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The following text was taken from THE HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY by Prof. W.W. Clayton, 1879, Pages 127-129. Typed by Marlene Miles Andes (Krenshawa@aol.com or MMiles7710@aol.com)

THE ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-FIRST

The 141st Regiment New York Volunteers was organized at Elmira during August, 1862. At the time, by the disasters of the Peninsula, it became needful to raise additional troops to beat back the defiant legions of the South, who were bent, on account of their successes, upon a general invasion of the North. The want of troops was so imminent that two full regiments were raised in a short time from this congressional district. The 107th was the first to perfect its organization, and the 141st soon followed suit. Col. S.G. Hathaway was selected from the first to be its colonel, and he added his powerful and efficient influence to hasten its organization. The maximum number of men were recruited before the last day of August, but the regiment was not ordered to the front until Sept. 15, 1862. After reaching Washington D.C., it went into camp at Laurel, MD to do guard duty on the railroad between Baltimore and Washington, and construct military fortifications in the vicinity of Laurel. It was relieved November 24 of the same year and ordered to Miner's Hill, VA and joined Gen Cadence Brigade, of Abercrombie's Division, in the defenses of Washington. Here it took its first lesson in picket duty, and perfected itself in warlike discipline and defense. The roster of the officers of the regiment at that time was as follows; Colonel, Samuel G. Hathaway, Jr.; Lieutenant-Colonel, James C. Beecher; Major, John W. Dininny; Adjutant, Robert M. McDowell; Surgeon, Joseph W. Robinson; Assistant Surgeons, O.S. Greenman, M.T. Babcock. Company A--Captain, Charles W. Clauharty; First Lieutenant, William P. Ross, Second Lieutenant, John Strawbridge. Company B--Captain, Andrew D. Compton; First Lieutenant Stephen F. Griffith; Second Lieutenant Robert F. Hedges. Company C--Captain , Elisha G. Baldwin; First Lieutenant James McMillan; Second Lieutenant Robert F. Stewart. Company D--Captain, Charles A. Fuller; First Lieutenant William Merrill; Second Lieutenant Joseph Townsend. Company E--Captain, Willliam K. Logie; First Lieutenant John A. Shultz; Second Lieutenant E. J. Belding. Company F--Captain, Andrew J. Russell; First Lieutenant John Barton; Second Lieutenant Wm. L. Collins Company G--Captain Daniel N. Aldrich; First Lieutenant John W. Hammond; Second Lieutenant John H. Rowley Company H--Captain William A. Bronson; First Lieutenant Stephen s. Roscoe; Second Lieutenant James W. Smith Company I--Captain E.L. Patrick; First Lieutenant R.A. Hall; Second Lieutenant George Tubbs. Company K--Captain Wilbur F. Tuttle; First Lieutenant George E. Whiton; Second Lieutenant Joseph A. Frisbie Companies A and B were organized in Schuyler county; Companies C, I, and K in Chemung County; Companies D, E, F, G, and H in Steuben County Feb. 12 1863, the regiment moved from miner's Hill to Arlington Heights. At this time Col. Hathaway and Lieutenant Col. Beecher resigned their respective positions. Maj. Dininny was promoted to the colonelcy Capt. Wm K. Logie, Company E, was advanced to be Lieutenant-Colonel, and Capt. E. L. Patrick, Company I to be Major. April 15 the division broke camp, and was sent to Suffolk, VA to the department then commanded by ex-Governor John A. Dix. That vicinity was soon relieved of the presence of the enemy, and the regiment was not engaged in any general battle. May 3 it was ordered back, via Fortress Monroe, to West Point, up York River, at the confluence of the Mattapony and Pamunkey Rivers. Gen. Gordon now assumed command of the division, numbering eight thousand men, consisting of infantry, cavalry, and artillery. The regiment tarried three weeks, and engaged in building rifle-pits and fortifications until the command was suddenly ordered back to Yorktown. While here Col. Dininny resigned his commission, and Lieut-Col. Logie was promoted to the vacant place, Maj. Patrick to the lieutenant-colonelcy, and Capt Chas. W. Clauharty, Company A, senior captain, whose just rights had been hetherto ignored, was advanced to the majorship. On the 9th of June the regiment took up the march to Williamsburg. The weather on this march was exceedingly hot and dry, and the men suffered extremely from excessive heat and thirst. June 11 the march was resumed, reaching Diascund Bridge June 13, where it remained, far in advance of the rest of the troops, in a low, marshy, and unhealthy locality, and the duty was constant, onerous and harassing. At this point the regiment had its first brush with the enemy; David McCann (Capt. McDowell's company) being the first victim to the rebel bullets. On June 26 the regiment resumed its march to White House Landing, and joined Gen. Dix's whole command, numbering some thirty thousand, on an expedition towards Richmond,--which should have been captured at that time, while Gen. Lee and very nearly his entire armies were invading Maryland and Southern Pennsylvania. Gordon's Division advanced as far as Bottom Bridge, only twelve or fifteen miles from Richmond, skirmishing frequently and getting a healthy practical experience of shot and shell. Engagements were frequent between the pickets, but no general battle took place until the 8th of July, when orders were received to abandon the expedition, and the troops were transferred to the Army of the Potomac. For four or five months the bill of fare served up partook of so much sameness that the regiment suffered extremely in general health. Their staple diet, as well as luxuries, consisted of hard-tack, bacon, and coffee, served up ad infinitum, with not ringing of the changes. July 8 it took up the line of march to Williamsburg. The severity of the Peninsular campaign was now apparent to the hard marches made, which were the immediate causes of more sickness and death in the 141st than was subsequently experienced. Rain fell in torrents for days; and in one day twenty-seven miles were gained through mud and rain, to find a watery couch at night. The weather was so hot that the men's feet were scalded in their wet shoes and stockings. Hundreds went into Yorktown barefooted and feet blistering sore; but there could be no delay,--it was laid out to capture Lee in Maryland. The regiment left the place by transport, and proceeded direct to Frederick City, Md, arriving there July 14. The same night the whole Confederate Army made a safe retreat across the Potomac. Gordon's Division was not disbanded and the troops transferred to the 11th and 12th Corps. The 141st was consigned to the 2d Brigade, 3d Division, 11th Corps; Gen. Howard commanding the corps, Carl Schurz the division, and Col Krzyzanowski the brigade. The regiment joined the corps at Berlin, MD after three days' march from Frederick City. July 19 it crossed the Potomac, and arrived at Warrington Junction the 25th. It remained in this locality for some time, marching, countermarching, changing camp, and drilling until September 24, when the order came to move. The 11th and 12th Corps, under the command of Maj. Gen. Joe Hooker, were transferred to the Army of the Cumberland, then in Tennessee. The regiment arrived at Bridgeport, Ala. October 2, and went into camp on the banks of the Tennessee River, having traveled in eight days about fourteen hundred miles. Rosecrans was then shut up in Chattanooga on short rations,--transportation being fifty miles around by wagons, while by the railroad through Chattanooga Balley it was only twenty-eight miles,--the enemy holding the road and threatening beleaguered Chattanooga from the heights of Lookout Mountain. The gallant Hooker took the job to open this valley, which was accomplished in just forty-eight hours, ending with the famous moonlight "Battle of Wauhatchie" on the night of October 28. This opened the railroad nearly to Chattanooga, and the Army of the Cumberland "dubbed" Hooker's men as "Cracker Boys," as it had not seen but one cracker per day for a month, until Hooker's men supplied their haversacks from their own. The 141st took part in the above action, which was fought on our side entirely by Eastern troops. Wauhatchie is about five miles from Chattanooga, at the base of Lookout Mountain. The regiment participated in the glorious battle of Lookout Mountain, or the "Battle above the Clouds," where Hooker and the 11th and 12th Corps won immortal glory. In the mean time Gen. Grant had taken command at Chattanooga. After the pursuit of the enemy for two days, the 11th and 15th Corps were headed for Knoxville, where Longstreet was making a threatening siege; but upon the approach of Sherman and Howard with their brave troops, he beat a hasty retreat over the Virginia line for safety. This ended the march in that direction, and the regiment returned to its old camp at the base of Lookout Mountain, having in twenty-four days marched in mud and rain about three hundred miles. It remained in winter quarters until Jan 24, 1864, when the 2d Brigade was ordered to Shell Mound, twenty-two miles from Chattanooga and six from Bridgeport, Ala., where it remained doing the usual picket duty, drilling, etc., until the 2d day of May, when it joined the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 20th Corps--the 11th and 12th having been consolidated, forming the 20th,--under the command of Gen Hooker, and immediately in conjunction with the armies of the Cumberland, Tennessee, and Ohio, made for Ringgold to attack the enemy, under command of Joe Johnston. The battle of Resaca followed that of Ringgold, in which the regiment lost ninety-five men in killed and wounded. Lieut. Barber, universally respected as a Christian, and a courteous and brave officer, fell instantly killed; and several officers were wounded, and a number of non-commissioned officers and privates were killed and wounded. The 141st also fought gallantly at Dallas, Pine Mountain, and at Peach-Tree Creek,--the later being the opening siege of Atlanta, where Col. Logie and Lieuts. Warren and Babbit were killed. Lieut-Col. A.J. McNett (who had been appointed to the position late in the December previous, in place of Lieut-Col Patrick, resigned) lost his right arm. Maj Clauharty, Adj. Hazard, and Lieut Shapper were severely wounded; Capt Townsend and Lieut Wilor were slightly wounded. Half the regiment was disabled, but stood its ground nobly under Capt. Baldwin, who succeeded to the immediate command of the regiment during the slaughter of its officers and men, and victory continued to perch on their banners. More fighting was at hand, and Atlanta fell September 2. the 20th Corps, having previously fallen back to the Chattahoochie, as a feint to the enemy and to cover the rear of the Union Army, was the first to enter Atlanta. Lieut-Col McNett was promoted to be colonel; Maj Clauharty, lieutenant-colonel; Capt Baldwin, major; Adjt. Hazard, Captain; Lieut Grey, Adjutant; and four months previous, Capt. Robert M. McDowell was appointed by Gen Hooker chief topographical engineer of the 20th Corps, on his staff. Soon after Sherman's "march to the sea" was begun, and, after about a six weeks' campaign, entered the city of Savannah, Dec 21, 1864. Jan 17, 1865, leaving Savannah, Sherman's resistless legions swept northward through the Carolinas towards Virginia, constantly engaged in skirmishing with the enemy, but in no general engagements until, the 17th and 19th of March, the battles of Averysboro' and Bentonville were fought. Here, amid swamps and under every discouragement, the noble old 141st gained its last glory in severe battles; and in its last campaign marched over five hundred miles, at the most inclement season of the year. After Johnson's surrender the march was taken homeward form Raleigh, NC to Alexandria and Washington, and May 24, participated in the great review in Washington, and soon after was mustered out of service. The regiment reached home June 13, 1865. It was met at the depot by the committee of arrangements, who escorted it to the William Street Hospital, where, with the 137th Regiment, which arrived on the same train, they were furnished with a comfortable breakfast at the hands of a corps of ladies, who had worked assiduously all night to get the entertainment ready by the time of their arrival. After heartily discussing their meal, both regiments were marched to Camp Chemung, where permission had been previously obtained for them to pitch their tents. In a short time after reaching the ground, back of the encampment of the 19th Regiment, tents were struck and everything was got in readiness for a good rest after their wearisome marches and long ride. During the day the 141st was visited by a host of friends and acquaintances who were eager to welcome back the remaining veterans, the heroes of desperate battles and victorious campaigns. The regiment was given a distinguished reception and dinner, and a beautiful address of welcome was delivered by Hon. Stephen McDonald, in Wisner Park. Below we give the roster of officers. The regiment numbered three hundred and eighty men when mustered out. From first to last the regiment had enlisted about twelve hundred men. Lieutenant-Colonel, AJ McNett promoted to colonel, not mustered; Major Charles W. Clauharty, promoted to lieutenant-colonel, not mustered; Adjutant, George E. Gray; Quartermaster, E. Belding; Surgeon G.S. Beaks; Assistant Surgeon, OS.Greenman; Assistant Surgeon MT Babcock. Company A--Captain, WP Ross; First Lieutenant CE Coryell; Second Lieutenant________ _______ Company B--Captain WH Bradford; First Lieutenant JF Carroll Second Lieutenant _________ ______ Company C--Captain EG Baldwin promoted to major, not mustered; First Lieutenant Jud Griswold; Second Lieutenant___ ___ Company D--Captain, W. Merrill; First Lieutenant C. Osman; Second Lieutenant CH Freeman Company E--Captain Archie Baxter Company F--Captain, AJ Russell, First Lieutenant MV Sherwood; Second Lieutenant LB Scott Company G--Captain PC Mitchell, First Lieutenant MG Shappee; Second Lieutenant _____ ______ Company H--Captain George Tubbs; First Lieutenant FC Willor; Second Lieutenant A. Stewart Company I--Captain RM McDowell, brevetted Major United States Volunteers; First Lieutenant JB Rathbone; Second Lieutenant William M. Ware Company K--Captain GL Whiton; First Lieutenant MJ Hogarth; Second Lieutenant George W. Rogers; Second Lieutenant William H. Brown, not assigned.