THE HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY

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Re: THE HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY

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THE MILITARY AND CIVIL HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ESSEX, NEW YORK; and a GENERAL SURVEY OF ITS PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, ITS MINES AND MINERALS, AND INDUSTRIAL PURSUITS, EMBRACING AN ACCOUNT OF THE NORTHERN WILDERNESS; AND ALSO THE MILITARY ANNALS OF THE FORTRESSES OF CROWN POINT AND TICONDEROGA., continued ...

By WINSLOW C. WATSON.

CHAPTER XIV. The Volunteers., continued ...

The casualties of the Twenty-second in the battles of these bloody days were severe almost beyond a parallel.

On the 29th, its effective strength was six hundred and twenty-six men.

Its loss in killed, wounded and missing, according to the record of the military bureau, was five hundred and four.

The regiment entered the field with twenty-five officers, and on the night on which it fell back to Centreville, it retained only one captain and four lieutenants.

Colonel Frisbie commanding the brigade on the 30th was killed, while urging the troops to advance.

Lieutenant Colonel Gorton T. Thomas was mortally wounded, and soon after died in the hospital. 3

Among the other losses of the regiment, were, in company C, Lieutenants C.D. Beaumont killed and Charles B. mortally wounded, and Captain 0.D. Peabody, wounded; in Company I, Captain Lyman Ormsby and Lieutenant Daniel Burgey, wounded; in Company K, Captain M.P.S. Cadwell, killed, Lieutenants E.F. Edgerly and C.W. Huntley, wounded, the former twice.

These companies averaged in these actions, a loss of nearly thirty men each. 4

3 Lieutenant Colonel Thomas was shot in the body, but maintained his seat, until, incapable of controlling his horse, he was borne into the ranks of the sharpshooters, and there by a singular concidence, when falling from the saddle, was received into the arms of two neighboring boys attached to that regiment. He was carried by them to a house in the vicinity, and from thence was removed to the hospital at Washington, where he died of internal hemorrhage. No braver spirit or truer patriot moved on the battle-fields of the rebellion. The name of Colonel Thomas was the first attached to the enlisting roll in the valley of the Au Sable.

4 I have indulged in more minute details in reference to these events than my space usually allows, but it was the first great sacrifice that the district offered to the war, and its people will always cherish a deep and peculiar, though sad interest in the gloomy narrative.

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Re: THE HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY

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THE MILITARY AND CIVIL HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ESSEX, NEW YORK; and a GENERAL SURVEY OF ITS PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, ITS MINES AND MINERALS, AND INDUSTRIAL PURSUITS, EMBRACING AN ACCOUNT OF THE NORTHERN WILDERNESS; AND ALSO THE MILITARY ANNALS OF THE FORTRESSES OF CROWN POINT AND TICONDEROGA., continued ...

By WINSLOW C. WATSON.

CHAPTER XIV. The Volunteers., continued ...

On the 6th of November, the Twenty-second moved from its encampment at Upton's hill to act in the Antietam campaign.

Its feeble relics of one hundred and twenty-six combatants fought at South Mountain, were closely engaged and suffered heavily.

The entire brigade in this action and at Antietam was under the command of Colonel Phelps.

At Antietam the regiment was constantly exposed to a raking artillery fire, and out of sixty-seven, its whole remaining strength, it lost twenty-seven men.

It was engaged, with its ranks restored to two hundred and ten effective strength, at Fredericksburg and afterwards at Chancellorville, and although conspicuous in its conduct in those actions its casualties were inconsiderable.

After the disaster at Chancellorville, the brigade acted as rear guard to the army and gallantly covered its retreat.

On the succeeding 19th of June, on the expiration of its term of enlistment, the Twenty-second was mustered out of service at Albany.

Subsequent to the desolation it sustained in the battles of the 29th and 30th of August the regimental organization was restored by the appointment of Major McKie, lieutenant-colonel, and Thomas M. Strong, major.

The changes which occurred in the companies connected with Essex county, from their excessive losses, were numerous.

In Company C, Beaumont and Pierson were succeeded by Gorton T. Thomas, Jr., and James Valleau; in Company C, Lieutenant Burgey was promoted on the resignation of Seaman and B.F. Wickham appointed second lieutenant; in Company K, Lieutenant B.F. Edgerly was promoted to the captaincy.

Sergeant John I. Baker was appointed first lieutenant in place of Huntley, discharged from disability on account of wounds, and Charles Bellamy, sergeant, promoted to second lieutenant. 5

The first regimental flag of the Twenty-second was lost at second Bull Run.

Another which was borne through its subsequent battles is deposited in the military bureau.

Perforated by forty-six bullet holes, and its staff wounded by a ball, it is an eloquent witness to the perils and endurance of the regiment.

5 Besides official documents to which I had access, I am indebted to information from the officers of the Twenty-second, and especially to Captain E.F. Edgerly for the facts I have referred to in the text and incidents.

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thelivyjr
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Re: THE HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY

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THE MILITARY AND CIVIL HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ESSEX, NEW YORK; and a GENERAL SURVEY OF ITS PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, ITS MINES AND MINERALS, AND INDUSTRIAL PURSUITS, EMBRACING AN ACCOUNT OF THE NORTHERN WILDERNESS; AND ALSO THE MILITARY ANNALS OF THE FORTRESSES OF CROWN POINT AND TICONDEROGA., continued ...

By WINSLOW C. WATSON.

CHAPTER XIV. The Volunteers., continued ...

The Thirty-fourth Regiment New York Volunteers.

This regiment, to which the company raised in Crown Point, commanded by Captain Doolittle, was attached as company H, was organized on the 24th of May, 1861, by the elections of William La Due, colonel, James A. Suitor, lieut. colonel, and Byron Laffin, major.

The original officers of Company H left the service at an early period.

Capt. Doolittle resigned October, 1861.

Lt. Buck was not mustered in, and Lt. Wright, having been promoted to fill these vacancies, 1st lieutenant May 11th, and captain November 11th, resigned on the 28th November, 1861.

James McCormick of Crown Point was appointed 2d lieutenant, September 29th, 1862, and promoted 1st lieutenant May 8th, 1863.

Simeon P. McIntyre was appointed 2d lieutenant January, 1863, and George B. Coates December, 1862.

Each of these officers was mustered out with the regiment June 30th, 1863.

The Thirty-fourth arrived at Washington the 5th July, 1861.

It was soon after assigned to duty on the upper Potomac.

It was attached to the brigade then commanded by General Stone.

The regiment was ordered to Ball's Bluff, but only arrived in time to aid in the removal of the wounded.

Until the following spring it was occupied in continual harassing marches, and participated in all the hard services, which were at that period encountered by most of the army.

The regiment at this time became attached to the first brigade commanded by General Gorman and the second division of the second corps, and remained in this organization during its subsequent services.

The Thirty-fourth landed at Hampton at the initiation of the peninsula campaign on the first of April, 1862.

It was actively engaged in the siege of Yorktown, and was the first regiment in the enemy's works at Winne's mills.

At Fair Oaks it was eminently distinguished, and was warmly engaged for nearly three hours, with a loss of ninety-four killed and wounded.

The Thirty-fourth participated in most of the operations of this campaign, and at Glendale and Malvern Hill lost more than one hundred men, and was compelled in the first action to abandon its killed and wounded to the enemy.

It was now subjected to a series of the most vigorous picket and field duties, and on the withdrawal of the army of the Potomac from the peninsula, the regiment endured the terrible forced march from Harrison's Landing to Newport News.

The Thirty-fourth was transferred from that point by water to Alexandria, and was at once advanced to the front, encamping without tents or shelter, amid a furious storm of wind and rain.

On the eventful 30th of August it was efficiently engaged in covering the retreat of Pope's army.

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Re: THE HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY

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THE MILITARY AND CIVIL HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ESSEX, NEW YORK; and a GENERAL SURVEY OF ITS PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, ITS MINES AND MINERALS, AND INDUSTRIAL PURSUITS, EMBRACING AN ACCOUNT OF THE NORTHERN WILDERNESS; AND ALSO THE MILITARY ANNALS OF THE FORTRESSES OF CROWN POINT AND TICONDEROGA., continued ...

By WINSLOW C. WATSON.

CHAPTER XIV. The Volunteers., continued ...

At Antietam the Thirty-fourth entered the field on a double quick, and was moved directly to the front, where it was exposed to a wasting fire from infantry, in front and on both flanks, and by artillery on its left; but maintained its position, although abandoned by a supporting regiment, until ordered to fall back by General Sedgwick personally, who received two wounds while giving the command.

In another period of the action, the regiment was again exposed to a destructive cannonade.

During this bloody day, the Thirty-fourth sustained a loss of one hundred and fifty men, amounting to one-half of the effective strength with which it went into action.

Through the remainder of the campaign, the regiment was employed in constant and arduous services, in severe marches, reconnaissances and picketing.

On the 11th December, it led the van of the brigade, at that time commanded by General Sully in the passage of the Rappahannock at Fredericksburg, when the enemy were driven from the town.

The regiment lost on this occasion more than thirty men from the fire of the enemy's batteries.

After this action, the Thirty-fourth remained in camp during the winter, its repose being frequently interrupted by picket duty.

At Chancellorville and Fredericksburg the ensuing spring it was present, but only slightly engaged.

On the expiration of its enlistment the regiment was mustered out at Albany on the 30th June, 1863.

The Thirty-fourth had participated in seventeen battles and numerous skirmishes.

In all these scenes, Company H had sustained a conspicuous and honorable attitude, and worthily received, in common with the regiment, the official encomium "that it never failed in duty to its country, or devotion to its flag."

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thelivyjr
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Re: THE HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY

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THE MILITARY AND CIVIL HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ESSEX, NEW YORK; and a GENERAL SURVEY OF ITS PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, ITS MINES AND MINERALS, AND INDUSTRIAL PURSUITS, EMBRACING AN ACCOUNT OF THE NORTHERN WILDERNESS; AND ALSO THE MILITARY ANNALS OF THE FORTRESSES OF CROWN POINT AND TICONDEROGA., continued ...

By WINSLOW C. WATSON.

CHAPTER XIV. The Volunteers., continued ...

The Thirty-eighth New York Volunteers.

This regiment, under Col. J.W. Hobart Ward, was mustered into service at New York, in June, 1861.

The company enrolled in Essex county, of which Samuel B. Dwyer was elected captain, William H. Smith first lieutenant, and A.C. Hand Livingston second lieutenant, was incorporated with the regiment as Company K.

The Thirty-eighth regiment left the state on the 19th, and reached Washington on the 21st of June, and was soon after attached to Wilcox's brigade, and Heintzelman's division.

It advanced with the Union army to Bull Run, on the 21st of July, and was engaged in that battle, suffering a loss in killed, wounded, and missing of one hundred and twenty-eight men.

It was distinguished by its heroic bearing.

During four hours it was in close action and exposed for a long time to a deadly fire of artillery both in front and on its flanks.

Such an exposure affords the severest test to the constancy and courage of fresh troops.

The regiment bore the heat and dust with all the suffering of the early part of the engagement, with the highest soldierly resolution, and when confronted with the enemy, it firmly met and successfully repulsed the attacks of his infantry.

When compelled by the disasters of the day to abandon the field, the Thirty-eighth retreated in comparative order, and returned to the encamping ground from which it had marched in the morning.

Company K, in this action, was in charge of Lieutenant Smith and Lieutenant Livingston, owing to the absence from sickness of Captain Dwyer.

In this initial battle of the war, Company K was the only organization from Essex county engaged, and although none were killed on the field, it seems proper to record the names of the wounded and captured.

Orlando R. Whiting, captured and died in prison; James A. Coburn, Henry Van Oman, killed at Chancellorville; Patrick Waters, Pitt A. Wadhams, killed at Fredericksburg; Loyal E. Wolcott, John M. Gladden, George Boutwell, James McCormick, died in prison; and Wesley Sumner, killed at Fredericksburg.

Lieutenant Smith resigned August 2d, 1861, Lieutenant Livingston, four days afterwards.

The officers who subsequently served in this company, were Fergus Walker, second lieutenant August, 1861, promoted first lieutenant May 1862, promoted captain August, 1862; and William Warren second lieutenant May, 1862, promoted first lieutenant December, 1862.

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thelivyjr
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Re: THE HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY

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THE MILITARY AND CIVIL HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ESSEX, NEW YORK; and a GENERAL SURVEY OF ITS PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, ITS MINES AND MINERALS, AND INDUSTRIAL PURSUITS, EMBRACING AN ACCOUNT OF THE NORTHERN WILDERNESS; AND ALSO THE MILITARY ANNALS OF THE FORTRESSES OF CROWN POINT AND TICONDEROGA., continued ...

By WINSLOW C. WATSON.

CHAPTER XIV. The Volunteers., continued ...

Until the opening of the peninsula campaign the Thirty-eighth was employed in picket duty and the construction of field works for the defense of Washington.

In August, the regiment was assigned to Gen. Howard's brigade.

This brigade, known as the third brigade, was successively commanded by Generals Sedgwick and Birney.

Upon the organization of the army of the Potomac, the division to which this brigade was attached constituted the first division of the third corps, and these various designations were retained during the subsequent service of the regiment.

The Thirty-eighth was at the siege of Yorktown and sustained in the operations before the works some slight casualties.

Its bearing at the battle of Williamsburgh was highly conspicuous, and it encountered there a loss of eighty-six men.

In this engagement, the gallant Captain Dwyer, of Company K, fell mortally wounded, and died a few days afterwards at St. Johns Hospital in Philadelphia.

His body, claimed by the popular enthusiasm, was borne to the village of Elizabethtown, in his native county, of which he was a prominent citizen, and there buried with the imposing and touching obsequies due to his patriotic devotion.

The regiment was engaged in all the battles that immediately followed on the peninsula.

It also fought at second Bull Run, Chantilly, Fredericksburg and Chancellorville.

On the 21st December, 1862, the remnants of the ten companies of the Thirty-eighth regiment was consolidated into six companies, and marked from A to F inclusive, while the Fifty-fifth New York Volunteers was also consolidated into four companies, enumerated from G to K, and annexed to the Thirty-eighth regiment.

A large proportion of the regiment reenlisted, embracing a considerable part of Company K, and when it was mustered out on the expiration of the term of service June 22d, 1863, these men were transferred to the Fortieth New York Volunteers.

This regiment, both before and after the consolidation, was ranked among the most distinguished regiments of the state volunteers.

In noticing the departure from the field of the Thirty-eighth regiment, the commander of the third corps in a special order paid the highest tribute to its service and reputation.

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thelivyjr
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Re: THE HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY

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THE MILITARY AND CIVIL HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ESSEX, NEW YORK; and a GENERAL SURVEY OF ITS PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, ITS MINES AND MINERALS, AND INDUSTRIAL PURSUITS, EMBRACING AN ACCOUNT OF THE NORTHERN WILDERNESS; AND ALSO THE MILITARY ANNALS OF THE FORTRESSES OF CROWN POINT AND TICONDEROGA., continued ...

By WINSLOW C. WATSON.

CHAPTER XIV. The Volunteers., continued ...

The Forty-fourth Regiment New York Volunteers.

A happy inspiration suggested the idea of forming a regiment to be composed of chosen men to be selected from the various towns and wards of the state, and organized and known as The Ellsworth Avengers.

The design proposed at once to appropriately commemorate the name of the young hero, who was the earliest martyr to the Union cause, and to animate a just and patriotic military spirit throughout the state.

Essex county promptly responded to the invitation, and most of the towns sent their representatives to the regiment.

It was mustered into the service on the 24th September, 1861, as the Forty-fourth New York Volunteers.

The services of the Forty-fourth were active and conspicuous in the varied operations of the army of the Potomac, and it is believed that its name and associations rendered it to the rebels an object of peculiar hostility and vindictive assault.

The gallantry of the Forty-fourth was eminently conspicuous at Hanover C.H., where four times its flag was cut down by balls, and as often triumphantly raised.

When the color-bearer fell, the standard was promptly raised by another hand.

In the midst of the fierce and terrible conflict, which the Forty-fourth in connection with the Second Maine: "How many men," was demanded of a captain of the former, "will follow me to the charge."

"Every man," was the Spartan reply, "save the dead."

Such was the character and spirit of this regiment.

The staff of the torn and faded flag, deposited in the military bureau, had about eighteen inches with the eagle and top shot away at Spottsylvania.

When the Forty-fourth was mustered out of service, October 11th, 1864, the veterans and recruits were transferred to the One Hundred and Fortieth and One Hundred and Forty-sixth regiments, New York Volunteers.

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Re: THE HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY

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THE MILITARY AND CIVIL HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ESSEX, NEW YORK; and a GENERAL SURVEY OF ITS PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, ITS MINES AND MINERALS, AND INDUSTRIAL PURSUITS, EMBRACING AN ACCOUNT OF THE NORTHERN WILDERNESS; AND ALSO THE MILITARY ANNALS OF THE FORTRESSES OF CROWN POINT AND TICONDEROGA., continued ...

By WINSLOW C. WATSON.

CHAPTER XIV. The Volunteers., continued ...

The Seventy-seventh Regiment New York Volunteers.

This regiment was mustered into service November 23d, 1861, for three years at Bemis's Heights, Saratoga, and by the suggestions of the spot appropriately numbered seventy-seventh.

At this organization, James B. McLean was elected colonel, Joseph A. Henderson, lieut. colonel, and Selden Hetzel, major.

Two companies attached to the seventy-seventh, designated A and I, were principally enrolled in Essex county.

Company A was recruited in the towns of Westport, Jay, and Keene.

It was inspected on the 15th of September, and two days later proceeded to Saratoga.

The company was organized by the election of Renel W. Arnold captain, William Douglass first and James H. Farnsworth second lieutenant.

It originally mustered ninety-five men and received fifty recruits, chiefly nonresidents of Essex county, during its service.

Lt. Farnsworth resigned January 5th, 1862, and Charles E. Stevens was promoted to second lieutenant.

Captain Arnold resigned April 3d, 1862, and was succeeded by Ist Lt. George S. Orr of Company G.

In December following, Lt. Stephens was appointed first lieutenant and Orderly Sergeant William Lyon was promoted to his post.

Captain Orr of Company G was wounded at Cedar creek and mustered out with the regiment at the expiration of its term.

Lt. Stevens was promoted to the captaincy of consolidated Company E, October 15th, 1864.

Lt. Lyon was killed at Spottsylvania May 10th, 1864.

Charles H. Davis was promoted second lieutenant October 16th, 1864, and appointed first lieutenant Company E, November 15th, 1864, and captain, April 25th, 1865.

Company I was recruited in the northern towns of Essex and the adjacent towns in Clinton county.

Mr. Wendell Lansing was largely instrumental in the enrollment of this company, but on its organization was transferred to the commissary department, in which he served about one year.

The company officers on its organization were Franklin Norton captain, Jacob F. Hayward and Martin Lennon first and second lieutenants.

Capt. Norton was promoted August 18th, 1862, to lieut. colonel of the One Hundred and Twenty-third New York Volunteers, and died on the 12th of May, 1863, of wounds received in the battle of Chancellorville, on the 10th December, 1862.

Lt. Lennon was appointed captain of Company I, and January 3d, 1863, Lt. Hayward was promoted to quarter master and remained in that capacity until the term of enlistment expired.

John W. Belding was made first lieutenant, March 17, 1863, was promoted to the captaincy of Company K, but never mustered in as such, and died October 27th, 1864, from wounds received in action.

On May 19th, 1863, Orderly Sergeant Carlos W. Rowe was appointed second lieutenant.

Lt. Rowe entered the service as corporal in Company I.

At the organization of Co. I, William E. Merrill was corporal.

He was made a sergeant July following, and orderly sergeant February, 1863.

He reenlisted in February, 1864, was severely wounded at Spottsylvania, was made second lieutenant September 19th, 1864, and promoted to first lieutenant April 22d, 1865, and was mustered out with the regiment, at the close of the war.

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thelivyjr
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Re: THE HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY

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THE MILITARY AND CIVIL HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ESSEX, NEW YORK; and a GENERAL SURVEY OF ITS PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, ITS MINES AND MINERALS, AND INDUSTRIAL PURSUITS, EMBRACING AN ACCOUNT OF THE NORTHERN WILDERNESS; AND ALSO THE MILITARY ANNALS OF THE FORTRESSES OF CROWN POINT AND TICONDEROGA., continued ...

By WINSLOW C. WATSON.

CHAPTER XIV. The Volunteers., continued ...

Immediately after being organized, the Seventy-seventh started for the field of active service, and reaching Washington in December, 1861, went into camp on Meridian hill.

The regiment was incorporated with the army of the Potomac on its first organization, and continued connected with it until its disbandment; it participated in all the fortunes of that army, from the commencement of McClellan's campaign to the close of the war.

Its earliest experience of battle was in the charge upon the enemy's works, at Mechanicsville, in which a youth from Keeseville, Clifford Weston, a private in Company I, was killed, the first offering of the regiment to the country to be succeeded by a long and heroic line of sacrifices.

The Seventy-seventh was conspicuous throughout these services, and no part of it was more distinguished than the two companies from Essex county.

The regiment belonged to the immortal sixth corps, and its torn and fragmentary flags and guidons, and their shattered staffs deposited among the archives of the state, prove its worthiness of the association.

I do not possess the materials from which to form a narrative of the specific services of the Seventy-seventh, nor indeed could its movements be properly separated from the general operations of the army.

That its services were severe is attested by the records of thirty distinct battles, and that they were gallantly performed is evident from the bloody decimation of its ranks.

One or two instances will illustrate the character and endurance of the regiment.

In the battle of White Oak swamp, the division to which the Seventy-seventh was attached, was suddenly assailed by a superior force of the rebels.

The regiment was stationed some distance from its brigade, and could not be approached owing to the severity of the enemy's fire.

Although not directly exposed to this fire, it was in imminent danger, from its position, of being cut off.

"Not proposing to move without orders," as one of its gallant members writes, the regiment maintained its post.

A slight suspension of the action enabled an aide to reach it, with orders to change its ground.

This order was promptly executed, but only in time to save the regiment from capture.

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Re: THE HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY

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THE MILITARY AND CIVIL HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ESSEX, NEW YORK; and a GENERAL SURVEY OF ITS PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, ITS MINES AND MINERALS, AND INDUSTRIAL PURSUITS, EMBRACING AN ACCOUNT OF THE NORTHERN WILDERNESS; AND ALSO THE MILITARY ANNALS OF THE FORTRESSES OF CROWN POINT AND TICONDEROGA., continued ...

By WINSLOW C. WATSON.

CHAPTER XIV. The Volunteers., continued ...

At the battle of Spottsylvania, May 10th, 1864, the Seventy-seventh was selected with several other regiments to form an assaulting column, to charge the enemy's lines.

The attack continued scarcely more than fifteen minutes, but was of the fiercest and bloodiest character.

The position assailed was extremely formidable, and the attacking column was not sutficiently strong to maintain it.

They were compelled to fall back and abandon the position with their dead and severely wounded to the mercy of the enemy.

Twenty members of the Seventy-seventh were left upon this field.

In the terrible conflict at Spottsylvania, the regiment lost seventy-four men, about one-fourth of its strength engaged.

Lt. Lyon of Company A was killed in the charge, and Lt. Rowe of Company I was taken prisoner. 6

The regiment participated in the eventful scenes on the peninsula.

At Mechanicsville it captured a guidon belonging to a Georgia regiment; it was at Gaines's Mills, Savage's Station, and in all the operations before Richmond, which terminated at Malvern Hill.

Transferred from that field it was engaged at second Bull Run, Crompton Pass and Antietam, closing the services of that year at Fredericksburg on December 13th.

6 Lt. Rowe made his escape. The story in its detail is full of interest from its romantic incidents and the adroitness and courage by which success was secured. The fifth day after his capture, he began a march with about twelve hundred prisoners, in the direction of southern prison houses. On the second day of the march, they were compelled to ford a stream, which was waist deep. In effecting the passage the line became scattered. The guard was comparatively small, and in the confusion, Rowe was able soon after crossing to plunge into a thicket and secrete himself behind a heavy cluster of bushes. He was concealed in this covert until the whole detachment had past. He had procured a map from a fellow prisoner, and aided by this and a pocket compass, he deliberately marked out the route he should pursue to regain the Union lines. Pursuing for a while nearly the course of the party from which he had escaped, he at length diverged and crossing the Richmond and Gordonsville rail road and then the Gordonville and Lynchburg, proceeded by a long circuitous route. He traveled in seven days and principally in the night, a distance of one hundred and fifty miles, and succeeded on the thirteenth day after his capture in joining the Union forces at Fredericksburg. In his perilous journey he encountered innumerable hair-breadth escapes, endured extreme suffering, and had no other subsistence than he secured from his own efforts and the kindness and charity of the negro people.

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