Читать книгу The History of Orange County New York - Группа авторов - Страница 17

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The patriotic services of the people of Orange County in the four-years' Civil War of 1861-5 were as praiseworthy as those of their ancestors in the two wars with Great Britain, which founded the Republic upon a lasting basis of unparalleled prosperity and progress. It was as necessary for the continuance of that prosperity, and as a lesson of our republican experiment to the world, to defeat the efforts of the slave-holding States to rend the Union in twain, as it had been to compel the kingly power across the ocean to let us establish it. This Orange County was quick to perceive and act upon.

Its Co. B, Third Regiment of Infantry, was the first company recruited and ready for muster in the State. Recruiting for it was commenced in Newburgh immediately after the passage by the Legislature, April 16, 1861, of an act to authorize the equipment of volunteer militia for the public safety, the movement being started by Hon. Stephen W. Fullerton, Member of Assembly, and placed in charge of James A. Ramney. There were seventy-seven men enrolled when the company was mustered in for two years, May 14, 1861—less than one month from the day the first man enlisted, and it had then been ready several days for mustering in.

The following regiments and companies were recruited in Orange for the Civil War, and there were many other enlistments from the county in other regiments and in the Navy:

Infantry: Third Regiment, Co. B, 1861; 18th, Co. D and Co. H, in part, 1861; 36th, Co. B, 1861; 56th, Cos. A, B, D and E, 1861; 63d Regiment, 1864; 70th, Co. F, 1861; 87th, Co. C, 1861; 98th, Co. C, 1864; 124th Regiment, 1,047 men in 1862 and one company in 1864; 168th, 335 men, 1862; 176th, 272 men, 1862.

Mounted Rifles: First Regiment, Co. C, 1861.

Cavalry: Second Regiment, Co. B, 1861; 15th, Co. I, 146 men, 1864.

Artillery: Fifteenth Regiment, Co. M, 82 men, 1864; 7th, 70 men, 1864; 7th Independent Battery, 1861.

Militia: Nineteenth and 71st, 517 men, 1861-62.

The following are the aggregates by towns of the men furnished and accepted in the county:

April, 1861, to July, 1862.

Towns.	Volunteers.	Militia.	Total.
Blooming Grove	37	..	37
Chester	31	2	33
Cornwall	36	..	36
Crawford	11	5	16
Deer Park	104	..	104
Goshen	30	..	30
Greenville	3	..	3
Hamptonburgh	2	..	2
Highlands	1	..	1
Minisink	17	..	17
Monroe	25	..	25
Montgomery	109	79	188
Mount Hope	9	..	9
Newburgh	493	429	922
New Windsor	26	2	28
Southfield	12	..	12
Wallkill	447	..	447
Warwick	100	..	100
Wawayanda	12	..	12
	_____	___	_____
	1,505	517	2,022

In addition to the numbers tabulated there were in the 71st Militia four hundred and twenty-nine from Newburgh, seventy-nine from Mount Hope, five from Deer Park, two from Chester and two from Southfield.

The totals tell their own story of patriotic zeal.

Company B, Third Regiment, before referred to as the first to be recruited and ready for muster in the State, was mustered out at the end of its two years' service, but reorganized and was mustered out the second time after the close of the war, on August 28, 1865. It was in many fights, including those of Big Bethel, Fort Wagner, Bermuda Hundred, Petersburg, Fort Gilmer, Chapin's Farm, Fort Fisher and Wilmington. Its first captain, Stephen W. Fullerton, appointed April 20, 1861, died in Newburgh, September 11, 1861, and was succeeded by Ervine A. Jones, first lieutenant, September 25, 1861, who was dismissed August 16, 1862. Alexander Mann, second and then first lieutenant, was promoted to captain, June 10, 1861, and discharged August 31, 1864. Jeremiah D. Mabie, who was promoted from first sergeant to second lieutenant, and then to first lieutenant of Co. B, was made captain of Co. F, June 15, 1863, and discharged September 18, 1864. James H. Reeve was advanced from fourth sergeant to first sergeant and then to second lieutenant of Co. B, was made captain of Co. I, October 3, 1864, lost a leg at Fort Fisher, and was discharged June 26, 1865.

The Eighteenth Regiment was recruited in several counties in response to the call of President Lincoln for 75,000 volunteers. It was mustered in for two years May 17, 1861, and mustered out May 28, 1863. Co. D was recruited from Orange County and organized at Middletown, with John C. McGinnis, captain, George Barry, first lieutenant and Roswell M. Sayre, second lieutenant. The commissions of these officers date back into April. The enlistments were so many that thirty men of the company were separated to form a part of Co. H. The regiment supported a battery in the first battle of Bull Run, but was not brought into action. It was stationed and remained near Alexandria the most of the time until McClellan's Army went to the Peninsula, and took part there in the seven days' fighting. Afterward it did guard duty at various points until it was mustered out.

The following promotions of Orange County men in the 18th Regiment are on record, the dates being those of rank, some of which preceded dates of commission:

Thomas S. Lane, 2d Lieut., Nov. 6, 1861; 1st Lieut., Nov. 10, 1862; mustered out with regiment.

W. E. Carmichael, 2d Lieut., May 7, 1861; 1st Lieut., Dec. 2, 1861; resigned May 16, 1862.

Robert A. Malone, 2d Lieut., Nov. 11, 1861; Capt., Sept. 8, 1862; mustered out with regiment.

Roswell M. Sayre, 2d Lieut., April 30, 1861; 1st Lieut., Dec. 21, 1862; Capt., June 26, 1862; mustered out with regiment.

John S. King, 1st Lieut., June 26, 1862; mustered out with regiment.

George Barry, 1st Lieut., April 30, 1861; killed at Gaines Mills, June 27, 1862.

John C. McGinnis, Capt., April 30, 1861; Major, Dec. 2, 1861; Lieut. Col., Oct. 14, 1862; mustered out with regiment.

The 36th Regiment was organized in New York, and its Co. B was recruited in Orange County by John Raney of Newburgh, captain of Co. F, 19th Militia, assisted by Timothy Donoghue of the same company. The enlistments were for two years. Between May 13 and June 17, 1861, they enlisted seventy-seven men. The regiment arrived in Washington, July 14, 1861, and remained in camp until March, 1862. It was brigaded under General Couch, and attached to General Buell's Division, afterward commanded by General Keyes. It went with General McClellan's Army to the Peninsula and was in the fights at Seven Pines, Gaines Mills and Malvern Hill. Afterward it saw much active and perilous service in Virginia and Maryland. At Fredericksburg it was in General Deven's Brigade, which was the first of the left grand division to cross the Rappahannock, December 11, 1862, and covered the retreat of the army, December 15, Co. B being detailed to collect stragglers under the enemy's fire. May 3, Co. B, at Marye's Heights, captured a battery from a Mississippi brigade, and was the first to raise the colors on the heights. The regiment was a part of Sedgwick's Corps in the attack on Salem Heights. The last active service of the regiment and Co. B was in Hooker's campaign. The officers of the company were:

John A. Raney, Capt., June 15, 1861; Major, Dec. 21, 1861; resigned Oct. 15, 1862.

Timothy Donoghue, 1st Lieut., June 15, 1861; Capt., Nov. 12, 1861; mustered out with regiment, July 15, 1863.

John M. Lewis, 2d Lieut., June 15, 1864; 1st Lieut., Dec. 2, 1861; mustered out with regiment.

Charles B. Lewis, 1st Sergt., Oct. 1, 1861; 2d Lieut., Nov. 12, 1861; 1st Lieut, Aug. 20, 1862; mustered out with regiment.

FIFTY-SIXTH REGIMENT.

The 56th Regiment was formed of companies from Orange, Ulster, Sullivan and Delaware Counties, Companies A, B, D and E being recruited from Orange, as were also the 7th Battery and Co. C of Mounted Rifles, afterward detached. It was a three-years' regiment, but was continued by re-enlistment, and although the companies were all mustered in between July 31st and December 10th, 1861, the regiment was not mustered out until October 17th, 1865. Its services in the army were varied and creditable throughout, and at times brilliant, and deserved the detailed record of its movements, hardships, perils and achievements in the history by John C. Fisk and William H. D. Blake, members of the regiment, which was published in 1906. It is this well-written history herein epitomized.

The 56th Regiment, first known as the Tenth Legion, was organized in July, 1861, by Charles H. Van Wyck, with headquarters at Newburgh. It consisted of ten companies of infantry, one of sharpshooters, two of artillery and two of cavalry, when it went away, but in Washington the four latter companies were detached and placed in the artillery division and cavalry corps. Its camp of rendezvous and instruction until November 6th was on a sandy plateau by the Hudson River, near New Windsor. In Washington it was made a part of the Provisional Brigade, including also the 52nd and 104th Pennsylvania, the 11th Maine and the 100th New York Regiments. The 56th New York was commanded by Colonel Charles H. Van Wyck until he was brevetted a Brigadier General. Companies A, B and E were recruited in Newburgh by Recruiting Officers Thomas S. Marvel, Charles T. Thayer and William J. Williams, respectively; Co. C of mounted rifles in Montgomery by Frederick Decker, and Co. D in Warwick by John J. Wheeler.

The instructing officer at the New Windsor camp was Charles A. Van Horne Ellis, of the 71st New York Militia, and he proved to be an efficient drill-master in regimental and company movements and the manual of arms, in which officers and men made rapid progress and became expert before leaving for the seat of war. When the regiment reached New York General Stuart L. Woodford presented to it a white silk banner in behalf of a patriotic society called "The Sons of Orange and Sullivan," and this was carried through the whole war. On arriving in Washington in November the regiment was sent to Kalorama Heights, near Georgetown, and tented there about two weeks. The weather was severe, and many of the men contracted colds, pneumonia and rheumatism from unaccustomed exposures, which also proved fatal to some of them. Afterward they camped a few weeks by Rock Creek, in the suburbs of Georgetown, and in January, 1862, went into the Carver barracks on Meridian Hill. The brigade, under General Naglee, had then become one of the best-drilled in the army, and President Lincoln and family and General Scott and daughter repeatedly came to Meridian Hill to witness its parade. It was in the grand review of 140,000 men under General McClellan which preceded the movement to the Peninsula, and on March 26th crossed the Long Bridge in Casey's division of four brigades, which marched thence to Alexandria, where on April 1st they started down the Potomac on the steamer "Constitution" for the Peninsula, reached Hampton Roads in the evening of April 2nd, and proceeded to Newport News April 3d. On this last trip the men had their first experience under fire, but the shells which the rebels shot at them from Sewell's Point fell short.