BY THE FIRST COMPANY NEW YORK CADETS, AS A TOKEN OF
ESTEEM AND RESPECT.
New York, April 16th, 1840.
In the Fall of 1840 he visited Ithaca, and having concluded to make this
place his permanent residence, he forwarded to New York his resignation
in the Spring of 1841. After his removal to this place, he lent his
assistance to the drilling and instruction of the Old Ithaca Guard until
they were disbanded.
Upon the most urgent solicitations of both officers and men, he
consented to become one of the members of the DeWitt Guard. He,
possessing probably the greatest amount of military knowledge of any
person in the district, was secured by the Company as instructor, and
immediately elected Orderly Sergeant. This he did simply as an
accommodation, having gained all the military honors he cared to have
bestowed upon him before coming to Ithaca.
For us to bestow any compliments upon him in this sketch is perfectly
uncalled for, as we produce the following record in place of further
remarks:
At the breaking out of the Rebellion he was prevented from entering the
service of his country by a severe bodily injury which he had received a
few months before; but in the Fall of 1862 he had so far recovered from
his lameness, that he ventured to accept the position of Lieutenant
Colonel of a Regiment then organizing at Binghamton, N. Y., and
afterwards known as the 137th New York Volunteers, to which position he
was chosen by the unanimous vote of the War Committee of the 24th
Senatorial District.
He immediately entered upon the duty, in connection with Colonel David
Ireland, of organizing and disciplining the Regiment, and getting it
ready for active service in the field. The want of any knowledge of
military tactics by either officers or men, rendered the labor of
instructing and drilling the Regiment very arduous, the most of which
was performed by Lt. Col. Van Voorhees, Col. Ireland attending to the
administrative affairs of the Regiment. Previous to the Regiment's
leaving for the seat of war, Lt. Col. Van Voorhees was presented by his
friends at Ithaca with a fine horse and set of horse equipments. The
Regiment was mustered into the U. S. service on the 25th September, and
left for Washington on the 27th, arriving there on the 30th, and were
immediately forwarded to Harper's Ferry, Va., by way of Fredericksburgh,
Md.; arriving at Harper's Ferry on the 3d October, where they remained
until the 10th December, having in the meantime made two important
reconnoissances under Gen. Gregg--one to Charlestown and the other to
Winchester, Va.
On the 10th December the 12th Army Corps, to which the 137th Regiment
had been attached, left Harper's Ferry at the time of Burnside's
unsuccessful attack on Fredericksburgh, and having marched to Dumfries,
Va., were, in consequence of Burnside's repulse, marched back to Fairfax
Station, where they remained until the 17th January, 1863, when they
were again ordered forward, Burnside intending to make another attack on
Fredericksburgh, but failed on account of the mud.
The 12th Corps having reached Stafford Court House, the Brigade to which
the 137th was attached was ordered to Aquia Creek, where they remained
until the 26th April, when they commenced their march to
Chancellorsville, which they reached on the 29th of April. On the 30th
the 12th Corps was ordered forward to feel the enemy's position, and
finding them in strong force returned to camp, where they commenced
throwing up earthworks, the 137th using bayonets for picks and tin
plates for shovels. In the subsequent battles the Regiment maintained
its position in the trenches until they were entered by the enemy from
the right, (the right flank of the army having been turned by the giving
way of the 11th Corps,) when they were ordered to retire, which they did
in good order. As this was the first battle in which the Regiment was
engaged, some anxiety was felt by the officers as to the mettle of their
men; but their conduct on this occasion was such as to give no further
uneasiness. After the battle the Regiment returned to Aquia Creek, where
it remained until the 13th June, when it commenced its march to
Gettysburg, and on the 2d and 3d July was closely and hotly engaged with
the invader.
Late in the afternoon of the 2d July the whole of the 12th Corps, with
the exception of Green's Brigade, was sent to support the left of the
line, which was closely pressed; they had scarcely gone when Stonewall
Jackson's old Corps, seven thousand strong, under Ewell, charged our
right, which was defended by only Green's Brigade of New York troops
less than two thousand strong; but so obstinate was the defence, that
the enemy did not succeed in breaking our lines; heavy firing was kept
up nearly all night. About four o'clock of the morning of the 3d, the
enemy again advanced to the charge but was again repulsed, and a heavy
and constant fire was kept up until half past ten, when the enemy
retired. The loss of the 137th was four officers and forty-one men
killed, and three officers and sixty-four men wounded. Lt. Col. Van
Voorhees was slightly wounded twice during the action.
After the battle and the escape of Lee's army across the Potomac, the
army again encamped on the banks of the Rappahannock and afterwards on
the banks of the Rappidan, when, on the 23d September, immediately after
the battle of Chickamauga, the 11th and 12th Corps under Hooker were
ordered to Tennessee, where they arrived in the fore part of October. In
the latter part of that month Hooker was ordered by Grant to open
communication between Bridgport, Ala., and Chattanooga, Tenn., by the
way of White Side, along the line of the Memphis and Charleston
Railroad. The army of the Cumberland being besieged in Chattanooga and
destitute of provisions, it became necessary to secure a shorter line of
communication, or the place would have to be abandoned with the loss of
all the artillery and trains, as there were no animals left to draw them
away. On the 28th of October the 11th Corps under Gen. Howard, followed
by a part of Geary's Division of the 12th Corps, all under the command
of Gen. Hooker, debouched into Lookout Valley, and for six miles marched
in plain view of the rebels who occupied the summit and sides of the
mountain, and who could almost count the men in the ranks. On encamping
for the night, the 11th Corps was about two and a half miles in advance
of Geary's Division, which, being observed by the enemy, they determined
to surprise and capture Geary's Division; and accordingly two Divisions
of Longstreet's Corps were ordered to the attack. They came in between
the 11th Corps and Geary's Division, and while one Division took up a
position to prevent reinforcements from being sent to Gen. Geary, the
other advanced to the attack, which came near being a surprise, the
attack being made about midnight. Gen. Geary had with him at the time
but four Regiments and two sections of a battery. The 111th Pennsylvania
succeeded in getting into line, and the 137th New York were but partly
in line when the enemy opened fire upon them at less than fifty yards
distance. These two Regiments bore the whole brunt of the battle, which
lasted over two hours; the other two Regiments were placed in position
to protect the right flank and rear, leaving the left flank exposed.
Early in the action Gen. Green, commanding the Brigade, was wounded, and
Col. Ireland of the 137 Regiment being senior Colonel, the command of
the Brigade devolved upon him, leaving the command of the Regiment to
Lt. Col. Van Voorhees. The enemy finding the left unprotected, moved a
part of their force to the left, and came down on the left and rear of
the 137th, but Col. Van Voorhees immediately placed his three left
Companies perpendicular to the rear facing them to the left, and facing
the rear rank of four other Companies to the rear, the Regiment kept up
such a vigorous and well directed fire to the front, flank and rear, as
finally to beat back the enemy and cause his retreat, though not till
nearly every cartridge in the Regiment was expended.
The 137th (who lost nearly one-third of their number in killed and
wounded) was highly complimented for their coolness and courage in this
engagement. Gen. Geary in a speech delivered to the Regiment at the time
of its muster-out, used the following language in regard to their
conduct on this occasion: "I have at all times and in all places given
you the credit of saving my Division from rout or capture at Wauhatchie.
As I passed down your rear and observed the vigorous attack that was
made upon you, I exclaimed, 'My God, if the 137th gives way all is
lost.' But thanks to the coolness, skill and courage of your commanding
officer, and to your own determined will, you maintained your ground
nobly, and the enemy was driven back to his mountain den."
Gen. Howard, in a speech at Philadelphia, characterized this battle as
"the wonderful night's revel at Wauhatchie;" and the rebel papers and
dispatches acknowledged a serious defeat and heavy loss. Col. Van
Voorhees was severely wounded during the action, but refused to leave
the field to have his wound dressed until the action was over and all
danger of its renewal had passed.
Col. Van Voorhees being at home recovering from his wound, was not with
his Regiment in their "battle above the clouds," in which it maintained
its reputation, being the first to enter the enemy's works upon Lookout
Mountain. Col. Van Voorhees rejoined his Regiment in January, and led it
in all the battles of the Atlanta campaign, which commenced on the 2d
day of May and ended by the capture of Atlanta on the 2d day of
September, being four months of almost continuous fighting. The first
battle was that of Mill Creek Gap, May 8th, in which Geary's Division
drove the rebels into their works on the summit of Taylor's Ridge. The
next was the battle of Resacca, May 15th, in which the Regiment lost
several in wounded. The next was the battle of Dallas, or New Hope
Church, on the 25th of May; here Hooker's Corps lost heavily. One line
of the enemy's works was carried just at night, and they driven about a
mile into a second line of works which was not carried owing to the
darkness; but a position was taken and a line of works established
within a stone's throw of the enemy's line. The Regiment remained here
eight days under a constant fire, and without any shelter from the
weather. On the 5th June the enemy was found to have evacuated his
works, and it was supposed had crossed the Chattahoochie River; the men
needing rest the enemy was not followed. The army was moved forward a
few miles and put into camp for rest.
On the 7th June, Col. Van Voorhees being officer of the day and having
charge of the picket line, discovered the enemy's position; their line
extending from Kenesaw Mountain to Lost Mountain, a distance of eight
miles. He made a written report of the fact to Gen. Geary, who
immediately sent for him and discredited the report, stating that he did
not believe there was a rebel soldier this side of the Chattahoochie; he
however said he would send up the report. On the 8th June Gen. Sherman
telegraphed to the Secretary of War that "his cavalry had that day
discovered the enemy's position, and that his right rested on Kenesaw
Mountain and his left on Lost Mountain," thus confirming Col. Van
Voorhees' report made the day previous.
On the 15th June the Regiment was moved forward to the foot of Pine
Knob, (which was occupied by the enemy,) where they threw up works for
the artillery who shelled the hill, one result of which was the killing
of Gen. Polk of the rebel army. On the same day the Division moved
forward to the attack of Pine Knob; several lines of rifle pits were
carried, but the main works were very formidable and were not carried. A
line of works were built the same night within a hundred yards of the
enemy's line, and heavy skirmishing kept up on the 16th, and on the
morning of the 17th the enemy was found to have evacuated his works. The
Regiment lost two killed and twenty wounded. The enemy was immediately
pursued and found in a new position before noon of the same day. In
advancing to support a battery the Regiment lost one man killed and one
wounded. On the morning of the 19th the enemy was found to have again
abandoned his works, but was found strongly entrenched two miles to the
rear. From this time up to the 5th July, when the enemy retreated across
the Chattahoochie, it was one continued series of battles, skirmishes,
and changes of position.
On the 22d June the 137th Regiment, in connection with the 111th
Pennsylvania, were highly complimented by Gen. Hooker for their bravery
in obtaining possession of a commanding position which was strongly
defended by the enemy.
No forward movement was made from the 7th to the 17th July, the army
needing rest and clothing; but on the 17th it again moved forward and
crossed the Chattahoochie River. On the 19th the 137th was thrown out as
skirmishers, and came upon the enemy's skirmishers at Peach Tree Creek,
four miles from Atlanta. The day being excessively warm, and Col. Van
Voorhees' duties as commander of the skirmish line very arduous, he was
prostrated by the heat and over exertion, acquiring a disability from
which he has not yet fully recovered.
Hooker's Corps crossed Peach Tree Creek on the night of the 19th; and on
the 20th, while moving forward to take up a position, were unexpectedly
and fiercely attacked by the enemy in a thick piece of woods. Col. Van
Voorhees was ordered to move his Regiment by the right flank and take up
a position on the right of another Regiment, and in doing so came almost
directly upon the enemy's line of battle. Not knowing the position of
the rest of the Brigade owing to the thick underbrush, and fearing that
if he fell back the right flank of the Brigade would be exposed, he
caused his men to maintain their position, which they did manfully for
near half an hour, when he learnt that the rest of the Brigade had
fallen back some fifteen minutes before, and that his Regiment was left
alone battling with the enemy; he immediately gave orders to fall back,
when the Regiment retreated from its dangerous position. Loss eight
killed and nineteen wounded. Col. Van Voorhees was suffering at the time
with a very high fever, and could with difficulty sit on his horse. Many
officers in his condition would have got excused and went to the rear,
but he never wanted his Regiment to go into action without him; he
became very much attached to it and wished to share all its dangers. On
the 22d, being unable to sit up, he was carried to the field hospital;
the Surgeon in charge advised him to make application to be sent to the
hospital at Chattanooga; this he refused to do, saying, that after all
the hardships and fighting he had gone through with in the campaign, he
did not want to be to the rear when Atlanta was taken. He was, however,
on the 25th, against his consent, sent to the hospital at Lookout
Mountain. He rejoined his Regiment on the 30th August in time to lead it
into Atlanta on the 2d September.
After the death of Col. Ireland, which occurred shortly after entering
Atlanta, all the officers present with the Regiment signed a petition to
Gov. Seymour, which was handsomely endorsed by the Brigade and Division
Commanders, requesting that Lt. Col. Van Voorhees be commissioned as
Colonel of the Regiment. Owing to an unjust order from the War
Department that "all Regiments reduced below the minimum number should
be deprived of its Colonel," he was unable to get mustered, though Gen.
Geary made a direct and special request of the Secretary of War, which
was endorsed by Gen. Slocum, requesting that he might be mustered into
the grade of Colonel as a "reward for his efficiency and gallantry as an
officer, his coolness and bravery on the battle-field, and for his
general good conduct during the whole of his period of service," but the
request was not granted.
The 20th Corps remained in Atlanta until the 15th November, when Gen.
Sherman commenced his celebrated "March to the Sea." His march being
entirely unopposed, nothing worthy of note occurred until their arrival
near Savannah, December 11th. The 137th having been sent out to feel the
enemy's position, were deployed as skirmishers, and soon came upon the
enemy's skirmishers who were protected by the ruins of some buildings
and by a rice field embankment. A lively fire was kept up for some time,
when it was deemed advisable to drive them from their position so as to
uncover their front. Col. Van Voorhees gave the order to move forward;
so impetuous was the charge that the enemy was quickly driven into his
works, and could have been driven out and beyond them--as they were
seen to leave after firing one round--but as there was no support at
hand, Col. Van Voorhees did not deem it prudent to assail the fort,
which was defended by several heavy guns, and accordingly recalled his
men after several had gained the abattis of the fort, and took up a
position behind the rice-field embankment formerly held by the rebel
skirmishers, within two hundred yards of the rebel fort.
The Regiment remained here until the 21st December, assisting in the
construction of works which could only be done under cover of darkness;
the rebel batteries were very active, and the men exposed to a constant
shelling; three shells passed through the Quarters of Col. Van Voorhees
in one forenoon, and having moved his Quarters to another building, a
piece of a shell from a gun-boat passed through his room, taking in its
way a table at which he had been sitting but a few minutes previous. The
Regiment returned from working on a fort about two o'clock of the
morning of the 21st, and shortly after signs of the enemy's evacuating
the city were observable, when Capt. S. B. Wheelock of the 137th, with
ten men, was sent out to reconnoitre the enemy's works. He found the
works abandoned with the guns still standing in position. The fact was
reported to the Brigade Commander, who immediately ordered the Brigade
forward into the enemy's works, and from thence moved directly into the
city, arriving there at daybreak, the 137th was the first to enter the
city. The Regiment remained in the city doing guard duty until the 27th
January, 1865, when it commenced its march through the Carolinas,
arriving at Goldsboro, N. C., on the 24th March.
Col. Van Voorhees having been advised by several of the army Surgeons to
seek a change of climate for the recovery of his health, which had been
much impaired by exposure and the malarial influence of the climate, he
left Savannah January 1st, and was not with his Regiment in their march
from Savannah to Goldsboro. He left home February 22d to rejoin his
Regiment, but did not succeed in reaching it until its arrival at
Goldsboro. On the 10th April Sherman again moved forward in the
direction of Raleigh, N. C., which place he reached on the 13th April;
here the army remained until the 30th April, when it commenced its march
for Home, arriving at Alexandria, Va., on the 19th May. The Regiment
was mustered out on the 9th June, and ordered to Elmira, N. Y., where it
was paid off and discharged on the 18th June, 1865, having been nearly
three years in active service.
In giving the military history of Col. Van Voorhees, we have coupled
with his also that of the Regiment, as their histories are one. The
officers and men of his command have always spoken well of him; they had
confidence in him as a commander, and esteemed him highly as a man. He
also enjoyed the confidence and respect of his superior officers,
especially of Gen. Geary, who placed the utmost confidence in his
ability as an officer, usually appointing him officer of the day when
more than usual watchfulness was required, saying that he "always felt
safe when Col. Van Voorhees was in command of the picket line." This
confidence was also shared in by the Regiment, it being generally
selected to occupy the most exposed positions, or lead the column when
danger was thought to be imminent.
Col. Van Voorhees was several times (on account of the absence of all
its field officers) detailed to command the 149th New York, a Syracuse
Regiment of which Gen. Barnum, now State Prison Inspector, was Colonel.
On one of these occasions, when about to be relieved and returned to his
own Regiment, the following paper was put into his hands, signed by all
the officers present with the Regiment:
149TH REG'T N. Y. VOLS.,
Aquia Landing, Va., June 8th, 1863.