Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County ·v-' Historicw :••;.:•:;:• Monographs,' • Collection• • . • • .••••:>•,, W iiii iiilil Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County · Historic Monographs Collection Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County · Historic Monographs Collection HISTORY OF THE 27th Regiment N.Y.Vols. {Badge of the First Division, Sixth Corps.) BEING A RECORD OF ITS MORE THAN TWO. YEARS OF SERVICE IN THE WAR FOR THE UNION, FROM MAY 21st, 1861, TO MAY 31st, 1863. WITH A COMPLETE ROSTER, AND SHORT SKETCHES OF COMMANDING OFFICERS. ALSO, A RECORD OF EXPERIENCE AND SUFFERING OF SOME OF THE COMRADES IN LLBBY AND OTHER REBEL PRISONS. Compiled by C. B. FAIRCHILD, of Company "D. Published under the direction of the following Committee GEN. H. W. SLOCLTM. CAPT. C. A. WELLS. Carl &• Matthews, Printers, Binghamton, N. Y. Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County · Historic Monographs Collection Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 188S, by C. B. FAIRCHILD, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County · Historic Monographs Collection J j j'j' 3'j ])J9 •»-• • ••• •» •» ? • 3 • * • 2 "•«• * as •«' • •• • " • • **« •*• •• **• *f »•» • •»• • • • • • • * COMRADES OF THE TWENTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT, WHO FELL WHILE IN THE LINE OF DUTY, ^ IS THIS VOLUME SACREDLY DEDICATED, * ^ SURVIVORS1 ASSOCIATION, AS A TESTIMONY TO THEIR HEROISM ON THE FIELD OF BATTLE, * AND THEIR ; SACRIFICE FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE REPUBLIC. 1^799353 Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County · Historic Monographs Collection Copyright, 18S5, by THE CENTURY CO. -'N,„.... O E T H Reprinted from THE CENTURY MAGAZINE, by f.-rmission f/THE CENTURY Co. MAP OF THE VIRGINIA CAMPAIGNS. Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County · Historic Monographs Collection PREFACE. HE official accounts of battles are all wonderfully alike, T dealing with bodies and masses of men, and not with in- dividual hopes, aspirations and fears. We read about march- ing and flanking and enfilading; but when we go behind these terms, and ask what the individual soldier in the ranks is thinking or doing or suffering, the story is too light to be included in an official report, and too unimportant for the dignity of general history ; and yet, it is this unwritten his- tory of the war that gives any true estimate of the price that was paid to save our nation. This history is designed to give more of individual and personal experience; not claiming that this regiment acted the most important part in the late war, but to show that its members offered them- selves a willing sacrifice in the service of their country, and at no time did they withhold the best they had to give. Years have elapsed since we left the "lines and tented fields," but time cannot erase from memory recollections of those eventful days in which the Twenty-Seventh New York, by its heroism and zeal, helped to preserve the unity of the best and freest government ever established by man. The fact that they were actors in the great struggle, and a constituent element of the grandest army the world ever saw, engaged in the grand work of saving the Citadel of Freedom, makes them take a noteworthy pride in offering to history the following record, which is made up chiefly from private diarfes, personal experience and general orders, as these tend to show the esteem in which the regiment was held by commanding officers. Our trust in the future of the country rests in the bravery, integrity and virtue of the men who fought for it. They have brought back the old flag, " its white as bright as angels' robes, and'its stars GOD'S stars, as truly as are the stars in the canopy of heaven." Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County · Historic Monographs Collection VI PREFACE. For this, let not our people fail to recognize their duty to the returned soldiers, and to the families of those who can never return, lest they repudiate a part, and one of the most sacred parts of the national debt. Thanks are due for the information furnished for the fol- lowing record, to— H. W. SLOCUM, JOSEPH J. BARTLETT, C. C. GARDINER, CHARLES A. WELLS, W. B. WESTERVELT, ERI S. WATSON, Jos. L. Ross, C. B. FAIRCHILD. Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County · Historic Monographs Collection INTRODUCTION. HE election of ABRAHAM LINCOLN, in i860, was made T the pretext and signal in the South for open defiance of the authority of the Federal Government. Mutterings, even threats of secession had been heard before the elec- tion, and were generally treated as the. grumblings incident to an anticipated defeat, especially as a majority of such expressions of discontent came from the State of South Carolina, which was proverbially hot-headed. Now, how- ever, meetings were held in that and other Cotton States, declaring for Southern independence, and " minute men " were being mustered. Startling events followed each other rapidly, until, on December 20th, i860, South Carolina passed " An ordinance to dissolve the union between the State of South Carolina and other states united with her, under the compact entitled the Constitution of the United States of America." This action was, soon after, followed by the seizure of the arsenal and other government prop- erty at Charleston. On the 12th of April, 1861, the North- ern States were astounded and shocked by the news which was flashed over the wires, that Fort Sumpter was being bombarded. The so-called secession of the State from the Union, followed by the same action on the part of other Southern States, had been regarded with indifference by many, and the public heart seemed almost insensible to the great peril which threatened to sunder the republic. But the news from Sumpter awoke unwonted echoes, and touched the patriotic chords in the great American heart. The loyalty, which had been doubted, sprang into instant life, and throughout the North, expressions of deep devotion and promise of unlimited aid were borne on the wings of lightning to the Nation's capital. The mighty heart of the people seemed to pulsate with patriotism arfd love of the Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County · Historic Monographs Collection viii INTRODUCTION. government, which had been founded and maintained by the blood of our fathers. The world never witnessed an uprising as mighty, as spontaneous, and as glorious as that which now occurred. On April 15th, the following procla- mation was issued by President LINCOLN: BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. A PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS, The laws of the United States have been for some time past, and now are opposed, and the execution thereof obstructed, in the States of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas, by combinations too powerful to be suppressed by the ordinary conrse of judicial proceedings, or the powers vested in the marshals by law: Now, therefore, I, ABRAHAM LINCOLN, President of the United States, by virtue of the power in me vested by, the Constitution and the laws, have thought fit to call forth, and hereby do call forth the militia of the several States of the Union, to the aggregate of seventy-five thousand, in order to supppess said combinations, and to cause the laws to be duly executed. The details of this object will be immediately communicated to the State authorities by the War Department. I appeal to all loyal citizens to favor, facilitate, and aid this effort to maintain the honor, the integrity, and the existence of our National Union, and the perpetuity of popular government, and to redress wrongs already long enough endured. I deem it proper to say, that the first service assigned to the forces hereby called forth will probably be to repossess the forts, places and property which have been seized from the Union ; and in every event the utmost care will be observed, consistently with the object aforesaid, to avoid any devastation of or interference with property, or any disturbance of peaceful citizens in any part of the country. And I hereby command the persons composing the combinations afore- said to disperse, and retire peaceably to their respective abodes, within twenty days of this date. Deeming the present condition of public affairs presents an extraor- dinary occasion, I do hereby, in virtue of the power in me vested by the Constitution, convene both Houses ef Congress. Senators and Repre- sentatives are, therefore, summoned to assemble at their respective chant- Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County · Historic Monographs Collection INTRODUCTION. ix bers, at twelve o'clock, noon, on Thursday, the 4th day of July next, then and there to consider and determine such measures as, in their wisdom the public safety and interest may seem to demand. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed. Done at the City of Washington, this fifteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, and of the. inde- pendence of the United States the eighty-fifth. ABRAHAM LINCOLN. By the President WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State. Simultaneously with the above proclamation, calls for troops were made upon the States,—the Governor of New York, Edwin D. Morgan, being requested to immediately furnish the quota designated for the State of New York, to wit, seventeen regiments. On April 16th, the two bodies of the Legislature, then in session at Albany, passed an Act " To authorize the embodying and equipment of a Volun-. teer Militia, and to provide for the public defence." This bill provided for the enrollment of thirty thousand volunteer militia, to serve for two years; and appropriated three mil- lions of dollars to meet the expense.