when
the mail was delayed. Anticipation is a great word and the soldiers
worked it for all it is worth; on all the various grades of the psychic
thermometer from zero to fever heat. Ah, when fever heat was struck,
the indication was reliably certain that she had "gone back on" her
soldier lad.
Clean cattle cars were supplied at Philadelphia, but the sort in which
Co. G traveled from Baltimore to Washington were fragrant of stable
odors. The distance was little over forty miles, yet the entire night
was consumed. That scheme of traveling nights and loafing around half
dead during the daytime, was never explained. Some of the men had a
suspicion that Col. Brown was fearful that he might lose some of his
men if he changed cars in the night time, and so corralled them the
same as other stock. However that might have been, in his regiment the
most remarkable desertions were among the officers.
Co. G did not enlist to become deserters and the few of them who did
desert were scarcely missed; and a halo of glory which hung over the
heroic Co. G at the close of the war obscured, if it did not eliminate,
all weak points. Orators and newspapers accorded them glory, the
popular cry glorified them. Why not place the laurel crown right here?
September 30th was a beautiful day, but warm in Washington. Co. G
jumped down from their cattle cars and were marched to cattle barracks
near the capitol. There was plenty of space for camping, but no tents
had been issued to them. Those barracks terraced up the hill, resembled
barns, rough boarded and whitewashed. The lawmakers over in the huge
marble building nearby, reclined upon soft cushions. The sons of their
constituents, who had come down to settle a serious difference stirred
up in that building, were marched into foul-smelling barracks because
they were soldiers. It was too bad to treat American troops that way.
At those barracks the feeding place for soldiers at that time was
abominable in filth and mussiness. Coffee was served in what the boys
named swill-pails, with a coating of grease outside and inside. The
cooks and waiters bore hands and faces that lacked for soap and water.
Many a bold soldier boy, after a peep into the feeding room, retired to
a convenient refreshment saloon and bought his meals. As for Co. G,
they said little but thought much, resolving that a revelation should
appear as the years moved along, and even thus it is recorded, long
after those slip-shod cooks have ceased to slop, and longer since the
boys have any use for them. And now the vindictiveness of Co. G is
spent.
Unfortunately, before Co. G could be taken out of Washington some of
its members had filled themselves with poor liquor. The same fellows
had given trouble while en route from the North, and on various
occasions suspicious looking bottles were taken from them by the
officers and thrown from the train. More shame for Co. G, who were not
fighting under the banner of King Alcohol.
In the middle of the day column was formed and the boys marched out on
Pennsylvania Avenue. Numbers of small boys flanked the line bargaining
for the task of carrying knapsacks--carts were there for the same
purpose and a brisk bargaining ensued. It was indeed a comfortable way
to carry a knapsack--transferred to a cart or to the back of a negro
boy. Thus disburdened, marching was easier. The air was hot, the roads
very dusty. Across Long Bridge they went, past Forts Runion and Albany,
to an old camp known as Camp Chase, nearly one mile in rear of the Lee
mansion, on Arlington Hights. Old A tents were there, pitched and
ready for occupation, true, not as clean as desirable, but a shelter
which a little labor of dusting and arranging greatly improved.
Routine is the term expressive of life in camp. The soldier of
experience is a stranger to monotony--he is part of a machine. All the
comforts and amusements he can get outside of the routine life, are
luxuries to be dissipated at a word of command.
Co. G dropped into the routine of camp life with good grace. They threw
down brush upon the sacred soil of Virginia, they filled their ticks
with dried grass, then spreading their blankets, composed themselves
for the sleep of innocence, their knapsacks as pillows affording
support to the shoulders galled in carrying them. Oh, those knapsacks.
Sleep on, brave; bulge out knapsack, you are to be reconciled shortly.
Suddenly their dreams were broken--the day had dawned. From near and
far came the bugle blast and the rattle of fife and drum. Hungry mules
took up the refrain in varying keys. The boys of G soon heard the voice
of Orderly Moore, "Co. G, fall in for roll-call!"
Drilling with the guns was for the first time attempted at Camp Chase
and sergeants with tactics in hand, were drilling squads of men in all
directions. A few lessons were given in the manual of arms by an
officer of the regular army. As for Co. G, they forged ahead slowly,
gradually cultivating a liking for a gun and accoutrements. They were
drilled in squads, company and battalion evolutions, and rushed in this
and that direction for health's sake.
The innocent verdancy of the sons of Lenox was alike typical of all the
companies. Officers made clumsy work with tactics and the colonel
worked out his battalion evolutions quite gingerly. One day the
regiment was marched nearly a half mile with arms at a shoulder,
whereas they should have moved en route with arms at right
shoulder-shift--a much more comfortable position.
The captain of Co. G at this time, was an emphatic, sharp spoken man,
and sometimes his orders came red-hot and snapping. In one of the other
companies the captain addressed his men as gentlemen,--"Gentlemen,
attention to roll-call!" or, "Gentlemen, right dress, if you please!"
Captain Beck, good man, had fitted himself, originally, for hotel
keeping. Capt. Tuttle was a farmer. Beck's ways were very pleasant, but
Tuttle's language and style were preferable even if he did embellish
his orders occasionally, and surely he felt often provoked. For some
men are always lagging behind, others never learn to handle a gun
properly, and occasionally a man is found who never keeps step.
There were a few officers in the regiment who really used swear-words.
Co. G was composed of a sterling set of mortals who knew very well that
swearing was barred by Army Regulations, and Co. G knew better than to
swear at an officer; yet, to swallow such bad treatment without mental
comment, equally pungent, would have been unlike some of those sorely
tried warriors.
But all this time Co. G men were bracing themselves for all
emergencies. Physically, they were pretty hearty. They were learning to
wash their clothing and sew on buttons and do a little patching, but
they, as a rule were not supplied with Scriptural reading. So it came
to pass that Gerrit Smith sent down bushels of small testaments to be
distributed throughout the regiment as an inducement to the men to read
the Scriptures. Into those beautiful knapsacks went Co. G's testaments.
Alas, and alack, they were too generally allowed to remain there. A
number of the boys could not read if they would, and more did not read,
as they should. No evidence is at hand to prove that a man of Co. G
ever caught a bullet in the testament carried in his pocket; and as
they scorned to turn their backs to an enemy those testaments escaped a
glorious perforation.
While on this subject a record should be made of the good people at
home who were continually writing loving letters into which was
lavishly insinuated a peculiar style of sermonizing, which though
kindly intended and respectfully accepted, really did not accomplish
much. They declared that the armies of the North were fighting God's
battles; that the Lord would reward them. Over the rebel lines just
such ideas were being instilled into the minds of Southrons. But Co. G,
so wise were they, as not to charge the Heavenly Father of All with any
denials that came to them. If they reasoned at all they understood,
that, both North and South, it was the negro up the sleeve, or in the
fence, that was causing all their misery. Indeed Co. G were more
fighters than philosophers.
The donations of Hon. Gerrit Smith did not cease after sending the
testaments. He also gave $500 to be used for the purpose of supplying
the men of the regiment with stationery; a very thoughtful gift.
While at Camp Chase the troops were reviewed by Gen. Casey, when Co. G
passed in review very satisfactory, to themselves; if the boys were not
praised by others at this period in their history they could not very
well understand the reason. They were not so green looking now, as they
were getting sunburned and all of the same shade. The water of Virginia
was not agreeing with all of them, but they were quite lively. Army
rations, particularly the bean and hominy, were gradually accepted as
the proper food for warriors, and the company had some hearty feeders.
The locality known to Co. G as Camp Chase No. 1, was occupied about one
week, when sanitary rules demanded a removal to fresh ground.
Accordingly a site was selected in a field of scrub oak, which was
cleared and the stumps grubbed from company streets. Such duty was
called fatigue duty. Police duty, was the everyday work of policing the
streets--cleaning up the camp. This duty was usually allotted to
offenders, as a mild punishment, with the occasional addition of a
chain fastened to a fellow's ankle to which was attached a small cannon
ball. It must be recorded that Co. G had a representative in the police
gang at Camp Chase No. 2, who was wearing the ball and chain because of
repeated disobedience. He was the first and the last of that noble band
to thus disgrace the company.
At the new camp, excellent water was found. Fresh sweet soil made
wholesome tent floors. As the camp was quite near the Lee mansion
frequent strolls were enjoyed through the grounds and through the
building. And for the first time, while encamped there, cartridges were
issued and each man when equipped was carrying forty rounds. Soon after
that event came a sensation that tried the mettle of Co. G.
At two o'clock one dark morning the long-roll was sounded throughout
the entire line. Starting a mile away, it came nearer and nearer, from
camp to camp, until the band of the 157th struck up their drums.
Buglers and drums, shouting officers and orderly sergeants startled the
heroes into their respective company streets. Nor were the mules
silent, mistaking the racket for an early reveille and call to feed.
When the battalion was formed, the object of the alarm was met, and
orders came promptly, to return the men to their quarters. That sort of
drill occurred twice while the boys remained on Arlington Hights. The
first time was frightful and some of the men were terribly shocked. But
the second time they came forth promptly and becomingly. One year later
the long-roll found them ready for anything, every pulse beating
regularly and they were as calm as if on parade; for by that time they
had become prime food for bullets.
Finally orders arrived to prepare for a march. The quartermaster had
received his wagons and teams and among other accessions a sutler had
located his tent near the camp, and was working up quite a trade in
ginger snaps and green gingerbread.
Reveille sounded at 3 o'clock on the morning of October 12th. Tents
were struck and with one day's cooked rations Co. G fell into line.
About 7 o'clock the regiment started for Fairfax Court House, a
distance of fifteen miles. Four hours consumed in striking tents,
eating and getting away, was pretty easy soldiering; but they were
learning a little all the time, those boys.