iiiii li Mm iiiii '"' R.ill ... Ijlijiv iiitiuH I . 'llli, k l|llll< lli!ii!!!iili!l iiiiniHii iiillilil!! JiiilL.,,,.,., "" Mi>:l' 111 .ii. V'''P.'li'iP'P'l'lih' rhe date shows when this volume was taken. HOME USE RULES. All Books subject to Recall. Books no1> needed for instruction or re- search are returnable wit&in 4 weeks. Volumes of periodi- cals and of pamphlets are held in the library as much as possible. For special purposes they are given out for a limited time. Borroweis should not use their library I privileges for thebene- fit of other perpons. Books not needed during recess periods should be returned to the library, or arrange- ments made for their i fytmll Utii return during borrovF- more tnan one pers^gj^ted. are held on the reserp(j 5.^ list°'^- , person of, Books spec i-gsgj-^g value and gift boo) when the giver wist special it, are not allowed books circulate. wishes Marking books strictly f,„„ J ^^ bidden. '"^^a t° Readers are ask . '"'' to report all cases '''^"* books marked or mu " asked lated. ases of __::_„„. ._jr muti- lated. ' " Cornell University Library E523.5 16th .C97 From Bull Run to Chancellorsville; 3 1924 030 909 174 olin The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924030909174 FROM BULL RUN TO CHANCELLORSVILLE The Story of the Sixteenth New York Infantry together with Personal Reminiscences By NEWTON MARTIN CURTIS, LL.D. BREVET MAJOR-GENERAL U. S. VOLS. • " « Our Federal Union j it must be preurved " " Forian et haec olim meminiise jwuabit G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS NEW YORK & LONDON 1906 Copyright, 1906 BY NEWTON MARTIN CURTIS Published, August, 1906 Reprinted, August, 1906 TO THE NnitU Wttvxtn WHO GAVE THEIR HUSBANDS AND SONS TO THE ARMY FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE UNION THIS VOLUME IS GRATEFULLY DEDICATED. PREFACE MY intention had been to tell the story of my first regi- ment, the Sixteenth New York Infatitry Volun- teers, in the Civil War; but the collection of material for that purpose brought out so much, that I determined to include the other xniUtary organizations from Northerh New York which, for any portion of the two years' term of the Six- teenth, formed part of the Army of the Potomac. Hence mention is made of the Eighteenth, the Thirty-fourth, the Sixtieth, the Ninety-second, the Ninety-sixth and Ninety- eighth Infantry regiments, of Captain Riley Johnson's Company K, Sixth New York Cavalry, and of Captain Thomas W. Osbom's Battery D, First New York Light Artillery; together with some account of the battles Of Bull Run, West Point, Fair Oaks, Gaines' Mill, Savage's Station, Glendale, Crampton's Pass, Antietam, Fredericksburg, ChanceliorsviUe, and Salem Heights, in which one or more of these commands participated. The narrative is based on my personal experience, on the official reports, and on the statements and writings of officers and prominent par- ticipators on both sides of the struggle. In tracing the operations of corps, and the movements of minor organizations, in reviewing battles, and in char- acterizing commanders, I have endeavored to give due credit for successes, and to place the responsibiKty for de- feats where it belongs. Above all, my purpose has been to commemorate the devotion, the valor, and the endura!nce of the men of both armies. The unanimity with which the Confederacy was supported shows that its uprising was not the outgrowth of the personal ambition of any man, VI Preface or the clever work of a few designing ones. The under- lying cause, in my opinion, was not primarily the slavery question, but may be traced to the fiscal policy established by the Tariff Act of 1828, whose author, Silas Wright, was the Representative in Congress from Northern New York. The war established the principle that, from the adoption of the Constitution, the nation has been made up of "inde- structible states of an unbroken imion." Fortunately the contest continued until the last cartridge had been expended and the last ration had been eaten by those men who had striven for State sovereignty. Then came the splendid opportunity for the Federal forces to signalize their triumph by magnanimity and generous treatment, and for the Con- federates to respond by a renewal of loyalty to the old flag, which now after forty years nothing can impair. The right of the Southern States to withdraw is not dis- cussed in this volume. My opinion is indicated by the fact that I volunteered "to preserve the Union" on the day that President Lincoln issued his proclamation calling for seventy- five thousand troops "to recover the property of the United States, forcibly seized, and to enforce the laws," and that I remained on active duty in the army imtil hostilities had ceased throughout the entire borders of the Republic. The first sentiment on the title page, " Our Federal Union; it must be preserved" (President Jackson's toast at the Jefferson dinner), expresses the universal feeling of the people of Northern New York, and the sole purpose of all who went forth to war. The second sentiment, "Forsan et haec olim meminisse juvabit" (It may perhaps in after years delight you to remember these hardships), is from the con- cluding words of ^neas, spoken at the first "Camp Fire" of which we have any record in history or romance. As Virgil put these words of consolation into the mouth of his hero, who passed through many perils and much hardship Preface vu to found the Roman Empire, so we Americans, who passed through the Civil War and carried it to the final conclusion which laid the enduring foundation of our nation, may well delight ourselves in remembering the hardships through which this splendid achievement was won. Acknowledgments My grateful acknowledgments are due to Mrs. Joseph Rowland and Mrs. Joel J. Seaver for placing at my dis- posal the Regimental Records of the Sixteenth Volunteers, and the correspondence which passed between Colonels Davies, Rowland and Seaver and their superior oflScers; to Mrs. George B. Winslow for the letters of her brother. General Albert M. Barney, and to Miss Ellen I. Parker for those of her father. Captain George Parker; to Brigadier- General John C. Gihnore; Colonels FrankUn Palmer, and WilUam H. Walluig; Captains WiUiam L. Best, Isaac T. Merry, W. R. Helm; Corporal Alonzo R. Fuller; Private Riley E. Wilkins, aU of the Sixteenth; to Colonel Richard C. Shannon, Fifth Maine, of General Slocum's stafif; Colonel E. W. Guindon, of General Slocum's staff; the Second Au- ditor of the Treasury; the Commissioner of Pensions; Gen- eral Phisterer, Assistant Adjutant-General of the State of New York: to The Century Company, and Charles Scrib- ner's Sons, for permission to copy from their pubhcations; and to Colonel William F. Fox, for the use of his publica- tions. If there were space, I would be glad to insert the names of more than twenty-five hundred soldiers, their relatives and friends, who have aided me in collecting in- formation relating to the services of the members of the Sixteenth, the dates of the death of those who have died since the War, and the residences of the survivors. N. M. C. Ogdensbueg, N.Y., March, 1906. — CONTENTS The number of the volume of the War of the Rebellion Records con- taining the official reports of the operations treated of in certain chajiters is given at the head of such chapters in the table of contents. PAGE CHAPTER I Secession Confederate government.—Firing on the Flag.—President Lin- coln calls for troops.—^War meetings in OgdSnsburg. Depeyster.— Potsdam.— Gouvemeur.— Stockholm.— Platts- burgh.—Chazy.—Malone.—Departure of companies for Al- bany 1-17 CHAPTER II Organization of the Sixteenth Advice of political leaders rejected. —^Major Delafield's record mendations adopted.—Irritation caused thereby.—^Members of officers' caucus pledged to secrecy.—Pledge violated.—^Ex- clusion.—Election of Field Officers.—Appointment an- nounced in General Orders.— —Roman Catholic Priest in- vited to company quarters. ^The Priest's later prominence. —^Mustered into the United States service. —The Field and Staff. —^Two men refuse to be mustered and what followed. 18-25 CHAPTER III Preliminary Instrttction in the Art of War Ludicrous manoeuvres.—^An old-time requisition.—Going into camp.—Rev. L. Merrill Miller.—Paid for State service. Review by Governor Morgan.—"A howling success." March to Albany and embark for New York City.—March to Washington Square.—Colors presented to the regiment in behalf of Mrs. Howland.—Refreshments.—Journey to — Contents FACE Washington.—Marching through Baltimore.—Music in Car- tridge boxes.—Camp Woolsey.—Reviewed by President Lincoki.—^Target practice. —By steamer to Alexandria. Making camp in the dark.—Mishaps.—Reconnaissance to Mount Vernon.—" Return slaves and respect private prop- erty."—Camp Vernon.—Extracts from letters of a family . 26-37 CHAPTER rV "On to Richmond" [W. R. VOL. n.] Encamp at Annandale.—Skirmish with the Fifth Alabama.— Camp at Centreville.—Battle of Blackburn's Ford.—Ex- ploits of a bee hunter from the Adirondacks.—Battle of Bull Run.—Skirmishing with the Sixth Alabama.—Jones's Bri- gade repulsed by the Artillery.—^Recalled to Centreville. Main fighting done by the right wing.—^Meritorious conduct of officers who later fought at Fort Fisher.—Miss Mason visits our outposts and reports to General Ewell.—Gen- eral Gordon's account of it.—Private Rodden returns to camp with the beef cattle of Davies' Brigade.—^McDowell's campaign reviewed 38-51 CHAPTER V Making a Regiment Colonel W.