Chronicles of the One Hundred Fifty-First Regiment New York State Volunteer Infantry
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Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County · Historic Monographs Collection LA FAYETTE SQUARE BARRACKS, BALTIMORE, MD. Comfortable quarters of the 151st Regiment, during the Winter of 1862-3, CHRONICLES OF THE One hundreCentral Library ofd Rochester fifty-first and Monroe County · Historic Monographs Collection Regiment New York State Volunteer Infantry 18 6 2-1865 CONTRIBUTED BY ITS SURVIVING MEMBERS COMPILED BY HELENA ADELAIDE HOWELL Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County · Historic Monographs Collection 1911 A. M, EDDY, Priater, ALBION, N. Y. ^ :> -> 33 "> i : 33-, Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County · Historic Monographs Collection TO THE INVINCIBLE ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-FIRST REGIMENT, if WHICH HAS ADDED TO THE \ NATION'S HONOR \ AND TO THE PRESERVATION OF HER IDENTITY. 1-682608 PREFACE December 1, 1869, a few of the surviving members of the Regiment met in the city of Lockport and there formed an organ- ization to be known as '' The Association of the Surviving Mem- bers of the 151st N. Y. S. Volunteers." Since that time reunions have been held annually in Western New York, the seat of its enrollment. Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County · Historic Monographs Collection The organization has grown in interest but diminished in numbers. The fast approaching years are steathily creeping upon the comrades, and in their decline there is a charm of old association which grows dearer with every meeting. In view of all this, the initiative was taken to embody into a permanent work something of the doings, not only during the war, but in later life, of each and every one who so valiantly fought shoulder to shoulder. Every surviving member has been solicited to furnish any thing his memory has in store, of whatever his taste may dictate, for the compilation of incidents and experiences which might be of a mutual and interesting character. The result has been largely, matter of a bright and cheerful nature, more than of carnage and blood-shed, which is ever de- pressing and unwelcome. The particulars of battles and skirmishes which have served their purpose, and secured the end sought, are largely omitted, as the development of the twentieth century has brought about more ennobling influences, and the ambition of true manhood is to seek the higher and more progressive principles. Hence we have given the matter as an epitome of the thought of the sur- vivors. This is our apology for bringing out a work designed to renew the old-time comradeship, and make the boys of the sixties feel in rapport with each other, and hand down to them, and the decendents of the original members a local history, which shall inspire all with a reverence for the men who left the comforts of home, the advantages of peace, and the society 8 CHRONICLES of loved ones, to make it possible that they may today be en- dowed with the citizenship of a country the greatest in history, the most developed in real worth, and the wealthiest in all nat- ural resources. We greatly appreciate the contributions which have been re- ceived, and the encouragement given. But if the remaining com- rades who did not-answer our call could have aided, we should have been well equipped for a work more comprehensive and in- teresting. We wish to especially acknowledge the helpfulness of John H. Stevens, and Philip Cooke for the use of their diaries. '' Phis- terers New York in the War of the Rebellion," and Adjutant- General 's Report have Centralbeen Libraryof incalculabl of Rochester eand service Monroe County. · Historic Monographs Collection We admit the impossibility of arranging the following contri- butions without error, and request that allowance will be made for the time which has elapsed, and for the varied views of per- sons. The criticisms will be numerous, but may leniency predomi- nate, and give encouragement to an effort honestly conceived, and truly unselfish on the part of THE COMMITTEE. EDWIN L. WAGE, July, 1911. Chairman. Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County · Historic Monographs Collection GROUP, INCLUDING COMMITTEE ON 151ST HISTORY. Lest to Right, Standing:—Wm. H. Gage, Mrs. Wm. H. Gage, John H. Stevens, Mrs. John H. Stevens, Chauncey Weatherwax. Sitting:—Mrs. Chauncey Weatherwax, Watson C. McNall, Mrs. A. Adda Howell, Edwin L. Wage. CONTENTS Service of the 151st Regiment .. .29 Chapter I, Response to the President's Call. 15 II, The Winter in Baltimore.. 21 " III, In the Field ... 27 " IV, Hardships, if Centralnot Battle Librarys of Rochester and Monroe County · Historic Monographs37 Collection V, Rumblings of War .... .. .... .41 VI, Battle of Mine Run -47 VII, Winter Camp near Brandy Station .53 VIII, Battle of the Wilderness ... ...... 61 IX, Diary, May 7-30, 1864.... .65 " X, Battle of Cold Harbor 71 XI, Battle of Monocacy .. ..81 XII, From Monocacy to Fall of Petersburg „. .91 XIII, Supplementary to Chapter XII.. 101 Reminiscences .. 113 Officers and Register of Field and Staff Organization of Bowen's Ind Rifles, later Co. A, and its pleasant Reunions. John H. Stevens. .. ..... 131 Mutiny of Co. B. J. Chas. Gill 155 Co. B men who were Prisoners. E. E. Russell.. 157 Officers and Register of Co. B. 159 Co. C in its initial stage. D. W. Griffis. .171 Officers and Register of Co. C... .. 174 Zeal of Towns which furnished Co. D. Edwin L. Wage. 187 Officers and Register of Co. D. .... .. .. 189 E, the German Company of the Regiment... .... 205 Officers and Register of Co. E.. .. .... 205 Recruits for Co. F, Philip Cooke.. .... .219 Officers and Register of Co. F.. .. .220 Reminiscent Introduction for Co. G. Wm. W- DeWolf. .235 Officers and Register of Co. G .. ..... 238 Its Officers of Culture, the Pride of Co. H. W C. McNalK. 253 CHRONICLES Officers and Register of Co. H ,255 Second youngest Soldier of the Reg. in Co. I. Elwin A. Scutt. .269 Officers and Register of Co. I.. .271 Co. K last named but not least in the Regiment. ,285 Officers and Register of Co. K.. .285 Roster of Officers who were assigned to the Reg. during its Service. Furnished by E. E. Russell. 299 Encomium of the Press ,302 ILLUSTRATIONCentral Library of Rochester andS Monroe County · Historic Monographs Collection The titles given of Portraits are those borne at muster in. For promotions see Register. Lafayette Square .2 Barnett Dan M... .239 Group, including Committee .9 Conklin M. M.. .. .107 Badges and Relics.... .300 Cooke Philip.. .64 Group at Medical Purveyor's Cramer Geo. D ..236 Office .29 Cronkhite James. .259 Prison Camp, Elmira, N. Y.. ..43 Darrow Lew E.. .81 Association Reunion at Albion, Davis W. H. .. .107 N. Y .. .270 Dempsey J. J. .. ..157 Miles of Troops Resting. .91 Derby Orson P.... ..188 Accoutrements Relics .19 DeWolf Wm. W.. .236 Reunion of Co. A. .128 Dillon R. M .172 Flag .123 Drake DeWitt W .226 Aldrich Barber .141 Elmer Elon M.. ..149 Aldrich D. C.. J49 Ernst Philip. .206 Alpaugh J. P .172 Foreman Richard .198 Armbruster Julius.. .206 Francis S. C. ..236 Babbitt H. J .24 Gibbs Isaac .198 Barnes Romaine A. .135 Gill Charles .. 99 Benson Jesse. .51 Goodman Chas. E.. .226 Bingham J. P.. ..68 Greeley W- M ... .135 Bogardus Charles... .132 Griffis D. W ..172 BpltF. C. ..33 Hitchcock S. L.. .188 Bbwen E. A. .125 Hobbs Harley S. .149 Bowen Hezekiah. .132 Howell H. B .... .. .286 151st REGIMENT Jackson A. L... ,198 Silk John... .226 Johnson E. W .. , 107 St. Clair J. F. T .141 Kelley John. ... 236 Stevens John H., ..51 Lake John W .144 Stout Wm. T .286 Marshall Angevine. .141 Tanner B. B. .132 McDonald J. K .... , 125 Todd F. O , .157 McNall W. C. , 254 Van Zandt J. H. 107 Miller Isaac.. .206 Wage Edwin L. .24 Onderdonk D. W.. 125 Waring A. A .... .132 Pennell L. A . 149 Weatherwax C. .81 Pratt D. C Central.. 2Library4 Whit of Rochestere H. B.and. Monroe County · Historic..2 Monographs4 Collection Prat t Smith , 198 Wilcox S. S .33 Pratt S. T.. 141 Wiles B. N .286 Russell E. E.. ,.99 Willard J. E. .. .226 Russell Ransom ,135 Wilson L. D. .220 Schoen J. C .. ,206 Wichterman C... .259 Scutt Elwin A... .48 Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County · Historic Monographs Collection SERVICE OF THE 151ST REGIMENT. It served in the Middle Department, 8th Corps, at and near Baltimore, Md., from October, 1862; in West Virginia, in the 3d Separate Brigade, 8th Corps, from February, 1863; at South Mountain, Md., in June, 1863; in 3d Brigade, 3d Division, 3d Corps, from July 10th, 1863; in the 1st Brigade, 3d Division, 3d Corps, from August, 1863; in the 1st Brigade, 3d Division, 6th Corps, from April, 1864; and it was honorably discharged and mustered out June 26th, 1865, near Washington, D. C. During its service the regiment lost by death, killed in action, 5 officers, 75 enlisted men; of wounds received in action, 26 en- listed men; of disease and other causes, 1 officer, 99 enlisted men; total, 6 officers, 200 enlisted men; aggregate, 206; of whom 23 enlisted men died in the hands of the enemy. CHAPTER I. Response to the President's Call. The 151st was recruited amid the devastation and woe which betides a terrible conflict. The troops in the field were greatly depleted. There was no recourse but to reinforce the army. June 28, 1862, at theCentral suggestio Library ofn Rochesterof Governo and Monroer Morga Countyn · Historicof Ne Monographsw Collection York , the Governors of the loyal States forwarded a communi- cation to President Lincoln, including the following: '' We re- spectfully request, if it meets with your, entire approval, that you at once call upon the several States for such numbers of men as may be required to fill up all military organizations now in the field, and to add to the arms heretofore organized such additional numbers of men as may, in your judgment, be neces- sary to garrison and hold all of the numerous cities and military positions that have been captured by our armies, and to speedi- ly crush the rebellion that still exists in several of the Southern States, thus practically restoring to the civilized world our great and good government." To this the President replied July 1st in part: "I have decided to call into the service an addition- al force of three hundred thousand men.