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CHAPTER XI
MILITARY HISTORY ( CONTINUED)
THE ONE HUNDRED AND NINTH-- THE ONE HUNDRED AND THRTY-SEVENTH
THE ONE HUNDRED AND NINTH REGIMENT
The companies of which this regiment was composed were raised in the counties of Broome, Tioga, and Tompkins: Companies D. and E in Broome; B,C,H,I and K in Tioga; and A,F, and G, in Tompkins. The regiment commenced organizing at Binghamton, in the latter part of July, 1862, and was mustered into the United States service on the 28th of August, 1862, by Captain Ireland, of the regular army, afterwards colonel of the 137th Regiment, New York State Volunteers.
The regiment was officered as follows: Colonel, Benjamin F. Tracy; Lieutenant-Colonel, Isaac S. Catlin; Major, Philo B. Stilson; Adjutant, Peter W. Hopkins; Quartermaster, James S. Thurston; Chaplain, Albert Wyatt; Surgeon, Sanford B. Hunt; First Assistant Surgeon, William E. Johnson; Second Assistant Surgeon, Salphronius H. French; Sergeant-Major, Marshall Waterfield; Quartermaster Sergeant, William A. King; Commissary-Sergeant, Jesse A. Ashley
COMPANY A.--Captain, Benjamin R. McAllister; First Lieutenant, Charles C. Mead; Second Lieutenant, David A. Signor.
COMPANY B.--Captain, Robert H.S. Hyde; First Lieutenant, Benjamin C. Wade; Second Lieutenant, Geo. D. Haynes.
COMPANY C.--Captain, John Gorman; First Lieutenant, William H.S. Bean; Second Lieutenant, Solomon Oakley.
COMPANY D.--Captain, George W. Dunn; First Lieutenant, William Benedict; Second Lieutenant, R.M. Johnson.
COMPANY E.-- Captain, Edward Lewis; First Lieutenant, Moses R. Robbins; Second Lieutenant, -------McChristian.
COMPANY F.-- Captain, William E. Mount; First Lieutenant, Martin L.G. Spear; Second Lieutenant, N.J. Griswold..
COMPANY G.--Captain, Anson W. Knettles; First Lieutenant, Michael Kelly; Second Lieutenant, William Austin.
COMPANY H-- Captain, Austin W. Alford; First Lieutenant, E.R. Jones; Second Lieutenant, John S. Giles.
COMPANY I.--Captain, Zelotus G. Gordon; First Lieutenant, John S. Hopkins; Second Lieutenant, Gilbert D. Craft.
COMPANY K.--Captain, William Warwick; First Lieutenant, Selah V. Reeve; \second Lieutenant, George A. Mathews.
The regiment left Binghamton via Elmira for Baltimore, and from the latter city marched to Appomattox Junction, where they went into camp. The commanding general saw the necessity of keeping a strong guard along the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and the 109th was detached for this service, and remained distributed along this road performing guard duty until the winter of 1864, when, with the exception of a portion of the companies, the regiment’s headquarters was established at Mason’s Island, opposite Georgetown, at the camp for drafted men.
The 109th was at this time in the First Brigade, First Division, and Ninth Army Corps, under command of General John F. Hartranft, the present Governor of Pennsylvania.
The regiment now prepared for an active campaign and received their baptism of fire in the terrible battle of the Wilderness. This was one of the severest contests of the war, and the 109th was in the thickest of the fight. It held its position during that deadly conflict, and received many encomiums of praise for its gallant conduct. But it was not without a sacrifice. More than one hundred of those brave men who went into battle, at it’s close lay dead upon the field, killed by rebel bullets. It also lost heavily in wounded. In this engagement the regiment was under the command of Colonel Tracy, who displayed great courage and bravery.
Soon after the battle of the Wilderness, Colonel Tracy resigned and the command devolved upon Lieutenant-Colonel Catlin.
The regiment next participated in the battle of Spottsylvania Court-House, fought May 12,1864, where it lost heavily in killed and wounded, but by its coolness and courage in the heat of battle it maintained its reputation for bravery acquired on the battle-field of the Wilderness. In this contest Catlin was in command, and nobly did he perform his duty.
The regiment went into battle of the Wilderness with 1200 strong, and at the close of the battle of Spottsylvania, only six days afterwards, only 400 reported for duty. It was a sad spectacle to look down those thin and decimated ranks of the 109th, now reduced to one-third the number at roll-call only one week before.
Cold Harbor! The very mention of this name sends a thrill of horror through one’s frame when is called to mind the carnage if that day. In this battle the 109th lost heavily in killed and wounded; among the killed was Captain John Gorman, a brave and efficient officer.
The regiment next participated in the battle in front of Petersburg, and again lost heavily in killed and wounded. Captain Warwick and Lieutenant Jones were killed. June 17, the 109th was in charge on Petersburg, and lost a number of men taken prisoners. They were sent to Libby prison , where many of them died.
The night before the blowing up of the mine at Petersburg, Lieutenant-Colonel Catlin, who had been absent, returned to the regiment and was mustered as colonel, and led the charge on the following day when the explosion occurred.
In this onslaught the 107th lost heavily in killed and wounded, and at the close of this action was so reduced in numbers that the highest ranking officer was a second lieutenant. In this charge Colonel Catlin lost a leg, Major Stillson was wounded and Lieutenant Griswold killed.
The regiment now reduced to a mere skeleton of its former self, was placed under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Pier, of the 21st Wisconsin Volunteers, who was in command at the taking of Petersburg. This was the last action in which this battle-scarred regiment participated. It was mustered out (250 men) June 4,1865, and upon its arrival home was tendered a grand reception by the citizens of Owego.
The history of the 109th, as we have seen, is a record of many of the severest battles of the war., and the bullet and the prison-pen left upon it their impress, as many who went never returned. They battled nobly for their country, and it is an honor to say, “ I belong to the 109th!” For the history of this regiment we are indebted to William A. King of Owego.
The following is a list of the killed and also of those who died of diseases or wounds, in the 109th Regiment, copied from the muster-out rolls in the office of the Adjutant-General at Albany:
COMPANY A.
George W. Reed, died of wounds, July 19,1864
Horace Smith died of wounds Aug. 9,1864
Samuel C. Bogardus, died Jan. 22,1864
Robert W. Sage, killed Sept.13,1862
Allen Gee, died Oct.11,1862
Addison W. Payne, died Nov. 8,1862
Hebron Makes, died Feb.21,1864
David S. Briggs, died Feb.27,1864
Henry Gohnam, killed March 12,1864
John G. Nichols, killed May 12,1864
Amos A. Barber, killed May 12,1864
Henry Personious, killed May 12,1864
William H. Lewis, killed May 12,1864
George W. Peirson, killed May 12,1864
Abram Seely, Jr., killed May 12,1864
George B. Thatcher, died of wounds, June 23,1864
John Cortright, killed June 26,1864
Theodore T. Angle, died July 22,1864
Ira Starks, killed July 30,1864
George W. Smith, killed July 30,1864
William H. De Bell, killed Aug.19,1864
John W. Snow, killed July 30,1864
Albert Carpenter, died of wounds, Aug. 10,1864
Rueben Young, died Sept.5,1864
John Perry, died Sept. 23,1864
Daniel H. McPherson, died July 23,1864
Abram R. Morse, died Oct.4,1864
George W. Roe, died June 28,1864
P. Sidney Foster, died Nov. 12,1864
Julius Ostrander, died March 29,1865
James Smith, died Nov. 18,1864
William Evarts, died of wounds, April 27,1865
Harrison Little, killed May 12,1864
COMPANY B.
Henry Harrington, died of wounds, Aug.26,1864
Richard M.G. Aikins, died of wounds, Sept.15,1864
Edward L. Ballard, killed Aug. 19,1864
Samuel Brumaghim, killed May 12,1864
Erastus Benton, died of wounds, Nov. 5,1864
Theodore Dikeman, died of wounds, Sept. 23, 1863
Elijah E. Goodrich, killed May 12,1864
Henry Johnson, died Sept. 20,1863
Eli Jacobs, died of wounds, Feb.12,1864
Alexander King, killed July 30,1864
Lemuel A. Like, killed April 2,1865
Edwin Prentis, died of wounds, Oct. 29,1862
Edward Perkins, died of wounds, Aug. 9,1863
James H. Reese, killed May 6,1864
James H. Robbins, killed Aug.9,1864
Jerome Rodley, died of wounds, Aug. 14,1864
Jonathan Orcutt, killed May 12,1864
Richard Taylor, killed June 23,1864
John T. Walker, died of wounds, April 6,1864
Amos Ballard, died of wounds, Nov. 7,1864
COMPANY C.
Captain John Gorman, killed May 31,1864
Second Lieutenant Edward C. Jones, died of wounds, July1,1864
Homer J. Willsey, killed June 3,1864
Oscar F. Probasco, killed May 6,1864
Daniel K. Hart, died June 17,1864
William H. Newton, killed June 17,1864
Myron Knight, died of wounds, Dec. 12,1862
Charles Anson, died Feb.16,1863
David T. Brink, killed May 6,1864
Francis E. Brink, died Jan. 9, 1865
Loran B. Burbank, killed June 17,1864
Andrew J. Blanchard, died while a prisoner of war; no date given
John Cannon, died Feb. 6,1864
G. Hile Every, died in hospital; no date given
Theodore Hinkley, died July 14, 1864
John Hedglin, died of wounds, July 11,1864
Henry S. Head, killed May 6,1864
Hiram Haner, died Sept. 6,1864
William P. Haner, died of wounds, July 4,1864
James Murkle, died of wounds June 18,1864
John H. Middaugh, died of wounds, June 27,1864
Stewart D. Middaugh, died, Aug. 11,1864
John Pupper, died Dec.11,1864
Stephen D. Phelps, died Aug. 1,1864
Wallis Palmer, died of wounds, June 22,1864
David Roberts, killed May 6,1864
Wilber Springstead, killed July 26, 1864
John J. Smith, died while a prisoner of war; no date given
Charles A. Taylor, died Aug. 14, 1864
Abram W. Vangorder, killed June 17,1864
Smith Warwick, died June 11, 1864
Wm. Warner, died of wounds, June 3, 1864
COMPANY D.
Henry D. Williams, died Oct. 12, 1863
Fred A. Ogden, killed May 12,1864
Marshal Barlow, killed May 12, 1864
Wm. E. Boughton, killed May 12, 1864
Robert Nelson, killed May 12,1864
Robert Van Tassel, killed May 12, 1864
James H. Kennedy, killed May 12, 1864
Fernando Rudge, killed May 12, 1864
Alexander F. Cook, killed May 12, 1864
Eugene A. Tyler, died of wounds, June 3, 1864
Chauncey M. Pomeroy, killed June 7, 1864
Alanson A. Adams, died of wounds, June 9, 1864
Burritt Humaston, killed June 17,1864
Lewis Rittenburg, killed June 17, 1864
Monroe E. Wildey, killed June 17, 1864
Lewis A. Gardner, died July 6, 1864
Orton Withbeck, died of wounds, July 10, 1864
Herman R. Smith, died July 20,1864
Daniel Walling, died July 30, 1864
Wm. Pierson, died July 30, 1865
John Toohey, no record
George L. Vrooman, died Dec. 20,1864
Wm. Carl, died of wounds, July 16, 1864
George L. Parsons, died Dec. 27, 1864
Warren Morey, died Jan. 5, 1865
Theodore Johnson, Sept. 15,1864
COMPANY E.
John Marquardt, died of wounds, Nov. 15, 1863
Julius T. Gleason, killed May 6,1864
Henry S. Adams, died of wounds, May 28, 1864
Coles B. Aldrich, died of wounds, June 18,1864
James F. Alexander, died July 9, 1864
Abraham Allen, died of wounds, June 26,1864
Henry V. Bogart, died of wounds, June 18, 1864
Austin Castle, killed June 17, 1864
Joseph Cronk, died Sept. 11, 1864
John Hall, died Aug. 1, 1864
Charles Hall, died Aug. 8, 1864
Richard D. Hardenderf, died of wounds, Sept. 3,1864
Wm. W. Lamb, killed June 17, 1864
Marvin Monroe, died of wounds, June 26, 1864
John McDaniel Died Feb. 14, 1864
David W. Merrill, died March 22,1865
Charles H. Pencil, died Feb. 19, 1863
Stephen H. Peckham, killed June 17, 1864
Aaron N. Remmle, killed June 17,1864
David Remmle, died of wounds, Aug.8, 1864
Gilbert B. Seeley, killed June 17, 1864
Cyrus P. Tarbox, died of wounds June 30, 1864
Perry P. Wilber, died April 23, 1864
Harvey H. Weed, killed June 17, 1864
Andrew M. Young, killed July 30, 1864
Charles Weaver, killed July 1, 1864
COMPANY F.
First Lieutenant Nathan J. Griswold, killed July 30, 1864
Second Lieutenant Daniel W. Barton, killed May 12, 1864
Walter Starkey, died of wounds, May 27, 1864
Jerome F. Woodbury, killed Aug. 19, 1864
James V. Tyler, died July 18, 1864
Chester Card, died Aug. 8, 1864
Bezeleel Griswold, died July 22,1864
Samuel J. Vaile, died Oct. 4,1864
James C. Bull, died Feb. 1865
Andrew J. Barber, died of wounds, June 7, 1864
Daniel C. Brown, died of wounds, July 18, 1864
William Downey, died of wounds, June 19, 1863
William J. Howard, died Sept.18, 1864
John F. Jackson, died Aug. 12, 1864
Peter Montfort, killed June 28, 1864
Edmund Moe, died of wounds, May 14, 1864
Cassius M. Maxson, killed June 18, 1864
Jay Owen, died Aug.6,1863
Eli A. Obert, killed Aug. 22,1864
Albert M. West, died Sept. 12, 1863
John W. While, killed May 12, 1864
William S. Wallace, killed June 17,1864
Melvin N. Wilson, died of wounds, May 15,1864
John Plowden, killed July 20, 1864
COMPANY G.
William C. Fish, killed July 30, 1864
De Witt C. Treman, died of wounds, July 4, 1864
Sanford Davis, killed July 17, 1864
Jeremiah R. Debaun, died July 4, 1864
Eugene Ervay, died July 4, 1864
Samuel W. Evans, died of wounds, July 19,1864
Lewis H. Frazier, killed July 30, 1864
George L. Hurlbert, died of wounds, June 8, 1864
Henry Hitchcock, killed May 8, 1864
Joseph Irish, died of wounds, Sept. 24,1864
Justin Loomis, died of wounds, June 9,1864
Charles Morgan, died April 4, 1865
Chester S. Personius, killed July 30, 1864
Silas W. Personius, died of wounds, May 20,1864
John Shoemaker, killed May 6,1864
Emory Terwillegar, killed July 30,1864
Joel Wood, died Jan. 16,1865
George Whitlock, died Sept. 1, 1864
Charles Herod, died Feb. 28,1865
COMPANY H.
George W. Mayher, died July 8,1864
Silas P. Barton, killed May 6,1864
Jacob Engle, killed May 6, 1864
James H. Wood, died of wounds, July 9, 1864
David C. Millen, killed July 30, 1864
Chester Goodman, killed May 12,1864
Allen Warren, died March 16, 1864
Henry Brennes, killed June 12,1864
James Brown, died of wounds, Aug.2,1864
Franklin Bills, died of wounds, April 5,1865
Harrison H. Card, killed June 12,1864
Orin F. Chidester, killed May 12, 1864
James M. Cory, died Dec. 7,1863
George W. Crosby, killed May 12, 1864
Patrick Coslon, killed Aug. 19,1864
Asa duel, died of wounds, Aug. 10,1864
Samuel G. Drake, killed May 22,1864
Alfred Fairbanks, killed May 6, 1864
William Gale, killed Aug. 19, 1864
Squire D. Gager, died Jan. 14,1864
Henry G. Hall, died of wounds, Oct. 9,1864
Joseph Jones, killed May 6, 1864
Augustus Lewtyen, killed July 30, 1864
William J. Moloney, died of wounds, May 12,1864
Zadoc Miles, died May 10, 1864
Peter Petrie, killed May 12,1864
]Barnard Stone, died April 27, 1864
William H. Stratton,killed May 6, 1864
Peter Vangorder, killed May 12,1864
Benjamin Whittimore, killed May 12, 1864
COMPANY I
Jacob S. Ames, killed June 10, 1864
William T. Bowman, died April 5, 1864
William Brown, killed June 17, 1864
Jacob H. Courtright, died March 26,1864
Myron H. Dawson, died Nov. 26,1864
William D. Duryea, died of wounds, July 9, 1864
Joseph W. Fox, died April 5,1864
John Goodwin, died June 10, 1863
William Hamilton, died of wounds, July 9, 1864
Almeron D. Hazard, died Nov.1,1864
Myron E. Lake, killed June 17, 1864
J. Emett Mandeville, killed June 17, 1864
Benjamin Meeker, died April 25,1864
Horace D. Russel, died Dec.20, 1864
Rudolph Schutt, died Oct. 28, 1862
James A. Sherman, killed May 12, 1864
Phineas S. Tallman, died Oct. 1, 1864
Ambrose P. Vincent, died of wounds, May 15, 1864
Thomas N. York, died May 19,1864
COMPANY K.
Captain William Warwick, killed June 12, 1864
Orsemous Kirkendoll, died June 17, 1864
William Hays, died July 14, 1864
Alexander H. Atherton, killed June 17, 1864
Guy C. Bunham, killed Aug. 19, 1864
Caleb M. Allen, died of wounds, April 2, 1865
John J. Agnor, died of wounds, July 22,1864
George Averil, died Sept. 16,1864
Frederick Bills, died of wounds, May 22,1864
Dunham Brink, died May 26, 1864
Charles Brink, died Aug. 26, 1864
Theron Cole, died Oct. 28,1864
Hiram Campbell, died Oct. 12, 1863
Harrison Delap, died Nov.1,1864
Francis M. Fox, died Nov. 11,1864
Virgil Fradenburg, died Jan. 2, 1865
James H. Green, died Oct. 3,1864
James Hilton, died of wounds, July 18, 1864
John E. Hills, died of wounds, May 10, 1864
Enoch Hunt, died April 12,1864
Seth Ingersol, died Aug. 4, 1863
George F. Jones, died July 28, 1864
Ephraim Jordan, died June 25, 1864
Jeremiah Reed, killed July10,1863
Lathrop E. Truesdell, died Oct.1, 1864
Thomas W. Vandemark, died June 29, 1864
Cornelius Van Sice, died July 28, 1864
Samuel M. Van Sice, died; no date given,
William T. Van Order, killed June 17, 1864
Hugh Woodcock, died of wounds, July 13, 1864
Silas A. Wiggins, killed June 17, 1864
George Waterman, died March 20, 1864
Charles H. Wales, died July 27, 1864
Edwin J. Wilbur, killed June 27, 1864
THE ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT
This regiment was raised in the 24th Senatorial District in the summer and fall of 1862. It was organized at Binghamton, and mustered into the United States service Sept. 25, 1862, with the following officers: Colonel, David Ireland; Lieutenant-Colonel, Kaert S. van Voorhees; Major, Westel Willoughby; Quartermaster, Edward B. Stevens; Adjutant, C.B. Barto,; Surgeon, John M. Farrington; Assistant-Surgeon, S. Milton Hand; Sergeant-Major, J.B. Abbott; Quartermaster-Sergeant , Fred’k W. Burton,; Hospital Steward, Hiram W. Bishop; Company-Sergeant, John J. Cantine.
COMPANY A--Captain, Fred A. Stoddard; First Lieutenant, George Owen; \second-Lieutenant, Fred M. Halleck.
COMPANY B.--Captain, Henry H. Davis; First Lieutenant, A.C. Gale; Second-Lieutenant, Owen J. Street
COMPANY C.--Captain, Watson L. Hoskins; First Lieutenant, David R. Russell; Second Lieutenant, Ambrose Thompson
COMPANY D--Captain, John C. Terry; First Lieutenant, James E. Mix; Second Lieutenant, Frank Whitmore
COMPANY E--Captain, Milo B. Eldridge; First Lieutenant, Cornelius E. Dunn; Second Lieutenant, George J. Spencer
COMPANY F--Captain, Henry W. Shipman; First Lieutenant, William N. Sage; Second Lieutenant, Marshall Corbett
COMPANY G--Captain, Oscar C. Williams; First Lieutenant, S.H. Beecher; Second Lieutenant, W. Abbey
COMPANY H--Captain Eli F. Roberts; First Lieutenant, Charles F. Baragur; Second Lieutenant, Edgar Ellis.
COMPANY I--Captain, J.H.Gregg; First Lieutenant, Henry Slawson; Second Lieutenant, John H. Wheelock.
COMPANY K--Captain, Silas Pierson,; First Lieutenant; Eugene A. Marsh; Second Lieutenant, William H. Taft
On the 27th of September the regiment left Binghamton en route to the front. It arrived in Washington on the 30th, and was immediately forwarded to Harper’s Ferry, Va., via Fredericksburg, Md., reaching their destination October 8. Here they went into camp, and remained until December 10, having, in the mean time, participated in two important reconnaissances under General Gregg, one to Charleston and the other to Winchester, Va.
December 10, the 12th Army Corps, to which the 137th Regiment had been attached , left Harper’s Ferry at the time of Burnside’s unsuccessful attack on Fredericksburg, and having marched to Dumfries, Va., were, in consecquence of Burnside’s repulse, marched back to Fairfax Station, where they remained until Jan. 17,1863, when they were again ordered forward, Burnside intending to make another attack on Fredericksburg, but failed on account of the mud. Burnside’s “mud march” will ever be remembered by those who participated in it, and the facetious enemy, not without cause, placed a sign-board where our troops might see, bearing the inscription, ”Burnside stuck in the Mud !”
Up to this time the 137th had participated in no engagement; but now, seeing the force of the enemy, and the occasional shot and shell that came from the rebel works, it required no prophetic vision to see that the morrow must be a day of carnage.
Ah, how terrible was that prophecy realized! The battle of Chancellorsville, fought May 1,2, and 3, 1863, was one of the severest contests of the war. The 137th was hotly engaged, holding its position in the trenches during a holocaust of shot and shell, until the right flank of the army was forced back, when , the order being given to retreat, they retired in good order. This was the regiment’s baptism of fire, and nobly did it pass through the contest.
After the battle the 137th returned to Aquia Creek, where it remained until June 13, when it was moved northward with the army to repel Lee’s invasion of Maryland and Pennsylvania.
The battle of Gettysburg was fought July 2 and 3, 1863, and here we find the 137th in the thickest of the contest. This gallant regiment added fresh laurels to those already won on the sanguinary field at Chancellorsville.
The regiment lost four officers and forty-one men killed, and three officers and sixty-four men wounded.
After the battle, and the escape of Lee’s army across the Potomac, the army again encamped on the banks of the Rappahannock, and afterwards on the banks of the Rapidan, when , September 23, immediately after the battle of Chickamauga, the 11th and 12th Corps, under Hooker, were ordered to Tennessee, where they arrived in the forepart of October.
In the latter part of October, Hooker was ordered by Grant to open communication between Bridgeport, Ala., and Chattanooga, Tenn., by the way of White Side, along the line of the Memphis and Charleston Road. The Army of the Cumberland being besieged in Chattanooga, and destitute of provisions, it became necessary to secure a shorter line of communication or the place wouls have to be abandoned, with the loss of all the artillery and trains. Oct 28 the 11th Corps, under General Howard, and a part of Geary’s Division of the 12th Corps, all under command of General Hooker, debouched into Lookout Valley, and fir six miles marched in plain view of the rebels, who occupied the summit and sides of the mountain, and who could almost count the men in the ranks. On encamping for the night the 11th Corps was about two and a half miles in advance.of Geary’s Division, which being observed by the enemy , they determined to surprise and capture Geary’s Division, and accordingly two divisions of Long street’s Corps were ordered to attack. They came in between the 11th Corps and Geary’s division, and while one division took a position to prevent reinforcements being sent to General Geary the other advanced to the attack, which came near being a surprise, the attack being made about midnight.
General Geary had with him at the time but four regiments and two sections of a battery. The 111th Pennsylvania succeeded in getting into line, and the 137th New York were but partly in line, when the enemy opened fire upon them at less than fifty yards distance.These two regiments bore the whole brunt of the battle, which lasted over two hours; the other two regiments were placed in position to protect the right flank and rear, leaving the left exposed. Early in the action General Green, commanding the brigade, was wounded and Colonel Ireland, of the 137th, being senior colonel, the command of the brigade devolved upon him, leaving Lieutenant-Colonel Van Voorhees in command of the regiment.
The enemy, finding the left unprotected, moved a part of their force to the left and came down on the left and rear of the 137th, but Colonel Van Voorhees immediately placed his three companies perpendicular to the rear, facing them to the left and facing the rear rank of four other companies to the rear. The regiment kept up such a vigorous and deadly fire to the front, flank, and rear that the enemy was finally driven back, but not till nearly every round of ammunition in the regiment had been fired.
It was a terrible contest, and hundreds of homes in the 24th Senatorial District were rendered desolate by that day’s catnage, where so many of her brave sons were offered as a sacrifice upon the altar of country. The regiment lost nearly one-third of its number in killed and wounded. This gallant regiment was highly complimented for its coolness and courage in this engagement., and General Geary, in an address to the regiment at the time of its muster out, said,” I have, at all times and in all places, given you the credit of saving my division from rout or capture at Wauhatchie. As I passed down your rear and noticed the vigorous attack that was made upon you, I exclaimed, `My God, if the 137th gives way all is lost!` But thanks to the coolness, skill and courage of your commanding officer, and to your own determinated will, you maintained your ground nobly and the enemy was driven back to his mountain den.” Among the wounded was Colonel Van Voorhees, but he refused to leave the field until the action was over.
The 137th was next with the gallant Hooker in his “ fight above the clouds,” and maintained its hard-earned reputation , being the first to enter the enemy’s works upon Lookout Mountain.
The regiment participated in the famous Atlanta campaign, which commenced May 2, 1864, and ended September 2, being four months of almost continuous fighting. The first battle was that of Mill Creek Gap, May 8, in which Geary’s Division drove the enemy into their works on the summit of Taylor’s Ridge. The battle of Resaca followed, May 15, where the 137th lost several wounded . The next was the battle of Dallas, May 25, where Hooker;s Corps lost heavily. One line of the rebel works was carried just at night, and the enemy driven into a second line of works about a mile farther back, which were not carried in consequence of the darkness , but a position was taken and a line of works established within a stone’s throw of the enemy line. During eight days they occupied this position, under a constant fire, and without any shelter from the weather . June 5, the enemy having retreated, the army moved forward a few miles and went into camp.
June 15 the regiment moved forward to Pine Knob, which was held by the enemy and after sharp skirmishing , which lasted during the following day, on the 17th the enemy evacuated their works. The 137th lost two killed and twenty wounded. The foe was pursued and a sharp engagement took place during the same day, in which the regiment lost one man killed and one wounded. From this time until July 5, when the enemy retreated across the Chattahoochie, it was one continual series of battles, skirmishes and changes of position.
June 22, the 137th together with the 111th Pennsylvania, were highly complimented by General Hooker for their bravery in obtaining possession of a commanding position, which was strongly defended by the enemy.
The army, needing rest and clothing, remained quiet from the 7th to the 17th of July, when it moved forward and crossed the Chattahoochie river. On the 19th the 137th was thrown out as skirmishers, and came upon the enemy’s skirmishers at Peach-Tree Creek on the night of the 19th , and on the 20th , while moving forward to take a position, were unexpectedly and fiercely attacked by the enemy in a thick piece of woods. Colonel Van Voorhees was ordered to move his regiment by the right flank and take up a position on the right of another regiment and in doing so came almost directly upon the enemy’s line of battle. Not knowing the position of the rest of the brigade, owing to the thick underbrush and fearing that if he fell back the right flank of the brigade would be exposed , he caused his men to maintain their position, which they did manfully nearly half an hour, when, learning that the rest of the brigade had fallen back some fifteen minutes before, and the 137th was left alone battling with the enemy, he gave orders to fall back and the regiment fell back from its dangerous position. Loss, 8 killed and 19 wounded. The regiment entered Atlanta August 30, Colonel Van Voorhees in Command. The Lamented Colonel Ireland died soon after the regiment entered Atlanta.
The Twentieth Corps remained in Atlanta until November 15, when General Sherman commenced his celebrated “March to the Sea.” His march being unopposed, nothing worthy of note transpired until their arrival near Savannah, December 11. The 137th having been sent out to feel the enemys position, were deployed as skirmishers, and soon came upon the enemy’s skirmishers, who were protected by the ruins of some buildings, and by a rice-field embankment. A lively fire was kept up for some time, when it was deemed advisable to drive them from their position, in order to uncover their front. Colonel Van Voorhees gave the order to move forward and so impetuous was the charge that the enemy was quickly friven into their works, and could have been driven out and beyond them, as they were seen to leave after firing one round, but as there was no support at hand, Van Voorhees, deeming it imprudent to assail the fort, which was defended by several heavy guns, recalled his men after several had gained the abates of the fort, and took upa position behind the rice-field embankment formerly held by the rebel skirmishers, within two hundred yards of the rebel fort.
The regiment remained here until the 21st of December, assisting in the construction of works, which could only be done under cover of darkness. The rebel batteries were very active, and the men exposed to a constant shelling. The regiment returned from working working on a fort about two o’clock on the morning of December 21, and soon after it was noticed that the enemy were evacuating their works. Captain S.B. Wheelock, of the 137th with ten men, was sent out to reconnoitre the enemy’s works, which they found abandoned, with the guns still in position. The brigade was immediately ordered forward into the rebel works, and from thence moved directly into the city, arriving there at daybreak; and to the 137th Regiment is due the honor of being the first to enter the evacuated city.
The regiment remained here, doing guard-duty, until Jan. 27,1865, when it moved with the army on the campaign through the Carolinas. The 137th arrived at Goldsboro’,N.C., March 24. On the 10th of April, Sherman again moved forward in the direction of Raleigh, N.C., which place he reached on the 13th of April. Here the regiment remained until April 30, when it commenced its homeward march, arriving at Alexandria, Va., on the 19th of May.
June 9th the 137th was mustered out and ordered to Elmira, N.Y., where it was paid off and discharged on the 18th of June , 1865, having been nearly three years in active service.
The following is a list of the killed and also those who died of disease or wounds, in the regiment, copied from the muster-out rolls in the Adjutant-General’s office at Albany:
Field and Staff
Colonel David Ireland, died Sept. 10,1864
Assistant-Surgeon Taylor Elmore, died May 25,1864
Non-commissioned Staff
Hospital Steward Hiram W. Bishop, died Nov.23,1862
Company A.
FirstLieutenant George C. Owen, killed Nov. 24,1863
John J. Baker, killed July 20, 1864
Christian Heff, killed Dec. 11,1864
Charles F. Fox, killed July 2,1863
Lucian Vining, killed July 2,1863
Dean Swift, killed July 2,1863
Oliver English, killed July 2,1963
Peter Hill, killed July 2,1963
Wm. Humphrey, killed July 20,1864
Richard W. Rush, killed July 2, 1863
Wm. G. Reynolds, killed June 15,1864
John Silvernail, killed Nov.27,1863
Sylvanis Travis,killed Nov.23,1863
Jacob C. Batcher, died Dec.28,1862
Squires S. Barrows,died Dec.8,1862
David Brazee, died Dec.18,1862
Henry H. Babcock, died Dec. 31,1862
David Hempstead, died Jan.2,1863
Elias Harden, died (no date given)
Clark W. Laflin, died Dec.27,1862
Richard Monroe, died Feb. 27,1863
Jacob E. Potts, died June 29,1863
John H. Rich, died April 20,1863
Leander M. Salisbury, died Dec.12,1862
Daniel Travis, died Dec.31,1862
Company B.
Second Lieutenant John Van Emburgh, killed July 2,1863
Dudley Mersereau, killed May 3,1863
James H. Mullen, killed July 2,1863
Admiral T. Coon, killed July 2,1863
James C. Butcher, killed Oct. 29,1863
Austen Barney, killed Oct.29,1863
Lyman Wooster, killed Oct. 29,1863
Benjamin F. Morse, killed Nov. 24,1863
Gilbert L. Bennett, died Nov. 19,1862
James Kells, died Nov.22, 1862
Peter W. Hyde, died Nov. 22,1862
Sylvester N. Bennett, died Dec. 7,1862
Espy C. Stuart, died Dec. 7,1862
Elias Brink, died Feb. 19,1863
George Phillips, died Feb. 24, 1863
Foster R. Scudder,died March 20,1863
Samuel A. Smith, died of wounds, July 6,1863
James Dore, died of wounds July 6,1863
Wm. T. Satliff,died of wounds, July 26,1863
Pasley Tillberry, died of wounds, July 7, 1863
Cadis V. Stevens, died of wounds, Nov.6, 1863
Benjamin F. Newman, died Dec.14, 1863
Ambrose W. Davidson, died Dec. 15,1863
Charles H. Covert, died of wounds, March 9, 1864
Owen McGrinas, died Oct.19, 1863
Charles H. Williams, died of wounds, July 21,1864
Enos P. Howard, died of wounds, Aug,31,1864
Wm. M. Spoor, died of wounds Aug. 27,1864
Edson Hays, died Sept.5,1864
Isaac R. Robbins, died Nov. 25,1864
Charles P. Sawtelle, died of wounds, July 7,1864
Charles W. Kipp, died of wounds, Nov.7,1864
Albert Halstead, died of wounds, Nov. 16, 1864
Company C.
Jacob W. Brockham, killed July 3,1863
Wallace Foster, killed July 3,1863
James C. Newton, killed Oct. 29,1863
John Lamont, killed July 3,1863
Frederick Archibald, killed July 3,1863
Charles Manning, killed July 3,1863
Frederick M. Phelps, killed July 3,1863
Timothy Travis, killed July 3, 1863
Alexander Stanton, killed July 3,1863
William Degroat, killed June 17,1864
Andrew J. Williams, killed July 20,1864
Martin Kelner, died Oct. 26,1862
John J. King, died Nov. 18,1862
William Morton, died March 26,1863
Freeman McArthur, died March 28,1863
Harvey L. Smith, died April 9,1863
John H. Perine, died July 11,1863
John P. Brundage, died of wounds, July 23,1863
Elisha Loomis, died of wounds, July 26,1863
Luke S. Brant, died of wounds, Oct. 31,1863
Charles Wonzer, died Dec. 22,1863
Peter W. Hollister, died Feb. 10, 1864
James Webster, died July(date not known) 1864
Company D.
William Besemer, killed July 2,1863
David Clark, killed July 3,1863
Willis Hance,killed Oct. 29, 1863
John King, killed July 20,1864
George Mabee, killed July 3, 1863
Charles True, killed Oct. 29,1863
Venable Wesley, killed July 2,1863
Martin L. Beers, died Dec. 1,1862
Rufus H. Green, died Jan 8,1865
Eugene M. Horton, died Feb. 27,1863
Charles A. Bloom, died of wounds, Feb. 8, 1864
Henry F. Bennett, died June 8,1863
Charles H. Gifford, died of wounds, Nov. 4,1863
William Glass, died Feb. 12,1863
William Lawson, died Dec.20,1862
Simeon Oatmen, died Dec. 18, 1862
Eugene Prance, died Dec. 1, 1862
Jerome Riker, died Dec. 1,1862
William H. Riker, died Nov. 25,1862
Alonzo D. Snow, died Jan. 31,1863
John J. Swain, died Feb. 18,1862
Henry J. Simpson, died of wounds, July 18,1864
Company E.
Second Lieutenant Henry G. Hallett, killed July 2,1863
Henry Johnson, killed July 3,1863
John Carmine, killed July 2,1863
William H. Warner, killed Oct. 29,1863
Frederick T. Twining, killed Nov. 24.1863
William S. Brown, killed June 15,1864
Francis J. Bolster, killed June 16,1864
Eugene L. Edminster, died Dec. 4.1862
Van Ness McNeill, died of wounds, July 19,1864
James L. Perce, died of wounds, July 4,1864
James Cram, died Nov. 6,1862
Francis E. English, died June 14,1863
Francis Monroe, died Dec. 13,1862
George Mathewson, died Sept. 19,1864
Isa B. Preston, died Jan. 1,1863
Gersham G. Randall, died of wounds, Nov. 26,1863
Nelson Simmons, died Dec. 30,1862
James S. Hyde, died Aug. 17,1864
Philo Kelsey, died of wounds, Aug. 15,1864
Phineas Wooster, died Feb. 10,1863
Junius E. Washburn, died Nov. 7,1864
COMPANY F.
Henry E. Bayless, killed Oct. 28,1863
John L. Burk, killed July 20,1864
George W. Doolittle, killed Oct. 28,1863
William W. Wheeler, killed July 2,1863
Horace W. Nichols, killed July 2,1863
Malone J. Pardee, killed July 2, 1863
William N. Dodge, died of wounds, July 13, 1863
James L. Cresson, died of wounds, Nov. 1,1863
James C. Burgdroff, died Dec. 27,1862
Cornelius Crandel, died Nov.24,1862
Luther Frink, died Dec.18, 1862
Thomas Fowly , died of wounds, June 28,186
Smith Howe, died Dec.20, 1862
Riley W. Hines, died Dec. 31, 1862
Newton Hunt, died of wounds, Dec.15,1863
George W. Kilburn, died of wounds, Nov. 15,1863
David H. Monroe, died Dec. 20,1862
George L. Mackey, died Sept. 14,1863
Zerah Spaulding, died Jan. 31,1862
Wilsey Spaulding, died Jan. 31,1863
William J. Smith, died of wounds, July 4,1864
Colby Wells, died Feb. 1,1864
Perry M. Winans, died Sept. 14,1864
Robert H. Winans, died Nov. 17,1864
COMPANY G.
Captain Oscar C. Williams,killed July 3,1863
Henry Biber, killed Oct. 29,1863
Eugene C. Belden, killed July 20,1864
William C. Cole, killed July 2,1863
Ira Lipe, killed July 3,1863
William H. Van Valkenburg, killed July 2,1863
Ezra S. Williams, killed Oct. 29,1863
John Cooper, died Oct. 25,1862
Edward Chamberlain, died Dec. 18,1862
William H. Church, died May 11,1863
Henry L. Collins, died of wounds, Nov.3,1863
Maurice B. Baird, died of wounds, Dec. 2,1863
Fayette Butterfield, died of wounds, June 18,1864
Daniel Farrell, died Dec.4, 1862
Theodore Guion, died April 19,1864
Josephus Gee, died of wounds, July 28,1863
Myron T. Hutchinson, died Jan.6,1863
Jerome Hall, died Feb. 24,1863
George Harvey, died July 21,1864
Jonathan B. Holcomb, died Nov. 9,1864
Pharcelus Johnson, died Dec. 9,1862
Prescott Jackson, died of wounds, Nov. 23,1863
Sampson Janson, died Feb. 6,1864
Stephen J. Lovelace, died Dec. 27,1862
William H. Loyd, died March 15,1863
William Maher, died of wounds, June 23,1864
Alanson Peet, died Jan. 21,1865
Edwin F. Richardson, died Dec.15, 1862
Edward B. Scovill, died Nov. 22,1862
George W. Dtrong, died of wounds, July 29,1863
Ambrose J. Strong, died Feb. 28,1864
David Saddlemire, died of wounds, May 6,1864
Jay Wanzer, died of wounds, Nov. 1,1863
Alonzo Whiting, died of wounds, Nov. 24,1863
Oliver H. Wetmore, died Nov. 26,1862
William Youngs, died Jan. 15,1863
COMPANY H.
William N. Coleman, killed May 3,1863
Charles Coney, killed July 20,1864
Leonard White, killed Oct. 29,1863
John Butlar, died Jan. 20,1863
William M. Barto, died of wounds, Nov.8,1863
Miles Buckley, died July 21,1864
Abram Coursen, died of wounds, July 26,1864
George Drum, died Jan. 16,1863
John C. Elmendorf, died Feb.22, 1863
Robert Evlin, died of wounds, July 23,1864
John R. Gary, died June 1,1863
Mordecai Hills, died Oct. 11,1863
Hiram A. Scott, died Feb. 23,1863
Alfred Stillson, died Feb. 15,1863
Milo B. Towner, died Dec.16,1862
William E. Terwilligar, died March 1,1863
Abram Winfield, died Dec. 16, 1862
Amza C. Wolverton, died July 20,1864
Sewell White, died Nov. 27,1862
COMPANY I.
Captain Joseph H.Gragg,killed July 3,1863
Theodore D. Hagaman, killed July 20,1864
James C. Wilson, killed Nov.24,1863
Lyman Rorick, killed July 3,1863
George J. Sirine, killed July 3,1863
Jacob A. Cosad, killed July 3,1863
William Runsey, died Dec.5,1862
Daniel B. Cornish, died Dec.7,1862
Elmore Edsell, died Dec.21, 1862
Arad Boyer, died Dec. 29,1862
Gideon Holmes, died April 26, 1863
Charles Robinson, died of wounds, Nov.6, 1863
John Tompkins, died of wounds, Nov.25,1863
Miles D. Carpenter, died Dec.22,1863
Andrew J. Harrington, died Oct. 22,1863
John Rosling, died of wounds, Jan. 18,1864
COMPANY K.
Alexander B. Hunts, killed Oct. 29,1863
Michael Morris, killed Oct. 29,1863
Franklin W. Boice, killed July 3,1863
Warren L. Davison, killed Oct. 29,1863
Edwin R. Turk, killed Oct.29,1863
Ira Martin, Jr., killed July 2,1863
Benjamin Clark, killed July 2,1863
Charles K. Swartout, killed May 2, 1863
Andrew H. Gale, killed June 22,1864
William H. Taft, died Oct. 31,1862
Hudson Jennings, died of wounds, Nov. 27,1863
Nelson Janson, died Oct. 22,1862
Isaac D. Head, died Nov. 2,1862
Ephraim Dunham, died Nov. 18,1862
John J. Humphrey, died Dec.7, 1862
William E. Patch, died Dec.1, 1862
Thomas D. Smith, died Dec. 10,1862
Charles F. Stoddart, died Dec. 23,1862
Elijah Ryan, died of wounds, July 17, 1863
William H. Griffin, died of wounds, Nov. 1,1863
Eugene Patch, killed accidentally, March 27,1865
COMPANY L.
Gilbert Bemont, died Dec. 20,1864
Alonzo D. Broat, died Jan. 29,1865
Birney Gurnsey, died Dec. 6,1864
Theodore F. Jones, died Nov. 26,1864
Charles J. Leonard, died Nov. 28, 1864
Henry P. Thompson, died April 5,1865
Clark Tubbs, died Dec. 28,1864
Roderick B. Whitney, died Jan. 12,1865
Silas B. West, died of wounds, Jan. 23,1865.
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