cheered their appreciation for the greetings. Then they boarded the
train and were taken to Syracuse and quartered at the fair grounds.
Food at Syracuse was supplied returning regiments, on the contract
plan, very much as at the City Hall barracks in New York--mussy, greasy
and repulsive, even to soldiers. Somebody had a fat contract.
On the 31st of July the Madison county boys were paid off and left for
their homes. The Cortland boys were paid next day. Thus the colonel, a
Cortland man, had given precedence to Madison.
And so Co. G returned from the war. The recruits left in South Carolina
felt it hard to be held for further service. Col. Carmichael endeavored
to bring them with him, but the order retaining them was inflexible.
But they fared very well, having light guard duty under the Freedmen's
Bureau, and finally were discharged in April, 1866.
Soon after disbanding at Syracuse a regimental association was formed
which meets each year on the 19th of September, in commemoration of the
date of muster into the service of the general government. The place of
meeting is selected yearly with a design to favor both Cortland and
Madison counties, alternately.
The most active in organizing this Association was Col. Carmichael, who
made it a duty to be present, himself, at the reunions as a comrade
among comrades. And so deeply was his interest that he attended the
reunion at Canastota in 1889, while suffering from a fatal illness, and
against the advice of his physician, his death occurring a few weeks
later.
To Col. Carmichael is due the credit for suggesting and carrying to
completion the idea of a monument at Gettysburg erected by the
survivors. Although the stone is not pretentious it bears upon its
granite sides a record that does honor to the Empire State. In
September 1886 the regimental reunion was held at Gettysburg and the
monument unveiled. The stone is of gray granite and stands on Howard
Avenue, near the Mummasburgh road. A year or two later by general act
of the state legislature all organizations representing the State of
New York at the Gettysburg battle, were entitled to a monument at the
expense of the state. The 157th regiment thus has two monuments there,
neither of which marks the position of the battalion in the fatal
wheatfield. And although several attempts have been made to secure
permission of the Gettysburg Battlefield Association to change the
position of one of the monuments to the proper site, thus far such
efforts have failed. The reasons given for the refusal are several, but
the one most potent appears to be, that "the regiment had no business
out there." But it is hoped that the time will surely come when a more
gratifying reply will be given to this request appreciative of that
promptness and obedience to orders which brought so great disaster with
so little commendation.
In 1893 the State of New York erected a noble shaft in the National
Cemetery at Gettysburg. To facilitate attendance at the unveiling the
State supplied transportation to all survivors who wished to attend. To
each participant was voted a bronze medal commemorative of the event.
Co. G was represented by a number of the boys. On this occasion the
graves of Capts. Backus and Frank were found located in Evergreen
Cemetery, adjoining the National Cemetery, and duly marked with
head-stones. Their burial there was caused by Free Masons of Gettysburg
before the National Cemetery was established. At a meeting of the
regimental organization measures were taken to secure the removal of
the remains of those officers to the National Cemetery. Daniel Lamont,
then Secretary of War, very considerately ordered the transfer to be
made and the two worthy captains can now be located as resting among
the men whose fate was identical with their own. And then in that
beautiful ground which is kept and guarded by the entire nation, the
frightful cost of the weight which turned the scales in favor of an
undivided people can be cast. It is a sacred spot kept in perfect order
and made attractive by the highest art. But amidst the thousands buried
there but one stone marks the grave of a man of Co. G and he, the
captain. But we know the boys are not forgotten although resting among
the "Unknown," for far above from the high shaft on which she stands,
is the Goddess of Liberty holding over those unknown forms an immortal
wreath.
* * * * * *
Transcriber's note:
Minor typographical errors have been corrected without note.
Irregularities and inconsistencies in the text have been retained as
printed.